Tip: Often it is not the aerator itself that gets dirty, but the cleaning filter located at the entrance to the room. Therefore, if cleaning the aerator did not work, then unscrew the filter and check the cleanliness of its mesh.
We figured out how to fix a DIY bathroom faucet with shower. When using higher quality consumables, such problems will occur much less frequently.
VIDEO
Faucet leakage problems are relevant to bathrooms, which we use several times a day. Small droplets dripping slowly and continuously from the mixer are the first signal that an urgent repair is needed.
It is not difficult to eliminate the breakdown, having an understanding of the device mechanism of the device. As they say, repairing a mixer with your own hands is an everyday matter.
Typical mixer problems are leaks caused by:
faulty shower;
defects of the conical plug;
wear of the crane axle box.
But most often the rubber gasket wears out, the condition of the crane depends on its integrity and strength.
Most often, leakage from the valve is due to the wear of the rubber gasket in it. This is the most common situation. Both mixer taps can leak.
You will need the tools shown in the photo:
The thickness of the new gasket is from 4 mm. You can make it from a piece of rubber sheet. The process of cutting it is simple, but if there are doubts about the quality of hand-made production, then in the future it is advisable to change the home-made gasket to a factory product.
As a template for cutting the gasket, the one that needs to be replaced is suitable. If it is too deformed, then it should be taken into account that the manufactured part of the seal must be 1 mm larger in diameter than the previous one.
The edge resulting from the increase in Ø should be reworked: cut along the circumference from the side of contact with the seat at an angle of 45º so that this seal “fits” tightly into the hole to be closed and the valve with a new gasket does not buzz.
After replacing the gasket, everything must be returned to its place. Insert the crane-axle back. Usually, when removing the crane axle boxes, it is always advised to treat the internal cavity from plaque. This plaque is usually the result of the hardness of the water. A plumbing adjustable wrench is used in the reassembly of the mixer.
In most cases, mixers have problems with valves, especially with half-turn ones. The valve can be changed or repaired. There are no particular difficulties in how to repair a broken mixer in the bathroom yourself.
In a conventional valve, which is unscrewed in a circular motion, most often it is necessary to change the gasket or gland packing. A brief instruction on replacing the gasket is posted above, and in case of problems with the gland packing, they usually try to tighten the gland.
Here, a small nut will be involved, located at the base of the crane box. The cross section of this nut is square. In a clockwise direction, you need to tighten the nut until it stops.
If these manipulations turn out to be useless, then it will be necessary to unscrew the oil seal ring. After unscrewing, a special gland packing is wound around the valve stem. Then the ring will need to be screwed back well. All of the above actions help to stop the leak.
Repair of the valve seat - the cavity into which the valve box is screwed in - is necessary if, after replacing the gasket or valve box, water does not stop flowing from the valve. With prolonged use of the mixer, it often deforms, and this causes leaks.
Chips and scratches that appear can be removed by milling. It is necessary to slightly scroll the deformed area with a cutter. After this scrolling, the mixer is reassembled, and if the seat is properly polished, there will be no leakage.
To solve this problem, you need to do the following:
buy a switch;
disassemble the crane;
replace the broken part.
If deformations are found in the conical plug used to mix water from the hot and cold water supply pipes, it must be replaced. When eliminating any breakdown, the water supply is always shut off. The following photo shows how the switch is removed:
When eliminating the above-described malfunctions, it is not necessary to remove the mixer from the mount. But there are also more global problems with valve mixer, which are also quite solvable.
Learn more about some malfunctions of plug-change mixers and how to fix them.
The shower-spout switch mechanism can be repaired without replacement. Consider the original way of fixing the switch flywheel to the stem:
Now we just have to drill a hole on the switch stem and assemble the mixer:
Eliminate the leak, following a specific algorithm, and then change the mixer.
Initially, in this situation, the water is turned off. Special shut-off taps are located on the water supply pipes.
After closing, for testing, the valves are turned to the opening side to the maximum.
Then the connecting nuts are very carefully unscrewed. They break easily in modern mixer designs. Regular brass nuts are easier to unscrew. They will not crack or break. A broken nut needs to look for an analogue in shape.
Next, remove the mixer.
When removing the mixer, turn out the branch pipe, at the border of which a leak is detected with the coupling. When unscrewing, the edges of the branch pipe are held with a wrench or by the collar. A nut is screwed onto the removed branch pipe. You need to tighten it correctly, to the end. The new nut is taken from the old mixer. The reliability of the installation of the nut is determined in comparison with its original position.
When it comes to replacing the mixer, be sure to determine the size of the nozzles. The mixer is always sold complete with them. When differences are found between the old and new nozzles, both are changed, and not only the one that flows. If they are identical, then only one can be changed.
To understand how the leak is removed in this case, consider the diagram:
During the installation of the branch pipe, there may be nuances. When screwing in, this part is held by the collar. The thread must remain free by two turns. All others are wound with sealing threads. Usually this seal is advised to be impregnated with linseed oil or oil paint. After such wetting, you must immediately screw the branch pipe into its proper place - this serves as a guarantee against repeated leakage.
After cutting off the water, they first try to simply tighten the nut, and then, after supplying water, check for a leak. If the leakage persists, the nut is unscrewed, and the mixer moves along the branch pipe closer to the wall. Then you need to remove the hose attached to the bracket.
This is necessary to regulate the position of the mixer. Moving the mixer, they look at the end of the branch pipe, because it is with respect to it that the location of the device is changed.
This is done until it becomes possible to remove the old gasket, which adjoins the nut and ensures tightness. You can try to remove the gasket without touching the mixer. This often fails. The reason for this is the adhesion of the gasket to the pipe (to its end).
It is also not possible to pull out the pressed gasket. Then the shower is detached from the wall. This will help turn the mixer. All nuts on the mixer are loosened to facilitate turning.
The replacement gasket is simply cut out of the rubberized sheets. In thickness, it should be from three to five millimeters. On the nut, you must prudently leave free space for two threads of thread. After replacing the gasket, everything easily falls into place.
Sometimes there is a leak between the body and the sidewall. The mixer is separated from the piping, then from the shower. Remove the nose. The sidewall is turned inside out. Then it is smeared with putty. You can use paint instead of putty. Do not use the mixer until the lubricant is completely dry.
Usually the problem is associated with blockages in the supply line to the mixer. The pipes and sidewalls can be clogged. To correct the situation, you will need to clear the blockage. For this, the valve head is turned out. Then a steel wire is pushed into the resulting hole. We take out all the garbage, sand. Then you can clean the cavity with a vinegar solution from plaque.
A similar nuisance is a sharp decrease in the water pressure from the spout. Usually the cause of the problem lies in the blockage of the aerator. It is solved by unscrewing it and cleaning the meshes. They are purged and then washed. You can use a needle to remove sand from the mesh.
What if the water flows, but the spout falls? This is due to the fact that the retaining ring broke. There is a temporary solution before purchasing a new part.
After closing the valves, you need to make an expanding ring. It is usually made from copper wire. The diameter of the material for the ring must match the diameter of the old product. After the ring is made with a soldering iron, it is advisable to treat it with liquid oil. This will prevent rust formation.
This situation is associated with loss or breakage of the limiter. Knowing where exactly this part is located, it is easy to put it back in place. To do this, disassemble the mixer, find a malfunction and return the element to its place, applying light blows with a hammer to the protruding part of the limiter. Also, the stopper can be replaced with a small piece of brass wire - this will at least temporarily solve the problem of leaks.
Sometimes there are troubles with a shower hose and a watering can, more often due to wear of individual elements or poor water quality.
Typically, water does not pass through the mesh well when there are blockages in its holes. Here, after removing the mesh, it is easy to clean it with an ordinary awl or needle.
After screwing the mesh back, the water supply and the direction of the jets are restored. Both the plastic panel with holes and the rest of the shower and mixer can be wiped with a vinegar solution to remove plaque and stains.
If the leak appears due to wear of the inner part or the winding, it makes no sense to repair the hose, it is easier to buy a new one. Its cost is low, and the service life of new modifications is much longer.
If both the drain and the shower are leaking at the same time, the point is in the loosened joint between the cork and the body. To remedy the situation, first unscrew the locking screw. The next step is to tighten the union nut. This reduces leakage, but it is difficult to switch the water from the drain to the shower.
To completely eliminate the leak, you need to grind the plug to the mixer body using special lapping pasty compounds. They are sold in many stores.
Lever joystick mixers are preferred by most people. It is very convenient to use them, since only the mixer handle is turned to achieve the required water temperature. It is also very easy to create the required water pressure by moving the lever up and down.
To understand how to fix a single-lever mixer yourself, you need to have an idea of its device.
Instead of valves with gaskets closing the channels with water, there are special cartridges here. They are usually ball or disc. They do not need to be changed as often as the same gaskets. The disc cartridge cannot be replaced with a ball cartridge. For a ball lever mixer, only their cartridges are suitable, and for a disc mixer - their own.
Hinged, they are single-lever or joystick, mixers are extremely sensitive to the quality of tap water. Therefore, malfunctions often occur not due to breakdown or failure of the locking device, but due to the appearance of sediment and clogging of the mates of moving parts.
Let's take a look at how the Grohe Eurosmart bathtub model 3300001 was cleaned with a spout 08915 that switches the shower to the spout. This device did not work; water was simultaneously flowing into the shower head and into the gander. Note that the master did not have to replace parts and seals, it was enough just to remove rust and calcium build-up.
After cleaning and flushing the switching mechanism, it remains to "figure out" the pressure. As it turned out, for this it is enough to clean the spout aerator:
After the traditional shut-off of the water, we unscrew the fixing of the mixer. Then you will need to remove the lever as carefully as possible, and this must be done carefully, slowly loosening it. Raise and pull the lever only when no resistance is felt. To continue working, you need to unscrew the thread connection.
After dismantling the mixer dome, the plastic component will be visible. Behind it, a seal is usually visible, which needs to be cleaned or replaced. It is a regular rubber gasket. If the ball element is damaged, it must also be replaced.
The ball is fixed with seals, the suitability of which must be monitored.
Lever (joystick) faucets need careful handling, easy and smooth operation.
When installing any cartridge, be sure that the projections on it are identical to the projections on the mixer.
Disk cartridges rarely need to be replaced as they last up to 10 years. But mixers with such a consumption are not cheap, although they fully justify themselves.
A little about how to postpone the repair of the mixer for a long time. One of the simplest solutions is to monitor the quality of the water supplied to the mixer using modern mechanical filters. The hard particles of sand and pebbles will not spoil the parts, and they will last much longer.
It is recommended to install coarse filters at the beginning of the fork in the water supply system of the dwelling. Today a self-cleaning filter is available to the consumer. All filtered sediments from it are sent straight to the sewer. It is not always possible to install a large filter. Where it is not there, the mixer itself is connected to the connecting taps, where cleaning filters are already built in.
Filters are available to reduce water hardness. This is important for ceramic faucets, as they suffer the most from the presence of salt deposits in the water.
And finally, advice from experienced plumbers. If the pipes hum when you turn on the mixer, you need to check how well they are fixed and, if necessary, fix them with clamps. In some cases, the humming is due to high pressure in the pipes, then a special reducer will be required to reduce the pressure. Often this noise is caused by worn valve gaskets, after replacement it disappears.
Before the upcoming replacement of the gasket, it will be useful to watch the following video:
VIDEO
In some cases, problems with faucets are the wrong sink or the wrong model. Most of the troubles can be solved on their own, but if difficulties arise, it is better to call a plumber - professional advice or repairs have not prevented anyone yet.
The bathroom in our time is a complex complex of various devices, plumbing connections and assemblies. As for the mixers, there can be two or three - it all depends on how many and what is installed in the bathroom. Any technique tends to break sometimes, and mixers are no exception, so you need to know what to do in these cases. With detailed information and an algorithm of actions, you can easily eliminate minor faults with your own hands.
Every modern bathroom is sure to have a mixer. Replacing the bath with an invigorating shower significantly saves water consumption. Sometimes the mixer breaks down, then repair or purchase of new units is required.
The faucet is one of the main devices in the bathroom, it is also in the bathroom, and in the shower cubicle, and in the sink, if it is installed separately. With the help of this unit, you can regulate both the water pressure and its temperature.
Mixers are of the following types:
The first one includes two valves, which, with the help of rotation, allow you to achieve the desired water flow and temperature. Such a unit is arranged simply, if necessary, it can be easily disassembled and repaired. When working, it is important to follow the recommended sequence of operations, this is the best guarantee that there are no unnecessary parts left after assembly.
Water regulation by means of the second type consists in the fact that the lever is lifted upward and pivoted to the side. Inside this structure, there is a large ball, which has special slots and is in contact with the lever.
Water at different temperatures enters through such slots and mixes. The water pressure is regulated by changing the angle of rotation of the lever.
The model with a ceramic cartridge has two plates that are in contact with each other. The plates move relative to each other when the arm changes position. This allows cold and hot water to mix.
The axle-box crane is reliably protected by seals, which can be:
Valve head assemblies can be changed. The axle crane, in turn, may consist of:
The tee connects several pipes, the second type is connected using a special wiring.
The lever mixer is very popular, its main advantages are:
ease of use;
reliability;
looks aesthetically pleasing;
ease of installation.
The device diagram of such structures is simple; unfortunately, it is not possible to repair them; the case is designed in such a way that it cannot be disassembled.
Tap-to-shower switches can be of the following types:
cork;
push-button devices;
cartridge type.
spool valves.
The most common and simple ones are cartridge-type switches. Their main breakdown is the wear of the rubber ring between the housing and the shift lever. The rubber of the gasket is located in an environment in which there is both high humidity and mechanical stress. Destruction of the gasket is only a matter of time. It is not difficult to eliminate the malfunction, for this you need to disassemble the device and replace the gasket.
What needs to be done to repair the crane:
shut off the water supply;
disconnect the lever from the mixer;
unscrew the screw from the switch;
dismantle the switch;
install a new ring;
wind the FUM tape on the thread in several layers;
put the lever in place, tighten the screw.
A common occurrence in spool switches is that the nut breaks, it fixes the switch in the shower itself.Similar incidents happen when the materials from which the mixer is made are made of cheap silumin material.
It is recommended to buy nuts and hardware made from hard alloys:
Such a malfunction is eliminated as follows:
the mixer is disassembled;
the hose is unscrewed from the shower;
the lower nut is unscrewed.
If the nut is out of order due to thread wear, then it should be replaced with an analogue made of a higher quality material. After processing with sandpaper, the device is assembled, lubricated with grease and put in place.
Often, breakdowns occur at switching points for other reasons:
failure of the button;
the passage of water simultaneously into the faucet and shower hose;
failure of the mechanism that controls the flow of water;
abrasion of the gaskets in the push-button switch itself.
The leak can be eliminated by changing the rubber rings. The pushbutton switch breaks due to the failure of the metal spring, which must be replaced.
If there is a decrease in the water pressure in two-valve type taps, then it is quite possible that a clogged aerator is to blame, it should be cleaned. It is also possible for the spools to fail, which are responsible for the flow of water entering the tap and shower.
Such units from bona fide manufacturers are designed for a long service life, so it is recommended to buy plumbing fixtures from reputable trading platforms. Each unit of the product must always be accompanied by genuine quality certificates and warranty obligations.
In order to repair breakdowns, you should use the services of masters with practical experience. In this case, it is good to have certain ideas about how the mixers are arranged, and what types they are.
Any mixer consists of several units:
frame;
rubber gaskets;
crane box;
decorative elements;
valves;
spool;
adapter;
crank.
The most common malfunctions are in the form of a leak, they are:
under the gander;
under the mixer lever;
under the mixer valve with two valves;
at the connection points of the hose and shower.
under the fastening nut, water may leak due to the wear of the gasket.
In this case, the repair can be done by hand; the qualifications of a plumber is not required here.
Often, faults can be easily eliminated by replacing a worn ring with a new one made of partonite. When winding the gander, it is imperative to lay the FUM tape so that the gaps are better sealed. Leakage in a lever mixer occurs when the cartridge itself breaks. Such a malfunction can be eliminated by replacing the cartridge. It can be of different sizes, it depends on the manufacturer. When buying a new cartridge, it is advisable to take with you the broken one, their compliance should be 100%.
Leakage from under the lever is eliminated in this way:
first, the cap is removed, which is marked with a red-blue marker on the handle;
the fastening bolt is unscrewed;
the lever is removed;
the cartridge is changing;
the mixer is reassembled.
Valve mixer with taps
In most cases, valve and lever mixers are used in bathrooms, where the water flow is regulated by taps or cartridges. In my case, it will be about valve shut-off valves, or rather, about how to independently eliminate a leak from a valve or spout, without resorting to the help of a plumber.
Today I want to talk specifically about the repair, not the replacement of the crane axle box.
Crane axle box with ceramic pair (left) and worm stem (right)
Before we start repairing valves, let's figure out how a crane-axle box with a ceramic pair functions. There are two types of similar constipation, but nowadays almost 100% of mixers are made with ceramic steam. .
Such a device is much more reliable, since it has a longer service life, and the crane is half-turn, that is, it is more convenient to operate:
Ceramic pair consists of two plates - movable and fixed
the ceramic pair itself consists of an inlet movable disk, which is attached to the rod (in the photo I am holding it in my hand) and an adjustment stationary (it lies on the table on the right);
the contacting surfaces of these discs are polished to a mirror-like state and easily rub against each other;
the essence of the adjustment is as follows - when the holes on the two plates coincide completely, then the maximum flow of water is ensured. But when turning, the input disk shifts around its axis, gradually blocking the holes and the flow, respectively, weakens;
with complete blockage, the holes in the plates do not coincide at all;
the discs are pressed together with an O-ring (in the photo it is red), which in turn rests on the inner wall of the mixer chamber;
but over time, the rubber wears out, the emphasis weakens and a leak occurs.
Crane axle with worm stem
The device of a crane box with a worm stem is much simpler. Here, the stem is moved back and forth by means of a worm gear, raising or lowering the valve with a rubber seal:
the worm gear itself is in the fat chamber and, thanks to it, water does not penetrate through the gaps;
the main problem is the wear of the rubber ring on the valve, which is easy to replace;
but there may also be wear on the worm gear, in which case the axle box must be replaced.
Removing the decorative plug
Of course, first of all, you need to shut off the water, and this must be done not only at the general supply, but also at the boiler or gas water heater in order to remove the pressure from the system.
Then remove the decorative cover by prying it off with a knife or screwdriver. You will have access to the screw that holds the valve.
Unscrew the screw and remove the cover
Now unscrew the Phillips screw (for this you need a curly screwdriver). Together with this screw, the plastic cover will also be removed.
But if there is a lamb, then the lid may not be there, but this does not change anything. You also remove the valve itself - it is mounted on the stem, and you can dismantle it with a slight effort.
And now you can unscrew the crane box
After you remove the valve, you will have access to the axle box - there is a grip on top in the form of a nut for 14 for a socket, open-end or box wrench.
Removable mixer elements
Now unscrew the valve-axle counterclockwise and remove it from the mixer chamber.
Exploded parts
Now we need to pull the stem out of the axle box body, but it will hold well there due to salts. Therefore, first we remove the O-ring, and then with a light blow of the screwdriver handle, pliers, wrench on the stem shank, knock it out of the body along with the ceramic plates.
Wipe all parts with a napkin made of natural fabric, preferably with wool. But in no case use sandpaper - you will scratch the ceramics, and there will be no snug fit!
I made a washer from solder wire
At the moment, our goal is to improve the quality of the seal, but we cannot replace the rubber ring (there is nothing), so only its displacement (extension) remains.
To do this, we assemble the crane-axle box back. And we put a washer between the fixed plate and the rubber seal - it will push the ring forward, therefore, the pressure on the ceramic pair will increase.
It is difficult to find a washer of this diameter, but it can be made of copper or aluminum wire with a cross section of 1-1.2 mm (I made it from tin solder).
Thanks to the washer, the ring is pushed forward
VIDEO
The photo shows how the O-ring has moved out - now the plates of the ceramic pair will fit tightly, and when closed, water will not seep through the gap between them. Reassemble the mixer in the reverse order, open the water supply and test the faucet.I'm sure everything will be all right!
I think you figured out how to repair the mixer using my example. If you have any questions, I'm waiting for them in the comments!
