In detail: do-it-yourself faucet repair on a shower cabin from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
A leak from a faucet has long become a "talk of the town" - a symbol of those minor domestic troubles that cause major domestic scandals. And malfunctions in the operation of the shower cabin faucet are fraught not only with a deterioration in the psychological “weather in the house”, but also with the likelihood of water leaking onto the ceiling of the neighbors living on the floor below.
Wiring diagram for an electric shower.
In this case, waiting for inspiration and postponing the repair of the shower for “somehow later” is not very profitable. It doesn’t take much time to repair the mixer, and all the work can be done independently, having elementary working tools “in service”:
hexagon;
flat screwdriver;
pliers.
A faucet is a plumbing mechanism that regulates the flow of water, obtains water at the desired temperature by mixing hot and cold jets, and also directs water to the shower head.
Single lever mixer.
Body made of brass with a decorative galvanized finish. Shower cabins of most manufacturers, including their hydromassage modifications, consist of mixer bodies and a water distributor connected to each other by a tube.
Water mixer cartridge. Standard 35-40mm plastic cartridges are available at plumbing stores.
The clip of this cartridge, which acts as a holder. Its internal thread is designed for screwing onto the body, the internal partition is for fixing the cartridge on the surface of the body, the external thread is for fixing the tap on the shower cabin console.
Distributor cartridge, the so-called diverter, held by a nut in the water distributor seat.
Handwheels mixer and water distributor.
Video (click to play).
The only trouble in fixing a broken shower faucet is the inability to change the parts assembled in a non-separable cartridge. But it is precisely for this reason that the repair itself is very simple to perform, because often only the replacement of the cartridge is required.
Scheme of a mixer with a ball mechanism.
Defects in the operation of the distributor cartridge (upper):
Leaking under the switch. There is such a breakdown of the crane for various reasons. If the cartridge body is cracked, it needs to be replaced. If the cartridge fastening nut is loose, tighten it. When the rubber rings on the roller of this cartridge are worn out, new rings are used. But if the leak is caused by insufficient sealing of the cartridge in the seat, the entire mixer will need to be replaced. It is not easy to dismantle it, you will have to move the shower cabin, as it is fixed with a nut on the outer back wall.
The shower modes do not switch or switch tightly, while a crunch is heard. This happens when the plastic cartridge breaks. Therefore, it needs to be replaced.
Defects in the operation of the mixer cartridge (lower):
water does not overlap;
water does not mix well;
the lever is too tight or too light.
Repair in all these cases has one option - replacing the cartridge.
Disruption from the thread of the clip, destruction of the partition. This is the saddest incident that can happen to the owners of shower cabins. With such breakdowns, a powerful jet of water, both cold and hot, hits wherever it pleases (fortunately, if there is a tray in the shower). It is urgent to turn off the water and run to the store! The faucet needs to be replaced immediately.
Faucet repair usually involves simply replacing the cartridge. Alas, a rare cartridge after operating a shower cabin for several years can withstand the “quality” of our tap water with its rust, lime, sand, and all sorts of other elements of the periodic table.
The first step is to turn off the water to the shower with shut-off valves. Then proceed to dismantle the mixer. Remove the handle for turning on and mixing water (it can be in the form of a lever or it can be in the shape of a ball). To do this, remove the plastic plug button under the handle and unscrew the clamping screw. Decorative trims are also removed. So, at the bottom of the mixer, they remove the round plate by pulling it towards them, and at the top they unscrew the nut that holds the decorative panel.
After the preparatory work, using a flashlight, inspect the inside of the assembly to make sure that the cartridge is broken. On the back wall of the shower cabin, carefully unscrew the nut, remove the faucet assembly and the sealing rubber that seals the rack on both sides. Next, the surface is cleaned, a new layer of special sealant for plumbing is applied, and a new cartridge is tightly placed in the grooves. Having twisted the clip and installed the sealing rubber lubricated with sealant, they fix the structure with an external washer and nut on the back of the shower cabin.
After the assembly is completed, the mixer will work diligently again, giving all household members minutes of pleasure from pleasant water procedures.
Beautiful plastic booths quickly filled the world market and quietly moved into the apartments of the townspeople and the houses of the rural residents. They are loved for their practicality and functionality.
Over time, some elements of the boxes fail, others wear out, but skilled owners repair the shower cabin and restore or replace parts on their own.
Economical shower cabins with a minimum of functions or expensive hydromassage boxes are designed for daily hygiene - taking a shower.
Some of them can be used as a bath. These are complex devices, consisting of many parts. There are a lot of modifications of the boxes: from open, resembling an ordinary shower with protective partitions, to closed, sealed and stuffed with electronics.
Both simple hand-assembled models and complex factory modifications break down, while some of the problems are common. For example, any of the presented cabins may crack the protective screen or fail the mixer.
List of breakdowns that users of shower boxes most often encounter:
wear of the ladder or water seal installed under the bottom;
deformation of the pallet or the appearance of cracks on its surface;
mechanical damage to doors or protective screens;
breakage of door rollers or hinges responsible for opening;
failure of shower equipment - watering can, hose, mixer.
For complex electronically controlled models, electrical parts may fail or software may fail.
Only specialists are able to deal with electronics on their own, it is better to replace broken glass or a deformed pallet, however, minor breakdowns can be eliminated on their own.
For example, repairing rollers, restoring a pallet, cleaning a plumbing filter or cleaning scratches on a plastic screen is something even an amateur can do.
Professional repairs are another waste of the household budget, and sometimes urgent restoration of parts is required. Therefore, we will find out how to fix a broken shower cabin on our own, without the involvement of qualified craftsmen. Consider only those situations in which special skills are not needed.
The structure of the built-in shower faucet differs from the traditional type, installed on the sink or above the bath.
It consists of a control unit - two handles and working communications - a system of thin tubes.The first ceramic cartridge with holes is responsible for switching hot / cold water, the second regulates the flow of water in the right direction.
It is possible to understand that the cartridge is faulty or the housing element is cracked by the leakage that has appeared. Water starts to leak either when the tap is turned on, or constantly. In the first case, the wear of the seal is likely, in the second - a crack on the cartridge.
The opposite is also possible - water does not enter the shower well. This is due to blockage: over time, the holes become clogged with lime or corrosive deposits.
To deal with the problem, it is necessary to dismantle the entire mixer unit. To work, you will need a set of screwdrivers, pliers with narrow paws. Purpose: to disassemble the mixer, find the cause of the leak, repair or replace the part, install the unit in place.
Gluing cracks is a temporary solution to the problem. In order for the mixer to continue to perform all available functions, it is necessary to replace the cartridge with a new one.
However, preventive cleaning of metal and plastic parts does not hurt. To reduce lime scale, we recommend using filters both special for shower cabins and general filters installed on water supply pipes.
Cast iron and even steel pallets are not used in shower cabins. New models are made of acrylic - durable, "warm", lightweight material.
But the acrylic bottom has a huge disadvantage - frequent breakdowns due to the heavy weight of the person taking a shower, or due to mechanical damage. In both cases, cracks form through which water flows out.
If water began to flow from under the base of the cabin, the bottom was significantly deformed or cracks became visible - this is a signal for urgent repairs.
A small abrasion can be restored without removing the pallet from its place, but for a thorough repair it is necessary to disassemble the booth and dismantle the base.
spatula, chisel, stationery knife, sandpaper - to remove the acrylic layer;
a drill with nozzles and an engraver - for cleaning the base and cracks;
brushes for applying glue and acrylic filling.
To completely renew the pallet, you first need to remove the old acrylic layer, clean all surfaces, make a patch of fiberglass on the outside and acrylic filling on the inside.
In order for a fiberglass patch to serve for a long time, you need to choose a quality adhesive. An example of a reliable composition is a two-component EDP adhesive. It does not react to water and retains the quality of bonding for many years.
The advantage of the imported analogue Plexus MA 420 is its excellent adhesion even with an unpolished surface. But the alternative costs more than 2 thousand rubles, while the domestic EAF costs 140-160 rubles.
If you have a choice before replacing and repairing, you can safely experiment with restoration with your own hands. It won’t work - you can always buy a replacement, but if everything works out, you will get an almost new pallet and useful skills.
Small, inconspicuous rollers are hidden under decorative trims at the bottom of glass or plastic doors.
They are tightly covered, however, water penetrates through the cracks even into the bearings. As a result, the internal metal elements of the rollers become rusty and clogged with dirt - a sediment of tap water that is not ideal in composition.
You will notice the need for cleaning or replacement when the door begins to open with effort, strange sounds appear during movement and partial blockage.
The problem is solved simply: you will need an anti-rust solution, kerosene, grease, a screwdriver and pliers.
The final touch is the installation of a decorative overlay. We check the quality of work by opening and closing the booth door. After cleaning, it should move freely, without squeaking and delays.
The sooner you notice the problem and clean the rollers, the easier the procedure will be.In advanced cases, the balls inside the body are tightly “welded”, it becomes extremely difficult to restore their work.
In some situations, it is easier to buy new parts, but it is not always possible to find the right size.
We do not recommend repairing cabin electronics. If the equipment has ceased to execute commands correctly, you need to call the wizard. Warranty repairs are free of charge, so be sure to keep receipts and documents.
For post-warranty service, you can contact a company specializing in the repair of plumbing.
To replace the glass, pallet or complete disassembly / assembly of the booth, you can also contact the master. If you do not have the experience of such work and free time, then you can save more than one day by spending a small amount.
Before starting repairs, it is useful to familiarize yourself with the prices of parts. It also happens that replacing a shower tray or shower unit costs a little more than restoration work, so it makes sense not to waste time and just install new structural elements.
Videos shot by craftsmen and amateurs contain many useful tips and recommendations for repair work.
