VIDEO
Do not forget that the shower stall has to work in extreme conditions: high humidity, sudden temperature changes, mechanical pressure, constant change of modes, poorly filtered water.
In order for the parts of the hydrobox to function properly, and repairs to be a rare occurrence, it is necessary to carry out preventive cleaning, ventilate the room more often and monitor the quality of the water.
We will tell you how to replace the mode switch cartridge (divertor) in a shower stall mixer. To replace, you need to perform a few simple operations. The picture shows the mixer in the form in which we do not see it in the cockpit. We have specially removed the mixer so that you can see its structure and we hope this small manual or instructions for repairing the mixer in the shower stall will help you solve the problem.
It looks like a mixer in the shower
To repair the mixer, first of all, you need to free it from all external elements that we see inside the cabin. These are shift knobs and decorative covers. A small hole can be found on the handle that contains the fastening screw. In practice, we came across two types of screws: with a head for a flat screwdriver and for a hex key. Determine what you have and take the necessary tool. In our case, this is a screwdriver. We unscrew the screw and remove the handle. We do the same with the second handle.
Using a screwdriver, unscrew the small screw in the hole of the handle and remove it
Under the mode switch knob we find the nut that holds the decorative trim, unscrew the nut and remove the trim. In fact, this nut not only covers the hole for decorative purposes, but it also presses the faucet body against the attachment point. It is quite enough to not use any other methods of fixing the mixer.
The nut holds the decorative strip
The lower pressure ring performs the same function. It can be of two types: with thread and without thread. There is no “best” way among them, they are just different. We remove this ring and, if no screws are visible under these linings, then our mixer is free from the shower cabin and can hang on the hoses on the back of the cabin.
Unscrew the decorative nut
For further work with the mixer, for convenience, you can disconnect it from all hoses, but remember that we did not talk about turning off the water here, if you are going to disconnect all the hoses, then it is worth shutting off the water to the cabin. Otherwise, a refreshing surprise awaits you. So we can see that the divertor stock is visible from the body. As shown in the picture, we unscrew the clamping nut (we specially showed the passages in the photo) with any tool. Most often, this nut can be unscrewed by hand, clasping it with the palm of your hand.
Using a hand or a tool, unscrew the cartridge clamp
We take out the mode cartridge by hand, as shown in the picture, and replace it with a new one. You can select the cartridge you need in the section
After removing the clamp, we take out the mode switching cartridge
The water mixing cartridge is held in place by a lock nut. If your faucet is in good technical condition, you will be able to unscrew the lock by hand. There is no need to tighten the latch with any tool, as there is enough hand force to tighten the cartridge latch.If you cannot unscrew it without using tools, then do it carefully, without damaging the chrome retainer itself.
Unscrew the lock nut by hand
If everything went well, you can remove the cartridge and replace it with a new one.
The cartridge no longer holds under the nut
Assemble the mixer and install it on the shower cabin in the reverse order. And now, when everything is ready, you can enjoy your morning shower again.
A shower cabin with all its stuffing usually seems to be an extremely complex unit. Therefore, in case of any breakdown, the first thing that comes to mind is the call of the master for repair. In fact, everything is not so scary at all. For example, any householder who has ever encountered plumbing in principle can repair a shower stall mixer with his own hands. We will tell you how to do it.
Most often, the following malfunctions occur in hydroboxes:
leaks at the joints of the mixer parts;
violation of the order of water supply (ice instead of hot and vice versa);
breakage of the control handle, making it impossible to turn on or off the water.
All these breakdowns can occur both on cabins that have been in operation for some time, and on new devices. The reasons are usually errors in the installation of the device, increased water hardness or violation of operating rules. But it is quite possible that the problem was triggered by an ordinary manufacturing defect. This, alas, is not uncommon. In any case, the occurrence of such symptoms clearly indicates the need for repair of the lever valve.
Before you start repairing a shower mixer or, as it is also called, a lever faucet, you should understand its design. It is quite simple: a plastic cartridge is installed in the body of the device through which water is distributed. To fix this element in the body there is a cartridge clip - a part with an internal and external thread. And the fourth main structural element is the divertor, screwed with a nut to the socket of the water distributor and is responsible for the water supply.
Important! All listed items are non-separable. The main reason for most problems is usually a malfunction of the mixer cartridge, so all repairs are reduced to replacing it.
You can purchase a replacement cartridge (cassette) in large plumbing stores or in companies that sell shower cabins. Professionals recommend repairing the mixer using original parts. But this is not critical. If you cannot find a cassette of the same brand, you can always pick up an analogue from another company.
The main parameters to consider when choosing:
the distance between the axes of the part;
number of modes (holes);
overall diameter;
stem height.
This data can be measured independently using a ruler or peeped in the instructions for the shower stall. And you can do even easier - take the damaged cartridge with you to the store and ask the consultants for help. With a sample in front of him, the specialist will be able to select the right part for you.
hex key;
pliers;
a set of screwdrivers of different sizes and shapes.
If you assembled the shower cabin yourself, then you are guaranteed to have everything you need. And if not, then you need to remember to buy the missing instruments when going to get the cassette.
As with the repair of any plumbing, before working with the shower, you need to turn off the water in the apartment. All work will take place within an hour.If a collector-type wiring is arranged in the bathroom, it will be enough to close the valves responsible for supplying water directly to the shower stall. Then the rest of the plumbing can be used as usual.
Remove the cover that hides the fastening of the lever fixture (it is located on its face). Unscrew the screw behind the plug and you have full access to the lever. Next, you should dismantle the lever itself. Sometimes this is difficult because of the scale accumulated on its surface. To make the process easier, pour boiling water from a kettle over the jammed lever. Hot water will expand the metal and the part is easy to remove. After that, it remains only to unscrew the clamping nut securing the cartridge and dismantle it.
A little maintenance on the mixer is helpful at this stage. Take a good look at it. If necessary, remove accumulated limescale and limescale deposits. Check the condition of the gaskets. If they are jammed or damaged, immediately replace them with new ones, otherwise after a while you will have to re-repair the shower mixer with your own hands.
Attention! If thread violations are found on the elements of the lever valve, it is worth replacing it completely, and not limited to changing the cartridge.
screw a new cartridge onto the clip;
fix it with a clamping nut;
reinstall the tap lever;
fix the front panel with a screw;
mask the fasteners with a plug.
After completing the work, connect the water and test the shower cabin in all possible modes. Check the tightness of the mixer connections. If you find leaks, try to tighten the existing nuts to the maximum. Actually, if everything is done correctly, no problems should arise.
Only installing a new mixer can help here. It is worth taking on it yourself only if the owner of the bathroom has already had something to do with such work before. If experience is not enough, it is better to invite a specialist.
Before starting the process, you also need to turn off the water supply to the shower stall. If the plumbing is installed close to the wall, it is worth slightly pushing it back before starting work. This will provide access to the main elements.
Then remove the overlays that hide the fasteners of the front panels of the device and unscrew the fasteners. Removing the front panel gives access to the mixer itself. It is necessary to disconnect the water supply hoses from it, then remove the product from the mountings, install a new one and assemble the shower in the reverse order. You also need to remember to check the tightness of all joints and the integrity of the gaskets.
Find out what features Onika bathroom furniture has.
The hardest part about replacing a mixer is disassembling the hydrobox. Sometimes it has to be dismantled almost completely just to get to the desired part. If the cab has a complex structure, it would be best to hire a specialist for this operation.
If the shower cubicle was bought relatively recently, it is worth contacting the company that sold and installed it. Even if the warranty for the plumbing has already passed, it is highly likely that a competent specialist will be recommended to the owner of the bathroom, who will fix the problem.
VIDEO What most often breaks down in mixers operated with shower stalls? Our article is devoted to typical malfunctions of these plumbing fixtures and their elimination. It does not claim to be complete: our task is to acquaint the reader with only the most typical problems of common constructions.
Integrated shower mixer.
Let's start with a small lyrical digression.
The device of a mixer for a shower cabin is determined primarily by what kind of cabin it is:
Closed boxes are equipped with pre-installed plumbing fixtures, which are usually attached to the rear panel of the cab.
An important point: in this case, replacing the mixer in the shower stall requires free access to its back wall. Accordingly, the connection to the sewer must be movable (for example, made with a corrugated hose) or easily disassembled.
Open wall cubicles allow the use of conventional wall-mounted consumer mixers. Accordingly, the list of typical problems in this case will be the same as for any other device with a shower.
Their device is as unified as possible: an ordinary cartridge with ceramic plates is responsible for adjusting the water pressure - the same as in any other single-lever mixer. The second ceramic cartridge is responsible for switching the shower mode.
Appearance of the assembled mixer.
Excluding force majeure such as mechanical damage to the mixer body, malfunctions of these products are reduced to the failure of one of the cartridges.
Seven troubles - one answer: in all these cases, repairing a shower stall - a mixer or a shower mode switch, quite predictably comes down to replacing the cartridge.
How to disassemble a shower stall faucet for this operation:
We close the valves at the entrance to the apartment or house.
Remove the plastic plug on the handle of the mixer or switch.
Remove the handle.
The photo shows the mixer with the handles removed.
We unscrew the decorative nut (exclusively with our own hands, without using tools, so as not to deform it and not damage the chrome coating).
We unscrew the nut securing the cartridge.
We change it to a new one and assemble the structure in the reverse order.
There is a little subtlety here: if you do not know absolutely exactly which cartridges are installed in your booth, it is better to go to the store for a replacement, taking with you the defective sample.
Mixer cartridges can be of different diameters (35 or 40 millimeters).
Products for mode switching can have from 2 to 5 positions and differ in stem length.
Agree, it would be inconsistent to describe how to repair the product and not mention the reasons for its failure.
And the reasons, in fact, are only two:
Water quality ... Dross or sand trapped in the groove of the plates when trying to close them does not allow this. The use of force causes the ceramic plates to chip off; as an option, the plastic clips that hold them in the working position break.Note! The problem is completely solved by installing a pair of coarse filters at the entrance to the apartment, immediately after the valves. The price of one filter is 120-200 rubles.
The filter will retain suspended solids carried by the water.
Applying significant force to the handle ... Not only in cases where the water does not turn off or the shower mode does not switch: the habit of users to close the water with a sharp blow on the handle sent thousands and thousands of cartridges to Valhalla. As a rule, the notorious plastic clips or rods under the handle break in them.How to remove the mixer from the shower for a complete replacement?
It is usually fixed on the back panel with wide decorative plates that are pressed down with the same nuts that secure the cartridges.Accordingly, the disassembly algorithm is the same as in the previous case; the disassembled mixer is removed from the holes on the back of the booth.
Less often, the linings have their own thread; in this case, they are simply unscrewed.
Important: it is also better to select a new mixer with a faulty sample on hand. These products, among other things, differ in the distance between the knobs for adjusting the pressure and switching modes.
These are the most common problems with these products.
A leak from a tap has long become a "by the talk of the town" - a symbol of those small domestic troubles that cause major domestic scandals. And malfunctions in the work of the shower stall mixer are fraught not only with the deterioration of the psychological "weather in the house", but also with the likelihood of water leakage to the ceiling of neighbors living on the floor below.
Electric shower cabin connection diagram.
In this case, it is not very profitable to wait for inspiration and postpone the shower repair for "some later". It takes very little time to fix the mixer, and all the work can be done independently, having "in service" with basic working tools:
hexagon;
flat screwdriver;
pliers.
A faucet is a plumbing mechanism that regulates the flow of water, obtains water of the required temperature by mixing hot and cold jets, and also directs the water towards the shower head.
Single lever mixer device.
Body made of brass with decorative electroplated coating. Shower cabins of most manufacturers, including their hydromassage modifications, consist of mixer and water distributor bodies connected by a tube.
Water mixer cartridge. Standard 35-40mm plastic cartridges are available at plumbing stores.
The holder of this cartridge. Its internal thread is intended for screwing onto the body, the internal partition is for fixing the cartridge on the surface of the body, the external thread is for fastening the tap to the shower stall console.
Distributor cartridge, so called divertor, held by a nut in the water distributor seat.
Mixer and water distributor handwheels.
The only trouble in eliminating the breakdown of the shower faucet is the inability to change the parts assembled in a non-separable cartridge. But it is for this reason that the repair itself turns out to be very simple to perform, because often only the replacement of the cartridge is required.
Mixer diagram with a ball mechanism.
Defects in the work of the distributor cartridge (upper):
Leaks under the switch. Such a crane breakdown appears for various reasons. If the cartridge case is cracked, you need to replace it. With a loosely tightened cartridge nut - tightening. When the rubber rings on the roller of this cartridge are worn out, there will be new rings. But if the leak is caused by insufficient seal of the cartridge in the socket, the entire mixer will need to be replaced. It is not easy to dismantle it, you will have to move the shower stall as it is fixed with a nut on the outer rear wall.
Shower modes do not switch or switch tightly, while a crunch is heard. This happens when the plastic of the cartridge breaks. Therefore, it needs to be replaced.
Defects in the mixer cartridge (lower):
water does not shut off;
water does not mix well;
the lever is too tight or too light.
Repair in all these cases has one option - to replace the cartridge.
Breakage from the thread of the cage, destruction of the partition - this is the saddest incident that can happen to the owners of shower stalls. With such breakdowns, a powerful jet of water, both cold and hot, hits wherever it pleases (good, if there is a tray in the shower). You should urgently cut off the water and run to the store! Immediate replacement of the mixer is imminent.
Repairing a faucet usually means 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.
First of all, you need to shut off the water to the shower with cut-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 form of a ball). To do this, remove the plastic button-plug under the handle and unscrew the clamping screw. The decorative overlays are also removed. So, at the bottom of the mixer, pull the round plate towards you, and at the top, unscrew the nut that holds the decorative panel.
VIDEO
After preparatory work, using a flashlight, they inspect the inside of the assembly to make sure that the cartridge is broken. On the back wall of the shower stall, carefully unscrew the nut, remove the mixer assembly and the sealing rubber that seals the rack on both sides. Next, they clean the surface, apply a new layer of special sealant for plumbing and put a new cartridge tightly into the grooves. Twisting the cage and installing the sealing rubber lubricated with sealant, fix the structure with an outer washer and nut on the back of the shower stall.
After the assembly is completed, the mixer will work diligently again, giving all household members minutes of pleasure from pleasant water procedures.
The mixer in the shower stall can fail, like any other plumbing. Therefore, in order not to waste time and money on the services of specialists, it is better to familiarize yourself with the typical malfunctions of such devices and options for their elimination. The whole difficulty lies in the fact that many shower boxes have built-in taps, so it will not be superfluous to find out how problems with ordinary wall-mounted devices are solved. From our article you will learn how to disassemble a mixer in a shower stall, how to cope with the most common malfunctions on your own.
Almost all built-in mixers with which modern shower stalls are equipped have the same device:
Temperature and pressure are regulated by means of a cartridge with one control lever. The water pressure changes by raising and lowering the lever, that is, if you lower it completely, the water is completely blocked. To set the required temperature, just turn the lever to the right or left.
The ceramic cartridge provides switching between shower modes (watering can, tropical, hydromassage, jacuzzi). Through mutual rotation of ceramic ground plates with special slots, the mixture of cold and hot water is directed towards the desired set of nozzles.
Important! The number of modes in such designs can vary from 2 to 5.
Many of the problems these devices create to their owners are often associated with the following reasons:
With the failure of one of the cartridges. As a rule, holders break in them, ceramic plates are chipped off, a special lubricant is produced between adjacent surfaces. All this leads to serious resistance when trying to change the position of the handle.
Nozzles clogged with limescale deposits.
With the complete destruction of the core in the shower hose, after all, over time, the rubber becomes covered with lime and begins to crack.
Important! Holders and plates can only break due to the application of serious force to the main lever when they are jammed by foreign objects in the form of pieces of scale and sand. This problem is completely solved by installing filters at the inlet of the water supply.
If one of the cartridges is out of order, then it will not be difficult to repair the tap in the shower stall.
Please do the following to deal with this problem:
Turn off the water on the eyeliner.
Find the plastic plug on the lever, remove it.
Unscrew the screw under the cover plate.
Remove the handle.
Unscrew the chrome decorative nut underneath.
Important! Do this only by hand, without the use of keys, so as not to deform or damage it.
Unscrew the nut that secures the cartridge using a gas, adjustable or open-end wrench.
Remove the old cartridge, replace it with a new one.
Important! In cases where the lubricant is completely produced, the lever is displaced quite difficult, therefore, to extend the life of the cartridge, it is enough to disassemble it and re-lubricate the plates. But the feasibility of this venture is rather dubious, since a high-quality lubricant costs almost the same as a new cartridge.
If the shower hose is leaking, then this problem can be solved even easier. Perform its elimination according to the instructions:
Unscrew the nuts of the shower head and mixer from the body.
Pry metal or plastic inserts with a knife under the nuts, remove them together with the remains of the broken core.
Pull the core onto one of the bushings.
After threading the core through, insert it into the armor.
Pull the core that appears from the opposite side of the armor over the second liner.
Press the insert into the armor.
Reinstall the hose.
Repair of clogged nozzles is reduced to the most ordinary cleaning by means of an unbent paper clip.
Wall-mounted faucets are simpler in terms of the device, so replacement parts are not difficult to find, they are always on sale.
You will need to perform the following actions, depending on the nature of the malfunction and the cause of its occurrence:
VIDEO
VIDEO
VIDEO
VIDEO
VIDEO
VIDEO
VIDEO
Now you know how to disassemble a faucet in a shower stall, familiarized yourself with typical malfunctions and how to fix them. Thanks to this information, you can independently cope with the solution of everyday household problems.
Replacing a faucet in a shower stall is a fairly simple process. Any home craftsman, having figured out the rules for performing such an operation, will carry it out without any problems, returning the plumbing equipment to working condition.
No one is immune from breakdowns of plumbing fixtures in the bathroom. Even if you have recently overhauled the bathroom, there is no guarantee that after a while you will not need to repair or change the equipment used in it. In order not to constantly call plumbers, it makes sense to learn how to independently change worn-out elements of sanitary appliances and eliminate their minor breakdowns. And then the equipment in your bathroom will always be in working order.
Now many instead of bulky bathtubs install compact and neat shower cabins. They take up a minimum of space and make it possible to comfortably take water procedures. Cabins from renowned manufacturers are distinguished by a high level of reliability. But they have one problem - frequent failures of the mixer (it is often called a lever valve). It is an elementary device, the task of which is to mix in predetermined proportions into a total stream of jets of hot and cold water.
The main part of the mixer is the cartridge (cassette). It is this element that ensures the receipt of a stream of water of a certain temperature.
Structurally, cartridges are different. Moreover, the principle of their action is always the same. The body of the device has two discs (rotating and stationary) and several holes. They do all the work. The holes are aligned in different positions by changing the position of the discs, which allows the user to adjust the temperature and water pressure.
Modern cartridge models can have two or more switching modes. Such devices are made from brass alloys, stainless steel, plastic, and ceramics.Cassettes made of metal and brass under the influence of constant moisture fail quickly enough. Ceramic fixtures are more reliable, but their cost is objectively high. For these reasons, the most popular are plastic cartridges. They are inexpensive. And in terms of reliability, such structures are not much worse than metal ones.
Cartridge breakdowns are caused by various reasons. Let's highlight a few of the most common ones:
Incorrect installation of the crane and gross violations during its operation.
Poor water quality. Perhaps the most common reason for replacing a cartridge in a mixer. It is no secret to anyone that poorly purified liquid is supplied through domestic water supply systems. It destroys the elements of plumbing fixtures. Because of it, salt deposits appear, which disable the equipment in question.
Defects (factory) in the construction of the crane, its poor-quality assembly. Most often, such problems are noted in cheap Chinese-made faucets.
Wear of plates and moving parts as a result of prolonged use of the cartridge.
It is not difficult to understand that the mixer needs replacement or repair. Such a need is signaled by a cartridge leak. At the junction of the elements of the sanitary-technical structure, water begins to show through. If the cassette is not immediately replaced in such cases, very soon the valve body will collapse, and you will have to purchase and install a new device.
Also, repairs are required in cases where the standard operating modes of the mixer are violated - it is difficult (and sometimes completely impossible) to adjust the flow and its temperature, hot water is supplied instead of cold water, and so on. Often, if the lever valve cassette breaks down, it is impossible to close or open the water. Any of the indicated breakdowns should be eliminated immediately by dismantling the old one and installing a new cartridge.
VIDEO
Professionals advise to always use the cartridge models that were originally installed in the stall mixer. But if you can't find such a device, don't panic. You can mount a cassette from another manufacturer. The main thing is that the distance between its rods completely coincides with the dimensions of the faucet in the shower stall. You will not have any problems with choosing a cartridge. The above distance is characterized by standard values - 150, 125, 100 or 145 mm. You just need to measure the distance between the mixer tap and the lever with which you select the operating mode of the device. And then purchase a cassette with suitable dimensions.
In most cases, mixers with two taps are equipped with ceramic and brass cartridges with rubber or paronite seals. And on single-lever structures, ball cassettes are most often put. After you buy a new cartridge and stock up on simple tools - a hex key, pliers, a set of screwdrivers, you can proceed directly to replacing the failed product. First, you need to close the valves on the pipes through which water is supplied to the shower stall.
Then the valve must be disassembled. There is no need to be afraid of this process. How to disassemble a shower stall mixer yourself? Elementary! The algorithm for performing the work is as follows:
Remove the plug from the front of the linkage. There is a screw under it that must be unscrewed.
Dismantle the lever. In some cases, this procedure is associated with certain difficulties due to the presence of solid scale on the structure. The problem is solved simply - the tap needs to be poured with hot water (you can also use boiling water). This will cause the handle to expand so that the lever can be removed without effort.
Unscrew the nut (clamping) - it fixes the cassette, dismantle the cartridge.
You clean the inside of the mixer, check the condition of the sealing rings.If the latter have any flaws, it is advisable to immediately change them so that after a while you will not disassemble the tap again.
Install a new part.
Fix the new cassette with a nut, mount the front part of the valve back, tighten the screw.
All work on installing a new cassette has been completed. Check the mixer for functionality (test its operation in different modes) and visually for leaks. And then feel free to use your shower stall. If replacing the cassette does not solve the problem and the tap does not work as expected, you will have to completely change the mixer. In this case, you will need to unscrew it (the device mount is located on the back wall of the shower stall) and mount a new product. It is clear that such an operation will require more serious financial costs. A mixer is more expensive than a cassette.
VIDEO
Video (click to play).
Note! If you cannot get to the rear wall of the booth (to the point where the crane is attached), you will need to completely disassemble the hydrobox. It is better to entrust this operation to specialists. The knowledge and skills of an ordinary household craftsman may not be enough to disassemble and re-assemble a shower stall.
