How to disassemble a faucet in the bathroom: single lever, shower faucet, ball valve

click fraud protection

Disassembled bathroom mixer
  • Design features of bathroom faucets
  • Two-part design of bathroom faucets
  • Single lever
  • Required measures before operation
  • Replacing the cartridge in the lever mixer
  • Replacing parts in the valve cock
  • How to disassemble the shower faucet
  • Useful advices

With all the existing guarantees of quality and durability from manufacturers,or late expires even with the most careful use. If minor repairs or replacing parts are not saved in this situation, there is nothing to do - you will have to replace the entire crane. In case of a repair for you, we have prepared a number of practical tips on how to disassemble the mixer.

Features of the design of bathroom faucets

The most common and customary for everyone is the two-valve and single-lever valves. Both products are characterized only by their advantages, due to which buyers prefer them specifically. But, at the same time, each species has its own weak points. They are most often broken.

Single lever bath mixer

More details you can read in our article about existing types of mixers.

Two-valve

Despite its venerable age, the devices of this design are still very much in demand. Mainly because of the smooth regulation of water flow and temperature, as well as the variety of shapes and design of valves and housings.

Two-valve mixer

The case of two-valve mixers is cast from brass or stainless steel. Inside it are drilled channels for warm and cold water. The main working elements are mounted in the body:

  • Crane-axle boxes .They are driven by valves and overlap the holes in the mixing chamber with rubber gaskets or ceramic discs placed at the ends;
  • Spool valve for switching feed from spout to shower.
Crane-bug and spool valve for mixer

The gander and the shower hose are already attached to the corresponding holes on the outside with the union nuts. On the valve stem, the valves are put on and bolted firmly.

Two-valve mixer

By the way of connection, there are 2 types of two-valve cranes:

  • Connected via a tee( in the form of a "Christmas tree");
  • Connectable via branch pipes.

With a mixer of the first type, the crane-axle boxes are pressed against the seats, closing the openings of 2 parallel channels. Those, in turn, are connected through a tee to the water pipes that are put out in the bathroom.

The configuration with separate nozzles is simpler and allows you to connect to the water pipe through rigidly connected pipes or with flexible hoses.

The main reason for malfunctions in two-valve mixers is the periodic wear of gaskets and rings, which causes closed valves to flow through the water, leaks through the union nuts, and the like.

Single-lever

These products have gained wide popularity due to modern design, compactness and simplicity of water flow regulation.

Single lever mixer

Let's take a closer look at the structure of the single lever mixer.

It can distinguish the following components:

  • The body of the mixer;
  • Regulating handle;
  • Its fixative;
  • Top cover;
  • Clamping nut;
  • Replacement cartridge( cartridge);
  • Sealing washer.
Single lever mixer system
Ceramic cartridge for repair of mixer
Single lever mixer

A cartridge in the form of a metal sphere or a ceramic plate can be installed inside this mixer.

In the first case, a hollow ball with holes is mounted in the mixer body, which is connected to the handle through the rod. The cavity of the ball just acts as a mixing chamber: when the lever is lifted upward, a duct opens into it, and when moving to the side, cold or hot water is drawn. The third hole in the cartridge goes directly to the tap of the tap and delivers water to it.

Often, teflon seals are installed around the inlet holes of the crane.

Constructions with ceramic cartridges are found with both a swivel and fixed nozzle. In all of them, the control circuit is the same. There are 2 ceramic washers tightly pressed against each other. Rotating the crane handle changes the clearance that forms holes in the plates and allows you to regulate the supply of cold and hot water. Lifting the handle opens the valve that closes the mixing chamber.

Modern versions of the cartridge have a restrictive washer to prevent the inclusion of only hot water. Even in the extreme position for supplying hot water to the mixer, there remains some clearance for the flow of the cold jet.

Inside the surface of the holes of the cartridge is covered with silicone or rubber gaskets. At the bottom of the upper washer, there are small furrows or incisions to suppress sound vibrations and water hammers.

The characteristic breakdown in mixers with a ceramic cartridge is a clog between the ceramic plates, which is why it is not possible to completely block the water. Due to the fact that the cartridge is not folding, it will have to be completely replaced.

It is strongly recommended to remove the broken cartridge and bring it to the store to choose a new one of the same size.

Single-lever valves with ball cartridge can be disassembled to clean the surface of the sphere and its seat from clogging.

Before operating

For self-maintenance, consistently prepare for the operation of the :

  1. . Establish the exact location of leakage, jamming or kinking in your mixer.
  2. Ask experienced people or consult a plumber.
  3. Before starting work, close the ball valves on the supply pipes and prepare absorbing sponges and rags to remove streaks.
Crane Repair Tools

To remove the damaged parts and replace them with new ones, we need the following tools and materials:

  1. Screwdrivers( flat and cross-shaped
  2. Wrench and spanner keys
  3. Combination pliers
  4. Hex wrench
  5. New replacement parts

Always at hand for plumbing work,winding( linen, tow, fum), spare gaskets of standard sizes and o-rings. Also, for gentle use of keys, always put a soft cloth to avoid scratching the metal

Replacing the cartridge in the lever mixer

First remove the adjusting lever, remove the plastic cover at the base of the lever( marked with blue and red for hot and cold water) by gently pricking it with a flat screwdriver.connecting the lever with the rod screw and remove the lever

Under the lever there will be a decorative hood that hides the nut securing the cartridge in the casing. It is easy to unscrew it with your hands, and if difficulties arise, then use the adjustable wrench. Take into account that this cap is rather fragile and efforts should be minimal.

Remove the hood and loosen and unscrew the nut. Remove the cartridge and, if you have not yet purchased a new one for replacement, take it to the market or to the store.

When you already have a new cartridge of the correct diameter, you can start assembling the mixer.

Replacement of single-lever crane cartridge

It is important to clean the seat well before installation, remove lime deposits and other dirt.

The order of the assembly after replacing the cartridge is the same, but in the reverse order. When you are finished, open the faucets for tap water and make sure that the mixer is working properly.

Replacement of components in the valve cock

In the event that water flows on the gander, even in the closed position of the valves, it is necessary to remove the crane-boxes and check their condition.

The procedure for removing the crane-axle almost one to one repeats the removal of the cartridge of the lever mixer. First, remove the valve, for which we twist the screw that clamps it. The screw is also hidden by a decorative cover. After that, we remove the hood covering the cock-axle and use the keys to unscrew the fixing nut.

With the crane-axle removed, inspect the rubber gaskets at the end. If they are worn out, then here's the reason for the non-overlapping water. Replace the worn gasket with a new one, and install all the parts to their original positions.

Faucet-cock for faucet mixer

Please note that it is absolutely necessary to screw in the crane-axle with the stem position "fully open".

If the closing and opening in the mixer is controlled by semi-rotary crane-boxes, the problem with water leakage will mean replacement of the entire part.

For sale ceramic or plastic discs for semi-turn cranes are not found separately. It remains only to buy a new crane-axle instead of out of order. To not lose with the right size, take the old item with you.

Two-valve bathtub faucet

How to disassemble the shower faucet

The three-way shower faucet can be mounted in a mixer in three ways:

  • is integrated into the body in a detachable manner;
  • is integrated into the housing by an all-in-one method;
  • is fastened between the body and the spout by means of union nuts.
Bathroom faucet with shower

Built-in cranes manufactured by pressing can not be removed and replaced. This is an attribute of cheap plumbing and the work of such a mixer is designed for 4-5 years at best.

More thorough products often have detachable shower faucets, replacing them is not difficult.

If you take as an example a switch mounted on a movable gander, you can change it by dismantling two union nuts that fix it from above and below.

The very head of the crane repair or change does not make sense. Yes, it will cost inexpensively, but to put it you are tortured.

The switch, mounted in the body, will not be replaced as quickly, but the process is quite familiar. As with the replacement of the crane, the first thing to do is to remove the shift knob, followed by the protective cap. This will give us access to the tap changer switch. Depending on the type of malfunction, you can replace part of the gaskets on it or remove it completely.

Serviceable shower faucet

Useful advices

As words of farewell, it remains for us to give you some more advice:

  • It is possible that on old mixers the locking nuts will be moved from the place will not give rust or a long-lasting raid. Do not take to show your strength - rather thread the shed or the edges on the nut with a key. Apply to stubborn compounds WD-40 spray to remove rust and thread to get weaker without problems.
  • Rarely, but it happens that the previous advice does not help either. There is only one way out - to cut the nut with a turbine in half. Then it can be carefully removed using a wrench and pliers.
  • Make sure that there is no damage to the cartridge and that the rod is normal after moving the mixer. The vast majority of leaks are caused by defects in the cartridge.
  • Take care of the aesthetic appearance of your plumbing and always put fabric under the keys, looking at the chrome parts.
  • If you are the owner of a budget product, be prepared for the fact that the metal in them is brittle and can not withstand the heavy loads during disassembly. Proceed with caution!

We recommend that you read our article on the repair of the bathroom faucet.

instagram viewer