What does a kitchen faucet consist of: 5 different models

A mixer is a basic item in the kitchen that can significantly affect the comfort of cooking and overall life in an apartment or house. Properly selected, it will serve its owners well for a long time. And the first one that comes along often becomes the reason for frequent calls to plumbing workers. You don't have to be an expert to make the right decision. The basis of selection is knowledge of how the device works and what it is made of.

What does a kitchen faucet consist of: 5 different models

A mixer is a basic item in the kitchen that can significantly affect the comfort of cooking and overall life in an apartment or house. Properly selected, it will serve its owners well for a long time. And the first one that comes along often becomes the reason for frequent calls to plumbing workers. You don't have to be an expert to make the right decision. The basis of selection is knowledge of how the device works and what it is made of.

Traditional methods of struggle at home

To cope with urinary stones and limescale on the toilet yourself, you can try using proven folk methods. They will cope with minor as well as old deposits and deposits, especially if we are talking about a local sewer system or a plastic pipeline.

Soda and vinegar

Baking soda has a bleaching effect, so this substance can be used to clean plumbing fixtures. And if you add vinegar to it, the result will be even more positive. To do this, you need to prepare a special solution, when you take a large spoon of soda powder per tablespoon of acetic acid. The cleansing scheme will look like this:

1. First, the sewer system is cleaned and excess water is pumped out.
2. Places with plaque are wiped dry.
3. Wipes are moistened in the resulting solution and applied to the treated areas.
4. After six hours, the remaining plaque is removed with a scraper, and the treated areas are washed with water.

Lemon acid

To remove lime and stone formed on the walls of the toilet, you can try using citric acid. Several sachets of this product should be diluted with a little water to form a kind of liquid powder.

Contaminated areas are treated with the finished composition. The citric acid is left to work for at least three hours. To obtain a more pronounced result, the duration of exposure should be at least twelve hours.

Acetic acid

Acetic acid, without damaging the surface of the toilet bowl, corrodes all existing deposits. You should generously moisten paper napkins in vinegar and apply them to places where there are contaminants. After three hours, the toilet is flushed with water.

Oxalic acid

Oxalic acid also effectively cleans the walls of the toilet bowl. It is better to purchase this product in crystallized form. They need to treat the rim of the plumbing fixtures and areas where there is plaque. The composition is left to act for six hours. The toilet is flushed with water using a brush.

Baking soda

If we are talking about small stains, then ordinary soda will cope with them. It needs to be poured onto places where there is contamination. It is better to leave the product on overnight. After sleep, the soda is washed off with warm water.

Coca Cola

The carbonated drink Coca-Cola will help you get rid of lime and urinary stones on your own. The composition of soda is able to quickly corrode formed contaminants, even if they are old in nature.

To do this, you need to pour Coca-Cola into the toilet, and after two hours, clean the plumbing with a brush. The amount of drink used must be at least two liters.

Design of a two-valve kitchen faucet

Two-valve models are considered a classic version of a plumbing device. Despite the fact that the products are already obsolete, they are in stable demand among consumers. This is influenced by the low cost of plumbing fixtures, as well as the ability to use them in retro-style interiors.

The operating principle of such devices is to control the water flow and temperature of the liquid using two “wings”, each of which is connected to a pipe with the corresponding temperature.

The design of two-valve models consists of the following elements:

• crane axle box;
• "lamb";
• housings;
• aerator;
• spout

The product body is installed in a specially designated place in the kitchen sink. To ensure a tight, airtight connection, a rubber seal is placed at the junction of the plumbing fixtures and the sink.

Based on the type of “controls”, household two-valve models are divided into two types:

• with ceramic discs that rotate relative to each other within a strictly limited radius;
• with valve heads that perform reciprocating movements.

The convenience and ease of use of the mixer, as well as its service life, depend on the design of the faucet axle.

Modern models of plumbing fixtures are equipped with faucet axle boxes with ceramic elements. They are more reliable and durable. The head of such a product supplies or shuts off water depending on the position of small holes on the ceramic plates. When two planes are connected, liquid flows out.

The larger the contact area of ​​the plates, the more intense the water pressure. When the wings are turned so that the holes no longer line up, the flow is blocked.

The design of the ceramic crane axlebox includes:

• stock;
• two aluminum oxide plates;
• turn signal;
• rubber gasket;
• frame;
• fixing device.

The rod is installed in the mixer body, made of brass. If the installation is carried out correctly, you will hear a characteristic sound. Next, the valve is screwed onto the stem. To provide torque from the valve to the ceramic plates, a special turner is used.

To create a tight seal, a sealing gasket made of soft plastic or thick rubber is installed between the rod and the body. If it is damaged, water begins to leak from under the base of the mixer.

Reference. Correct and reliable fixation of the sealing gasket is the key to long-term and comfortable use of the mixer.

How does an automatic mixer work?

The operating principle of single-lever and double-valve faucets is based solely on physics. More modern models work electronically.

The design of contactless models is much more complex than conventional ones. It includes:

• frame;
• thermostat;
• solenoid equipped with a lock;
• sealing material;
• core;
• screening device in the form of a coil;
• membrane installed at the end of the core;
• infrared sensor.

The infrared sensor reacts to movement. When triggered, voltage begins to flow to the solenoid. The shielding coil drives the core, raising it. It is drawn into the cavity of the solenoid, lifting the membrane, and water begins to flow into the tap.

When the power stops flowing, the reverse process starts: the core returns to its original position, the membrane drops.

Such a device requires a constant power supply. To do this, you can use an electrical network, a battery or batteries.

Types of mixers

We have already noted that mixers are produced for rooms with different functional purposes. If you are buying a faucet for a sanitary room, then you can take a closer look at more beautiful, attractive models that will fit well with the interior of your bathroom. But in the kitchen, the most important thing is reliability, durability and performance of several functions. In order not to make a mistake in your choice, you need to get acquainted with representatives of the family of mixers:

1. valve;
2. single lever;
3. sensory.

Kitchen faucet design

The first type of mixers belongs to the classics of the genre, but this does not prevent them from maintaining popularity for many years. The design of a two-valve kitchen faucet is the most familiar and convenient. Usually it has a swivel spout and two faucet axle boxes with which you can regulate the flow of water. It must also be said that they are at the same time the most unreliable and impractical. The locking part of these taps breaks very quickly. If the device has rubber gaskets, they will have to be replaced after a couple of years. It may even happen that when you come home from work, an unpleasant surprise awaits you in the form of a flooded kitchen. If there is a ceramic plate, then although it wears out less, its service life is even shorter.

The quality of water in our water supply systems leaves much to be desired, so most users install filters for purification, but if you do not have one, then it is better not to use valve mixers. Hard and rough particles that can get caught in the water disable the entire mechanism. Replacing parts of such a faucet is a little cheaper than buying a new one. Crane axle boxes can have different speeds, but their restrictive part is fragile and can break at the most inopportune moment.

However, for lovers of unusual and retro items, such faucets are just a godsend. The pens alone are worth it, a real work of art.

The next type of mixers is quite popular. Not only is the design of a single-lever kitchen faucet clear, but operation also does not cause any difficulties. If your hands are dirty, don't worry about turning on the tap to wash away the dirt. To start the operation of these faucets, just a small movement of your finger is enough, and water will flow from the tap. You can regulate the water pressure using a handle that moves the cartridge, or rather, its main part.

The structure of the mixer with a cartridge resembles a ceramic axle-box faucet. The body contains ceramic plates, but they are larger than in valve taps. The service life of such mixers is quite long. Their cost is much higher than valve ones, but their use is much more pleasant. You just have to take into account that in such mixers, if the flow of cold water increases, the flow of hot water decreases, and vice versa. And this is not very convenient when the water pressure is weak.

The third type of mixers tells us that we live in the age of electronics and smart technology. As soon as you raise your hand to the tap, water will start pouring out of it. You will no longer see any handles or valves on it. You just have to take into account that before use, the water temperature and its pressure are programmed, and until you change the settings, both the stream and the temperature will always be the same.

How to prevent malfunctions?

The condition of the mixer and its service life depend on several factors:

• quality of tap water;
• proper installation of the water supply system;
• quality of a specific mixer model.

Inexpensive faucets may look attractive, but they don't last long. The case and internal mechanism, made of low-quality materials, fail quickly and often. Water quality and the design of the water supply system are interdependent factors. As soon as flaws in pipe installation become obvious, they must be corrected immediately.

The presence of coarse filters can significantly increase the service life of a single-lever mixer. Don't neglect this useful device. Water hardness must be taken into account at the stage of purchasing the device. The packaging and/or the mixer data sheet indicates what water hardness the product is designed for. These data should be correlated with information about the quality of water in your own home.

The aerator is another useful factor that can positively affect the condition of the mixer. The device cuts the water flow into separate jets, which visually increases the flow volume. This allows you to reduce the amount of water flowing through the mixer, which leads to saving water and the resource of the device.

Single lever device repair

To carry out repair work you will need the following tools and materials:

Faucet repair tools.

• screwdriver;
• hex key for the mixer mounting screw;
• rubber or silicone gaskets to replace old ones that were previously installed in the mixer body.

Disassembling the mixer begins by disconnecting it from the cold and hot water supply lines by shutting off the valves located on the pipelines. After this, you need to open the mixer tap and release the remaining water from it. Then the fastening screw on the handle is unscrewed using a hexagon, and the handle itself is removed by lightly rocking from side to side.

After removing the handle, access to the threaded connection opens, which must be unscrewed. This connection, once disassembled, leads to the cartridge. There is a plastic part on top of the cartridge that can be removed with a screwdriver. Under this part there is a rubber seal ring, which must be checked for damage or absence and, if necessary, replaced. Very often it is necessary to clean the sealing ring from the deposits that form on it during operation of the mixer.

While disassembly is underway, the holes in the cartridge are checked for blockages. Rubber seals in the housing are checked for their integrity and replaced if necessary. The seals can be easily removed using a thin screwdriver. Installation of new rubber seals is carried out using the same thin screwdriver. Reassembling the device is carried out in the reverse order.

Repairing a mixing device is a fairly simple procedure that can be performed by anyone with minimal knowledge and skills in using tools.

Bathroom faucet repair: shower switch, faucets, cartridge, gander

This article is about repairing bathroom faucets.
In it, we, together with the reader, will have to analyze the typical malfunctions of their components and the technology for eliminating the problem in each specific case. Let's get started. “Everything flows,” said Heraclitus. “Oh, don’t tell me,” agreed the plumber Afanasy.

List of nodes

What can break in the mixer?

• Crane box (screw or ceramic). It stops turning off the water. Another malfunction is observed less frequently: the tap opens, but no water flows;

There is only one reason for the failure of ceramic faucets, and it is not associated with wear or manufacturing design defects. The ceramic plates that shut off the water chip off when you try to close the faucet, which is jammed by debris caught between them. The problem is completely eliminated by installing a pair of coarse water filters at the entrance to the apartment.

• Single lever faucet cartridge;

Single lever bathroom faucet.

• Switch for shower. It can be push-button, lever or ball-type;
• Gaskets under the spout often leak, as well as between the mixer body and the eccentrics;
• Absence or weak water pressure may mean the filter on the gander is clogged;

A clogged aerator filter led to a drop in pressure.

• The cause of a shower hose leak is a rupture of its rubber core inside the armor;
• Poor pressure of hot and cold water when supplied to the shower is a consequence of clogged nozzles of the shower head.

We will move on in this order.

Screw

Modern screw crane box.

Here are their typical faults:

• Gasket wear;
• Noise when opening;
• Leak along the stem;
• Rotating rod.

Pad

In the first case, replacing the gasket is enough to fix the problem:

1. Close the valve on the inlet;
2. Open the box;
3. Remove the wing (the screw securing it is hidden under the plastic insert in the center);
4. We unscrew the valve with an open-end or adjustable wrench;
5. Unscrew the screw securing the gasket or remove the gasket from the “fungus” in the center of the valve;

Replacing the gasket.

1. We install a new gasket;
2. We install the faucet in the reverse order, wrapping its threads with a thin bunch of plumbing flax or FUM tape.

Noise

The noise is caused by crushed and frayed edges of the gasket, due to which the axle box valve begins to beat in the turbulent flow of water. A series of water hammers generated by the valve blocking the seat becomes the cause of the noise. To restore silence, just cut a chamfer around the circumference of the gasket with a knife or scissors.

The edges of the gasket must be rounded, with no edges protruding beyond the edges of the valve.

Leak along the stem

If the axle box flows along the rod, a worn out oil seal is to blame (a sign of a gland box is the gland nut under the wing) or worn out rubber sealing rings.

To fill the gland packing, it is enough to unscrew the gland with the valve box closed and place several turns of the graphite gland thread under it. After sealing the packing with a screwdriver, tighten the seal with moderate force. Problem solved.

Oil seal packing on the valve body.

How to change o-rings?

1. Turn off the water and unscrew the faucet from the mixer;
2. Turn the stem out completely. In this case, the hexagonal rod with the valve will fall out of the axlebox body;
3. Use a screwdriver to pry and remove the rod-fixing bracket under the wing;
4. Push the rod in the direction away from the thumb . Rings are available for replacement. Reassembling the axle box is performed in the reverse order.

Disassembling the axle box with o-rings.

Broken thread

It is the thread that is torn off on the rod or on the axle box body that is the reason that the valve turns. In this case, the crane box changes entirely. As a temporary measure (say, at night when plumbing stores are closed), the leak can be fixed by installing a thicker gasket.

Ceramic

Repairing a ceramic axlebox is not exactly impossible, but rather problematic, since it is almost impossible to find ceramic plates on sale separately from the body. When the plates are chipped, the axlebox changes entirely.

The device of a ceramic faucet.

In addition to chipping of the ceramic plates, the cause of a leak in the ceramic faucet may be that the ring gasket between it and the mixer body is not pressed tightly enough. In this case, it is enough to give away the locking ring and tighten the axle box.

Cartridge

The single-lever faucet cartridge is used to regulate the temperature and water pressure. Its device is very similar to a ceramic faucet: the water opens and closes with the mutual displacement of two ground ceramic plates.

Operating principle of a ceramic cartridge.

Here are typical cartridge failures:

• Chips of plates. The reason is an attempt to shut off the water when sand or scale gets into the mixer;

And in this case, the occurrence of a problem can be prevented by installing coarse filters at the entrance to the apartment or house.

• Broken plastic plate holders. The reason is the sudden closing of the water by hitting the handle with the palm of the hand;
• Broken rod connecting the cartridge to the mixer handle. The reason is the same - rough mechanical impact.

Cartridge with a broken rod.

Seven troubles - one answer: in all cases the cartridge needs to be replaced.

How to disassemble the mixer to access it?

1. Locate and remove the plastic plug on the handle;
2. Remove the screw underneath it;

It can have a head for both a flat-head screwdriver and a hex head.

The screw that secures the handle to the rod is hidden under a plastic plug.

1. Remove the handle;
2. Unscrew the decorative nut under the handle;

To avoid leaving scratches on the chrome surface, unscrew it yourself, without using a pipe wrench. If your hands slip, wear medical gloves or wrap the nut with rubber (bike inner tube, medical rubber bandage, etc.).

1. Unscrew the hex nut under the decorative one (using a wrench);

Single lever faucet repair: cartridge available for replacement.

Reassembling the mixer with a new cartridge is performed in the reverse order.

The faucet cartridge can have a diameter of 35 or 40 mm. To avoid making a mistake with the size, take the faulty part with you to the store as a sample.

Button

A push-button shower switch for a faucet can upset its owner in the following ways:

• Stopping turning off the water in extreme positions;
• Spontaneously switching from shower to gander with low water pressure.

The cause of the first malfunction in modern faucets is wear or destruction of the rubber valve. In this case, it needs to be replaced. Fortunately, in most new plumbing fixtures, the bath-shower switch for the faucet is designed as a separate unit that screws directly into its body.

The switch is made as a separate unit on threads.

The cause of the second problem is that the return spring is too strong. You need to cut off one or two turns with side cutters.

You need to cut off a couple of turns from the return spring.

Lever

How to repair a faucet if the lever switch stops working (it can be easily recognized by the handle moving 90-120 degrees)?

Mixer device with lever switch.

To access the switch you need:

1. Remove the plastic plug on the handle;
2. Remove the handle;
3. Unscrew the nut underneath;
4. Pull the rod with the eccentric towards you;
5. Remove the gooseneck and nut under the shower hose;
6. Remove the barrel with gaskets.

The most common malfunction that prevents the switch from operating is the destruction of one or both gaskets on the barrel. They are replaced with new ones.

If not available, the gasket can be cut from the inner tube for the truck. It is cut in a circle with ordinary scissors; The hole for the mounting screw is cut out with a punch made from a thin steel tube with a sharpened edge.

If the handle moves freely, but the water does not switch, the cause may be a broken eccentric lug that drives the gasket barrel. In this case, the switch changes entirely. The repair kit consists of an eccentric and a barrel.

Repair kit for lever switch.

What does it look like to repair a shower switch in a faucet if the handle periodically gets stuck in intermediate positions?

Alas, no way. The reason is the wear of the guides on the mixer body. The device is completely changed.

Ball

Alas, I cannot tell the dear reader absolutely nothing about its repair. The fact is that in my memory not a single switch of this type has broken yet.

This, by the way, leads to a rather obvious instruction: if you are just going to buy a faucet for the bathroom, you should prefer a model with a ball switch.

It is easily recognized by the handle, which turns a full turn.

Only faucets with faucets - ceramic and (less often) screw ones - are equipped with ball switches. Interestingly, the price of these extremely reliable appliances is on average lower than that of frequently broken faucets with push-button and lever switches.

The photo shows a mixer with a ball switch.

Gasket under the gooseneck

If the faucet spout is leaking, the most likely cause is wear of the O-ring that seals its connection to the body.

To replace it you need:

• Unscrew the nut on the spout with an adjustable or pipe wrench with rubber placed under its jaws (so as not to damage the chrome coating);

To access the gasket, you need to unscrew the nut on the gander.

Gander spacers are rarely sold separately. They can be found as part of gasket kits for plumbing repairs.

Replacing the gasket on the gooseneck.

Gasket under eccentrics

What does it look like to repair a bathroom faucet if it leaks at the connection with the cams?

1. Turn off the water;
2. Unscrew both nuts that secure the mixer body to the feet;
3. Remove the gaskets from the union nuts and install new ones in their place;
4. Installation of the mixer is carried out by alternately tightening the nuts by 1-2 turns to avoid distortions.

New gaskets should be made of moderately soft rubber or silicone. Hard paronite (“cardboard”) gaskets are evil in their purest form. Trying to tighten them often leads to stripping the threads on the nuts.

Paronite gaskets under the nuts of the ankle boots. Remove and discard.

Aerator filter clogged

If both cold and hot water flow from the gander in a thin stream, but flow into the shower head with normal pressure, the culprit is the filter on the gander aerator. It needs to be cleaned of scale and sand. If there are several stainless steel meshes in the filter, throw away all but two.

Dismantling the aerator.

Washing the filter.

Shower hose leaking

What should I do if my bathtub shower faucet is leaking in the shower hose?

Inside the stainless steel armor of the hose is a thin rubber core. Over time, it becomes calcified and loses its elasticity, which soon leads to rupture of the thin rubber.

To replace the core:

1. Unscrew both hose nuts;
2. Using a knife, pull out the bushing from one of them;

Like that.

1. Remove the core from the sleeve;
2. Pull it out of the armor from the other end of the hose;
3. Remove the core from the second sleeve;
4. Reassemble the hose in reverse order with the new core.

Solid plastic hoses avoid this problem and last for decades. Their only drawback is hardness at low water temperatures.

Vinyl hose with metal reinforcement.

Poor pressure in shower head

The reason is that the nozzles of the watering can become overgrown with lime.

There are two possible solutions to this problem:

• Remove the watering can and place it in a solution of acidic or alkaline detergent for a couple of hours;

This method is only suitable for white plastic watering cans. The decorative coating will peel off from a metal or chrome-plated plastic watering can in an aggressive environment.

• Clean the nozzles with a needle. This method is ideal for watering cans with rubber nozzles.

Rubber nozzles can be easily cleaned with a needle or pin.

Conclusion

Of course, in a short article I could not talk about all possible malfunctions and ways to eliminate them. However, I hope that the solutions I have described will allow the reader to enjoy impeccable plumbing performance for many years to come. As always, you will find more information in the video in this article. I look forward to your comments. Good luck, comrades!

Source: https://eto-vannaya.club/santehnika/smesitel-kran/remont-smesitelya-v-vannoj-pereklyuchatel-na-dush-600

What happened

Valve mixers consisted, in fact, of two taps. More precisely, the correct name is valve-type mixers. If you remain an adherent of the usual plumbing equipment and are going to install such a device on the sink in a new kitchen set, remember its correct name by type, and also know about the principle of operation by studying the internal structure of the kitchen faucet.

Oh, times, oh morals...

Elements of valve type mixers

1. Frame.
2. A spout, which is sometimes motionless, being part of a solid cast body.
3. Two valves.
4. Crane axle boxes.

This type of plumbing equipment comes either with a tee or with pipes that are connected separately to the cold water and hot water pipes.

Valve type mixer design in the photo

The inconvenience of using this type of mixer is the need to turn the stem by rotating the flywheel. In this case, the threaded supply forces the rod inside the kitchen faucet to move progressively, tightly closing the water supply hole with a rubber or paronite gasket.

There are two disadvantages in this case:

1. The gasket wears out sooner or later; minimal repair of the device is required, albeit with your own hands.
2. It is inconvenient to turn the flywheel with wet, and especially dirty, and even more especially with busy hands. Moreover, after grease or detergent, you have to wash the faucet itself.

Additionally True, crane axle boxes also come with ceramic plates instead of rubber gaskets, so the first point can be excluded. But this inconvenience does not go away...

Design

A single-lever bath mixer is structurally different from a double-valve one. It has only one lever handle, with which you can regulate the temperature and water pressure in the tap. This type of faucet is also known as one-armed bandit, ball, joint, joystick. It performs three main functions: mixing water at the optimal temperature, forming a jet and changing its power. The mechanism of its action is quite simple:

• By turning the handle horizontally, you can change the water temperature from cold to hot.

  
  Single lever mixer

• By raising or lowering the lever in the vertical direction, you can adjust the flow power. The higher the handle position, the more powerful the jet.

Please note that a single-lever faucet consists of the following structural elements: a rotary handle, a faucet cover, a spout with a faucet body, an internal chamber or cartridge, as well as several gaskets and seals.

Mixer structure and its features

Today, single-lever models, which are considered durable, functional, reliable products, are in greatest demand. Many compatriots still prefer 2-valve mixers, which, in their opinion, are easy to operate and repair.

A new product on the market is thermostatic models. The difference between the design is the ease of regulating the pressure and temperature of the water.

Models differ according to the type of installation:

• Installed on the side of the bathtub;
• Mounted on the wall.

To understand the operating principle of the entire design series, we will answer the question - what does the mixer consist of?

Two-valve mixers - an unshakable classic

The main element of this type of design is the crane axle box. With its help, you can adjust the pressure and temperature of the water. Until recently, taps were everywhere and were widespread, but with the advent of single-lever models, the demand for them fell. Despite the recession, “classic” models continue to be successfully sold and used in such styles as country, retro, and classic.

The 2-valve model has many positive qualities, among which we will highlight only the main ones:

• Price (the average price for such a bathroom faucet ranges from 900 to 5,000 rubles);
• High quality. This is due to the fact that the design of the mixer is simple - a few nuts, gaskets, two valve axle boxes, a pair of valves, eccentrics;
• Easy to repair. Even without the skills, you can repair the structure without calling plumbers - bathroom faucet parts are sold in any store;
• Expiration dates. By making repairs and simply fulfilling operating requirements, the device will last a long time without causing inconvenience.

The cheapest bath products are produced in Turkey, Russia, and China. More expensive ones are produced in Germany, Italy, Spain, and Austria.

Single lever mixer - internal design

The single lever bathroom faucet is based on a single lift and swing lever. With its help, the water supply level and temperature are regulated. To understand the internal structure of the mixer parts, you should disassemble it and study all the parts in a separate order.

The device comes with mounting elements, which include:

• Expansion nuts;
• Sealing (silicone or rubber) gaskets with a mesh filter;
• Decorative overlays (made of steel);
• Set of eccentrics.

Single lever or single lever models

These models have only one handle. It is she who regulates the water flow parameters. It is worth noting that the water temperature can be adjusted either separately or simultaneously. Such devices are also called one-armed and single-grip. If we consider the operating principle of these mixers, they are divided into ball and cartridge. The latter have become more widespread. If the control handle of a product is located horizontally, then it is called joystick.

The main advantages of single-lever designs are comfortable operation. They are very easy to operate with one hand. And such products can last for many years. True, the last factor strongly depends on what kind of water flows in the pipes, that is, on its quality. This is where the main disadvantage of single-lever models comes from. Thus, in urban networks, water enters apartments and houses with a large amount of garbage, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. Because of this, mixers break down ahead of schedule. For this reason, when using single-lever products, it is better to install a water purification filter. After all, if a mixer of this type breaks, you will have to buy a new cartridge for it, the cost of which is quite high.

As with valve models, single-lever faucets also have improved models. They are distinguished by the presence of a function that allows you to save water. It consists of two operating modes. One mode is for saving, and the second supplies water with a strong flow. But in order to switch to it, you need to make some effort to overcome the resistance that arises when trying to fully open the lever.

Additional functionality and features

In addition to their design differences, kitchen faucets are distinguished by their aesthetic value and small but remarkable details that make the faucet ideal for your kitchen:

• high spout - convenient if there is a need to collect water in a tall and large container, for example, a bucket or jug;
• possibility of rotation - the greater the rotation angle, the more convenient the kitchen faucet;
• direction of the stream to the center of the sink - the stream of water from the tap should hit the center of the sink at an angle of at least 90 degrees. When you turn on a stronger pressure, if you have chosen the spout correctly, the stream falls a little closer to the edge of the sink. This is the most convenient option for washing dishes. If the spout is too close to the edge of the countertop, water will splash onto the floor;
• retractable hose - these faucets are especially convenient if you need to fill a large pot or bucket with water. Thanks to the hose, this can be done outside the sink. The hose is made of high quality rubber and protected by a textile or metal braid.

Structural distinctive characteristics of kitchen faucets

The classic system, which has a device with 2 valves and a spout between them for supplying water, is called a “herringbone”. In this design, the water supply is “handled” by a valve (in the language of plumbers - a faucet, in everyday life - just a tap). The tightness of the connections here is guaranteed by a rubber (sometimes leather) gasket, which wears out after some time. The cause of faucet leakage is not only the wear of the gasket, but the ingress of hard particles under it. But changing the gasket will not be difficult, and it is not at all expensive.

Do-it-yourself faucet repair.

Single lever mixers. Here, the main existing parts include a pair of spherical surfaces with holes, which, thanks to the turn of the handle, are combined, changing the pressure force and temperature. Very often, metal-ceramic (in much inexpensive products - plastic) plates are used as surfaces. The control of such a mixer is simple and clear. The disadvantages include a certain sensitivity of the product to the presence of foreign small particles in the water. When they get on the ceramic surface, the impermeability is broken, and the mixer always begins to leak. And therefore it is reasonable to use filtering elements.

Another way to construct a kitchen plumbing fixture is wall-mounted. This mixer connects well to the pipe wire laid in the wall. Control can be done using 2 valves or using a single lever design. When repairing or replacing such a faucet, it is best to call a specialist, because... incorrect dismantling leads to the disassembly of part of the wall around the device if you spoil the thread on the pipe or break it.

Exotic

Just to complete the coverage of the market offerings, we will mention some unusual sink faucets.

• Products with photocells supply water when hands approach . They are very expensive and cannot be repaired in everyday conditions.
• The thermostatic sink faucet allows you to set the desired water temperature in degrees . Thermostat dosing the ratio of warm and cold water, possibly electronic or mechanical.

• A device with a built-in flow-through heater is connected only to cold water . Compared to the design of a simple mixer and a separate storage or instantaneous water heater, it is interesting for its compactness.
• Sink faucets in the classic style are stylized as retro only on the outside . These are ergonomic and high-quality modern devices. Stylization is contained in the shabby brass finish and deliberately massive lambs.
• Kitchen faucets with a shower head are quite ergonomic when there is a need to rinse the notorious huge pan or wash fruit.

If you haven't been to a plumbing store for a long time and haven't been interested in new products in this area, then replacing your existing faucet with a new one can leave you completely confused. A huge selection of different models of bathroom and kitchen faucets will make even the most demanding buyer confused. Cranes vary in type of construction, design and materials of manufacture. Manufacturers of plumbing equipment produce both new modern models of faucets, as well as classic ones, which have been popular for many years.

But despite the great variety of different mixers, they are all divided into several types according to the principle of their design.

• single lever;
• double-lever;
• joystick;
• push;
• single valve;
• two-valve;
• sensory;
• electronic.

The design of each type of mixer tap differs in its design features, which contain the advantages and disadvantages of a particular model.

Single lever mixer device

The single-lever mixer was invented in the middle of the last century and has not lost its popularity among consumers since then. It is unpretentious to use and even the most inexperienced plumber can fix it. One of its advantages is its long service life. This occurs due to the fact that the faucet elements do not have any rubbing parts and gaskets between the parts. The models are designed in such a way that the temperature can be quickly adjusted to the desired level using the handle. To do this, just turn the lever to the right or left. To increase or decrease the water flow, just move the joystick up or down.

In turn, single-lever models are divided into:

• Ball Valves;
• cartridge taps.

To understand the advantages and disadvantages of each model, it is necessary to understand the design of each model.

Ball mixer device

The name for the ball mixer speaks for itself - the main part in its design is a special ball. It is he who regulates the water pressure and temperature.

Advantages and disadvantages

Many homeowners pay attention to the single-lever mixer, because its design, repair, and installation are simple, but at the same time very effective and functional. These more modern devices differ from two-valve ones not only in their more aesthetic appearance. They are also very convenient to use; they allow you to more accurately and quickly adjust the water temperature and reduce its consumption. But they also have disadvantages:

• Demanding on water quality. Single-lever faucets, due to the nature of their design, are very sensitive to impurities contained in tap water. Due to its poor quality, they often become clogged and then stop working. Models with ceramic cartridges especially suffer from this problem.

• Low maintainability. It is almost impossible to repair a single-lever faucet with your own hands; you can only replace some of its parts, for example, seals or the entire cartridge.

Remember! To increase the service life of a single-lever mixer, you can improve the quality of tap water by installing a special filter, as well as perform timely preventive maintenance of the device.

Design and principle of operation of single-valve mixer models

Single-valve taps supply hot or cold water and have the following design:

• copper chrome-plated mixer body - sometimes made of brass;
• valve - made in the form of a worm or ceramic axle-box valve;
• rotary mixer spout - made in the format of a curved tube inserted into a vertically located body.

Interesting fact! The connection of the taps with the swivel spout is carried out using plastic rings installed in a pair of grooves made in the spout as in the photo.

The operating principle of single-valve faucets depends on the type of shut-off mechanism used. Ceramic axle boxes are formed from a pair of plates, one of which is static. When the user opens the faucet, the top plate rotates and is displaced by the rod. After aligning the holes of the mixer plates, water penetrates into the inner hole and, bypassing the spout, seeps into the sink. The design of the worm axle box of the mixer is based on the use of a rubber gasket used in the circuit and pressed against the saddle using a rod.

Other types

Using a thermostat in the design allows you to obtain the desired temperature of the water stream and maintain it constantly.
But faucets of this kind are more expensive than conventional options. Thermostat sensors are the weak part of these devices. It is quite difficult to replace a failed element yourself: it is usually installed in the internal part of the structure, and therefore you will have to completely disassemble the mixer. The use of electronics, infrared radiation or ultrasonic sensors allows you to save water, since the locks on the faucet are activated and allow a stream of water to pass through only if a person places his hands under the spout of the device. But such devices have not yet become widespread due to their high cost. They are mainly used in luxury hotels and inns. If such a device fails, you will need a highly qualified plumber who is familiar with electronics.

If you need it in the bathroom, then to dismantle the old and install a new unit you need the following tools and materials:

• adjustable wrench and wrench;
• figured and simple screwdrivers;
• pliers;
• Teflon tape or tow.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=P21oWbMEErU

It is necessary to know the structure of the mixer in order to promptly change worn out rubber gaskets and failed shut-off valves during its operation (if a standard device with one or two valves is used). If the lever version has deteriorated, then the cartridge may need to be replaced. To do this, clean the seat from lime particles (plaque) and install a new one.

The best manufacturers on the market

Modern single-lever models are very popular, which is why they are presented in the collections of leading companies engaged in the production of plumbing accessories. Among the most famous brands belonging to different price categories are the following.

GROHE - wide functionality and high quality

None of the faucet ratings is complete without models from the German brand Grohe. Despite their rather high cost, they have earned the attention of consumers with their modern design solutions, durability and reliability.

Accessories of this brand are often equipped with many additional options, which ensures comfortable operation. Among the wide range of single-lever kitchen appliances, users most often note the Concetto 32663001 model with a 45-centimeter pull-out spout, which practically replaces a pull-out watering can.

The faucet uses a virtually silent aerator and a reliable SilkMove ceramic cartridge. A popular model for the bath is the Euroeco 32743000 faucet with an aerator and a special water saving regulator.

Grohe faucets and other accessories have a classic design, making them easy to fit into any room design.

LEMARK - original solutions

The Czech company produces mainly single-lever products with a high spout, which are convenient to use in the kitchen. Sometimes they also have a built-in dispenser into which liquid detergents are poured. The models are available in a wide range of shades, which allows you to choose the faucet to match the color of the sink.

At the same time, the catalog also presents traditional chrome-plated products, which serve as a universal option. The top best models according to users included the Comfort LM3061C kitchen mixer, as well as the Pramen LM3318C shower unit.

Owners of these devices note the impressive design of the devices, thoughtful design and high quality. Some claim that they have been using Lemark accessories for several years without any repairs.

Lemark single lever faucets are often equipped with additional accessories and fixtures, such as a pull-out shower head, for added ease of use.

OMOIKIRI - Japanese technology

Plumbing accessories from the Japanese brand “Omoikiri” impress with their unique design, as well as the highest quality and long service life. The manufacturer provides a five-year warranty on all products. Many models have a double spout, thanks to which tap water is supplied separately from drinking water.

The rating of the best models for the kitchen includes the Tonami-C single-lever mixer, made of lead-free chrome-plated brass. The accessory has a double spout with a 360° rotation angle and a built-in aerator. At the same time, users note the reliability and durability of the crane.

Although the cost of Omoikiri products is quite high, users consider it justified. The models are distinguished by their reliability, long-term operation, and original appearance.

IDDIS is the best Russian manufacturer

The products of the Russian company are very popular due to their diverse range and affordable price. They are also of acceptable quality and, with proper care, can last up to 5-7 years without repairs.

Among the accessories that have earned high user reviews, we can note the universal single-lever faucet IDDIS Vane VANSBL0i10 with a swivel spout, a retractable head with a square shower, and an aerator nozzle.

The reliable and simple kitchen faucet Alborg K56001C is also popular. Due to its low spout, this model is best used in shallow sinks.

IDDIS models usually have a classic design and a chrome-plated surface, making them a perfect match for common stainless steel sinks

KAISER - German quality at an affordable price

The Kaiser brand produces a wide range of faucets that have different types of spouts - pull-out, stationary, rotary, flexible. The products are distinguished by their magnificent appearance, while their cost is quite affordable.

Among the presented models, users especially noted the Kaiser 13044 kitchen faucet with a body made of high-quality brass.

In addition to its excellent appearance, this sanitary accessory has two built-in aerators and a water filter. The high spout has the ability to rotate 360 ​​degrees, which guarantees easy access to all corners of the sink.

Kaiser catalogs present not only traditional chrome options, but also stylish accessories made in bronze or granite.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The video below describes in detail the structure of a single-lever mixer, its disassembly and correction of the most common breakdowns:

Single-lever faucets are a modern type of plumbing fixture that has gained popularity due to its excellent consumer properties. The advantages of such devices include a long service life and ease of maintenance.

The ability to correctly disassemble an accessory will help you quickly replace a failed part. Thanks to this, the service life of an expensive product is extended and there is no need to replace it.

Would you like to talk about how you selected or repaired a single-lever faucet? Do you want to share your own experience as a novice plumber that might be useful to site visitors? Please write comments, ask questions, post photos in the block below.

Help in choosing

So, dear reader, goes shopping, and I will try my best to help him make the right choice.

Lever or taps

First things first: all faucets with screw faucets are significantly inferior to single-lever faucets in terms of fault tolerance .

Screw valve is a hopelessly outdated type of shut-off and control valves.

The design of the screw valve itself has two serious drawbacks:

1. It requires periodic (every six months to a year) replacement of gaskets. The wear and tear of rubber is inevitable, like the collapse of capitalism: it wears out and rapidly loses its elasticity;

Gaskets are the weak point of screw valves.

It is the deformation of the gaskets that have lost their elasticity that leads to the “growling” of open taps, especially on hot water. The untidy edges of the gasket, coupled with the mobility of the faucet valve, create turbulence in the water stream; a valve in a turbulent flow periodically opens and closes a hole in the seat under the valve body, causing a series of weak and frequent water hammers.

1. The threads in the valve body also wear out. Wear is accelerated if the valve has to be tightened with noticeable force due to gasket wear. As a result, sooner or later the thread breaks and the water stops shutting off.

The direct competitor of the single-lever mixer is a device with ceramic faucets. And in this case we observe a completely different level of fault tolerance:

• The service life of ceramic faucets is practically unlimited. In my memory, not a single axle box died due to natural wear and tear: all the breakdowns were the result of an attempt to forcefully close a tap jammed by sand or scale. Please note: the problem of debris in water supply pipes is completely solved by installing coarse filters at the entrance to a house or apartment;
• The production of silicone grease has virtually no effect on the effort required to regulate the water. The area of ​​the ceramic plates in the axle box is too small to provide significant resistance to the rotation of the crane.

The design of the ceramic faucet does not include a single quickly wearing unit.

The only advantage of a single-lever faucet is the ability to adjust the temperature and water pressure with your wrist or elbow - it will be very useful in the kitchen when you don’t want to smear the plumbing with your hands stained with mayonnaise or sour cream gravy. In the bathroom, this opportunity, you understand, is not so important.

A single lever mixer is very convenient in the kitchen.

Summary: for the bathroom it is better to prefer a device with ceramic faucets.

Faucet in my bathroom. In three and a half years, only the shower hose was replaced.

What to look for when buying

How to choose the highest quality faucet if your choice is still on a single-lever design?

Silicone gaskets are more elastic and durable than rubber ones.

Currently (May 2016) the price of a high-quality bathroom faucet is in the range of 2000 - 3000 rubles. The high cost means that the manufacturer is charging an exorbitant amount of money for their label; a cheaper device makes you wonder how much was saved in its manufacture.

Locking element options

In models with one lever, two types of units that regulate water flow can be used. Let's take a closer look at their device.

Ball lever

Such a unit is a ball made of stainless steel, in which special holes and fasteners are provided, with the help of which the sleeve with the ball located inside is attached to the structure.

When the lever is turned, the holes on the ball move, blocking or clearing the path for the movement of cold and hot water, thereby regulating the temperature and flow pressure.

Schematic representation of a single-lever valve with a ball functional unit, with detailed illumination of all fastening, safety and other service elements

Lever valves with a ball mechanism are highly resistant to hydraulic shocks.

However, such models have a number of disadvantages, which include:

• relative high cost;
• rapid accumulation of scale on the ball element;
• intensive wear of rubber gaskets.
• the difficulty of repair, which is why you often have to dismantle the old one and select a new mixer.

Due to the listed disadvantages, mixers of this design are used less and less in everyday life and in production. In contrast, ball valves, installed in front of plumbing fixtures on water supply pipes to control the water supply, have almost completely replaced valve models.

Disc crane models

Such accessories are favored by consumers and specialists. The operating mechanism of such mixers is ceramic disc cartridges, similar to ceramic disc mechanisms that are used in two-valve devices.

The disk mixer, a schematic representation of which is shown in the figure, is considered a more practical functional model, since it allows cartridge replacement

Externally, this element looks like a plastic cylinder, usually blue. However, hidden under the body are two plates made of snow-white, carefully polished ceramic. One of these disks can move depending on changes in the position of the lever.

In order for water to flow into the spout, the holes on the upper and lower parts must match. If this does not happen, the flow is blocked and does not enter the tap.

Disc models have a number of advantages:

• moderate cost;
• the ability to replace cartridge elements, which facilitates repairs;
• reluctance to form scale, which hardly accumulates on ceramic surfaces.

The weak point of such structures is their sensitivity to foreign inclusions in the water flow, as well as to sudden pressure surges in the water network.

The cartridge discs are made of well-polished ceramic, which ensures a good fit. The service life of mixers largely depends on the quality of these parts.

Pros and cons of waterfall taps

It is believed that, thanks to the wide spout, the cascade mixer will become simply an indispensable assistant for quickly filling the bathtub.
But the throughput of the faucet directly depends on the outlet diameter of the holes for hot and cold water, so the shape and size of the spout do not matter.

The mixer will dispense exactly as much water as it receives. Therefore, only waterfalls with a wide liner can quickly fill the bathtub.

Another common misconception is ease of maintenance. Indeed, compared to a standard gander, where only the filter mesh and spout are cleaned, removing rust or calcium deposits on a wide, and especially glass, plate is a long and rather complicated process.

Therefore, the real advantages of waterfall taps include only the original appearance and lower noise effects compared to the narrowly directed flow of water from a standard mixer.

But the list of shortcomings will be much longer:

1. High cost - a cascade faucet will cost several times more than a good mixer from a brand manufacturer.
2. Difficulty in installation - many waterfall models require separate mounting on the side or preliminary installation of inlets along the wall or floor.
3. Higher heat loss when filling the bath compared to the operation of a conventional tap.
4. The inability to switch to a narrow stream when necessary to draw water into a small container or vessel with a neck.
5. Increased humidity in the room due to intense evaporation of warm water from a wide spout, which can lead to the development of fungus and mold, damage to finishing materials with insufficient ventilation.
6. Large consumption of water when necessary, for example, just to wash your hands or wash your face.
7. Fixed design - it will not be possible to redirect the jet.

Therefore, cascade mixers are more often used for filling bathtubs, and less often for washbasins. But they are practically never found on kitchen sinks, because here functionality is more important than the aesthetic spectacle of flowing water.

Detailed information about choosing a kitchen faucet is written in this article.