Modern plumbing is constantly changing its appearance, using more advanced technologies and materials, so it is not just functional and convenient, but also durable. Thousands of companies around the world are developing durable products that are easy to use and maintain.
For example, double-valve faucets, in which it is difficult to set a comfortable temperature, have been replaced by single-lever models that can be easily opened even with one hand. In this article we will tell you what the device is, as well as how to repair a ball bathroom faucet with your own hands.
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.
Design of single-lever models
A distinctive characteristic of this type of mixer can be considered a lever that simultaneously performs the functions of two heads at once. With its help, the temperature and pressure of the supplied jet are regulated.
In the first case, the tap handle moves to the right or left, in the second - up or down. Typically, these processes are combined, allowing the user to set the option that is most comfortable for him.
The design of single-lever accessories is extremely simple. Typically such a device consists of the following parts:
- body – can be made of different materials;
- spout - depending on the purpose of the tap, it can be low, high or medium;
- switch - a lever with which the temperature and flow strength are set;
- cartridge – for regulating the flow of water, which is an analogue of a faucet axle box.
In addition, single-valve devices also use service elements, such as gaskets. Often such accessories are also equipped with additional components that increase comfort of use. Among them are aerators that saturate the flowing stream with air, built-in dispensers for detergents and much more.
Single lever faucets can be made from a variety of materials. Chrome-plated models have become especially popular, but on the market you can also find accessories made of copper, brass or granite imitation
Kinds
Inside the mixer, as can be seen even from the name of this plumbing fixture, cold and hot water are mixed in order to obtain a stream of optimal temperature. This process is carried out using a ceramic cartridge or ball mechanism. Based on the design of the internal chamber of the mixer, there are 2 types of devices:
- With ball mechanism. The design of a single-lever ball mixer consists of a special round-shaped mixing chamber. This chamber, which resembles a metal ball, has three holes. Cold water flows into one of the holes, hot water flows into the second, and a stream comes out of the third, obtained by mixing these two streams. The rotary lever moves this ball, regulating the temperature and power of the jet.
- With ceramic cartridge. The ceramic cartridge consists of three separate plates; in its lower compartment there are three holes, which are also used to supply cold and hot water, as well as to issue a mixed stream to the faucet spout. However, mixing of flows occurs, unlike the ball mechanism, in the upper compartment of the cartridge.
Faucet cartridge
Important! Despite the differences in the internal structure, models with a ball mechanism and a ceramic cartridge look and function approximately the same. However, there are also differences: the cartridge is better protected from the accumulation of limescale, and the “ball” is resistant to impurities contained in tap water.
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.
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.
Electronic faucets
It’s hard to imagine a high-tech modern kitchen without electronic faucets; they not only have a stylish appearance, but also make washing dishes and cooking easier and allow maximum water savings (up to 33%). The main changes that electronics brings to the functioning of traditional mixing devices are non-contact or touch switching on and off and maintaining the water temperature at a constant level.
Touchless mixing devices
In traditional types of faucets, which do not require contact with the handle to turn on, an infrared sensor is installed that reacts to the thermal radiation of hands brought to it. The sensor is connected to an electronic circuit that controls a solenoid valve that opens and closes the water. To operate the device, a DC power supply is required, which is supplied to its circuit through an electrical converter of 9 - 12 V or four AA batteries with a total voltage of 6 V.
The continuous operating time of the design described above is limited to an average of 1 minute and then the mixer automatically turns off, which is completely inconvenient when using it as a dishwashing or food processing device. Therefore, more practical touch-sensitive faucets are installed in the kitchen sink, which can be turned on and off by touching a hand (more precisely, any part of the body) to a part of the body or watering can.
Wealthy consumers are well aware of the brands of the leading German manufacturers of touch-sensitive kitchen faucets Grohe and Hansgrohe; the Chinese brands Gappo, Russian-Chinese Frap, Russian-Czech Lemark and Czech Vidima have lower prices for similar plumbing fixtures.
Controlling the activation of infrared and touch faucets
Faucets with thermostat
The kitchen faucet with automatic support of the set temperature includes two handles - one is designed to pre-set the flow, and the second is used to set the desired temperature on a side scale.
The main element of a thermostatic mixer is a special cartridge, it contains paraffin placed in a sealed glass, on one side of which a rod with a special control part is installed. As the water temperature increases, the paraffin expands and linearly shifts the rod by no more than 0.6 mm - this displacement is enough to increase the flow of cold water and bring the overall temperature to the set value.
Faucets with a thermostat have a complex design, are too expensive and impractical for use in the kitchen, where the temperature parameters of water are constantly required (from drinking temperature to hot for washing dishes), so their use in kitchen areas is not practiced due to the lack of rational sense. The situation is different with high-tech, ultra-expensive appliances that have a control panel and functions for programming temperature parameters, turning them on and off - they can be used in the kitchen, but more so as a piece of high-tech style furniture.
Thermostatic mixer design
Problems during operation
Even high-quality plumbing fixtures fail over time. The service life of the faucet depends on the material from which it is made, the quality of the tap water and the intensity of use. The most common problems that arise when using single-lever models are:
- Cracks on the device body. They arise due to poor quality material and installation errors.
- Aerator clogged. The cause of this malfunction is the poor quality of tap water.
- Wear of rubber gaskets. Seals are consumables; they wear out over time due to the high intensity of use of the device.
Important! No matter how high the quality of the faucet, it needs preventive maintenance. Even if no problems arise during operation, you need to disassemble the device once every 2 years, clean it, and replace the gaskets. After all, even a small speck that gets under the seal can cause a leak.
Required Tools
Before disassembling the single-lever mixer, you need to prepare the tools. It is recommended to figure out in advance what will be needed for repair work.
Small screwdriver
To disassemble the mixing device, you will need a small screwdriver. This is a universal tool used for unscrewing or screwing fasteners. There are many different types of screwdrivers, which differ from each other in their tips. However, to repair the faucet you will need the usual straight and cross type tools. The width of the tip should not be more than five millimeters.
Pliers
When unscrewing fasteners, pliers may be needed. This is a common tool that should be in every home. When working with a faucet in the kitchen or bathroom, you will need ordinary electrician's pliers made of high-quality steel material.
Hex key
Sometimes you have to use special wrenches with hexagonal tips. They are used if the mixer has fastening elements made in the form of a hexagonal slot. Experts advise using large hex keys, as they have good torque. This makes it easier to unscrew the fastening components.
Lubricants
If the mixer is many years old and difficult to unscrew, you will have to use special lubricants, which include:
- Compressor oil. Most often used to treat automobile air conditioners. Such mixtures include synthetic and petroleum oils.
- Hydraulic oil. Such fluids are petroleum-based and are used in actuators. The main advantage of the oil is its affordable price.
Repair
Many home craftsmen are interested in how to repair a single-lever ball mixer if it begins to work poorly. Experienced plumbers say: if the device becomes unusable, you can only completely replace the cartridge or clean it, as well as replace the gaskets. To do this you need to proceed as follows:
- First, you need to limit the supply of cold and hot water to the mixer; to do this, you need to shut off the ball valves on the underwater pipes.
- After this, use a screwdriver to remove the decorative trim on the rotary handle of the faucet.
Disassembling a ball mixer - Then you should unscrew the fixing screw and nut, which is the cover of the device body.
- Next, you can unscrew the nut that secures the internal mechanism of the mixer in the desired position.
- The last thing you need to do is remove the cartridge or ball mechanism, replace it with a new one, and then reassemble it in the reverse order.
Replacing the cartridge
Please note that each plumbing fixture has its own service life, which depends on its quality and intensity of use. However, this period can be extended if you improve the quality of tap water using a purifying filter, as well as regularly carry out preventive maintenance of the device. For a single-lever mixer, maintenance consists of periodic disassembly and cleaning, as well as timely replacement of rubber seals.
If it's leaking from under your shirt
In some cases, water may leak from under the faucet jacket. The main reason for this phenomenon is considered to be damage to the sealing gaskets, and liquid can leak both in the upper and lower parts in the area where the circular nut is located.
Water from under a gander's shirt
In this regard, when installing a single-lever mixer, you need to firmly tighten the circular nut. This part often gets unscrewed or loosened while the product is being transported, resulting in a small gap. Such a gap is quite enough for water leakage.
If the nut is tightened well, then the cause of the leak will be a faulty gasket . To eliminate the problem, unscrew the nut and remove the nylon washer (serves to create a working gap between adjacent rotating parts of the housing). Next, remove the faucet spout along with the jacket and carefully check the installation locations of the gaskets.
There should be no traces of corrosion, sinks, etc. The only solution to the problem in this case is to replace the gander from the old faucet; in the worst case, you will have to replace the mixer completely.
The second reason for water leakage from the jacket is considered to be wear of the sealing gaskets . Such parts are made in the form of a horseshoe, with their working part facing the water chamber. It is quite difficult to buy a new gasket for a faucet, but it is possible to repair a faucet.
Disassembling the mixer to eliminate leakage from under the jacket
To do this, several layers of fum tape are laid in the seats, which will increase the diameter of the seals and improve their tightness. Next, put on the gaskets, install nylon washers, and assemble the remaining parts of the mixer.
Before installing the tap in a permanent place, check its tightness. If the repair work is done correctly, the water does not flow, then the mixer can be fixed to the sink.
Disassembly instructions
First of all, prepare the tools you will need to disassemble your single lever faucet.
You should have with you:
- Flathead screwdriver.
- Adjustable wrench.
- Spanners.
- Knife.
- Pliers.
This is interesting: How to repair a shower switch in a faucet, expert advice
Next, your actions will be determined by the internal structure of the mixer. Please remember to turn off the water supply before starting work.
With ceramic cartridge
- Using a knife or screwdriver, remove the plug with the red and blue markings.
- Using a hexagon or screwdriver, unscrew the screw whose function is to hold the lever.
- Remove the lever from the body to reveal the top of the cartridge with the adjusting rod and clamp nut.
- Carefully unscrew the clamping nut, using either a wrench (for a faceted nut) or a screwdriver (for a round nut that has recesses and a shoulder) for this manipulation, depending on the type of nut.
- Remove the cartridge, noting its location inside the case.
Ball
The analysis of this single-lever mixer is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Remove the handle by loosening the screw that holds it in place.
- Using a screwdriver, press down on the ring (its notch) so that it turns counterclockwise, but not completely.
- Remove the dome using pliers without deforming the four-prong ring underneath.
- Unscrew the plastic ring from the dome to check the connection, its rotation and the degree of contamination.
- Remove the plastic shield part by cleaning the black part (seal). Sometimes the whole problem lies in the contamination of this part, so after cleaning the faucet is put back together.
- If cleaning does not help, remove the ball from the tap and inspect it. If you need to replace the ball, install a new part in the mixer, and then reassemble the entire structure in the reverse order.
See it clearly in the video below.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=K1K2Sw0428U
A mixer of this type quite often gets clogged at the tap spout point, which is manifested by reduced water pressure, but to fix this problem it is not necessary to completely disassemble the ball mixer. To clean the spout, first unscrew the nut in the faucet spout. Remove the mesh, and after washing and blowing, install it back, then return the nut to its place.
Peculiarities
This type of mixer is a faucet that has only one adjustment handle. Thanks to this design, the water flow in a single-lever faucet is controlled by the movement of one hand.
Its main advantages:
- Quickly obtain a water jet at the desired temperature.
- Ease of management.
- Easy repairs that you can do yourself.
Blockage in pipes
In some cases, after cleaning the filter nozzle, low pressure is still observed. The cause of this problem is often a blockage in pipes or flexible lines that blocks the flow of water.
Most often, such a nuisance is typical for outdated water supply systems where metal pipes are installed. Clogging occurs because rust particles accumulate in the pipes over the years and form a blockage.
If the flexible hoses become clogged, they will need to be dismantled, then cleaned or purchased new ones.
If such a problem is detected, the first step is to shut off the tap water supply. In the case of flexible hoses, you will have to thoroughly clean them using a cable. However, this is only relevant when the blockage is minor.
Rust often accumulates in old pipes
The same should be done with water pipes in case of blockage. If contaminants are collected regularly, it is better to replace them. It is recommended to install modern plastic pipes, because they do not corrode.
Prices for special cleaning products
Special cleaning products
