The ball mixer in the kitchen dripped. How to repair a mixer with your own hands? Detailed instructions. Faucet repair: work procedure

The faucet is running! This is probably the most common expression in the topic of plumbing repairs. In this article, we will analyze how you can fix a single-lever or, as it is also called, a flag mixer.

They are widely used due to their ease of use, and most likely, they are used by you in the bathroom and in the kitchen.

The main control element of such a mixer is a cartridge, and if water flows from under the lever of your tap, then it's time to change this element. This is not difficult, it is enough to know the order of work.

Let's get started!

Faucet repair in photo examples

First of all, you need to remove the decorative cap - a plug, which, using colored marks, indicates the position of the lever for supplying cold and hot water

The opened hole gives access to the fixing screw that fixes the cartridge and the lever

Using a screwdriver (usually negative, but not always), unscrew the screw and remove the lever

Then we unscrew and remove the decorative cover, which is attached to the external thread of the circular nut

Using a wrench, unscrew and remove the circular nut

We take out the damaged cartridge and change it to a new one of the same size (the common diameter is 35 mm and 40 mm)

There are two conical protrusions on the cartridge, which play the role of guides, they must coincide with the place of their landing in the mixer body.

We repeat the assembly of the mixer in the reverse order. If the case is not damaged by corrosion (it happens) and has no mechanical damage, then the cause of the leak has been eliminated!

Lever and have a similar structure, so the leak from under the lever is repaired in the same way, by replacing the cartridge.

Video explanation | Single Lever Faucet Repair

Single-lever faucets are a new trend in the arrangement of a modern bathroom or kitchen. The standard herringbone faucet and wall-mounted faucets are losing their popularity against the background of such a functional and stylish counterpart. A single-lever (or joystick) mixer is a body with a plate in which cold and hot water are mixed. The plate acts as a lever. Such a design can be made of ceramic, metal or plastic.

In the event that the joystick mixer fails, it must be disassembled and the problems that have arisen corrected. To eliminate them, you need to know the varieties of "one-handed" mixers, as well as the principles of working with them.

Types and features of mixers with one lever

Exist 2 types o lever cranes:

Advantages and disadvantages of joystick mixers

Single lever faucets have become popular due to convenience and ease of use. With the help of such mixers, the water of the desired temperature is quickly regulated by moving the lever to the right or left. To increase or decrease the water pressure, the joystick is adjusted from top to bottom. In addition, single-lever faucets demonstrate long service life. This is due to the fact that in the design of such mixers there are no rubbing metal elements, as well as rubber gaskets between the moving parts of the crane.

The disadvantages of a ball valve are considered rapid wear of rubber seals. Therefore, in order to avoid breakdowns and clogging of the mixer, it is recommended to replace these parts every 2 years. Failure of a single-lever faucet can occur if abrasive elements (for example, sand) enter it along with water. That is why it is so important to install special filters that prevent clogging.

Some cheap models of cartridge faucets are difficult to adjust to a comfortable temperature that is within 35 - 41 degrees. This is due to the fact that inexpensive analogues such mixers have a small angle of water temperature setting. Such a design does not allow for fine adjustment, which is not inferior in accuracy to mixers with a ceramic faucet box. But disk models of well-known branded productions have wide angle setting up to 15 degrees, which allows you to quickly and easily get the desired water temperature. This functionality is achieved through a special design and quality material details.

How to properly disassemble a disc mixer

If there is a breakage of the plates in the sleeve of the tap, it is necessary to disassemble the mixer. This will require the following tools: screwdriver and hex wrench.

Instruction:

Tip: before buying a new cartridge for the mixer, you need to take with you an old disk that has already failed. The thing is that cartridges can have different hole diameters (3 or 4 cm) and latches on the bottom plate of the cartridge. Therefore, there is a risk of purchasing a larger or smaller disk. Also, when choosing a new cartridge, it is necessary to pay attention to the disk with a silicone gasket, since it is less susceptible to water.

How to properly disassemble a ball mixer

This type of single-lever faucet is just as easy to disassemble as a cartridge faucet. In this case, it must be borne in mind that if a serious breakdown occurs, you will have to replace the entire faucet. If the malfunctions in the operation of the tap are insignificant (for example, when the mixer is turned on at full power, the water jet is weak), it is necessary to disassemble the mixer and repair it yourself. The cause of such a breakdown may be a clogged faucet. abrasive substances.

Instruction:

1. Remove the nut from the faucet spout.
2. Pull out the mesh by washing it with water.
3. Install the nut and mesh back into the mixer.

If the faucet is leaking, replace rubber seals for new ones. To do this, you will need: a screwdriver and a hex wrench.

Instructions for replacing the rubber seal:

1. The screw is unscrewed and the lever is removed.
2. The connection is removed from the thread, then the screw is unscrewed with a screwdriver. Usually a plaque is collected on it, which must be removed with a cloth.
3. The rubber seals are removed and replaced with new ones. The ball is also removed.
4. After replacing the gaskets, the ball is installed in its place. Seals are fixed with a plastic nut.
5. The lever is installed, the screw is fixed. At the end, it is necessary to check the operation of the mixer system by opening the tap. There should be no water leaks.

Prevention of breakdowns of a single-lever mixer

In order for joystick cranes to serve for a long time, it is necessary:

Knowing the scheme and principle of operation of single-lever mixers, you can independently repair a failed joystick crane.

How to repair a mixer (video)

The sound of dripping water is not only annoying, but also increases your utility bills. The cause of this sound is a malfunction of the mixer. To repair a kitchen faucet, it is not always necessary to invite plumbers for this. Some breakdowns can be easily repaired with your own hands, saving money and gaining good experience.

Schematic diagram of a kitchen faucet.

Kitchen faucet repair: when is it needed?

Any mixers can break. This is especially true for the kitchen faucet, as it is used more often than the bathroom faucet.

Repairing a faucet in the kitchen is not very difficult, you just need to identify the cause of the breakdown.

Repair of the kitchen faucet is necessary in cases where:

• leaking from under the flywheel;
• flows through the spout nut;
• flows between the valve head and the male thread.

Mixer assembly diagram.

Most often, the design of the kitchen faucet has a high spout. Mistresses consider such a kitchen faucet the most convenient of all for a reason: it allows you to fill even deep containers with water. Such a mixer can be of a single-lever ball or two-valve type. The convenience of a ball mixer for the kitchen is that the water can be turned on and off with one hand. There are fewer parts in such faucets, so it is much easier to repair them yourself. Most often, the need to repair a ball kitchen faucet arises due to the fragility of the shut-off valve.

Repairing a faucet in the kitchen requires the appropriate tools and materials, the list of which may vary depending on the nature of the malfunction. A complete set that will allow you to quickly and efficiently repair the faucet in your kitchen with your own hands includes the following tools:

1. Hexagons.
2. gas keys.
3. Screwdriver Set.
4. Large pliers.
5. Regular wrench.
6. Tape FUM for sealing threaded connections.
7. Vinyl tape (it will need to wrap the sponges of the keys in 2-3 layers to prevent scratching the surface of the mixer).

Do-it-yourself kitchen ball faucet repair procedure

Installation of a kitchen faucet (useful tips).

You can prevent the annoying sound of dripping water even during the installation of the kitchen faucet, or rather, even before it is installed. The probability of an early failure of the ball mixer will be significantly reduced if you install filters for cleaning on cold and hot water pipes. Indeed, during repair work, as a rule, it is necessary to change the entire ball module, and this work is more expensive and time-consuming than installing filters. A ball mixer can leak for a variety of reasons. The most common of them is the wear of the inner gasket and mechanical damage to the mixer body, which leads to the appearance of a chip or crack.

As already mentioned, repairing the faucet in the kitchen can be done by hand. Before starting work, turn off the water supply and prepare a shallow container to drain the water remaining in the kitchen faucet. If the product was purchased in a good store, you should have the manufacturer's instructions with a description specifications this model, perhaps this information will be useful to you.

A small chip or crack can be covered with sealant. If the size of the crack is large enough, then it is better to replace the valve completely. If no visible damage is found, and the faucet is still leaking, then the cause is most likely a worn gasket. To replace it, you must first remove the valve.

We disassemble the mixer

Do-it-yourself mixer repair.

It is necessary to carefully unscrew the nuts on the main body of the product. In many models, the nuts are hidden under an additional housing for a more beautiful appearance. The housing can be moved with little effort, gaining access to the fasteners. It is because of the additional housing that the ball mixer at first glance looks non-separable. However, its handle has a hole for a hex key. With it, the dismantling of the crane begins. If you do not have a special wrench, gently tap with a hammer through the screwdriver. The top seal of the ball is located directly under the nut. Inspect the gasket and ball. Particular attention should be paid to its upper part, because. That's where the valve holes are located. The surface of the ball should be shiny and one-color.

The ball body has 3 holes with rubber seals. These holes are supported by springs, which must be removed with a screwdriver. The failure of these springs can also cause leakage. In this case, the springs must be replaced.

Ball Mixer Gasket Replacement

If you disassemble the product in order to replace the gasket, be sure to purchase a new one first. Gaskets are sold in all hardware stores. A faucet gasket is a rubber ring whose main function is to seal the joint. The diameter of the ring should be slightly larger than the diameter of the socket in which you found the leak.

After replacing the gasket, it is necessary to tighten the nuts very carefully, because among the causes of gasket wear is not only long-term use, but also excessive tightening of the connection. For rubbing parts, a small amount of non-toxic silicone lubricant should be used. With it, the mixer will last 1.5-2 times longer than without it.

For models built into the sink, wear can be the cause of leakage ceramic cartridge built into the faucet. The procedure for replacing it is no more difficult than replacing the gasket. You just need to remove the cartridge from the case and install a new one in its place.

Do-it-yourself two-valve mixer repair

No less common are two-valve mixers. Weak point such products is a rubber gasket. In particular, this point concerns the hot water tap: due to constant heating, the gasket collapses much faster.

Buy a new gasket. Shut off the water supply, then unscrew the handwheel of the valve to be repaired and leave it in open position to protect the faucet parts from overpressure. Remove the decorative caps (red and blue) from the valves, unscrew the screw holding the flywheel with a screwdriver. After that, using an adjustable wrench, you need to unscrew the fixing nut. After the head is removed, you can see the malfunction - a deformed head on the valve. Remove the contents and install a new gasket. There are models of cranes in which the gaskets are fixed with special nuts. If there is one on your faucet, then it must be removed, and after installing a new gasket, return it to its place.

Seal leak is a common problem.

Another fairly common malfunction of valve kitchen faucets is gland leakage, which occurs due to wear of the gland packing. To understand what repair work to be performed, it is necessary to disassemble the mixer in the manner described above. Sometimes it is enough just to seal the gland packing, and in some cases it has to be completely changed.

After disassembling the product, try tightening the gland bushing more tightly. If after that the flow has stopped, you can collect the faucet. If the leak continues, you will have to replace the packing. As a stuffing, an ordinary twine soaked in machine oil, a piece of rubber tube, and burlap threads are suitable. However, this is only if an old Soviet-made faucet is installed in your kitchen. If the faucet is new, then just buy suitable spare parts at the plumbing store.

Stuffing must be laid in a clockwise direction. Seal each next layer with a screwdriver. Here it is necessary to find a golden mean, avoiding gaps and overpacking. The bushing should be twisted by 2-3 turns of thread. After completing the repair of the kitchen faucet with your own hands, check its performance. Before turning on the main water supply valve, both taps must be returned to the closed position.

Since kitchen faucets are used much more often than bathroom faucets, there are more problems with them - failure, leakage and other breakdowns. In some cases, you have to completely change the device. If the faucet in the sink in the kitchen is leaking, repairs can be carried out with the help of a locksmith or on your own. Do-it-yourself repairs will require a little experience, the availability of tools and knowledge of the design.

Signs for repairs

Repair of a faucet in the kitchen is required under the following circumstances:

• there is a leak from under the nut at the spout, as well as from under the handle, valve, during switching on;

• failures in the movements of the lever, for example, the inability to fix it or there is scrolling;
• weak jet with strong pressure in the water supply;
• dripping water with the faucet closed.

If any of the described symptoms appear, it is necessary to immediately carry out repairs in order to increase the service life of the device and prevent flooding.

Features of different types of mixers

In kitchens, it is more common and practical to use traditional faucets, with one or two levers. Common parts include body, spout, aerator and gaskets for sealing. The rest of the parts are very different.

Two-valve valves

This technique is classic and very simple. Under the flywheel, which rotates when the water is turned on, there is a faucet box that performs a locking function. In devices where it is necessary to turn the flywheels to stop and supply water, worm-type axle boxes are installed. They are based on rotating movements, the more you unscrew the valve, the more water will come out through the spout.

There are axle boxes with ceramic panels, with which only half a turn needs to be done in the tap to supply water. During opening, the holes match, water flows through the spout. The cost of the box is low, you can always find it in a plumbing store and make a replacement.

Single lever types

A single-lever faucet in the kitchen is considered more fashionable and modern. With its help, the pressure and temperature are regulated by only one lever. Water is mixed using a hollow ball or cartridge.

When using ball tools, note that they will have 3 holes. 2 inputs, where hot and cold water, 1 day off - needed to drain into the sink. The mechanism itself stands on 2 rubber “saddles”, and when the lever is shifted, you can set the desired pressure and water temperature. Fixation is carried out with a sealing cuff and a nut for the stopper.

The main malfunction in case of tightness failures is small specks and debris that is in the water pipes. To fix the problem, you need to disassemble the faucet and remove the dirt.

Cartridge devices work by analogy, but there is no ball mechanism inside. The internal structure is significantly different. There are 3 holes available, as in the first case, but inside the cartridge are small ceramic discs, with which the water supply is adjusted. If such a device flows, then the repair is almost no different from the ball type.

Causes of a mixer leak

A kitchen faucet leak can have a different nature and causes. The main types include the following:

• the appearance of water from under the gander. A common problem if there is a two-valve faucet. The reason is the wear of the gaskets, which fail when the water is turned on frequently. To replace, it is enough to unscrew the nut, remove the gander and put a new gasket or cut it out of rubber. When reassembling, do not tighten the nut tightly so as not to damage the base, especially if it is made of silumin;

• leaking from the valve or inability to completely close the water. To solve the problem, the axle box assembly is changed;

• leak under the sink. Often the problem is hidden in the hoses that bring water to the faucet or the wear of the gasket at the connection points. Repair consists in the usual replacement of the hose or seal;
• low-quality mixer. The problem appears very often, especially if a Chinese crane is purchased. The service life is only a couple of years, after which it begins to flow;
• improper installation or poor quality of work performed. The leakage problem is caused by incorrect selection of gaskets or poor connection of parts;
• improper use of the mixer. Problems begin when turning the handles at a different angle or increased effort on the levers.

If the mixer does not work well after a certain period of operation, and there are no obvious reasons, then the problem is hidden in limescale on the parts. To solve the problem, you need to disassemble the device and completely clean it of salts using household chemicals.

It is not uncommon for a leak problem to occur when a new faucet is installed, although this should not be the case. In this case, there is room for marriage and the product must be replaced under warranty. It is strictly forbidden to repair the device, as this will not make it possible to make a replacement.

Self-repair of faucets

Before you remove the faucet and carry out repairs, you need to prepare a tool. This will require:

• wrench or set of keys;
• screwdriver;
• replacement parts, depending on the type of damage;
• lubrication in the form of WD-40 to make it easier to unscrew parts;
• pliers.

Regardless of the type of mixer, before starting work, it is necessary to turn off the water supply and drain the residues from the system. After that, repairs can be carried out based on design features mixer.

Single Lever Taps

The main principle of work is the gradual implementation of actions and accuracy. The execution steps are as follows:

1. Using a small screwdriver or a knife, remove the plug on the mixer body.
2. A screw will be visible in the hole that connects the lever and stem for adjustment. With the help of a hexagon, it is unscrewed.
3. The lever is removed from the body, the protective cover is unscrewed, under which there is a clamping nut. It must be carefully removed with a wrench.
4. For a ball device, there will be a cuff for sealing under the nut from below, the ball is pulled out, inspected for cleanliness and deformations.
5. The cartridge is removed from the cartridge faucet and inspected for damage.
6. Parts are replaced, everything is assembled in the reverse order.

It is not necessary to tighten the nuts very tight, so as not to cause deformation of the elastic bands for sealing and failure of the tap. For smooth running and longer service life, silicone grease can be used. For clarity of repair, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the video:

Two-valve valves

The procedure for repairing faucets for 2 valves is almost the same, and how to disassemble it correctly is presented in a step-by-step guide:

1. Pry off the plug on the valve flywheel and remove it.
2. Loosen the fixing screw with a screwdriver.
3. Remove the flywheel to get to the axle box, unscrew the part counterclockwise and carry out a detailed inspection.
4. The worm gear is often damaged gasket, so it must be changed separately. The axle box with ceramics changes as an assembly.
5. After completing the work, you need to assemble the mixer in the reverse order.

In addition to the tap leak, there are others possible problems. For example, the degree of contamination of parts, namely the aerator, depends on the quality of tap water. Solid debris accumulates inside it, and when there is a lot of it, the pressure is significantly weakened. To do this, you need to replace the part or simply remove it for cleaning.

If there is a crack in the product, then it is necessary to change the mixer completely. To temporarily solve the problem, you can seal the hole with sealant.

Complete faucet replacement

If it is impossible to repair the faucet and eliminate the leak, then you need to buy a new plumbing fixture and replace it. To do this, you need screwdrivers, keys and containers for water. Regardless of the mixer models, the replacement procedure is the same and is as follows:

1. The first step is to remove the old faucet. First, turn off the water supply from central system, the valves on the tap open to completely relieve pressure and remove residues in the system.
2. Open flexible hoses from the supply pipes, drain the water in them into a bucket or basin.
3. Disconnect the siphon from the sewer, if desired and possible to remove the sink, this will greatly simplify further work.
4. Unscrew the fixture of the mixer from the bottom of the sink, get the product with hoses through the hole in the sink.
5. To install new equipment, you should buy hoses and screw them to the mixer. It is important to monitor the presence of gaskets and their correct location.
6. A sealing ring is placed in the faucet body so that water does not get under the cabinet.
7. The hoses are inserted into the sink hole, the mixer is fixed with a special plate. It is held on with one bolt.
8. If the sink was removed, you need to fix it back, seal the joints with sealant.
9. Connect the hoses to the pipeline, install a siphon and turn on the water supply valve.

After the work has been done, check the operability, the presence of leaks on all connections. More often it appears at the junction of a hose with a mixer or pipeline.

Prevention

Faucet repair may not always give good results, in some cases it is required complete replacement device. Experts advise sticking to a few simple rules with which the equipment serves for a long time:

• if possible, install filters for coarse purification of water in order to prevent the ingress of specks and other dirt from the water supply;
• if you install a filter for cleaning from salts, then the parts will be protected from lime, so you can forget about leaks and repairs for a long time;
• Brass is considered the highest quality and most durable mixers, and low-quality ones are made of silumin. Often, cheap faucets are produced by Chinese and Turkish manufacturers;

• single-lever designs are more modern and more convenient, they are easier to repair.
• to clean the body and other parts, it is better to use cream-like substances or gels that are suitable for the metal of the mixer. Do not use brushes or alkaline cleaners;
• to save chrome all traces of detergents must be removed immediately with plain water;
• gaskets and other parts need to be changed once every 2-3 years, possibly more often. This preventive measure is much cheaper than replacing the entire faucet;
• open and close the valves must be fully, but without effort.

Knowing what to do when the faucet in the kitchen is flowing, you can replace parts or the entire faucet yourself. Often the described schemes are suitable for all appliances, including in the bathroom. Before performing work, it is important to determine the cause of the leak, and when choosing new mixers, you should buy only high-quality goods, not give preference to cheap products.