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Single-lever mixers attract with their laconic design and easy control of the water flow. Turning on the water, changing its temperature and pressure – all this with one turn of the knob. These devices are reliable, have a solid service life – some branded ones give a 5-year warranty. Nevertheless, repairs to the single-lever mixer are periodically necessary.
Types of single-lever mixers and their device
Despite the external similarity, there are two types of rotary or single-lever mixers – with a cartridge (cartridge) and ball – with a ball inside. You can repair any of them, but for this you need to disassemble them first. And so that you can not only disassemble, but also assemble, it is advisable to get acquainted with the internal structure of each.
Cartridge mixer: structure
Cartridge faucets are so named because their locking and regulating mechanism is hidden in a special cartridge flask. In more expensive models of faucets, the cartridge body is made of ceramics, in cheaper models it is made of plastic. What these models are good for is ease of repair, but it is not always easy to achieve the required pressure with them – you need tighter control of the handle. But changing the temperature of the water is very easy – with a slight movement of the hand.
The structure of a single-lever valve with a cartridge is simple. If you go from top to bottom:
- Switch with fixing screw.
- Locking (compression) nut.
- Cartridge. It mixes the streams of water, the same device shuts off the water.
- The body of the mixer, which has a seat for the cartridge.
- Fasteners, studs and gaskets to ensure tightness.
- Spout (gander). It can be a separate part – in swivel models for the kitchen or part of the body – for sinks in the bathroom.
- If the spout is separate, gaskets are still installed from below and there is still a part of the body.
The cartridge itself contains several (usually 4) specially shaped ceramic or metal discs. A stem is welded to the upper disc. By changing the position of the rod, we change the position of the plates relative to each other, changing the amount of water passing through the holes in the plates.
In order for the faucet / mixer to work normally, the plates are lapped very tightly. For this reason, cartridge single-lever mixers are very demanding on water quality. The ingress of foreign fragments between the plates leads to the fact that the valve flows or stops working altogether. To avoid this, some manufacturers put filters on the inlet pipes. But, it is better to put filters on the water supply and get clean water that can be safely supplied to household appliances.
Single Lever Ball Mixer
It got its name because of the element in which water is mixed – a ball with cavities. The ball is usually metal, hollow inside. Its outer part is polished to a shine. There are three holes in the ball – two for the entry of cold and hot water, one for the exit of already mixed water. A rod is attached to the ball, which enters the cavity on the handle. This rod with a rigidly attached ball changes the temperature of the water, its pressure.
It is easier to adjust the parameters with such a device – the parts are well ground in, the handle moves easily. Ball mixers are less critical to the presence of mechanical impurities, but they do not respond very well to the presence of hardness salts and excess iron. So for normal operation, pre-filtering is also required here.
How to disassemble and repair a faucet with a cartridge
Repairs to single lever cartridge faucets often involve overhauling and cleaning the O-rings. Salts are deposited on them, debris and dirt accumulate, which is why the tap starts to leak. To eliminate this nuisance, the mixer is disassembled, all parts are wiped from contamination (with warm soapy water), rinsed, dried, and put in place.
Let’s figure out how to disassemble the cartridge faucet. First turn off the water, and then the procedure is as follows:
- Remove the decorative cap on the handle. Just pry it off with a screwdriver.
- Behind it is a mounting screw. We unscrew it with a hex wrench and take it out.
First unscrew the fixing screw - Now pull up the shift lever.
- Further, a decorative washer is screwed onto the body or simply installed. We’re filming it.
- Loosen the clamping nut. It has a large diameter, so you may need an adjustable wrench or a set of open-end wrenches.
- We take out the cartridge. We examine it.
- Below are gaskets, fasteners and studs. It is necessary to remember exactly the order of their installation. Sometimes it even matters which side they are laid on. Therefore, when disassembling, be careful.
Actually everything. Dismantled single-lever mixer with cartridge. As you can see, there are not many details. The main working part is the cartridge. In it, inside, mixing takes place.
Replacing the cartridge
The cartridge itself has a sealing gasket – a rubber saddle at the bottom, which ensures a snug fit to the body. Over time, rubber loses elasticity, water begins to ooze. If this is the problem, you can first try to clean this ring from the salts and deposits that have formed on it. Put the cleaned part in place, check the work. If the leak does not stop, you will have to change the cartridge.
Faucet cartridges have different diameters, inlets and outlets are located differently in its lower part. Therefore, if you need to replace it, first you disassemble the mixer, get the treasured part and go to the store or the market with it. You need to choose exactly the same model without any deviations. At home, install the cartridge in the case, turn it slightly until you feel that it “sat down” in place. Next – assembly, it goes in the reverse order.
Install the clamp nut first. Actually, at this stage, you can check how the new cartridge works. Turn on the water, adjust the temperature and pressure with the rod. To make it more convenient, you can put a handle on the stem. If everything is fine, continue the assembly.
We disassemble and repair a single-lever ball mixer
The single-lever ball mixer was invented just over 40 years ago. Its design is simple and reliable – actually there is nothing to break. If problems arise, it is only because of poor-quality water – particles of dirt settle on the rubber saddles on which the ball rests. Contact deteriorates, water seeps in and the faucet starts to leak.
Some ball valves are also implemented with a cartridge. Only inside the cartridge are not plates, in a ball. Disassembly of this type is no different from that described above. All the difference is hidden inside the flask. There are also other types of faucets. In them, the locking ball is installed directly in the rubber socket. There are some minor differences here.
The tap lever is removed in the same way – first remove the plug, then unscrew the screw with a hexagon. Pull the lever up, remove it. After the action is very simple and similar to those described above:
- We unscrew the cap, preferably with our hands, since it is usually made of thin metal, it is easy to bend it.
- We unscrew the clamping nut, there is a washer under it, we remove it too.
- Opened access to the ball. We pull the rod, we take out the ball.
- There are two saddles under the ball, with springs so that the rubber bands are pressed against the ball more tightly.
All disassembled. Next is the repair of a single-lever mixer. In theory, the problem is that deposits have accumulated at the point of contact between the ball and the seat. They must be removed – carefully clean, wipe. There may be issues with the springs. They also sometimes accumulate dirt, but more often they simply lose their elasticity.
The third source of problems is the ball itself. In general, it should be made of stainless steel, respectively, it only needs to be cleaned of deposits. In reality, this is not always the case – cheap taps have appeared even with plastic balls or cheap metal. In this case, peeling of the surface or other similar troubles may be observed. Such a locking element will no longer work normally. It must be replaced. With the ball, you also go to the store, select a replacement of the right size. Assembling the mixer in reverse order: springs from the saddle, there is no place for the saddle, there is a ball on them, etc. When assembling the entire structure, carefully center everything – the skew will lead to rapid wear and the faucet will leak again.
Repair of a single-lever faucet with a swivel spout
Faucets with a swivel spout are installed on sinks in the kitchen or bathroom. From time to time, a leak starts from under it. The locking mechanism in this case is not to blame, just the gaskets have lost their elasticity or the lubricant has dried up.
In this case, disassemble the mixer as described above, then remove it by pulling up the spout. Remove all old gaskets. If they are stuck, you can use a flathead screwdriver or even a knife blade. You need to remove them, but they still need to be replaced. On the removed gaskets, select new ones. It is desirable that they be made of silicone, not rubber. Silicone is more elastic, retains its properties longer, better tolerates contact with water.
Lubricate new gaskets with sanitary silicone grease, install in place. Install the spout in place. It must be pressed down well so that it rests against the union nut on the mixer body. Next is the assembly of the rest of the mechanism.