Cartridges for shower cabins: characteristics, types, selection rules + replacement instructions

Features of replacement on different mixers

In different models of mixers, disk cartridges may differ from each other in diameter, seating part and stem length. The most common diameter is 40 mm (marked as d40). But often there are cartridges with a diameter of 35 mm. Outwardly, they are no different, except for the size.

As for the landing part, when buying a new cartridge, it is better to have an old one with you for comparison. The length and thickness of the rod, as a rule, is standard, but there are exceptions.

Recently, many manufacturers are using separate disc cartridges in two-valve mixing taps. In such a tap, unlike a mixer with one handle, the cartridge is located directly under the valve and is attached to the body with a threaded connection.

Mixer with separate disc cartridges

Unscrew the cartridge with an adjustable wrench. Otherwise, the procedure is the same as when repairing a single-lever mixer.

In addition to disk cartridges, sometimes there are spherical cartridges.

They are a stainless steel ball with several holes. When the mixer lever is lifted and turned, the holes in the ball are displaced relative to the holes in the faucet body through which water is supplied from the pipelines. In this way, the flow force and the amount of incoming cold and hot water, which is mixed inside, are regulated.

Ball cartridge replacement

Theoretically, the design is quite reliable, but in practice, the cartridge gradually fails due to lime deposits and solid particles of sand settling on the parts of the ball. For this reason, and also due to the fact that special permission is required for the production of ball cartridge valves, such mixers are almost not produced today. The procedure for replacing a ball cartridge does not differ from installing a disk cartridge.

Despite the apparent simplicity of the process, the replacement of the cartridge must be approached responsibly. The main thing in this business is consistency and patience, so that you don’t have to buy a new mixer due to an inadvertently crumbled part or a broken thread. But if the replacement cartridge is correctly selected and installed, the faucet will serve properly for more than one year.

How much does a single lever faucet cartridge cost? This question is of interest to everyone who has encountered a breakdown of this part, which is considered the weakest point in mixers. It is she who is responsible for mixing the water in the taps. For this reason, in the event of a malfunction: the faucet will start to make noise, leak and you will have to replace this part.

To do this, you do not have to call a plumber, but do the repair yourself, since replacing the cartridge in the faucet is a simple procedure.

thermostatic model

This shower faucet cartridge lasts much longer and is recommended for families with children. The mechanism allows not only mixing water flows, but also maintaining a constant temperature at the outlet. The default elevation is 38 degrees, the ideal warmth of water for the body.

Often this leads to pressure interruptions in the water supply system, which affects other components, such as a shower hose.

It is required to measure the length of the slot, the diameter of the cartridge. The number of notches at the divertor determines the number of temperature regimes, there will be from 3 or more of them. An unsuitable faucet cannot be installed on a faucet.

2 Types and methods of installation

Shower faucets are of the following types:

1. Mechanical. They are joystick or valve. The simplest and most common faucets from a financial point of view.
2. Electrical. They are designed for those options when the shower does not have access to hot water, since there is a built-in flow type electric heater inside the mixer.
3. Electronic. These are the most innovative touch panel faucets.

According to the installation method, mixers are divided into:

1. Wall. Their difference from bathroom faucets is that they do not have a “spout”. The control of wall-mounted specimens is touch, joystick or half-turn. Easily mounted, even without the help of specialists, they are used for budget options for showers.
2. Embedded.The main part of the design is installed behind the panel, that is, all unused elements are hidden in the wall, thereby maintaining the high reliability of the entire mixer design, including mechanical damage and high moisture. Very easy to use, as the user only sees the front of the control panel.

What else to pay attention to

In addition to such components, when buying any option for a shower cabin, you should also focus on several important principles. It is they who are able to help you choose the best installation option for the bathroom, which will last a very long time.

It is imperative to pay attention to the quality of steel or plastic from which the enclosing enclosure of the shower enclosure is made around the perimeter. The material must be of very high quality. Otherwise, after a while, you may encounter the problem of cabin leakage, insufficiently tight closing of the doors

Otherwise, after some time, you may encounter the problem of cabin leakage, insufficiently tight closing of the doors.

Be sure to ask for warranty documents and all necessary documentation for installation. In the papers, the goods must fully correspond to reality. So it will be possible to protect yourself from acquiring a fake and be sure that even in the event of a breakdown within a certain period of time, the installation will be repaired by experienced specialists free of charge. After all, well-known and conscientious manufacturers always give a guarantee for their product.

Choose shower cabins of famous brands.They care about their image, so the quality of the materials used in such booths is usually always on top. But still, inspect it carefully at the time of purchase. In case of damage to the material during transportation, the seller will have to make a replacement.

So, which shower cabin to choose - each owner must decide on their own. The main thing is to take into account all the subtleties described above, then the risk of receiving low-quality goods will be minimized.

Reasons for the failure of the shower cartridge

In the process of diagnosing the health of a multifunctional plumbing device, the following problems can be detected:

• hot water supply from a cold water tap;
• the passage of water by the mixer, caused by a violation of the integrity of the cartridge body, or the failure of rubber seals;
• violation of the functions of overlapping / water supply.

If in the process of switching the mode a distinct crunch is heard or the device lever is loose, then it is necessary to make a complete replacement of the cartridge. A jammed distributor causes a complete lack of rotational movements of the flywheel or disrupts the mode of redirecting water to the necessary consumers. The cause of such a malfunction may lie in a complex mechanical failure of the flywheel, which will require replacement of the cartridge.

Most often, the causes of device breakdowns are the initially installed poor-quality model of the mixer. Materials that are not resistant to wear quickly fail, especially the lever head.

Among other things, the service life of the cartridge is drastically reduced when using a shower stall in conditions of poor quality tap water, and the absence of filters at the inlet to the multifunctional sanitary ware causes rapid wear of the cartridge.

How to change with your own hands: instructions

It is not necessary to call a plumber to replace the cartridge in the faucet. Its installation will not cause any special difficulties. The complexity of the task is only to choose the right new cartridge. And this is easier to do, having an old one on hand, which will need to be shown to the seller as a sample. But first, the broken part must be removed from the mixer.

Tools you will need:

• flat screwdriver or hexagon (depending on the type of lock screw);
• wrench or gas wrench.

Before disassembling the faucet, shut off cold and hot water at the inlet. Raise the lever and release the remaining water.

1. With a flat screwdriver, the tip of a knife or just a fingernail, they pry and remove the decorative cap on the lever, under which there is a locking screw.

The decorative cap has blue and red markings.

Depending on the type of screw, loosen it with a hexagon or a flat screwdriver.

To unscrew the lever, you will need a flat screwdriver or hex

Pull the handle upwards. If the lever is stuck to the body and cannot be removed, it is sprayed with a “liquid key” WD-40. Or they use the folk method: water the tap with boiling water. Under the influence of heat, the metal will expand, and the lever will be removed.

After loosening the lock, remove the lever. Unscrew the decorative spherical nut located under the handle by hand.It is not recommended to use force, and even more so use a wrench, since this part is quite fragile and can break.

Unscrew the decorative nut by hand

Under the spherical nut is another one that presses the cartridge to the body. It is unscrewed with an adjustable or gas wrench.

The wrench unscrews the clamping ring

With an upward movement, they take out the faulty cartridge and go with it to the store to buy exactly the same new one.

After removing the fixing washer, take out the core of the mixer

Before installing a serviceable cartridge, the faucet is cleaned inside from lime deposits accumulated during operation, dirt, rust, sand, otherwise the newly acquired part will not fit into place.

Installing a new cartridge is easy and effortless

When installing the cartridge, make sure that the holes on it and on the mixer body exactly match. Special marks in the form of protrusions on the cartridge are designed to facilitate this task.

It is important that the holes on the cartridge and on the mixer seat match exactly.

The crane is assembled in the reverse order: the clamping nut is tightened with a wrench, the decorative spherical washer is screwed in by hand, the lever is put in place, the locking screw is tightened and closed with a plug.

Assemble the mixer in reverse order

Open the inlet water and check the mixer for leaks.

Check the quality of work by running water

Term of use

Although many people do not use the faucets in the shower cabin as often as in the kitchen, their “insides” also fail. This happens with a frequency of 3-7 years, depending on their material and method of use.

Therefore, the service life of devices is often drastically reduced. If this happened to you, do not despair, you should also not rush to purchase a new mixer, you just need to replace the broken element.

Shower faucet cartridges are used to switch modes and supply water at a certain temperature

Types of cartridges and their characteristics

Consider the main features:

In the photo - various types of spare parts for mixers

What to look for when buying

You can buy spare parts for a shower cabin on the construction market, in a specialized trade network or via the Internet. At the same time, the price and quality of the offered goods can vary greatly.

Most often it is not possible to distinguish the products of one manufacturer from another. However, there are companies that produce their own line of models that are micro-options. In particular, this is the company Kludi, which produces very small and thin mixers.

Replacement of the cartridge in the shower cabin is carried out without removing parts from the main panel

How to replace the cartridge

If you have repaired a washbasin or kitchen sink faucet at least once with your own hands, this process will not seem difficult to you. During the replacement, everything must be done in a certain sequence.

So, how to change cartridge in the shower cabin alone:

1. Disconnect the mixer and the mode switch from the central panel. These two devices are adjacent and located on the same brass tube. Therefore, if you need to remove one, you will have to dismantle the second.
2. The second option - both the mixer and the switch remain in place. The instruction allows to carry out repair work without their dismantling.
3. Using a screwdriver or hex wrench, unscrew the set screw that holds the stem lever.
4. Remove the decorative cap.

Replacing the cartridge in the shower faucet starts by removing the screw handle

1. Remove the decorative ring and unscrew the clamping nut on the faucet or the retainer of the water supply cartridge for the shower cabin.
2. Take out the old one and install the new one.
3. Take a wrench of the appropriate size and disassemble the mode switch. If the metal has become stuck after a long operation, pre-treat it with a special liquid so as not to break the part during disassembly.
4. After removing the face of the switch, pull out the failed device from it.
5. Assemble everything in reverse order.

Device for 4 water supply positions

Recommendations:

1. When choosing a device, make sure that the top of the stem matches the inside of the handle. Select slots to slots, and square type with draw bolt to the corresponding option.
2. Also make sure that the number of outputs on the back of the mechanism is the same as how many switching modes you have.

1. During assembly, do not overtighten the decorative trim when tightening.

Pallet repair

shower tray

Water under the shower stall, puddles around it indicate either damage to the flexible piping system, or depressurization of the joints, or cracks in the pan. If at the same time deformation of the pallet or cracks on its surface is noticeable, then the reason is definitely in it.

In case of minor damage, when only the top acrylic layer is affected, it will not be necessary to dismantle the structure. The surface is restored with liquid acrylic:

1. Acrylic is cut off - about 2 cm around the crack.
2. Treat the surface with an alcohol-based degreaser.
3. Fill with acrylic, after mixing the main component of the composition with a hardener.

If the damage is significant - through and through, you need to disassemble the booth and dismantle the pallet.

Required tools:

• putty knife;
• emery skin;
• chisel;
• stationery knife;
• drill with nozzles for stripping;
• brushes;
• fiberglass;
• glue;
• degreaser.

Note that it is important to choose a quality adhesive, such as an EAF epoxy all-purpose adhesive. The order of repair work is as follows:

1. The surface of the pallet on the reverse side is cleaned and treated with a solvent.
2. When it dries, cut out a patch of fiberglass with a margin.
3. According to the instructions, prepare the glue, heat it in a water bath to about 40 degrees to extend the hardening time.
4. The surface of the crack and nearby areas are shed with glue, dispersing the resin over the entire bonding surface with a spatula.
5. Apply fiberglass and press it with a spatula - you need to squeeze the air out from under it. On top, you can add resin to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe crack.
6. Disperse the resin with a spatula.
7. If a depression has formed at the site of the crack, an additional piece of fiberglass is cut out to the size of the deformed area.
8. Another layer of fabric is placed on top, corresponding in shape to the first layer.
9. Leave the pallet to dry (preferably in the fresh air).

On the reverse side, glue may protrude on the acrylic coating, it must be removed in a timely manner with a solvent.

On the front side, the pallet is restored in the manner described above - using liquid acrylic.

How to choose a cartridge replacement type of device - tips and selection options

The choice of the mixer core is an important point that you should pay attention to. If you buy an inexpensive crane with a built-in crane box with a rubber gasket, then this product will not last long

When choosing a replacement cartridge, look at:

If you buy an inexpensive crane with a built-in crane box with a rubber gasket, then this product will not last long. When choosing a replacement cartridge, look at:

Material. The optimal and universal option is ceramics, which will not let water through, and will not leak hot water with high pressure.
Design. As already mentioned, collapsible parts are better because they can change. It is desirable to replace the ball valve with a disk one, which is easier to maintain and longer in operation.
The size

Finding the correct size is extremely important, because if you install a large cartridge, the hose will burst or the threads will wear out. If it is small, there will be a water leak, the faucet will break and leak.

Shower cabins: what types are

Open shower

A shower cabin is a sanitary box designed to receive water procedures.They are open and closed. The first do not have a roof, the space is limited only by the walls of the cabin and the bathroom. In structures, a pallet or ladder can be installed to provide drainage.

Closed cabins are a box with its own walls, roof, pallet. They can be of different shapes. Some of them have a deep tray, so they are used as a bath or for washing clothes. Sophisticated models are equipped with electronic devices, hydromassage, radio, TV.

Shower cabins are practical and functional, becoming more and more popular, because they can be installed in a small-sized bathroom even where the reception of water procedures was not provided.

Cartridge replacement

Before how to replace the cartridge on your own, you need to make sure that the water supply, both hot and cold, is turned off. Any remaining water that may be in the pipes should also be drained.

Removing the cartridge

To work, you will need the following tools:

• screwdriver;
• hexagon;
• pliers;
• oil.

So, the next step is to do the following:

1. The faucet has a special plug in front, it must be removed with a screwdriver, carefully prying along the edges, trying not to damage its integrity.
2. Using a hexagon, unscrew the screw, which is located at the base of the handle. After removing it, you can proceed to the analysis of the mixer.
3. The cartridge itself is located directly below the lever, so the control mechanism must be removed from the mixer. Quite often there are problems with removing the lever, as it can boil or be tightly compressed with limescale.In order to remove it, you can use boiling water, pour it on the parts, and while the metal is in a state of heating, they try to remove it.
4. The cartridge is tightly held by a special nut, which is located on top of it. It is she who presses him tightly to the body and does not give the opportunity to balance. You can remove it with pliers.
5. Next, you need to remove the old, faulty part and replace it with a new one. The main thing is that all the grooves match and the new cartridge sits correctly. It is necessary to carefully check whether all the details of the mixer and the cartridge matched, and only then proceed to attach it.
6. After planting a new part, attach it with a nut and tighten it tightly.
7. The faucet handle is installed in its original place, and the locking screw is carefully tightened. After that, a cap is put on.

Required Tools

Craftsmen are invited to carry out repairs, but if you have the necessary tools, little experience and desire, you can fix the problem yourself:

• screwdrivers of various sizes;
• wrench;
• pliers;
• hex key;
• technical solvent WD-40;
• rag.

Replacing a cartridge requires purchasing a new one. When buying, it is possible to make a mistake with the mounting holes, the diameter and length of the rod. Therefore, it is better to go to the store with a dismantled part. A diameter of 40 mm (known as d40) is usually used, but 35 mm are also found. Stem sizes are generally standard, but there may be exceptions.