The device and repair of a bathroom faucet: the main types of breakdowns + recommendations for their elimination

Causes of failure

Apparently, the main reason for the breakdown of the mixer is the dubious quality of the product itself. The market is overflowing with Chinese-made low-quality sanitary ware, such a product in itself is not able to last for a long time. When buying a new faucet, the desire for savings can greatly fail in the future. It is better to immediately spend money and buy high-quality plumbing. and not to change the mixer or its components every six months in the event of an emergency.

Bath mixer with shower

Mixers are two-valve, non-contact and single-lever.The most common mixer failures are:

• weak jet of water;
• tap water leaking;
• water enters the gander and shower at the same time, or the switch does not work at all;
• the switch is broken;
• button mechanism does not work.

Consider a two-valve mixer

This problem occurs in all types of mixers - with one lever, two, even with newfangled touch. If water flows from the faucet when it is closed, this is a sign of a problem with the gasket or ceramic layer. Replacing the gasket in the faucet is the easiest type of repair work that is easy to do with your own hands.

Design of a two-valve mixer

First you need to disassemble the double-lever crane:

1. Decorative elements are removed from the valves. These are flat plates with the inscriptions "Hot" and "Cold" or color coding;
2. Each valve is connected to the body with a set screw. It must be removed coaxially with the axis, not bent in different directions;
3. After that, the decorative cover between the body and the valve is removed. It is removed by hand or with a wrench (in the second case, be sure to protect the tap with a cloth, electrical tape, etc.).

4. The locking mechanism is removed. Before dismantling, be sure to turn off the water. The locking core is unscrewed with an open-end wrench of a suitable size and carefully removed from the base;

5. After removing the sleeve, you will see that a rubber gasket is installed on the outside, and a ceramic layer inside. Depending on the condition of these structural details, it is possible to determine the cause of the malfunction and eliminate it;
6. Assembly is carried out in reverse order.

In some old faucets, a thin twine played the role of this gasket. She wrapped the gland.If this is your case, then you can do without changing the rubber gasket. Just change the harness.

Another common nuisance is the breakdown of the axle box crane. This is a locking mechanism in which ceramic gaskets and rubber bands are installed. The box itself is fixed under a decorative cover, which is removed according to the instructions above.

Bushing crane design

How to disassemble and repair the faucet box in the mixer:

1. The upper part of the locking mechanism is unscrewed, ceramic parts and rubber gaskets are visible in the hole. They pull out carefully. Be sure to remove the outer gasket;
2. With a light movement, push the box out. If it is tight, then we recommend lubricating the part with machine oil;
3. If the box itself is damaged (cracked, rusted or thinned in some places), then it can no longer be repaired. But most often the rings that are installed on it are erased;
4. Locking rings are made of various materials: PTFE, rubber. The average element thickness is 1 mm. If a replacement part is required, then a similar new spare part is selected and installed in place of the worn one.

We eliminate the leak in from under the single-lever mixer

The cause of such a breakdown may be a failed cartridge. Here, to carry out the necessary work, you will need a new cartridge, pliers and a hex screwdriver. Usually, when buying a device, they immediately buy a spare cartridge for the mixer. If you have not done this, then you should buy a new one only after you have dismantled the old one, which will serve you as a sample. In order to fix the problem, you will need to do the following:

• remove the plug from the lever;
• dismantle the fixing bolt;
• remove the lever;
• dismantle the old cartridge;
• install a new cartridge purchased according to the model of the old one;
• do everything in reverse order.

Varieties and devices of mixers

To start repairing a faulty faucet, you must first understand the types and arrangement of mixers, and then skillfully eliminate the breakdown.

First you need to understand what is inside the bathroom faucet. The information obtained in the future may be useful in order to understand the principle of operation of a particular model.

All types of bathroom faucets can be divided into 3 types:

• sensory;
• lever;
• valve.

Let's take a closer look at each of them.

1. Sensory. In this mixer, the role of the control link is played by special photocells that give a signal. As a result, the device turns on and off. Repairing this mixer with your own hands is quite difficult. In order not to risk, it is advisable to entrust the device to professionals.
2. valve. This type of faucet with a shower switch has a very primitive device. It consists of a body, drain and valves. The plumbing fixture is designed for manual opening and closing of the faucet and faucet box. The latter can regulate the flow of water up or down. In old Soviet models, you can still find rubber seals, and in more modern ones, ceramic plates.
3. Lever. This type of mixer is now very popular. This device is a typical lever model, which consists of the following parts: body, spout, ceramic or ball cartridge. In the latter, the procedure for mixing hot and cold water is constantly carried out.After some time, the ceramic cartridge must be removed and replaced with a new one.

If you make a mistake during installation, then in the future it can cost the landlord dearly. First of all, a plumbing fixture can break much faster. For this reason, it is worth mounting the mixer, given its device and type.

The water pressure has become weak

If the pressure of the water jet in your bathroom has become weak, and the volume of the neighbors has remained the same, then the reason is the clogging of the aerator. This is a special metal or plastic filter in the form of a mesh at the end of the spout. This part saturates the water with oxygen, filters it and prevents strong splashing. Aerator repair is very simple and consists in cleaning it.

To return the water jet to its previous pressure, it is necessary:

1. Unscrew the aerator using pliers.
2. Rinse it from rust, salt deposits and small debris.
3. Set the mesh in place.

It is better to replace a rusty filter with a new one.

You can fix the bathroom faucet yourself, since do-it-yourself repair is no longer a problem for you. Keep in mind that using high-quality products and consumables, in the future, many of these problems can be avoided.

Shower repair

Shutting off the water in a shower faucet is usually done with a toggle switch or button. In the latter version, the spring most often breaks, which requires its replacement.

Another reason for the breakdown is the rupture of the shower hose, which is hidden under a metal sheath. There are several ways to fix it: shorten the hose, replace it, or completely change the shower set.

All of the above steps can be considered as instructions for repairing faucets. To do the work yourself, you will need the following tools and materials:

• screwdriver;
• key of the appropriate size;
• pliers;
• FUM tape (flax, sealant).

Why the device fails: causes of breakdowns

The process of restoring the mixer with your own hands will be much easier if you know the reason that led to the breakdown of the product. Let's highlight the main ones:

• low quality products - typical for cheap Chinese fakes and products of little-known unscrupulous manufacturers using low-grade consumables and components;
• dirty water in the pipeline;
• the use of obsolete consumables on new devices - modern silicone or paronite gaskets are much stronger and more reliable than old-style rubber products;
• a high degree of water hardness provokes cracking of seals and the formation of deposits inside the device;
• mechanical wear of equipment, sensors, cartridges and other consumables.

We will analyze in detail what malfunctions can occur during the use of a faucet with a shower, as well as how to repair a faucet in the bathroom with your own hands.

Two-valve mixer (leak from under the valve)

This type of fault occurs as a result of:

• damage to the faucet box - a device inside the mixer that opens and stops the flow of water;
• deterioration of the sealing ring on the crane box.

1. Turn off the cold water tap on the riser.
2. Remove the cap from the valve.
3. Loosen the screw holding the valve. Be careful, as the screws in this place often turn sour and it is very easy to damage the threads.
4. Unscrew the faucet box with a key.
5. Replace the old O-ring if necessary.
6. If necessary, replace the old crane box with a new one.
7. Install the valve in its original place.

Fixing a leak in a faucet-shower switch

The shower switch also fails very often. The switch can leak in the bathroom due to a damaged gasket that is located between it and the body of the product. Repair mixer shower switch can only be done by disassembling this part:

• holding the stem stationary with pliers, remove the switch button;
• remove the valve with the stem;
• then remove the faulty stuffing box from the housing;
• install a new part in place;
• assemble the shower switch in reverse order.

For spool switches, the most common failure is the failure of the nut that secures the shower switch. The spool switch is repaired as follows:

1. Dismantle the mixer.
2. Unscrew the shower hose, the switch handle and the valve nut.
3. Then unscrew the bottom switch mounting nut.
4. Replace the nut with a new part.
5. Clean the threads and the inner cavity of the nut with sandpaper.
6. Lubricate all parts with grease.
7. Assemble and install the mixer in its original place.

Watch a video on how to repair a flag switch faucet:

Types of bath-shower switches

The part, the failure of which is typical for the repair of a faucet in the bathroom, is a shower switch. He is responsible for switching the water supply to the faucet spout or watering can. There are 4 main varieties:

1. Suberic. An outdated version of the switch, which few people produce today.It is characterized by a long handle located between two valves. Some modern bathroom faucets use similar handles, but they have a spool core instead of cork.

2. Cartridge. It is preferred by Russian manufacturers. There are two types of cartridges on the market: ball and ceramic. The ball cartridge can be repaired, the ceramic cartridge can only be replaced. However, the latter lasts longer and is less susceptible to hard water.

3. Zolotnikovy. It has been known since the times of the USSR and is in demand to this day. Just like in the cork switch, the handle is installed between the cold and hot water valves.

4. Push-button, or exhaust. Distinguish simple and automatic types of push-button switches. In the latter, after shutting off the water, the button returns to its original position.

The main causes of breakdowns

Probably the most obvious reason why a bathroom faucet with a shower fails, repairing it is within the power of every owner, is the low quality of the product itself. Today, the market is simply overflowing with sanitary ware from Turkish or Chinese manufacturers, and far from the best quality. The service life of such products is quite short. Therefore, the desire to save money by choosing a new mixer can do you a disservice. As the saying goes, a miser pays twice.

The next cause of breakdowns is often the use of consumables that do not differ in durability. For example, if hard water flows in your plumbing, then the use of rubber gaskets will naturally become the main reason for frequent breakdowns. If you use ceramic inserts or paronite gaskets, then the service life of the mixer will be longer.

Do-it-yourself bathroom faucet repair

Quite often, a variety of problems and a reduction in the life of plumbing parts are the result of improper installation.

When installing a faucet, it is important to pay attention to the arrangement of a bathroom faucet with a shower, repairs in the future will have to be done too often

There are basically three types of mixers:

1. Single lever.

2. Two-valve.

3. Contactless.

Each of them is installed differently, therefore, their malfunctions can also occur due to various reasons.

Appearance of a contactless faucet

Reduced tap water

The most common problem is the weakening of the water pressure. As a rule, this occurs when the aerator is clogged, that is, the nozzle that is screwed into the end of the gander. Through it, water flows from the faucet.

Cleaning the aerator

This problem is usually easy to fix on your own. To do this, it is enough to unscrew the aerator from the gander, rinse thoroughly under a strong stream of water or blow it under the pressure of air. Then all that is needed is to place the part in the tap again, which is quite feasible even for a woman to do.

Faucet aerator

Replacing faucet gaskets

The second no less common cause of a mixer malfunction is gasket wear. In appearance, the gasket is a small ring made of a special material. In the mixers produced in previous years, rubber gaskets were mainly used. Now modern and proven materials (for example, paronite) are already used for the production of these products.

Paronite gaskets

To fix a leak, you will need a gasket of the required size, an adjustable wrench, fluoroplastic tape or linen with a special paste.The sequence of actions for solving this problem will be as follows:

1. Remove the metal ring that secures the spout tube to the faucet. Remove the spout tube and remove the remnants of the worn gasket. Put on a new one.
2. A tape or linen with paste must be wound onto the thread of the spout tube so that during installation the parts are tightly compressed together.
3. Then the spout tube must be fixed with a metal ring.

Device

First of all, it is necessary to consider the device device, which is determined by its type. There are faucets with valves and with a cartridge. The former are characterized by the presence of two valves for supplying cold and hot water, respectively. The latter are equipped with a cartridge, which is controlled by one handle. Depending on the position of the latter, the temperature regime of the supplied water changes.

The bathroom device has a more complex design, since it involves connecting a shower hose and a separate handle or button for supplying water through it. There are wall-mounted units and mounted on the sink or edge of the bathtub.

Despite the significant external differences between mixers, their internal structure is not so diverse. Typical elements can have different sizes, which does not change the essence of their work. In the following, the most common problems with mixers will be considered.

Contactless (touch)

So we got to the last existing type of faucet - touchless or, as they are also called, sensor faucets.

Their name speaks for itself: at the heart of their work is a sensor that detects movement when you bring something to the tap and automatically turns on the water supply. There is no need to rotate anything.

Such mixers are considered the most durable and their shelf life is from 5 years. In addition, they are really convenient to use and help save water.

But their main disadvantage is that they are extremely difficult to repair. We do not recommend doing this yourself. It is better to try to find an experienced specialist who understands this issue. You are unlikely to be able to repair the sensors yourself - most likely, you will simply simply break the mixer completely.

If we are talking about some minor flaws, such as a clogged aerator, you can easily deal with such a problem yourself.

A clogged aerator is most often expressed in a decrease in water pressure, as a result of which it flows in a thin stream. To check, you need to remove the aerator and turn on the water. If the water pressure becomes standard, then if the aerator is rusty, then replace it with a new one.

If the air blower is dirty, rinse it under water. In case of severe contamination, use special means.

If you understand the mechanism of the mixer, it is not so difficult to repair it. We hope that our article helped to solve your problems with the mixer and eliminate all malfunctions.

If you haven't found a solution to your faucet breakage problem, read our article on bathroom faucet repair.

Interesting in the section "Faucets"

Weak jet when the faucet is open

One of the possible causes of this problem is clogged water pipes. This pattern is more common in older houses.

You can check the condition of the pipeline in the following way. First, the cold and hot water supply valves are closed. Next, the mixer is dismantled.After that, both valves are gradually opened in turn. If the water supply is poor, then the problem lies in the pipes. Otherwise, it is a malfunction of the water supply device.

The next step is to disassemble the mixer for repair. First of all, the aerator is removed, which is a metal or plastic mesh located at the very exit from the gander.

Secondly, pay attention to the condition of the rubber gasket on the box. With a sharp thin object, pry off the decorative cap on the tap, after which the fixing screw is unscrewed with a screwdriver

The box is unscrewed from the body using a wrench of the appropriate diameter.

The condition of the gasket will allow you to understand whether it is the cause of the channel overlap. The damaged part is replaced with a new one, the mixer is assembled. The procedure is repeated for the second box.

Another reason may be dirt getting into the device. To correct the situation, it should be disassembled and washed.

Other malfunctions

Specialists also face other types of breakdowns:

1. A continuous flow of water indicates a breakdown of the brass valve or a clogged space between it and the gasket. The mixer can be restored if it is disassembled, the insides are cleaned and, if necessary, the valve is replaced.

2. If no water comes out when the valve is open, then the rubber gasket has dried up. To be sure of this for sure, they hit the open tap with a hard object.

3. A scrolling valve indicates that the rod thread has broken. Depending on the degree of wear, you will either have to wrap the thread with a thread or change the stem.

4. Turbulent noise is usually caused by damaged rubber seals. They can be eliminated by cutting off the edge with scuffs.

Two valve mixer

Mixers with two levers still do not give up their positions, although they have a lot of competition. You can meet such a mechanism in any bathroom.

It is difficult to judge the reliability of such a mechanism: it has both advantages and disadvantages.

The mixer has two valves: one opens hot water, the other - cold water. The degree of rotation controls the degree of pressure.

Problem number 1: water leaks from under the valve
The reason lies in the wear of the faucet bushing: you need to examine the ceramic discs that are inside the faucet.

Ceramic discs of a two-lever mixer.

To fix the problem, you will need an adjustable wrench, a screwdriver, a new faucet box or a new oil seal.

Work progress:

1. Remove the cap from the leaking valve.
2. Loosen the fixing screw.
3. Remove the valve.
4. Take the crane box and inspect for damage. Determine what the problem is.
5. Install a new bushing or o-ring.
6. Mount the new valve, do not forget to fix the bolt.

The main thing is to carefully consider the crane box to correctly install the breakdown.
Problem #2: Water leaks from under the nut or showerhead The main reason for this problem is the wear of the gasket between the hose and the faucet or between the showerhead and the hose.

For repairs, you will need: a new paronite or rubber gasket (select the diameter that matches your faucet), pliers, a small piece of fabric, FUM tape.

The process of replacing the gasket in a two-valve mixer:

1. Loosen the nut holding the hose. Use pliers.Remember to wrap the pliers with a cloth or just put it under them so as not to scratch the nut.
2. Remove the old gasket and install a new one.
3. Carefully clean the threads and wind two or three layers of FUM tape.
4. Now screw the nut back to the faucet or watering can.

Be very careful and follow our instructions. Only in this order you can easily and quickly repair any breakdown of the mixer in the bathroom.

Repairing the mixer is not a problem. Almost all breakdowns can be fixed on their own, without resorting to the help of a specialist. However, try to initially purchase a high-quality and reliable mechanism.

Do-it-yourself faucet repair

Probably, each person faced a situation when he found a puddle of unknown origin on the bathroom floor. An attentive person immediately found a small trickle of water flowing from the mixer.

All you need to do is call a plumber...

Or try to repair the faucet yourself.

kitchen faucet

With a mixer, which is in the kitchen, everything is more or less clear. This is the simplest kind of mixer.

You can replace it in the following way.

1. Shut off the water with ball valves.
2. Using a screwdriver, remove the “lambs” from the mixer taps.
3. We unscrew the taps from the mixer with an open-end wrench.
4. We change the gasket to a new one.
5. We screw the tap into place, after wrapping the sealing tape on the thread.

The last action will avoid leaks in the kitchen faucet along the thread.

Bath faucet

It is more difficult to troubleshoot a bathroom faucet.

Let's try to understand this issue.

First of all, there are two types of faucets in the bathroom:

1. Single lever mixers
2. Mixers with two valve heads.

Each type of mixer has its own advantages, disadvantages, and, therefore, its own special defects.

Breakdowns of single-lever mixers

Let's start with breakdowns of single-lever mixers.

These include:

1. Mixer leak.
2. Weak water jet.
3. Simultaneous flow of water into the drain and into the shower net.
4. Button switch failure.
5. Leak in the button area of ​​the pushbutton switch.

Mixer leak

Most often, the cause of this malfunction is a small mote that ended up in the mixer mechanism. Mote can be between the ball and the ball sleeve or between the valve discs.

In this case, you need to replace the cartridge.

How to do it:

1. It is necessary to remove the decorative cap of the water switch lever.
2. Unscrew the fixing screw under the plug.
3. Remove the switch lever from the mixer body.
4. Replace cartridge.
5. Assemble mixer.

Weak water jet

The cause of this malfunction may be a blockage of the aerator.

1. The aerator needs to be unscrewed.
2. The aerator mesh must be blown and rinsed on both sides.
3. Restore original position.

Simultaneous flow of water to the drain and shower screen

There may be several reasons for this malfunction, but the main one is most often the wear of the gaskets in the spool switch.

This malfunction can only be eliminated by replacing the gaskets and rings.

The only problem with such repairs - rubber rings for the spool - are rarely found on the open market. A spare kit is usually sold with the mixer. But, if it is not preserved, then as a temporary measure, you can cut out such rings yourself. For this purpose, any dense rubber will do. But such rings will not serve for a long time.

Pushbutton switch failure

The cause of this malfunction is a broken spring. So, in order to eliminate this malfunction, it is enough to replace the spring. The diameter of the new spring must be selected slightly smaller.

Leak around the pushbutton switch

The cause of the malfunction is a damaged oil seal. It just needs to be replaced. You can buy seals at any hardware store. The manual for the faucet usually describes the standard procedure for such a replacement.

As you can see, repairing a bathroom faucet is not such a difficult operation. Even if the mixer is single-lever.

Breakdowns of mixers with valve heads

This defect is eliminated by replacing the sealing gasket.

Breakage of the switch "shower - spout" The switching mechanism is simple. If such a breakdown occurs, then when disassembling the mixer, you can immediately identify the broken element and replace it.

Leaking water from a faucet

There can be two reasons for this:

1. Gasket wear
2. Defect in the processing of the conical plug.

Both causes can be eliminated by disassembling the mixer and replacing the damaged elements.

Faucet repair will not take a thinking person much time. You just need to turn on the logic, open the instructions and work a little with your hands. It's not as difficult as it seems.