Water tap device: detailed diagrams of the insides of all types of mixers

Single lever mechanisms

These types of mixing devices are made with one control handle. They work on the principle of a ball valve. If you turn the lever of the mechanism to the left or right, you can adjust the temperature of the water flow, and when it is fed down or up, the pressure of the liquid. Similar devices are placed on kitchen sinks, in bathrooms, in showers. They are very easy to use and really convenient.

Faucet device - revealing the secrets of design Single-lever mixer

Most of the elements of a single-lever water tap are assembled into a cartridge (it is called a ball), which is structurally non-separable. This makes it difficult to repair the mixer. However, this is not required very often. The biggest problem with a ball valve is the failure of its gaskets. And it’s not at all difficult to change them. Also, mixers with ball cartridges can become clogged with small debris. A similar problem is often observed when the mechanisms in question are mounted on kitchen sinks. There is only one way out of this situation - removing the old and installing a new cartridge. This procedure is easy to perform on your own. The scheme of work will be as follows:

1. Shut off the water supply.
2. Remove the mixer, and then the lever (you need to unscrew the fixing screw).
3. Take the old cartridge out of the faucet and put the new one in its place.
4. Assemble the mixer. And you're using a refurbished device.

The main difference between a mechanism with one handle and a two-lever device is that water is supplied to a mixer with one lever at one point. This simplifies the process of its installation on sinks and bathrooms. Recently, new types of single-lever mixers have gained popularity. Instead of a ball valve, ceramic plates are installed in them. They blend very well with each other. Due to this, there is no leakage in mixers with ceramic cartridges. So, you will never hear the annoying noise of dripping water from the tap. Note that ceramic devices are rarely repaired. And most importantly - they do not need any special operating conditions.

Single lever model device

A single-lever mixer is a more complex device, because.since several axle boxes are not involved in it - water is mixed using a special ball or ceramic cartridge. Popular firms are Oras, Vidima, Iddis and RAF.

A ball tap with a ball-type cartridge has a special rounded head in the device. It controls the flow of water and the temperature level. When the tap is lifted up, the valve is opened, and when it is turned to the right or left, the temperature is adjusted. Unlike a two-valve one, pipes of different water supply are connected at one point, and with the help of a ball, the flow of hot or cold water is simply regulated inside the tap. The scope of such a faucet is very wide - it is used for a shower, sink, bathroom and kitchen.

The mixer of the ceramic principle of operation works similarly, but here the water flow is limited with the help of ground plates made of ceramics. This is a very convenient type of modern crane, because it does not corrode, does not require special operating conditions and very rarely needs to be repaired.

Also, ceramic plates are known for their lapping density, which allows you to reduce water consumption while showering or washing. Due to the complete absence of a gap between the plates, not a single drop of water spills without an owner, so an unpleasant dripping sound will never bother you.

Photo - option with ceramic plates

Related video:

Mixers depending on the material of manufacture

Brass and bronze

These are the best and most durable materials. But they are also expensive. As a rule, the surface of brass mixers is nickel-plated and chrome-plated. It turns out practical and hygienic.You should beware of products made of silumin, a bit like brass. They are cheaper, but serve two years, no more.

stainless steel

A good option, more budgetary than bronze with brass, although not as durable. It is practical, beautiful and modern, and such a mixer will suit any design.

Ceramics

Ceramics looks stylish, and products made from it are particularly original. Often they are even made in the form of fountains. However, the fragility of this material can play a cruel joke. In addition, ceramic faucets are the most expensive.

Helpful Hints

When buying, you should pay attention to the external chrome coating; for low-quality products, it is often of poor quality.
Brass faucets are quality products. Contains copper and zinc

The more copper in the alloy, the more likely it is that the product will last a long time. It is recommended to buy just such devices.

• To properly install the eccentrics, you should wind them up with a sealing flight. It will take at least 8 turns of electrical tape (much depends on the thickness and density).
• When tightening the nuts, it is not recommended to overtighten them so as not to spoil the gaskets.
• To check for leaks, after tightening the eccentrics, it is recommended to turn on the water. If there are no leaks, then you can continue to work.
• Taps with a swivel gooseneck can be mounted at different heights from 15 to 45 cm from the side of the bathtub. The installation must be carried out in such a way that the length of the shower hose is sufficient.
• A hand shower is required and only the user can select the optimal length.

Tools required:

• electric drill;
• a hammer;
• pliers;
• wrench;
• wire cutters.

Faucet installation phases:

• screwing eccentrics;
• installation of the main building;
• spout installation;
• shower installation;
• testing.

From the above it can be seen that the installation of the mixer is simple. If you strictly follow the proposed instructions, then all the work can be done in half a day. In the event that there is neither the minimum skills of working with plumbing, nor the desire to deal with its device and repair, you can always entrust these tasks to professionals.

How to repair a faucet for bathroom with showersee the following video:

Variety of kitchen faucets

The main characteristic feature of any sanitary ware is its practicality. According to the type of intended purpose, kitchen mixers have their own classification.

1. Ordinary. These devices only need to mix hot water and cold: a particularly common, inexpensive type of product.
2. Filtering. They have a built-in membrane filter that retains large particles, or coal that adsorbs chlorine and organic substances, incl.
3. Thermostatic. "Know how" to adjust the temperature of the water that is supplied.

Universal. Multifunctional devices, includes filters, a pair of spouts for dishes and: washing separate use of hands. Sometimes the system includes taps for connecting a washing machine and dishwasher. Combined taps have the greatest practicality, but they are also expensive than others.

Single lever faucet.

More recently, taps could only be opened with the help of a pair of valves, any of them supplied hot or cold water.Later, single-lever models began to be used, and more recently, sensory devices have appeared that supply water when a hand or object is brought to the mixer. The faucet spout system for the kitchen is one of three:

• conventional: the whole device is a curved hollow tube;
• retractable: there is the possibility of pulling down, or forward. Constructions of this type are very convenient, because make it possible to adjust the direction, height of the stream.

Water taps: types, varieties, sizes, photos

December 12, 2015

The water supply system in the home is quite complex. It contains many elements. One of them are water taps, the types of which are diverse. They can serve as shut-off valves in the system, regulate the water pressure. But the most famous function of the faucet is water intake. It is the crane that is the intermediary between communications and the issuance of their contents to the consumer. There are many types of faucets. Each is designed to perform its tasks in certain conditions. How to choose the right type of faucet for water supply, you should understand before buying. This will help to study the purpose of each of them.

What materials are faucets made of?

To understand what water taps are, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the materials for their manufacture:

• brass;
• stainless steel;
• bronze;
• plastic;
• silumin;
• fake diamond.

Products made of bronze or brass are strong and durable. They will last more than one year, and at the same time, hard sediment will not accumulate on their inner surface.These materials are used to produce fittings for shutting off the flow, but they are used very rarely in the manufacture of end valves due to their high cost. Manufacturing technology - casting with subsequent surface decoration.

With strong tightening, you can easily strip the threads, so fum-tape is used to seal the joints. Over time, the material oxidizes and darkens, losing its attractiveness.

Metal faucets have gained great popularity due to their high strength and affordability. Stainless steel is easy to process, not afraid of exposure to high temperatures and humid environments. But its surface attracts plaque and requires frequent cleaning.

Silumin (powder steel) is a cheap and very brittle material. Outwardly, it is beautiful, but quickly becomes unusable even with careful operation.

Varieties of taps

Water folding fittings are wall and desktop. The first option is used equally often for both outdoor and indoor installation, the second - mainly for indoor. According to the principle of operation and installation, there are three types of water folding taps: wall-mounted, ball, spigot.

Wall

Du15 belongs to such cranes. This is a fairly durable mechanism, easy to repair, easy to use. The presence of an external thread allows you to attach a hose to it. Can be used both indoors and outdoors. Able to withstand temperatures up to 100 degrees above zero.

In addition, brass faucets are always covered with a protective layer (nickel plated), which simultaneously performs a decorative function. The stem inside is quite strong, so it can withstand a strong pressure of water - the faucet will not break.

Another big advantage is the versatility of the components, in particular the handles, so they are easy to change or rearrange to other faucets. The inscription "1/2" or "3/4" means the inner diameter in inches: in the first case - half an inch, in the second - three quarters of an inch.

Ball

Ball valves are mainly used in pipelines, and not only water, but also gas supply. Their strength resource is very large, so the crane can withstand temperatures in the range of almost 200 degrees (from -30 to +150). The mechanism is collapsible, due to which it is quite easy to repair (except for a tap with a diameter of 1/2 inch - it cannot be repaired). This element is made of brass, often plated with nickel.

The design feature of this type of cranes is their locking mechanism. The element that moves down or, respectively, along the water flow in KV15, DN15 or valve taps, is represented here by a ball with a hole.

In the open position, the ball is placed in such a way that water flows through the hole, while the lever that turns the ball is located along the tap. In the closed position, the ball turns with a solid side and blocks the path to the flow. The lever thus becomes in position across the crane. The fitting is removable, which allows you to choose the right size for a pipe or hose.

Tsapkovy

The main representative of this type is the KV-15 brass tap.The design of spigot valves is very similar to ball valves: it is equipped with a handle, when turned, the internal shut-off part turns either with an opening to the flow, and then the valve is open, or with a shut-off part that blocks the flow of water. That is, the device works similarly to a ball in a ball valve.

The advantages of the pin mechanism include simplicity of design, long service life due to the brass body and internal parts, the ability to quickly shut off the watercourse if necessary (ball valves also have this advantage).

Taps of this type are used not only in water supply units and other large-scale water supply systems. They are widely used in domestic use. Easily installed on washbasins, kitchen sinks and similar sanitary facilities.

Causes of malfunctions of touchless faucets

There is only one reason for this, because this type of mixer is considered the most reliable: there are no nodes subjected to mechanical stress.

Manufacturers provide warranties for these devices for at least five years.

Repairing touchless faucets is never an easy task. Breakdowns in them most often occur due to the failure of the sensors responsible for the flow of water. It is difficult to fix this kind of problem on your own, it would be wiser to delegate this work to a specialist.

It is highly likely that the cause of failure of the mixer may be too hard water, in which there is an excess amount of iron salts.

The most common breakdowns:

• the water jet is very thin. The simplest problem that is easy to fix.Most often, this is observed when the aerator fails, this is a special device at the end of the spout. The aerator is usually made of metal or plastic;
• switching modes of water supply is difficult. In this case, the switching mechanism is repaired.

Repair of a two-valve mixer

The main malfunctions of two-valve mixers are the incomplete shutoff of water, in which it flows from the tap, and leaks in the body area or through the stem. In all the above situations, the causes of malfunctions are the abrasion of sealing gaskets on the body, stem and shut-off valve (in ceramic valve boxes - if the surface of ceramic elements is damaged).

Eliminate leaks in the worm valve

Repair of mixer taps for the valve-type kitchen is carried out in the following order:

• Use a sharp knife or a flat screwdriver to pry off the plastic cap from the hot or cold water flywheel and lay it aside.
• Unscrew the screw securing the flywheel with a screwdriver and remove it by shifting upwards from the splines of the rod.
• Using an adjustable wrench, he unscrews the axle box by the hexagon in the upper part of the body.

Further, depending on the type of valve, proceed as follows:

In worm-type axle boxes, the main causes of leakage are the abrasion of the gaskets, they are located on the stem, body and in the valve seat, the last gasket is subject to the greatest abrasion and most often needs to be replaced.

To replace the valve seal, unscrew the clamping screw at the end of the piston, remove the gasket from the socket and put a new one in its place.If urgent repairs are required, but there is no suitable part at hand, put a piece of any material (rubber, leather, plastic) cut in a circle with a central hole into the socket and put the gasket in place.

When the seals on the stem or housing are worn, similar parts are purchased in the distribution network and installed in place of the worn ones. If the store failed to find rubber rings for the stem, you can remove from the grooves and wind one or two turns of thin strips of FUM tape, adhesive tape or fabric tape into the grooves and return the worn O-rings to their place.

Stages of replacing the gasket in a worm-drive crane box

Elimination of leaks in ceramic valves

To repair ceramic bushings, it is rational to purchase a repair kit in advance, which includes all the main gaskets and two ceramic plates. The main malfunctions and methods for their elimination are given below:

• Water enters the spout when the lower silicone gasket is worn. To fix the problem, it needs to be replaced.
• The valve is leaking under the flywheel, two o-rings on the stem are changed for repair (if there are no replacement parts, use the winding discussed above).
• Water flows from the spout when the tap is closed, if you press the flywheel from above, the flow stops. The cause of the malfunction, which is most common in ceramic axle boxes, is the wear of the fluoroplastic ring, which is responsible for pressing the ceramic plates against each other, while water seeps into the gap between them. The defect is eliminated by installing a new fluoroplastic (copper) ring.
• Water flows between the axle box and the mixer body, the malfunction is caused by the wear of the rubber ring on the surface of the axle box.This is one of the very rare malfunctions, since the gasket is stationary and cannot wear out, except to crumble from time and prolonged heating. The repair consists in replacing the outer rubber ring on the axle box housing.
• Water drips from the spout, the problem is that the surface of the most durable ceramic plates is damaged by sand particles and other hard abrasive particles during long-term use of faucets to shut off dirty water. Eliminate the malfunction by replacing worn plates with new ones from the repair kit.

Replacing a worn fluoroplastic ring (white) with a copper one in a ceramic faucet box

In modern kitchens, single-lever faucets are most often used, which have high functionality, ease of use and reasonable cost. Due to the simplicity of the design, mixers with one lever are reliable in operation, and in the event of a malfunction, any user can replace worn or broken parts (cartridge) with an adjustable wrench and basic technical skills.

What is a faucet

A faucet is a plumbing device designed to supply water and regulate the intensity of the jet pressure.

According to the type of constipation, all products are divided into three types:

1. Valve type. The design of the device includes a crane box with ceramic-metal plates, in which small holes are located. If you rotate one of them, the holes will match. This ensures the passage of the water flow. As soon as the plate is moved, the hole will move again and the water supply will be stopped.
2. Ball or locking.The most common option. The locking mechanism has the shape of a ball, in the central part of which there is a small through hole. The mechanism itself is attached to the "lamb" of the crane. When the handle is turned, the ball rotates, so that the hole coincides with the channel located inside the body. As a result of this process, water begins to flow from the tap. When the ball returns to its original place, the channel will be blocked, and the water supply will stop. The indisputable advantage of such a design is reliability and durability. However, it is not suitable for pressure control. Therefore, it is used in cases where it is necessary to completely block the flow of water.
3. Cork. A plug in the shape of a cone is responsible for supplying and blocking the water flow. It is set in motion by a worm rod. Rarely used for domestic purposes. Usually it is used to drain water from various containers.

As you can see from the description, water taps are designed to organize and regulate water flows passing through one pipe. Therefore, products installed in bathrooms or kitchens can hardly be called a tap.

Types of shower faucets

A bath is undoubtedly a comfortable sanitary ware that provides maximum relaxation when washing, however, the modern pace of life requires faster solutions. A shower stall or shower has become a real alternative, which is used if the bathroom is small. Despite the large number of similarities between shower faucets, their design can vary significantly depending on the type. There are the following models of shower faucets according to the type of switching mechanisms:

1. Two-valve.Mixers of this type are easily distinguished by their appearance; in them, the power and temperature of the jet are controlled using two “lambs” or valves. Inside, they have a small chamber in which water is mixed using a bushing crane. This is a traditional faucet model, which is highly reliable, but it is quite difficult to accurately set the water temperature with it.

   Two valve mixer

2. Single lever. More modern models are of the single-lever type, plumbers often call them "one-armed bandits." They have only one control lever that moves in two directions. Moving the joystick vertically adjusts the flow rate, and horizontally changes the water temperature. Mixing in such models occurs due to a ball mechanism or a ceramic cartridge located inside the device.

   single lever mixer

Advantages and disadvantages of ball valves

Ball valves are very popular in various sectors of the economy. They are considered reliable locking devices, are part of city ​​apartment water supply systems and a private house.

In addition to reliability and simplicity of design, products of this type have many other advantages:

• large working resource, long service life;
• rarely break, easily repaired;
• high degree of tightness, with proper installation, there are no leaks;
• convenient use, to block the water flow, it is enough to turn or press the lever;
• a huge range of sizes and types;
• ease of installation, you can install it yourself without involving a plumber.

A faucet with a ball mechanism will save its owners the time-consuming and frequent replacement of gaskets, as well as problems with water leakage, which are so common with obsolete faucets.

Ball mixers are very rare go out of order, the main cause of failure is hard water, so manufacturers recommend installing water filters in the water supply system

Distribution taps

Distribution taps are functional and practical. In their manufacture, little attention is paid to aesthetics. There are drain taps, watering taps, shut-off valves, as well as various auxiliary devices, such as pressure reducing valves. Distribution valves are equipped with screw connections with external and internal thread, which make it possible to mechanically fasten valves to pipes. The pitch of the screw thread corresponds to the dimensions of the valve.

The tap marking indicates the type of connection and the thread pitch, for example: shut-off valve, external / internal thread, 15 × 21. Some distribution taps are welded (soldered) directly to copper pipes. There are also models of taps with a quick-disconnect pipe connection. Quick closing means are also used, such as valves with a rubber or ball locking device.

Example of a valve with a ball spool (external thread)	Example of a ball valve (female thread)
Drain cock	Stopcock

How to prevent malfunctions?

The condition of the mixer and its service life depends on several factors:

• tap water quality;
• proper installation of the plumbing system;
• quality of a particular mixer model.

Inexpensive faucets may look attractive, but their lifespan is short.The case and the internal mechanism, made of low-quality materials, fails quickly and often. The quality of water and the design of the plumbing system are interdependent factors. As soon as flaws in the installation of pipes become apparent, they must be immediately eliminated.

The presence of coarse filters can significantly increase the life of a single-lever mixer. Do not neglect this useful device. Water hardness must be taken into account at the stage of purchasing the device. On the packaging and/or in the passport of the mixer, it is indicated what water hardness the product is designed for. You should correlate this data with information about the quality of water in your own home.

An aerator is another useful factor that can positively affect the condition of the mixer. The device cuts the water flow into separate jets, which visually increases the volume of the flow. This allows you to reduce the amount of water entering through the mixer, which leads to saving water and the life of the device.