Installation and repair of a bathroom faucet: main types of breakdowns + recommendations for eliminating them

Modern bathrooms always have faucets - with their help you can control the temperature and pressure of the supplied water. The plumbing device also performs an additional function - it redirects the flow of water through the hose to the shower head.

Often such equipment works for quite a long time, especially if the product did not come off a Chinese assembly line. But, breakdowns occur that prevent the normal use of the water supply. It is possible to eliminate them yourself if you understand the design features of a multifunctional crane.

However, the design and repair of a bathroom faucet is not clear to every home craftsman. We suggest you look at these questions in order. In the article, we described the designs of different types of mixers, identified the most likely breakdowns, and also provided clear instructions for eliminating them.

Mixers and their design

Valve mixers have been popular for the past few decades. They are reliable and durable. On sale you can find products made from different materials: from cheap aluminum-based alloys to brass and copper.

These faucets can be found in the homes of many residents. Such devices are easy to use and have high aesthetic qualities. Their design does not contain such complex elements as cartridges.Also no batteries

In the design of this mixer, the main role is played by the axle box tap. A valve is fixed to it, with the help of which the pressure of the supplied water is carried out. For cold and hot water there is one faucet box with valves. Therefore, such mixers are called two-valve.

Other main elements of this type of mixers:

• frame;
• handles;
• rubber gaskets;
• spout;
• spool;
• fixing nut, etc.

The spout can be installed on the wall, using steel corners, or using eccentrics to the pipes supplying water.

Lever mixers (single-command) are easier to use. To regulate the water pressure and its temperature, there is only one element - a lever.

Lever mixers are more compact compared to their valve counterparts. There are few rubber gaskets that need to be changed regularly. But you need to monitor the condition of the cartridge

Raising the lever up increases the pressure, and changing the position of this element to the left or right changes the temperature, mixing hot and cold water in the right proportions.

The lever mixer consists of the following elements:

• frame;
• harness with metal prism;
• copper tubes for water supply;
• divider;
• drain valve;
• cartridge;
• spout;
• fixing nut.

It is worth noting that the cartridge can be of two types: ball and ceramic.

Thermostatic mixers allow users to save time spent on regulating temperature and water flow. A built-in thermostat with the ability to adjust the output temperature allows you to quickly select the desired mode.

It will be maintained unchanged throughout the entire time you use the mixer.

Every year such devices become more accessible.With their help, you can not only increase the level of comfort in your home, but also reduce hot water consumption

A precise scale is provided to accurately set the desired water temperature.

Essential elements thermostatic mixer:

• thermostat;
• cartridge;
• frame;
• spout;
• adjusting screw.

It is impossible to get burned with water from such a mixer due to the presence of a protective mechanism in the device.

Touch faucets triggered by movements. The sensor is triggered when movements are detected near the spout or shower head.

Such mixers can be equipped with additional devices. For example, a thermostat, on timer, information panel. Sensory equipment will be a great addition to modern bathrooms

Water can be supplied in portions or until the movement stops being recorded.

Basic elements of a sensor faucet:

• power source for the electronic part - battery or power supply;
• sensors;
• mixer body, spout, shower head with hose;
• Temperature regulator;
• battery compartment cover (if provided in the design).

It is noteworthy that in the last few years, touch faucets with infrared sensors have increasingly become sold.

Such devices are triggered when a heat source is detected. Equipment setup is carried out in production.

A detailed review of bath and shower faucets, selection tips and ratings of the best manufacturers are presented in this article.

Types of equipment failures

Each type of water mixing equipment has a unique structure and design. But even if one of the mixer elements malfunctions, water may leak.It is better to fix this problem as soon as possible to avoid more serious problems.

The causes of failure may be:

• manufacturing defect;
• low quality of components;
• mechanical damage;
• incorrect installation;
• unsatisfactory water quality;
• unnecessary pressure in the home system or apartments, as well as its disadvantage.

Accordingly, fixing a faucet breakdown may not always provide a guarantee for further long-term use. It is best to establish the exact cause of the breakdown with a specialist.

In the same article, we will look at typical malfunctions of bathroom faucets with showers. Any of them can be eliminated independently without the help of specialists.

Unfortunately, not in every case you can do it yourself when repairing plumbing in the bathroom. There are complex breakdowns and ambiguous situations. In these cases, the leak may not stop even after self-repair.

Option No. 1 - there is a leak under the spout

In the initial stage of the malfunction, water may ooze out in rare drops. If you neglect the problem, the water will soon begin to flow in thin streams. Thus, several tens of liters of water can go down the drain per day. To avoid this, you need to replace the gasket.

The gander (spout) is attached to the body with a clamping nut. After it is unscrewed, the gib needs to be removed and the worn gasket removed. It is advisable to buy this element from the same material to be sure of the durability of the gasket.

It is advisable to protect the threaded part from possible leaks. This is done using flax or FUM tape. Tape is easier to handle, so you can make do with it. It will be enough to wind 10-15 turns of tape onto the thread for the nut.After this, the nut and gander are installed in their place. The leak should stop.

Having a set of wrenches or a good adjustable wrench is a must when troubleshooting such a problem. Using this tool you will have to unscrew the fixing nuts

Option No. 2 - the valve mixer is leaking

If water drips or flows from the spout, then the culprit is worn out rubber gaskets in the faucet housing. Less commonly, the cause of the malfunction is the axlebox valve itself. To fix the problem, you need to understand in which of the valve axle boxes the gasket has worn out. This can be determined by the temperature of the dripping water.

You can get to the gaskets as follows:

• unscrew the screw securing the handle;
• remove the handle;
• Unscrew the valve axle (rod) with a wrench.

On the last element you can see a worn rubber gasket. It is advisable to have several of these gaskets in stock, as they often wear out. After replacing the damaged element with a new one, install the parts in the reverse order.

If the valve valve has a ball mechanism, then it is necessary to flush the shut-off mechanism itself. Just one grain of sand can be the reason why water will still flow from the tap when the valve is closed.

The ball can also wear out over time. Development of even 0.5 mm will be noticeable. In this case, the ball mechanism needs to be replaced. The problem is temporarily eliminated by insulating with FUM tape at the threaded connection.

At the bottom of the axlebox valve there is a rubber gasket, which often wears out with regular use. The price of the seal is low, so you can buy sets of 10 rubber bands at once, which is enough for several years of using the faucet

Variang No. 3 - lever valve leaking

Reason single lever mixer malfunction This could be due to a clogged cartridge or worn fastening thread. The cartridge must be replaced with an identical one, since they cannot be repaired.

Additional signs of a faulty cartridge may be: difficulty adjusting the mixer lever, a smooth or sudden change in water temperature (spontaneously), lack of supply of cold or hot water.

There is a plastic or rubber plug on the lever. It must be removed using a flat-head screwdriver. Using a Phillips screwdriver, you need to loosen the fixing screw, which is located under the plug.

After this, the lever can be removed, resulting in access to the cartridge. It is removed after unscrewing the fixing nut. After replacing the cartridge with a new one, reassemble it in the reverse order.

Branded cartridges have protrusions that must match the corresponding recesses in the inside of the mixer body. If they don’t match, water will still seep through.

If the thread is worn out, it must be sealed. This will save water consumers from leaking taps. Compaction is carried out using FUM tape.

Option No. 4 - the faucet-shower switch is faulty

There is a sealed gasket between the mixer body and the faucet-shower switch. Over time, it can wear out and dry out if it is rarely used. Sometimes the owners of faucets, after disassembling and replacing the gasket, do not notice any dirt that has fallen on it (sand, fine concrete dust, etc.).

When switching modes, such contaminants damage the rubber, which leads to leakage.

To replace, you need to remove the switch knob. Then the valve stem is removed.The worn gasket is removed from the rod and replaced with a new, similar one. First, you can keep it for several hours in vegetable oil, or better yet, machine oil, so that it becomes more elastic and lasts as long as possible.

The process of replacing the gasket on the faucet-shower switch is similar to the process of replacing the gasket on the faucet box of a valve mixer. Care should be taken to reinstall the rod so that the threads match when screwing it on. If the threaded threads are damaged, leakage may occur.

Another cause of a malfunctioning faucet-shower switch is a broken spring. This is evidenced by the fact that the switch button does not return to its place. Replacing the spring with a new one solves this problem.

Option No. 5 - the touch mixer does not turn on

In this case, the culprit is a dead battery. Most often, the problem can be resolved by replacing the battery cell. But, due to the fact that the mixer operates in an environment with high humidity, the conductive contacts may oxidize.

This leads to weakening of the contact between the elements, as a result of which the mixer will not work.

The batteries can be located in the faucet body itself or in a separate unit that is installed under the bathtub. Both the type of battery cells and their number differ

You can fix this on your own. After removing the battery from the compartment, you need to clean the contacts with a sharp metal object. If time allows, you can apply special agents to the contacts that corrode corrosion and oxides.

20 minutes after applying the product, the contact pads must be wiped with a dry cloth and dried. After installing the battery, the mixer will work.

What breakdowns require equipment replacement?

Such failures include through cracks in the housing. They most often appear on inexpensive Chinese-made faucets. The reason is the low strength of the alloy used.

In addition, there may be pores and voids in the structure of the material. Weak areas can crack or burst even from a sharp temperature change. There is no way to fix this. It is best to remove the damaged device and install a new faucet.

Sometimes the best solution to a problem is indeed to replace the plumbing fixtures. It is difficult to eliminate such faults using soldering or welding.

If the hose is damaged, it cannot be repaired. The hose is replaced with a new one. If a leak is visible at the connection point to the housing, this can be corrected by replacing the paronite washer. To do this, simply unscrew the hose from the base and replace the washer.

The thermostat or sensors are difficult to repair. Without special tools and work experience, it will not be possible to fix their breakdown on your own. It is best to call a qualified specialist who will quickly fix the problem.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

You can learn how to fix a leak in a valve mixer from the following video:

Based on the above, we can reasonably conclude that To make repairs, you need to know the structure and operating principle of a bathtub mixer tap with shower. Knowing this, most breakdowns can be eliminated within an hour if replacement parts are available and tools.

Do you have experience repairing a bathroom faucet yourself? Or want to ask questions on the topic? Please comment on the post and participate in discussions. The feedback block is located below.