Any owner may encounter a breakdown of the mixer, so everyone should know how to disassemble the faucet. This is the only way to identify and identify defects. Any person, even not related to plumbing, can carry out the analysis of the mixer.
First you need to prepare the necessary tools. Take a wrench, a few screwdrivers (including a flat screwdriver), pliers and rubber pads pre-purchased at the store. Be sure to shut off the water supply and get to work.
Ball Mixer Device
Before you understand how to disassemble a ball valve, you need to learn about its structure.
Reliability and durability of the above-mentioned mixer is provided by a ceramic non-separable cartridge. Seals in the design are absent - this is due to the accuracy of the parts located. The classic ball valve consists of:
- stubs;
- stock;
- screw;
- adjustment ring;
- rubber saddle;
- hollow ball (necessary for mixing water);
- aerator;
- water inlet;
- steam and regulating cuffs;
- ball sleeve.
Ball Mixer Analysis
So how to disassemble a ball valve? In order to dismantle the lever of a single lever mixer, remove the decorative cover and unscrew the screw, which is located directly under it. Do not be afraid to use force: in most cases, the screw is securely locked. Some models may have a lever on the rod, then you do not need to unscrew anything, just move the lever to the upper position and everything will be easily removed.
After you removed the lever, open the cover of the crane body. You will see a thread on it. Take a screwdriver and remove the cover. If you did everything correctly, the clamping nut will appear. Take a wrench by selecting the correct diameter. Remove the nut to expose the cartridge. It contains the ball under which there is a gasket made of rubber. Failure of the crane occurs due to its deformation and wear. To fix the problem, you need to replace this item.
The device of a two-valve mixer
Currently, two types of two-valve tap can be purchased. The first contains a crane box as an elastic pad. The second has a locking mechanism, which is a ceramic plate. It will not be difficult to disassemble the bathtub faucet in both cases. The two-valve mixer is also equipped with:
- water spray aerator ;
- spout;
- body and mount.
Analysis of a two-valve mixer
Are you interested in how to disassemble a crane having multiple valves? The design of such a mixer is simple, so you can easily cope with this task.
First remove the plugs on the taps. After you remove them, you can see the screws. Use a screwdriver to remove them. You will see rubber pads, but it’s quite difficult to see if they are damaged. Most likely, they must be replaced or tightened all the connections so that the crane does not hang.
Another reason for the unstable operation of the mixer is the scale that forms on it. To fix it, use a flat screwdriver. A similar method, by the way, is also used in disassembling a ball valve with two levers.
Single lever mixer
Different devices can be equipped with ceramic or ball cartridges. In the first case, the model will be equipped with a hollow ball, in the second - with two tightly ground ceramic washers displaced when the handle is rotated. It is precisely because of this that water is mixed and supplied directly. The complete set of such a crane includes:
- housing;
- cap;
- rotary handle;
- replaceable type mechanical cleaning cartridge;
- gaskets.
Single lever mixer analysis
To understand how to disassemble a crane with one handle, you just need to use our tips. Such mixers have a core and a hollow ball made of stainless steel. The ball is equipped with three holes: two of them supply fluid, and one discharges it into the pipe. The device is located in a ball sleeve in which rubber saddles are located. Water creates pressure, the ball tightly contacts the seats, as a result of which the device moves. Replacement of pressure and fluid supply is regulated using this particular element.
The described mechanism cannot be repaired; if a breakdown occurs, it is most likely necessary to replace the mixer. You can eliminate it yourself only by weakening the jet at the outlet, which occurs due to clogging of the aerator. For this, you need a parsing of the crane.
First, unscrew the nut, which is located in the spout of the tap. Remove the net, blow it and rinse well. Then put back and tighten the nut. Now you know how to disassemble a single lever crane.
The nuances of parsing mixers
Plumbing stores offer us a wide selection of various modern faucet models that are installed in the kitchen or in the bathroom. Some of them may be equipped with a timer or sensitive parts. So, how to disassemble the faucet in the kitchen or in the bathroom in another way:
- Disconnect electricity with water.
- Get rid of the cover you need to secure the batteries.
- Disconnect the sensor wire from the control.
- Remove the gasket (it can be found between the control box and the mixing tube).
- Disconnect all nipples, take out springs and clamps. The same thing needs to be done when parsing products with a thermostat and a timer.
- If you are sure that everything was done correctly, proceed with the repair. If the problem is in the control unit, contacting specialists is the best way out - there may be fragile parts inside the unit that are easily damaged.
Useful Tips
Single lever mixers boast a long service life. If you want to buy the right option or increase the crane operating time, follow these tips.
- If you selected a tap with a cartridge, remove the old disk before purchase. This will save you from problems with the exchange of the product: the cartridges are different, and therefore you can confuse the sizes.
- When repairing a ball mixer, seal each threaded joint with fluoroplastic tape. Before disassembling, purchase a thread sealant in cassettes.
- Get products from trusted companies.
- For preventive maintenance, replace gaskets and cartridges.
- Install high quality filters on the pipes.
- When cleaning the faucet, pick up the product in the form of a gel or cream. You can also use powder intended for metal.
- Do not use metal brushes or alkaline and vinegar based products.
Mixer installation
Now you know how to disassemble the crane. The mixer must be reinstalled after necessary repairs. To do this, you will need a Phillips screwdriver, level, adjustable wrench, tape measure and fastening kit. If the mixer has a hard fit, it must have an eccentric in order to adjust the landing distance between the nozzles. If flexible hoses in a metal sheath were attached to the tap, nothing needs to be calculated.
Before tightening the nuts, coat the internal thread with petroleum jelly for technical needs. Tighten the nuts slowly, carefully, use your hands - parts of good quality should easily give in. After that, you can use the key (but not more than 2-3 turns). When installing the crane, you can apply a level - make sure that the product is installed evenly, without distortions, otherwise the crane body may crack.
Check that each threaded connection is wound with a sealant and that the tape is wound evenly along the thread. After you install the faucet, let the water run and check the connection to prevent leakage. If you find it, do not be discouraged, but try again. Turn off the water and replace the seals.
Like any plumbing product, a faucet can become unusable over time. Do not rush to throw it away and buy a new one, first disassemble the tap and determine the cause of the breakdown.
We hope that we have helped you understand how to disassemble the faucet in the bathroom or in the kitchen, and now you can easily do it.