Cold water mixer: selection and installation

Hot water is not supplied to all rooms, therefore, a hot and cold water faucet is often simply not needed. In most cases, for the summer house, summer kitchen, garage or office toilet the installation of such a device is not required, because there is no need to mix fluids of different temperatures.

We want to talk about cold water taps, their selection and installation.

Cold water tap

Device and features

A cold-water-only mixer is simpler than its “big brother”, which is designed to mix streams of different temperatures. It must be said that the word “mixer” itself is not entirely appropriate in this case, but many continue to use it out of habit.

The cold water faucet is a sanitary device, which consists of a metal body with a locking and adjusting mechanism and a base adapted for convenient and secure attachment to the side of the sink. And the simplest models are attached directly to the pipe.

We will consider a more complex model, since its description covers all sides of a simpler one.

The design of the device due to its purpose and main functions:

• turning on and off the water supply from the pipe to the sink;
• and also adjustment of its pressure.

Diagram of the device for cold water tap is simple and includes the following elements:

• Metal case, in which there is a place for installation of a crane box for controlling the flow of water, and there is also an outlet in which the gander with spout is mounted. Sometimes the gander makes a solid construction with the body, in this case it does not turn;
• Crane tower, designed for locking and unlocking the water passage. Due to the possibility of a smooth displacement of the closure plug, the force of the flow or pressure of the liquid is adjusted;
• Gander, which is inserted into the body and allows you to direct the jet to the desired area of ​​the sink, as well as to form the most convenient form of this jet. Tube spout fixed in the housing is not rigid, which allows it to rotate;
• Base with inlet for threaded connection of flexible connection hose fittings or rigid pipe nut. In addition, the base is a fastener and is equipped with appropriate fittings.

Note! The most high-quality products are made of sanitary brass, coated with a layer of nickel or chromium, stainless steel appliances also showed themselves quite well. The least reliable models are aluminum alloy - silumin.

Choice of valves

The main part of the device design is shut-off and control valves. Most often, this item is called a crane.

There are several types of crane books:

1. Products with a worm lock mechanism. These are valves familiar to everyone from childhood that need to be turned many times to fully open the canal and to obtain maximum pressure. The least comfortable and reliable devices, they often make noise and flow because of the rapid wear of the rubber gasket;
2. Ball Valves. More modern and reliable designs, in which for complete unlocking it is enough to turn the flywheel by 90 ?. One of the problems is the difficulty of fine-tuning the head due to friction between the brass ball and the seat of the body;
3. Cranes with a ceramic cartridge. The most modern and progressive model, working on the principle of a ball valve, but without its drawbacks. The flywheel or crank travel is smooth, silent and reliable operation.

The price of a ceramic cartridge has become affordable even for the poorest buyers: their regular models cost about 100 rubles.

Note! It should be remembered that when choosing a mixer with a ceramic faucet, it is necessary to install a filter for water purification, otherwise the cartridge will quickly become clogged and depressurized. This will cause leaks.

Installation

It’s easy to install a crane with your own hands, for this you don’t need serious skills and knowledge, because our step-by-step instruction will replace them:

1. We assemble the hull and fasten the gander as required by the manufacturer. We turn over the crane and insert the rubber gasket into the place intended for it;

1. Insert the bottom of the base into the hole in the sink;

1. From below we put on the reciprocal rubber gasket;

1. Screw the fastening nut on the thread of the housing base;

1. Tighten the nut with a key so that the valve is firmly held on the side of the sink;

1. We connect a flexible eyeliner. You must first make sure that there is a rubber ring on the hose fitting and gasket inside the union nut on the other end. Tighten with your hand until it stops, then hold down the key a little;

1. The second end of the hose is connected to the cold water pipe. The nut should not be sealed with tow, it has a rubber gasket. Tighten with your hand until it stops, then turn the key 180? - 270?

Note! We are not interested in which side the cold water is in the mixer, but the lounger with cold water is always located below, the riser is on the right.

Conclusion

The quality of the cold water faucet depends on the type of valves and fittings, the highest quality is a ceramic faucet. Installing the appliance on the sink does not require special skills, just read our instructions and watch the video in this article.