Convenient thermostat mixer

The human desire for perfection will never run dry, because in many respects it is thanks to him that new, more comfortable systems appear. It seems that quite recently, people were happy about the appearance of a standard mixer and now automatic regulation of temperature and pressure is becoming the norm. Now we will look at how a mixer with a thermostat works and how it is better than its predecessors.

Device and principle of operation

In dry terms, a thermostat mixer is a programmable device designed to automatically mix hot and cold water, and in some cases, stabilize and maintain pressure when water is supplied to a consumer.

The principle of operation of the mixer with a thermostat, in general, is simple. It is based on the property of some materials, expand or contract under the influence of temperature. Specifically, in these devices, a special cartridge is used in which wax is placed or bimetallic plates are installed that quickly change shape under the influence of temperature.

Such a cartridge, being the heart of the design, is connected to a mixing, regulating valve that directly controls the flow of hot and cold water. The setting of such a unit is carried out by means of a special adjustment screw, limiting the valve stroke range.

This principle of operation of the mixer with a thermostat virtually eliminates sudden temperature fluctuations in the faucet. A limiter is installed on the adjusting screw, which will not allow the temperature to rise above the critical one.

Even if the supply of cold water suddenly stops, the valve simply blocks the flow of hot water. Consequently, it will not allow boiling water to flow from the tap.

Advantages and types of units

Initially, it should be noted that the range of these units is quite wide. Devices designed for installation in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the sink, as well as for the shower and bidet.

But if a kitchen faucet with a thermostat can theoretically be installed on any sink, since it differs from a faucet on a sink in a bathroom only in appearance, then units designed directly for showers, bidets or jacuzzis are unique, highly specialized devices.

Advantages and disadvantages of such devices

• Perhaps the main advantage of such equipment, because of which it was originally developed in Europe, is the obvious economic effect. Installing a mixer with a thermostat allows you to clearly set the temperature, thereby controlling the flow of hot water. This is especially true for systems that use electric heaters.
• The next significant plus relates to the area of ​​comfort and safety. With such a unit you do not face a sudden burn with boiling water in the event of an unexpected shutdown of cold water. As well as you should not be afraid of an ice shower, if you turn off the hot water.

• If your mixer is equipped with a pressure control sensor for a jet, then you automatically cease to depend on pressure drops in the network. Residents of apartment buildings are familiar with this problem. When you take a shower, and the neighbors want to wash the dishes, you immediately feel this desire on yourself.
• Owners of autonomous electric heaters, boilers, know that such tanks heat water up to 90? С, naturally such temperature carries a potential danger. Installing a faucet with a thermostat completely eliminates any risk.
• If you are able to independently install a standard faucet, then installing a mixer with a thermostat with your own hands will not cause you any difficulty.

Important: such mixers are well recommended in families with small children and in homes where there is a big difference between the pressure in the hot and cold lines.

All manufacturers, in one voice say that the main drawback of such plumbing is its high price, which is more than offset by a high level of comfort during operation. This is certainly true, although in the expanses of our great homeland another drawback emerges.

Everyone knows that in the overwhelming majority of Russian regions, the quality of tap water leaves much to be desired. Therefore, in order for such equipment to work for a long time and properly, you will need to additionally install a filter system for it.

Otherwise, the thermostat can quickly become clogged and fail. A repair of the faucet with a thermostat with his own hands, especially electronic, is extremely unlikely.

Types of control systems

In such devices, the regulation of water temperature and jet pressure can be carried out in two ways. Mixers are available with electronic and mechanical control.

Electronic systems are equipped with a liquid crystal display. The control can be both touch and buttons. Such devices, as a rule, are part of the smart home system and provide a lot of various additional options.

In addition to the traditional programming of temperature and pressure, time, volume and quality of water, as well as automatic on and off programs can be displayed on the screen.

Powered electronics most often from batteries or a network adapter. In particularly advanced devices, an infrared port can be built in which allows remote input of parameters. But as mentioned earlier, the repair of such electronic devices is still a problem, not every city has service centers.

Mechanical devices, compared with electronics, do not look so presentable, but they are many times simpler. And, as you know, the simpler the mechanism, the more reliable and naturally it will last longer. Everything here is done manually, so for Russian realities such equipment is more adapted.

Advice: if there are small children in the house, then whichever thermostatic mixer you choose, check that the child protection function is required. As a rule, this is practically not reflected in the cost, but the function is really useful.

Tips for choosing

• If you do not completely trust the domestic manufacturer and are a supporter of foreign technology, then you should pay attention to one important detail. The instructions for such a mixer should contain information that the products are designed and manufactured specifically for the Russian market. This means that manufacturers have adapted the technique for our realities.
• Also important is the location side of the hot and cold main. If in a conventional mixer it is enough to change the red and blue chips, then in the case of a thermostat, the unit simply will not work or break down altogether.
• If the plumbing system in your home provides a connection between the hot and cold lines. In other words, from time to time from a cold faucet can flow, hot water and vice versa, you need a mixer with a check valve. He will not let the hot water into the cold line.
• As already mentioned, almost all such devices are very sensitive to water quality, so it’s better to buy a filter system right away.. After all, it is much easier to replace the filter every six months than to throw out an expensive mixer in a year.

The video in this article has additional information on this topic.

Conclusion

Summing up all the above, I would like to note that if it is quite possible to install a mechanical thermostat mixer with your own hands, it is better to entrust electronics to specialists.