How to choose and install a built-in mixer

Since 2010, the concept of ergonomics began to extend not only to the arrangement of workplaces and the convenience of computer technology, but to the convenience of a person in everyday life in general. And one of the components of this component is a built-in mixer for a shower, bath or bidet.

Of course, the principle of operation of the crane has not changed at all - the valves have remained the same, but, thanks to the installation features, it became possible to significantly increase the comfort of the user when using this or that sanitary unit. We will talk more about this below, and you can also watch a thematic demonstration of the video in this article.

Embedded models

About the device mixers in general

• To begin with, the mixer - built-in for a sink, bath, shower or bidet, has the same principle of operation, which directly depends on the valves. So, if you see a faucet that has two valves or two levers, it means that its stop valves consist of two faucet boxes (for cold and hot water).
• If these faucets are built into the wall, then in 99% there is a variant of constipation, which you see in the upper image on the left side, where the passage and adjustment of water flow is carried out by combining two well-lapped ceramic plates with holes.

The top plate is driven by the stem plug and the size of the passage changes - if the holes coincide completely, then the passage is maximally open, but when the plate is rotated around its axis, the passage decreases until the top opening at all moves to the side (the position is closed). This is possible due to the fact that the holes are decentralized.

• The crankshaft for the worm gear mixer is currently being used less and less and most likely, again due to the same ergonomics - if the first option closes-opens only half a turn, then the worm gear needs to be scrolled around its axis 5-10 times. There is a simpler system - a rod using a worm gear presses a rubber gasket to the inlet - this is how the adjustment is made.

• If you have a single-lever built-in mixer for a hygienic shower or bath, then, most likely, there is a cartridge as a stop valve, samples of which you can see on the top photo. Such devices can be made of plastic or ceramic (ceramics is considered the most reliable) and they can also have different sizes - everything depends on the size of the mixer body.

As a rule, preference is given to ceramic cartridges - yes, indeed, ceramics are more reliable than plastic, nevertheless, seal gaskets primarily wear out, so that the core material no longer matters.

• The most sturdy are the ball mixer for a shower built into the wall (for the sink, for the bath), which is also indicated by the higher price of sanitary equipment. The principle of operation of valves and fittings resembles the principle of operation of the cartridge, but the ball still has a longer operational life - mainly rubber cams, cuffs and springs wear out here.

The problem is that it is extremely difficult to buy a repair kit for ball valves, since, due to their small consumption, it almost does not come into retail sales (it’s best to ask in large shopping centers).

Note. When choosing a built-in mixer, as a rule, they are primarily focused on the quality of stop valves.

Some nuances of editing

Note. In most cases, the purchase of a wall-mounted faucet will consist of two main parts. Firstly, it is the block of stop valves itself, which is heated in the wall and, secondly, a decorative cover, which you can choose at your own discretion. Besides.

You will most likely have to additionally purchase a shower head and spout spout, in accordance with the design of the cover, so that. The entire kit often costs more than $ 1,000.

The main part of the built-in unit is, of course, the unit that will be in the wall - after all, it is the function of supplying and adjusting hot and cold water that is assigned to it.

For example, a sink faucet - recessed into a wall (for a shower, for a bath) can be represented as a brass head with four threaded holes - two of them serve to supply hot and cold water, and the other two to exit and deliver the mixed liquid to the spout or shower watering. In essence, this is the same cartridge that is used in external taps, only in large sizes.

It should be said that the installation instructions given by the manufacturer must be strictly followed, since this is the most important part of the unit, on which the quality of operation depends. In addition, compliance with the rules is of great importance in view of the fact that the valves may differ, as we have already mentioned above.

The most convenient way is to install the built-in mixer with your own hands into a wall of plasterboard sheets - there is already free space between the plasterboard mounted on the metal frame and the main wall.

But not always so lucky, therefore, it is often necessary to make a niche from 85 mm to 110 mm deep and an average diameter of 120-150 cm. The best way to make such a recess is a diamond cutter (crown) and a powerful perforator - it will be clear and even.

After that, you need to make the grooves for the water supply, just determine exactly where the spout will be and the watering can - orient the grooves from the central unit to these points (in no case should the pipes intersect).

The supply of hot and cold water supply is also solved with the help of chipping, if, of course, the walls are not on a frame basis (from GCR), only here the direction of the groove will depend on the situation on the spot. That is, they can be let down from the side, bottom and even from above.

The mixer is connected in the standard way, but given the impossibility of accessing the supply during operation, all connections must be made at a high quality level.

Conclusion

In the article, you got acquainted with the general principles of the operation of valves, and this was done intentionally, since the built-in mixer can work in different ways. If you understand the general principles of operation of different valves, then you can easily understand how this or that model with which you have to face.