Repair tap mixer: how to troubleshoot yourself

If a kitchen faucet is leaking, it is not necessary to completely change the whole mechanism or contact specialists. With minimal skills it is quite possible to fix any malfunction, saving not only money but also time.

Below we will explain how to start repairing a tap in the kitchen or bathroom, and also provide algorithms for troubleshooting the most common problems.

Basics of diagnosis

Before proceeding with the repair, it is necessary to study the structure of the faucet mixer, as well as determine the nature of the breakdown. This can be done quite simply, especially if you use the table below:

As can be seen from the analysis of the third column, for most of the work we do not need special skills. Enough simple skill and study the recommendations, which we present below.

Repair methods

Removing and replacing the axle box

Before you repair the faucet mixer, you need to determine its design. As a rule, two-valve products are equipped with shut-off boxes, and one-lever mixers are completed with either cartridges or special ball valves. More information about the locking mechanism contains instructions that should have been included with the product upon purchase.

Note! If there is no instruction, you should not choose a bush, a cartridge or a gasket “by eye”. It is better to remove the standing element from the crane and find it completely identical in the store or on the market, otherwise problems may arise in the operation of the parts.

The design of the mixer tap with the axle box is simple, because our story about the methods of repair will begin with this type.

Repair is performed as follows:

• Be sure to overlap the water on the riser!
• Remove the cover from the flywheel, which denotes the temperature of the water. We unscrew the screw located under the cover, after which we remove the flywheel from the guide grooves of the rod.
• To get to the axle box itself, we twist the decorative cones closing the place of its fastening.. As a rule, these cones are made either from painted plastic or from thin metal, so that they must be dismantled carefully.
• Grabbing box with a wrench, unscrew it from the socket. Pour out the remaining water wipe with a clean cloth.
• If the bush is fitted with a rubber gasket, we replace the worn part. It is very important that the size of the gaskets is completely identical, therefore, if necessary, we perform trimming the edge with a sharp knife.
  

• Ceramic bushings are less maintainable, because they simply change, installing worn out in place. However, the price of such parts is relatively small, so it’s unprofitable to mess around with repairs.
• Next, we return to the place of the decorative cone and set the flywheel on the rod. Fix the flywheel with the screw and close the screw head with the decorative plate.

Tip! Before screwing the valve to the mixer, check the tightness of the new / repaired axle box. You can turn it by capturing the stock with pliers.

Dismantling lever design

Repair of the faucet and mixer, designed according to the single-lever scheme, is performed in the following way:

• Remove the cover covering the fastening screw on the front surface.
• Hexagon wrench unscrew the screw fixing the handle.
• We remove the handle from the rod, after which we unscrew the fixing nuts, which hold the cartridge or the ball mechanism.

Note! Many foreign manufacturers make these nuts with grooves for a special tool, because at this stage it is necessary to tinker. Usually, thin pliers help to cope with the task.

• Having access to the internal cavity, we examine it. If the mixer cartridge is installed, we remove it and change it to a new one; if the ball valve is installed, remove the ball with the stem and replace the gaskets.

• We assemble the locking mechanism in reverse order. We check the performance of the mixer and the absence of leaks, and if we did everything correctly, then install the handle.
• We fasten the handle with a screw and close it with an overlay, orienting it so that it correctly shows the direction of movement of the flywheel to raise or lower the water temperature.

Shower adapter to spout repair

The hands can repair not only taps in the kitchen, but also faucets in the bathroom.

And if ordinary valves are repaired according to similar schemes, then the ball valve in the adapter from shower to spout requires a special approach:

• To begin with, as in the previous case, turn off the water on the riser.
• Then, using a wrench, we remove the spout (as a rule, from below) and the shower hose (from above).
• Next, hook with a knife and dismantle the cover on the flywheel, then unscrew the mounting bolt and remove the flywheel from the rod.

Note! If switching from the shower to the spout is done with a button, then we remove it with a key, twisting it along the thread.

• So, we get access to the ball valve, which is clamped at the top and bottom with bushings with Teflon sealing rings. Unscrew these bushings using a large hex key (usually 10 - 12 mm).
• We change the seals on the sleeves, and then install the parts in place. Screw them up so that the rod turns with a little effort.

• After that, we return to the place of the flywheel, and then we screw the spout and the shower hose. Naturally, we do it as qualitatively as possible in order to eliminate the risk of leakage in the places of fastening of cap nuts.

Conclusion

As can be seen from the description, in most cases (except for situations when the faucet cracked or the faucet completely fell off the faucet in the bathroom), the situation can be handled with little effort. Of course, a newbie may have difficulties here too, so before starting work, you should carefully study the video in this article.