Single lever kitchen mixer - features and device

Recently, single-lever faucets have become very popular, which exist for both bathrooms and the kitchen. This is due to the fact that they have quite a lot of advantages over classic valve taps.

Below we take a closer look at the device and features of kitchen single-lever mixers.

Device

The single-lever crane is structurally very different from the classical two-valve mechanisms, therefore, first of all, we will consider the device of a single-lever kitchen faucet. Immediately it should be said that the different models of these cranes differ mainly stylistically, while they have no fundamental differences.

So, this mixer consists of the following elements:

• A handle that allows you to control the flow of water.
• Case cover;
• Housing;
• Replaceable cartridge;
• Spout;
• Hot and cold water inlets are usually flexible hoses;
• Fixing bracket (applies only to models installed at the sink).

As a locking mechanism, i.e. the main element of the device, a replaceable cartridge is used. The principle of operation of this device is based on the use of ceramic or aluminum plates, which are displaced relative to each other for opening and closing the flow.

Merits

The control of the crane in question, as it is not difficult to guess, is carried out with the help of one lever. This allows you to quickly open the water and adjust the desired temperature with one hand.

Of course, such a device has other positive qualities, such as:

• Stylish and modern look.
• Durability, as the locking mechanism does not have a soft gasket.
• In case of failure, you can easily replace the cartridge. Thus, if the single-lever kitchen faucet breaks down - you can repair it yourself.
• Inside the locking mechanism does not form scale, which also increases its durability.

Tip! Some models of kitchen faucets can be equipped with an additional flexible spout (shower). Thanks to this device it is convenient to wash vegetables and fruits.

disadvantages

Of course, along with the advantages of this design, there are some disadvantages, among which are:

• Susceptibility to impurities in water, so these taps can only be used in conjunction with coarse filters.
• Fine-tuning the optimal temperature is often quite difficult.
• The high price of the cartridge, and, most often it is impossible to repair it. Therefore, the repair of the mixer is quite expensive.

In general, all these shortcomings are not critical, so many people give their choice in favor of these devices.

Types of single lever faucets for the kitchen

As mentioned above, the designs of all single-lever mixers are about the same, however, they still have some differences. The main one is the method of mounting the device. Therefore, the parameter cranes differ in two types:

In addition, the difference may be in the size of the spout and its height. These parameters are selected individually, depending on the size and depth of the shell.

Installation Features

Installing a single lever mixer in the kitchen is not a big deal, so you can do this work yourself. The main thing - to adhere to a specific sequence of actions.

So, the instruction looks like this:

• First of all, you need to fasten the supply hoses to the hot and cold water to the mixer.
• Then a plastic ring is placed on top of the hole in the sink, which serves as a gasket, and a mixer is placed on top of it.
• Next, under the sink set locking bracket, which is fastened with nuts. Strongly tighten them not worth it, because you can deform the surface of the sink.
• After that you need to tighten the nuts of the outputs on the pipelines. You should not overtighten them, so as not to damage the rubber seals.
• At the end of the work, you need to turn on the water supply and make sure that there is no leakage at the junctions. After that, you need to open the water supply and make sure that the crane is in good condition.

This completes the installation of the mixer. It must be said that the installation of a crane on the wall is different, since the device is connected directly to the pipes with the help of special adapters, but takes even less time.

Repairs

Even the most reliable devices are not eternal, so one-handed kitchen faucet may soon fail.

In this case, you will need to disassemble the device, which is performed in this order:

• Before disassembling the kitchen single lever mixer, it is necessary to turn off the water.
• Then you need to gently pick up and pull out the plastic cap, which serves as a determinant of hot / cold water.
• Further, using a hexagon, unscrew and loosen the mixer handle, after which it can be removed from the cartridge stem.
• After this, you need to unscrew the case cover with your own hands.
• Then, using a wrench, unscrew the nut that holds the cartridge in the mixer housing.
• After that, you need to pull out the replaceable unit and replace it with a serviceable part.
• After that, the mixer is assembled in the reverse order - the cartridge is installed in the corresponding grooves and clamped with the help of a fixing nut. Further the decorative nut is screwed on and the lever is set in place.

Tip! The most durable are cranes from German manufacturers, however, they are the most expensive. If it is not possible to purchase an expensive device, as an alternative, Polish mixers can be considered, which are cheaper but acceptable in quality.

This completes the cartridge replacement process. As a rule, this procedure takes only a few minutes.

Conclusion

Single lever kitchen faucets are comfortable to use and more durable than valve designs. Therefore, recently they are very popular. However, as we found out, they are still not without some of the drawbacks that are given above.

From the video in this article, you can learn more about this topic.