Crane leaks - causes of this malfunction and how to

02-09-2018

Water supply

Problems plumbing plumbing familiar to most people, with various leaks cause extraneous sounds, increased water flow and the occurrence of divorce and raids. And there is no difference, the faucet in the kitchen, in the washbasin or the bathroom complex flows, the system is about the same, and, knowing the device of one or another type of structures, you can repair any manufacturer's products. Consider how to fix the most common problems in the home.

One drop per second causes about 12 liters per day.

What should be done in the preparatory activities

In order for work to be carried out quickly and efficiently, you should prepare for it in advance:

Prepare a tool	Depending on the modification, you may need a flat and cross-head screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, which can be set to a certain size. You can also use a set of tools, as long as it contains the right-sized wrench keys, as a rule, it is easy to find the required sizes
Determine the type of mixer	Of course, the ideal option is if you have a product passport, it will contain all the necessary data and parameters, plus you will know the manufacturer and the name of the model. But you can determine the main parameter and by eye - screw taps or ball, further work depends on it
Stock up with repair materials	Of course, the ideal option when doing your own hands is to purchase a repair kit. Its price is low, but you do not need to pore over a piece of rubber or leather, cutting out the exact configuration of the sealing element. And if we are talking about ceramics, then without a repair kit it is unlikely to make something
Take care of the availability of auxiliary items	This could include a rag to clean the internal cavities, a cleaning agent to remove limescale or dirt. Sometimes grinding of adjacent elements is required, in which case you will need fine sandpaper.

It is possible to purchase a universal set of gaskets, as a rule, in these sets there are basic sizes of sealing rings

Tip! When doing work, do not forget to cover the surface of the sink or bath with a veil. This will protect the product from damage caused by dropping the tool.

Some features of repair work

As we noted above, the list of measures for the repair and maintenance of cranes depends on their modification, and it is important to correctly diagnose the cause of the malfunction.

Repair of valve taps

The gasket eventually loses elasticity and cracks, so the water does not overlap reliably

Consider how to fix the tap if it leaks even in the fully closed position. The most common cause is ring wear.

It is quite simple to replace it:

The cap is removed on the valve of the crane, under which there is a fixing screw that holds the handle. Most often this is done with a Phillips screwdriver.
Next, the valve body is unscrewed, it is done simply: the design is reversed counterclockwise. At the bottom of it is a gasket, which should be removed.
If you have a repair kit, then the sealing element is replaced with exactly the same one; if there are no ready-made seals, they can be cut out of rubber or leather to the size of the old gasket..
After that, the stop edge is wrapped with a sealant (fum-tape) and wrapped back.. The system is checked for tightness and, if necessary, fasteners are tightened.

Sometimes water flows from the point of attachment of the valve, that is, from its core. In this case, the cause of the malfunction is the sealing gland. (See also the article How to install a faucet on the sink: features.)

Works are carried out as follows:

The gland is a rubber ring that stands on the rod and prevents water from leaking through fasteners.

The fixing screw that holds the system is unscrewed, after which another bolt is unscrewed, which holds the stuffing box.
After that, the worn gland is removed and a new one is put in, if there is no replaceable element, then the fum-tape will work, the rod will be wound to the required thickness of the seal.
The assembly is performed in the reverse order, and everything must be done as carefully as possible.

Note! All work is done carefully - you should not use too much effort, as you can roll the spline on the screws, break the thread or even deform the body of the structure.

If you need to repair the faucet in the bathroom, then very often the cause of the problems is the ring gasket, which is installed at the junction of the faucet body and the flexible hose.

The rubber gasket at the shower hose in the bathroom eventually loses its properties and begins to run water

Repair instructions are very simple:

The fixing nut is very carefully removed as it is possible to easily damage the chrome-plated surface.
The old ring is removed and a new one is put.
The system is going. At the same time, do not press the joint too tightly so as not to push the rubber.

Repair of ball valves

Consider what to do if a ball valve leaks:

The locking screw is first turned away.
The handle is slightly loosened left-right and removed.
Further one more fixing screw turns away and the cartridge gets.
The system is inspected, and, if necessary, the seal gasket is replaced or the accumulated plaque is removed, preventing tight fit.
You should also inspect the ball, if there is damage on its surface, then a replacement is required.
And finally, the end o-rings are neatly taken; if they are worn, they will also need to be replaced.

In the photo: disassembly will not cause difficulties even for those who do not have such experience.

Conclusion

Eliminate the leakage of the crane most often possible without the involvement of plumbers. It's pretty simple, and the video in this article will clearly show some important points of the workflow so that you understand the topic even better.