Faucet for the upper shower: the main types, the principle

Today, purchasing a shower set with an overhead shower and a faucet does not seem to be particularly difficult, since these devices are sold in most plumbing stores. But, due to the wide range of sanitary equipment represented in the sale, it is not easy to select the device that will fit the type of shower room, your needs and the budget allocated for the arrangement of the bathroom.

In this article we will look at what a mixer is for the top and hand showers and what types of it are commercially available.

General information about the principle of action

The mixer, regardless of design features, is a device into which cold and hot water is supplied through separate pipes. Getting into the device, these flows are mixed in the required proportions. As a result, the water leaving the gander (spout) has the required temperature and pressure.

A shower faucet with a top shower head is not much different from ordinary counterparts designed for installation on a kitchen sink. The main difference between shower devices is the presence of a mechanism for switching the water supply to the spout or the watering can.

Important: Shower systems with a mixer and overhead shower, in comparison with counterparts intended for use in bathrooms and in the kitchen, have a short spout or are not equipped with it at all. However, if there is a serviceable and unnecessary valves, designed for the arrangement of the bathroom, nothing prevents to install it in the shower cabin.

So, after we got a general idea of ​​the work of the mixer, consider the main types of these devices and their classification in accordance with the design features.

Classification according to the type of locking mechanism

When choosing a mixer for a shower cabin, first of all it is necessary to pay attention to the type of the locking mechanism used.

Note the following modifications:

• Locking mechanisms with rubber seals, which are used in low-cost two-valve type cranes.

Devices with rubber seals tend to wear quickly, as rubber deforms. On the other hand, this type of water stop valves is distinguished by high maintainability and reasonable price of consumables.

• Locking mechanisms with metal-ceramic plates are a more durable option. However, the price of mixers based on such a mechanism is high.

The principle of regulating the flow of water is as follows: when the valve is turned tightly adjacent to each other, the plates are displaced and the gap opens or vice versa.

Despite the fact that the mechanism is designed for hundreds of thousands of working cycles, the resource may be significantly less due to the unsatisfactory water quality. Repair the mixer with your own hands through a complete replacement of a defective cartridge (core).

• The locking mechanism of the ball type is becoming more common, despite the fact that the price of the device is high.

The popularity of this modification is due to ease of use. Installing such taps, you do not have to turn the valves. It is enough to move the lever up or down and thus set the pressure to the desired intensity.

The temperature of the water can be adjusted by turning the handle from side to side. The locking mechanism is a polished ball with three holes, which is located inside the metal body. The principle of operation of the mechanism is to offset the holes in the ball and the body relative to each other.

The mechanism for changing the direction of flow looks like a small handle located on the spout. If the handle is pulled up, the water will go into the watering can; if left in the initial position, the water will go to the spout.

• The locking mechanism with a thermostat is installed in the most technological modification of mixers equipped with a push-button control unit.

Using the buttons you can control the water pressure temperature. At the expense of the thermostat, progressive shower mixers allow you to set optimal temperature readings that the locking mechanism will automatically maintain. In the course of using the shower, you will only have to regulate the water pressure.

As a rule, such devices are installed on water supply systems with a storage heater.

Classification of equipment by location and installation

In order for shower panels with a mixer and overhead shower to provide maximum operating comfort, it is necessary to choose a mixer with a suitable location.

In accordance with the features of the location, the following modifications differ:

• Equipment with an external location is characterized by the greatest popularity due to ease of installation and ease of repair work.

As the name implies, these devices are mounted on vertical surfaces, such as on a wall in a shower room. As a result, the mixer, the gander and the watering can end up outside. Water supply to the device can be carried out in an external or hidden way.

Important: The range of mixers with external location is an order of magnitude wider than the choice of analogs intended for flush mounting. Therefore, choosing the external modification of the faucets, you can purchase the option that will fit the design of the shower room.

• Built-in equipment is in demand when arranging shower rooms, the interior of which is made in a modern minimalist style. The shower panel with the overhead shower and the faucet in this case is sunk into the surface of the wall, while the spout remains on the surface (if such is provided by the structure), the watering can and the controls.

A significant advantage of embedded mixers is that all components of the structure can be separated by a distance from each other. As a result, the watering can, spout and controls can be located not on the same line, but with a certain displacement relative to each other without detriment to the functionality of the system as a whole.

Among the disadvantages of this equipment should be noted the difficulties associated with maintenance and repair, as the main building is hidden in the thickness of the wall. However, modern built-in mixers, with the exception of cases of manufacturing defects, are characterized by a long resource without the need for regular replacement of consumables.

Important: A significant disadvantage of embedded mixers is their high price. In addition, the installation of these devices is complicated by the fact that it is necessary to determine in advance the location of all components, and only then proceed to the installation.

Classification according to materials used in production.

In order for the mixer in the shower to be not only convenient and easy to use, but also durable, it is necessary to make the right choice of device in accordance with the type of materials used in the production.

Among the range on the market, we note the following modifications:

• Metal faucets, presented in bronze or brass. Both types of alloys are corrosion resistant, and therefore will last for a long time without losing the original aesthetic and performance characteristics. It is not difficult to distinguish such plumbing equipment from analogs made of other materials, since it gives a lot of weight and yellowness of the metal on the cut and on the connecting thread of the mixer. Products made of metal also include steel structures. Most often, these are ferrous metal products with external chrome plating. It is not recommended to purchase such products, as they are not resistant to corrosion and after a short time rust spots appear on the shiny surface. The situation is better with stainless steel products, but, unfortunately, under the guise of faucets of stainless steel on the market often offer products from chermet.

Recently, there are quite a few shower mixers on the plumbing market, some parts of which are made of silumin (an alloy of aluminum and silicon). It is not difficult to distinguish such devices, since they have a low weight in comparison with full-fledged metal cranes.

Important: Silumin does not withstand temperature fluctuations and mechanical loads, but because the details of cheap cranes come into disrepair after a year of normal operation.

• Mixers from polymeric materials in the domestic market plumbing presented a limited range of foreign products. Meanwhile, in the countries of Western Europe and the United States plastic shower kits are popular as a budget solution. Besides the fact that the price of polymer sanitary ware is low, among the advantages it should be noted the low thermal conductivity of the plastic case. As a result, using hot water, you do not risk getting burned by touching the surface of the mixer, spout or watering can. But there is one major drawback, namely, the insufficient strength of the plastic. As a result, the resource of such a shower kit is rarely more than 5 years.
• Ceramics faucets, belong to the elite category of sanitary equipment. Ceramic shower sets look great, are durable and at the same time easy to maintain. The only drawback of ceramics is the high price and complexity of the acquisition, since such products are not represented in every plumbing store.

Compatibility of mixers and water heaters

So, we considered the range of water stop valves suitable for installation in the shower and now we know what can be purchased and what should not be chosen. Now we will consider how these or other shower racks with the mixer and the top shower are combined with the water-heating equipment.

Water-heating equipment used in the construction of shower rooms and bathrooms can be divided into systems equipped with a flow heater and systems equipped with a cumulative capacity in which heating takes place.

Immediately, we note that simple mechanical valves of the valve or lever type of the same work well with all types of heaters. Somewhat different is the case with equipment equipped with a thermostat.

The thermostat on the mixer is designed for optimum water temperature from the user's point of view. At the same time, the flow-through heater supplies water with a constant temperature not immediately, but with a certain delay.

Therefore, a locking mechanism equipped with a thermostat in the system with a flow heater will not work correctly with a long delay between turning on the mixer and water supply to the watering can or to the spout. Such equipment works much more efficiently with storage tanks (boiler).

Important: All of the above categories of mixers function perfectly, being connected to the central water supply with hot water supply.

Conclusion

Now that we know what is the instruction for choosing plumbing fixtures for the shower, we can choose the equipment that suits your needs and the budget available.

Are there any questions that require comprehensive explanations? More useful information can be found by watching the video in this article.