We choose a faucet for cold water and solve the problems

In this article we will talk about how to choose a faucet for cold water on the sink in the bathroom, and what to buy for installation in the kitchen. In addition, we consider the features of the installation and operation of this sanitary equipment.

Finally, we will determine the reasons why hot water flows from a cold faucet and try to eliminate this disadvantage. But before deciding what to do if cold water flows from the hot water tap or vice versa, we will determine the range of household shut-off valves.

Main varieties

Traditionally, in modern well-appointed apartments, separate appliances for the supply of cold or hot water have long been unused. Separate taps replaced more advanced devices - mixers. The mixers can supply cold and hot water simultaneously or separately.

By the way, in the UK the faucet does not enjoy due popularity, and therefore the classic type of sinks is a faience washbasin with two mounting holes for installing a separate stop valve to connect cold and hot water.

Among the main types of mixers, we note the following modifications:

1. Devices with separate valves and one spout. Flywheels mounted on the spindles, for ease of use have a color indication or a mark about what kind of water is supplied.

Tip: If you don’t understand why the hot water faucet goes cold, just swap the removable flywheels in places, as they might have been mixed up during installation.

The advantages of such devices include high maintainability and reliability due to the simplicity of the design. In addition, the price of such devices is the most affordable of the entire range on the market.

1. Single lever faucets allow you to control the temperature and pressure of the water supply using one lever.

This solution guarantees a number of advantages, including:

• The possibility of initial regulation of the ratio of cold and hot water. Consequently, in subsequent inclusions, the faucet will supply water of a given temperature.
• The possibility of separate regulation of the flow and temperature of water.

Important: The listed advantages are possible only if hot and cold water is supplied with the same pressure.

Single lever mixers, in accordance with design features, are divided into the following modifications:

• Ball type devices are the most common variant in which water is supplied as a result of turning a smooth metal ball with through holes. When the hole in the ball coincides with the holes in the body of the device, water flows. Again, due to the coincidence of one of the three holes in the ball with the holes in the device, the water temperature is regulated.

Such a mechanism is extremely simple and durable, since practically there is nothing to break in it.

• Devices with a ceramic regulating element are much more complicated than ball counterparts. The element regulating the flow of water, consists of two ceramic plates adjacent to each other tightly. As a result of rotation of the lever, the plates are displaced relative to each other, opening a gap through which water flows.

Important: It is recommended to install a filter in front of the ceramic valves, as solid particles dissolved in water, hitting between the plates, can damage the cartridge (an element that combines two plates). Cartridges can not be repaired with their own hands and in the event of failure suggest replacement.

Selection according to installation features

Installation instructions are largely determined by the type of crane.

In accordance with the features of the installation, the following types of mixers are divided:

• Wall mounted crane most often used in bathrooms, as such devices combine the possibility of using spout and watering can.

For the installation of such devices, hot and cold water are supplied to the wall, and the device itself is mounted by cap nuts on the end threads of the pipes. The final fixation of the device on the wall is done using screws.

• Christmas tree crane - It is a traditional choice for installation on sinks, both in a bathroom, and in kitchen. Installation of the device is carried out in special holes made in the shelf directly behind the sink bowl.

Important: Selecting this type of faucet, pay attention to the diameter of the hole in the sink, as there are narrow and wider taps.

Now that we have decided on the varieties of plumbing equipment, we learn what determines the temperature of cold water from a tap.

Reasons for incorrect operation of the mixer

Often, residents of apartment buildings are forced to look for an answer to the question of why hot water flows from a cold faucet. It is easy for a specialist with experience to find the cause of this phenomenon, but we will try to understand everything ourselves and thus save on the call of a plumber.

By the way, you should not worry ahead of time, since the cause of the malfunction may not lie in your mixer.

Instructions to identify the reasons why hot water is flowing from the cold water tap, just follow your neighbors, whose apartments are connected to your riser, and ask whether there is the same problem or not.

If the neighbors are faced with the same problem, the following reasons are possible for the temperature in the cold water tap to be high:

• Someone may have a faulty mixer - this reason is especially likely if the water temperature rose not so long ago.

The problem is characteristic of those apartments where herringbone faucets are installed. In the process of long-term operation of such mixers rotten laying on the site of the supply of flexible hoses. After that, problems begin, because if the pressure is higher in the hot water pipes, hot water flows from all the neighbors. Again, if the pressure is higher at the cold water supply, everyone will have cold water flowing.

• Perhaps the storage boiler was connected incorrectly or the check valve was not installed when installing the meter. As a result, the contents of the heated boiler gradually goes into the riser.
• In someone else's apartment pipe wiring is not done correctly. As a result, you are concerned about the question of what the temperature of the cold water in the faucet is normal, while the neighbors are interested in why, instead of warm water, there is cold water in the mixer.

You can check in which apartment the plumbing is faulty as follows:

• We close the main valves at the entrance to the apartment and determine whether they work or not.
• Next, open the main valve to supply cold water, and then open the corresponding valve on the mixer. If cold water is flowing, close the valve to the cold water supply.
• Open the mixer for hot water. If the water went off with the main valve closed, it means that you discovered a faulty mixer, which suffers from the entire riser.

Conclusion

So, we figured out why cold water does not flow well from a tap and how to detect the cause of the problem. In addition, we reviewed the main types of sanitary equipment and features of their operation.

Have any questions? More useful information can be found by watching the video in this article.