Over time, there comes a time when the old faucet in the bathroom or kitchen breaks down. In this case, you will need to purchase a new plumbing element. There are a huge number of models. The principle of their installation may differ slightly.
To do without calling a plumber, you can carry out the entire procedure yourself. It won't be a big deal. How to replace the mixer with your own hands will be discussed in the article.
Where to start?
First of all, if the old faucet breaks down, new plumbing will be required. Replacing the mixer will not cause difficulties if the new product is of high quality. Therefore, the store should be careful when choosing a mixer.
There are many varieties of similar products on sale. They differ in a lot of parameters. First of all, it is necessary to evaluate what material the mixer is made of. Quality products cannot be easy. They are made of metals, so their weight, unlike plastic, is much higher.
Should be selectedmixer according to the application. With your own hands, you can replace the faucet in the shower, in the kitchen, and in the bath. In this case, in each case, you need to select the appropriate type of product. A bath faucet is not suitable for a kitchen and vice versa.
Materials
Do-it-yourself faucet replacement begins with the purchase of a new faucet. It is important to pay attention to the materials from which it is made. It is best that it be bronze or brass. Silumin varieties are not durable. To determine what the faucet is made of, you need to look at its neck. It should be yellow. The gray material is silumin.
Seals must be made of rubber. It is by far the best option for plumbing applications.
You should also pay attention to the spacer rings of the product. They are located on the neck of the spout in the annular spacer section. This is the root of the faucet. These parts are usually supplied in a transparent plastic bag. This element must be installed when installing the crane. Otherwise, the spout will stagger and eventually begin to leak. The ring should be tight enough. It should not dangle.
Design
Replacing a faucet in the kitchen or bathroom can update the interior, give it a modern look, style. To do this, you need to choose the right design and type of construction. For the kitchen, devices are used that supply hot and cold water mixed in a certain proportion only from the faucet spout. Also for the bathin addition to the mixer, a shower is installed.
There are mainly two types of mixers on sale. In the first case, the water is regulated by two taps. The second type of design involves the presence of a ball mechanism. It is controlled by one lever. With it, you can adjust both the pressure and the temperature of the water.
The design with two taps is more often installed in the bathroom. This allows you to create a certain decorative effect. However, two-crane designs are not practical. For the kitchen, this option is less suitable. Single-lever designs are in great demand today. They are comfortable and durable. The vast majority of faucet purchases, according to statistics, are single-lever designs.
Additional items
Replacing a faucet in a bathroom or kitchen is a responsible undertaking. When buying a crane, it is important to pay attention to even the smallest details. Having decided on the design features, type of product materials, it is important to consider its details. So, on the faucet for both the bathroom and the kitchen, a water divider should be provided on the spout. This is a mesh called an aerator. The water flow is enriched with air. In this case, the water consumption is noticeably reduced.
The shower should also be chosen correctly. Its hose must be made of durable materials. Self-cleaning nozzles must be provided on the surface of the shower head. They have edgingsoft rubber material. This system expands under water pressure. At this point, traces of lime deposits are shaken off. So the system does not clog, being cleaned of plaque.
When choosing a product for a shower or bath, it is recommended to pay attention to designs that have the function of adjusting the jet mode. It can be directed or scattered. This allows you to perform hygiene procedures with the maximum level of comfort.
Kitchen faucet height
Replacing a faucet in the kitchen requires choosing the right height for the new plumbing fixture. This figure depends on many factors. For the kitchen, it is recommended to purchase a faucet according to the characteristics of the sink and the type of dishes.
If you need to wash deep, bulky pots, the mixer should be high. In this case, a sufficient washing depth must be provided. Otherwise, water will fall from a great height, splashing on the countertop. This will quickly lead to the destruction of the material.
For shallow washing, you need a low faucet. This will allow you to occasionally wash plates, spoons and forks. Such sinks and faucets are suitable for a person who rarely cooks. It is better to give preference to mixers of medium height. This is the best option for the kitchen.
Bathroom faucet height
Replacing a bathroom faucet also requires the correct height of the fixture. This indicator is influenced by many factors. The optimal height above the bathtub level is 20 cm. However, this is not always the case.
If the faucet is installed in a shower cabin, its distance from the bottom should be 120 cm. You also need to correlate the position of the bathtub and the sink. If the faucet moves between these two sanitary wares, it must be at the optimum level for them.
Before installation, you need to try on the position of the crane. It should be convenient for all family members to use. Also, do not take into account the height of the bath bowl. During installation, it can be installed on various supports. In this case, the height of the mixer may not meet the requirements of the operation. Install the bathtub or shower first, then the faucet.
Tools
Replacing a faucet with your own hands in the bathroom or in the kitchen will require you to prepare the necessary tools and materials. You need to purchase wrenches of different sizes. You should also prepare a wrench. In the work, the master will need pliers or pliers.
To tightly fix all structural elements, a fum tape is used. Instead, you can use tow or a special plumbing gel. With their help, threaded connections are processed. This allows you to qualitatively seal the joints. Fum-tape is a product made of fluoroplast. Instead of tow, it is wound on a threaded connection.
After preparing the instruments, turn off the hot and cold water supply. After making sure that water does not flow when the tap is opened, you can proceed with the replacement. At firstyou will need to dismantle the old mixer. This must be done very carefully. If the pipes are damaged, the procedure will become much more complicated. Calling a plumber then cannot be avoided.
Dismantling mixer
In order to replace the faucet, it is necessary to dismantle the damaged old faucet. After the water is turned off, you need to drain its remnants from the mixer. To do this, the taps are unscrewed and wait until the liquid stops dripping from the device. Then you need to find the place where the water pipes and flexible hoses connect.
At this stage, the hoses are dismantled. May have problems. If the mixer has been in operation for a long time, the joints may turn sour due to water hardness s alts. Using a wrench will only exacerbate the situation. Pipes may burst. To prevent this from happening, a few drops of kerosene or brake fluid must be applied to the threaded connection. When the flexible hoses are disconnected, the water from them is drained into a bucket.
If the tap is being dismantled from the sink overhead, it will also need to be removed from the seat. To do this, the siphon is disconnected. After that, the siphon can be removed. The sink must be turned over and deployed so that it is convenient to work. The mixer tap on the sink is loosened with an adjustable wrench. Using a screwdriver, the threaded pins are untwisted. The mixer is held by hand.
Preparation for installation
Replacing a shower faucet involves its initial assembly. New products are sold in a collapsible form. The package includes instructions forassemble mixer. It is important to inspect the kit. All necessary items must be present and carefully packaged.
In the box with the mixer must be present: a tap spout, a shower head, and a hose for it. The main unit is packed separately. The delivery set should include decorative shades. They cover the junction of the tap with the pipes. Also, the manufacturer necessarily provides for the presence of rubber gaskets, which will be required during installation. Cams included.
Before installation, the structure must be assembled in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer's instructions. To do this, a gander is connected to the main unit. A shower hose and a watering can are also mounted to it. In this case, it is not recommended to use pliers or an adjustable wrench. All actions are performed manually.
Installing a faucet in the bathroom
Replacing a faucet in the bathroom with your own hands does not require a lot of time and effort. First you need to wrap the eccentrics with fum tape. To do this, it is wound in the direction of the thread (clockwise). You need to make 15 layers of tape. If you wind the fum-tape in the opposite direction (against the direction of the thread), when you tighten the nut, it will bulge. The joint will leak.
Next, the eccentrics must be installed in the wall outlets of the pipes. You can use tow instead of fum tape. It must be moistened in a special or soapy solution. Next, the eccentrics are screwed into the fittings emerging from the wall. The distance between the entrances should be 15 cm. This indicator is clearly checked using a buildinglevel.
You need to mount the main unit on the eccentrics. It should be easy to roll on both sides. Otherwise, the system will need to be adjusted. Next, the main block is removed. After that, decorative shades are installed on the eccentrics. They should fit snugly against the wall. This will hide and protect the threaded connections. Water will not accumulate in them, fungus will not develop.
Completing installation
Kitchen faucet replacement is completed effortlessly. After the decorative overlays are tightly fixed, the main unit is installed back. In this case, a winding for the thread is necessarily used.
Dense shrinkage of the block is provided by rubber gaskets. They must be used during installation. Gaskets must be located in the clamping nuts. Nuts must be tightened carefully. You can use a wrench for this. You don't need to pull too hard. A small creak should be heard. After that, the nuts should no longer be tightened.
When installation is complete, turn on the water and check all connections. There should be no leakage, dripping water. First turn on the water for the tap, and then for the shower. If all elements of the system are working properly, you can operate the plumbing.
Kitchen faucet installation
Replacing a single-lever faucet in the kitchen is like a procedure in the bathroom. There are a number of differences. Flexible hoses must be pulled into the installation hole of the sink. Next, a rubber seal and pressure plate are installed. Then the threaded pins are screwed in. Adjustablewrench tighten the fixing nuts.
Finishing installation
Replacing a faucet in the kitchen is completed by connecting it to the water supply. Flexible hoses must be connected to hot and cold water pipes using a fum tape. Next, water is supplied to the system. If there is a leak, the joints must be additionally smeared with sealant.
Having considered how the replacement of the mixer is carried out, you can perform this procedure well. It will be possible to avoid calling a plumber by quickly restoring the water supply system.
