If traditional faucets with faucets are installed in the kitchen or bathroom of your house, then you should be prepared for the fact that after a certain time this element will require repair. Usually it is accompanied by the replacement of gaskets that are located between the mixer and the faucet mount.
When gasket replacement is required
Quite often this procedure is required for cheap faucets. The gasket may need to be replaced, as it is short-lived and therefore loses its elasticity. Cracks and dents can appear on this element, which leads to the fact that even a closed faucet starts to leak.
The causes of gasket wear are errors made during the repair of the faucet, poor quality of the seal, as well as water containing harmful impurities. Sometimes the gasket does not fit, because its size was initially chosen incorrectly. Water dripping from a faucet can become an irritant to humans, and streaks and rust can appear on plumbing fixtures.
Preparation
Before you change the gasket in the faucet, you need to draw some amount of warm water into a container. Only then can the valve of the water supply system be closed. After the main tap is closed, the remaining water can be drained from the system. Then, using thick cardboard or a thick towel, you need to cover the surface of the bath or sink, which will prevent damage to the plumbing.
For work you will need:
- screwdrivers;
- fum tape;
- adjustable plumbing wrench;
- scissors;
- new gasket.
If a single-lever faucet fails, the cartridge inside it can be replaced or a new faucet installed. Other types of faucets are relatively easy to repair.
Repair of crane box with rubber seal
For valves with rubber seals, Russian and imported gaskets can be found on sale, they are made of silicone and rubber. Standard valve thread sizes can be 1/2" or 3/8". Experts recommend taking parts of the mixer that are out of order to the store, this will eliminate errors when choosing.
One gasket can be purchased at a price of 3 to 25 rubles. Quite often, home craftsmen are wondering how to make a gasket for a crane box. To do this, you can use sheet leather or rubber, in more rare cases - dense plastic. The cost of sheet rubber, which is suitable for the manufacture of gaskets, varies inranging from 150 to 250 rubles. After disassembling the valve and removing the seal, you can begin the manufacturing process.
On sheet material, the thickness of which starts from 3.5 mm, it is necessary to mark up using the old gasket as a template. The next step is to cut a square section of material along the perimeter of the markup. After that, the rubber can be trimmed more neatly by you. It is important to ensure that the edge is beveled at 45°.
Disassembly and repair of crane box
When faucet gaskets have been purchased or made, you should find plastic decorative caps on the valves that are dismantled. You can carry out these manipulations by prying the element with a sharp object. The fixing bolt is located under the trim, in the next step it must be unscrewed with a screwdriver. At the next stage, the lamb is removed from the mixer. An adjustable wrench or wrench will help unscrew the core with the gasket.
Scissors or a sharp knife should hold the gasket as you remove it from the stem. Parts can be cleaned with warm vinegar, this will get rid of limescale. Next comes the turn of a new gasket, if it is made of rubber, then it is installed on a cold water tap, while a leather gasket is suitable for a hot water tap. The element with some effort must be put on the rod. If you notice some defects on the core, then it needs to be replaced.
Specialist recommendations
In order to facilitate the process, it is recommended to use some silicone grease. Once the faucet gaskets have been installed, the faucet can be assembled. The core returns to its place, it is not necessary to screw it in too hard, then you will not damage the seal. Next, the flywheel is installed, and then the fixing bolt.
Now you can check the performance of the crane, for this it is turned in different directions. The next step is to open the main valve. Only now can you check if the mixer is working properly. If the repair did not achieve positive results, then the rubber gaskets change again. Sometimes it is required to completely replace the mixer.
Replacing the gasket in a ceramic faucet
Today, ceramic faucets are considered one of the most reliable, but even they sometimes fail due to the fact that the water in the plumbing system is of poor quality. To carry out repairs, you can purchase special sets of rubber and ceramic seals, their cost does not exceed 50 rubles. The repair process is quite simple.
At the first stage, you need to remove the decorative cap, unscrew the screw and provide access to the tap by unscrewing the decorative nut. You can remove it with your fingers, sometimes pliers are used for this. The tap is unscrewed and removed, for this you can also use pliers. You need to direct them counterclockwise, actyou need to be as careful as possible, because otherwise the threaded edges may be damaged.
If you are thinking about how to change the gasket in a ceramic faucet, then you need to find an o-ring that is black. It is advisable to use the ring from the repair kit for replacement. The swivel stem can be disassembled and removed by pressing it with your fingers. Then the stem is easily removed from the housing. Rubber ceramic seals are replaceable and silicone grease is applied to them, this ensures easier movement of ceramic parts. Assembly is carried out in the reverse order. In order to increase the tightness, before assembly, wrap tow or a special seal on the valve body.
Replacing the gasket in the Geyser tap
If you are faced with the task of how to change the rubber gasket in the Geyser tap, then first you should disassemble it. To do this, the flow adjustment knob is unscrewed, then the outer part is removed. Together with the metal ring, the nut is unscrewed, and then the ceramic pair is removed. At this stage, you can replace the gasket, and then assemble everything in reverse order.
It is quite easy to find rubber gaskets on sale, but some consumers, when replacing them in a Geyser tap, face the difficulty of acquiring a ceramic pair. In some cities, there is a whole problem with such nodes in stores. Be that as it may, it is necessary to assemble and disassemble the crane, being careful. Otherwise, you maydamage threaded connections.
Replacing the seal in the ball mixer
If you are wondering how to change the gasket in a ball valve, then the technology will not differ too much from those presented above. To carry out the work, it is necessary to prepare the same tools. Work must begin with the dismantling of the decorative plug, tucking it with a screwdriver. With a hex wrench, it will be possible to unscrew the locking screw that secures the faucet lever. The latter should be pulled up and removed from the stem.
Next, the threaded connection is unscrewed. It should be hooked with a screwdriver for the notches. If you are thinking about how to change the gasket in the tap, you must remember that all work must be carried out with caution, because otherwise the corrugated hoses may be damaged. The pliers will allow you to dismantle the dome along with the cuff. Next, the ball is removed from the mechanism.
The seal should be replaced in the next step, in some cases the ball needs to be replaced. Experts recommend replacing the springs inside. Further, all parts are installed in place, it is important to observe the accuracy of the positioning of the ball. With a chrome dome ring, you can adjust the ease of turning on the tap. Next, a lever is installed, which is fixed with a locking screw.
Conclusion
Before you change the gasket in the faucet, you need to prepare plumbing grease. It will be needed before the ball is installed and should be applied to the seal. This will ensure smooth operation and extend the life of the gaskets. If youIf you think about how to change the gasket in the tap of a cartridge mixer, you should know that the operation of such a device does not involve replacing seals. This is due to the fact that the cartridges are non-separable.
