Cartridge for single lever mixer: types, sizes, installation and repair

Recently, single-lever mixers for baths and kitchens have become very popular. But I remember still that time when on sale basically there were mixers with the crane буксами. Now the situation has radically changed, and new cranes, of course, will completely replace the old ones. However, despite all this, the innovation is not insured against breakdowns. And as a result, you have to change the cartridge for a single lever mixer. Such a fate sooner or later inevitably overtakes all the technical means: both old and new!

As for mixers, then there is little choice: either to replace the defective part, and if this is not possible, you will have to buy a new tap. Modern devices have a simple design, and spare parts for them are sold almost at any nearby store and at a very affordable cost.

In the topic of this article, we will try to find out whether it is easy to repair the mixer on its own, and at the same time find out how convenient it is to use such cranes. Most likely, in this issue you can find both supporters and those who do not like the novelty. But first we will consider what varieties the modern market can offer us.

Types of mixers

Modern bathroom and kitchen faucets are of two types, depending on which cartridge for the single lever mixer is installed in the casing:

• ball;
• ceramic.

Ball valves are not cheap, it is they who wear rubber seals quickly and practically can not be repaired. Such a mixer needs regular application. If it is not used for a long period, a calcareous deposit forms between the ball and the sealed gasket, which leads to seizure. In this case, the breakage of the mixer is a matter of time. Perhaps this is why the production of such valves is not established on a large scale.

But at the same time such cranes perfectly tolerate pressure drops and withstand hydraulic shocks. In addition, they are not sensitive to the quality of water, and therefore, are not afraid of the inclusions present in the aqueduct.

Ceramic cartridge for a single-lever mixer, on the other hand, has an affordable price, while it serves much longer than a spherical analog and is more reliable. They can also be different, based on:

• Diameter;
• Height;
• The landing part;
• Length of the rod (sometimes).

In this regard, the old cartridge should be replaced with a completely identical new spare part. To do this, the defective part should be removed and with it you go to the store, where you get the necessary element for this sample.

The disadvantages of ceramic cartridges include sensitivity to water quality. Small particles of sand or scale affect the parts as an abrasive, which leads to breakage. However, this defect can be compensated by installing filters for mechanical cleaning.

How the ball joystick is arranged

The single-lever kitchen faucet has a replaceable circular element, which is hollow inside, polished and seated in a cartridge sleeve. It has three holes, when it is set in motion, they coincide in varying degrees with the holes of the mixer body.

It is in them that cold and hot water comes in, and mixing takes place inside the ball. Due to this, scale can form in it, which in most cases leads to a malfunction of the mixer.

The structure of a ceramic cartridge

Another type of cartridge has in its structure several ceramic plates, which are processed by ultrasound. Due to the precise mechanical grinding, the required smoothness of the parts is achieved, and their working surfaces are better adjoined to each other. This also affects the smooth and noiseless movement of ceramic discs during the entire period of operation.

These parts are arranged one above the other, and holes are provided for the passage of water. The lower plate is rigidly fixed in the cartridge, and the upper plate is fixed to the control rod. Each time, using a single-lever mixer for the sink, the ceramic discs move relative to each other, which leads to a partial or complete coincidence of the holes. Thus, the water mixes, becoming warm. Adjusting the head of the liquid is done by moving the top plate.

Usually, rubber seals are installed in the lower part of the cartridge for sealing purposes. And for the preservation of ceramics there is provided, in a way, a coarse filter in the form of a metal mesh for delaying fine debris that closes the holes of the plates. In some cartridges there are not two, but three, of which the moving plate is medium. Such cranes are relevant for pipelines with low operating pressure. Mixing of water takes place inside the mixer body, and not between the plates. Such valves are simply an ideal solution, since the head of the liquid does not drop.

By the way, the cartridge for the single-lever mixer can be dismountable and non-separable. The latter consists of only two halves (upper and lower).

Disadvantages of single-lever mixers

In our world, it seems, there is not one thing that has solid merits and no shortcomings ?! The mixer, even such convenient, is no exception:

• In such mixers (if it is a ball valve), rubber seals quickly wear out;
• Cranes are prone to clogging, which causes a malfunction;
• At cheap models after a while use it becomes difficult to select the necessary water temperature.

It should be noted that the life of most ball valves is about two years, which is not so much.

Single-lever mixer in this plan wins. Usually this can boast of German firms that can give a ten-year warranty on the crane. The Grohe mixer is considered the most reliable.

But what about the advantages?

Earlier there were minuses, and now it is worth highlighting the existing advantages:

• Long service life;
• Adjust the necessary pressure and water temperature can be easy, simple, and most importantly - quickly;
• If necessary, you can perform self-repair, following a simple instruction (will be described below);
• In the mixers there are rubber gaskets and there are no rubbing metal objects, which increases the duration of the mixer operation.

But most importantly, single-lever faucets are easy to install, this does not require any specific knowledge or skills. It is more or less good to hold tools in hands.

But what is more interesting, there is a wide range of products on the market, and therefore you can choose a special crane. The mixer can advantageously emphasize the refined taste of the owner of the apartment or house.

Basic Faults

Indications for the repair of the mixer may serve as some characteristic features:

• Difficulty in lever travel;
• Regardless of the position of the handle from the tap, only cold or hot water runs;
• It is not possible to regulate the flow head;
• The water does not completely overlap, drains in a thin stream;
• The leakage from the crane handle is clearly visible.

In most cases, the solution is to replace the cartridge. But this measure does not always help. Sometimes, when only hot or cold water runs from the tap, it can speak about the probability of a water admixture. In this case, there is a high probability that the entire mixer is faulty, only the replacement of the entire crane will help here.

It is for this reason that you should ask the seller to provide a check, in order to exchange a single-lever kitchen faucet, if necessary. It is necessary to take this moment into account and ask beforehand whether there is a guarantee and a return of products. Typically, this can be done in many stores no later than two weeks from the time of purchase.

By the way, if such a problem is observed, then it should not be left as it is. First, it is obvious discomfort. And secondly, the rest of the tenants are suffering, because the toilet bowls almost always fail because of the admixture of water.

What will it take to repair?

If all the fears are confirmed, then replacements can not be avoided. Only preliminary it is necessary to remove an old detail, for what tools will be necessary:

• A wrench (horn, drawbar, gas);
• Hexagon (not for all mixers);
• Pliers or pliers;
• Screwdriver with a flat end.

A flannel fabric (a small piece) and a special cleaning fluid WD-40 can also be useful. When everything is ready, you can go directly to the process. But before you start to disassemble the single-lever mixer for the sink, you need to close the water with taps, which are usually located in the tub. It is worth to be convinced of this by opening the faucets in the bathroom and in the kitchen.

Simple instruction

After the water is blocked, it is possible to begin work, which can be conditionally divided into several stages.

As the mixers with ceramic cartridges are mainly distributed, we will not consider the repair of the ball cartridge:

1. First of all, it is necessary to remove a plastic plug from the handle, symbolizing from which side hot and cold water (red and blue marks). Below it there is a small hole in which the screw connecting the handle with the control rod is hidden. And to see the cartridge for a single-lever mixer (Kerox, for example), you need to remove this lever. To do this, just need a hexagon. But in some cases a thin screwdriver is used. After that, it remains to remove the lever. Usually it's easy to do, but sometimes you have to make an effort, most importantly, do not overdo it.
2. Now you need to unscrew the chrome plated decorative cap. As a rule, it also easily lends itself.
3. Under this cover is a nut holding a ceramic cartridge for the mixer. It is unscrewed with a wrench. With her, great difficulties should not arise. In extreme cases, you can try using the liquid WD-40.
4. After taking out the defective part, go with her to the store and buy a new one.
5. Before installing a new cartridge, you need to clean the seat, since dirt has accumulated there during the operation. When placing a part, it is necessary to make sure that the protrusions on the cartridge coincide with the recesses in the seat of the mixer body.
6. Now it remains to assemble in the reverse order - twisting the nut, installing a decorative cap, fixing the handle with screwing, and at the end put the colored plug in its place.

At this "repair work" is over, you can test the operation of the crane.

As you can see, replacing the cartridge for a single-lever mixer (40 mm Sedal is made according to the same scheme) is not so difficult to entrust this matter to specialists. You can do it yourself with success, and save on the cost of such services. For the final conclusion it remains to make sure that everything is working properly, there are no leaks.

Checking

To begin with, it is better to close the faucets in the bathroom and kitchen, if they remained open, then resume the supply of hot and cold water. It is necessary to withdraw the handle gradually, while looking at whether there is anywhere to flow. Usually, after such work, flaws are not noticed. But if necessary, you can always re-cover the water and fix your shortcomings.

To extend the "life" mixer, experts advise to take care of installing a mechanical filter. In this case, ceramic plates do not threaten anything for a long period of operation.

Conclusion

By and large almost all single-lever cranes differ little in their structure, but some companies improve their products through the use of their own technologies. One such manufacturer is Kludi, which invented a miniature cartridge, which made it possible to create thinner and smaller mixers. Another Italian manufacturer, Newform, guarantees that its products can withstand a hydraulic shock equal to 35 atmospheres.

Spanish engineers (Supergrif) have achieved an ultra-smooth surface of parts by means of ultrasonic polishing. Interchangeable elements from Ideal Standard are designed to work in a low pressure system. Also in the case there is a small buffer camera.

German manufacturer under the name of Grohe also does not lag behind competitors. The plates with which the ceramic cartridge for the mixer is equipped (not in all models) have carbon-crystal coating Carbodur. Due to this, their strength is increased.

In conclusion, it remains to wish that the independent operation to replace the replaceable cartridges is always successful. Also, you should be careful when choosing new parts.