Replacing a faucet in a shower stall with your own hands

It is common for a person to surround himself with convenient devices and devices for a comfortable life. Perhaps this is correct, although at times it is pampering. You can buy a shower stall like this. You live and rejoice, after a hard day you climb into it and tone yourself under the life-giving streams. All fatigue is washed away, tension goes away along with impurities. But at one point, due to the failure of some part, the usual feeling of comfort is disrupted. This is where the panic begins. What to do and what to do? Calm! Let's try to figure it out.

Variety of shower mixers

Since there is nothing special to break in the shower, and the only place where problems really arise is the mixer, what it is needs to be found out.

If the cabin is a closed type, then the mixer is installed on the rear wall. This means that in order to carry out dismantling work there must be free space between the cabin and the wall. If the cabin is an open type, then it is possible to install a single-lever mixer of any type.

All products that can be found on store shelves are divided into three types.

Valve type of mixers

The body of this device consists of a faucet-axlebox and a valve.The function of the valve is to regulate, supply and force the water pressure. You can increasingly find ceramic crane axle boxes on sale.

Lever version of the mixer

The operation of this type of device is based on the lever principle. This type is more complex than the valve type:

• body equipped with spout;
• cartridge;
• adjusting knob fixed to the cartridge;
• lid;
• fastening nut.

Touch faucets

Touch faucets are based on a photocell. He gives the command to supply water.

Removing the mixer with your own hands

Fix a problem with your faucet? You'll probably just have to replace the cartridge. Basically, all problems occur due to the quality of water or communications. Water hardness leads to the formation of limescale deposits. Rust, which is certainly present inside old pipes, together with limescale, is the main reason for premature breakdowns of the faucet in the shower stall.

When removing the mixer, we proceed according to plan:

1. The first step is to turn off the water in the system.
2. There is a plug under the lever - it needs to be removed.
3. To remove the faucet, you need to unscrew the screw.
4. Next, we get rid of the decorative trim.
5. Find the plate under the mixer and remove it.
6. We get rid of fasteners.

Now let's see how things are inside.

Let's move on:

1. Unscrew the nut that is on the back panel. After this, both the mixer and the sealing lip are accessible for removal.
2. We clean the opened space from all dirt, wipe it dry and apply sealant.
3. We place the new cartridge in the existing groove and secure it using fasteners.
4. To check the correct assembly, turn on the tap. If you don't get wet, it means something went wrong.

Subtleties of changing the mixer cartridge

Replacing a faucet is not at all difficult.You just need to change the cartridge. Usually most people try to buy a faucet the same as it was originally. The right approach, although completely optional. The main thing is to maintain the distance between the valve stems.

When going to the store to buy a new cartridge, you need to take measurements from the old one. Standard sizes. These are one hundred, one hundred twenty-five, one hundred forty-five and one hundred fifty millimeters. It is necessary to measure the distance between the control lever and the water supply fitting.

The main thing is that the type of faucet and the mixer cassette match. Single lever faucets are available with ceramic, hydroceramic or ball cartridges. Bronze or ceramic valve axle boxes are installed on taps with two valves. They come complete with paronite or rubber seals.

The most popular models are those whose operation is based on water pressure in the pipe.

But there is a significant disadvantage: if the pressure is weak, then the system may not function. If there is a sudden surge in pressure in the system, this can lead to damage.

Attention! The duration of operation is affected by depreciation and the quality of the structure as a whole.

Once the suitable equipment has been purchased, it is time to start installing it. To work, you need to prepare wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers.

Changing cassette

Check that the water supply to the system has been stopped. Who wants to turn their room into a swimming pool? You need to find and remove the decorative plug, behind which the screw securing the control knob is hidden. Once the screw is removed, the lever can be removed.

Next, you need to unscrew the nut that holds the cartridge. Now it can be replaced with a new one. The main requirement is that the dimensions of the mixer and the cassette match.To check, place the cassette in the slot; there is no need to fix it and try to return the control handle to its original place.

If there are no changes in appearance and everything is established, then the choice was correct.

Before installation, do not be lazy to clean the inside of the faucet from the accumulation of dirt, mucus and other slag that may have accumulated there.

Now you can assemble the structure. We fix the cartridge and put the lever in its place. At the end of the work, we check the functionality of the mechanism and its tightness.

When do you need to change the cartridge?

The usual cause of failures in disk cartridges is wear of the moving elements. Models equipped with plastic parts are more susceptible to this. If they are made of ceramic, the likelihood of breakage is much lower. But in essence, it makes no difference what the cause of the breakdown is. If it's broken, it needs to be replaced.

Symptoms:

• normal mixing of water does not occur (either hot or cold water flows);
• water does not flow;
• the temperature changes when the lever is fixed;
• weak water pressure;
• the water is not completely blocked;
• there is a leak under the handle;
• tight movement of the handle.

Harmful impurities contained in water shorten the operating life of the device. To extend the time of use, you need to install a filter at the entrance to the house for cleaning.