How to disassemble and repair a single lever mixer. Repairing a single-lever faucet with your own hands: stages of work How to repair a kitchen faucet with one handle

Since kitchen taps are used much more often than bathroom faucets, there are more problems with them - failures, leaks and other breakdowns. In some cases, it is necessary to completely change the device. If the faucet in the kitchen sink is leaking, repairs can be carried out with the help of a mechanic or independently. Do-it-yourself repairs will require a little experience, tools and knowledge of the design.

Signs for repairs

Kitchen faucet repair is required under the following circumstances:

there is a leak from under the nut at the spout, as well as from under the handle, valve, during switching on;

malfunctions in the movements of the lever, for example, the inability to fix it or there is scrolling;
weak stream with high pressure in the water supply;
water dripping with the tap closed.

If any of the described symptoms appear, repairs must be carried out immediately in order to increase the service life of the device and prevent flooding.

Features of different types of mixers

In kitchens, it is more common and more practical to use traditional taps, with one or two levers. Common parts include the body, spout, aerator and sealing gaskets. The remaining parts are significantly different.

Double valves

This technique is classic and made very simply. Under the flywheel, which rotates when the water is turned on, there is a valve axle that performs a shut-off function. In devices where flywheels must be turned to stop and supply water, worm-type axle boxes are installed. They are based on rotating movements; the more you unscrew the valve, the more water will come out through the spout.

There are axle boxes with ceramic panels, with which you only need to make half a turn in the tap to supply water. When opened, the holes align and water flows through the spout. The cost of the axle box is low, you can always find it in a plumbing store and make a replacement.

Single lever types

A single-lever kitchen faucet is considered more fashionable and modern. With its help, pressure and temperature are regulated with only one lever. Water is mixed using a hollow ball or cartridge.

When using ball cutters, please note that they will have 3 holes. 2 inputs, where hot and cold water flows, 1 output - needed for draining into the sink. The mechanism itself rests on 2 rubber “saddles”, and by moving the lever you can set the desired water pressure and temperature. Fixation is carried out with a sealing collar and a nut for the stopper.

The main problem with seal failures is small specks and debris that are in the water pipes. To fix the problem, you need to disassemble the faucet and remove dirt.

Cartridge devices work in a similar way, but there is no ball mechanism inside. The internal design is significantly different. There are 3 holes, as in the first case, but inside the cartridge there are small ceramic disks, with the help of which the water supply can be adjusted. If such a device leaks, then the repair is almost no different from the ball type.

Causes of faucet leaks

Kitchen faucet leaks can have different types and causes. Among the main types are the following:

the appearance of water from under the gander. A common problem if there is a two-valve faucet. The reason is the wear of the gaskets, which fail when the water is turned on frequently. To replace it, just unscrew the nut, remove the gooseneck and install a new gasket or cut it out of rubber. When reassembling, do not tighten the nut tightly so as not to damage the base, especially if it is made of silumin;

valve leaking or inability to completely turn off the water. To solve the problem, the axle box assembly is changed;

leak under the sink. Often the problem is hidden in the hoses that supply water to the tap or wear of the gasket at the connection points. Repair consists of the usual replacement of a hose or seal;
poor quality faucet. The problem appears very often, especially if a Chinese faucet is purchased. The service life is only a couple of years, after which it begins to leak;
incorrect installation or poor quality of work performed. The leakage problem is caused by improper selection of gaskets or poor connection of parts;
incorrect use of the mixer. Problems begin when turning the handles at a different angle or increasing the force on the levers.

If the mixer does not work well after a certain period of operation, and there are no obvious reasons, then the problem is hidden in limescale deposits on the parts. To solve the problem, you need to disassemble the device and completely clean it of salts using household chemicals.

The problem of leakage often appears when installing a new faucet, although this should not happen. In this case, there is room for defects and the product must be replaced under warranty. It is strictly forbidden to repair the device, as this will not allow for a replacement.

Do-it-yourself faucet repair

Before removing the faucet and repairing it, you need to prepare the tool. To do this you will need:

adjustable wrench or set of wrenches;
screwdriver;
parts for replacement, depending on the type of failure;
lubricant in the form of WD-40 to make it easier to unscrew parts;
pliers.

Regardless of the type of mixer, before starting work, you must turn off the water supply and drain the remaining residue from the system. After this, repairs can be carried out based on the design features of the mixer.

Single lever taps

The main principle of work is step-by-step execution of actions and accuracy. The execution steps are as follows:

Using a small screwdriver or a knife, remove the plug on the mixer body.
A screw will be visible in the hole that connects the lever and the adjustment rod. It is unscrewed using a hexagon.
The lever is removed from the body, the protective casing is unscrewed, under which there is a clamping nut. It must be carefully removed with an adjustable wrench.
For a ball device, there will be a sealing collar under the nut at the bottom; the ball is pulled out and inspected for cleanliness and deformations.
The cartridge is removed from the cartridge tap and inspected for damage.
The parts are replaced and everything is assembled in the reverse order.

There is no need to tighten the nuts very tightly so as not to cause deformation of the rubber bands for sealing and malfunction of the tap. For smooth running and longer service life, you can use silicone lubricant. For clarity of repairs, it is recommended to watch the video:

Double valves

The procedure for repairing faucets with 2 valves is almost the same, and how to disassemble it correctly is presented in the step-by-step guide:

Pry off the plugs on the valve flywheel and remove them.
Using a screwdriver, unscrew the fixing screw.
Remove the flywheel to get to the axle box, unscrew the part counterclockwise and conduct a detailed inspection.
The gasket of the worm gear is often damaged, so it must be replaced separately. The axle box with ceramics is replaced as an assembly.
After completing the work, you need to reassemble the mixer in the reverse order.

In addition to a leaking faucet, there are other possible problems. For example, the degree of contamination of parts, namely the aerator, depends on the quality of tap water. Solid debris accumulates inside it, and when there is a lot of it, the pressure weakens significantly. To do this, you need to replace the part or simply remove it for cleaning.

If there is a crack in the product, then the mixer must be replaced completely. To temporarily solve the problem, you can seal the hole with sealant.

Complete replacement of the mixer

If it is impossible to repair the faucet and eliminate the leak, then you need to buy a new plumbing fixture and replace it. For this you need screwdrivers, keys and a container for water. Regardless of the faucet model, the replacement procedure is no different and looks like this:

The first step is to remove the old faucet. To begin with, the water supply from the central system is closed, the valves on the tap are opened to completely relieve pressure and remove residues in the system.
Open the flexible hoses from the supply pipes and drain the water in them into a bucket or basin.
Disconnect the siphon from the sewer and, if desired, remove the sink; this will greatly simplify further work.
Unscrew the faucet fasteners from the bottom of the sink, remove the product with hoses through the hole in the sink.
To install new equipment, you should buy hoses and screw them to the mixer. It is important to ensure the presence of gaskets and their correct location.
A sealing ring is placed in the faucet body to prevent water from getting under the cabinet.
The hoses are inserted into the hole in the sink, and the mixer is fixed using a special plate. It is clamped with one bolt.
If the sink has been removed, you need to fix it back and seal the joints with sealant.
Connect the hoses to the pipeline, install a siphon and turn on the water supply valve.

After the work is completed, check the functionality and presence of leaks at all connections. More often it appears at the junction of the hose with the mixer or pipeline.

Prevention

Repairing a mixer may not always give good results; in some cases, a complete replacement of the device is required. Experts advise adhering to a few simple rules, with which the equipment will serve for a long time:

If possible, install filters for rough water purification to prevent the entry of debris and other dirt from the water supply;
if you install a filter to remove salts, the parts will be protected from lime, so you can forget about leaks and repairs for a long time;
The highest quality and most durable faucets are considered to be brass, while low-quality faucets are made of silumin. Often, cheap faucets are produced by Chinese and Turkish manufacturers;

single-lever designs are more modern and convenient, they are easier to repair.
To clean the body and other parts, it is better to use cream-like substances or gels that are suitable for the metal of the mixer. Do not use brushes or alkaline cleaning products;
to preserve chromium, all traces of detergents must be removed immediately with plain water;
Gaskets and other parts need to be changed once every 2-3 years, possibly more often. This preventive measure is much cheaper than replacing the entire faucet;
The valves must be opened and closed completely, but without effort.

Knowing what to do when a kitchen faucet leaks, you can replace parts or the entire faucet yourself. Often the described schemes are suitable for all appliances, including those in the bathroom. Before performing work, it is important to determine the cause of the leak, and when choosing new faucets, you should buy only high-quality products and not give preference to cheap products.

The kitchen faucet is one of the most frequently used plumbing fixtures in an apartment or house, so it is not surprising that it often fails.

In this case, a one-handed rotary faucet requires preventive repairs with replacement of components; sometimes the malfunction cannot be eliminated and the plumbing fixture has to be replaced completely.

Almost every homeowner can carry out this work at home without calling a paid plumbing specialist. To do this, you need to know how to disassemble a kitchen faucet with one handle and have a simple construction tool available.

Single lever kitchen faucet

Design of single-lever mixers

In modern kitchens, the main type of taps are one-handle types, which have practically replaced the inconvenient two-valve designs and are more practical than touch-sensitive devices.

The design of a single-lever kitchen faucet is not complicated; the main components are the body (has a drip line, seats for installation in the sink and water supply) and a built-in adjustment unit.

If a single-lever mixer fails, repair in most situations consists of simply replacing the unified switching unit or its parts.

Types of control units

The manufacturer supplies the market with single-lever models for mixing liquid with only two types of control units: ball and plate ceramic cartridges.

It can be noted that ceramic cartridges, due to their high technical characteristics and performance qualities, have practically forced ball models out of the market.

A high-quality ceramic block can regulate water supply for up to 10 years without loss of performance properties; budget Chinese crafts can fail the next day and need to be replaced much more often.

Appearance of structural elements of ceramic cartridges

Ceramic cartridges

The ceramic cartridge is a prefabricated assembly of parts installed in a plastic cylindrical body, at the top of which there is a lever on which a rotary handle is attached. There are three holes in its lower part: water flows into two of them, and from the third the mixed liquid is directed into the low tide and flows out.

The main components of the cartridge are two ceramic plates with slots that fit tightly to each other. When one of them rotates around its axis, the inlet holes through which cold and hot water enters overlap to varying degrees - thus, the temperature regime is adjusted.

If the movable plate moves along its axis, both inlet openings are simultaneously blocked - this is how the pressure is regulated.

The main advantage of equipping a kitchen faucet with a cartridge is its ease of replacement and high maintainability - its cylindrical body can be easily disassembled.

Working principle of ceramic block

Ball

Ball control units consist of one main part - a metal ball with three holes for water and a rod for installing a rotary handle. During operation, the ball rotates in a spherical housing seat that has three holes: two for water inlet and the third for the outflow of mixed liquid.

Adjusting the temperature and pressure occurs in the same way as moving the handle in ceramic models; to seal, spring-loaded rubber rings are inserted into the area of the inlet holes.

The advantage of one-arm ball valves is their simplicity of design, long service life and excellent maintainability - the metal ball itself theoretically cannot fail, so repairing a mixing device consists only of installing new gaskets.

Features of the design of ball joints

Risks during purchase and operation

To avoid risks when purchasing and operating, it is better to purchase sanitary equipment from well-established manufacturers on the market - this guarantees that it will last a long time without breakdowns or malfunctions.

Usually, upon purchase, the control unit is already installed in the plumbing fixture, and given that all of their models are unified, the right decision would be to purchase exactly such a fixture right away. This will allow, if the old unit breaks down, to immediately replace it with a new one, and if the situation repeats, to assemble two faulty devices into one that works and then uses the repaired one.

When operating a kitchen faucet, in most cases the water supply is made using flexible reinforced hoses, which are not always of high quality. Flooding of premises in the event of damage to water hoses can be avoided by installing an Aquastop valve at the outlet of the pipes.

It should be borne in mind that the principle of operation of the valve is to shut off the water flow at high pressure, that is, it is effective if the water hose falls off the mixing body or pipe. In other situations, if there is a leak, the apartment can be successfully flooded with Aquastop protection.

What is needed for repair

To carry out repair work, you will have to disassemble the faucet without removing it from the sink; sometimes you may need to repair the kitchen spout, which in one-handed models can be carried out without disassembly operations.

When dismantling the faucet, you have to remove the handle, unscrew the fixing nuts and hoses - this requires suitable tools, consumables and components.

Tools and supplies for plumbing repair work

Tools

To carry out repair work you will need the following tool:

An adjustable wrench for unscrewing the nut from the mixing device body and dismantling flexible hoses.
A socket or flat wrench for tightening and removing bolts on mounting studs.
A Phillips screwdriver or hex wrench for removing the faucet handle.

Necessary materials

When removing the mixing body from the kitchen sink or removing underwater hoses, you often encounter difficulties associated with contamination of the dismantled parts with limescale or corrosion. Before carrying out work, it is better to treat their surface with household chemicals to remove rust and limescale - this will simplify the dismantling and further installation of the equipment.

The presence of gaskets in the underwater hoses and the mixing body eliminates the use of various types of additional seals in the form of synthetic and linen tape, rubber rings.

During repair work, it is often necessary to replace underwater hoses that have become unusable; for replacement, it is better to purchase types with stainless braiding and a union nut with fittings made of non-ferrous metals (copper, brass).

Internal structure of a single lever cartridge faucet

Cartridge faucet repair

Repairing a faucet with a built-in cartridge, depending on its malfunction, requires a different approach. If the water in the tap does not shut off well or constantly flows, in most cases the cartridge needs to be replaced. When the casing shell or ebb is damaged, you will have to remove the mixing device and purchase a new faucet with subsequent installation.

What may require repair

The main components that most often fail during operation are the adjustment unit and the spout. The control unit can be damaged as a result of long-term use with poor quality or from contaminated water with sand entering the water supply system. The main reason for its malfunction is the breakdown of the built-in plastic parts and the rod on which the handle is attached.

The ebb tide most often fails as a result of clogging of the filter nozzles at its outlet - in this case, the water pressure ruptures its thin-walled tube and a leak forms.

Spout filter repair

How to disassemble

When carrying out repair work, it is often necessary to disassemble a single-lever mixer; the process consists of the following steps:

Using a knife or flat-head screwdriver, remove the plastic plug on the side of the handle; the fixing screw may have a head for a Phillips screwdriver or a hex key. Unscrew the mounting screw with a suitable tool; before carrying out work, it may be necessary to pre-treat it with household chemicals against limescale and rust.
After removing the handle, unscrew the decorative nozzle. It is designed for manual removal, but during long work, water gets into the threads and the coating prevents unscrewing. To make removal easier, you can use an adjustable wrench, after placing a soft cloth under its jaws to prevent scratches on the chrome surface. When dismantling the cap, excessive force should be avoided - this can lead to deformation of the thin-walled lining.
Under the cap there is a clamping nut with a hexagonal ring at the top - it is simply unscrewed counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench. It is easy to remove the cartridge - it is pulled out of the mounting socket using the lever using your fingers.

Disassembling a faucet with a ceramic cartridge

How to replace a cartridge

Before changing the cartridge in the mixer, the internal parts of the mixer body are cleaned of plaque and dirt using a rag and household chemicals. Replacing a cartridge with a new one is quite simple - when installing, align the body protrusions with the recesses in the installation socket.

Mistakes you can make

It often happens that after seemingly correct assembly, the cartridge does not work correctly. This happens due to the fact that the protruding rubber gasket at the bottom during installation prevents the two locking protrusions on its body from accurately falling into the mounting sockets. The faucet will have to be completely dismantled again, the block must be installed in the correct position and pressed harder by hand when tightening the clamping nut.

During installation, it is important not to overtighten the clamping nut - this can lead to a stiff movement of the joystick and compression of the housing shell, causing rapid wear of the internal parts and, in extreme cases, their cracking - if the joystick moves tightly, you should immediately loosen the clamp.

How to disassemble a ball-type kitchen faucet

Ball mixer repair

The main do-it-yourself repair of a ball mixer in the kitchen is replacing the gaskets; if there is significant damage to the drain or casing, leading to leaks, the plumbing will have to be replaced.

Before repairing a ball valve, prepare the usual tools and consumables in the form of rubber cylindrical gaskets and a dome washer. Household chemicals may be needed for the preliminary treatment of parts coated with plaque and corrosion.

Possible faults

The main malfunctions of ball types include:

wear of the upper dome gasket;
defects in a hollow metal ball;
abrasion of saddle valves;
weakening of springs.

If we repair a faucet with our own hands, then, unlike cartridge types, to accurately determine the faulty part, it requires preliminary disassembly.

Disassembling the mixer

When disassembling a single-lever ball-type mixer, perform the following operations:

Remove the decorative trim on the handle, completely unscrew the fixing screw and remove the handle.
Unscrew the top cap with an adjustable wrench, installing it in the outer slots.
Remove the plastic washer with a domed rubber ring and the ball from the body, and use a screwdriver to remove the seat gaskets with springs.

How to disassemble a ball mixer - replacing seals

How to repair

Instructions for connecting the faucet can help you with self-repair; after studying it, it will be much easier to repair it.

But even in its absence, repair is not particularly difficult; the following operations are mainly performed:

The valve seats are most often replaced. To do this, they are inserted into the housing recesses along with the springs.
If the ball is damaged, any ball repair is ineffective - it is replaced with a new one.
Wear of the upper dome washer occurs very rarely; if it wears out, it needs to be replaced.

To speed up the repair time without conducting a preliminary inspection of the ball valve and disassembling it, it is better to purchase a standard repair kit from a retail chain in advance.

A single-lever, or as it is also called a joystick, mixer confidently takes the place of obsolete valve devices. It is simple, easy to use and quite reliable. You can repair it yourself, without turning to a plumber for help.

After reading the article we presented, you will be able to repair a single-lever mixer with your own hands. We have listed all types of breakdowns typical for this type of plumbing fixtures. We describe in detail how to fix breakdowns. Taking into account our recommendations, you can easily repair a device with one lever.

Like any mechanism, the mixer sometimes breaks down. The failure of a plumbing fixture in the bathroom or kitchen is the most common breakdown, which is impossible not to notice - puddles on the floor and the irritating sounds of falling drops that do not stop day or night will not leave anyone indifferent.

The above troubles can be eliminated quite simply and quickly on your own. Of course, for this you need to at least theoretically become familiar with the internal structure of the mixer, know the reason for its failure and how to eliminate it.

A single-lever mixer is a plumbing fixture that is distinguished by its simplicity of design, excellent functionality, durability and, most importantly, ease of operation.

All these issues will be discussed in detail below.

However, first let’s look at the advantages of this plumbing fixture, to which it owes its popularity:

Simplicity and maintainability. This has already been mentioned above - due to its simplicity, a single-lever mixer lasts a long time, and this period can be extended by timely repairing the product.
Ease of use. There is no need to turn the valves; just lift the mixer joystick up in one motion to let the water flow. To adjust the temperature, the lever is turned left and right, and the pressure is adjusted by vertical movement of the lever.
Durability. The simpler the design, the less often it breaks - a single-lever mixer consists of a small number of parts, and if you treat it with care and install a filter on the water, the product is guaranteed to last more than 10 years. Of course, this only applies to high-quality faucets.

On sale you can often find products made from fragile, short-lived, but very cheap silumin. In the best case, such a mixer will work for two years.

It is worth mentioning simple repairs. Simply put, any smart housewife can do a simple repair of a single-lever mixer with her own hands. Basically, it all comes down to a banal replacement of the disk cartridge or ball, depending on the design of the device. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and consider the internal structure of the mixer.

Image gallery

If your kitchen faucet is leaking, you shouldn’t immediately rush to the store for a new one. You can often fix it yourself quickly and easily. Let's try to figure out how to repair different types of faucets.

Most often, a ball valve is installed in the kitchen. It is convenient and simple, works flawlessly. Turning one knob is much more pleasant than turning two valves. In addition, the design of the ball valve also determines its reliability - it is simple and devoid of unnecessary parts that can fail at the wrong time.

However, the ball valve breaks sooner or later and begins to leak. And here you have to deal with an unpleasant thing - a design feature of the ball valve that determines its reliability at the same time and makes it difficult to repair it yourself. The fact is that the mixer mechanism is non-separable and the most important mechanisms are included in a cartridge that cannot be disassembled. If one part fails, the entire cartridge will have to be replaced.

Let's consider Now in more detail other breakdowns of the ball valve:

Hull cracks;
Failure of gaskets;
Cartridge clogged.

Case cracks can be repaired with your own hands only if the crack is small. In this case, you can use a sealant. This will stop the leak for a while.

If the gaskets are worn out, they must be replaced:

Shut off the water supply;
Remove the mixer by unscrewing the inlets and the nut securing it;
Replace the gasket;
Reassemble the mixer.

Important: when replacing the gasket in any taps, you must select a gasket of the appropriate diameter. A correctly selected gasket fits into place with force.

If the cartridge is clogged, there is nothing you can do about it yourself - you will have to replace the entire cartridge. To do this, after shutting off the water and draining the water, remove the mixer. Next, the decorative plug is removed, the lever is removed and the cartridge is removed. The old cartridge is thrown away and a new one is installed in its place. Next, the crane is put back together.

Sometimes the cause of malfunction and difficult water supply is a clogged aerator. Repairing such a fault with your own hands is not at all difficult. You need to unscrew the aerator and open the tap - if the water starts flowing with the same force, then the problem is definitely in the aerator. In this case, the aerator is washed, freed from debris and put back on. Sometimes the aerator is already completely destroyed. Then it is replaced with a new one.

Important: If the faucet is in order, so is the aerator, and water flows with difficulty, then there is a blockage in the pipes or hoses. Only cleaning the pipes or replacing them with modern plastic ones will help here. But this has nothing to do with fixing the mixer.

Repair of ball-type flag mixer (video)

Bathroom faucet repair

If water stops flowing from the shower, but flows fine from the tap, then the spool gaskets are most likely worn out. If the top gasket fails, you don’t even need to remove the mixer. Simply remove the shower hose and change the gasket. If the problem persists, then the problem is in the bottom gasket and you will have to remove the mixer yourself. Again, you will first need to turn off the water, then remove the spout and adapter, remove the eccentric and get to the spool. Then all that remains is to replace the gasket and reassemble the faucet in the reverse order.

Important: spool valve gaskets are rarely on sale, so you will have to cut them out of thick rubber yourself. The rubber should be 3 mm thick.

Bathroom faucet repair (video)

Repair of a two-valve mixer

Repairing two-valve kitchen faucets involves repairing worm gears or axle box taps. Worm mechanisms are most often found in inexpensive faucets.

Worm gear leaking: most likely it’s all due to wear of the gasket. All that remains is to simply replace the gasket by purchasing it in a store or cutting it out of thick rubber.

Procedure:

Unscrew the valve body;
Remove the old gasket;
Install a new gasket;
Reel fum;
Assemble the mixer.

Repair of axlebox tap: the axlebox tap is a very reliable mechanism - such mixers work for years without letting their owners down. And all because the design is very simple. Such taps begin to leak if they become loose during operation. In this case, repairing the mixer is not difficult - you just need to tighten the housing nut and the leak will be stopped.

Repair of a two-valve mixer in the kitchen (video)

Repairing faucets in the kitchen and bathroom yourself is not difficult. And it doesn’t even require experience in plumbing work or special knowledge of mechanisms. All work can be done quickly using the most accessible tool available in any home - a knife and a screwdriver.

When suddenly problems arise with the faucet, this does not mean that you need to immediately call a plumber. You can repair a single-lever faucet yourself. To do this, you just need to understand the features of this device and have the necessary tools at hand.

Swivel faucet - the best option for the kitchen and bathroom

As you know, a faucet is designed to allow you to mix cold and hot water and set the desired temperature. One of the popular models today is the design with one rotary handle. They are called mono-command, articulated and even joysticks.

Long service life is associated with the absence of metal rubbing parts. Almost all the wearing elements that are so familiar in a conventional faucet are replaced here with ceramic parts, which are processed with great precision. It is only badly affected by abrasive particles. Therefore, in new models, the filter is often installed directly into the mixer itself. But it is still better to ensure good cleaning right at the water supply inlet.

They also attract with their modern design. The body is distinguished by smooth lines and transitions. For their finishing, chrome, nickel or colored coatings, for example, “black gold” are often used.

With one slight twist you can adjust both water pressure and temperature. Simplicity is complemented by reliability and ease of use. Therefore, knowing the structure of a single-lever mixer, you can quickly repair it. The main part is the cartridge. Therefore, most often it is necessary to replace this particular element. But first you need to figure out what exactly such a device is:

a handle or lever allows for easy control;
the adjustment rod is fixed with a nut and washer;
Inside the housing there is a ball valve or ceramic cartridge with three holes. A stable position is ensured by rubber seats;
There are also adjusting and steam cuffs and an adjustment ring.

The causes of malfunctions may be different, but if the cartridge is not damaged, then repairing the mixer will not take much time. Part of this will depend on where it was installed.

Single lever faucets - causes of failure

Despite the fact that there are two types of such mixers, the causes of failure are often similar, although there are some differences:

the ball valve mechanism is considered more reliable. However, over time, the steel ball corrodes. The Teflon seals and gaskets also wear out and then water begins to leak out. They can be quickly replaced. However, if the ball itself is cracked, you will need to buy a new one;
The ceramic disc cartridge is resistant to rust and hard water. This single lever will last for many years. The structure itself consists of thin plates that are carefully fitted to each other. The gap is hundredths of a millimeter, so trapped debris or a grain of sand can cause chipping and breakage. In this case, it will also be necessary to make a replacement;
clogging sometimes leads to deformation of the rubber seat and the bolt itself. Therefore, you will need to disassemble, clean and replace the rubber;
a loose lever allows water to leak out. To stop this, simply tighten all connections well;
a small crack on the body itself can be sealed with sealant. If this fails, then it is better to find another mixer.

A common cause of problems is the water itself, or more precisely, its hardness. Even a regular cleaning filter will allow a single-lever filter to last much longer and without breakdowns.

Mixer repair: procedure

Before starting work, it is necessary to turn off the hot and cold water valves, after which you need to open the tap and drain the existing water. You can also cover the sink to avoid damaging it.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

However, repairing a single-lever mixer with your own hands may not be complete. You need to make sure that there is no other factor causing the failure.

Mixer - troubleshooting

If after the main repair other problems are discovered that are somehow related to the mixer, then they must be eliminated immediately. Signs of trouble:

A blockage in the aerator can be easily identified by different water pressure in the kitchen or bathroom. You will need to unscrew it and rinse it well. If the aerator is very rusty, it should be replaced;
strong noise after opening the water may appear due to a loose fit of the rubber gaskets. If necessary, you will have to disassemble and trim the rubber again. Installing filters can help eliminate noise;
A decrease in water pressure occurs due to a blockage in the water pipe or hose itself. In this case, it will have to be thoroughly cleaned or replaced with a new polypropylene one;
Frequent problems can occur with the faucet in the bathroom. If the shower hose suddenly leaks too, this can be easily fixed by changing the gasket. However, spontaneous lowering of the control lever, which leads to the cessation of water flow through the shower, indicates that, most likely, the problem is in the spool gasket. When replacing the top gasket, you don't even have to remove the faucet. You just need to unscrew the nut and remove the hose. All that remains is to make a replacement and put everything back in place;
To replace the bottom gasket you will have to turn off the water again. It is necessary to remove not only the hose, but also the adapter along with the spout. Then you need to pull out the switch and eccentric, and only then the spool. All that remains is to change the gasket and reassemble the mixer.

If necessary, spare rings can be made of hard rubber 3-4 mm thick.

Therefore, before you do it yourself, you need to turn off the water, disassemble this device and make sure what condition the cartridge or ball valve is in.

These parts cannot be repaired, so you should immediately purchase new ones. The main thing is not to make a mistake with the dimensions of the ceramic cartridge. Therefore, it is better to take the old one with you to the store so that an annoying mistake does not occur.

The simplicity of the crane design ensures ease of repair. It takes a minimum of time and does not require special skills and knowledge. Still, you shouldn’t rush while working. It is important to do everything according to plan and carefully. As a result, the mixer will last for a long time without repair.