It is not always possible to call a specialist, so it makes sense to find out how to disassemble a ball mixer in the kitchen or bathroom on your own, how to properly repair it, and also return it to its former performance. It won’t be as difficult to do this as it might seem, so it makes sense to try even for those who have never been interested or involved in such things before.
What is good about a ball valve?
Until recently, there was no alternative to a valve mixer. And so, with the advent of a single-lever mixer with a ball switch, users were faced with a choice: which faucet to prefer? It turned out that the ball design is in high demand. This is explained by the remarkable performance characteristics of this type of mixers.
Another undoubted advantage of the ball mixer is its modern and attractive appearance: it can easily fit into any interior
The new faucet is very convenient to use. You don't have to twist anything to set the required temperature and water pressure. Simply put the lever in the desired position. This elementary procedure is performed automatically over time.
Those who have long preferred this design know roughly what position the rotary handle should be in so that both the pressure and temperature of the water are as comfortable as possible for a variety of purposes. It is useful for beginners to know that the water pressure is adjusted by moving the handle up and down, and the temperature – left and right.
The ball mixer is very functional: it can be easily adjusted to the pressure you need and the required temperature with one movement of the hand
In addition, it is believed that a more reliable ball mixer cannot be found.
conclusions
Having analyzed the pros and cons of single-lever and double-lever mixers, we come to the conclusion that the choice of the optimally suitable type depends on the style of the interior, the installation location of the device and the individual preferences of the owner. In classic interiors of kitchens and bathrooms, two-grip models look respectable, especially with bronze, copper or gold finishes.
In rooms decorated in modern styles, it is better to install stylish and comfortable single-lever faucets. Such models are especially convenient when used in the kitchen, when the ability to operate with one hand is very important. In terms of maintainability, two-valve devices are preferred, and in terms of ease of use, users give preference to single-lever models.
Single lever mixer with ball switch
Alas, modern faucets, like their valves, fail from time to time. After all, their production uses the same materials: metal, rubber and plastic, which can wear out during operation or under the influence of external factors.
To repair a ball valve, you need to understand its structure and be able to dismantle it if necessary. The ball device includes:
- rotary handle; At its core, it is a lever, which is sometimes called a “butterfly”.
- stock; The rod seal is adjusted using a nut and washer, which are also included in the package.
- body with nut; The ball cartridge and rod are located inside this housing.
- ball cartridge; It is fixed using rubber saddles.
You can repair this faucet yourself, without resorting to the help of specialists; only if the body is mechanically damaged, you will have to buy a new faucet
A ball cartridge is a non-separable element that has three holes: for incoming cold and hot water and for removing mixed water of the required temperature and pressure from the device.
The operating algorithm for a crane of this design is quite simple:
- when the lever is lifted, the ball begins to rotate;
- the holes on the ball cartridge begin to align with similar holes in the seats;
- Depending on the area of coincidence of these holes, the jet pressure changes.
Repair materials and tools
To carry out repair work, the faucet is disassembled without disconnecting it from the sink or sink. Sometimes the spout needs to be repaired. To do this, you also do not need to dismantle the plumbing equipment. To disassemble the faucet, you need to remove the handle and unscrew the nuts holding it.
To repair the mixer, prepare the following tools:
- an adjustable wrench to unscrew the nuts and remove the flexible connection;
- a flat or socket wrench, which is needed to tighten or remove bolts on studs;
- hex wrench or Phillips screwdriver needed to remove the faucet handle.
After disassembling the mixer and removing the water supply hoses, it often turns out that the equipment is heavily contaminated with lime deposits or rusted. Therefore, before work, it is recommended to clean rust and limescale deposits. This will make disassembling and subsequent installation of the mixer easier.
There are rubber gaskets in the underwater hoses and the mixer body. There is no need to use synthetic tape or linen to further seal the joints. Underwater water hoses wear out quickly. Therefore, it is better to replace them during repairs. Preference should be given to hoses with stainless steel braiding and copper or brass union nuts and fittings.
Ball mixer malfunctions
If you handle the mixer carefully, without applying excessive force where it is not needed, products of this design can serve without fail for a long time. However, the following breakdowns can be considered typical for them:
- When the lever is in the blocking position, the flow of water from the tap does not stop.
- A faulty ball faucet provides too little water pressure, despite the fact that the pressure in your home's water supply has not dropped, which can be checked by opening other taps.
- The regulation of the water temperature in the mixers has been disrupted: it is impossible to achieve the required parameters, since the mixing of hot and cold flows occurs in a chaotic manner.
A fairly common malfunction of a ball mixer is manifested by water leakage when the device itself is in the blocking position
Before you begin repairs, you should understand the cause of the malfunction, which manifested itself in one of the ways listed above.
Types of faults that occur
There is space between the ball cartridge and the rubber seats that secure this element. Its clogging is the most common cause of ball valve failure. Even a seemingly insignificant speck can lead to a violation of the tightness of the connection. As a result, the rubber seat may become deformed, causing the ball mount to become unusable.
Another frequently occurring breakdown is a clogged shutter. As such, repairs are not needed in this case. This problem can be solved by simply cleaning the plumbing fixture. True, for this the crane will have to be disassembled. But then, when you collect it, everything will be in order again.
Water may leak from the rotary knob cap. In this case, the connection should be tightened more tightly. If the flow of water stopped, then the reason for it was hidden precisely in a loose connection.
A clogged aerator leads to insufficient water pressure flowing from the faucet spout; this problem can be corrected by simply cleaning the aerator itself or replacing it.
The easiest way to solve the problem is with a clogged aerator. It is this that can become an obstacle to creating normal water pressure. If you remove the aerator and try to run water without it, then the change in pressure will make it clear whether the aerator was the cause of the malfunction. The aerator can be washed and replaced. Or you can simply replace it with a new one, as is done in the event of a complete failure of this part.
O-rings can also wear out. In this case, water may leak from underneath the faucet base. This malfunction is eliminated by replacing failed seals. Before starting work, turn off the water supply, then remove the mixer, disconnecting it from the inlets and unscrewing the nut that secures it. A worn gasket is replaced with a product of the same diameter. If the gasket is selected correctly, it will be installed in place with force. All that remains is to assemble the crane.
The only breakdown in which the mixer has to be completely replaced is a crack in its body: even if the ball switch is mechanically damaged, only this element can be replaced
The situation is worse if the ball cartridge itself is broken. It may crack, and, alas, then it cannot be repaired. You will simply have to replace it with a new one. You will have to act in exactly the same way in case of mechanical damage to the mixer body. There's no point in repairing it. It’s easier to buy and install a new faucet. If you are unable to immediately replace the faucet, you can use a sealant that will temporarily stop the leak, but remember that the device needs to be replaced. And the sooner the better.
Problems especially often arise due to increased hardness of the water circulating in your water supply system. Moreover, the type of mixer you use does not really matter. In order not to change faucets endlessly, you should install a filter that purifies the water. Even a rough cleaning device can block those particles that cause major breakdowns of plumbing fixtures.
Prevention
It is not always possible to get rid of problems with the mixer with the help of repair work. More often you have to buy a new faucet and install it to replace the one that has become unusable. To extend the life of the crane without breakdowns, it is recommended to choose a product from manufacturers with a good reputation. In addition, it is necessary to regularly prevent damage.
When buying a faucet, it is better to choose a brass model. They are heavier and stronger than sulimine. In addition, they are more reliable and last longer. Most faucet failures occur due to solid particles in the water supply and poor quality water. You can prevent them by installing filters.
Before disassembling the mixer yourself, you need to carefully study the instructions for it. Additionally, it is recommended to watch a video on how to do this, or consult with an experienced plumber.
When connecting parts, you need to use a sealant for greater reliability. If there is a thread, foam tape is used to strengthen it. To ensure that breakdowns are not unexpected, faucets are regularly inspected and seals are replaced.
Let's start repair work
Let's assume that all precautions have been taken, but still repairing the ball valve of your mixer is inevitable. To repair a ball mixer, you can, of course, invite a plumber. But it is better to try to do this work yourself. There is nothing super complicated about it. Just listen to our advice.
To perform repair work, you will need tools, which you must prepare in advance so that they are at hand.
No special tools are required to carry out repair work on a faulty ball mixer: all these items are necessarily present in the arsenal of any home craftsman
This:
- adjustable wrench;
- hex wrench of suitable size;
- a screwdriver that can be used, if necessary, like a thin knitting needle;
- pliers;
- flashlight.
First, you should turn off the supply of hot and cold water, otherwise your manipulations with plumbing fixtures may lead to a flood. Do not forget that there may be residual water in the tap, which should also be drained. Before starting work, you need to cover the sink with a rag. This measure will protect it from possible damage.
Now you can begin dismantling the mixer.
At the initial stage of repair work, the decorative plug with the image of hot and cold water should be removed; it blocks access to the screw that secures the lever
The sequence of work in this case is as follows:
- There should be a decorative plug on the mixer body that will have to be removed.
- Under the plug there is a hole through which you can get to the screw holding the faucet lever. This screw must be unscrewed.
- The lever is now free and can be removed. If the faucet has been installed for a long time and no one has unscrewed it, significant force may be required at this stage. It is important to act carefully and not damage anything.
- So, we now have access to the dome of the crane and the eccentric located underneath it, made of plastic. Both parts need to be removed. Below them is a ball cartridge. All contaminants that may be found during the dismantling process must be carefully removed.
- The ball switch is removed from the mixer. It must be examined from all sides. As mentioned earlier, if damage is detected on this one, it should be replaced with a new one. Covering cracks on the ball with sealant does not make sense.
- Inspect the rubber seals. They may lose elasticity or simply wear out. New seals must be installed in place of worn-out seals. It is also better to replace the elements that secure the ball switch. If they have worked for a long time, then this should be done even just for preventive purposes.
Plumbing gaskets are consumables: they often fail and have to be replaced; If you have to buy a new pad, take the old one with you so you don't get the wrong size
All that remains is to assemble the mixer. This must be done in reverse order.
You can get more information about repairs from this video:
If you did everything correctly, the mixer should now work properly again. However, the leak may be located under the spout, which is also called a spout or gander. Then you will have to remove the spout and replace the old o-rings with new ones.
Particular attention should be paid to the mixer when you have an old water supply system in your house. In this case, particles of rust and other contaminants may clog the openings in the switch through which hot and cold water flow. These blockages can be cleaned with a cloth or your hands. This procedure should be performed periodically, even just for preventive purposes.
Another problem that may bother owners of ball valves is the annoying noise that occurs when turning on the water. It occurs due to vibration created by air and water currents. Due to its effect on rubber gaskets, they can also begin to vibrate. To avoid this effect, you can reduce the water pressure, install a filter, or achieve a tighter fit of the rubber gaskets.
Externally, a silumin mixer looks no worse than any other model, but such products rarely last more than a year; You can distinguish them by weight: silumin is very light
The service life of a ball mixer is influenced not only by external factors, but also by the material from which the tap itself is made. There are often cheap models on sale that are made from silumin, an alloy of silicon and aluminum. They are short-lived, but are great for training those who like to do everything with their own hands. And for a long and trouble-free service, it is better to choose a more expensive, but also reliable model.
Let's sum it up
Repairing a mixer ball valve with your own hands is very simple. It is enough to have an idea of the design of the product and a few available tools that almost everyone has in the house. Next, the main thing is to act carefully so as not to damage the structure. To avoid serious damage to the faucet, it is enough to carry out preventive cleaning and replacement of rubber gaskets. For greater confidence in your abilities, we recommend watching the video before starting repairs.
