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Modern plumbing equipment is quite complex, so it can be difficult for the average person to understand its installation. Moreover, more and more often, homeowners began to turn to professional craftsmen who will not make mistakes during installation.

However, there are routine operations that can and should be done with your own hands. For example, plumbers believe that every person should know how to replace the gasket in a bathroom faucet on their own, because essentially this structural element is a consumable material that wears out over time. In this article we will tell you how to replace the gasket in the mixer, and also why it becomes unusable.

Gasket location and signs of wear

Rubber O-rings are located inside the faucet to prevent water from entering the gap between the seat and body. The valve design uses a screw or worm that presses the seat with a seal to the body part, which has a channel for supplying liquid.

Additional gaskets are located at the place where the jib is attached to the mixer body and at the points where the device is connected to the water mains. A sign of wear on the rubber gaskets is water leaking from the gander when the taps are turned on.

Troubleshooting Methods

Once the location where the faucet is leaking is identified, all that remains is to begin repairs. Start by turning off the water supply. The simplest repair option is to replace the entire mixer, but this is not always advisable for economic reasons. In most cases, you can limit yourself to minor routine repairs or maintenance. We will tell you how to install a gasket on the faucet, change the cartridge and perform other operations.

If water is leaking from under the valve, the gasket is almost certainly worn out. It is made of rubber and is located at the point where the crane axle box fits. The situation can be corrected by changing this gasket. If the faucet box is ceramic, you need to use a silicone gasket for a better seal.
If water drips from the spout, the valve housing is probably damaged. It is replaced with a new one. Typically, inexpensive models of mixers suffer from this, and replacing the faucet axle may not solve the problem. In this case, you will still have to resort to replacing the entire mixer with a new one.
If you find a leak at the connection point between the body and the spout, evaluate the condition of the gasket. Most likely it is worn out. You need to unscrew the tap spout and change the rubber band. This malfunction also occurs when the spout is not tightly screwed to the body. In this case, you need to tighten the nut, and the problem will disappear.
A leak at the point where the faucet connects to the water pipe indicates wear on the gasket. This defect is most often a consequence of improper installation. The fastening nut may have been over-tightened, resulting in damage to the rubber gasket. In this situation, you need to unscrew the hose and change the deformed rubber band. When you clamp, do not overdo it so as not to repeat the mistake.
Another weak point of kitchen faucets that cause leaks is a poor-quality supply hose. As a rule, the tubes included in the kit are often very weak and short-lived. Please note that a leak that is not noticed in time can develop into a serious problem when the flexible hose breaks and you flood the entire apartment and the neighbors below. To avoid trouble, simply replace the flexible hoses by unscrewing the old ones and installing new ones in their place - everything is simple and quick.
The faucet may leak where it is attached to the sink. This happens after long-term use of the equipment or as a result of dishonest initial installation. There should be a gasket in this place. You can fix the leak by simply replacing the seal.

Tools and consumables

To replace the gasket in your bathroom faucet yourself, you need to prepare:

gas or special adjustable wrench for plumbing work;
a screwdriver with a flat and Phillips blade for removing the valve head;
a set of spare rings;
stationery knife;
pliers.

Since during the repair process it may be necessary to remove the faucet, you should prepare flax tow to seal the threads. Instead of tow, synthetic tape or a special sealant can be used. For the manufacture of non-standard seals, sheet rubber with a thickness of 2.5-3 mm is used. The part is cut out with scissors or a metal punch of the appropriate diameter.

Replacing a gasket is a very neat job that does not require rushing.

Preparation for repair

Before you start changing the seals, you must shut off the water supply using the valves located on the water pipes. The taps are located in the bathroom or placed in a separate panel at the entrance of the mains into the room. If the apartment valves are faulty, then you need to contact the management organization with a request to shut off the water supply to the house. In this case, the repair begins with replacing the taps. The enameled surface of the bath is covered with sheet cardboard or an old blanket, and foreign objects are removed from the bathroom.

Prevention of breakdowns

It is easier to prevent any breakdown than to deal with its consequences. This also works for taps and mixers. Of course, you won’t be able to completely protect yourself, but everyone can significantly delay repairs.

do not skimp on plumbing and spare parts;
use a filter, especially in the case of old water pipes;
do not neglect maintenance, periodically disassemble the taps, clean and lubricate the moving elements;
tighten the valves all the way, but do not use excessive force, this is often what breaks the seals.

If it so happens that you cannot do without a replacement, you should approach the work with all possible responsibility. Only a properly installed high-quality gasket will allow you to delay the replacement of an expensive locking device for a long time.

Step-by-step instruction

The repair process depends on the valve design; standard screw valves use several gaskets. The elements come into contact with the surface of the brass body, and during operation, wear is formed on the parts. In this case, installing a standard size gasket does not eliminate the leak. The owner can mount a ring with increased dimensions, but it is recommended to replace the assembly.

During repairs, it is necessary to remove the layer of salts and limescale that forms on the surface of the mixer. Household chemicals or vinegar are used to remove foreign substances. The softened coating is removed with water, and then the surfaces are wiped with a dry cloth.

Valve tap

A classic faucet with a worm axle drive is used in budget-class faucets. Water may leak from the O-ring underneath the valve body or leak through the gap between the rotating stem and the faucet's outer shell. Due to a leak, liquid may leak or drip from the gander (with the taps fully closed). Before starting work, remove the plastic plugs from the heads and pry off the elements with a knife or scissors. It is recommended to place the parts on a shelf, since spare parts are not supplied with plugs.

The cause of faucet leakage in most cases is wear of the sealing gasket.

Description of actions step by step:

Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the screws securing the valve head. When unscrewing, difficulties may arise due to damage to the head (for example, during previous repairs). In this case, screwdrivers with different blade sizes should be used, and the screw must be replaced.
Using a plumbing tool, unscrew the valve from its seat in the mixer body.
Disassemble the tap; the parts are secured with a nut and a locking ring. Disassembly is carried out in a vice; an additional key is required for operation.
Remove damaged gaskets and install new elements (factory type or self-made).
Reassemble the assembly in the reverse order and screw the body into the mixer until it stops.
Replace the head and then check the functionality of the equipment.

Ball mixer

The ball valve is characterized by reduced dimensions; the design uses a steel spherical element with a through channel. The position of the locking part is adjusted using a lever, which allows you to change the water pressure at the outlet of the gander. The design uses gaskets, and a bushing made of a special material is installed around the ball.

Sequence of actions when replacing gaskets in a ball valve:

Using a sharp tool, remove the plug with the marking indicating the temperature of the water in the lines.
Unscrew the fastening screw and pull the lever or wing off the slots.
Using an adjustable wrench, unscrew the clamping nut.
Clean the hole from salt deposits, and then pull the ball out of the seat.
Remove the damaged ring.
Install the original seal, which is located in the shaped groove. It is not recommended to use rings that are not intended for the type of faucet being repaired, since the connection will not be tight.
Check the condition of the bushing; if increased wear or grooves are detected on the surface of the part, the unit must be replaced.
Insert the ball into the standard socket, and then tighten the nut. After installing the control lever, you need to make sure that there is no water leakage.

To repair a ball valve, you need to understand its structure.

Single lever design

The single-lever mixer is characterized by reduced dimensions; the design uses a single cartridge with lever control. Deflection of the control allows you to adjust the water pressure and temperature. The lever design uses a fastening threaded element with an internal hexagon. After removing the handle, you need to unscrew the decorative cap and then unscrew the locking ring.

Then the cartridge is removed from the cavity of the mixer, under which there is an o-ring. It is recommended to visually check the condition of the cartridge; if damage is detected, the unit must be replaced. The mixer is assembled in the reverse order; the repair procedure is shown in the video.

What do you need for work?

Changing the gasket in a faucet in a kitchen or bathroom with your own hands is quite possible if you stock up on the necessary tools and materials. If you notice that the mixer has begun to leak a little, then do not put off replacing the seal until later, so as not to completely damage the equipment. To work you will need:

Rubber gasket of the required size. To purchase a seal of the required size, you need to determine the diameter of the tap; to do this, you can remove it, attach it to a piece of paper, and then trace it with a pencil or marker.

Remember that when purchasing plumbing gaskets, the most important thing is the quality, elasticity and density of the material. The most popular are leather or rubber seals. It is believed that rubber models are more durable, as they have increased resistance to moisture, they are elastic and resilient.

Checking the correctness of the repair

Functionality check is checked by water supply. It is forbidden to turn on the flow at full pressure, since the liquid can damage or tear off the installed gaskets from their seats. The tap opens gradually at 50% of the valve stroke, and then pauses for 1-2 minutes. After this, the valve is smoothly turned in the direction of increasing pressure, while at the same time the absence of leaks is visually checked. After closing the tap, the mixer is inspected for leaks; drops of water and extraneous sounds from the body (humming) are not allowed.

After the tap is repaired, it is checked for leaks.

Reasons for failure

Before you start disassembling the mixer, you need to make sure that the reason for the leakage is the gasket. If drops or a trickle of water appears from the spout when the valve is completely closed, this is a sure sign of a malfunction of the working gasket. In this case, you can begin disassembly to replace the working valve gasket. By visual inspection it is easy to determine the malfunction:

The shape has been changed, dents are visible.

The gaps are visible.

Partially or completely destroyed.

There can be several reasons for a seal failure:

The wrong size was selected during the previous installation.
Misalignment during fastening.
Low quality rubber.
Severe water contamination with mechanical impurities.
Accumulation of mineral deposits.

Regardless of the cause, there is only one treatment: replacing the seal. In case of damage by grains of sand or sediment, you should consider installing filters for mechanical and chemical water purification.

Possible problems and their solutions

List of main problems that arise when replacing gaskets in a mixer:

After installing the axle box or cartridge in place, water leaks through the gaps are observed. In this case, it is necessary to carefully tighten the threaded connection by 1/8 or 1/4 turn, and then check the tightness of the joint. It should be remembered that over-tightening increases pressure on the rubber gasket, it collapses, and water begins to leak again.
Water leakage due to the destruction of gaskets made of soft or poor-quality rubber. The parts are destroyed by the metal edges when tightened with little force. It is recommended to purchase a set of rings from another manufacturer.
Filtration of water from the tap assembly due to improper installation of gaskets or the use of non-standard elastic elements. If during the assembly process the rings are installed skewed, then the pressure of tap water squeezes out the parts, and water begins to flow from the faucet body.
Error when identifying a defective element. For example, in addition to wear of rubber parts, metal structural elements may be destroyed. If, after replacing all gaskets and properly assembling the mixer, water continues to ooze from the gander or valves, then disassembling the device is necessary to search for damaged elements.
Damage to the outer chrome surface of the mixer bodies and knobs using metal tools. To protect parts, a rag or cloth is used, which is placed on the surface of the mixer before starting repair work.

How to make a replacement?

If you have prepared all the necessary tools and purchased a suitable gasket, you can proceed with the replacement. When performing work, it is important to follow the correct installation technology and act carefully.

Replacing consumables in the mixer is carried out according to the following sequence:

First, you need to temporarily shut off the cold and hot water supply in the apartment or room where the replacement will be carried out. This is necessary so that water does not flow during the procedure.
Then the valves are removed, with the help of which the water temperature is regulated. They usually screw together fairly easily without the use of any tools.

Please note that sometimes the mixer does not require replacement of consumables. If, when disassembling the faucet, you see that the gasket is still in good condition, then you can carefully remove it, rinse it under water, and then put it back in place.

Recommendations from experts

Experts recommend using axle boxes and mixers made of non-ferrous metals (for example, brass). Steel structures with an external protective coating have a reduced cost, but are susceptible to corrosion.

It is not recommended to purchase products made from silumin, since the parts do not have high strength and are destroyed when exposed to water. There have been cases of destruction of the mixer body when unscrewing the axle box.

The most convenient mixer to use is the lever design with a replaceable cartridge. The equipment has a simple design; repair consists of replacing the O-ring or cartridge assembly. To increase the service life of the ceramic element, it is recommended to install filter elements that separate scale particles and sand from the water flow. Additional cartridges allow you to capture salts dissolved in water, reducing the amount of deposits on the surface of the mixer.

We repair a single-lever cartridge-type mixer

When you go into the toilet of a cafe or restaurant, you will rarely find a faucet there. Most often, a single-lever mixer is used. This is due to its elegance, convenience and simplicity, but even such a mixer is not immune from breakdowns. Let's look at possible repairs.

Remove the decorative faucet plug and unscrew the screw that secures the lever. Then remove the lever.
Under the lever you will find a ring - this is a protective screen, unscrew it by hand, the clamping nut will be visible - unscrew it with an adjustable wrench (counterclockwise).
Remove the old cartridge from the faucet and insert the new one. Reassemble the faucet in reverse order.

The photo below will show what the cartridge looks like, as well as how to insert it correctly. Don’t be afraid to remove the cartridge, because it doesn’t matter to him anymore, it’s broken. Even if some part falls off, don't worry.

Most often, to save a single-lever faucet, it is enough just to replace the cartridge, but sometimes problems with it may remain, in which case it is necessary to call a professional, since the large number of parts and the complex design of such a faucet are not easy for most ordinary people to understand.