Replacing a bathroom faucet - installing equipment without the help of a plumber. How to quickly and efficiently change a bathroom faucet with your own hands? What do you need to change a bathroom faucet?

The kitchen faucet is one of the most intensively used plumbing equipment. Any, even the highest quality, device of this kind requires some maintenance over time - replacing a leaking cartridge or loose valve axle boxes. However, it also happens that the body itself becomes unusable from the kneader - from constant exposure to water, irreversible processes of surface erosion begin, the threads in the sockets for valves or cartridges are “eaten”, and the chrome coating is erased. And if the product is made of low-quality silumin, then complete destruction of the body with the appearance of cracks and breaking off fragments is quite possible.

It may not be such a fatal situation - the owners simply decided to update the interior of the kitchen, and this issue cannot be solved without installing new modern plumbing fixtures. was described in a special article on our portal. Now we will talk about how to change the faucet in the kitchen yourself, without calling a specialist.

This process , Although and very responsible, but still quite accessible to the average apartment owner.

What you need for work

To carry out work on replacing the mixer, you must immediately prepare the necessary components, accessories, tools, and consumables.

• We assume that the mixer has already been purchased. However, you definitely need to check whether the flexible hoses included in the kit are long enough. As a rule, those that come in the kit have only 300 mm, which may clearly not be enough. In addition, if the faucet is not “branded”, then the quality of these metal braided hoses usually leaves much to be desired, and they should be replaced immediately.

When choosing and purchasing such hoses, be sure to pay attention to the fact that the length of their fitting (otherwise it is often called a needle) should be different - this will make assembly easier, since the hexagons will not interfere with each other.

In addition, you need to choose the right type of threaded connection to the water pipe. This applies to both the diameter and the type of threaded part (“male” or “female”). Most often, of course, “female” hoses with a ½-inch nut are used - for direct connection in the corresponding pipe. Nevertheless, options are possible, for example, if a manifold comb or a ball valve with a “female” outlet is installed.

The hoses should not be placed under tension or tightness, but they should not be purchased with a very large margin of length. When pressure changes (opening and closing the tap), they will twitch and vibrate, and this causes rapid wear of the rubber tube located under the steel braid. It begins to wear out and may leak in the near future.

Schematic diagram of a flexible braided hose

Corrugated stainless hoses are more durable and reliable in this regard.

They are, of course, more expensive, and they are somewhat more difficult to install. But such hoses have excellent rigidity - they will retain the bend given to them during installation.

Some craftsmen prefer to make do with flexible hoses, making the water supply to the mixer from a metal-plastic pipe. To do this, you need to purchase a set of fittings with fittings for metal plastic.

Such a line, of course, is also more difficult to implement than with flexible hoses, but once you have installed such pipes, you won’t have to worry about this section in the future.

Video: how to choose really high-quality hoses

• Tools for work you will need:

- Spanners. It is guaranteed that you will need a 10 and 22 × 24 wrench. Very often, fastening nuts on studs require an 11 wrench. If the mixer is attached to the sink with a large diameter nut, then it is better to prepare an adjustable wrench.

— Screwdrivers with straight and figured tips.

- Pliers.

— In some cases, you cannot do without a gas key.

— If installation will be carried out on a new sink, which does not yet have a hole, or on a countertop, you will need an electric drill with appropriate bits (usually with a diameter of 35 mm).

— To work in low-light conditions, under the sink, you will most likely need a backlight - a flashlight.

• Materials you may need:

— Seals for threaded connections. They will be needed when there is a need to install a coupling, adapter on a water pipe, pack a fitting under metal plastic, etc. You should not trust fum tape - it is better to use ordinary flax tow and sealing paste (such as Unipak) - such a connection will be guaranteed against leakage.

— If the installation of the mixer will be carried out with temporary dismantling of the sink, then it is necessary to prepare silicone sealant and, of course, a syringe for ease of application.

— situations are possible when old “stuck” threaded connections cannot be disassembled. Can help in this case atomizing cylinder of universal lubricant “WD-40”.

Once everything is prepared, you can proceed to further actions.

Prices for popular faucet models

Faucets

Dismantling the old mixer and preparatory work

• Before starting work directly under the kitchen sink, it is necessary to: Firstly, turn off the supply of both cold and hot water. To do this, the valves at the entrance to the apartment are closed, or, if this is provided for by the internal wiring system, the water supply from the collector to the kitchen is shut off. Sometimes taps are installed directly under the sink. Of course, theoretically it is possible to block only them. However, practice shows that when working in tight spaces, the possibility of accidentally opening a ball valve with an awkward movement of the hand or elbow cannot be ruled out. To prevent such a misunderstanding, it is better to completely shut off the water supply to the kitchen.
• After the valves are closed, you should open the tap on the mixer - this normalizes the pressure in the pipe. It is necessary to place a basin or other container of suitable dimensions under the area where the old hoses are connected. The hoses are twisted, allowing the remaining water in the pipes to escape.
• Now you need to remove the old one. This matter is not as simple as it might seem at first glance.

— Firstly, working in an awkward position, in a very cramped space, lying on your back is very difficult, especially if the sink is embedded in a kitchen cabinet.

— Secondly, the “classic” location of the mixer is between the wall and the sink bowl. In such a narrow niche it is very difficult to use a wrench - there is simply no room for it to be placed and turned.

- Thirdly, almost certainly all the connections have rusted due to time and dampness, become “stuck” and will not easily give in.

In numerous Internet articles on replacing the faucet, this stage is sometimes described in passing, like “unscrew the pin with a screwdriver and pull out the faucet.” Experienced craftsmen know the value of such statements - with a very high degree of probability, these same studs will not yield to a screwdriver; rather, the rusted slot will be cut off. This means you will need a key, and the “convenience” of working with it in these conditions has already been discussed.

Which exit? If it is possible to remove the sink (and this is possible in the vast majority of cases), then there is no need to hesitate - both the dismantling and subsequent installation of the mixer will be completed faster and with much better quality. It is better to spend a very small amount on purchasing sealant and carry out fairly simple steps to remove the sink and then install it in place - in the end you will still win.

• To dismantle the sink, of course, you will need to disconnect it from the sewer. You can remove the flexible corrugated hose from the sewer pipe, or, which is probably more convenient for further work, simply unscrew the retaining ring on the siphon and remove this “glass” from the drain pipe of the sink.
• Now, having sat comfortably, it will not be difficult to remove the spent yours mixer. Depending on its design, either a large lock nut or studs are unscrewed. You may need to spray these assemblies with WD-40 to get them to yield. There are situations when this does not help - then you will have to take radical measures - cut them off with a hacksaw or a grinder. The main thing is not to damage the sink.

Sometimes you have to resort to cutting with a grinder when replacing an old type mixer installed on a rigid liner made of steel pipes.

It is extremely difficult to disassemble rusted or covered with several layers of paint. Therefore, it may be more profitable to simply cut off the higher threaded part. Next - by circumstances. If you manage to free a high-quality threaded pipe for further connection of a flexible hose, then the issue becomes simpler. If not, then, apparently, you will also have to cut the thread with a tool.

• In order not to delay until later, it is necessary to immediately inspect the condition of the water pipes suitable for washing, in particular, those threaded sections on which flexible hoses are planned to be screwed. In order for the hose gasket to fit tightly to the pipe cut, it must be smooth around the entire circumference, not have sharp or protruding edges, or geometry violations due to corrosive effects. If in doubt, it is better to “pack” a factory-made threaded extension in this place - this will guarantee a reliable connection to the hose.

It is advisable to “update” the threads on pipes by installing similar extensions

Installation is carried out on tow, the fibers of which are wound clockwise along the threads on the pipe, and then coated with sealing paste. The extension cord is tightened with an open-end or gas wrench until it stops.

• If you wish and have the funds, you can immediately install shut-off valves if they were not installed previously. This will allow you to subsequently carry out any repair work in the kitchen, for example, in the event of an emergency, without turning off the general home water supply network.
• If you plan to supply water with metal-plastic pipes, it makes sense to immediately “pack” transition fittings onto the steel pipes.
• If you intend to install a new faucet on an old sink, then you must thoroughly clean the area around the mounting hole from scale build-up, accumulated dirt, traces of rust, etc. This cleaning is carried out on both the front and bottom sides.
• If you plan to install a new sink, you must, of course, immediately try to purchase one that already has an installation hole. However, some models are not equipped with it, and appropriate measures will have to be taken.

If the sink is made of stainless steel, then a special tool is used for this, which cuts perfectly even holes in the metal up to 1 mm thick.

The diameter is selected based on the mixer model. So, if it is mounted on studs, then 28 or 32 mm will be enough. When attaching to a nut, the hole must have a diameter of 35 mm.

The process of cutting a hole is simple

It is easy to use - just drill a hole with a diameter of 8 mm in the intended location. The device is inserted with the cutting part from below, twisted with a bolt so that the cutting edges fit tightly to the metal. Then, turning the bolt with a wrench, ensure the rotation of the knives in a circle.

The situation is more complicated if the sink is ceramic. To cut the hole in this case, you will need a diamond crown. But even its presence in the home arsenal does not guarantee success - such a sink can easily be damaged if there is no experience in such work.

Advice - in both cases, it is better to turn to professionals. Usually, good plumbing salons will definitely tell you where and how this can be done, and in some cases such a service can even be provided on the spot.

If the mixer is installed on a countertop, then a hole is drilled in it. To do this, you can use an electric drill with a hole saw Ø 28 or 32 mm. Making the required hole with such a tool in a wood composite panel will not be difficult.

Installation of a new mixer

As has already been mentioned several times in the article, faucet models may differ in the way they are attached to the surface of the sink or countertop.

• The diagram shows a mixer that is mounted on threaded rods. The kit of such a product includes the studs themselves with brass nuts, a crescent-shaped clamp with holes for the studs and a rubber or polymer gasket of the same configuration.

There are models of mixers that use only one pin, but such a design will not be particularly stable (rotation around the axis is not excluded), and it is better to purchase one with two.

This design ensures reliable installation on surfaces up to 30 ÷ 35 mm thick, which is especially important when installing the mixer on a countertop.

• Another option is that the mixer has a cylindrical threaded part and a nut at the bottom, usually M 34.

Such models are more suitable for installation on a metal sink. It is important that there is no complex relief configuration at the bottom in the hole area - an absolutely flat area is necessary, otherwise a tight fit and reliable fixation will not be achieved.

Installation of different types of mixers has its own characteristics.

A. Installation of a mixer with mounting on nut

The elongated lower cylindrical part will not interfere with the screwing of flexible hoses, so installation begins, in fact, with attaching the mixer itself to the sink.

• The faucet kit always includes a rubber sealing ring, and there is a special groove for it at the lower end of the body. The first step is to install the gasket into this groove.

• The threaded cylindrical part is inserted into the hole in the sink. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the rubber ring remains in place and does not move.

• Then, a wide rubber gasket is installed below, which should also be included in the delivery set.

The sealing gasket is put in place...

• The brass fixing nut is screwed on. It has a kind of “skirt” - a washer-shaped extension that will provide maximum pressure through the already installed rubber gasket.

...and then the clamping nut...

• The nut is tightened with an adjustable wrench so as to ensure that the mixer does not move on the sink. In this case, it is necessary to check the correct orientation of the spout - it should be positioned so that the sectors of rotation to the left and right from the central position are equal, and the switch lever or valves are positioned exactly relative to the sink. When the mixer is positioned at an angle, the spout position is selected diagonally.

... which is tightened with a key, fixing the position of the mixer on the sink

• Adjusting the position is easy - you can loosen the nut, align the mixer and fix it again.
• Now you can proceed to installing the hoses. To begin, screw in a hose with a short fitting and tighten it with a 10mm wrench.

No winding of the threaded part of the fitting with tow or fum tape, as a rule, not required - it has one or two sealing rings, which should ensure reliable sealing. The fitting is screwed in all the way with medium force - it is dangerous to overtighten, as the rubber ring may be damaged. Usually, hand effort is enough, and only then no more than one turn with the key.

... and then, in the same way - with an extended

• The next step is to install the second hose in the same way - with an extended fitting.
• If you plan to supply water through a metal-plastic pipe, then the fittings with fittings are screwed in in the following sequence - first the one with a bend, and then the straight one.
• After the hoses (fittings) are screwed in, the sink can be installed in place.

Find out how to choose the right one from our new article.

B. Installation of a mixer with mounting on hairpins

The peculiarity of the installation in this case is that the hoses are screwed into the hole in the countertop or sink before installing the mixer, otherwise it will not be possible to tighten it properly.

• First, the brass nuts are removed from the studs, and the studs themselves are screwed into the corresponding holes at the bottom end of the mixer. The studs usually have slots for a straight or figured screwdriver, but, as a rule, they are easily tightened by hand, without much effort. A strong tightening is not needed here - it is enough to simply screw them all the way to a depth of 8 ÷ 10 mm so that they stand steadily, without play.

You can immediately try on how the shaped gasket and pressure plate will fit onto the studs, but then these elements should be removed - they will be installed later.

• Both hoses are threaded into the hole in the sink (countertop) with the fittings facing up.
• Be sure to check the presence and correct installation of the sealing ring on the mixer body - exactly as described above.
• The next step is to screw in the flexible hose fittings. The sequence of work does not change - first short, then extended.
• Mixer with connected hoses and screwed-in pins are inserted into the installation hole of the sink or countertop.

• From below, a shaped gasket is first put on the studs, and then a metal pressure plate. The brass nuts are baited and tightened by hand as far as possible.

• After checking the correct location of the sealing ring on the body and the direction of the spout, the nuts are tightened with a 10 (sometimes 11) wrench until they stop, so that the mixer is securely fixed to the surface, without the slightest play.

Neatly installed faucet - bottom view

• It is important to ensure that there is no gap left near the housing, not covered with gasket– this sometimes happens when the hole in the sink is too large and the mixer is not centered correctly in it.

That's it, the mixer is installed, you can install the sink in place.

Let us repeat that all of the above actions, of course, can be carried out under certain conditions and due dexterity without dismantling the sink, but this is unnecessary difficulty.

Find out which one to choose, as well as consider the nuances, from our new article.

Video - Installing a faucet in the kitchen

Prices for components for mixers

Accessories for faucets

Connecting the mixer to the water supply

Installation of a sink is a separate topic that requires detailed consideration in a dedicated article. We can only note that if it is mortise and mounted in the old place, then a strip of sealant must be applied to the cleaned surface of the countertop around the perimeter of the installation. After pressing, it should reliably close the gap to prevent water from penetrating through it.

If the sink is overhead and adjacent to the wall, then after installing it, the gap between them is also sealed with sealant.

Now all that remains is to connect the hoses to the water pipes. Hose nuts are usually already equipped with rubber gaskets, and no rewinding or excessive force is required to securely seal the connection. On the contrary, tightening it too tightly can lead to the destruction of the gasket and the appearance of a leak. It is enough to tighten it by hand until it stops, and then tighten it only ½ turn with a 22 or 24 key.

Of course, there will be some fuss with the metal-plastic eyeliner a little more– it is necessary to carefully measure the required segment, give it the required bend, and then tighten it in the appropriate compression fittings.

Video: connecting a mixer with a rigid connection

Usually, when connecting hoses or supply pipes, the following scheme is followed: on the left is hot water, on the right is cold.

If the sink was removed, then do not forget to connect it back to the sewer by replacing the siphon and inserting a corrugated hose with a sealing collar into the designated outlet of the sewer pipe.

In fact, that’s it, you can turn on the water supply and try the mixer in operation. There is, however, one more subtlety - it is recommended to start by pouring water with the tip removed - the aerator. The fact is that small inclusions can accumulate in pipes, hoses, or even in the mixer itself, which can quickly clog the holes of this nozzle. After several liters of water have drained, it is easy to install the aerator in its original place.

When starting up for the first time, be sure to check all connections for leaks. If there are signs of leakage, these deficiencies must be corrected immediately with a small tightening.

The article discussed the most common ways to install kitchen faucets. However, you may encounter more complex options.

• So, for example, if the faucet spout is a shower head on a retractable hose, then you will have to make another switching and adjustment.

At the bottom there will be a hose (position 1 in the diagram) with or without corrugated braiding, about 1.5 m long, with a fitting at the end. This fitting, after installing the mixer in its regular place, is screwed into the socket intended for it on the body. A sinker is installed on the most flexible hose (position 2) - it will return it to its place and hold it in this position, and at the same time will serve as a limiter on the length of the hose. The position of this sinker can be changed using a locking screw.

• Another option is when the mixer spout has two channels - for regular tap water and for purified drinking water. On such models, an additional fitting is provided (item 3) for connecting another hose coming from the system installed under the sink and for post-cleaning.

The mixer for drinking water is turned on using a separate tap or lever (item 4).

There are also more “sophisticated” schemes - with thermostats located under the sink, autonomous boilers, electronic control units, with mechanical traction connected to the drain plug of the sink bowl, and others. The installation technology in this case should be described in detail in the proposed product data sheet. However, if there are any ambiguities in this matter, you should not engage in amateur activities - it is better to invite a specialist.

Almost every modern house or apartment has various devices that require periodic maintenance or replacement. Many of these devices do not require calling a qualified technician for this work, and sometimes you do not even need to use a special tool. One such device is a faucet in the bathroom or kitchen, which eventually fails due to wear of individual components or poor water quality. Before changing the faucet in the bathroom or some of its parts, you just need to familiarize yourself with its design and prepare the necessary tools. In this article we will talk about how to change this device yourself, and we will also attach a video that will clearly demonstrate the key points of the process.

The most common breakdowns of a bathroom faucet

First of all, we will look at the most common breakdowns that may occur during the operation of the device. The most common are:

• fluid leakage with the tap valve completely closed. In lever mixers, this occurs due to damage to the cartridge by small mechanical particles. In valve devices, this occurs when the internal elements of the valve are worn out or damaged;
• failure of the valve thread or connecting thread. Such a breakdown occurs when excessive force is used when closing the tap, which leads to the internal thread of the valve breaking. A complete replacement of the bathroom faucet will be required if the connection between the mixer and the water main is broken. This usually happens with faucets that are mounted on walls if you lean on them while taking a shower.;
• corrosion of the inside of the housing. All bathroom faucets that are not made of stainless steel are susceptible to this.

Problems such as thread breakage and body corrosion are inherent in low-quality products.

Important! When hiring a third-party professional to fix a problem, it is important to remember that the cost of replacing a bathroom faucet can be up to half the cost of the product itself, depending on the design and complexity of the job. Therefore, it is more profitable to fix the problem yourself by studying the design of the product.

Tools for work

Before changing the faucet in the bathroom, you need to prepare in advance the necessary tools, consumables and spare parts that need to be replaced. All tools must be prepared and placed near the work site. To get the job done quickly and efficiently, we need:

• adjustable wrench. Some models will require two keys;
• pliers;
• Tiflon tape for sealing threaded connections;
• replacement parts or a new mixer, depending on the nature of the work being carried out;
• masking tape for wrapping the faucet mounting nuts during installation or dismantling.

Usually the listed materials are enough to change the faucet in the bathroom.

Preparing for work

Before removing the faucet in the bathroom, you need to clearly imagine the sequence of actions, the implementation of which determines the quality, speed and safety of the work. The entire sequence should look like this:

• shut off the water supply to the mixer at the main shut-off valve;
• open the mixer taps in order to remove residual pressure in the system and remove any remaining liquid;
• begin dismantling the faucet in the bathroom by unscrewing the nuts that secure the faucet itself to the water pipes;
• remove the faucet and check the condition of the threads on the water pipes.

Important! In 90% of cases, special eccentrics are installed between the mixer and the pipes, which act as adapters in case of a mismatch in size between the pipes and the inlets of the mixer. They also allow you to set the tap in the desired position if the outlet pipes are uneven. Before turning on the faucet in the bathroom, you need to remember that first of all the mixer needs to be disconnected from the eccentrics.

Installing a new faucet on the wall

Usually, when installing hidden wiring, the ends of the pipes are removed from the wall at a distance of 15 cm from each other, which corresponds to generally accepted standards. But unfortunately, this distance does not always clearly coincide with the inlet openings of the mixer. In such cases, before replacing the faucet in the bathroom, special eccentric adapters are additionally purchased, which allow you to compensate for the difference in size. In many models of mixers, such eccentrics are already included with the product.

Before you begin installing new eccentrics, it is necessary to seal the threaded connection with Tiflon tape so that water does not leak through the threads. The tape is wound in 3-4 turns, after which the adapters are connected to the outlet holes of the pipelines and clamped with a wrench. Before unscrewing the faucet in the bathroom, it is advisable to remember what position they were in, although this is not necessary.

Important! The eccentric adapters must be screwed into the outgoing pipes, ensuring that their position is mirror-image relative to each other. If they are installed unequally, the faucet will end up hanging crookedly relative to the horizontal. To achieve maximum accuracy, you can use a laser or water level with a ruler.

Next, you can begin installing the mixer itself. It is important to remember here that before changing the faucet in the bathroom that has chrome-plated clamping nuts on the inlet holes, you must first wrap them with masking tape so that the key does not damage the coating layer when tightening. It is also important not to forget to place Tiflon tape on the opposite ends of the eccentrics, which will be connected to the incoming holes of the mixer.

After replacing the faucet in the bathroom is completed, you can open the main shut-off valve and check the product for leaks. In this case, it is important not to open the main valve suddenly, but to gradually apply pressure to the system. It is advisable to open the valves on the mixer slightly to allow air to escape from the pipes.

Installing a faucet on a bathtub or sink

Replacing a faucet installed on the body of a bathtub or washbasin looks a little simpler due to the fact that in this design there are no eccentrics and the mixer itself is connected to the water main through hoses. Before changing the faucet in a bathroom of this type, you must also turn off the water supply to the system and drain it. Then, using two adjustable wrenches, disconnect the hoses from the water main.

For your information! Before removing the faucet in the bathroom, look at the possible options for disconnecting the hoses. In many cases, it is very inconvenient to disconnect the hoses from the mixer itself, due to limited space, then it is easier to disconnect them from the water main and remove the old mixer along with them.

As a rule, before changing the faucet in a built-in bathroom, you need to disconnect it from the surface on which it is located. In most cases, models of such taps have a threaded body. This housing is inserted into the technological hole of the bathroom or sink and is clamped from the bottom with a nut. There is a rubber gasket between the faucet body and the sink for sealing.

Having disconnected the old mixer, you can begin installing a new one, repeating all the steps in reverse order. For such minor operations as replacing the faucet handle in the bathroom, dismantling the product itself is not required at all. It is enough to unscrew the clamping nut using a wrench, remove the old gib, install a new one and tighten the nut back.

If you don’t know how to replace a bathroom faucet yourself, then you can easily use this material as a guide to action.

Everyone once faces the need to replace a faucet in the bathroom that cannot be repaired or does not fit the updated design of the bathroom. To figure out how to change a bathroom faucet, you don’t have to be a professional plumber. You can solve the problem yourself by studying the technology for performing the work and equipping yourself with the necessary tools.

The entire replacement process consists of two stages: dismantling the old one and installing the new one. Before dismantling the old device, you need to decide on a new model.

What you should pay attention to when choosing a mixer:

• Mounting location. Bathroom faucets are divided into two types - wall-mounted and built into the side of the bathtub or wall.

Mortise model of the Zenta brand, built into the side of the bathtub

• Construction type. From a design point of view, modern mixers are divided into ball and valve.

Ball valves regulate the supply of hot and cold water with one handle. They are more practical, more convenient, more elegant. To prevent clogging of the ball mechanism with small particles, it is recommended to install a water purification filter.

Everyone has been familiar with valve valves for a long time. They are adapted for long-term use in conditions of hard chlorinated water.

Valve bathroom faucet

Harbingers of repair or replacement of the mixer

The most common breakdowns are the following:

• A closed tap is leaking.
• Humming sound when turning on the water.
• Less pressure than other taps.

It happens that repairing a failed mechanism is expensive or it is simply impractical to carry it out. The optimal solution in this case would be to replace the mixer. Changing a faucet in a bathroom is more difficult than changing a faucet in a kitchen. In addition to the usual elements for switching hot and cold water, it has a bath/shower water supply system and a shower head.

How to replace a wall faucet step by step instructions

• Turn off the hot and cold water at the main taps. Then you should prepare your tools. You will need an adjustable wrench, a screwdriver, pliers, a hammer, a chisel, flax and lubricant. A bucket and a rag may come in handy, especially if the water pipes are already old and even with the valves closed, residual water flows out.

Adjustable wrench for replacing faucet

• Unscrew the mixer nuts using an adjustable wrench.

Unscrew the tap nuts with a wrench

• Inspect the condition of the eccentrics. If they are rusty, they need to be replaced with new ones. As a rule, high-quality brass eccentrics do not require replacement.

Flax is wound counterclockwise around each thread, lubricated with plumbing paste and screwed into the pipe. If flax is not available, a special sealing tape will do.

We wind flax onto the threads of the eccentrics

Screw in both eccentrics by the same number of turns. Arrange them symmetrically.

The location of the eccentrics depends on the distance between the valve nuts

• Screw on the fake cups. There is no need to wrap a sealant under the threads of decorative elements.

Wrapped decorative cups

• Screw the mixer nuts by hand until they stop. Turn the key a quarter turn. If you squeeze, you can damage the rubber gaskets or fragile parts of the new faucet.

Attach the valve manually, tighten the nuts with a wrench

• Turn on the water and check. If a leak occurs, you should try tightening the nuts. If this does not help, you will have to redo the work again. The seal may not be wound sufficiently or the gasket may be too thin. After troubleshooting, the remaining elements are screwed on - the gander and the shower hose. The switching of water flow from bath to shower is checked.

Ready! You can admire the result of your work

In principle, replacing an old faucet is not a particularly labor-intensive process. If you wish, you can complete the task yourself. But there are times when it is better to entrust this matter to a specialist whose experience will allow him to cope with unforeseen situations. A professional can easily unscrew rusty eccentrics and remove their remains if they crack and remain in the opening. Many nuances that the installation technology requires will not go unnoticed. In any case, the owner makes the decision whether to do it himself or call a worker.

If your faucet is broken, water flows all the time, the shower regulator does not work, etc. etc. and it is useless to repair the faucet, or you just want to replace the faucet in the bathroom with a new one - in principle, there is nothing complicated, you can try to install it yourself, without calling a plumber.

How to replace a bathroom faucet

First, turn off the cold and hot water at the main taps, unscrew the mixer nuts that are screwed to the eccentrics. Once unscrewed, we look at the eccentrics and see what condition they are in.

Actually, normal eccentrics are made of brass and they do not rot and in 90% of cases there is no need to change them, but if you still decide to change them, then unscrew the old ones and screw in new ones, wind flax, screw in each eccentric the same number of turns and set them symmetrically. Next, we screw on the fake cups, and manually screw the mixer nuts to the eccentrics; when we have screwed them all the way by hand, we turn them a quarter turn with a wrench and open the water; if it leaks a little, then we turn them a little more.

How to replace a bathroom faucet

How to replace a faucet in the bathroom If your faucet is broken - water flows all the time, the shower regulator does not work, etc. etc. and it is useless to repair the mixer, or you just want

How to change a bathroom faucet

Every apartment or house has devices and appliances that you can replace and repair yourself, without turning to a qualified technician for help. Such devices include a bathroom faucet.

As a rule, it becomes unusable due to poor water quality or due to untimely replacement of the cartridge in the main filter.

If any problems occur, you should know how to replace the faucet in the bathroom without damaging the device.

Common bathroom faucet failures

Damage can vary, but the most common are:

• Water leaking when the tap is closed. The reason for this is damage to the mixer cartridge by small particles that are in the water.
• Threaded connection failure devices.
• Corrosion to which faucets made of brass alloy are subjected over time.

The last two problems are typical for faucets made in China, because low-quality brass alloy is used to manufacture the device. Therefore, their cost is much lower, in contrast to European equipment, which is made from stainless steel.

Before changing the faucet in the bathroom, it is worth preparing all the tools that may be required so that you do not need to constantly be distracted from the process to search for this or that equipment. Arsenal should be placed close to the workplace.

To replace the mixer you will need the following tools:

• pliers;
• several adjustable wrenches;
• tow or fum tape;
• sealant;
• sanitary linen;
• paranitic or rubber gaskets, ¾ and ½ inch in size;
• graphite gasket former;
• water container.

Most of the listed materials and tools are available at home, and other accessories can be purchased at a specialty store.

• To understand how to replace a bathroom faucet, step-by-step instructions are provided.
• Shut off the hot and cold water supply in the water supply pipes.
• Drain the remaining water from the mixer and reduce the pressure in the pipes by opening the taps.
• Once the air and water are completely out of the plumbing system, loosen the large faucet nuts that secure it to the eccentric adapters connecting the plumbing pipes to the faucet.
• Remove the old faucet.
• Pay attention to the condition of the eccentrics - they may need to be replaced.

As a rule, the distance between standard places for pipes in mixers corresponds to 15 cm. In practice, this may not correspond to the indicated figures. Then the inaccuracy can be leveled to the desired size using eccentrics that are released or tightened. Thus, the displaced part of the pipe will take a central or extreme position, thereby increasing the interaxial distance or reducing it.

When the required distance has been selected between the eccentric nozzles, you can begin installing the new mixer. The installed eccentrics must be securely fixed using plumbing flax and a gasket former. To do this, a small amount of flax is wound on the external thread, after which a graphite gasket former is applied, and a sealant can be used. If these materials are not available, it is recommended to use sealing tape.

The eccentrics must be screwed into the pipes with mirror precision. The synchronization of actions is incredibly important, because at the slightest violation the device will take the wrong position and the installed mixer will be skewed. Installation of the mixer is carried out only after the position of the eccentrics has been correctly fixed and the required center distance has been set, which will be equal to the size of the mixer.

The final stage is tightening the fastening nuts. There are also some tricks in this process, using which the installation will be performed more efficiently. To avoid damaging the coating of the nuts that secure the mixer to the eccentrics, it is recommended to wrap them with electrical tape and then tighten them using pliers or an adjustable wrench. Upon completion of the work, the electrical tape should be removed from the nuts.

Knowing how to correctly change a faucet, you can not only get the job done efficiently, but also save money on calling a technician. Using simple recommendations and step-by-step instructions, the mixer will last a long time.

How to change a bathroom faucet with your own hands - step-by-step instructions

Every apartment or house has devices and appliances that you can replace and repair yourself, without turning to a qualified technician for help. Such devices include a bathroom faucet.

Replacing a bathroom faucet - installing equipment without the help of a plumber

It is impossible to imagine a modern bathroom and kitchen without faucets. The ease of use of the water supply largely depends on their qualities and characteristics. Let's find out how to choose a faucet and replace it in your home yourself.

To successfully replace a broken faucet, you do not need to have extensive knowledge or experience in plumbing repairs. The tenant will be required to identify the problem and come up with a work plan. After this, installing a new mixer will not pose any problems.

Replacing an old faucet in a bathroom may be necessary due to the use of low-quality water or untimely replacement of the cartridge inside the filtration element. When doing work with your own hands, be sure to take care not to damage the product.

If the faucet breaks down, it may need to be replaced.

Faucet breakdowns can vary. Among the most common, experts identify the following malfunctions:

• water leakage when the tap is completely closed. They appear as a result of damage to the cartridge by small plumbing parts;
• faucet thread failure;
• corrosion formation. This problem is especially relevant when using brass plumbing fixtures.

The last two cases are most often encountered by owners of faucets purchased in China. Such plumbing fixtures are not highly reliable due to the use of brass alloys in their production and poor build quality. However, the cost of such equipment is an order of magnitude lower than higher quality plumbing fixtures from Europe, made of stainless steel.

Often it is impractical to repair a failed mixer. In this case, the only right decision will be to purchase and install new equipment. A faucet that was used in the kitchen is much easier to replace than a product installed in the bathroom. The second, as a rule, is equipped not only with switches for adjusting the temperature of the supplied water, but also with a water supply system for showers and baths.

Before changing the faucet in the bathroom, decide on the new equipment. At the same time, pay attention to such features as the location in which the product is located and its type. Depending on the mounting location, the equipment can be installed on the side or surface of the bathtub, or fixed into the wall. By design, mixers are divided into ball and valve.

When using ball products, the water temperature is controlled using one handle. They are more practical to use and have an original appearance. To protect the small parts of such faucets from debris getting into them, it is necessary to install a filter. Valve mixers perform better when used in conditions with hard water.

Before starting the replacement, you will need to prepare everything necessary for the work. You may need the following tools:

• pliers;
• several adjustable wrenches;
• sealant;
• fum tape;
• rubber gaskets;
• basin or bucket for water.

Rubber gaskets, sealant and fum tape are best purchased at a plumbing supply store. When purchasing, pay attention to the integrity of the gaskets - today it has become popular to sell damaged products to inattentive buyers.

Immediately before starting the replacement, a number of preparatory measures will need to be completed. This will help you quickly and comfortably change a faulty faucet in the bathroom.

Before starting work, you must turn off the water

First, turn off the water supply to the pipes. Be sure to drain the remaining liquid into a basin and open all taps to reduce the pressure in the pipeline. Wait 10 minutes and begin to gradually loosen the nuts securing the equipment to the eccentrics, that is, the adapters.

Remove the old faucet and carefully inspect the adapters. It is quite possible that they will have to be replaced as well. The reason for this may be the appearance of cracks or rust inside the eccentrics.

Most often, new devices are sold completely disassembled. It is very important to check that all parts included in the kit are included when purchasing. The set must include:

• gander;
• shower head and hose;
• lampshades for decoration;
• rubber gaskets;
• eccentrics.

Assembling the mixer is not difficult

All parts must be placed in separate fabric or cellophane bags. Be sure to check the quality of the eccentrics - the main thing is that the threads on them are intact.

When assembling the mixer, first of all you need to connect it with a gander and a shower hose, with a watering can pre-screwed to the hose. When assembling, experts do not recommend using wrenches to avoid damaging the faucet elements. Decorative lampshades are installed after installing the mixer.

In most cases, the distance between pipe sections in mixer designs is about 15 cm. However, this parameter can change, and inaccuracies must be corrected by tightening or loosening the eccentrics. In this case, the displaced section of the pipe will occupy a central or extreme position. The distance between the axles will increase or decrease.

Once you have selected the appropriate distance, you can begin replacing the equipment. When installing a new mixer, securely fix the eccentrics. To do this, use plumbing flax and a gasket former. To secure, wrap a little flax around the outside of the thread, then apply a substance that is used to form gaskets. Instead of these products, you can use sanitary sealant or fum tape.

The distance between pipes is usually about 15 cm

It is necessary to screw in the eccentrics with maximum precision. If you make a mistake, the new faucet will take the wrong position and become skewed. The device can be installed only after fixing the position of the eccentrics and adjusting the center distance. It must match the size of the equipment being installed.

Finally, you will need to tighten the mounting nuts. This stage also has certain tricks, after studying which the installation of equipment will be performed more efficiently. To prevent the coating of the nuts from being damaged during installation, you need to wrap electrical tape around them. Next, the fasteners must be tightened with an adjustable wrench or pliers, after which the electrical tape can be removed.

After moving into a new apartment, residents must install a new faucet. The procedure is not much different from the previous algorithm, but there are still differences, and the main one is the need to install fittings.

Before installing the fittings, you will need to do some calculations. The distance between the centers of the parts should be 15 cm. The centers should be located strictly parallel to each other. The installation height of the mixer depends on the location of the fittings, so be careful when choosing this parameter.

The fittings must be installed after the plumbing pipes have been laid out. By this time, the lathing for finishing the bathroom should be installed. The fittings must be screwed in so that they protrude 25 mm beyond the edge of the sheathing. Fasten the fitting output as rigidly as possible using mounting brackets or profiles.

If the sheathing is not installed, since the walls will be plastered in the future, then when calculating the protrusion of the fittings, you need to take into account the distance from the beacon to the surface of the finishing tile glued to the wall. In most cases, the protrusion does not exceed 15 mm. All further installation will be the same as when replacing an old mixer with new equipment.

Replacing a bathroom faucet with your own hands

It is impossible to imagine a modern bathroom and kitchen without faucets. The ease of use of the water supply system largely depends on their qualities and characteristics.

How to install a faucet in the bathroom yourself

The mixer mixes hot and cold water to produce a warm, pleasant liquid. It’s not difficult to install a faucet in a bathroom with your own hands, so it doesn’t make sense to pay a plumber for it. Installing a faucet with your own hands implies the obligatory purchase of a new faucet, which must be selected correctly, since the result of the work done depends on its quality. The main thing in this case is not to chase cheapness. The more expensive the mixer, the better quality it is.

Rushing to replace the faucet will result in big problems already during the operation of the faucet, so when doing this work, take your time, because you will be using the faucet for more than one year.

When choosing a mixer, you need to be guided by the following parameters:

Bathroom faucet assembly diagram.

1. Weight. The quality of this device can be determined by its weight. A device made of high-quality and durable material cannot be lightweight, since it is the thickness of the metal that affects the long-term operation of a particular mixer. Its weight is a guarantee of the use of thick, high-strength metal.
2. Material. When producing a bathroom faucet, brass or silumin can be used. The latter metal is cheaper, and it is also significantly lighter than its brass counterparts. Silumin, which means an alloy of aluminum with silicon, is a fragile metal, so faucets made from it often break handles or burst clamping nuts. The only advantage of silumin devices is their low cost. As for brass devices, they are much more expensive, but they have greater weight and increased viscosity of the alloys, which prevents the pipe and nut from bursting during minor deformations that occur during installation and operation of the faucet.
3. Options. Replacing a faucet with your own hands requires a preliminary study of the technical parameters. Even if you purchase the most expensive device, it may turn out to be unsuitable for use if its parameters do not match the location of its future installation. Therefore, before you buy it, you need to decide whether you need a mixer with a tap or without it. If the first option is chosen, you must decide how long the tap should be.

Self-installation of a faucet in the bathroom

Replacing a bathroom faucet with your own hands should begin with dismantling the old device. But in order for its replacement to be of high quality, it is necessary to prepare the following tools in advance:

Bathroom faucet diagram.

• hexagons;
• large pliers;
• crosshead screwdriver;
• flat screwdriver;
• gas key No. 2;
• open-end wrench for 12 and 14;
• two adjustable wrenches;
• FUM tape.

Removing the old mixer

It is not difficult to dismantle an old tap with your own hands; the main thing is to turn off the water supply before starting work. In this case, it is necessary to shut off not just the main line, but also hot water, which can be supplied through an electric boiler or geyser. In this case, replacing the faucet will be done in the bathroom, the surface of the walls of which is covered with tiles.

First you need to drain the water from the tap and unscrew it from the wall. This must be done carefully, as there is a high probability of damage to the threads on the fitting located in the wall itself. If you allow it to become damaged, you will have to do a major overhaul of the bathroom walls to replace the fitting.

Important! After dismantling the faucet with your own hands, you need to carefully clean the internal thread fitting left in the wall to remove pieces of old winding and paint.

Mixer assembly

Replacing a bathroom faucet also involves assembling the faucet, since it is sold disassembled. Therefore, when purchasing it, you need to immediately check the presence of all the necessary components. The box along with the mixer should contain:

Installation of the bathroom faucet is carried out after its assembly.

• gander;
• shower head;
• shower hose;
• main block;
• decorative lampshades;
• rubber gaskets;
• eccentrics.

All these components must be packaged in bags; they can be cellophane or fabric. It would also be useful to check the quality of the eccentric fastening nuts. The main attention should be paid to the integrity of the thread.

To assemble the faucet with your own hands, you need to connect to it a gooseneck and a shower hose with a watering can screwed to it. Even a child can cope with this task.

Important! During assembly, it is not advisable to use wrenches or tighten the nuts with minimal effort.

The eccentrics are wrapped with FUM tape, after which they are carefully inserted into the fittings that are located in the wall. If there is no tape, you can use winding tow with the addition of Unipak paste. The purpose of the eccentrics is to shift the distance between centers. The distance between the two inputs on the mixer is most often 150 mm. When installing fittings, this distance is often violated. Eccentrics allow you to correct the situation. But despite this, it is advisable to use a level when screwing them in.

Diagram of the device and assembly of fittings.

The next step is to fit the main block to the installed eccentrics and try to screw it on. The correct installation of the eccentrics is evidenced by the trouble-free screwing of both sides of the block. After this, the block is removed in order to screw decorative lampshades onto the eccentrics; they, in turn, should fit snugly against the tiles on the wall. The purpose of these lampshades is to hide the places where the mixer is inserted into the water supply system.

Now you can screw on the block itself. It is not necessary to use additional winding material. Tight shrinkage of the mixer can be ensured by gaskets located inside the clamping nuts. The nut is slightly tightened with a wrench. When tightened normally, the key should creak a little.

At the end of the work, the main tap and hot water are opened to check the mixer for functionality.

Installing a faucet on a new wall

Connection diagram for the faucet to the bathtub and washbasin.

When moving into a new apartment, it is not necessary to replace the old device with a new one, but to install a faucet with the need to change plumbing pipes, followed by tiling the walls. The main essence of the installation remains the same, the only thing is that you will need to install the fittings, which in the first case were already in the wall.

To select fittings for installing a mixer, you need to make some calculations:

• the distance between the centers of the fittings should be 150 mm;
• the centers of the fittings should be parallel to each other;
• the extreme point of the fitting will have to be flush with the plane of the wall;
• fittings must be located at the same level. In this case, the height of their location should be at an acceptable height for installing the mixer. In this case, you can focus on the side of the bathtub.

Installation of fittings is carried out only after the plumbing pipes have been laid out. By this time, the sheathing for drywall should be installed or beacons should be placed on the plaster.

If you plan to use plasterboard in the future, then the fitting will need to be soldered so that it protrudes beyond the sheathing by an average of 25 mm. In this case, the exit must be secured as firmly as possible. To do this, you can use profiles or mounting brackets.

Diagram of a 3-position mixer.

If the wall is subsequently plastered, then when calculating the protrusion you will need to be guided by the distance from the lighthouse to the plane of the tile attached to the wall. Most often, the protrusion in this case does not exceed 17 mm. All further installation work is carried out in the same way as in the first case, when the old device was replaced with a new one.

When installing a faucet in the bathroom, you should not rush. Haste in this case can result in big problems already during the operation of the mixer. Therefore, you need to tighten the eccentrics first without a seal, and only after you are convinced of the correctness of your actions, you can install them according to the diagram.

Before installation work begins, the bathtub, washbasin or sink will need to be closed. To do this, you can use unnecessary rags, corrugated cardboard, tape or film. This should be done to protect the plumbing equipment from chipping in the event of a fall of a rather heavy faucet or its components. There are known cases when the mixer pierced an acrylic bathtub. To prevent a routine faucet replacement from developing into the need to purchase a new bathtub, washbasin or toilet, you need to be on the safe side.

Replacing a bathroom faucet with your own hands: tips for selection and installation

How to replace a bathroom faucet with your own hands? The mixer mixes hot and cold water to produce warm liquid.

All things have their own service life, and the bathroom faucet is no exception.

This device is used quite actively, so even with a large margin of safety, it becomes unusable over time.

Installing a faucet in the bathroom may be necessary in several cases:

• the old mechanism is completely out of order and cannot be repaired;
• renovations are being carried out in the premises, the decoration, bathtub, and other large-scale tasks are being replaced;
• I don’t like the old mixer or I’m not satisfied with its characteristics.

Although at first glance this procedure may seem complicated, installing a faucet in the bathroom will not cause difficulties even for a beginner if he is properly prepared and takes into account a few nuances.

To change the faucet yourself, you will need a small set of tools - an adjustable wrench (or a set of regular open-end wrenches), a bubble level, and pliers. Additional materials you will need are tow, preferably FUM tape or sealant.

When purchasing a mixer, it is important to make sure that it is completely complete. In addition to the block itself, the box should contain a gander, a hose and a shower head, eccentrics, decorative overlays, and a set of sealing gaskets. Some cheap models come with extremely low-quality gaskets, so it is advisable to immediately buy normal gaskets separately.

Model selection

There are a huge number of models from different manufacturers on the market - from simple two-valve to electronic. When thinking about how to change a faucet in a bathroom, you should choose more reliable varieties.

Manufacturers offer brass, silumin, and less often steel and copper products. When choosing, you should exclude silumin - this is a cheap, low-strength alloy that will not last long.

The choice of mechanism is determined by personal preferences and bathroom design features. In some places a single-lever device will look good, in others a classic two-screw device will become relevant.

Screw ones come with rubber or ceramic locking elements. The latter are more convenient, but they have a higher price, and they are also more expensive to repair. In addition, this variety is more sensitive to mechanical impurities, so it is necessary to have a coarse water filter.

Dismantling the old device

If the mixer has served for many years, then problems may arise with its dismantling - the threaded connections could become stuck, overgrown with rust and calcite.

You need to try to do the work with your own hands carefully, without applying unnecessary effort, so as not to accidentally damage the pipeline fittings.

Because otherwise you will have to deal with expensive pipe repairs, without which installing a faucet in a bathtub will become impossible. Before starting dismantling, you should turn off the water supply yourself.

In new systems, there are probably ball valves directly in front of the mixer (under the bathtub, behind the decorative panel); in old pipelines, the common valve will have to be closed.

Next, you should drain the remaining water from the system and make sure that the closed taps do not leak. In some cases, old valves allow water to pass through even in the closed position; you will have to get a bucket, a rag and try to do everything as quickly as possible. The likelihood of communicating with dissatisfied neighbors below depends on how much liquid is spilled on the floor.

The mixer can usually be unscrewed without any problems using a regular wrench.

If the nuts are tight, you can use a lever or arm yourself with a gas wrench (“butt”), but you should act carefully so as not to damage the pipeline.

Then you should unscrew the eccentrics.

There may be problems with them.

If the eccentric has key splines, then you should use them. Otherwise, pliers are used - one “lip” is driven directly into the hole until it stops. The tool is then rotated. Sometimes you have to use additional leverage.

If the design is old, then the eccentric may be destroyed - fragments with threads remain in the pipe. Then you will have to use a drill or hammer drill to carefully drill out or knock out the remains without damaging the threads on the pipe.

Without completing this task, you will not be able to begin installing the faucet in the bathtub.

All pieces, dirt, and rust must be carefully removed with your own hands and the pipe cleaned. If this is not done, then after installation all this debris will end up in the new mixer and can cause its breakdown.

Installation sequence

Having prepared all the materials and tools, removed the old fixture and cleaned the pipes, you can begin installing the mixer in the bathtub.

Eccentrics are needed to ensure the required distance between the pipes, as well as the horizontal position of the main block. Screwing them in such a way that both conditions are met at the same time is not so simple.

But there is a trick - the main block is put on the eccentrics without tightening its nuts, the structure is leveled. In this case, you no longer need to monitor the distance between the pipes.

When screwing the nuts of the main unit, connecting the gooseneck and shower hose, it is important not to overtighten.

If the fastening turns out to be weak, it won’t take long to tighten it a little, but if you overdo it and break the seals, you’ll have to go to the store again.

The easiest way to check the device for leaks is with napkins or toilet paper.

First, all elements are wiped dry, then after a minute, a dry cloth is again passed over all potential leaks. The napkin should remain dry, which means the installation of the mixer in the bathtub has been completed successfully.

A slight seepage is allowed at the place where the eccentrics are attached to the pipes - after the tow swells, it will stop.

Another problem that may arise is that the cold and hot water taps are mixed up. Traditionally, the right valve is always done with cold. But if the pipe installers got something wrong, they will have to adapt.

Since the taps in most mixers are equivalent, the only thing you have to do is swap the blue and red indicators or valve handles.

Installation work

If you are installing a faucet in a bathtub for the first time, then the task becomes somewhat simpler. There is no need to dismantle the old device or clean the pipes from rust.

Instead, two minor hassles are added.

First, you will have to unscrew the plugs, which were probably installed by the craftsmen who assembled the pipeline. This is done with a regular wrench.

Secondly, you should make sure that the pipes to which the mixer will be attached are installed in parallel.

If the ends “look” in different directions or at each other, then installation will not be possible without additional adapters.

If you install the pipes yourself, then two more conditions must be met - the heads to which the mixer will be attached must be well fixed, and the height of the mixer above the bathtub is ensured by installing the pipes at a distance of 60-80 cm from the floor.

Some are concerned about the question of how many centimeters there should be between pipes. Most standard models are oriented at a distance of 15 cm.

Prices

The price of the service depends not only on the requests of the master, it is also influenced by the complexity of the task, including the type of mixer.