The kitchen faucet experiences a tremendous daily load during operation. As a result, it crashes much faster than most other elements of the home catering unit. If your crane has become unusable, it is time to change it. This means that you will have a difficult choice of a worthy and at the same time affordable “candidate”. In order not to be mistaken, you will have to independently understand the variety of the proposed models, to identify their pros and cons. And if you decide that you can do the work yourself, you will also have the preparation of the necessary tools and materials, the assembly and installation of the mixer in the kitchen. The recommendations collected in this article will help you at all stages of the work.
All kitchen faucets can be divided into three large groups - single-lever and double-lever or two-valve, and touch.
Single levers are much more convenient to operate. To open, close and adjust the temperature of the water, you can move your finger, the back or side of the palm. Thanks to this, you can control the device without rinsing the soiled hands and not freeing the busy hands. This gives an advantage - the mixer is less dirty and has to be cleaned much less frequently. There are single-lever products with a flexible hose, which, if necessary, extends from the spout.
Two-valve - devices known from Soviet times for mixing hot and cold water, equipped with two valves. In order for the water jet to reach the optimum temperature, it is necessary to rotate both taps. These systems are not so convenient and are recognized only by retro lovers. With the help of valves it is impossible to quickly control the mixer, it is inconvenient and uneconomical. Therefore, this device is justified only if it is intended to support the style of a particular interior. Manufacturers realize the release of copper double-lever mixers, ceramic, stone, bronze. You can avoid inconvenience if the design is supplemented with a special lever with which you can turn the water on and off. It remains only to adjust the valves so that it is the required temperature.
Sensory - represented by a huge variety of shapes and colors. Their design lacks any handles and valves. Systems respond to the appearance of hands under the spout and work automatically. To obtain water of a certain temperature, the device is programmed.The main advantage of such mixers is the absence of the need to contact the hands of users. That is why such devices are often used in public places with increased traffic. The only negative is that the device is powered by batteries, and if they run out, the photocells will stop working. Regular battery replacement is required.
How to choose the right mixer
First of all, we determine how and where the faucet will be located in the kitchen. It is one thing if the faucet is installed in a new kitchen, for which a sink and faucet were specially selected. Another thing is when you need to replace the old tap. Then it is necessary to consider the following parameters:
sink depth;
discharge location;
place for mixer tapping;
diameter of an existing hole;
distance from the insertion point to the wall.
When choosing a plumbing device, it is worth paying attention to the material of manufacture. Inexpensive options made of soft alloys, for example, silumin, look quite decent outwardly and are perfect for a kitchen where they are rarely cooked and washed in a dishwasher. The disadvantage of such cranes is their fragility. In them, the thread often breaks down quickly - it cracks and crumbles. Repair in such cranes are subject only to gaskets.
Cranes made of brass, stainless steel and similar high-strength alloys are considered more durable. Such mixers practically do not wear out. Only gaskets or rings may deteriorate in them. The surface is often an imitation of chromium - matte and glossy, nickel, aluminum.
In pair with a sink made of natural or artificial stone, you can pick up a product with a coating for the shell material - it will have the same texture and color. The photo shows various options for such combinations.
In order for the faucet to ideally fit the old sink, you need to compare the diameter of the mortise hole and fasteners. The block should fit snugly into the hole.Next, select the height and length of the nose. The spout should correspond in length to half the depth of the sink. Optimally, if the location of the tap allows you to get a stream that falls exactly in the center of the bowl. The height should allow you to put a high pan in the sink, but here you must observe the measure - a high rise provokes the formation of a large number of splashes. Ideally, if the tall mixer is complemented by a retractable shower head. It can be lowered lower, immersed in a pot or kettle, standing on the side of the countertop.
Pay attention to the angle of rotation of the crane. If the sink is installed tightly against the wall, an angle of up to 90 degrees is enough. For a double sink with a tap mounted in the middle, you need a device that can easily rotate 180, or even 360 degrees.
DIY faucet installation in the kitchen
The first thing to do before installing directly is to check the completeness of the purchased kit and purchase the missing gaskets. If the model is budget, you are unlikely to find quality rubber accessories in the box. Therefore, it is better to immediately replace them with decent samples.
Necessary materials and tools
To install the mixer, you need to prepare and purchase everything that may be required during operation.
You can not do without:
spanner 10;
pipe wrench - for working with hard-to-reach nuts during installation of the sink;
two rubber sealing washers;
metal half washers;
pairs of nuts;
fum tapes for sealing joints;
Most often, a set of sealing materials is sold complete with a mixer, but if the “native” gaskets did not inspire confidence during a visual inspection, we recommend that you purchase these items separately.
In addition to the above, you will need:
pliers;
screwdriver;
rag;
pelvis;
flashlight;
plumbing flexible hoses - water connections. Such parts, as a rule, are included, but most often they are too short.
The length of the eyeliner should not be too large and not too small. It will be optimal if creases do not appear in the places of the bend. It is not recommended to increase the factory eyeliner - it should be replaced with a new one.
If you change the faucet, do not leave old worn hoses. Over time, they still have to change.
Dismantling an old crane
Before starting work on installing the faucet, it is necessary to shut off the water, spread a rag at the bottom of the sink. It will protect the surface of the sink from the mechanical effects of accidentally dropped metal parts, and will also prevent small parts from entering the drain.
When replacing the mixer, the old faucet must be dismantled. To do this, we perform the following actions:
disconnect the hoses from the inlets of hot and cold water using an open-end wrench. Water may remain in the hoses, so a basin should be placed to collect it;
wipe the pipe threads dry;
we unscrew the nut and the metal half-washer, with which the mixer is fixed on the sink;
pull out the mixer from the drain hole along with the hoses.
Mixer and eyeliner assembly
The assembly of the mixer begins with its connection to flexible hoses or hard leads. When installing a 2-valve system, you must first assemble. You must insert the spout - spout into the body, exactly to the restrictive ring. We connect them into a single whole, for which we twist by hand, tightening not too much. We make several turns of the fumka around the end of the eyeliner. The tip of the tape can not be wrapped, because the hose already has a rubber gasket. Then we immerse the end of the hose in a special hole on the mixer and screw it first by hand, then hold it out with an open-end wrench by 10. The second eyeliner is mounted in the same way. After that we attach a hairpin - one or two, placing them upwards with a thread. The final touch - we pass both hoses through the o-ring, bring it to the base of the crane body and fix it.
Mixer installation methods and techniques
The kitchen faucet can be mounted directly on the sink, on the countertop or on the wall. The choice of a specific method is due to the technical features of the sink, the capabilities and preferences of the owner of the kitchen.
Sink installation
Mixer installation is carried out in several steps:
Starting to mount the mixer, attach the eyeliner to it. All connections must be protected from possible leaks using a fum tape wound onto the thread. Due to this, they will become airtight and will not let water out.
We install a rubber ring gasket on the base of the device, for which we thread it through the connected hoses. Care must be taken to ensure that the insert fits exactly in the groove.
We install a faucet for washing by inserting flexible eyeliners through the mortise hole. It is better that someone hold the faucet until you screw it to the sink.
We pass the clamping plate through the eyeliner, screw the threaded pins into it and screw nuts on them.
We fix the mixer in the desired position and tighten the nuts with the socket wrench. It is more convenient to do this together.
We check the position of the sealing rings - you need to make sure that they are not displaced during installation.
We install the sink in place and connect the hoses to the outlets of cold and hot water. Be sure to clean the nozzles with the help of a sandpaper and wrap the layer of the cigarette holder, which needs to be wound with an overlap, or another sealant.
As a sealant, you can use flaxseed. In this case, apply a paste-like sealant to the thread first.
We install a siphon and test the system. It is better to check the tightness of the joints under maximum water pressure. In the event of a leak, tighten the threaded joints and retest.
Countertop Installation
Sometimes there are no openings in the sinks for tapping the mixer and then resort to mounting on the countertop.
This method, in addition to the tools presented above, will require the use of:
electric drill;
a set of drills appropriate to the task;
jigsaw.
The peculiarity of this installation method is that there is no need to dismantle the sink - a mortise hole by simple manipulations will appear in the countertop itself. The rest of the installation steps are practically no different from the previous method.
In the countertop, it is necessary to cut a hole of the appropriate size in a certain place. When choosing a place, the following practical points should be taken into account:
when using the mixer, water should not fall on the working surface of the headset;
it is necessary to ensure convenient use of the lever;
the spout should be positioned so that falling water gets into the center of the sink.
To cut through the fastener hole, circle the base of the mixer with a pencil. Make holes in the corners of the marked perimeter or in a circle. Install a jigsaw and connect the drilled points. The resulting hole must be cleaned of sawdust and polished with sandpaper. The main thing is not to overdo it with the size of the hole, otherwise the clamping ring will not be able to block it.
Subsequent installation is carried out similarly to the installation of the mixer on the sink.
Installation of wall mixers
The mixer mounted in the wall is a non-standard solution that can significantly save the working space. Another plus of this solution is that water does not get on the mixer base, due to which gaskets and threaded connections will last much longer.
For this design, it is necessary to equip the leads of hot and cold water in the wall at the stage of installing the water distribution. It is to them that the mixer will be attached. In this case, flexible eyeliners will not be needed.
Sometimes pipes or hoses are passed over the finish, but it looks extremely unaesthetic. On open eyeliners, grease and dirt accumulate, which must be cleaned.In this case, moisture gets on the countertop and destroys it. Therefore, it is more correct to hide the pipes inside the wall under the cladding.
Pipe connection and inspection
After installing and fixing the sink, you can proceed to connect the flexible hoses to the plumbing system. The first step is to clean and isolate threaded pipes. You can apply sealing paste to the thread and wrap flaxseed, or use a special tape sealant. The tape must be overlapped to secure it to the hose. Undoubtedly, the second method is much more convenient. After that, we connect the eyeliner to the pipe and clamp them using an adjustable wrench. Watch the power effort - it should be medium.
The final step is to check the connections. It is necessary to turn on the water to full and for several minutes to monitor the tightness of the system. If drops of water have leaked through the thread, you need to tighten the clamp a little and let the water run again.
How to connect filters
Using clean water for drinking and cooking is one way to maintain good health - yours and your loved ones. Nowadays, getting water suitable for drinking in an apartment is not difficult. Special filtering systems will help to cope with this task.
If you have already purchased a kit for water purification, then noticed that it includes several tubes, a mini-tap and a key. Keep in mind - you do not need any sealing tapes, sealing pastes and threads.
Step-by-step instructions for connecting the filter system
We block the cold water with a tap located under the sink. It is located on the pipe and connected to it is a cold water supply for supply to the mixer. Do not mix up with a hot tap - open cold water and check if it is pouring.
We unscrew the hose and instead of it we mount the tee that came in the kit, and we already screw the eyeliner to it. We open cold water and check the tightness of the joints.
We decide on the installation location of the filter. It is better to place it on the side wall of the cabinet. We advise you to place it in such a way that the coarse filter is easily accessible - you will change it more often than others. At least 10 cm should remain below so that replacement can be carried out without hindrance. Step away from the doors at a distance of approximately 10 cm so that it cannot damage the hoses. The kit includes a template that will facilitate the fixing procedure. Screw the screws into the marked points.
We remove the plugs and connect the tubes to the filter in accordance with the arrows indicating the correct direction in which water should move in it. First, insert the tube through which untreated water is supplied from the system, and connect it to one of the outlets of the previously installed tee. Then we insert the output tube into the filter with the side without a metal tip all the way.
We connect a faucet for drinking water from the kit or a special mixer with two spouts - one for ordinary water, the second - for drinking. Such a device avoids making additional holes in the sink or countertop, but will cost more than the standard option. Another drawback is that when the mixer fails, you will not have a single source of water.
A separate faucet must first be fixed to the sink or work surface, and only then attach the filter tube to it. To install a two-in-one mixer, you need to find out whether there is an adapter in the design into which you can insert a drinking water supply pipe. If one is missing, you will have to cut the metal tip off the tube and put a nut on it. After that, insert the fitting and screw the nut onto the thread.
We check the tightness of the system and wash the filter for 4 minutes. Water may contain impurities and white foam.
Types and options for fixing failures
The mixer does not always need to be replaced.Sometimes it’s enough to replace one element, and the faucet will again work on conscience. We will understand - what kind of damage to the kitchen faucet can occur during operation and how to fix them.
The most common failures of the following type:
a leak formed at the junction of the spout with the body. Due to the constant rotation of the spout, the rubber o-ring wears out and the valve starts to leak. To replace the gasket, it is necessary to disconnect the nose, remove the old gasket, install a new one, wind up the sealing tape on the connecting thread and attach the part to its original place;
flow from under the control lever. The reason is a broken cartridge. It is possible to determine cartridge wear by the fact that the lever began to turn poorly, the water temperature began to change spontaneously, it was impossible to completely shut off the water. The cartridge needs to be replaced, for which it is necessary to remove the plug from the mixer body, unscrew the screw and remove the lever and the decorative cover. We take an adjustable wrench, unscrew the nut that holds the cartridge, and remove it. We put a new cartridge inside the case and assemble the mixer;
leakage of a two-valve mixer - the rubber washer on the crane box has worn out or the valve head itself has collapsed. To eliminate the malfunction, remove the plug from the failed valve, unscrew the screw that secures the valve, unscrew the head, replace it with a new one. If the crane box is serviceable, we only change the gasket.
There is nothing impossible in installing a kitchen faucet yourself. You just need to stock up on the necessary knowledge and a set of tools.
You can familiarize yourself with the mixer installation process in more detail by watching the video:
The kitchen faucet experiences a tremendous daily load during operation. As a result, it crashes much faster than most other elements of the home catering unit. If your crane has become unusable, it is time to change it. This means that you will have a difficult choice of a worthy and at the same time affordable “candidate”. In order not to be mistaken, you will have to independently understand the variety of the proposed models, to identify their pros and cons. And if you decide that you can do the work yourself, you will also have the preparation of the necessary tools and materials, the assembly and installation of the mixer in the kitchen. The recommendations collected in this article will help you at all stages of the work.
Content
Types of kitchen faucets
All kitchen faucets can be divided into three large groups - single-lever and double-lever or two-valve, and touch.
Single levers are much more convenient to operate. To open, close and adjust the temperature of the water, you can move your finger, the back or side of the palm. Thanks to this, you can control the device without rinsing the soiled hands and not freeing the busy hands. This gives an advantage - the mixer is less dirty and has to be cleaned much less frequently. There are single-lever products with a flexible hose, which, if necessary, extends from the spout.
Two-valve - devices known from Soviet times for mixing hot and cold water, equipped with two valves. In order for the water jet to reach the optimum temperature, it is necessary to rotate both taps. These systems are not so convenient and are recognized only by retro lovers. With the help of valves it is impossible to quickly control the mixer, it is inconvenient and uneconomical. Therefore, this device is justified only if it is intended to support the style of a particular interior. Manufacturers realize the release of copper double-lever mixers, ceramic, stone, bronze. You can avoid inconvenience if the design is supplemented with a special lever with which you can turn the water on and off. It remains only to adjust the valves so that it is the required temperature.
Sensory - represented by a huge variety of shapes and colors. Their design lacks any handles and valves. Systems respond to the appearance of hands under the spout and work automatically. To obtain water of a certain temperature, the device is programmed.The main advantage of such mixers is the absence of the need to contact the hands of users. That is why such devices are often used in public places with increased traffic. The only negative is that the device is powered by batteries, and if they run out, the photocells will stop working. Regular battery replacement is required.
How to choose the right mixer
First of all, we determine how and where the faucet will be located in the kitchen. It is one thing if the faucet is installed in a new kitchen, for which a sink and faucet were specially selected. Another thing is when you need to replace the old tap. Then it is necessary to consider the following parameters:
When choosing a plumbing device, it is worth paying attention to the material of manufacture. Inexpensive options made of soft alloys, for example, silumin, look quite decent outwardly and are perfect for a kitchen where they are rarely cooked and washed in a dishwasher. The disadvantage of such cranes is their fragility. In them, the thread often breaks down quickly - it cracks and crumbles. Repair in such cranes are subject only to gaskets.
Cranes made of brass, stainless steel and similar high-strength alloys are considered more durable. Such mixers practically do not wear out. Only gaskets or rings may deteriorate in them. The surface is often an imitation of chromium - matte and glossy, nickel, aluminum.
In pair with a sink made of natural or artificial stone, you can pick up a product with a coating for the shell material - it will have the same texture and color. The photo shows various options for such combinations.
In order for the faucet to ideally fit the old sink, you need to compare the diameter of the mortise hole and fasteners. The block should fit snugly into the hole.Next, select the height and length of the nose. The spout should correspond in length to half the depth of the sink. Optimally, if the location of the tap allows you to get a stream that falls exactly in the center of the bowl. The height should allow you to put a high pan in the sink, but here you must observe the measure - a high rise provokes the formation of a large number of splashes. Ideally, if the tall mixer is complemented by a retractable shower head. It can be lowered lower, immersed in a pot or kettle, standing on the side of the countertop.
DIY faucet installation in the kitchen
The first thing to do before installing directly is to check the completeness of the purchased kit and purchase the missing gaskets. If the model is budget, you are unlikely to find quality rubber accessories in the box. Therefore, it is better to immediately replace them with decent samples.
Necessary materials and tools
To install the mixer, you need to prepare and purchase everything that may be required during operation.
You can not do without:
In addition to the above, you will need:
If you change the faucet, do not leave old worn hoses. Over time, they still have to change.
Dismantling an old crane
Before starting work on installing the faucet, it is necessary to shut off the water, spread a rag at the bottom of the sink. It will protect the surface of the sink from the mechanical effects of accidentally dropped metal parts, and will also prevent small parts from entering the drain.
When replacing the mixer, the old faucet must be dismantled. To do this, we perform the following actions:
Mixer and eyeliner assembly
The assembly of the mixer begins with its connection to flexible hoses or hard leads. When installing a 2-valve system, you must first assemble. You must insert the spout - spout into the body, exactly to the restrictive ring. We connect them into a single whole, for which we twist by hand, tightening not too much. We make several turns of the fumka around the end of the eyeliner. The tip of the tape can not be wrapped, because the hose already has a rubber gasket. Then we immerse the end of the hose in a special hole on the mixer and screw it first by hand, then hold it out with an open-end wrench by 10. The second eyeliner is mounted in the same way. After that we attach a hairpin - one or two, placing them upwards with a thread. The final touch - we pass both hoses through the o-ring, bring it to the base of the crane body and fix it.
Mixer installation methods and techniques
The kitchen faucet can be mounted directly on the sink, on the countertop or on the wall. The choice of a specific method is due to the technical features of the sink, the capabilities and preferences of the owner of the kitchen.
Sink installation
Mixer installation is carried out in several steps:
Countertop Installation
Sometimes there are no openings in the sinks for tapping the mixer and then resort to mounting on the countertop.
This method, in addition to the tools presented above, will require the use of:
The peculiarity of this installation method is that there is no need to dismantle the sink - a mortise hole by simple manipulations will appear in the countertop itself. The rest of the installation steps are practically no different from the previous method.
In the countertop, it is necessary to cut a hole of the appropriate size in a certain place. When choosing a place, the following practical points should be taken into account:
To cut through the fastener hole, circle the base of the mixer with a pencil. Make holes in the corners of the marked perimeter or in a circle. Install a jigsaw and connect the drilled points. The resulting hole must be cleaned of sawdust and polished with sandpaper. The main thing is not to overdo it with the size of the hole, otherwise the clamping ring will not be able to block it.
Subsequent installation is carried out similarly to the installation of the mixer on the sink.
Installation of wall mixers
The mixer mounted in the wall is a non-standard solution that can significantly save the working space. Another plus of this solution is that water does not get on the mixer base, due to which gaskets and threaded connections will last much longer.
For this design, it is necessary to equip the leads of hot and cold water in the wall at the stage of installing the water distribution. It is to them that the mixer will be attached. In this case, flexible eyeliners will not be needed.
Sometimes pipes or hoses are passed over the finish, but it looks extremely unaesthetic. On open eyeliners, grease and dirt accumulate, which must be cleaned.In this case, moisture gets on the countertop and destroys it. Therefore, it is more correct to hide the pipes inside the wall under the cladding.
Pipe connection and inspection
After installing and fixing the sink, you can proceed to connect the flexible hoses to the plumbing system. The first step is to clean and isolate threaded pipes. You can apply sealing paste to the thread and wrap flaxseed, or use a special tape sealant. The tape must be overlapped to secure it to the hose. Undoubtedly, the second method is much more convenient. After that, we connect the eyeliner to the pipe and clamp them using an adjustable wrench. Watch the power effort - it should be medium.
The final step is to check the connections. It is necessary to turn on the water to full and for several minutes to monitor the tightness of the system. If drops of water have leaked through the thread, you need to tighten the clamp a little and let the water run again.
How to connect filters
Using clean water for drinking and cooking is one way to maintain good health - yours and your loved ones. Nowadays, getting water suitable for drinking in an apartment is not difficult. Special filtering systems will help to cope with this task.
If you have already purchased a kit for water purification, then noticed that it includes several tubes, a mini-tap and a key. Keep in mind - you do not need any sealing tapes, sealing pastes and threads.
Step-by-step instructions for connecting the filter system
A separate faucet must first be fixed to the sink or work surface, and only then attach the filter tube to it. To install a two-in-one mixer, you need to find out whether there is an adapter in the design into which you can insert a drinking water supply pipe. If one is missing, you will have to cut the metal tip off the tube and put a nut on it. After that, insert the fitting and screw the nut onto the thread.
Types and options for fixing failures
The mixer does not always need to be replaced.Sometimes it’s enough to replace one element, and the faucet will again work on conscience. We will understand - what kind of damage to the kitchen faucet can occur during operation and how to fix them.
The most common failures of the following type:
There is nothing impossible in installing a kitchen faucet yourself. You just need to stock up on the necessary knowledge and a set of tools.
You can familiarize yourself with the mixer installation process in more detail by watching the video: