How to disassemble a mixer (faucet) - 11 simple steps + video

The mixer is one of the devices that needs to be repaired from time to time.

The parts of the shut-off and control device wear out relatively quickly, especially if there are solid mechanical impurities in the water, resulting in leaks, so information on how to disassemble a mixer in a two-valve type bathroom is always relevant.

Although single-lever instruments are becoming increasingly popular, double-lever designs are still quite common.

General recommendations for work

A mixer is a device that a person uses every day.
The design of many manufacturers is approximately the same. But there are distinctive features that relate to a specific manufacturing company. To disassemble the faucet you need to know about them. Before work, you need to turn off the water supply. Open the tap to release the pressure and allow any accumulated water to flow out.

To avoid damaging the coating, use cloth covers for the keys. Before dismantling the handle, unscrew the fixing element.

There is no need to disassemble too much. If you are not sure that you can put it back together correctly from memory, film the actions on camera.

It is convenient to carry out repairs without removing the mixer. If the situation requires it, unscrew the housing from the wall. You need to unscrew the union nuts using an adjustable wrench.

Even if you buy a high-quality faucet, over time you still have to repair it and replace some parts. How to disassemble a faucet such as Grohe, Esko, Oute, Damixa, Swes, G Lauf, Ledeme, Molinari, Kaiser, etc. If you do it yourself, it’s very simple, you don’t have to turn to professional plumbers to solve this problem.

Peculiarities

This type of mixer is a faucet that has only one adjustment handle. Thanks to this design, the water flow in a single-lever faucet is controlled by the movement of one hand.

Its main advantages:

Quickly obtain a water jet at the desired temperature.
Ease of management.
Easy repairs that you can do yourself.

Faucet disassembly tool

The kitchen faucet fails more often than the bathroom faucet, as it provides water to residents many times a day. To repair the structure, special construction tools will be required. There is no particular uniqueness in the devices, but their presence is important when disassembling the mixer.

Before repairs you need to prepare:

hammer;
knife;
an adjustable wrench to remove the nuts;
hex wrench to remove the handle;
Phillips, flat screwdrivers;
socket wrench to remove and reattach bolts.
You will need lubricant and dry rags. If the faucet leaks, you need to purchase a cartridge, ring-shaped gaskets, and a faucet axle in advance. When repairing a mixer, there may be a need to replace the supply hoses. you need to purchase parts with braiding, a union nut with fittings. Priority is given to products made of non-ferrous metals: copper, brass.

If some elements cannot be unscrewed, use special tools. For example, WD-40. The liquid dissolves rust and plaque. A few minutes after application, you can try to unscrew it again.

In advanced cases, a drill comes to the rescue. It is used to drill out the screw that holds the handle. The drill bit should be smaller in diameter than the bolt head.

Plumbers have special tools in their arsenal. a special key for unscrewing aerators, keys with rubber gaskets for them to prevent damage to the outer body of the mixer, a universal key for dismantling the ball valve, and so on. You can carry out repair work at home without any professional tools.

Advantages and disadvantages

The popularity of the two-valve mixer is based on several operating factors.

Simple design diagram.
Possibility of replacing parts.
Long service life.
Easy to set up and easy to manage.

A significant drawback is the rapid wear of the sealing gaskets.

How to disassemble a single-lever mixer in the bathroom and kitchen - step-by-step instructions

Single-lever (with one handle) are the simplest of all existing faucets (Damixa Arc - Damixa, Franke, Oras - Oras, Iddis). Their design consists of a spout, a rotary lever, a locking nut, a gasket, and a replaceable ball or cartridge.

Disassembling a single lever ball mixer

A ball water tap (Gustavsberg, Haiba, Rubineta, Shruder, Varion, Flora) is one of the types of single-lever valves. It is used for mixing water; two pipelines are connected to it: hot and cold. Temperature and pressure control is carried out using a ball, which also acts as a locking element. The ball is a replaceable element.

Single lever ball mixer design

Step-by-step instructions with a video on how to disassemble a single-lever ball mixer in the kitchen or bathroom:

Before starting work, you must completely turn off the water supply. Otherwise, during disassembly, boiling water may pour out of the water supply pipes;
Next, you need to remove the decorative plug, if you have one;

Step 2: Remove the decorative plug in the faucet
After this, remove the screw using a screwdriver that presses the rotary control. This screw connects the handle to the valve stem;

Step 3: Use a screwdriver to unscrew the screw
Then the handle (control handle) should be removed from the body. It is necessary for water supply and is a regulating part;

Step 4
Next, use a key to unscrew the cap;

Step 5: Unscrew the cap
We take out the cam by hand;

Step 6
After this, you can remove the ball mechanism. You need to be careful, there are often springs mounted under the balls that help control the flow and temperature of the water. Remove the locking mechanism carefully so as not to damage the fragile springs;

Step 7: Take out the mixing ball
Using a screwdriver, carefully remove the valve seats and the springs to them;

Step 8
Remove the rotary block of the mixer spout;

Step 9
In addition to the shut-off mechanism, any water tap is equipped with 2 gaskets (O-rings), which are often located directly under it. They also need to be removed and cleaned. If the gasket has rubbed against the base too much, it needs to be pryed off with a thin flat screwdriver or knife and replaced;

Step 10: remove and replace, if necessary, o-rings
Of course, it is advisable to change both the ball and the gasket. But if you need to find out the exact location of the breakdown, then you should turn on the water for a while and see where the water will ooze from.

If the cause of the breakdown lies in the fact that the tap is simply clogged, for example, with lime salts or other debris, then the repair will progress much faster. Follow the instructions above to remove the housing and clean it with a special gel. Depending on the material of the spout, you need to choose the right cleaning agent. They are different for brass, copper and steel. Please note that often an imported faucet (Italian, German, etc.) is equipped with a special mesh, which is located directly under the spout. It needs to be cleaned with an old toothbrush and blown out.

READ in more detail about other types of faults here: What to do if the faucet is leaking

Disassembly and repair tips from an expert:
Many models (Blanco Elipso, Hansberg Prestige, Hansgrohe, Sentosa, Mofem) are decorated with a special decorative panel. It can only be removed with a thin screwdriver. The cover is lifted from below, from the side of the body, and carefully lifted up;
If your aerator is dirty, you can immerse it in a container with food vinegar for 1 hour to remove various dirt inclusions. Be sure to rinse with water before installation.
Ideally, you need to buy a complete repair kit for your model in advance;
Before disassembling, first study the structure of your particular type of mixer.

READ in more detail: Design of various types of mixers

Video: how to disassemble an articulated single-lever faucet/mixer in the bathroom

How to disassemble a faucet with a cartridge

It should be noted that now single-lever faucets with ceramic cartridges are often installed for washbasins or as kitchen faucets. They cannot be replaced, so if they break, they must be disassembled and thrown away. But in most cases, a faucet with a ceramic cartridge will last a long time, so it rarely needs to be replaced.

Photo - device of a single-lever mixer with a ceramic cartridge

Photo - diagram of disassembling a mixer with a cartridge

and another video instruction on how to disassemble a kitchen faucet with a ceramic cartridge

Criterias of choice

When choosing, you should concentrate on the main parameters.

Material

The alloy used in the manufacture of the case plays a leading role. The most durable and resistant to all types of impact is brass. Brass taps are coated with a layer of chrome or enamel. Steel bathtub faucets cost twice as much, but also last longer. The elite class is represented by samples made of ceramics, artificial stone, and glass.

Control element

The main element of the structure. It is characterized by the principle of internal equipment of five types:

with ceramic cartridge,
with thermostatic cartridge,
with ceramic crane axle box,
with rubber crane axle box,
with sensor block.

The presence of a deviator is a prerequisite for a quality product. The shower switch can be push-button or rotary.

How to disassemble a two-valve mixer - step-by-step instructions

It is quite simple to disassemble a two-valve semi-rotary water mixer (Hansa Stela, Vidima, Frap) with a cartridge, since each drainage outlet is connected to a separate lever, it is simple and practical to use. Valve models are most often equipped with special plates that are tightly ground to each other.

READ article on the topic: How to disassemble a shower switch

When you turn one valve, a flow of water at a certain temperature opens. To protect these plates, rubber or plastic gaskets are used, which ensure their sealing and softness during movement. There are two types of kitchen faucet with a double lever mechanism:

Herringbone (Wasser Kraft, SMARTsant, Swes, Zegor, Roddex, Vega);
Branch pipe (Jacob Delafon Carafe, Ferro Standard, Kludi O-Cean).

The domestic herringbone faucet is still one of the most popular types of faucets for the kitchen and bathroom. A special feature of this design is the presence of a kind of tee in the body, through which the drainage pipes are connected to the lever.

The branch pipe is connected using pipes that are inserted directly into the spout, without the use of additional splitters.

Installation of a wall-mounted two-valve mixer for sinks

How to disassemble a mixer with two handles:

A modern double-lever faucet can only be disassembled after unscrewing the locking screw, which is located under the decorative panel. But at the same time, the old Soviet crane has a more complex design. Here you will need to remove the locking nut, under which the valve is located; it also unscrews, opening access to the internal parts;
Under the screw there is a faucet-axlebox, which acts as a valve; it must be carefully disassembled and removed;
Under the valve axle box there is a gasket or ring, which is necessary to seal the structure. It must be checked for integrity and cleanliness. Even a small speck can cause a leak in the faucet;
You need to assemble a double-lever mixer using the reverse procedure, after first checking the connection of the pipes and the integrity of the housing.

If the body of a herringbone faucet is cracked, it cannot be repaired. This most often happens with cheap Chinese faucets, such as Calorie and others.

Video: How to disassemble a two-valve bathtub faucet

Ball

A very repairable type of fittings. Rubber spring-loaded seats, springs, a cuff, and less often a ball must be replaced. Elementary disassembly:

We remove the plug.

Remove the plug.
Let's release the stopper.

Let's release the stopper.
We remove the lever.

We remove the handle.
We unscrew the clamping ring with a special key or pliers.

Unscrew the ring.
Read also: Attaching the toilet to the floor - TOP 5 methods with instructions!
Unscrew the cap.

Unscrew the cap.
We take out the leash, cuff, ball.

We take out the ball.
Use a screwdriver to remove the seats with springs.

We remove the saddles with springs.
By pulling up, we disconnect the gander; if there are no leaks at the connection when turning, the operation is unnecessary.

Visual aid from Canadian experts:

How to disassemble a crane axle box

The faucet box is the main part of the valve mixer. Thanks to this element, you can turn on the water, adjust the pressure, temperature, and turn off the water supply. The element consists of a rod and seals. On top there is a metal housing with threads.

To remove the valve axle:

shut off the water supply. Prepare tools: a set of keys, pliers and screwdrivers;
dismantle the flywheel by lightly lifting it up. This way you can get to the bolt that secures the valve. Unscrew it. Remove the valve. If it is difficult to remove, tap gently with the key and the movement will begin;
remove the decorative trim, if any. This is usually done with a key of 17;
access to the crane box is open. To unscrew it, you need to take an adjustable wrench and start turning it counterclockwise.

Once one element has been extracted, you can begin working on the second. The chronology of actions is identical.

Next, proceed to repair and replacement of specific elements of the crane axle box. it depends on the type of damage. In some cases, you only need to replace the rubber seal. In some situations, metal parts may need to be replaced.

What is needed to replace it yourself?

Often homeowners hire professional craftsmen to replace or maintain plumbing equipment, since they themselves do not have the appropriate qualifications. However, routine operations such as replacing seals in faucets can easily be done by yourself. To do this you will need the following tool:

Plumber's adjustable wrench.
Screwdriver.
Wrench.
Pliers.
Fum tape, sealant or rubber gasket.
New parts that need to be replaced.
A clean rag that can quickly absorb water.

The main thing to remember is that all plumbing operations are performed only after the hot and cold water supply to the underwater pipes has been completely shut off. In addition, there is a high risk of scratching the devices with a tool, so professional craftsmen wrap their ends with electrical tape.

How to disassemble a water aerator

The aerator is a prefabricated structure. It consists of a plastic and metal body with mesh inserted inside.

Any plumbing store has special plastic keys for unscrewing the aerator. If you don’t have such a tool at home, an adjustable wrench will do the job.

Using an open-end or adjustable wrench, you need to grab the aerator and rotate it clockwise when looking at the faucet from above. To avoid damaging the body, place thin material, leather, between the instrument and the aerator.
Several grids stacked on top of each other in a certain sequence - the design of the aerator. To remove the contents of the case, press your finger on the mesh from which water flows out. A small cylinder will appear.
To remove the grids, insert a flat-head screwdriver into the side hole of the cylinder. This will create a double mesh. Use the tip of a knife to pry up the mesh and separate it from the coarse filter.
Remove the thin spherical meshes from the housing.

You can start cleaning the components. After washing, reassemble everything in reverse order. As a result, the water flowing from the tap will be saturated with oxygen.

Preventive actions

To prevent damage and increase the interval between replacements of individual functional components, it is necessary to remove potentially harmful impurities from the water. Ordinary quartz sand is highly durable. It can quickly damage high-quality ceramic plates. To retain such contaminants, different filters are used:

Mud collectors are inexpensive. However, such products have limited useful functions. They need to be cleaned regularly.
The problem is solved using disk models. When the liquid flow is applied in the opposite direction, accumulated contaminants are removed into the drain.
When there is a large amount of mechanical impurities and for finer filtration, volumetric cartridges and backfills are used.

Modern main filters
Well-equipped models independently perform washing according to a given program. Transparent housings simplify visual inspection. The built-in limiter sets the optimal pressure level for additional protection of consumers connected to the main line. Preliminary preparation prevents the formation of scale in hot water supply lines. For this, different technologies (equipment sets) are used:

polyphosphate fillers;
ion exchange units and cartridge fillers;
electromagnetic processing.

Disassembling a Grohe faucet

The Grohe faucet, despite the fact that it is disassembled according to similar rules as a single-lever faucet, I have placed in a separate subsection of this article. The reason lies in its popularity and reliability.

The peculiarity of Grohe is that it does not have flexible water connections on the threads like other faucets. That is, if we rotate them, we will not unscrew them. They are fixed from the inside. To do this you will need:

Remove the handle. This is usually done with a hexagon.
Then remove the cap - Grohe can have it either threaded or non-threaded.
Then remove the cartridge - usually you need to unscrew 2 screws with a screwdriver.
Carefully push out the plastic spacer with a screwdriver;
Remove the O-rings from the flexible hoses;
Remove the clamp that holds the liner in the housing.

All! Access for flexible connections is obtained and the mixer is disassembled. As you can see, the disassembly process is very similar to the instructions that I gave at the beginning of the article. It is important to understand that taps from different manufacturers are disassembled in a generally similar way, but there may be some nuances, like Grohe with the same gasket, the type of tool used in the work, the number of screws to unscrew, and so on.

Shower switches

The outdated ball design is being replaced by piston (spool) switches: eccentric and push-button. The first ones are located in the central bore of the housing or in a separately attached diverter. The latter are typical for single-lever options and are located on the spout.

The plunger is removed from the central bore as follows:

We disconnect the gander and remove the handle in the same way as a ball switch.
Unscrew the rod fitting. We take it out together with the eccentric rod.
Using a small hexagon, we remove the piston down.

Let's look at disassembling the push-button option using Grohe as an example:

Sequence of operations:

Disconnect the shower hose.
Use a screwdriver to keep the valve from rotating.
Unscrew the button cap.
Use a hexagon to unscrew the assembled mechanism.

KOHLER diverter replacement process:

Mixer with thermostat

If a model with a thermostat is malfunctioning, you will need the help of a specialist. The fact is that the connection diagram for the temperature indicator depends on the manufacturer. In addition, this device has very delicate contacts that can be easily damaged if disassembled incorrectly. The figure below schematically shows the main components of a thermostatic mixer.

Photo - disassembly of a model with a thermostat

Problems during operation

Even high-quality plumbing fixtures fail over time. The service life of the faucet depends on the material from which it is made, the quality of the tap water and the intensity of use. The most common problems that arise when using single-lever models are:

Cracks on the device body. They arise due to poor quality material and installation errors.
Aerator clogged. The cause of this malfunction is the poor quality of tap water.
Wear of rubber gaskets. Seals are consumables; they wear out over time due to the high intensity of use of the device.

Important! No matter how high the quality of the faucet, it needs preventive maintenance. Even if no problems arise during operation, you need to disassemble the device once every 2 years, clean it, and replace the gaskets. After all, even a small speck that gets under the seal can cause a leak.

Kinds

Mixers with one lever are divided into:

Ball. Their internal structure includes a hollow steel ball with three holes. Through two of them, water is supplied inside the ball, and through the third, it is discharged in a mixed form into the drain nozzle. This ball is located inside a ball sleeve, which also has durable rubber seats. Under the pressure of jets of water, the ball is in firm contact with these saddles. A rod is used to move it inside the mixer. Rotations of the ball change the temperature of the water and its pressure in accordance with the coincidence of the holes in the ball. The more the holes are open, the stronger the pressure.
Cartridge. The water inside these faucets is mixed in a cartridge. These mixers are also called disk mixers, since to change the temperature and pressure of the water stream, the valve of such mixers has metal-ceramic or steel disks. The gap between them acts as a chamber in which water of different temperatures is mixed.