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Do-it-yourself plumbing repair in the kitchen

Plumbing users often have to deal with the problem of a leaking faucet in the kitchen or bathroom. In fact, there is nothing particularly difficult in solving this problem.

A dripping faucet is not only an irritating factor, but also money leaking out drop by drop if you have water meters installed.

Every man can repair or replace an old faucet with a new one.

A few words about terminology. A valve and a faucet are two different things. The valve has threads at both ends and is installed in a pipe break. Water does not flow out of it, it can simply shut off the water in the pipe. The valve is installed at the end of the pipe, attached to fittings or pipes. If the faucet is installed on a sink or sink, then a special hose is used to connect it to the water supply system. It has a thread at one end and has a spout to drain water from the system to the outside.

Tools for work

To perform work on replacing or repairing a crane, the following tools are needed:

1. Screwdriver.
2. Hex key.
3. Pliers.
4. Gas or adjustable wrench.
5. A piece of fabric. The chrome parts are unscrewed through it.
6. A rag for wiping faucet parts.
7. Kit for this model.

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How to turn off the tap

The worm-type valve of a relatively outdated design is equipped with a rubber cuff. To close it completely, you need to make 2-4 turns of the handle. Repairing it involves replacing the rubber cuff, which wears out quite quickly.

A more modern, durable, but also more expensive - ceramic faucet. It is very sensitive to the quality of tap water. Sand impurities disable it. It is difficult to find gaskets for it; it is easier to change the entire axle box. Worm and ceramic valves are very easy to disassemble. To do this you need:

• use a screwdriver or knife to pry and remove the plastic plug from the handle;
• Unscrew the screw securing the handle with a screwdriver;
• remove the handle;
• unscrew the valve axle with an adjustable wrench;
• remove the axle box from the housing.

Diagram of a conventional crane.

To install a new faucet, you need to clean the threaded mounting area from dust, sand and rust. After this, perform all steps in reverse order.

Conventional taps are quite rare today. They were replaced by mixers. In faucets, hot water is mixed with cold water. They have different designs. Faucets with separate valves for cold and hot water are very popular. Their main part, which often fails, is a small rubber gasket. It blocks the inlet and wears out quickly. In this case, it must be replaced by disassembling the mixer tap. The sequence of actions is as follows:

• unscrew the valve body with an adjustable wrench;
• change the worn gasket;
• rewind any seal;
• Screw in and tighten the housing tightly.

Sometimes such repairs only last for a few days. In this case, the valve seat needs to be repaired. The resulting grooves and cracks are removed using a special cutter. After this, the gaskets last much longer.

It is better to replace such faucets with more durable ceramic faucet axle boxes. To do this, you need to unscrew the old faucet and screw in a new one in its place.

Most often, ball faucets are installed in the kitchen and bathroom. They last a very long time, but also sometimes require maintenance, repair and replacement. How to unscrew such a mixer tap?

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Sequencing

To eliminate a leak from a ball valve or mixer, you must:

Diagram of a ball valve with a single cartridge.

1. Shut off the water at the water supply inlet to the apartment or house.
2. Prepare a container for water that may drip from a disconnected tap.
3. Study the device of the crane.
4. Close the sink or sink drain hole.
5. Use a screwdriver or knife to remove the plastic plug in the form of a small red-blue circle. It is located under the faucet handle. After removing the plug, a round hole will open. In its depths you need to find a very small screw. It needs to be unscrewed with a narrow (2-3 mm) hexagon. Everything must be done slowly and very carefully so as not to tear off the edges and threads of this fastener.
6. Using a little force, remove the faucet's swing arm by pulling it up.
7. Unscrew the dome-shaped lid. It can be screwed directly to the valve body or pressed against it with a special ring nut. This cover can be made of chromed metal or plastic. The work requires care, as the lid can easily be scratched and even cracked. The ring nut is usually made of plastic. You can unscrew it with a screwdriver, pliers, or a special wrench.
8. Remove the plastic turning mechanism from the valve body. There may be very thin rubber gaskets inside. With these insides, you need to go to a store that sells ball valves, where they will pick up a new similar one. The height and diameter of the plastic structure are important here.
9. After acquiring the internals, you need to perform all previous operations in reverse order.

There are ball valves of slightly different designs. They do not remove all the insides at once. After removing the dome cover, the following actions may be performed:

Diagram of the design of a ball valve with individual elements in the design.

1. The plastic part in the shape of a shield is removed. It consists of a black-and-white seal and a yellowish “shield” itself. They need to be carefully cleaned of deposited salts, pieces of rust, and other adhering substances, rinsed and wiped.
2. Pull the ball upwards with a little force. Its bottom should be clean and smooth. If scratches and abrasions appear on it, then the ball needs to be replaced.
3. There are 3 rubber seals inside the mixer body. They are carefully removed, inspected, and replaced if necessary. All components are purchased at retail outlets.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to remove a faucet or mixer from a sink or kitchen sink. Then some more operations are added:

• unscrew the flexible hose going to the mixer (usually there are 2 of them);
• unscrew the screws securing the mixer to the sink or sink;
• remove the gaskets installed between the tap and the sink;
• Clean the area or sink from dirt and salt deposits.

If the cause of the leak is a flexible hose, then it is simply replaced with a new one. This hose is sold complete with a mixer. You can purchase it separately.

Unscrewing the faucet nut may not be very easy. Rust, limescale, and scale may accumulate inside. To unscrew the faucet, you need to stock up on the right tools and patience. Tools must be an exact match in size and fit tightly. Before starting work, make sure that the tool has a firm grip on the part.

A stuck faucet is the most difficult to unscrew, since you will have to use careful, moderate force. Perform all actions to replace the mixer and unscrew the nuts smoothly, without jerking. Any sudden movements can lead to thread stripping or breakage.

How to prepare for changing your faucet

Prepare your tools and turn off the water. Make sure that the rotary plugs that shut off the water supply in the bathroom or kitchen are in good working order. To do this, after turning off the water supply, open the tap and carefully watch the meter.

It shouldn't spin. You cannot change or remove the faucet without turning off the water. There may be water left in the pipes; prepare a bucket or basin. During operation, the taps must be in the open position.

If you turn off a bathroom faucet, close the drain to avoid clogging with small construction debris.

List of tools for faucet removal:

• Adjustable wrench. If the faucet needs to be removed from the countertop, you will need 2 adjustable wrenches. You can use a set of keys 10, 11 and 22, 24.
• Comfortable work gloves with a waterproof and non-slip coating. Working with gloves is more effective than with bare hands due to better grip. Don't neglect work gloves.
• A hacksaw for metal is for extreme cases.
• Plumbing universal lubricant WD-40. This lubricant is called “liquid key” for its high penetrating ability and easy dissolution of limescale, rusty deposits, and paint layers.
• New flexible hose - liner. A standard hose, 30 cm long, is not always suitable. When replacing a faucet, it is better to change it along with the flexible hose.
• FUM tape. Required when re-tightening the nuts.
• Spare faucet - in case of breakage of shut-off valves.

If you are replacing a faucet, it will come with hardware. Make sure the new fasteners fit your plumbing fixtures. Make sure you have all the necessary fastening components in advance. Pay attention to the nut and bolt type fasteners. Or in common parlance “dad - mom”. The nuts on the fasteners must match the bolts and vice versa.

Operating procedure

• Provide access to the workplace. To do this, in some cases you will have to remove the sink. This is not a prerequisite, it’s just easier to get to the fastenings.
• Remove the bottom of the siphon under the sink so it is out of the way. At the same time, you can clean the siphon from semi-liquid dirt. It's best not to skip this step.
• Disconnect the hot and cold water supply hoses. They are fastened with 22 or 24 nuts. Unscrew counterclockwise. The hose fastening nuts usually unscrew without problems.
• Attach an adjustable wrench to the nut that secures the faucet under the kitchen sink countertop or under the sink. Use a second wrench to hold the faucet body at the top. If the case is chrome plated, use thick rubber pads and an adjustable wrench to hold the case tightly without damage. Apply multi-purpose grease for easy loosening. While holding the faucet body, carefully unscrew the nut from the bottom. It doesn't always work out on the first try.

Once the faucet is removed, you can begin replacing the faucet - the switch fitting that is used to supply water to the shower hose. The fittings are usually made of brass and are fragile.

Unscrew the bolt and inspect the rods. Pay special attention to plastic parts. High-quality faucets have a ceramic base inside. Most often, faucet leaks and a characteristic squeak in the pipes due to a pressure drop are caused by wear of the seal. Replace the winding and readjust the clamping bolt.

Ways to unscrew a stuck nut

1. 1. You can try soaking a stuck nut with WD-40 or regular kerosene. Apply grease to the nut and let the grease soak in for about 10 minutes and try again. If that doesn't work, try repeating the lubrication.
2. 2. You can remove stuck fittings using heating. A construction hair dryer heats up the case, while continuing to try to unscrew the locking fittings.
3. 3. The barbaric method consists of trying to tap the stuck fragment, like tapping a threaded tin can with a spoon. Gently but firmly tap the nut with a hammer in the direction of twisting, counterclockwise. The situation is complicated by the fact that corrosion eats away at the metal, making it brittle. Don't skimp on lube.

If the thread is damaged, a crack or break appears, the damaged faucet will have to be thrown away. If only the faucet is damaged, it can be replaced.

How to repair a crane axle box yourself? The procedure will not seem complicated and tiring if you follow a specific plan and take into account the recommendations of qualified professionals.

In this article you will find instructions for disassembling and replacing this part.

Varieties

Deformations of the crane axle box occur for many reasons. This part of the mixer is used every day, so it is often subject to breakdowns. The design is based on a metal rod and sealed gaskets. The latter are available in rubber or with movable ceramic plates. Based on this, they distinguish ceramic faucet axle and a model with rubber inserts.

Ceramic options are reliable. Allows you to open the water in half a revolution of the mixer handwheel. Options with rubber inserts (also called worm inserts) wear out quickly. To supply water, you need to make several turns of the valve.

Causes of failure of a ceramic crane axle box

• Wear of ceramic plates. Occurs rarely and requires replacement of elements. The work is labor-intensive, so it’s easier to purchase a new part.
• Foreign objects between the plates. In the future, to prevent such defects from appearing, it is advisable to install a device for purifying water from impurities.
• The appearance of a thread between the rod and the valve body. In this case, it is necessary to change the entire part.

Before repairs of any complexity, it is necessary to turn off the water and prepare the tools for work. The minimum set should include a flathead and Phillips screwdriver, pliers, a gas wrench and a spanner.

You can select a team of builders on the website www.stroitel.od.ua

Preparation for repair

In order to correctly perform operations to restore the functionality of the mixer, everything must be done in stages. The repair plan is as follows:

• Remove the flywheel from the crane axle box. To do this, remove the colored decorative plug from the valve. Next, pull the flywheel up. There should be a bolt underneath. Unscrew it and remove the valve.
• Clean the threads and flywheel. Run the parts under water a couple of times, use cotton swabs or other similar objects.
• Unscrew the decorative insert of the faucet. At this stage, use a socket wrench with a 17mm head.

Advice! In order not to scratch the front surface of the faucet with a gas wrench, it is necessary to make a kind of gasket from thick fabric. But it is best to use a spanner wrench.

How and what to use to unscrew the faucet axle from the mixer? Counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench. The main thing is to hold the mixer. Then clean the threads with a brush.

Gasket repair

Operating procedure:

1. unscrew the valve axle;
2. apply a little silicone to the gasket;
3. install the part back.

Removing foreign particles stuck between the plates

Grains of sand contribute to the leakage of the axlebox and its failure. Foreign objects cause leakage. The order of work in this case is as follows:

1. unscrew the valve axle and disassemble it;
2. clean the plates, treat them with waterproof lubricant;
3. return the part to its place.

Important! The plates must not be turned over.

Elimination of chips formed on the surface of the plates

The best way is to replace the plates.

Reasons for failure of models with rubber inserts

Leaking is a sign that something is wrong with the part. Water leaking from under the flywheel indicates a breakdown of the valve axle.

Gasket wear is the most common cause of failure. The solution to this problem lies in replacing the part. The rubber ring (1 mm) should fit tightly to the metal ring. When making it, you need to take this fact into account.

How to replace the crane axle box?

It is necessary to replace the part in the mixer with an identical one.

To replace, in addition to screwdrivers and keys, you need to arm yourself with pliers - a multifunctional tool that can act as wire cutters, pliers and pliers.

How to remove and disassemble a part?

1. Turn off the tap using the valve. Pipeline fittings related to shut-off and control products are located in front of the mixer.
2. Look for a small shut-off valve if there is no valve on the supply pipe. This is a large diameter ball valve in the form of a metal ball with a hole in the top.
3. If such an element is missing, turn off the water in the riser.
4. Remove the decorative caps. Use the screwdriver.
5. Unscrew and remove the screw. It is easy to “calculate”. The part secures the flywheel.
6. Remove the bushings. They are located at the top of the crane box.
7. Unscrew the axle box. Apply the key.

Nuances of work

When unscrewing an old faucet axle box, you may encounter some problems. If it is thoroughly stuck to the body and it is not possible to remove it with handy tools, you must apply the following:

• Place a pipe wrench around the edges of the bolt. Try to rip it off by moving it from side to side, as if swinging it. Here it is important not to overdo it, namely not to damage the threads and not ultimately break the mixer.
• Use chemical-containing products. They will help loosen the threaded connection. Take some vinegar, Cillit-type detergent, or other acid-containing compounds. If they don't help, then try making a small plasticine container around the bolt. After this, pour in the liquid again.
• Move the threads using the thermal method. Use a heat gun to warm up the threaded part. It is necessary to achieve complete weakening of the bolt.

If the tried methods do not help, you should remove the valve axle by drilling. To do this, cut off the protruding part of the bolt and drill out the remaining elements. The drill can be replaced with a milling cutter.

Installing a new

Installing a newly purchased or repaired part does not require anything complicated. Perform the same steps as when unscrewing, only in reverse order:

1. Check if the water is turned off.
2. Screw in the faucet axle box by hand and only then use a wrench or pliers to be extra sure that it fits snugly to the rest of the structure. You should not put too much pressure on the product, as the gasket may become deformed. Violation of the integrity of the element leads to blocking of the water supply channel.
3. Be careful not to damage the sealing gasket on the valve seat with the tool.
4. Tighten the locknut and secure the entire body of the part from turning.
5. Open the water. The absence of smudges indicates that everything was done correctly.

How to replace the crane axle box?

The need to replace the faucet is clearly indicated by the water mixer, which begins to leak in the closed position. Even a small stream of water, thinner than a match head, which will flow from a faucet in the bathroom, can significantly increase money expenses; in addition, the irrational use of water has an extremely negative impact on the ecology of our planet.

It is necessary to replace the part in the mixer with an identical one.

To replace, in addition to screwdrivers and keys, you need to arm yourself with pliers - a multifunctional tool that can act as wire cutters, pliers and pliers.

1. Turn off the tap using the valve. Pipeline fittings related to shut-off and control products are located in front of the mixer.
2. Look for a small shut-off valve if there is no valve on the supply pipe. This is a large diameter ball valve in the form of a metal ball with a hole in the top.
3. If such an element is missing, turn off the water in the riser.
4. Remove the decorative caps. Use the screwdriver.
5. Unscrew and remove the screw. It is easy to “calculate”. The part secures the flywheel.
6. Remove the bushings. They are located at the top of the crane box.
7. Unscrew the axle box. Apply the key.

Nuances of work

When unscrewing an old faucet axle box, you may encounter some problems. If it is thoroughly stuck to the body and it is not possible to remove it with handy tools, you must apply the following:

• Place a pipe wrench around the edges of the bolt. Try to rip it off by moving it from side to side, as if swinging it. Here it is important not to overdo it, namely not to damage the threads and not ultimately break the mixer.
• Use chemical-containing products. They will help loosen the threaded connection. Take some vinegar, Cillit-type detergent, or other acid-containing compounds. If they don't help, then try making a small plasticine container around the bolt. After this, pour in the liquid again.
• Move the threads using the thermal method. Use a heat gun to warm up the threaded part. It is necessary to achieve complete weakening of the bolt.

If the tried methods do not help, you should remove the valve axle by drilling. To do this, cut off the protruding part of the bolt and drill out the remaining elements. The drill can be replaced with a milling cutter.

Installing a new

Installing a newly purchased or repaired part does not require anything complicated. Perform the same steps as when unscrewing, only in reverse order:

1. Check if the water is turned off.
2. Screw in the faucet axle box by hand and only then use a wrench or pliers to be extra sure that it fits snugly to the rest of the structure. You should not put too much pressure on the product, as the gasket may become deformed. Violation of the integrity of the element leads to blocking of the water supply channel.
3. Be careful not to damage the sealing gasket on the valve seat with the tool.
4. Tighten the locknut and secure the entire body of the part from turning.
5. Open the water. The absence of smudges indicates that everything was done correctly.

Varieties

Deformations of the crane axle box occur for many reasons. This part of the mixer is used every day, so it is often subject to breakdowns. The design is based on a metal rod and sealed gaskets. The latter are available in rubber or with movable ceramic plates. Based on this, a distinction is made between a ceramic faucet and a model with rubber inserts.

Ceramic options are reliable. Allows you to open the water in half a revolution of the mixer handwheel. Options with rubber inserts (also called worm inserts) wear out quickly. To supply water, you need to make several turns of the valve.

Crane axle box with rubber inserts

• Wear of ceramic plates. Occurs rarely and requires replacement of elements. The work is labor-intensive, so it’s easier to purchase a new part.
• Foreign objects between the plates. In the future, to prevent such defects from appearing, it is advisable to install a device for purifying water from impurities.
• The appearance of a thread between the rod and the valve body. In this case, it is necessary to change the entire part.

Before repairs of any complexity, it is necessary to turn off the water and prepare the tools for work. The minimum set should include a flathead and Phillips screwdriver, pliers, a gas wrench and a spanner.

You can select a team of builders on the website www.stroitel.od.ua

In order to correctly perform operations to restore the functionality of the mixer, everything must be done in stages. The repair plan is as follows:

• Remove the flywheel from the crane axle box. To do this, remove the colored decorative plug from the valve. Next, pull the flywheel up. There should be a bolt underneath. Unscrew it and remove the valve.
• Clean the threads and flywheel. Run the parts under water a couple of times, use cotton swabs or other similar objects.
• Unscrew the decorative insert of the faucet. At this stage, use a socket wrench with a 17mm head.

How and what to use to unscrew the faucet axle from the mixer? Counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench. The main thing is to hold the mixer. Then clean the threads with a brush.

Gasket repair

Operating procedure:

1. unscrew the valve axle;
2. apply a little silicone to the gasket;
3. install the part back.

Grains of sand contribute to the leakage of the axlebox and its failure. Foreign objects cause leakage. The order of work in this case is as follows:

1. unscrew the valve axle and disassemble it;
2. clean the plates, treat them with waterproof lubricant;
3. return the part to its place.

Important! The plates must not be turned over.

The best way is to replace the plates.

Today the children and I decided to take a walk along the Voronezh Reservoir on a river bus and almost became participants in a disaster.…