Replacing the cartridge in a shower faucet: how to remove and replace

The most common cause of faucet malfunction in plumbing is a broken cartridge. You need to know how to change the cartridge in a bathroom faucet yourself and what types of this part exist. Of course, the easiest way is to call a specialist to do this work, but there are also cases when this is impossible or difficult.

The cartridge is the main part of the mixer, but at the same time it is its weakest point. The faucet stops working, begins to leak or makes noise - all these are signs that the main part needs to be replaced. In fact, replacing a cartridge in a faucet is not so difficult; you need to know its structure and have all the necessary tools for the job.

But first you need to figure out what type of cartridge you should buy, because even if you call a plumber to replace it, you often need to purchase the parts yourself. Therefore, you need to know the characteristics of the old cartridge, or even better, remove it and take it with you to the store as an example. This will definitely save you from possible mistakes and difficulties in choosing.

Replacing the cartridge in the mixer; detailed repair instructions in photos and videos

The popularity of convenient and stylish single-lever faucets is growing steadily. They are confidently replacing the usual valve structures, decorating kitchens, bathrooms and toilets. However, like any household device, they do not last forever. Sooner or later, the owners of this new plumbing product will need to replace the cartridge in the faucet, since most often it is this element that fails.

How does a single lever faucet work?

The cartridge can be called the main part of a single lever faucet. Thanks to it, you can control the flow of water using a single handle, which is much more convenient than alternately turning two valves with cold and hot water. In addition, the fixed position of the mixer handle eliminates the need to restore the ratio of hot and cold water flow each time.

Inside the cartridge there are two ceramic plates that fit tightly together. Unfortunately, over time, extremely unpleasant phenomena may appear, for example, when pressing the lever, it is not possible to completely block the flow of water, moisture leaks from below, etc. Obviously, the device has failed. By figuring out how to change the cartridge in your faucet, you can save a lot of money.

Possible causes of cartridge failure

In practice, it turns out that the mixer can fail much earlier than its owners expect. It can break down for reasons such as:

the quality of water entering the system does not meet the manufacturer’s requirements;
the presence of impurities in water from metal oxidation;
salt deposits;
frequent water hammer;
violation of the operating conditions of the mixer;
end of service life;
low quality design.

To extend the service life of a single-lever mixer, you should remember these problems already at the stage of purchasing the device. For example, you should give preference to an expensive branded model rather than a cheap fake created by hardworking Chinese. A regular household filter will help to significantly increase the service life of the faucet; it will remove salts, pieces of rust and other impurities that can impair the performance of durable ceramic plates.

Finally, some of the breakdowns are due to the carelessness of the mixer owners themselves. Do not use excessive force when pressing the lever, especially if you do not drop heavy objects onto the device.

How to replace a cartridge

The problem of replacing a cartridge has a fairly simple solution. You don't need any complicated specialized tools, just a couple of screwdrivers, a hex wrench and an adjustable wrench. Actually, repairing a mixer cartridge is no more difficult than replacing a worn gasket in a traditional valve design. To do this you need:

Remove the decorative plug from the faucet, on which hot and cold water are indicated in red and blue. A thin screwdriver is suitable for this.

The decorative plug is carefully removed using a screwdriver

Now you can carefully remove the mixer handle.

There is a protective ring attached under the handle. It can be easily unscrewed simply by hand.

The clamping nut is carefully unscrewed with an adjustable wrench or wrench.

After this, you should carefully clean the mixer, removing accumulated salt deposits and other contaminants.

Having removed the faulty cartridge, you can go to the store to buy a suitable analogue

All that remains is to replace the working cartridge and do all the above operations in reverse order, i.e., replace the clamping nut, screw on the protective ring, fix the handle, and then insert the decorative plug in its original place.
Restore the water supply and check the operation of the device.

The cartridge has two small protrusions.

Thus, changing the cartridge in the mixer can be done even by a novice master. Of course, all operations must be done so as not to damage the decorative coating. Upon completion of the repair, the device will look and work like new, and the family budget will practically not feel the consequences of the repair.

Useful recommendations for selection and operation

During the entire service life of the crane, it must be used carefully and for its intended purpose. Avoid mechanical impacts on the shift lever: open, close and move to the sides with smooth movements.

Do not apply pressure to the mixer jib or hang any weight on it.

When connecting the tap to the water supply, make sure that the flexible connections for hot and cold water coincide with the outlets of the pipeline.

In order to avoid having to run around the store in search of a new one of the same brand if a cartridge breaks down, it is recommended that you take care of purchasing a spare part when you first purchase the mixer.

DIY faucet repair

Single-lever faucets operate without breakdowns for a very long time, but due to sand and small particles passing through them, the seal is sometimes broken and they begin to leak.

Video:

In this case, you just need to change the cartridge in the mixer. The price of this part is very low.

To find out which cartridge is right for you, you need to know its characteristics.

These parts may vary:

diameter;
landing part;
rod length.

To buy a new part, remove the old one and take it with you when you go to the store.

This way you will be able to select and buy a new one, and easily replace the cartridge in the mixer. Photo:

How to replace the cartridge:

Before starting repairs, shut off the cold and hot water supply lines. Open the tap and release the remaining water;
Remove the decorative plug located on the front of the faucet lever. To do this, you can pry it off with a screwdriver and it will come off easily. After this, unscrew the handle locking screw using a hexagon;
Remove the lever from the body under which the faulty part is located. If the lever does not come off, it means it is stuck to it. Pour hot water onto the lever, it will expand and come off, or spray with WD-40. While the lever is in place, you will not be able to remove the cartridge from the mixer;
The nut holding the cartridge to the body can be unscrewed using pliers;
Remove the faulty cartridge and install a new one. It should snap into place without any effort. Be sure to check whether the holes of the replaced part and the mixer are aligned correctly;
Put the nut on and tighten it;
Install the faucet handle onto the cartridge stem;
Tighten the locking screw and insert the plastic plug into place.

Properly installed replacement cartridges for faucets will allow them to last for several more years.

When to change

Disk cartridges fail as a result of wear and tear on moving elements. Ceramic discs are much stronger than plastic ones, but they also do not last forever. To determine whether a cartridge is damaged, you need to know several signs:

there is no mixing of cold and hot flow;
when opening the tap lever there is no pressure at all;
output pressure from the spout without a fixed temperature;
incomplete supply of liquid is carried out;
after closing the lever, the pressure continues to flow;
leakage from under the lever;
turning the lever is only possible with excessive force.

The correct operation of the moving elements for mixing pressures directly depends on the quality of the supplied liquid in the water supply system. Insoluble particles of debris, rust and sand clog the cartridge, which leads to breakdown of the entire faucet. You can extend the life of the part by installing a filter to clean the pressure from debris.

The following factors influence cartridge wear or failure:

production of parts from low-quality materials;
sudden mechanical impacts on the mixer spout;
water hammer in the water supply system;
unsatisfactory fluid quality;
lack of a device for cleaning the pressure from debris.

Cartridge manufacturers guarantee a service life of up to 10 years. But due to poor performance of plumbing systems, the faucet elements must be replaced every 4-5 years.

On a note

Devices that automatically regulate temperature are very popular, but such models should be purchased with caution. Such cartridges are sensitive to pressure level, quality of supplied water, frequency of use

They react especially negatively to calcium. This element is present in water in almost all regions of our country. An autonomous water purification system will not help correct the situation. It is effective only with low water consumption, and also has a high cost. The price of such a system may be higher than the entire shower stall. Models that respond to water pressure in the pipeline are not suitable for everyone. If the pressure is low, the cassette may simply not work. In addition, it is unstable to water hammer - load changes.

Crane selection criteria

Repairing a shower valve is a simple process and involves simply replacing the faucet cartridge. As a rule, most owners are looking for a faucet to replace the hydrobox with the exact same model that was equipped with the shower stall. But this is not at all necessary - it is enough that the dimensions match, that is, the distance between the valve stems.

To purchase the required part, take measurements from the old cartridge

They have standard values - 100, 125, 145 and 150 mm. The distance is measured from the mode control lever to the water supply fitting. The device can have from 1 to 5 modes.

Operating principle of a single lever mixer

As the name implies, the functions of both heads, which are typical for a two-valve device, are performed by one lever. When it is turned from side to side, raised up or down, the temperature and pressure of water from the tap are regulated. It consists of the following elements:

lever handle,
frame,
rod with a nut and washer so that the part fits snugly,
ball cartridge. It is held in the housing by rubber seats and has three outlets: for hot water, for cold water and for supplying mixed liquid. A ceramic faucet cartridge is sometimes called a disk cartridge; it is much more common than a ball cartridge.

It cannot be said that one of them is preferable to the other. All types of faucet cartridges have one weak point: they easily become unusable if the water is not filtered before entering the tap.

What should prompt you to think about the necessary repairs?

The principle of regulating the water temperature is violated. That is, a single-lever mixer operates arbitrarily, regardless of the movement of the handle.
When the water supply is blocked, it continues to leak.
The usual pressure disappeared, but there were no failures in the operation of the water supply system.

Before you go to the store to buy a new faucet cartridge, you should remove the old one and take it with you. The fact is that this part may differ from different manufacturers:

along the length of the rod,
landing part,
diameter

How to choose a faucet cartridge

To choose the right cartridge for the faucet, you need to pay attention to the main characteristics of the device. This:

Design. Cartridges are either collapsible or non-separable. The latter are more accessible, but they cannot be cleaned and lubricated, gaskets cannot be removed from them, etc., which is why they break more often than collapsible ones;

Chinese cartridge with plastic stem
Size. Choosing the wrong size can cause more than just noise or stiff rotation of the lever. Due to disrupted operation when controlling pressure, the efficiency of the entire mixer may decrease - the shower hose may crack or the threads in the tap may wear out;
Shape and number of bottom holes. This is the main parameter for choosing the right cartridge. Models for the kitchen, bathroom, and shower differ in the number of grooves and protrusions. You simply cannot install a cartridge with a different number of holes than is available on the faucet.

Grooves in the cartridge and mixer

Naturally, it is better to buy high-quality models from European manufacturers. Good reviews about Grohe, Kaiser and Blanco. But, if necessary, you can choose good Chinese options. These are Potato, Frap and others.

Where to buy and how much it costs

If your “one-arm” has become faulty, it is not practical to repair the faucet cartridge, since it is difficult to select individual parts for it.

It is better to buy a new part, because its cost is low.

Therefore, it is better to buy such products from well-known brands, choosing from the middle price category if you have a limited budget.

If your wallet allows, then it is better to buy filters for water purification at the same time, then it will work flawlessly for a long time.

Video:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=sTBDCAe73WQ

Untreated water spoils the faucet, and therefore, without filters, you will soon have to buy a cartridge for the faucet and replace it.

It should be taken into account that each company installs its own cartridges, and therefore if you have one mixer, you will have to buy it from the same company.

Some large manufacturers produce these parts in several sizes, although the principle of operation is the same, they simply control water of different volumes, so the price of a faucet cartridge can vary greatly.

Sometimes you can find low-quality Chinese fakes on sale; their price is low, but the quality is incomparably worse than that of well-known brands.

Popular manufacturers

Cartridge from Hansgrohe

High quality is very important for disk cartridges. Therefore, brands are constantly improving the production of faucets and parts for them. Consumers identify several companies:

Hansgrohe is a German company that produces high-quality faucets with a sophisticated style and accessories for them.
Jacob Delafon is a well-known French brand that represents products of a high quality standard.
Ideal Standard is a popular brand among consumers all over the world, producing a huge range of taps.
Roca is a successful company producing faucets with a special style and a guarantee of reliability.
Teka is the name of a company producing modern faucets, components and accessories for every taste.
Vidima is a product from a well-known manufacturer, distinguished by its original attractive design and affordable price.
Lemark is a popular Czech brand of faucets among buyers on the Russian market.
LKA is a Russian-made product that combines high quality and low cost.

Very often you can find Chinese counterfeits of well-known European brands, but brands such as Tivoli and Santide offer high-quality products for sale that are in great demand among buyers.

Manufacturers and prices. Design Features

The ball cartridge for a single-lever mixer is a hollow round part that fits snugly onto rubber seat mounts. The water pressure ensures a tight fit. It is made of stainless steel and is a reliable and durable mechanism. Replacing the cartridge in the mixer will be necessary if its sealed seal is broken, for example, due to the ingress of scale. Ball mechanisms are less common on sale, since the manufacturer must have a license to install them.

Therefore, it is much easier to find a replacement ceramic analogue than a cartridge for a ball mixer. It consists of two disks tightly adjacent to each other. During movement of the faucet handle, the upper plate moves relative to the lower one, shutting off the supply of hot or cold water to varying degrees. The pressure is adjusted using the same principle.

The design differences in cartridges from any manufacturing company are small. But among professional plumbers it is generally accepted that replacing the cartridge on the faucet will be required much earlier if the product is in an inexpensive price category. Well-known brands can afford to invest in the development of their own technologies to increase the service life of their products, but the price for this is correspondingly high.

So, what is the average price of a single-lever faucet cartridge?

Grohe disc cartridges are distinguished by the fact that carbon-crystalline coating is applied to the plates. This makes the already reliable ceramic cartridge even more durable. Depending on the diameter of the model 46 or 35 mm, the price ranges from 1300 to 2000 - 2500 rubles.
Plumbing fixtures from TM Vidima (Bulgaria) do not belong to the elite category, but the manufacturer’s quality guarantee for cartridges is impressive - 5 years. For products whose price, regardless of diameter and installation location, does not exceed 950 rubles, this is a very commendable characteristic.
If you're lucky, you can find a cartridge from the Finnish company Oras for 2,800 rubles. But you won’t have to go looking for a replacement part soon; it will last a long time. All mechanisms of this brand are standard, so there will be no problems purchasing a cartridge.
Plumbing fixtures from the German brand Handgrohe are created in accordance with the national principles of thoroughness and thriftiness with consumed resources (water and electricity). Such “smart” cartridges cost from 3 – 3.5 thousand rubles, but the design of the faucet itself assumes a long service life of the entire mechanism as a whole and its components in particular.
Replacing the cartridge in the Damixa mixer will not take a long time. The Danish company is distinguished by its desire for innovation, and in the production of their plumbing fixtures, they use, among other things, technologies patented for the creation of spaceships. Changing a cartridge at Damix plumbing will cost from 2 to 4 thousand rubles.

It is worth thinking about the upcoming repair at the stage of choosing a mixer. Replacing a cartridge in a faucet is an inevitable procedure even for expensive brands. Therefore, if you are on a limited budget, you should choose among offers in the mid-price category. It would be useful to find out about the availability of replacement spare parts for free sale, so as not to order the required one through official distributors, wasting time waiting for its delivery.

Cartridge device

The design of a mixer with a steam cartridge resembles the operation of a ceramic faucet: in both cases, the water is blocked by the mutual displacement of ground ceramic plates with through holes.

There are obviously differences:

There are three holes in the bottom plate . Two correspond to cold and warm water, the third, of larger diameter, supplies water to the spout (gander) of the mixer.
The upper plate can not only rotate rather than the lower one, thereby ensuring the predominance of cold and warm water in the mixture, but also move up and down, adjusting the pressure.

Please note: mutual displacement of the plates with minimal hardening is ensured by waterproof silicone grease. Without it, the hardening required to adjust the mixer increases rapidly.

The design of a kitchen faucet with a cartridge allows for easy replacement. Cartridges vary in diameter (28.35 and 46 mm) and length. In order to avoid making a mistake when purchasing, the easiest thing to do is take an example with you - a faulty part.

Criterias of choice

The best solution would be to purchase a cartridge similar to the one that was originally installed in the shower faucet, but this is not always possible. If the same model is not on sale, you should familiarize yourself with the selection tips,

What to look for?

In order to carry out a high-quality replacement and not face the imminent failure of a part, when making a purchase, we are guided by the following criteria: Material. The best option is cartridges made of ceramics and plastic. They have good wear resistance. The best choice would be a product made of stainless alloys; the worst choice would be one made of polymers. The latter are not reliable and wear out quickly. Cost and brand. Cheap models allow you to save on purchases, but after a year or even earlier they require replacement. Unscrupulous manufacturers use not only low-quality raw materials, but also molds. Flywheel stroke. If it sticks or jams, it means the part is defective. After installing such a cartridge, the tightness will quickly break down, which will lead to leakage. Inlet fittings. The quality of this element is evidenced by the cast construction and thick partition of the cage. The fittings must be perfectly smooth and even. In addition, the packaging must contain all the information about the manufacturer and full details. If it is an expensive model, then it comes with a warranty.

Blitz tips

If there is poor regulation of the water temperature in the operation of the mixer or the lever of the plumbing fixture is difficult to turn, then you should immediately begin replacing the cartridge.
Each model of plumbing fixture has a certain type of cartridge installed, so in order to avoid purchasing an unsuitable model, it is recommended to go to a specialized store along with the failed device, which is quite easy to remove.
All cartridges are equipped with small tabs to ensure correct installation. If the assembly steps were performed incorrectly, the device will not allow you to tighten the nut that directly presses it. This makes it easier to replace the part, since it is always possible to correct mistakes.
When choosing a device for a mixer, you should pay attention to the availability of spare parts and warranty service. These seemingly insignificant nuances will help in case of breakdowns.
When purchasing the most expensive parts from well-known manufacturers , you should not flatter yourself with the hope of eternal use. In the case when the water supplied to the pipes contains many impurities and does not meet good quality indicators, the parts of the plumbing fixture will accumulate rust (lime) and after some time will again disable the operation of the mixer. Therefore, it is worth remembering that price is not the key to long-term operation. The solution to this problem will be the purchase and installation of cleaning filters (filtration from 100 microns). They do not affect the drop in water pressure and in most cases are equipped with a self-flushing flask, which simplifies the task of removing blockages.

Replacement procedure

Replacing the cartridge in a faucet with your own hands is a process accessible to any home craftsman. Before starting work, you need to turn off the supply of hot and cold water and drain the remaining liquid from the tap.

The single lever mixer needs to be disassembled. To do this, remove the decorative plug, which is located on the front side of the faucet lever. It is made of plastic and sits tightly in the recess, so it can be carefully pryed off with a screwdriver or knife. It not only serves as an indication of which way to turn the handle to get warm or cold water. It closes the shut-off screw, so its loss risks the fact that household members and guests will have to constantly see the internal structure of the mixer.
After removing the plug, access to the locking screw is open. It must be tightened using a hex wrench. It is better to use a special tool to avoid damaging the parts.
Before removing the cartridge from the mixer, it remains to remove the lever from the faucet body. The faulty part you are looking for is located directly below it. It can be difficult to unscrew the faucet if the parts have become stuck to each other during operation. In this case, it is recommended to water the lever with hot water for a while - it will expand a little, now you can treat it with an aerosol preparation WD-40. It dissolves rust and oxide, after which the handle can be easily removed and you can change the cartridge in the tap.

The principle of replacing faulty parts in various modifications of single-lever mixers is identical. It may differ in a couple of details, but the essence is the same.

Now, in order to change the cartridge in the mixer, you need to remove the decorative nut. You can handle it without a tool, by hand, if you apply a little effort.
The clamping nut prevents you from removing the cartridge from the mixer. You will need a spanner wrench, and if you don’t have one, gas or pliers will do. The clamping nut ensures a tight fit of the cartridge inside the faucet, so during the assembly process it will need to be tightened especially carefully.
Now you can remove the cartridge from the mixer by simply pulling it out of the fastenings.
The seats on which the cartridge rests are equipped with holes. On the old and new parts, protrusions are clearly visible, which should clearly align with the holes in the fasteners. To replace the cartridge in the faucet correctly, you need to carefully insert it into the seats so that all the recesses of the seat correspond to the recesses on the part. No effort is required during cartridge installation. If the spare part is purchased correctly, it will easily take its place inside the mixer.
Now you can begin the reassembly process. The clamping nut and then the decorative nut are put on and tightened. The faucet handle is placed on the stem and the locking screw is fixed. The plastic plug returns to its place.

If you need to replace the cartridge in a mixer with a ball system, then steps 1 to 5 are carried out without changes. Once access to the ball is gained, it is removed and the rubber seals are inspected. If they wear out, they must be replaced, as well as the springs that secure the ball. If the seals are in good condition, you can carefully clean them, then replace the new ball and reassemble the mixer.

Replacing the cartridge in a shower faucet follows the same principle as in single-lever faucets on a kitchen sink or sink. The only caveat is that the part can become unusable not only due to bad water, but also due to water hammer. And ceramic cartridges in shower stalls have to distribute water onto a flexible hose. In this case they are installed in the diverter. If this part is faulty, then repairs will not be possible and you will have to purchase a new diverter.

Changing the cartridge in the mixer, if it is selected correctly, is not difficult. Anyone can cope with this task in a short time.

Disadvantages and causes of breakdowns

Lime deposits accumulate on the metal ball over time.

This is especially noticeable when the faucet is not used regularly.

In addition, this design is very sensitive to small abrasive particles.

However, a speck stuck in the structure can break the seal of the disk device.

The device is sealed as long as the rubber and Teflon gaskets and seals are in good condition. Their wear can occur over time or under the influence of damaging impurities in the water. A hum or leak during operation will indicate that the gaskets need to be replaced.

Water leakage can also be caused by a simple loosening of the lever connection. Perhaps the dripping will stop if you just tighten everything up.

In some cases, a crack or chip may appear on the plates, ball, or cartridge body. Using sealant, you can try to eliminate the gap in the shell, but internal damage cannot be repaired - the cartridge will need to be replaced.

Disassembling a single lever mixer

Symptoms of cartridge failure may include:

Lever movement is difficult.
Lack of response to tap control (pressure or temperature does not change).
The supply of any water stops when the lever is turned all the way.
Lack of complete shutdown, or leakage.

To avoid having to change the cartridge again and again, install a fine filter at the inlet - it will be good for both you and your mixer.

How do cartridges from different manufacturers differ?

The differences in cartridge designs from different manufacturing companies are insignificant.

But some use their own technologies to make their products more advanced:

Products from Grohe are popular; many sellers advise buying a cartridge for a grohe mixer with carbon-crystalline coating on the plates, which makes the surface more durable;
The reliable and practical cartridge for the oras faucet, produced by the Finnish sanitary ware manufacturer, is standard, so if the old one breaks, it will be very easy to find a new one;
The price of Vidima plumbing fixtures is one of the lowest, but the ceramic cartridge for the Vidima faucet rarely needs to be changed. They are guaranteed for five years;
The hansgrohe ceramic faucet cartridge is equipped with a safety function and saves energy and water. In case of repair, it is easy to replace it with your own hands;
The Hansgrohe brand has patented the Boltic system: thanks to a special method of attaching the handle and lever, the faucet of this brand works for many years without loosening or failure.

When buying a faucet, you need to pay attention to its details, since it cannot last forever, and replacing the cartridge in the faucet will someday still be necessary. To do this, find out whether you can buy a similar one in free trade for a replacement or whether you will have to order it from an official distributor

To do this, find out whether you can buy a similar one in free trade for a replacement or whether you will have to order it from an official distributor.

Find out if there are official representatives of this product in your city.

Required Tools

Craftsmen are invited to carry out repairs, but if you have the necessary tools, a little experience and desire, you can fix the problem yourself:

screwdrivers of various sizes;
adjustable wrench;
pliers;
hex key;
technical solvent WD-40;
rags.

Replacing a cartridge requires purchasing a new one. When purchasing, it is possible to make a mistake with the mounting holes, diameter and length of the rod. Therefore, it is better to go to the store with the dismantled part. Typically a diameter of 40 mm (known as d40) is used, but 35 mm are also available. Rod sizes are generally standard, but there may be exceptions.

Replacing the faucet cartridge in the shower stall

Involves a preliminary check of the possibility of holding this event. Replacement cannot be carried out when the thread is either completely torn off or has been deformed during operation. In this particular case, you have to completely change the tap. If the thread is intact, you can safely purchase a new cartridge, guided by the advice of experts. In addition, you must have at your disposal a set of wrenches, a set of screwdrivers, an adjustable Swedish wrench, and powerful pliers. These tools should be prepared or purchased in advance. Otherwise, it will simply be impossible to replace the cassette.

Step-by-step instruction

The action algorithm implies strict adherence to a certain sequence. Work begins only after the centralized water supply is turned off. Each cartridge model has its own characteristics, but the general procedure remains the same.

Step 1

Remove the plug from the cartridge handle. It covers the fixing bolt for the cartridge handle. Using a hex wrench or screwdriver, unscrew the fasteners. Using a screwdriver with the appropriate profile, unscrew the small screw located in the hole. Next, remove the handle from the structure.

Step 2

To open access to the cassette, remove the decorative nut. For this purpose, unscrew the protective metal casing and remove the cartridge. This is often difficult to do. This happens when the casing becomes sour and cannot be unscrewed.

In this case, a gas wrench will help to remove the casing, but first, be sure to throw a piece of clean and soft cloth over the part. You must act extremely carefully. Excessive pressure may damage the housing

Its design is quite thin and fragile. If excessive force is applied, the housing will become deformed. The decorative trim is held in place by a nut. This hardware is removed and then the clamp is unscrewed. Disassembling the mechanism takes quite a lot of time. The “bucket” allows you to facilitate and speed up the process of unscrewing old threaded connections. Many masters use it. It is sold in every auto parts store and has a low cost.

Step 3

Quite a lot of dirt forms inside the plumbing fixture and solid deposits accumulate. Therefore, exit surfaces must be cleaned. For this purpose, detergents are used. This can be regular dishwashing liquid. The main thing is not just to clean the device, but also to rinse it thoroughly so that no traces of the cleaning agent remain.

Step 4

Instead of the removed cartridge, a new device is installed. The main thing is to position the part correctly. To insert the cassette and not mix anything up, there are two grooves on the walls and a pair of protrusions at the entrance. This design feature prevents the cassette from being inserted in the wrong position.

The cartridge is held with your finger by the handle in the required position and clamped with a nut. When it is placed in place, turn on the water supply and check the functionality of the cassette. If there are no leaks and the mixer is working properly, close the cartridge with a nut (decorative) and put the handle in place.

Lever crane design

The function of plumbing equipment such as a faucet is to distribute the flow of water, regulate its temperature, and also direct the stream to the shower head.

Different types of faucets have their own type of cartridge.

Structurally, the device consists of two main parts - the outer housing and the cartridge. The body , as a rule, is made of sanitary bronze, covered with a layer of chrome plating applied by galvanic method. Plumbing equipment in the lower price segment can be made of aluminum-silicon alloy, the so-called silumin. Such products are of very low quality, since this material is very fragile and is highly susceptible to external factors, therefore, when purchasing a lever mixer, you should make sure that its body is made of brass.

Dimensions of a standard shower cartridge

Standard sanitary cartridges measuring 35–40 mm are usually made of plastic. They may have the ability to operate in several different modes. Devices with three or more switching modes are in greatest demand. In addition to plastic, the product may contain materials such as ceramics, steel and bronze. The structure of the shower cabin is such that it is better to use plastic cartridges for it, since metal parts will quickly fail with constant contact with water.

In addition, the lever mixer contains parts such as a cartridge holder, which serves as its fastening. It has an internal thread with which it is screwed onto the body. On its surface there is a partition that holds the cartridge. The diverter, or water flow distributor, is fixed with a nut in the corresponding socket.

With regular use of a single-lever valve for a hydrobox, a number of malfunctions may occur, and knowing how to disassemble a faucet in a shower stall, you can accurately determine the causes of the breakdown.

Why does a cartridge become unusable?

Water quality is the most important reason why you need to replace the cartridge in the faucet. Cleaning filters must be installed without fail, then even the most budget plumbing fixtures will last much longer.

Ceramic cartridges quickly fail when abrasive particles get between the discs day after day. They scratch the surface of the plates, worsen the seal, and lead to uneven abrasion of the cartridge elements.

Changing the cartridge in a mixer with a ball system is required due to blockage between the element itself and the seats. Even if the seal is not immediately compromised, the rubber stops may subsequently become deformed, which will still lead to a leak. The shutter can also be clogged, but sometimes to fix operational problems it is enough to disassemble the mechanism, clean it and put everything back in place.

Water may leak from a loose lever cap connection. In this case, repair actions will be reduced to a tight connection of the unit. When water comes up at the base of the faucet, the O-rings are likely worn out. In this case, replacing the mixer cartridge is not necessary; it is enough to purchase a repair kit. The ball itself may crack - this is direct evidence that it is time to proceed directly to replacing the cartridge.

How to understand that it is the cartridge that has failed?

If the reason for the incorrect operation of the faucet in the shower box is the cassette, this can be understood by the following signs:

The mixer's operating order is incorrect. In other words, it may simply not turn on, or hot (cold) water may be supplied from the wrong tap.
Transmission (leakage) is observed. Water begins to appear at the joints of the device elements. If nothing is done, the outer shell of the plumbing equipment will become unusable.
Water is not supplied or is shut off. This occurs no matter what position the control handle is in. In this case, the lever most often dangles freely.

This happens not only when the mixer has expired its warranty period, but also due to improper installation or poor-quality water composition, which provokes the formation of limescale. In addition, if the cartridge was initially of poor quality, its early failure is inevitable.

Faucet replacement process

The shower cabin is moved away from the wall or dismantled so that you can get to the faucet fasteners and connections without unnecessary difficulties. The decorative overlays on the front part are removed, then the screws or screws securing the device are unscrewed. On the back wall, unscrew the nuts of the water connection hoses. Afterwards, a new tap is installed and everything is connected and installed in place in the reverse order.

Replacing a faucet is a long and troublesome process.

Typically, the process of replacing a shower faucet cassette is quite simple. The key to its success is the accurate and correct choice of cartridge and strict adherence to assembly recommendations. In order for plumbing equipment to serve as long as possible, preventive measures should be carried out in a timely manner.

In addition, such things as following the rules of use and the presence of special filters in the water supply system will help increase the service life of the device. And, of course, it is desirable that the assembly and installation of plumbing equipment for the shower box be carried out by qualified specialists.

Even new plumbing fixtures are not immune to sudden breakdowns. For different types of faucets, they produce their own type of cartridge. Dimensions of a standard cartridge for a shower cabin. To purchase the required part, take the dimensions from the old cartridge.