Homes water system is difficult to imagine without mixer. The most important part of the mixer is the head parts (in the language of professionals-plumbers, she called the head gate).
What he really is?
Damage to this unpretentious, but very important detail, without which the mixer will turn into a metal trash can turn to homeowner serious problems.
Dysfunction of the head gate leads to:
- the lack of water in the bathroom;
- lack of opportunities to adjust pressure water jet;
- uncontrolled temperature conditions;
- lack of opportunities to redirect the flow of water from one pipe to another;
- flood.
From serviceability head parts it depends on how long an blender. The reliability of this element depends not only on the materials used for its manufacture, but also the technologies that were used in its creation.
Choosing this item in the first place, the consumer must determine whether the diameter of the head correspond to the gate to the corresponding parameters of the mixer. Equally important are the conditions in which the mixer is operated and thus its components.
Scope and main features crane axlebox
There are two types of head parts for the valve mixers, screw (got its name thanks to the gate of the head with a rubber "collar") and ceramic. No less known and ball head parts - the result of research of modern development of sanitary equipment.
And the worm, and the ceramic head is used for valve faucets. The principle of operation of the worm gate head is extremely simple: a rod, which is provided with a head parts, extends, whereby the valve seat tightly overlaps rubber "collar." As soon as the "collar" thin, the valve begins to resonate. As a result, the impression is that the pipes emit unpleasant hollow sound. "Cuff" to the worm head parts made from different types of rubber, so the life of the product depends entirely on the quality of consumables.
Note! Gated worm type head is a classic example of domestic sanitary ware known to consumers residing in the CIS, from Soviet times. Ceramic crane axlebox devoid of rubber components, and therefore much more susceptible to breakage.
Today, as you know, for plumbing work involves different types of mixers - and valve and ball. A careful maintenance and timely replacement of head parts that are installed on any one of them can last a few decades, smoothly supplying and regulating the pressure of water entering the apartment owners.
It's no secret that mixers with valve-head screw-type break down quite often. The time required to repair such product, can be used to better advantage if opt for the head parts of the ceramics. It is important to bear in mind that this material can be produced only two plate disk. It is thanks to these parts is the opening and closing access to the flow of water. Price ceramic head parts for shower is not much higher than the cost of the Soviet counterpart, but has in front of him a distinct advantage: the valve opens and closes with one hand movement, more precisely, repeat handles instrument.
Ball head parts are not suitable for the mixer valve. The need for the production of ball valves due to the appearance on the market a new model of sanitary equipment - namely, ball taps.
What is a ceramic head parts?
These ceramic head parts, according to experts, should be composed entirely of sintered plates. Only the mechanism locking the water cast from aluminum oxide. The plate head parts is more durable than the worm. The whole thing - in durable components that are not thinned, and do not break over the years.
Note! Due to its high efficiency, ceramic valves have practically superseded of goods such as a sanitary attributes and gaskets.
Find out what kind of head parts installed in the house, it is very simple. It is enough to count the number of valve revolutions that are necessary for covering the water. For example, if the mixer is equipped with screw-type valve axle box, water is overlapped slowly - to completely eliminate the flow valve is required to wrap around its axis several times. Mixers running through the ceramic head parts overlap and open water after actuation of the valve in a strictly horizontal or strictly vertical position.
Distinctive features of valve heads
Globular device is fundamentally different from other varieties of head parts. The difference lies in the fact that as a locking device uses an ordinary metal ball having a through hole. Head parts with spherical device allows you to open and close the water as fast as the ceramic model.
As for technical characteristics and unlike the worm and the ceramic structure, the first looks like a head with a face or square cross-section. Inside the hole there is a thread that allows you to securely fasten the retaining bolt. worm-type screw with left-hand thread is fixed to the stem (canopy hexagonal rod). At the end of the screw is fixed laying of rubber, securely locking screw.
Head parts of ceramic also consists of several parts, namely:
- of the rotary shaft, which is regulated by water pressure;
- from a framed threaded body, thanks to which the head parts crane effortlessly twists and gets out of the faucet body and out of the tap;
- of the locking washer (used for fixing the rotary head valve rod);
- from the adapter, strong ties rod and locking plate of the mixer;
- from the top of the movable plate-metal (used for opening and closing the tap), which is equipped with technical grooves: opening for water and for the adapter.
Ceramic head parts are not manufactured in accordance with certain specially developed standards. All sizes of holes and grooves, which each is provided with a ceramic model meets standards set by the particular manufacturer.
The operating principle of the Soviet Faucets
Stem head parts is activated at the moment when, under the influence of physical impact, begins to move crane. As a result, only the top plate is displaced crane axlebox. The bottom plate remains in the rest position, thereby contributing to an increase in temperature or pressure of water. This happens when the holes of both plates are identical. If they do not match, then the water is blocked.
With regard to the standard sizes of the pedestal, the most popular today are the head parts, elements which correspond to 1/2, 3/8 or 3/4 of an inch.
How to choose what you really need?
Sanitaryware market is filled with a diverse array of products, among them - a huge number of crane-Books. Such a variety of specialist pleases, but complicates the task of the person does not understand anything in the establishment and plumbing repairs.
To choose the right product, experienced masters advise such people, going to the market, taking the old parts in order to show it to the seller. As a result, the buyer will receive the desired product and will lead a useful acquaintance, and the seller to make another bargain, and perhaps will in the face of "sanitary profane" a regular customer.
Cost valve head made of ceramic or rubber fitted "cuffs", almost the same. If the price difference is ten - fifteen rubles for each type of product has its "pros" and "cons."
Advantages and disadvantages of worm and ceramic head parts
For obvious benefits of worm head parts include simplicity of design and the ability to replace any that fail to detail the new. And finally, the most important advantage of the worm head - easy to handle. Even people far from the intricacies of plumbing, will be able to repair a head parts, trusting only his intuition.
A disadvantage of products of the worm type are fragility rubber "cuff" crane axlebox. Ceramic gate head is good that, once properly installed, will last for decades without causing a host of problems.
The main drawback of both types of parts produced outside the CIS, is the disparity of their technical parameters with similar data of sanitary equipment, which today is called the "post-Soviet." Therefore, it is not necessary to replace the old head parts modern counterparts. So say experts.
How to replace the old head parts to the new?
Disassemble and then reassemble the device is not difficult. Executor of repair work, first of all, have to stop the water supply problem in the crane. Only then can we dismantle the old head parts. He must first remove the flywheel cover and then unscrew the bolt opened.
Remove the bolt, the technician has access to the valve by unscrewing which can get to the head parts. To quickly release the head of the gate bore, better equip key.
Features head parts assembly:
- After seeing the thread by removing debris accumulated inside the mixer, works performer proceeds to install a new axle box. Now the repair work is carried out exactly the opposite - when the new head parts will be installed in the bearing seat instead of the old, it is the turn of the valve and a decorative cap.
- Particular attention should be paid to match the size of the old and the new crane-Books. They must match.
- In most cases, repair of the crane-type axle box worm is reduced to lubrication, replacing stop rubber gasket ( "cuff"). In this case, there is no need to buy a new head parts.
- Taking part haywire, you need to replace a leaky rubber gasket ( "collar") to a new, and then to return the head parts to the old place.
- A new gasket to repair head parts can be purchased at a specialty store, and you can cut your own hands from the dense and durable pieces of rubber (if available).
Sometimes landing nest in need of repair. This situation - from the category of the worst. Even if the "cuff" is not yet worn off, head parts faucet starts to leak. If this happens, it means that the entire valve must be replaced. In the case where the actual phase of the purchase of new products - is too expensive and is not possible, the technician can take the so-called interim measures - set to head parts thicker "Cuff".
If you experience problems with ceramic head parts (device stopped working properly or start to leak), the cause is likely to be found in breach of a seal. In this situation, the head parts can not be repaired and must be replaced with a new device.
