A tap is running in the kitchen - how to fix it?

Typically, minor household troubles occur unexpectedly, so much so that the time to call a specialist does not remain at all. For example, a leaking or dripping faucet in the kitchen. It would seem that the trouble is small, but there is no guarantee that a thin water trickle of water will not turn into an indomitable flow and will not hurt you, and neighbors from the bottom, too. So, the tap in the kitchen is flowing - how to fix it? What knowledge is needed to repair it yourself?

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The problem has already arisen - which one?

If you are reading this article, then one of the following problems has occurred:

• The tap is leaking, the water is leaking from under the handle.
• Even with closed valves, water drips from the tap.
• Humming sound when opening the mixer.
• Too thin water jet.
• The mixer works by "jerks".
• Water escapes from the union nut.
• It is not possible to lock the crane lever in the desired position.
• Leak in the flywheel area.

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What is needed for repair?

To fix problems with the crane in the kitchen, you will need these tools:

• Hammer.
• Screwdriver.
• Knife.
• Keys: for regulation and for hexagons.

In addition, you will need consumables such as grease and dry rags.

Important! If the faucet leaks, you will have to purchase the following parts:

• For a two-valve construction: a crane, a sealing ring.
• For single-lever mixer: replacement cartridge or accessories.

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How to fix a faucet in the kitchen, if a single lever mixer?

Reasons for repair can be the following:

• The chips, cracks, which are caused by mechanical damages on the body.
• Litter in the cartridge between the ball and saddles.
• Worn gasket.
• Wear( corrosion) or aerator clogging.

Crane flow - how to fix it in different manifestations of the malfunction:

• If the housing is damaged, so-called cold welding can be used for repair. But this is only a temporary measure, sooner or later you will have to buy a new mixer.
• If the water pressure is weak, the aerator is likely to be clogged. Eliminate this problem simply: remove the aerator, clean( using an old toothbrush) and install it back.

Now consider more serious malfunctions. There are no visible damages to the crane, but does the water leak? Most likely, the reason is the failure of the cartridge or the wear of the gasket. In this case, the construction will have to be dismantled.

We repair the crane: Step-by-step instruction

The lever-type cranes, above all, are good for ease of operation. Turning the lever, you adjust the feed force and the water head. The most common failure in such cranes is the failure of the cartridge. There are two types of cartridges: disk and ball.

Disk cartridges

The working element of the disk cartridge is ceramic plates, which, when the lever is rotated, are displaced relative to each other.

Ball cartridge

The main element of the design is a ball with three holes. When the lever is rotated, the ball rotates and the water supply is regulated.

The main reasons for replacing a cartridge may be as follows.

• Water drips from the nozzle.
• Tightening the cartridge.
• Bad( or not at all) hot and cold water.
• Water flows out from under the handle.

How to repair a mixer in the kitchen? To begin with, it is necessary to block the water and release its remains from the tap. The following procedure is as follows:

1. Unscrew the screw on the main body, having previously unplugged the decorative plug with a screwdriver.
2. Remove the lever and cap, remove the cartridge.
3. Inspect all seals, replace if necessary.
4. Assemble the faucet in reverse order.

Important! Make sure that the protrusions of the cartridge coincide with the grooves of the mixer. If you neglect this, the tap will leak.

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How to repair a two-valve mixer?

The most frequent breakage of such structures is the failure of the gaskets on the crane-buks. As in the case of the crane, it is necessary, first of all, to block the water in the apartment.

Next, the mixer is dismantled to replace the gasket. The procedure is as follows:

1. Unscrew the screw with a screwdriver.
2. Remove the handle and the decorative cap.
3. Remove the axle with the adjustable wrench.
4. Cut out the new rubber gasket using the old one as a template.
5. Install a new gasket.
6. Assemble the valve in reverse order by tightening the axle.

If the valve is not on the gasket, but with ceramic plates, there may be several reasons for the breakdown:

• Wear of the sealing rubber between the ceramic plates.
• Contact between small debris plates. In this case, if the plates themselves are not damaged, it will be sufficient to remove slag pieces. If this measure proved ineffective, then replacement will help.

Important! Be prepared, that you will have to visit the convenience store with a twisted bumper. On sale there are special repair kits to eliminate such breakdowns. As a part of the set 2 plates of ceramics with a sealing rubber band.

The tap in the kitchen is flowing: how can I fix it if water drips from under the tap-axle tap?

In this case, you can use fluoroplastic winder:

1. Remove the axle from the mixer, wipe it off.
2. Remove all rubbish, the remains of the rubber ring and the windings from the thread.
3. Wind the PTFE thread on the thread:
   • If you have a thick ribbon, 3-4 turns will be enough.
   • If the tape is thin, then about 10 turns will be required.

Important! Too much winding is not necessary, because there may be difficulties with threading.

1. Now it only remains to tighten the thread and tighten it with a wrench.

Water seeps from under the nut of the gander on the

mixer. This problem can be solved by replacing the rubber rings on the gander:

• If the gaskets are installed in special grooves, the repair is not particularly difficult. It is enough to fix the rings, and then lubricate them with the help of solidol.

Important! If the gaskets are worn out, it is necessary to purchase new ones and replace them.

• If the rings are mounted on a special bushing, twisted into a gander, the repair will be somewhat more complicated. First of all, with a hexagon 8 or 10 it will be necessary to unscrew the bushing, and then replace the rings. When assembling in reverse order, it is necessary to tighten the sleeve well with a hexagon, otherwise the water will again leak.

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Risks when buying and using the mixer

How to repair the mixer in the kitchen - figured out. In addition, you need to know what are the risks when buying and using the mixer, increasing the risk of breakage:

1. When choosing a mixer, do not be tempted by cheap models. Chances are great that such a product will be made not of steel, but of some dubious alloy. Such a crane will break quickly, it can not be repaired, you can only buy a new one. So the economy is rather doubtful.
2. Buy mixers from manufacturers that have proven themselves. You can take advice from other people or get advice from the seller. As a rule, such products belong to high and medium price categories. Buy a prohibitively expensive crane - but does it make sense? Is that you want to buy a product of unusual design.
3. Install filters for coarse water purification. If there is no sand and other solid impurities in the water, the crane will serve you longer.
4. A special device that protects against hardness salts will not interfere. The sink in the kitchen will look cleaner, and the faucet will last you much longer.

Knowing how to fix a faucet in the kitchen with your own hands, you can solve this problem completely independently and maintain the mixer in good condition.