How to replace the cartridge in a mixer

Single-lever mixers are very popular among the population. This is due to their convenience, durability and practicality. They are quite simple in terms of design, one lever takes over the functions of the two valve heads. The flow rate and the water temperature are adjusted by turning the handle in the desired direction.

A long service life is guaranteed due to the lack of metal components. But the ceramic elements of the mixer can be disabled due to impurities of sand and debris, which the built-in filter could not handle. In this case, it may be necessary to repair the faucet for the bathroom or kitchen. The head is in good condition if you can smoothly and easily turn the crane lever. Even slight sticking in the handle can signal a malfunction of the cartridge. In this case, a new cartridge must be purchased and installed to prevent water leaks. By their types, there are several, among themselves, they can differ in the shape and dimensions of the connecting surfaces. That's why it's important to choose the right type before starting the disassembly.

If your mixer has failed due to a broken cartridge, you will need to replace it. This operation is not particularly difficult, it is important only to understand the sequence of actions required to perform. So, how to replace the cartridge in the mixer? It is important to understand that before starting work, it is required to block the water, and also to close the holes in the sink or bathtub.

How to replace the cartridge in a mixer: a sequence of operations

First you have to remove the handle, in another way to get to the item you need will be problematic. It is fixed to the rotary stem of the cartridge by means of a special screw. At the screw the head can be oriented either under the cross, or under the usual straight screwdriver, sometimes it is made to be hexagonal. And to see the screw head, you must first remove the decorative plug. Usually it is made of plastic or rubber, and is extracted very easily. It may happen that the rubber plug will need to be pinched, but in the plastic case it will be enough to pick up the nail.

When the cap is removed, the screw head appears in front of you, which will allow you to correctly pick up the required screwdriver. The clamping screw should not be twisted to the end, you can make 3-4 turns. This is usually enough to remove the handle. Next, you need to remove or unscrew the decorative nut, most often it is made so that it can be wrung out by hand, without using additional tools. Some mixers are arranged so that the clamping nut in them is replaced by a clamp. It can be removed by means of a Phillips screwdriver, and the clamping nut in this case is removed by means of a key for 30.

So, now we have come to the question of how to replace the cartridge in the mixer fairly tightly. After you remove the clamping nut or the clamp, you can start extracting the cartridge, in special cases for this task you will need to use pliers, holding the pivot rod. Sometimes you can pull this part out with water, but it's worth doing in someone's presence so that this person opens and covers the water. Of course, you can do it yourself. If after turning on it does not pop out, it is possible not to turn off the water, but simply to pull it until it succumbs.

Replacement of the cartridge in the mixer is done very carefully, it is necessary that the new or smeared old one should fall into the special holes present in the body of the mixer. The legs of the cartridge, and sometimes the rubber gasket, prevent it from being extracted. After it is installed in the right place and fastened with a clamping nut, it is necessary to check the joint for leaks. This can be done by turning on the water and checking for any leaks. If no water flows, then you can finish the assembly process.

Now you know how to replace the cartridge in the mixer.