How to repair a ball mixer: an overview of popular breakdowns and how to fix them

Most owners are used to solving the nuances of household repairs with their own hands, without resorting to the help of various "craftsmen for an hour". And it’s not only a matter of saving money, eliminating minor malfunctions of modern plumbing - the task is interesting and quite feasible even for a beginner.

But to succeed, you need to know the principle of the device and its weaknesses. Let's try to analyze in detail one of the problems - how to repair a ball mixer in the bathroom or in the kitchen.

The principle of operation and the device of the crane

The tap with a ball mixer has a concise and modern look that allows it to organically complement any interior of a kitchen or bathroom.

But its main advantage is comfortable use. Indeed, in contrast to the valve design, in order to adjust the pressure and temperature of the water flow, you do not need to turn the knobs in search of a “golden mean,” but simply set the switch in the optimal position and start working with one movement of the hand.

The ball mixer is very simple to operate: the water temperature is regulated by moving the lever to the right / left, and the pressure is regulated up / down.

The design of a typical ball valve consists of the following required elements:

• Control lever - a rotary handle that sets the strength of the flow and the temperature of the water. It is attached to the body with a screw, closed with a decorative cap, on which color or letters indicate the designation of cold and hot water.
• Metal capfixing the valve mechanism on the body.
• "Cam" - a plastic part with a figured washer, which provides the movement of the "ball" in a certain range. The washer itself has a domed shape and is equipped with rubber seals.
• Mixing chamber - a steel hollow "ball", fixed using a system of seat valves and springs.It has several openings: two for the intake of hot and cold water and one for the output of the mixed stream through the spout of the tap. In some designs, the "ball" is enclosed in a special protective capsule - a cartridge.
• Metal case with a spout.
• Round nutfixing the housing on the sink.

The system is actuated by a lever. When it is lifted, the “ball” inside the crane starts to rotate, and when the holes are aligned with similar recesses in the saddles, water is supplied to the spout. Depending on how complete this coincidence was, the pressure and flow temperature are regulated.

The ball mixer is easy to repair - all consumables can be found on sale, but in order not to make a mistake with the size, do not throw out the failed spare part, but take it with you to the store.

In more detail - about the troubles that happen with a plumbing fixture, and how to eliminate them.

Ball Mixer Problems

Although ball valves are considered one of the simplest and most reliable structures, they also fail from time to time due to the natural wear of parts or under the influence of external factors. Consider the most common damage that may occur during the operation of such a mixer.

Cannot adjust spray temperature

If the mixture of hot and cold flow occurs in a chaotic mode, the problem lies in the failure of the ball cartridge or rubber "saddles". The cause of the breakdown is most often the clogging of the space between the "saddles" and the holes of the "ball".

The crane will have to be disassembled to inspect the parts for damage. If these are found, the gaskets or the entire “ball” will have to be replaced - no putties with sealant and other tricks of a lasting effect will give.

Such breakdowns most often occur due to the poor quality of water purification in the water supply system of the house. And this is not only about mechanical inclusions - particles of rust and other fine litter. The problem may be in increased water hardness.

If water is supplied to your region with an excess of mineral impurities, before buying, it will be useful to study the mixer passport - many manufacturers specifically indicate acceptable stiffness for the smooth operation of their products.

If you do not want to regularly repair and replace plumbing, install a filtration system that will purify the water. Mechanical filters will extend the life of plumbing throughout the house

For a bathroom where water is used mainly for technical purposes, the simplest mechanical filter is quite enough, which simply protects the plumbing from impurities.

But for the kitchen, you can install a system that improves not only the quality, but also the composition of the water, enriching it with scarce trace elements. There are many options here - from simple cartridge filters to systems reverse osmosis.

Low water pressure at maximum opening

The reason may lie not in the mixer itself, but in the low pressure in the water supply system of a house or apartment. Therefore, before disassembling the design, make sure that water flows from other taps with good pressure. If nevertheless it is confirmed that only one mixer is “to blame”, check if the aerator is not clogged at the spout.

In the water, sand, rust particles from worn pipes or limescale, which accumulates on the mesh and interferes with the free flow, sometimes come across. To make sure that the reason is precisely aerator - remove it and turn on the water again.

To check the condition of the aerator, it is enough to untwist the spout tip with your hands or with the help of a plumbing wrench pre-wound with electrical tape

If the flow has increased to the required value, you just need to thoroughly rinse the grid and install it in its original place. Of course, if the part has broken through or rusted, it is better to replace it with a new one.

But if the cleaning of the aerator did not give anything, and the water pressure did not recover, most likely the reason lies in the internal blockage in the channels of the mixer, pipes, hard eyeliner or heavily pinched liner pads. In a word, a crane cannot be disassembled.

Noise during work

Another common operational nuance of ball mixers is the annoying sound effects that accompany the flow of water. The reason for this phenomenon is the vibration of rubber pads due to the interaction of air and water flows.

This problem has several solutions: install a special filter, reduce the pressure of water, or pick up more closely fitting gaskets.

Water leakage - repair options

Before starting repairs, it is important to determine the source of the leak, and at the same time pay attention to the position in which the control handle is located.

If water leaks out from under the lever when the tap is opened, damage to the gasket may be the cause of the breakdown.

It can fail over time or due to poor-quality knurling of the valve cover - sharp edges easily damage rubber. To fix the defect, you need disassemble the mixer and install a new gasket.

Rubber o-rings are the most vulnerable parts of the mixer design, but they are easy to replace with a standard repair kit

If water is dripping from the tap when the handle is in the blocking position, there are several options:

• The simplest is when water appears from under the cap of the swing arm. To fix such a problem, it is sufficient to tighten the connection with a wrench. Is the leak stopped? Well, that means the reason was precisely in the loose mount.
• If it flows from under the valve body, but no cracks are found on the metal itself, the problem is most likely in the wear of the gasket under the nut. To replace it, you need to unscrew the housing fixing nut and disconnect the mixer from the inlets (of course, having previously shut off the water supply). After that, the used consumable is replaced by a new one, and if the gasket diameter is selected correctly, it will be installed in the groove with effort. Then the crane is assembled and tested for operability.
• If, on the case itself, a crack is detected that allows water to pass through, then the tap will have to be completely replaced. Of course, it is possible to cover up a defect with some waterproof sealant and even “cold welding”, but such a repair can only be temporary - leakage in this way cannot be eliminated.
• A crack on the control lever - this problem can be completely solved by replacing the handle, which will cost much cheaper than buying new mixer.

Please note that external damage to the body can be indistinguishable to the naked eye, but even microscopic cracks leak and cause puddles to appear at the base of the crane.

Therefore, examine the metal with a magnifying glass - with an increase in defects, it is much easier to identify defects.

The following photo selection will familiarize you with the features of swivel mixer replacement:

Ensuring the tightness of the fittings of the mixer to the seals, we assemble the device in the reverse order:

Next - the intricacies of disassembly and diagnosis.

Disassembly Rules for Ball Mixer

If neither tightening the nut, nor cleaning the aerator helped to fix the malfunction, then you will have to change the gaskets or the “ball” itself.

As already mentioned, the mixing chamber is not subject to partial repair - it is non-separable. And to replace it, you will have to disassemble the entire mixer, and at the same time check the safety of other internal elements.

The interior of the mixer with the ball removed: holes are visible that allow water to pass through, and when closed, prevent it from moving

For work, you will need ordinary tools from the home master's kit: an adjustable wrench, pliers, a screwdriver (straight, cross-shaped or hexagonal - it depends on the screw that the crane is equipped with).

To get the "saddles" and springs, it is convenient to use a thin screwdriver. Small parts are strung on its end and gently pulled out

Step-by-step instructions for disassembling a ball mixer:

1. Shut off the water supply, and then open the tap to drain the remaining fluid from the pipes.
2. Pry off the decorative plug on the mixer body with a screwdriver or an ordinary knife and remove it.
3. Remove the screw located under the plug.
4. Remove the lever handle (if the crane has not been untwisted for a long time, considerable force may be required). In order not to damage the chrome-plated outer coating of the case, it is advisable to work with a key or pliers through a thin cloth or napkin.
5. Now you need to remove the cap.To do this, you can use an adjustable wrench or set the angled end of a screwdriver at an angle to unscrew the part with a light pressure counterclockwise. If the tap is old, the cap may “stick” and not give in to light pressure. In this case, you can lightly tap the handle of the screwdriver with a hammer so that the part “moves away”.
6. After the ring is unscrewed and removed, inside the mixer you will see a part in the form of a dome - a cam and a washer. They must be picked up with pliers, pulled out and washed to remove all dirt and lime deposits.
7. Now you can remove the "ball" from the mixer, also rinse it from dirt and carefully inspect using the same magnifier. If microcracks, grooves, chips or other damage are found, the part should be replaced with a new one. In order not to make a mistake with the diameter, take the spoiled “ball” with you - it will be easier to find a suitable analogue in the store.
8. After that, you need to get the rubber valve seals - the so-called "saddles". They can also be damaged or simply lose elasticity over time, and a loose fit of the “seats” to the ball chamber can cause water to leak inside the valve. Such parts are not difficult to find on sale, and they are inexpensive, so even if you didn’t find any defects on the rubber during a visual inspection, but the valve has been working for a long time, replacing the gaskets is just for preventive purposes. And to extend the life of the seals will help the application of plumbing grease after their installation.
9. Then inspect the compression springs located inside the seats. If they are damaged, weakened or sagged - pick up new ones.
10. The entire internal cavity of the mixer needs to be washed and cleaned, after which it is possible to begin reassembly.
11. Springs are inserted into the "saddles", then each element is laid all the way into the recess. Silicone grease is applied to the ball with a thin layer, then the part is installed inside the body so that the restrictive protrusion coincides with the groove.
12. Now you need to put the plastic parts back in place - the “cam” and the dome washer. There shouldn’t be any difficulties at this stage, because there is a groove on the case, which can easily be combined with the protrusion on the “cam”.

Then it remains to assemble the upper part of the crane: wind the metal cap, install the handle, fix it with a screw and close it with a decorative cap.

Other problems with the crane

During operation of the ball mixer, other problems may occur. For example, in the bathroom there is often a leak at the switch from the tap to the shower. In this case, it is necessary to replace the worn out internal gland.

To eliminate this nuance, it is necessary to shut off the water, close the lever and remove the flexible shower hose. Then arm yourself with pliers and a screwdriver, remove the button, and then the adapter that switches from the tap to the shower.

Now it remains to replace the old packing ring and assemble the structure in reverse order.

If the flow does not respond to the switch at all, and the water flows simultaneously from the shower and from the spout of the tap, the cause of the breakdown may be worn ring spacers

Replacing gaskets is easy, it is much more difficult to find a suitable repair kit for sale. That is why bona fide manufacturers prudently put spare gaskets in a kit with a mixer.

If the “reserve" has already been used or lost, you can try to make this consumable yourself by cutting the part from a suitable sheet of rubber 3-4 mm thick.

Replacing the spool gaskets is as follows:

• If only the upper gasket is out of order, you can debug the operation of the crane without disassembling the mixer completely. It is enough after disconnecting the water to disconnect the flexible shower hose, dismantle the decorative cap, remove the worn rubber and replace it with a new one. But if this manipulation did not solve the problem, it will be necessary to proceed further.
• It is necessary to unscrew the fastening screw, and carefully remove the spool from the valve body.
• Remove the old rubber bands and install new ones.
• Treat the gaskets with grease - this manipulation will increase both their service life and the operation of the unit as a whole.
• Assemble the structure and replace the switch.

If the button for switching from the tap to the shower does not work, the internal spring is most likely deformed or broken.

Updating this part is quite simple - you just need to remove the switch so that you can use a pair of pliers to wind a new spiral onto the rod. You can read more about repairing the faucet with shower. in this material.

When replacing a spring in a new part, the diameter should be slightly smaller than the previous one - this will provide a closer fit to the stem

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The process of disassembling and repairing the device can be more clearly seen in the video:

And the last tip: do not save when buying a faucet, since not only the quality of the water and other external factors, but also the materials of which the crane design itself is made, affects its life.

If you choose a cheap model, most likely it will be made of silumin (an inexpensive alloy of aluminum and silicon). Although such taps look very attractive both in price and in appearance, they quickly lose their original gloss and fail. Therefore, for a long service without accidents and regular repairs, it is worth taking a closer look at the proven brass time.

Please leave comments, ask questions in the block below. Perhaps you already had to deal with the repair of the ball mixer and it turned out to successfully cope with the breakdown. Share with our readers how you managed to fix the plumbing.