How to install the mixer on board the bath: step-by-step installation instructions

Despite the successes of modern housing construction, a small bathroom and a combined bathroom remain a sad reality for many apartment owners. Where almost every square centimeter counts, some of the problems can be solved by installing a mixer on board the bathtub.

This fashionable novelty has many advantages. However, she also has a number of shortcomings. Let's try to understand them and the intricacies of installing faucets on the side of the bathroom.

What is such a mixer good for?

The opportunity to save space is not the only advantage of this type of device. The mixer, mounted directly above the bath bowl, fills it with virtually no splashes, which are capable of stains on walls and other interior elements. As a result, cleaning will require less effort.

Models of faucets that are mounted directly on the side usually have high performance. Therefore, the bathtub fills faster, and the level of comfort increases markedly. Indirectly, this solution allows you to save a little: if the bath is filled quickly, the water in it does not have time to cool, i.e. the costs of heating hot water will be somewhat reduced.

Such mixers are distinguished by a stylish design and a wide variety of designs. For example, you can choose cascade model, the elements of which are mounted separately. The control panel is placed at the head so that it is at hand, spout - in the center of a long side, shower head - in the corner, etc.

Waterfall type mixers for a bathtub rim look very impressive and are often equipped with a convenient control panel. But the cost of such products is usually quite high.

Finally, faucets of this type usually look very stylish, they leave many possibilities for decorating the interior. The shower head is directly on the side, and its hose is usually hidden between the wall and the side of the bathtub or behind a false panel.

The interior design of the bathroom from such a solution only benefits. Another advantage is the low noise level during mixer operation.

The faucet on the side of the bathtub looks stylish, increases the level of comfort in the bathroom and is relatively easy to install

Keep in mind the shortcomings

Despite all the advantages that are described in detail in the brochures, before purchasing a mixer for a side, you should think about a number of problems, especially if the owner of the house plans to install it on his own.

First of all, you should not buy an inexpensive model, because due to the peculiarities of operation, these plumbing products are subject to high loads. A poor quality mixer will have to be replaced very soon.

The most vulnerable element of such a faucet is a shower hose. Most of the time it is in a folded state, so it gradually deforms. Soon cracks appear on the hose, it starts to leak and needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, even expensive and high-quality faucets are not safe from hose problems.

The shower hose of the mortise mixer is folded up behind the bath body or behind the false panel. Permanent deformation of this element leads to its frequent breakdowns.

You have to come to terms with the fact that the hose needs to be changed periodically. Prudent buyers immediately take a spare hose to carry out this simple repair as soon as it becomes necessary. Especially vulnerable in this regard are faucets in which the spout simultaneously serves as a shower head.

Amateur craftsmen who do not have much experience in plumbing should remember that at home it is easiest to install an on-board mixer on acrylic bath. When working with a cast iron or steel product, the enamel will almost certainly be damaged, which can cause corrosion. As a result, the bath will have to be repaired or completely replaced.

An inexperienced master is better to entrust this work to a reliable specialist. Another way to solve the problem is to purchase a bath with a ready-made hole for mounting the mixer. True, usually with this option they supply acrylic bathtubs. Of course, choosing a mixer, you will have to consider the size of such a hole.

Features of the mortise mixer design

For installation on the side of the bathtubs, manufacturers most often offer the so-called modular models, although there is also a monoblock option.Before starting installation, you should carefully study the design of your mixer, as well as the manufacturer's recommendations for its installation and further operation.

Modular type mortise mixer elements can be installed separately, but they are controlled from a common center, which increases comfort

Monoblock models are usually supplied assembled, but modular devices consist of several elements.

First of all, this is a crane - the central part of the mixer, on the body of which there are three outputs:

• for hot water;
• for cold water;
• for spout.

Separately, there is a place for connecting a shower head. These inputs have standard sizes, so the buyer can decide where exactly the spout and shower head will be located. Connection to hot and cold water pipes is done using special half-inch eccentrics.

This diagram allows you to get an idea of ​​the features of installing a mortise mixer on board an acrylic bath, as well as the necessary consumables

High-quality mortise mixers of famous brands have the ability to carry quite serious water hammer. In many models, the separately located shower head is controlled by a lever mounted on the body of the spout. This design automatically switches the water supply from the shower back to the spout when the watering can is returned to its place.

Installation procedure for mortise mixer

To install the mortise mixer, you must perform a number of operations.

Here is their order:

1. Mark the installation location of the mixer.
2. Drill a hole of the appropriate size.
3. Install a mixer.
4. Fix its position with fasteners.
5. If necessary, install other elements of a modular system.
6. Connect the hot and cold water hoses.

In words, the information on how to install the mixer on board an acrylic bath looks very simple, but in practice, everything may turn out to be completely wrong. There are a number of nuances and important points that you should pay attention to even before the start of installation, or maybe before the acquisition of the mixer.

This figure clearly shows the installation of the mixer on the side of the acrylic bath. It is recommended to use a special bar to strengthen the structure after drilling

First you need to prepare

In preparation for installing the mortise mixer, three steps should be performed:

• purchase a suitable mixer;
• prepare the necessary tools and materials;
• Choose the right place to install.

Of course, models of mixers of this type are very diverse. And yet there are a number of general requirements that should be considered. Do not buy a suspiciously cheap mixer.

Replace low-quality model will have very soon. It is better to pay a little more expensive, so as not to recall the proverb about the stingy, who had to pay twice. Preference should be given to a mixer manufactured by a well-known manufacturer.

Mortise mixers, which are installed on board the bath, are supplied as separate elements. Assembly recommendations can be found in the product data sheet or in the special manual provided by the manufacturer

The product passport, manufacturer's recommendations for installation and, of course, warranty obligations, certified by signature and seal, will not be out of place. If there is a need or desire to save money, it is better to choose a mixer with a simple design and high-quality performance.

We also recommend that you learn how to choose bathroom faucet.

The same principle should be followed when choosing supplies: albeit more expensive, but more reliable.

Depending on the model of the mortise mixer, before installing it, you may need to purchase additional consumables: flexible hoses, eccentrics, gaskets, fasteners, etc.

The following materials and tools will be required:

• electric drill, professional or household;
• a special nozzle for a drill, it is called a crown mill;
• screwdriver;
• fasteners;
• flexible hoses for supplying cold and hot water;
• adjustable wrench.

Fasteners are usually sold with the mixer, but this is not always the case. The diameter of the core cutter must match the size of the device. You can do without a drill and without a cutter if you buy a bath in which a hole for the mixer has already been made in the factory.

place flexible hoses can use PVC water pipes. It’s more difficult to mount them, but such designs last longer than flexible eyeliner.

Typically, the mixer is installed in the middle of the side, at the end or at the corner. When choosing a place, it should be remembered that part of the communications, including the shower hose, must be hidden. A special space should be provided for this. Sometimes you have to arrange a special false panel to hide these communications behind it. It all depends on the specific situation.

Another important point is the provision of access to communications. Periodically hidden communications mortise mixer must be serviced, repaired, replaced. Therefore, it is important not only to find a sufficiently spacious place, but also to make it possible to get to communications without any special difficulties.

For example, if a bezel is used, it should be made removable. Access can also be provided with inspection hatches or removable decorative screen under the baththat closes the whole cup.

Mixer installation procedure

First, markings should be made on the side of the bath. To do this, you can use a special marker or any writing device that will leave a sufficiently noticeable mark and which then is not difficult to erase. After that, you can start drilling. A crown mill is put on an electric drill and drilling is carried out according to the marking.

To drill holes in an acrylic bathtub for an electric drill, a special nozzle is used, which is called a crown cutter. Recommended number of revolutions - 500-600

When the hole is ready, its edge must be treated by sanding with a file, a file or other similar device. This will not only make the edge of the hole smooth, but also allow you to adjust its diameter.

The mixer is placed in the hole using a special gasket, which is placed between the side of the bath and the device. The gasket acts as a shock absorber and seal. If this item is not supplied with the mixer, it must be purchased separately.

After that, the mixer is fixed using special fasteners. This can be clamping nuts or a special stud in combination with a clamping washer and nut. It all depends on the device of a particular model.

Then set the individual elements of the mixer: spout, shower head, controls, etc. Details for specific models are described in the manufacturer's manual. Now the mixer is installed, it remains only to bring hot and cold water to it.

Most often, special flexible hoses with a threaded connection are used for this. When installing on a thread, wrap a special sealant, such as linen thread or FUM tape.Do not use too much seal; this can damage the threads.

But even a too small amount of sealant will not provide sufficient sealing of the connection. The optimal seal layer is determined as follows: if the thread relief is barely felt through the seal layer, winding should be stopped.

When installing threaded connections, a suitable sealant should be used: tow, linen, FUM tape, etc. Seal the standard thread counterclockwise

It is normal for the seal to slightly protrude from under the nut after tightening. In order for the seal to lie down correctly and not to unwind during installation, it must be wound counterclockwise on the thread. Sometimes, instead of FUM tapes, special gaskets are used. These elements will have to be replaced periodically so that the connection does not leak.

Installation example of mortise mixer

We will analyze the installation process of the mortise mixer in steps. the insert will be made in the side of the acrylic bowl. The gander and shower head of the mixer are located separately from the stop valves.

Below is a diagram:

The shutoff valves of the mixer shown in the example are allocated in a separate block. Spout and shower located at convenient points for operation

To drill holes for installing the mortise mixer elements, we stock up on a marker, tape measure, drill and a set of mills, in particular, a Forstner drill.

Further actions for installing the mortise mixing device on the side of the acrylic bowl are carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations:

At the end, we connect to the hot and cold water supply systems. From the back of the bath it should look like this:

During the markup and the choice of place for installing the mixer components, it is worth considering the length of the hoses that are included in the package. If they are short, you have to buy yourself

Some useful tips

The best time to install the mixer on an acrylic bathtub is the period of repair and installation of a new bathtub. Installation of the device is performed before connecting the bath to the sewer and installing a decorative screen.

If you decide to replace a conventional wall-mounted mixer with a mortise model, you will have to carry out some finishing work after installing and removing the old mixer.

To provide access to the communications of the mixer mounted on the side of the bath, you can use a convenient folding screen, bezel panel or inspection hatch

It may be necessary to dismantle and install again the entire bath. These costs of time, effort and money must be reckoned with. If you need to install a non-removable version of the decorative screen of the bath, an inspection hatch can be made in it to provide access to communications.

When installing the mortise mixer on the side of the acrylic bathtub, manufacturers recommend using a special bar. Indeed, acrylic is not as durable as cast iron or steel. According to manufacturers, the presence of holes in the rim weakens the design. Planks and panels serve to strengthen the rim and prevent its possible deformation.

In practice, the masters do not attach importance to this moment and do without any bars. This element often has to be cut and adjusted to the size and configuration of the side. The side usually has a rounded shape, which significantly complicates such a fit.

In order not to bother with this problem and not waste time, home craftsmen simply neglect the recommendations of the manufacturer.

Fortunately, no information has yet been received about a collapsed mixer installed without a bracket. Nevertheless, one should remember such a danger and reasonably evaluate the ratio of risks and costs for the installation of an amplification bar. If its shape coincides with the configuration of the side, it makes sense to strengthen the design.

Features of enamel drilling

In addition to ordinary tools, such as a marker, tape measure, screwdriver and drill, you will need a special pen drill designed for drilling glass and ceramics, as well as a transparent adhesive tape and a piece of plasticine. After marking, the drilling site should be carefully sealed with tape.

Then from a piece of plasticine you need to make a round rim and stick it around the circumference so that the place for drilling is in the center. The area limited by the plasticine rim should be three times the size of the hole for the mixer. It turns out a smooth round platform with a side. You need to pour water into it.

After that, you can start drilling in the center of the marking. It is recommended to use a drill with a diameter of 6 mm at a speed of about 500-600 revolutions. The pressure should be moderate. In the process of such accurate drilling, a narrow through hole will appear in the side of the bathtub through which the water present at the drilling site will flow out.

Now, from plasticine, you should make a small cap and stick it on the bottom of the side so that the resulting hole is in the center. Again, pour water and re-drill with a 12 mm drill. The pressure should be weak.When the drill goes through the side, you can remove all the clay and evaluate the quality of work, chips on the enamel should be minimal.

After that, you need to expand the hole to the required size in order to install the mixer. To do this, a new markup is performed, with the boundaries of the hole marked. The surface must be sealed again with transparent tape.

The hole should be expanded with a grinder using a rubber nozzle with emery cloth. Turns should be set to maximum, but the applied effort should remain minimal.

Experts do not recommend beginners to make holes on their own in the rim of a cast-iron or steel bath. The problem is the presence of enamel, which performs not only decorative, but also protective functions. Incorrect drilling is at high risk of permanent damage to this layer.

When the hole is sufficiently widened, a nozzle with a diameter of 20 mm can be used. It should be understood that with minimal effort, which will protect the enamel from damage, the work will not advance too quickly. Work with a grinder will take more than an hour. When the hole is ready, a sealing ring is inserted into it and the mixer is mounted in the usual manner.

There are other ways to accurately drill enameled surfaces. Some masters simply glue a metal plate to the enamel and drill through such a “sandwich”. The metal will protect the enamel from damage. Others before drilling, carefully remove part of the enamel with a grinder, and then perform drilling with a core mill.

Finally, there is a method of drilling cast iron with a diamond core mill using a jig made of wood. But in this case, the cutter must be cooled quite often by pouring water on it.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Here, the procedure for installing the mixer on the side of the acrylic bathtub is shown in detail:

The process of drilling the side of the enameled bath is clearly presented in the following video material:

In general, installing a mortise mixer is relatively straightforward. When performing work, it is important to act carefully and carefully. Even a beginner can handle the installation of such plumbing on board an acrylic bath.

Have questions about installing the faucet on board the bathroom bowl? Or maybe you have the necessary experience or knowledge that you can share with our readers? Leave your comments, share experiences and tips in the block below.