The kitchen is one of the most important technical premises in an apartment or house. It is in it that the largest number of engineering networks concentrates, from the uninterrupted operation of which our comfortable life depends. Gas, water and electricity for the preparation and heating of food, washing dishes - without these "benefits of civilization" it is difficult to imagine modern housing. However, they can all become the cause of big problems if their state is not to pay due attention or when installing the use of low-quality materials. Thus, the water supply can be damaged at the most inopportune moment, which is fraught not only by the new repair of its apartment, but also intense relationships with neighbors below. About gas and nothing to say.

One of the most important parts in the kitchen engineering networks is a mixer. It serves to supply water for cooking or washing dishes, or hands. The main task of the mixer is mixing hot and cold water to obtain the optimal temperature. Connecting a kitchen mixer - the case is simple, however, some nuances need to know for these works. About how to correctly put the mixer in the kitchen with your own hands, let's tell me further.

Kitchen mixer selection

Now plumbing sellers can offer hundreds of mixers models, which differ from each other not only by the design, but also material manufacturing.

If earlier the overwhelming number of mixers made from brass, now manufacturers to reduce the cost of their production use cheaper light alloys, for example, silumin. It is not durable, and although such a mixer is inexpensive, he will not last long. And it will be good if it flows at a while when someone is in the apartment, but if it happens when there is no one at home, there will be many problems. Therefore, it is better not to risk and buy a more expensive thing. The brass mixer from the silicone can be distinguished by weight. The second is much easier.

The design of the mixers can be different: from simple, to models with retractable watering.

• The most popular among mixers is one-lever construction, or as it is also called - cartridge. A special cartridge is installed in the mixer housing. When lifting the lever, a special valve opens, which provides water supply. When turning the lever in one of the positions, the supply of hot and cold water is monitored, due to which the temperature is adjusted. They are very comfortable in those houses where flow water heaters are installed with temperature adjustment. The reason is that it is quite difficult to adjust a single-dimensional mixer, so it will not suit the boiler.
• The second most popular is a two-dense design. A separate shut-off valve is installed on each of the channels. Such a design has been used for a long time, and has proven itself as more reliable, but less convenient. In order to let water, you need to open both valves, and guess with the position to get the necessary temperature. In addition, water consumption when using such a mixer is much higher than when using the cartridge.

• Touch mixer. The most progressive type of device. The touch sensor is mounted in its housing, which responds to the movement of the hands. After the sensor works, the magnetic valve opens through which water is supplied. The disadvantage of such a mixer is that it will not be possible to use it without electricity.
• Mixers with remote watering. It is very convenient for washing dishes, but it becomes relevant, only in the case of a big washing. Otherwise, it makes no sense to buy it.

What is worth paying attention to the purchase of a mixer:

• Size washing. In size, the sink is selected the length and height of the spout. Ideally, the jet, which comes out of the mixer, should fall into the center of draining washing. The height of the spout should be sufficient to use the sink was comfortable. However, it is worth remembering, the higher the water is a jet, the greater it will be sprinkled in the kitchen. And with it and drops of fat.
• The location of the mounting hole and its diameter. In order not to reset the holes in the sink, it is necessary to choose the diameter of the fastening flange. If the hole in the washing is non-standard, you must select a mixer with a special fastening.
• The angle of rotation is vigorous. If the mixer is installed only on one sink, an angle of rotation 90 ° will be quite enough. If there are several miles and one mixer is used for them, then it is better to choose a model with an angle of rotation of 180 °.
• Also should pay attention to the appearance of the mixer. If there was no alternative to chrome models before, now you can buy models for the color of the sink. They are made "under copper", and even "under granite", which are perfect for sowing of stone.

Materials and tools for installing a mixer in the kitchen with their own hands

In order to carry out work on the installation of the mixer in the kitchen with your own hands, you need:

• The mixer itself.
• Slices of metal-plastic pipes. Complete hoses are included in each mixer. However, even in fairly expensive models, they are usually very low quality, so they should not be used, especially for hot water. They are a rubber hose in a metal braid. Often the braid is rhat, and its sharp edges break through the rubber. From the pressure of water, the impulse becomes even more until it breaks completely. At the same time, due to the braid, a small impulse is almost impossible to notice. That is why it is better to use metal-plastic pipes to connect the mixer than rubber hoses.
• Connecting couplings.
• Needles for connecting plastic pipes and mixer. One of them is straight, the other - curved, the better to connect the pipes.
• Adjustable wrench. Better, of course, to use conventional open-end wrench, because the swing is difficult to adjust the size of the nut. Similarly, the keys will be needed 24h27, 27h30, 36h41 (depending on the type of mixer attachment).
• Sealing tape (FUM) or linen preroll (it is better to use it).
• Grease WD It will be necessary, if it is necessary to dismantle the old faucet.

The process of installing kitchen faucet with their hands

Order of work:

• The first step is to carry out preparatory work. Be sure to turn off the water supply.
• If the sink is already installed the mixer, it must be removed. For this purpose, a water supply pipe unscrewed and removed fasteners. On the state of the gaskets between the mixer and sink can not worry - there are new complete with mixer. Remove the old device, it is necessary to prepare the surface for cleaning the installation of the new. The remnants of fat, the scale, the sealant must be removed, the surface is clean, and on both sides.
• Now we can think about how to install the faucet on the kitchen sink. The first thing faucet mounted on the sink. It is installed silicone gasket, the mixer itself is threaded into the hole, it is put on another pad and mounting nut is screwed. Before it is finally tightened, the mixer is selected position, whereupon the nut is fixed with a key.

• Next, you need to establish a set of "needles" to connect the tap in the kitchen. The threads are set on their sealing rings. Before installing the needle, check their condition. If there are traces of wear, as it happens, they should be replaced. The blessing they cost a penny. The first set curved needle, and after that straight. Do not turn the other way around. Strongly clamp the needle in the housing of the mixer is not necessary not to pinch and damage the O-rings.
• After that, the needles are removed flare nuts and sealing washers. If the tees are no couplings to connect plastic pipes, it is necessary to screw or replace the tee. Before coupling screw in the tee, at its threaded clockwise wound sealant.
• Now it is necessary to measure the distance from the needles to tees and cut off the necessary pieces of the pipe. This uses a special tool for cutting PVC pipes. If it is not, it is better to use the metal hacksaw. It is recommended to cut a piece with a margin. The fact is that the bending of the metal-plastic pipe is not so simple. Because of a sharp folding, the pipe can simply burst. Also install pipes are necessary so that they are conveniently serving and change if necessary.

• After the pipe is cut off, from the inside and outside it is necessary to remove the chamfer to make it easier to wear it on the nipple coupling. Next, neatly the pipe is bent in such a way that its ends are easy to sit on the nipple.
• As soon as this is done, on each side there is a cape nut, and the clamping washer. It is in such a sequence. The ends of the pipe are tight on the nipple, and the nut is screwed onto the coupling. The clamping washer when the nut is clamped, compresses the end of the pipe, pressing it to nippel. There are also sealing rubber rings on the latter. If nipple is not new, their condition should also be checked. It should not delay the nut. If you have to remove the pipe, it will be very difficult to do it. Effort - before hardly tangible stop.
• From the opposite end, the pipe is installed in the same way. When the pipes are installed, it is necessary to wipe all the connections with a cloth. Now you can turn on the water. The mixer needs to be opened and then closed. When the water is blocked, it is necessary to check all connections for leaks. Do it with toilet paper or napkins. They will be visible even small drops of water. If there is a flow, the connection must be sued a bit.

Installation of the mixer in the kitchen with your own hands: video