Judging by numerous reviews, a leaking faucet in the bathroom or in the kitchen is the most common problem. Close your eyes to her is not worth it. The fact is that dripping water is very annoying, and if you have a meter installed, it will hit the budget significantly. To make repairs, you first have to unscrew the tap. Further, depending on the situation, you either repair it or change it to a new one. According to experts, there is nothing complicated in this matter. Only the appropriate tool is needed. About how to unscrew the crane, you will learn from this article.
A little bit about terminology
Judging by the reviews, often beginners confuse a tap with a valve. Therefore, before you turn off the tap, you should understand the terminology. Valve and tap are completely different elements. For example, the first is equipped with a thread on both ends and is mounted in a pipe break. Water cannot run through it, since the task of the valve is only to block it. The crane is installed at the very end of the pipe. Fasten it to nozzles or fittings. In the sink and sink, it is connected to the system by means of a special hose, which is equipped with a thread from one end. Through the second, water is removed from the system. Faucets are installed above sinks, in bathrooms and showers. The inside of the device is equipped with a special mechanism whose task is to regulate the flow of water. There is also a device with which hot and cold water is mixed. This explains why it is also called a mixer. It can be equipped with either two separate cranes, or a single integrated. How to unscrew the tap? What is needed for this?
Instruments
Before you unscrew the tap on the mixer, you need to get the following tool:
- Gas or several socket wrenches. For this purpose, you can also use adjustable welding pliers.
- Strong fabric with which you will work with chrome and nickel-plated surfaces.
- Flat and Phillips screwdrivers.
- With a knife.
- Tweezers. It is needed to remove thin pads.
- Flashlight and pocket mirror.
Types of Cranes
According to experts, there are two varieties of water taps. Structurally, they differ from each other, and therefore they are dismantled in different ways. Cranes are spherical and worm. Read how to unscrew the water tap.
About the worm
Those who do not know how to unscrew a worm-type valve, it is advisable to first familiarize themselves with its device. According to experts, this system is considered quite outdated. A milled crane body is made by casting from bronze or steel.
It has a thread for the axle box. Product with a threaded inlet pipe, which is located below. Water is removed from the system through the spout on the left. The most difficult node is the crane-box, inside of which, with the help of a rod moving up and down with a rubber gasket, the water is blocked. There is space for the handle at the top of the system. It can take the form of a helm or a washer. By rotating the handle, the stem moves, closing or opening water. To fully open the worm valve, the handle has to do several revolutions. Faucets are equipped with two separate axle boxes for cold and hot water.
About repairing breakdowns
The question of how to unscrew the tap may arise in the following cases:
- If the working gasket is worn. It should simply be replaced by first removing the axle box.
- It may be that the thread has worn out. It must be replaced.
- If a problem occurs with the valve seat, then the entire mixer will have to be completely replaced.
- If the crane body is damaged, the design changes entirely.
How to unscrew the faucet in the kitchen or in the bathroom?
If there is a need to repair a worm tap, then you need to follow these steps. Before disassembling the mixer, specialists first turn off the water. There is a plastic plug on the handle. She is picked with a knife and pulled out.
Now you can unscrew the screw through which the handle is attached. To remove, just pull it on yourself. Then, using an adjustable or socket wrench, the axle box is twisted out of the housing. A gasket is removed and inspected from it. To dismantle it, the axle box should be firmly held with a key and a screwdriver to unscrew the screw that secures the gasket in the structure. In addition to the question, how to unscrew the faucet in the bathroom, beginners are interested in how to assemble it? This is done in the reverse order. Before screwing the axle box, experts advise wrapping the fum tape or some other sealant on its thread from the outside. For example, tow. To keep the thread intact, it is not worth putting a lot of effort during screwing. It is possible that after replacement the gasket will not last long. In this case, you will have to completely change the entire mixer.
About Ball Valve
According to experts, it has a more modern design and is easier to use. The brass box and the rubber gasket in the case were replaced with a plastic cartridge. The mixer in the spherical crane with two entrance branch pipes. Cartridge with ceramic ball inside. The case has windows. If the valve is closed, they do not coincide with the slots in the ball.
The handle can move in one of three directions. It was connected to the ball with slots through the control rod. When the ball turns, its slots begin to coincide with the windows, as a result of which water will flow in a larger or smaller stream. For example, if you lift the handle higher, then there will be a greater combination of windows and slots, and therefore, the pressure of the water will turn out stronger. The proportion when mixing hot and cold water is regulated by turning the knob left-right. It is not necessary to raise or lower it. It should be at an average level. Thus, with just one hand you can set the temperature and pressure of the water. In addition, a special aerator is provided in the design, which enriches the water with air. The disadvantage of ball valves is that, unlike worm valves, they are more expensive. However, the operational life of cartridges is greater than rubber gaskets.
How to fix it?
Judging by consumer reviews, cartridges often wear out in ball valves. In this case, they are removed and replaced with new ones. The gasket may also wear out. It is also changed by first disassembling the crane body. The case itself must be replaced if it is destroyed or damaged.
Where to start disassembling the crane?
As in the case of the worm valve, water is also shut off before removing the ball valve. In order not to lose small parts, plug the drain hole in the sink with a plug. How to unscrew the tap handle? First, a two-color plug is dismantled with a screwdriver or other sharp object. It is located below the handle. Then you will see a hole in the form of a narrow strip. Inside is a screw that you need to unscrew with a screwdriver. When repairing some models of ball valves at this stage, you can not do without a hexagon.
After completing these steps, pull the handle up and remove. It is possible that you will have to make an effort, because the handle is usually fitted very tightly.
What to do next?
At this stage, the ball mechanism is removed from the housing. To get it, the round lid is unscrewed first in the cartridge. Since a plastic nut is mainly used to fix it, the slightest careless movement will cause it to be deformed. Already in the extracted ball mechanism inspect the condition of the thin rubber sealing rings. If they are worn, replace them with new ones. You can purchase suitable parts in a specialized store. If you are a beginner in such matters, most likely you will make a mistake with the choice, and therefore grab the ball mechanism with you. The fact is that you should take into account parameters such as the height of the rubber seal, its outer and inner diameters.
Second way
It is possible that you will have to deal with a ball valve with a slightly modified design. For this reason, its filling is extracted differently. First of all, remove the shield. It is made of plastic and has a yellow color. Seals in such designs are black. Dirt and mineral deposits often remain on the shield. They should be cleaned carefully. After dismantling the plastic shield, a ball with slots is pulled out. Pull it up. When you remove it from the system, then carefully inspect. It should not have any scratches or scuffs. If these flaws exist, then it is more advisable to replace the ball with a new one. Next, you should do three rubber sealing rings. They are located inside the case. Worn parts are recommended to be replaced. Assembly is performed in reverse order.
What will experts advise?
Often, beginners do not know which way to turn off the tap. Since the usual thread is right-handed, you need to twist it to the left, namely counterclockwise. Very often, starting to repair, a home craftsman notices that the crane is rusted. How to unscrew it in this case? According to experienced craftsmen, so that the nuts can be easily turned off, you need to tap lightly on them. This is best done with a rubber mallet or mallet. This method is mechanical. How else to unscrew a rusted tap? In addition to the hammer, some craftsmen still use diesel fuel or kerosene. It is enough to apply a few drops on the rusted threaded connection.
Some home craftsmen descale with table vinegar. Judging by numerous consumer reviews, the substance will work in half an hour. Of course, if the deposits are few. The nut can begin to spin both after 10 minutes, and after a few hours. Also for this purpose in specialized stores sold a universal professional tool, namely the impregnation of WD-40. After working with chemicals, it is advisable to rinse the parts thoroughly in warm water. Judging by the reviews, the thermal method is considered quite effective. You will need a construction or household hair dryer. So that rubber parts do not melt, you need to work at low capacities. The essence of this method is that steel and brass have different expansion coefficients. Steel expands under the influence of heating faster than brass, and therefore you will soon be able to turn an element from it. Some craftsmen dismantled the mixer boil a couple of hours in soda solution. He also, judging by the reviews, dissolves the neoplasms quite well.