How to disassemble a shower head with a switch?

A shower is a must-have device in every home. It not only satisfies a person's need for cleanliness, but also relaxes or invigorates with its jets. However, the shower head can get dirty due to poor quality water and poor filtration, so it becomes necessary to disassemble it.

If water does not flow from some of the holes, it means that the watering can is clogged. The problem should be addressed as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the device will completely become unusable, and you will have to purchase a new one.

Watering cans have several varieties.

• Stationary. They are divided into wall and ceiling models.
• On a flexible hose. They can be fixed with brackets and a fixed rod.

These features affect the course of work in their own way. However, the structure of the shower head is almost always the same.

It includes the following building blocks:

• a body that can be made of any materials;
• multilayer fluid swirler. Sometimes it can be combined with a common body;
• water supply chamber;
• mesh covering the chamber and influencing the flow formation;
• fixing screw;
• pad;
• mode switching mechanism.

You need to take an adjustable wrench # 1, a pin wrench, a Phillips screwdriver and a Phillips slot. A pin wrench is usually sold with other tool kits. You can replace it with any other tool that works in a similar way. All small parts that will be removed must be kept in a separate place. Handle the gaskets carefully so as not to damage them. It is worth being as careful as possible during the disassembly process, since without the lost elements, the functioning of the shower head will be disrupted, and you will have to buy new ones or completely change the device.

To disassemble the watering can, you need to follow this algorithm.

• You should turn off the shower, unscrew the nut at the junction with the flexible hose, and then remove the watering can.
• You need to look at the grid panel. It shows several holes in the center (from three to five). The part is unscrewed from right to left using a wrench specially designed for this. If such a tool is not available, any object with rounded ends, such as scissors, will do. But you need to be very careful, because improper movements can damage the surface of the element.
• It is necessary to unscrew the screw that secures the opened multi-layer swirler using a Phillips screwdriver or slot.

• Further, you can see several circles of the shower grid, as if nested in each other, as well as a switch. These elements need to be pulled out.
• It is necessary to remove the parts designed to redirect the flow of water - dividers and partitions.
• You will need to remove the swirler with extreme care. Nearby are gaskets made of rubber, you need to try not to touch or damage them. At times there are screw mounts. It is worth saying that the swirler box may not be disassembled, then further actions with it are impossible. If it has plastic latches, and there is no experience in such work, it is better to postpone the repair process: they do not withstand a rough attitude due to fragility. Also located here is the switch spring. It is worth keeping an eye on its safety, as it is one of the most important parts of the soul that cannot be lost.

After completing the repair work, the inside of the parts should be cleaned by rinsing or cleaning agents. It is necessary to remove plaque formed due to rust and impurities that are contained in the water. It is also called water stone. To eliminate it, more serious methods may be needed, which will be discussed later.

The assembly process is identical to the actions that were performed during disassembly. They must be repeated in the opposite order: put the swirler and the removed parts back in, insert the shower mesh and switch, tighten the screws and the mesh panel. After that, you can turn on the water and look at the result of the work done.

Various methods can be used to effectively cleanse the showerhead. Sometimes you even have to use several methods at once. There are two substances that are guaranteed to keep the appliance free from contamination.

• Vinegar. Before you start using it, you should take any container, pour 9% vinegar into it. Usually three hundred milliliters are enough, but the weight of the acetic acid can vary depending on the diameter of the watering can itself. The mesh and parts that require cleaning must be placed in the solution for a long time. The preferred time is 7-8 hours.

• Lemon acid. It works faster than vinegar and also works great on various types of dirt. As in the previous case, you need to lower the clogged parts of the shower head into a bowl with pre-prepared citric acid, and then be sure to fill it with hot water. Parts must be completely immersed in the resulting solution. After it cools down, you can see the formed bubbles - this means that you can remove the parts of the shower head. For added effect, it is worth cleaning them with a brush, hard or iron sponge. The loosened blockage will be removed without difficulty. The whole process will take 15 to 25 minutes.

What should you do if the trouble happened with other details? Each of them is important, and the mode switching mechanism is an equally important part of the shower head.

If water starts to leak, this is a reason to think about fixing the device. But before starting work, it is necessary to diagnose the cause of the breakdown, because it can be both large and small in scale. For example, tightening a nut is not as important as replacing any important part of the device. However, the switch in the mixer is something without which the normal operation of the device is difficult to imagine. This mechanism shuts off the water flow and prevents spontaneous fluid flow. It connects the hose and spout.

There are several types of shower switches, depending on the features of which the actions to be taken during the repair depend on.

• Suberic. Today it is extremely rare and almost never used anywhere.
• Push-button or exhaust. Now it practically does not occur. It is divided into two types: automatic and manual. Used for mixing cold and hot water.
• Cartridge. The most modern type of switches. Unfortunately, it has a drawback - in case of malfunctions, you will have to replace it with a new one.
• Zolotnikovy. The most common part among all existing ones.
• Checkbox. Changes the direction of the flow of water when it turns in one direction or another.

This process, although simple, requires concentration. More serious problems can occur due to incorrect actions.

To disassemble the switch, follow these steps:

• unscrew the shower and spout;
• remove the protective cover of the switch;
• untwist the switch;
• carefully remove the rod drain mechanism;
• replace O-rings.

Then it remains only to repeat these steps in reverse order, and check the functionality of the repaired switch. If the device stops working due to the fact that the ring is worn out, then the switch will stop leaking. But if these actions did not help, then you need to continue looking for a solution. The deterioration of the condition of only some parts can also lead to a malfunction.

You need to adhere to the following operations:

• in a broken spool switch, remove the O-rings and replace them with new ones;
• the problem with the top pad can be solved by removing it with a thin hook or other sharp and long object. This will avoid disassembling the mixer;
• disconnect the spout and hose from each other if two gaskets need to be replaced. To do this, remove the switch and adapter.

Changing the shower head in the bathroom is a snap if you follow the advice above. It can also be opened to remove limescale deposits from the inside, or to paint if necessary. A cracked handle can also be easily replaced or repaired.

Cleansing a clogged shower head is a time-consuming procedure, although it is not difficult. With the help of a small set of tools and means for getting rid of dirt, you can achieve the desired result yourself and without the need to call professionals.

For information on how to properly disassemble a shower head with a switch, see the next video.