Frap mixers: types and popular options

When arranging or renovating a room, it is very important that all its components work as a single, well-coordinated mechanism. It gets sad when something goes wrong. At the most inopportune moment. Faucets and shower sets often have this problem. Choosing a reliable manufacturer, of course, you will receive a lot of advice in favor of the most modern European brands. You will have to pay a decent amount for plumbing products. This article will talk about the brightest manufacturer, with whom it is possible to save on cost, but remain at the height in the quality and appearance of mixers.

The Frap brand appeared on the Russian market more than 15 years ago. Using the latest developments in the field of sanitary accessories, the Chinese manufacturer has launched a wide range of products. On sale today you can find bathroom accessories (brushes, soap dishes, hooks, lamps, etc.), faucets, shower systems, sinks, mirrors and sinks. A tangible advantage of the Frap company is the production of all kinds of plumbing accessories and even shower curtains.

Despite the fact that the country of origin of these products is China, all products are made of sufficient quality and even stylish. A feature of the sanitary ware of this brand is the availability of both budget options for mixers and more expensive - luxury - models.

The products of the Chinese manufacturer have all the necessary certificates of quality and environmental friendliness:

• pan-European standard CE;
• American UL;
• international ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (ecology).

The manufacturer insists that production is based on German technology and quality. But how, then, products can have such an economical price - the explanation is simple. The German company Grohe sold its license to the Chinese for the production of analogs of models, which for the Germans are already considered obsolete, but no less of a quality.

The main positive and negative sides of plumbing mixers will be discussed below.

Among the indisputable advantages of the mixers of this manufacturer, it is worth highlighting some basic properties.

• Economical cost and quality that does not suffer from it.
• Use of environmentally friendly raw materials and production technology.
• A wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, installation method.
• Availability of functional options. For example, a faucet with a flexible spout for the kitchen. Bath mixer that can withstand the maximum pressure - water pressure.
• Ceramic cartridge.

And although the last point can be attributed to both pluses and minuses, it is better to leave it at the turn of these two extremes. Speaking about the shortcomings of mixers, you can notice the presence of a small number of defective items, which are best identified with your own eyes, without resorting to online shopping. But today there are also a large number of fakes of this company, which do not hesitate to set the cost even lower and sell frankly low-quality things.

All faucets from the Chinese manufacturer can be divided into several categories, which will be discussed in more detail below. By their functional purpose, they are divided into several varieties.

• For kitchen. The place for cooking and eating should be at a height so that you want to be there and create culinary masterpieces for yourself and your family. If the house does not have a dishwasher, then faucets with a long spout, sometimes with a flexible shower hose, are perfect for your kitchen. This type of faucet helps not only wash dishes and food. Some models have two built-in aerators, one of which is connected to the central water supply, and the second can act as a filtered water tap.
• For the sink. For lovers of minimalism and who want to simply put a sink with a small tap in the kitchen, models of low mixers are suitable. Frap presents in this category sensor taps, products with a lever (for changing the heat of water and pressure), valve, thermostatic and push-button.

• For Bath often used mixers with a bottom spout, which allows you to easily and without loss to collect a fragrant bath and lie down in it with pleasure. But there are also models with thermostatic properties. Thus, you do not have to worry about the temperature drops in the system. This is especially true for families with children. Thanks to this innovation of the Chinese company, the fear of a sudden supply of boiling water from the tap disappears.
• For shower. Here the manufacturer focuses on mixer taps without a spout.

As for the functional orientation of each model, it is obvious, practical and relevant. In terms of appearance, Frap products can be divided into three types: standard, retro and modern. Standard models are produced in accordance with the available world standards, without frills and fancy. They are often made of brass, silumin and aluminum. Among the retro models, you can find mixers in bronze, with refined and sophisticated shapes. The Art Nouveau category, on the other hand, allows you to bring a drop of variety to life, offering the most varied colors: black, white, orange, green, beige, gray and brown.

Silicone models are found very often in combination with a high spout, they also delight the eye with an extensive palette. And the unique mixer-waterfall has a cascade water discharge. Its bowl is usually made of glass.

Modern Russian buyers have already outlined their favorites among the Frap mixers. They will be discussed below.

So, the winners in the category "for the kitchen" are F4909 and F4927... These are chrome plated twin-valve mixers with a high spout, one standard aerator. Classic models.

The next champion is the washbasin faucet F10703-B... The modern single-lever low model looks very compact and cozy both in the kitchen and in the bathroom.

G2245 and F3014-B - the usual standard bath mixers. The first is equipped with a swivel switch for the shower and two valves. The second provides a push-switch and has only one lever that allows you to turn on, turn off and regulate the water with one hand.

Recently, the Frap brand has been actively introducing European technologies and design into its production. So, thanks to the inheritance of well-known brands in the assortment of the Chinese manufacturer, designer novelties have appeared that delight not only with their appearance and similarity with famous brands.

Frap mixers are often quite easy to install. However, there are several nuances that you should pay attention to even at the acquisition stage.

By the type of installation, the cranes are divided into three main groups.

1. Embedded. Such models are usually mounted directly on a bathtub, cabinet or sink. Used in rooms where all sewerage and water pipes are hidden from view.
2. Central. Installation takes place vertically on sinks and sinks. Most often these are models with a high spout, less often with a low one.
3. Wall mounted. Mixers of this group are installed on water pipes located directly on the wall of the room. Most common in bathrooms.

The installation of the latter is as simple and fast as possible. As a rule, they are installed in two holes. First of all, eccentrics are mounted in the water pipes. The next step is wrapping reflectors. This must be done as much as possible so that they are very close to the wall or to the pipe. The next step is to isolate the eccentrics so that they do not leak during operation. Most often, linen thread or FUM tape is used for this. Final - installation of the mixer directly. It is very important not to overtighten the wrapping of all components. Despite the quality of materials and workmanship, there is a risk of breaking the thread or even getting a crack.

Before proceeding with the repair of the mixer with your own hands, you need to understand the root cause of the problem. One of the most common problems with Frap designs is wear and tear on the ceramic cartridge. This can lead to leakage.

The step-by-step instructions for replacing the cartridge in a single lever model assume that you need to disassemble the Frap mixer.

• Shut off the water supply to the tap.
• Remove the handle by unscrewing the screw with a 2.5 hexagonal wrench.
• Unscrew the hemisphere. If the tap has been used for a long time, a problem may arise here: the handle sticks to the mixer body. Ordinary table vinegar comes to the rescue. We process the place of "growth", remove the handle.
• Unscrew the cartridge nut with a wrench. Remove the cartridge.
• Tidy up the place where the "offender" was: clean it from plaque and, possibly, rust.
• Insert a new cartridge and screw all parts in reverse order.
• Connect the water and start the system.

Of course, no one is immune from malfunctions and malfunctions in the work of mixers. However, they are all solved independently, without resorting to plumbers. And the full range of components produced at the same plant will delight both beginners and plumbing professionals alike.

Reviews from Frap products are completely mixed. Someone praises for the cost, but scolds for the quality. Others insist that this Chinese manufacturer is perhaps the best in terms of quality in the sanitary accessories economy segment. Even professional plumbers are inclined to comment in favor of the faucet, as they fully justify their cost. Yes, anything can happen. Having chosen an expensive accessory, you can with horror return it to the store the next day. Or you can buy the simplest Frap mixer and enjoy its functionality, practicality and performance for at least 1 year.

Most often, negative reviews are received by products that have served a little more than the warranty period. And that's not bad. According to the assurances of experts, problems in the very first days of use arise only in the case of incorrect installation or the presence of a factory defect. Unlike the first problem, the second is solved by returning the product and exchanging it for a quality model.

For an overview of the Frap F4128-2 sink faucet, see the video below.