Choosing a wall mixer

Repair is a very complicated and costly procedure. As a rule, this process raises many questions, and if the repair concerns premises where water supply is required, then their number increases many times over. Our article is devoted to one of the most popular elements of plumbing - a wall mixer.

At the moment, the sanitary ware market has a large selection of mixers for every taste and interior of the bathroom or kitchen. Let's take a look at how they are segregated by location.

• Embedded models. Faucets of this type are built into the design of a bath or sink. There are manufacturers who produce bathroom equipment already with a connector for mounting a mixer, where you simply install a faucet. But such options are inconvenient in that the entire structure of the water supply, pipes and other elements are fixed in the space under the sink and take up a lot of space.
• Wall models. Mixers of this type are mounted directly into the wall. At the same time, all auxiliary structures remain in the wall, and it looks quite aesthetically pleasing and compact.
• Floor models. Their difference from the two previous mixers lies in the form and method of installation. The floor version is one or two racks that are installed directly on the floor, and the mixer itself is already mounted on them.

Consider the most used and practical type of faucet - wall-mounted. Like all of the above, it has a separation by the mechanism of mixing water before it is fed to the tap. The speed of setup and ease of use depend on this.

• Single-lever. Such a mixer has in its design a locking mechanism in the form of a ball or a ceramic cartridge. In the first version, a hollow steel ball is used, which has three holes, two of which are responsible for supplying hot and cold water, and the third is an outlet for supplying mixed water directly to the tap. The temperature is controlled by changing the diameter of the holes, which is controlled by the position of the lever.

• Two-valve. In this case, the shut-off mechanism can be in the form of either a ceramic valve or a tap. When the tap is turned, the piston begins to act on the gasket, as a result of which the hole opens slightly or shuts off the water supply. When the ceramic valve is turned, the plate moves independently. This option is considered quite outdated, but it does not lose its popularity to this day. All this is due to a rather low price and an uncomplicated setup mechanism.
• Portioned. This design is brought into operation by means of a button that the device contains. After pressing it, for a short time period, water is supplied to the tap. Most often, models of this type are used in public places with the calculation of water savings.

In order for the mixer not to upset you and serve as long as possible, you must carefully choose the material from which it will be made. Let's consider the most practical options.

• Brass. Considering the fact that various impurities can be present in water, as well as lime deposits are possible, an alloy of copper and zinc becomes a good material for manufacturing. It is quite soft, but at the same time resistant to all of the above factors. It should also be borne in mind that currently there are almost no wall-mounted mixers on the market, consisting only of brass, but the material is often used to create parts or, for example, directly for the body.
• Stainless steel. The use of this material is aimed at creating specific parts for water regulation and fastening systems. Steel is rarely used as a material for using the case, since it does not have durability.

• Chromium. This material, like brass, is very resistant to corrosion and impurities, and is also not subject to erosion when using modern cleaning agents. It is one of the most environmentally friendly materials. Most often, chrome is used either for coating or for the manufacture of the mixers themselves.
• Ceramics. Modern material, not subject to all types of corrosion, does not cause allergic reactions, is resistant to water and cleaning agents.

Most of the time in the kitchen is spent in the area of ​​the sink. That is why it is worth paying special attention to the selection of all its elements, including the wall mixer. When choosing a model, you must first decide on the design of the spout that you require. For example, if there are two sinks in the kitchen, then the L-shaped or special shape is most suitable, while both options must have a rotation angle of at least 140 degrees.

Mixer models are also available in traditional, arched and straight shapes. Keep in mind that faucets can have either short or long spouts. Their length usually varies, depending on the specifics of use and customer requests.

Modern faucets can also include switches that supply water to the dishwasher or washing machine. And also there is the possibility of obtaining already filtered water from the tap. The kitchen version can be equipped with another novelty - a bottom valve, which allows you to open or close the drain hole with one touch.

In any apartment, the bathroom is not just a room for maintaining body hygiene. Its interior should be as pleasing to the eye as the furnishings of any other room. Therefore, it is so important to choose a mixer that will be in harmony with other appliances and accessories.

Most wall mounted bath faucets include a faucet and shower head (with flexible hose). They can be either combined into a single structure, or mounted on the wall separately. The most common option is a combined mixer for a bathtub and a sink, it includes one faucet, which can be rotated to move to the space in front of the sink or bathtub, as well as a watering can with a hose. This option is ideal for rooms with a very small area, it saves space and increases the functionality of its use.

Another interesting look is a wall-mounted mixer. This is the same wall-mounted version, but with flush-mounted elements: on the surface it has only a lever for regulating water, a faucet and a shower head, the hose of which is also hidden in the wall. This is the most modern and aesthetic type of mixer.

• It is better to buy a mixer in specialized stores, where you can always get competent advice from the seller on the issue you are interested in.
• Before buying a mixer, it is necessary to measure all the most important parameters of plumbing, for example, the width of the sink and the estimated height at which you want to install the device. Then, when choosing, you will know exactly the desired spout length and roughly imagine which mixer you need.
• If you plan to install the mixer in a small room, and you have very limited installation space, then you should think about buying a single-lever version with a side lever arrangement. This option is practical and will take up very little space.
• If you purchase a single-lever version, then it is best to purchase a filter with it, for example, a coarse filter, otherwise the cartridge will last a very short period of time.

• If the kitchen where the mixer should be installed is not very large, then the wall-mounted version with a compact spout is more suitable for you. This model does not require a spacious sink and large space.
• When buying a mixer, you should pay attention to whether a mounting system is included with it. The service life of wall-mounted faucets is noticeably increased if the fixtures are made of high-quality materials, as a rule, a warranty is issued for such fixtures.
• You shouldn't skimp on plumbing items, including faucets. But you should be more careful when buying expensive models and read the operating instructions well.
• When purchasing a mixer in a store, you should pay attention not to the cost of the equipment, but to its weight. Quality models made from brass are the most practical, but they are heavier than an average quality mixer.

If you have already decided on a wall-mounted mixer for a washbasin or a bathroom and purchased it, then the next step will be to install it. The product itself can be cast or consist of collapsible parts. If the body is cast, then only levers, cartridges, taps and spouts are removed.

Prefabricated mixers have the greatest functionality, but their failure rate is higher. Installing a faucet in the kitchen or bathroom does not require any additional skills from you, but it is imperative to make sure that the pipes, elbow or watering hose to which the appliance will be attached are in good condition and reliable. In the bathroom, a two-lever or single-lever version with a hygienic shower is very often installed.

For how to install a wall-mounted mixer, see the next video.