Thermostatic mixers: purpose and varieties

The bathroom and kitchen are those areas in the house in which the main character is water. It is necessary for many household needs: for washing, cooking, washing. Therefore, a sink (bathtub) with a water tap becomes a key element of these rooms. In recent years, a thermostat or thermostatic mixer has been replacing the usual two-valve and single-lever.

The thermostatic tap differs from others not only in its futuristic design. Unlike a conventional mixer, it serves to mix hot and cold water, and it also maintains the desired temperature at a given level.

In addition, in multi-storey buildings (due to intermittent water supply), it is not always possible to optimally adjust the pressure of the water jet. A valve with a thermostat takes over this function as well.

An adjustable water flow is needed for different purposes, therefore the thermo mixer is used with equal success for:

• bathroom;
• washbasin;
• bidet;
• soul;
• kitchen.

The thermostatic mixer can be attached directly to the sanitary ware or to the wall, which makes it more functional and ergonomic.

Thermostats are increasingly being used not only in the bathtub and sink: thermostats control the temperature of the warm floor and are designed even for the street (heating pipes, working together with snow melting systems, and so on).

The thermostatic mixer will solve the problem of difficult regulation of the water temperature, bring it to a comfortable temperature and keep it at this level, therefore this device is especially relevant for families with small children or elderly people. Such a unit will also be relevant in places where people with disabilities or seriously ill people live.

The main advantages of the thermostat can be highlighted.

• First of all, safety. Any adult will not be happy if boiling water or ice water is poured on him while taking a shower. For people who find it difficult to respond quickly in such a situation (disabled, elderly, small children), a device with a thermostat becomes necessary. In addition, for young children who do not stop exploring their surroundings for a minute, it is very important while bathing that the metal base of the mixer does not heat up.

• Hence the next advantage - relaxation and comfort. Compare the possibility: just lie in the bath and enjoy the procedure, or turn the tap every 5 minutes in order to adjust the temperature.
• The thermostat saves energy and water. You do not need to waste cubic meters of water while waiting for it to warm up to a comfortable temperature. Electricity is saved if the thermostatic mixer is connected to an autonomous hot water supply system.

A few more reasons to install a thermostat:

• electronic models with displays are very easy to operate, they smoothly regulate the water temperature;
• faucets are safe to use and easy to do-it-yourself.

Another important nuance - almost all thermostatic mixers depend on the water pressure in both pipes (with hot and cold water). In the absence of water in one of them, the valve will not allow water to flow from the second. Some models have a special switch that allows you to open the valve and use the available water.

To this should be added the possible difficulties with the repair of such cranes, since not everywhere there are certified service centers that can cope with the breakdown.

An important feature that distinguishes such a device from their own kind is the ability to keep the water temperature at the same mark, regardless of pressure surges in the water supply pipes. Electronic thermostatic models have a built-in memory that allows you to save your preferred temperature regime. It is enough to press a button on the display, and the mixer will select the desired temperature by itself without long mixing of hot and cold water.

The design of the thermo mixer is very simple and includes only a few basic details.

• The body itself, which is a cylinder, with two points of water supply - hot and cold.
• Water flow spout.
• A pair of handles, as in a conventional tap. However, one of them is a water pressure regulator, usually installed on the left side (crane box). The second is a graduated temperature controller (in mechanical models).
• Thermoelement (cartridge, thermostatic cartridge), which ensures optimal mixing of water flows of different temperatures. It is important that this element has a limiter that does not allow the water temperature to exceed 38 degrees. This function is useful for families with small children in order to protect them from possible discomfort.

The main task that the thermoelement solves is a quick response to a change in the ratio of water flows. At the same time, a person does not even feel that there have been any changes in the temperature regime.

The thermostatic cartridge is a sensitive moving element made of materials that are sensitive to temperature changes that occur.

They can be:

• wax, paraffin or a polymer similar in properties;
• bimetallic rings.

The thermo mixer works on the principle based on the laws of physics about the expansion of bodies.

• The high temperature causes the wax to expand, the lower temperature reduces it in volume.
• As a result, the plastic cylinder either moves into the cartridge, increasing the space for cold water, or moves in the opposite direction for more hot water.
• In order to exclude the squeezing of the damper, which is responsible for the flow of water of different temperatures, a water flow check valve is provided in the design.
• A fuse, installed on the adjusting screw, blocks the water supply if it exceeds the 80 C mark. This ensures maximum consumer safety.

A three-way mixing valve (this term still exists for a thermo-mixer), which mixes the incoming streams of hot and cold water into one stream with a stable temperature in manual or automatic mode, there are different types of control method.

It has a simpler design, it is more affordable. The water temperature can be adjusted using levers or valves. Their functioning is ensured by the movement of the movable valve inside the body when the temperature changes. As mentioned above, if the head is increased in one of the pipes, then the cartridge moves towards it, reducing the flow of water.As a result, the water at the spout remains at the same temperature. There are two regulators in the mechanical mixer: on the right - with a strip for setting the temperature, on the left - with the inscription On / Off to regulate the pressure.

Faucets with an electronic thermostat have a higher cost, are more complex structurally, and they need to be powered from the mains (plugged into an outlet or powered by batteries).

You can control it with:

• buttons;
• touch panels;
• remote control.

Elegant minimalism in design and response to light movement of the hand in the response area of ​​the sensitive infrared sensor. The undoubted advantages of the unit in the kitchen are that you do not need to touch the tap with dirty hands - the water will pour out, you should raise your hands.

In this case, the disadvantages prevail:

• to fill the container with water (kettle, pot), you must always keep your hand in the sensor's range of action;
• it is possible to quickly change the water temperature only on models that have a single-lever mechanical regulator, more expensive options are impractical in conditions of a constant change in water temperature;
• no savings due to the inability to control the water supply time, which is fixed in all models.

According to their purpose, thermostats can also be divided into central ones and for use at one point.

The central thermo mixer is a single center installed in places with high traffic: industrial premises, sports complexes. And they also find their application in residential premises, where water is distributed to several points (bath, washbasin, bidet). Thus, the user immediately receives water of the desired temperature from a contactless spout or a tap with a timer, no presetting is required. Buying and maintaining one central mixer is financially more profitable than several thermostats.

Single point thermostats are classified according to their functional load and are classified as surface-mounted or flush-mounted.

• For kitchen sinks - they are installed on the countertop, on the wall, or directly on the sink using the open method. A closed installation can be used, when we can only see the valves and the spout (spout) of the faucet, and all other parts are hidden behind the wall trim. However, in the kitchen, such mixers are not so functional, since you need to constantly change the temperature of the water: cold is needed for cooking, food is washed with warm, and dishes are washed hot. Constant fluctuations will not benefit the smart mixer, and its value is minimized in this case.

• Much more useful is a thermo mixer in a bathroom washbasin where a constant temperature is desired. Such a vertical mixer has only a spout and can be installed both on the sink and on the wall.
• The bath unit is usually equipped with a spout and shower head. Often these items are made of chrome-colored brass. For the bathroom, a thermostat with a long spout can be used - a universal mixer that can be safely placed in any bathtub. For a bath with a shower, a cascade-type mixer is also popular, when water is poured out in a wide strip.
• For the shower stall, there is no spout, but the water flows to the watering can. The built-in mixer is very convenient when there are only temperature and water pressure regulators on the wall, and the rest of the mechanism is securely hidden behind the wall.

• There is also a portioned (push) mixer for showers and sinks: when you press a large button on the body, water flows for a certain time, after which it stops.
• The faucet built into the wall is similar in appearance to the version for a shower, it is distinguished by the presence of a special container for installation into the wall.

Thermostatic mixers differ in the installation method:

• vertical;
• horizontal;
• wall;
• floor;
• concealed installation;
• on the side of the plumbing.

If you choose a mixer with a thermostat, pay attention to models made for domestic water supply systems (reversible mixers). Even foreign companies drew attention to this nuance, starting the production of mixers according to Russian standards.

If we draw up a kind of rating of manufacturers of thermostatic mixers, then the German company Grohe will lead it. Their products have the most advantages and are highly regarded by consumers.

This is what the top 5 best thermo mixers look like according to one of the sites:

• Grohe Grohtherm.
• Hansa.
• Lemark.
• Zorg.
• Nicolazzi Termostatico.

When choosing a thermo mixer, pay attention to several points.

The materials from which the case is made are quite diverse:

• Ceramics - looks attractive, but is a rather fragile material.
• Metal (brass, copper, bronze) - such products are the most durable and at the same time expensive. Silumin metal alloy is inexpensive, but also short-lived.
• Plastic is the most affordable and has the shortest expiration date.

Material from which the thermostat valve is made:

• leather;
• rubber;
• ceramics.

When choosing a thermo mixer, be sure to ask the seller for a pipe layout diagram of a particular model. We remind you that almost all European manufacturers offer taps according to their own standards - hot water pipes are connected to the left, while domestic standards assume that there is a cold water pipe on the left. If you connect the pipes incorrectly, then the expensive unit will simply break down, or you need to change the location of the pipes in the house.And this is a very serious financial loss.

It is recommended to connect a water filtration system to your pipes. It is important that there is sufficient water pressure in the piping - for thermostats a minimum of 0.5 bar is required. If it is lower, then it makes no sense even to buy such a mixer.

The installation of such a modern unit actually differs little from the installation of a standard lever or valve valve. The main thing is to follow the connection diagram.

There are several fundamentally important points here.

• The thermo mixer has strictly defined hot and cold water connections, which are specially marked so as not to make mistakes during installation. Such an error can lead to incorrect operation and damage to the equipment.
• If you put a thermostatic mixer on an old Soviet-era water supply system, then for correct installation - so that the spout still looks down and not up - you will have to change the plumbing wiring. This is a strict requirement for wall-mounted mixers. With horizontal ones, everything is easier - just swap the hoses.

You can connect a thermo mixer step by step:

• shut off the supply of all water in the riser;
• dismantle the old crane;
• eccentric discs for the new mixer are attached to the pipes;
• gaskets and decorative elements are installed in the places allocated to them;
• a thermo mixer is mounted;

• the spout is screwed on, the watering can - if available;
• then you need to reconnect the water and check the functionality of the mixer;
• you need to adjust the water temperature;
• the system must have a filtration system, a check valve;
• in the case of concealed installation, the spout and adjustment levers will remain visible, and the bath will take on a finished look.
• But if the crane breaks down, you will need to disassemble the wall in order to get to the desired parts.

Professional repair of a thermostatic mixer, so it is better to contact the service center. But any man in the street can clean the thermostat from dirt, and the dirt is cleaned under running water with a simple toothbrush.

For experienced home craftsmen, there are several general rules for repairing a thermostat with your own hands:

1. Turn off the water and drain the remaining water from the tap.
2. Disassemble the thermo mixer as in the photo.
3. Several descriptions of problems and examples of their solutions:

• rubber seals are worn out - replace with new ones;
• leakage of the tap under the spout - replace the old seals with new ones;
• wipe dirty seats with a cloth;
• if there is noise during the operation of the thermostat, then you need to put filters, if not, or cut the rubber gaskets for a snug fit.

For the principles of operation of a thermostatic mixer, see the video below.