How to connect the faucet to the pipe

The breakdown of sanitary equipment by the majority of the owners most often causes serious concern and the conviction that it is impossible to cope with it on its own. But if it is logical to judge, then many faults can be eliminated independently, without possessing special specialized knowledge. In fact, adherence to clear instructions received even from a shop seller is enough to make your own contribution to creating comfort in your home.

Due to regular use, cranes connected to the pipeline most often fail. It can be kitchen faucets, taps on various pipes that bring water to the washing machine, to a gas water heater, taps on risers or on pipes in front of water meters.

Metal-plastic or polypropylene

Modern plumbing equipment is, first of all, metal-plastic five-layer pipes, which have won particular popularity due to its numerous advantages over other types of pipes:

• compacted inner layer of polyethylene;
• elastic aluminum interlayer pipe, preserving the shape and configuration specified during installation;
• the connection of the inner and outer layers of polyethylene pipe with its aluminum interlayer with glue;
• strong layer of anti-corrosion polymer;
• not complying with the exact design dimensions when installing metal-plastic pipes.

At installation of the sanitary equipment apply also other type of pipes - polypropylene pipes. Their advantages over metal-plastic ones are economic benefits (polypropylene pipes are at least three times cheaper), as well as ease of installation. They can be easily connected even with metal pipes.

High-quality connection of polypropylene pipes among themselves, as well as durable and reliable connection of polypropylene pipes with metal can be achieved, provided that it is mandatory to take into account the thickness of their walls.

Fitting

When installing any type of pipe in the process of plumbing, you can not do without fittings, which also include all kinds of taps and valves. These may be ball solder ball valves, straight or angle cranes (with an American). Ball valves are made of brass (crimped, with a butterfly handle), characterized by good corrosion resistance. When such a valve is connected to a pipe, a split brass ring is used to crimp the pipe, rubber (ethylene-propylene) is used as the sealing material. Such ball valves are three-pass, with an external thread, with an internal thread, for connecting pipes at a right angle.

For installation of such cranes special tools are not required.

Installation of ball valves

Installation of metal pipes in metal in your apartment should begin with the installation of ball valves on the riser.

Select high-quality cranes from well-known manufacturers with high working pressure (for example, 60 atm.) And a working temperature in the range of 150?

It is these taps that will allow you to successfully shut off the water supply in case of leakage, thereby protecting the room from flooding. The next element after the tap and before the water meter should be installed filter for deep water purification. Then a fine filter, pressure reducer, manifold for distributing pipes (as needed) are installed. Cleaning filters are needed to protect plumbing fixtures by trapping scale, sand and metal particles, in large quantities, in the risers.

Installation of faucets in the kitchen and bathroom

If it becomes necessary to replace the mixer in the kitchen, this task is also not difficult to handle on your own. When choosing a crane, pay attention to the presence of the necessary gaskets, without which it is impossible to prevent the flow of water.

To install the crane will need:

• adjustable wrench;
• fum-tape for pipe winding;
• gaskets included;
• couplings (if necessary).

Before starting to replace the mixer, turn off the water supply using the existing taps on the riser pipes, then open the water supply system on the old mixer in order to make sure that the water supply is turned off. Next, dismantle the old mixer with cautious movements using a wrench or adjustable wrench. On the exposed areas of the crane, old gaskets are removed, rust is on the thread using a regular piece of cloth.

Bathroom faucet can be connected directly to the pipe. Insert the kitchen faucet into the hole in the sink, after having put a sealing ring on it that separates the tap and the sink. The bottom of the sink should be protected by a large rubber gasket and a retaining ring, which are secured with a key.

Two connecting hoses with nuts on the mixer are connected to the respective cold and hot water supply pipes. Pre-thread the pipes should be wrapped with a special fum-tape to create tightness and prevent leakage, and then tighten the nut.

The water tap in the bathroom is keyed to the pipe with a pipe wrench on a rubber gasket.

After completion of the work, the system is checked. To do this, turn on the taps on the riser, and then slowly opens the faucet in the kitchen (or bathroom) without much pressure. Some time worth watching the flow of water from the tap to make sure there is no water flow in all connecting places.

Following the instructions, it is not so difficult to connect the valve to the pipe.

Expert Opinion

Of course, you can replace taps or mixers by yourself, without the help of plumbers. Sometimes it can be replaced in as little as 1 hour, and you have to pay a tidy sum of money, the call of a plumber is far from free. It is for this reason that it is worth making personal efforts. 

This article says that in most cases, cranes fail due to their frequent operation, I do not quite agree with that. As practice shows, in most cases, taps or faucets with hot water supply fail. This is due to the fact that hot water constantly exposes the sealing gum to sudden temperature changes. Accordingly, the gasket becomes unusable. The first sign that a tap needs repair is the constant dripping of water and the leakage. In some cases, the faucet starts to emit an unpleasant buzz.

When the tap starts to buzz, its replacement is required urgently.

In some cases, the dismantling of the old mixer entails the need to change the piping system. This is especially true when you have a metal pipe. As for me, I would give my preference to polypropylene pipes. You can read more about the merits of these pipes and how to solder them in the corresponding article - soldering polypropylene pipes.

I also want to note that the article correctly specifies the type of key, namely the adjustable key. Why precisely he? This is especially true for faucets that are mounted on the wall. The fact is that most cranes are made of brass or chrome. There are also combined models. So, brass faucet is lined with nickel or enamel. This coating may be damaged if mistreated during installation. If you use a simple spanner, which has a weak grip when tightening the nut, it can break. Most often this causes damage to the surface. But if you use an adjustable wrench, then there will be no such problems. It fits snugly to the surface of the nut, which allows the mixer to be mounted without damage. But you can not do without an open-end wrench in cases where it is necessary to install an eccentric or other connection that is not at risk of losing the “presentation”.

Separately, I will express my opinion regarding the thread winding. I am not in favor of the fact that for a joint that has a rubber gasket it is necessary to additionally use a reel. Although in some cases this is required. For example, if a rubber gasket does not fulfill its leading role. Moreover, it should be understood that the use of tow should also be limited.

If, nevertheless, you want to use a winding for similar connections, then use a fum-tape for mixers. It is elastic, and in the process of tightening the nut, the excess winding will come out. This will not happen with tow. If it is wound too much, the nut may crack and then you have to repair the mixer.