Shower switches. How to fix a shower switch: typical problems and solutions. Diagnosing a problem with a switch

Every bathroom fixture must be in good working order. Providing maximum comfort for his family, the owner of the house occasionally has to repair the shower switch in the faucet. Although this is not the most fragile part, however, its malfunction will bring a lot of inconvenience.

The main types of switches

Repair of each type of switch has its own characteristic features. Before starting work, it is necessary to study each of the varieties. This will save the budget and repair the spare part as quickly as possible, taking into account the installation features.

Switch types:

1. Golden type.
2. Cork type.
3. cartridge type.
4. Exhaust (push-button).

The most common examples recently were spool and plug switches. Their design is quite simple. Switching is carried out by turning a small lever either 90 or 120 degrees.

Now spool switches are not sold on the domestic market. They haven't been produced for quite some time. Replaced by more reliable prototypes.

If an old mixer is installed, then with a high probability the switch from the shower to the spout is performed by the spool. It includes an eccentric and a barrel. A special rod with a protrusion begins to rotate, setting the entire structure in motion. A characteristic detail of this mechanism is a handle made in the form of a flag. It can be either iron or plastic.

Cork construction can be called an improved version of the previous type. The peculiarity lies only in the fact that inside there is a special cork made of brass. The length of the handle is from 7 to 10 cm.

The cartridge type of switches is by far the most common. Push-button (exhaust) varieties are very popular. Such mechanisms are much more convenient than older designs. An additional plus is the comparative durability of the elements. If you choose the option with a more expensive cartridge, it will last for many years. True, repairs are indispensable, since it sometimes leaks water.

Causes of breakdowns

In each individual case, the faults are unique. But there are also the most common failures. As a rule, you can independently disassemble the faucet in the bathroom, the shower switch.

The most common scenario is that water is supplied simultaneously from the shower head and spout. This means that the o-rings and rubber gaskets are out of order. For the same reason, water constantly flows from under the tap itself. To solve the problem, you will need a set of new rings and rubber bands. Replacement will not take more than 1 hour.

Poor quality materials

Rubber bands are not the only weak point in this design. Quite often, owners encounter problematic mixer operation even after replacing sealing parts.

Water seepage can be due to poor quality plastic or even iron parts. Therefore, you should carefully check the switch for damage. If wear of the rubber rings is found, a higher quality product should be purchased. To do this, you need to contact a specialized store, where an experienced employee can advise which manufacturer makes reliable seals.

It is recommended not to buy the cheapest faucets initially. The quality of the parts in them in any case will be low. It is better to buy a product a little more expensive and choose a reliable design that will delight the family for a long time with its uninterrupted functioning. You can take an automatic mixer, the operation of which will depend on the reliability of the sensors.

Dirt

The most common cause of all kinds of pollution is poor water quality. For the failure of this part, it is necessary that dirty water is supplied through the pipes for a long time. As a result, all seals become clogged, water does not flow properly and starts to leak from the bottom of the faucet.

In addition to internal contamination, switches can also fail due to external influences. Dirt can get on the product from the outside. If the faucet was not covered during the renovation in the bathroom, dust can quickly clog the connections.

Note! The way out is to often wipe the products on the outside and disassemble the switch from time to time if the water is periodically dirty.

hard water

Often, products stop functioning correctly due to the fact that too much flows through the pipes. The main disadvantage of this type of water is lime deposits. If the shower switch is leaking on a new faucet, the problem is in the water. The owners of the house need to be prepared for the fact that they will have to service the plumbing quite often.

The problem may also be that a small layer of salts forms between the gasket and the valve. If the part is not serviced on time, the layer of deposits will gradually grow and eventually completely block the channels. Therefore, it is better to clean limescale and salts in advance. So the owner can significantly extend the life of the product.

Trouble-shooting

Since there are many possible causes for poor switch performance, a few of the most common situations should be considered.

The deposition of salts and limescale can be quickly removed with ordinary sandpaper. It is better for this purpose to take the material with the finest abrasive layer. A professional cleaner will help improve the effect. But not everyone can find it in stores. Therefore, GOI paste can replace it.

If in the exhaust type of the product the return of the switch button to its original position occurs without authorization, you can shorten the spring a little. Literally 2 or 3 turns of the spring will be enough to remove for the mechanism to start working correctly. But this method does not always help. After the owner removes the shower switch on the faucet, in addition to the spring itself, it is recommended to replace the seal.

To properly perform the replacement, it is better to watch a few practical videos.

Required Tools

You can not start repairing a shower cabin without preparing for the whole process from start to finish. The main thing is the tools. To solve a certain problem, characteristic keys and other tools are required.

There is a standard set of improvised devices that will help repair the mixer in a matter of minutes:

1. Flat screwdriver.
2. Pliers.
3. Breaker knife.
4. Adjustable wrench (it is better to take a compact sample to make it more convenient to work with plumbing).
5. gas key.
6. Hexagons.

Replacement of O-rings

The push-button type of switches has become widespread, but it has several disadvantages. The main disadvantage of this type of design is the unreliability of the seal rings. All of them are made of rubber. And this means that untimely maintenance can lead to leaks.

Experts fix this problem in two ways:

1. Fast - includes the process of stripping rubber products and softening them.
2. Capital - change all rings to new ones.

If the shower switch on the mixer is broken due to the failure of the sealing elements, the following steps must be followed:

• using a wrench, the switch is untwisted;
• the stem is removed;
• remove old rings. They are replaced with new rubber products;
• the structure is returned to its original state. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the correct arrangement of parts in their places.

Switch Spring Replacement

The derailleur spring can break at any time, which is also a common problem.

The best way out of the situation would be to replace it:

• remove the spout that flows along with the shower hose (using a wrench);
• take out the adapter;
• remove the screw and plug;
• pull out the stem. It contains a spring;
• replace the spring. Its price is generally low;
• assemble the structure back.

Basically, the execution time of this operation does not exceed 40 minutes - 1 hour.

Note! When removing the spout, unscrew the nuts carefully so as not to strip the threads.

Prevention

Since the frequent causes of malfunctions and leaks are contamination of the switch with salts and lime particles, a kind of prophylaxis should be carried out. It consists in disassembling the device, cleaning and assembling the product. This operation should be carried out every six months to a year. Plaque will be deposited less often if you install a water filter.

Each modern bathroom faucet is equipped with a button-switch between spout and shower modes, which allows you to redirect water flows from a gander to a watering can and vice versa.

However, during operation, this element of the mixer may fail and start to work incorrectly.

This usually manifests itself in the form of leaks, when the “shower” mode is turned on, water drips or flows from the tap. This is due to improper distribution of flows.

The cause of this kind of malfunction is usually the banal wear of critical parts.

At the same time, excessively hard water, which has a detrimental effect on the insides of plumbing equipment, can significantly reduce the life of the mixer.

As a rule, all modern faucets (with the exception of cheap Chinese copies) are maintainable, so you can troubleshoot the faucet-shower button yourself.

However, in order to repair the switch, you must first figure out what type of mechanism is involved in a particular mixer model.

To date, the most common faucet-shower switches of the following type:

• Spool (lever)- this type of switches has been widely used in thin-walled mixers with "lambs" since the times of the USSR. A characteristic feature of spool switches is a handle made of plastic, ceramic or metal located between the valves;
• Pull-out (push-button) switch- is located directly next to the outlet to the hose of the watering can. The main feature of this switch is the automatic mode of operation: if you turn off the water, it will automatically return from the “shower” position to the “spout” position. The return spring is responsible for this;
• ball switch- the main unit of this mechanism is a metal (brass) ball with drilled holes for redirecting water flows. The ball itself is sandwiched between two O-rings. This type of button works on the principle of a ball valve and has the highest service life.

For self-repair, depending on the type of button, you may need the following set of tools: an adjustable and / or gas wrench, a Phillips screwdriver, a 17 wrench, a set of rubber gaskets, a set of hex keys.

Shower Switch Button Repair Instructions for Faucets

Pushbutton Switch Repair

Shower button may stop shutting off the water in extreme positions or begin to spontaneously reset from the “shower” mode to the gander with insufficient water pressure.

The reason for the first malfunction is the failure of the rubber seal. In this case, it needs to be replaced.

For this you need:

1. Shut off the water supply;
2. Using a wrench, unscrew the gander;
3. Disconnect (unscrew) the decorative cap of the button;
4. Remove the stem from the body along with the spring;
5. Unscrew and remove the valve;
6. Remove the old o-rings from the valve;
7. Install new rings of the same shape and size (sold in the plumbing department);
8. Assemble everything in reverse order.

If a shower faucet button stopped coming back to its original position when the water is turned off, the cause of the breakdown is the wear of the spring or its damage. In this case, the spring must be replaced.

If, with a weak pressure of water, spontaneous switching from a shower to a gander occurs, the spring should be loosened by biting off a couple of turns with wire cutters.

Spool switch repair

If the faucet is equipped with this type of switch, over time, water may begin to flow from under the handle.

The main reasons for the leak in this case:

• damaged/worn rubber o-rings on the crank pivot rod;
• the rubber seal on the switch box is worn out or missing;
• the crank screw has loosened or the mixer axle box is not tightly fixed.

If water oozes at the attachment point of the axle box with the mixer body, it is necessary to disassemble it with a wrench or gas wrench and install a new seal.

In case of leakage from the rotary rod, the axle box must be completely disassembled and the sealing rings on the rotary rod must be changed.

If water leaks in one of the switch positions, most likely the gaskets for the seal on the spool have failed. In this case, unscrew the spool, replace the gaskets and clean all working surfaces from limestone.

Ball switch repair

Problems with a ball-type switch are very rare and usually occur due to excessively hard water, when limescale deposits form on the surface of the working elements.

If the mixer itself is inexpensive, then the metal from which the ball mechanism is made can be covered with an oxide layer.

In both the first and second cases, you can solve the problem by disassembling the mixer and cleaning the mechanism from plaque, as shown in the video:

Prevention of the operation of the shower switch button

Practice shows that the main cause of premature failure faucet buttons and other plumbing equipment is the presence in the water in a large number of hardness salts (calcium and magnesium).

Alkaline earth metal salts enter the water supply system from artesian wells and create many problems for consumers.

White streaks on the chrome surface and lime build-up on the outside of the faucet are just the visible part of the problem. Hardness salts can completely render even the best Italian plumbing unusable.

To extend the life of the mixer, its main working elements should be periodically cleaned of lime deposits.

To do this, it is enough to disassemble and clean them approximately once every 6-12 months with a liquid bath cleaner, as shown in the video:

The department of household chemicals presents a wide variety of such products.

Suitable for CillitBang, Stork Sanox Clean bath, FROSCH bath and shower, Comet spray, etc.

Attention! In order not to leave scratches on the chrome-plated surface of the mixer during work, unscrewing the nuts, wrap them with a cloth. Do not strongly compress the elements of the mixer when working with a gas wrench, as this can lead to cracking.

In bathrooms, you can see faucets with four types of switches:

Suberic. The perforated brass cork is rotated in the body with a lever, about 10 cm long. Lapping the cork to the body provides the necessary tightness.

Please note: products of this type have not been produced for about 30 years, but due to their high wear resistance they continue to be used in Soviet-built houses.

Button. Under the influence of a spring-loaded rod, the button sets in motion a valve that closes the water to the spout and opens it to the shower.

The shower-bath ball switch is structurally closer to a ceramic faucet box than to a ball valve. Water is directed to the required channel of the mixer with the mutual displacement of ground ceramic plates.

Attention: this switch is very easy to distinguish from other types. It allows the shift knob to complete a full turn, while the eccentric and barrel mechanism limits it in movement to an arc of 45-60 degrees.

Advantages and disadvantages of different types of mixer switches

The most common malfunctions of mixers with different switches and their solutions

Plug type switching

It has two specific problems:

• Requires a lot of effort to switch the operating mode. The cause of the inconvenience may be an overtightened union nut, which fixes the plug in the mixer body. To fix the problem, you just need to loosen it a little, and also apply a layer of plumbing silicone grease to the surface of the removed cork.
• Leak on stock. We have already indicated the reason: uneven wear of rubbing elements. To correct the situation, again, you need to use silicone grease: it will reduce the force required to turn the valve, and also fill in all the microscopic cracks and grooves between the metal components of the structure.

Button

The push button shower also has a few problems.

1. The valve does not hold water. Usually the reason lies in excessively hard water: due to lime deposits, the rubber loses its elasticity, uneven growths form on it and the saddle. For a short period of time, diligent cleaning of the seat and valve with Domestos, whiteness or other cleaning agent can help; in case the rubber has become very hard, a complete replacement of the valve with the stem is required.
2. Leak on stock. The repair of the pushbutton switch in this case depends on the stem seal option. The rubber ring is completely replaceable. A new seal can be found as part of a set of sanitary gaskets in a specialized store. To repair the gland packing, it is enough to fill it again, applying moderate efforts to tighten the gland.

Attention: it is better to use one or two threads of loose graphite omentum. The oil seal quickly becomes unusable when in contact with hot water.

1. The button automatically returns to its original position if the water pressure is low. The problem is an overly tight return spring. It is necessary to bite off one or two turns - and everything is normal.
2. The button does not return to its original position when the water is turned off. The reason lies in the stem seal being too tight. To fix the problem, you need to apply a little silicone grease under the rubber ring; in a gland packing design, loosen the gland nut.

Switch with eccentric and barrel

Common faults:

• The faucet does not switch to shower mode when the lever is turned.

The reason may be as follows:

Broken off protrusion of the eccentric due to excessive force. The sign is the free movement of the valve without any effect. The only way to fix the problem is to replace the eccentric.

A torn or loose gasket on a keg. It is manifested by the fact that during the normal course of the lever with a uniform force, the water switches only partially. With such a breakdown, replacing the gasket, and sometimes the screw needed to fix it, can help.

Wear on the guides or barrel in the mixer body: the barrel is set upside down and remains in an intermediate position. The failure manifests itself in the limited stroke of the lever. To eliminate the problem, it is necessary to replace the keg, and sometimes the entire mixer structure with worn body guides.

• If a leak is observed along the stem, the procedure is the same as in the case of a push-button switch: the seal must be replaced or the stuffing box must be re-packed.

ball

As we already mentioned, a ceramic switch for a bathtub or shower stall almost never fails due to normal wear and tear. Even an attempt to turn the valve when the plates are jammed with sand or scale can lead to breakage.

Attention: the problem of impurities is completely eliminated with the help of coarse filters installed at the entrance to the house or apartment immediately behind the levers.

If, nevertheless, it was not possible to avoid a breakdown, the switch cartridge can only be completely replaced. The cost of the part is an average of 200 rubles, to replace it, you need to remove the switch lever and unscrew the nut under it.

Faucets are one of the weakest elements in the plumbing system. This is because even the highest quality of them with high reliability indicators will someday begin to leak. And, of course, he needs repairs. You can make it on your own. Bathroom shower faucet repair and diverter repair is not too difficult. An ordinary person can handle it, you just need to know how to repair a bathroom faucet with a shower. First of all, you need to understand the device of the crane, as well as understand the reason why the leak occurred.

How the mixer works

A mixer of a similar design can be of the valve type. Their work takes place a little differently, and it is important to understand this before starting work.

The composition of the valve mixer includes several valves. They rotate so that the owner can get the pressure of water at the required temperature. The design also includes a stainless steel housing containing . It is with the help of it that water with different temperatures is mixed.

The lever mixer is the most popular. It's all about its beautiful appearance and ease of use. To regulate the required temperature, as well as the pressure, one lever should first be switched to the side, and then up. Such a mixer consists of a body, nuts, a rubber ring, a replaceable one, a cover and a fixing bolt. However, such a mixer has a rather serious drawback. It cannot be repaired, because the case cannot be disassembled.

Repair of the faucet switch in the bathroom to the shower

Understanding that the switch needs to be repaired is quite simple. As a rule, it starts to flow immediately. At the faucet, the water is switched in various ways. It all depends on the type of specific switch. They are:

1. push-button;
2. spool;
3. Cartridge;
4. Cork.

And the most common among them are cartridge. Most often, their breakdown is the wear of the rubber ring, which is located between the housing and the switch lever. As a result, a leak is formed. It is easy to fix it, you need to replace the gasket. Do the following:

1. Completely shut off the water;
2. The lever of the body should be disconnected from the crane;
3. The screw must be unscrewed from the switch;
4. Then remove the switch itself;
5. Change the old unusable ring to a new, high-quality one;
6. At the place where the lever is attached, the FUM tape is wound onto the thread in several layers;
7. Put the lever back in place and secure it with the screw.

If you have a spool switch, then most often it breaks the nut that fixes this same switch. Such a defect can also be repaired. It is recommended to do the following:

1. Remove the mixer and completely disassemble it. It is necessary to unscrew all its parts;
2. Pay attention to the thread of the nut, if it is worn, it is recommended to replace it with a new one. It is better if it is bronze;
3. Take sandpaper and clean the nut inside, as well as all surfaces that come into contact with it;
4. Lubricate all parts with grease;
5. Reassemble the mixer.

The repair kit for the bathroom faucet with a shower is quite easy to assemble. Prepare in advance everything you may need, including new parts. All tools should be at your fingertips while you work. Remember also that when doing any work with the mixer, you should turn off the water to avoid even more water influx in case something goes wrong.

Things to keep in mind when doing repairs

Quite often, a leak in the place where the water switches from the bath to the shower appears for quite different reasons. Among them:

1. Broken button;
2. Water immediately enters both the faucet and the shower hose at the same time;
3. The mechanism with which you can control the water is worn out.

If it's all about the breakage of the button, then this happens, as a rule, due to the wear of the gasket. You can solve the problem quite easily - replace the set of rings with a new one or fix the one that already exists. For example, you can lubricate old rings with gasoline. However, the result will be temporary and soon you will find a leak again. Therefore, it is still recommended to replace the rings with new ones.

Cleaning the aerator

A clogged aerator often causes a small pressure of water in the shower hose. An aerator is a device necessary for regulating the pressure of water. It is located in the place of the spout. To eliminate the problem, you should thoroughly clean the aerator.

Unscrew the aerator from the gander and rinse it under water. Please note that its pressure must be strong. After that, just put it back in place.

If after that nothing has changed, you should take a thin needle and carefully remove debris from the aerator. Put it back in place and check the result. If this does not help, then you should purchase a new aerator.

Prevention

Despite the fact that the repair of the mixer is within the power and it is better for an ordinary person to prevent the occurrence of problems with it than to solve them later. To do this, remember a few simple recommendations:

1. Poor quality tap water is the first and foremost enemy of any modern plumbing. The substances that it contains, as well as mechanical impurities, can spoil even the highest quality and most expensive mixer;
2. Do not allow solid particles contained in water to enter the elements of the product. The classic rubber gaskets found on conventional faucets are more resistant to such particles than those on ceramic discs. They get scratched instantly. To solve this problem, it is enough to install filters for mechanical cleaning;
3. It is recommended to reduce the hardness of the water as much as possible. Excessive content of carbonates spoil not only taps, but also electric kettles, coffee makers and so on. To reduce the hardness of the water, you should purchase a softener filter.

All of the above recommendations will help extend the life of your faucet. Please note that you can make a rubber ring yourself. However, it will be short-lived. It is better to install such rings as temporary, and immediately change them to new high-quality ones if possible.

Many, faced with this problem, are wondering how to fix the bathroom faucet switch, which is also broken. To do this is quite simple. You need to have the necessary tools at hand, new parts to replace and clearly know what exactly needs to be done.

It should also be noted that when buying a quality faucet, you will significantly increase its service life and reduce the possibility of leaks. Don't skimp on plumbing. Otherwise, you will constantly have to spend money on repairs.

How is the faucet shower diverter arranged? What design options can be found in modern and previously manufactured plumbing fixtures? What breaks in them and how to fix the corresponding malfunctions?

Let's try to answer these questions.

Classification

In bathrooms, you can find faucets with four main types of switches.

1. Suberic. The slotted brass plug is rotated in the body by a lever about 10 centimeters long. Tightness is ensured only by lapping the cork to the body.

Please note: the corresponding products were discontinued about 30 years ago, however, due to the exceptional fault tolerance of the design, they continue to be used in many old houses.

1. Button. The button, by means of a spring-loaded rod, drives the valve, which in the lower position closes the water to the gander (spout) and opens it to the shower. The return stroke is provided by a return spring.
2. With barrel and eccentric. Turning the lever turns the stem with an off-center ledge; that, in turn, shifts up or down the keg provided with gaskets, into the groove of which it is inserted.

1. Bathtub-shower ball switch in fact, structurally closer not to a ball valve, but to. Water is directed to the desired channel of the mixer by mutual displacement of ground ceramic plates.

Useful: This type of switch is easy to distinguish from others. It allows the shift knob to make a full turn, while the device with a barrel and a eccentric is limited in movement by an arc of 45 - 60 degrees.

Advantages and disadvantages

For the convenience of readers, we summarize them in a general table.

Problems and Solutions

Now let's take a closer look at the typical breakdowns of each mechanism and how they are fixed by hand in domestic conditions.

Suberic

There are two typical problems, as we remember:

1. High switching force. The reason is most often a tightened union nut that fixes the plug in. It is enough just to loosen it slightly; in addition, a layer of silicone plumbing grease can be applied to the outer surface of the cork removed from the body.

1. stem leak. We have already mentioned the reason: this is uneven wear of rubbing surfaces. Again, a layer of silicone grease will help to correct the situation: it will not only reduce the effort required to turn the lever, but also fill in all the microscopic grooves and scratches between the metal parts.

Button

The push button shower switch also has a few typical problems.

1. The valve does not hold water. As a rule, the reason is excessively hard water: lime deposits eventually cause the valve rubber to lose elasticity, form uneven growths on it and on the seat. For a short time, diligent cleaning of the valve itself and the seat with Whiteness, Domestos or any other decalcifying agent will help; if the rubber has become frankly stiff, the valve with the stem changes completely.
2. Leak on stock.

How to repair the push button shower switch in the faucet in this case depends on the type of stem seal:

• The rubber ring will have to be replaced. A new seal is easy to find as part of a gasket set at any plumbing store.

• It is enough to stuff the gland packing again by tightening the gland with moderate force.

Useful: it is better to use one or two threads of loose graphite gland. The oil seal wears out quickly when in contact with hot water.

1. The button spontaneously returns to its original position with a small pressure of water. The problem is related to an excessively tight return spring. It is enough to bite off one or two turns of it - and everything will return to normal.

1. The button does not return to its original position when the water is turned off. The reason is that the stem seal is too tight. It is enough to apply a little silicone grease under the rubber ring; in the design with gland packing, loosen the gland nut.

With a keg

1. The faucet does not switch to shower when the lever is turned.

The reason may be:

• The protrusion of the eccentric broken off by excessive force. Sign - free rotation of the lever without any visible effect. It is treated only by replacing the eccentric.
• Lost elasticity or stripped lining on the keg. Symptom - normal lever travel with moderate effort; the water is only partially switched. It will help to replace the gasket and, sometimes, the screw fixing it.
• Deterioration of the keg or guides in the mixer body: the keg gets upside down and wedged in an intermediate position. The symptom is limited lever travel. It is treated by replacing the barrel or, more often, by completely replacing the mixer with worn out guides of its body.

1. In the event of a stem leak, the instructions are the same as for the pushbutton switch: replace the rubber seal or refill the gland.

ball

As mentioned above, a ceramic switch for a shower or bathtub almost never fails due to normal wear and tear. The cause of the breakdown can only be an attempt to turn the lever when the plates are jammed with scale or sand.

Note! The problem of suspensions is completely solved by coarse filters installed at the entrance to an apartment or house immediately after the valves.

If a breakdown does occur, the switch cartridge changes completely. The price of this product does not exceed 200 rubles; to replace, just remove the switch lever and unscrew the nut under it.

In the photo - the switch cartridge.

Watering can

Since we have touched on the repair of the faucet in the bathroom, it would be logical to mention one more problem - a malfunction of the shower head, in which water comes from only part of the holes in it.

The reason is sand and lime deposits clogging the holes. It is enough to disassemble the watering can and shake out the sand or wash the holes with the same Whiteness or Silit (acid detergent).

The only problem with this simple repair is the disassembly of the watering can in the case when fasteners are not visible within sight.

Two little tricks can help here:

1. Often, the mounting screw can be found under the plastic plug in the middle of the grid.

1. Sometimes the watering can can be disassembled by fixing the shower switch with a hand - the shower is on it and turning the grid counterclockwise.

Conclusion

We hope that our simple tips will help the reader in solving typical everyday problems. You can learn more about the repair process by watching the video in this article.