Bath faucet with thermostat: how to choose a good model + how to install it correctly
Adjusting the water pressure in a sink or shower is not always an easy task. The pressure in pipes with hot and cold water is usually not the same. In addition, these indicators tend to change suddenly - a situation familiar to residents of apartment buildings.
To solve such problems, a wonderful device was invented - a bath faucet with a thermostat. It allows you to get a stable flow of water at a given temperature.
Having dealt with the principles of operation and types of modern thermostatic faucets, you can choose the appropriate option and make water procedures in your home extremely comfortable.
Externally, the thermostatic mixer is not too different from a conventional mechanical appliance. On the body there are two adjustment knobs, two inlets - for hot and cold water, as well as a spout.
All the most interesting and important is inside. The heart of such a mixer is a special valve. It is made of special bimetallic plates that react sensitively and quickly to changes in the temperature of the water entering the device chamber.
Some valves use wax, which expands noticeably when heated.
The diagram clearly shows the device of a thermostatic mixer: 1 - hot water; 2 - eccentric; 3 - check valve; 4 - switch; 5 - ceramic pressure regulator; 6 - aerator; 7 - thermal cartridge; 8 - temperature lock; 9 - temperature adjustment; 10 - cold water
A cartridge with a fixing and adjusting screw is used to adjust the valve. By turning the screw, you can set the device to mix water at a certain temperature.
The valve regulates the amount of hot and cold water entering the chamber, and then delivers it to the outlet of the appliance. Most of these mixers allow you to set not only the temperature, but also the pressure of the water coming from the device.
There is no need to adjust the faucet every time you use it, it is enough to do it only once, the settings will be saved. When you turn on the device, it will take some time to get the flow of the desired temperature.
If the mixer is set up correctly, it usually only takes a few seconds.
For safety reasons, the faucet adjusting screw is equipped with a special limiter that prevents the water from heating to a dangerous level. If cold water suddenly stops flowing into the mixer, the water supply to the spout is completely blocked and is restored only after normal water supply is restored.
In addition, the device does not allow the water to become too cold. This feature is relevant for families with growing children who can already bathe on their own, but are not yet able to monitor the temperature of the water in the bath.
Although the principle of operation of different mixers is the same, the models of these devices are quite diverse. First of all, you should decide on the purpose of the mixer:
- for a washbasin, equipped with a spout only;
- for a shower in which there is no spout, water flows only to the shower head;
- for a shower and a washbasin at the same time, the water supply is switched by a special handle;
- for kitchen sink.
It should be noted that thermostatic faucets specially designed for a bidet or hygienic shower can also be found on sale. The installation of such models is especially relevant if the house has elderly or sick residents who need special care.
Bath and shower faucets with thermostatic control have two outlets for water: spout and shower head
In addition, you can choose a mixer with mechanical or electronic control. Mechanical models are considered more reliable, they are easier to repair and they cost a little less. Electronic faucets are equipped with a beautiful display, which greatly facilitates the operation of the device.
But they are more expensive, and repairing them in the event of a breakdown is much more difficult.
The mechanical model of a mixer with a thermostat looks concise and outwardly very similar to a conventional mixer: two valves and a spout. Mechanical models are very reliable and easier to repair than electronic devices.
The essential difference between an electronic mixer and a mechanical mixer is the need to connect the power supply, which is performed using batteries or a power adapter.
They are necessary for the operation of electronic temperature sensors and the screen, which reflects data on the operation of the device. This may be water temperature, pressure force, etc. Such a device can be controlled using buttons or directly from the touch panel.
There are also models with remote control.
In everyday life, electronic mixers are not used very often, since cheaper mechanical models cope more than satisfactorily. Often complex and expensive electronic devices are used in large facilities such as swimming pools, medical facilities, saunas, etc.
Modern models of electronic faucets with a thermostat are equipped with a convenient touch screen that displays the current settings, as well as contains controls
Faucets also differ in the way they are installed. They are installed in the traditional way, on a horizontal surface or on a wall, but you can choose a model for mounting on the side of the bathroom.
There are also faucets that can be hidden in the wall. Such built-in models are accompanied by a special container case, which is placed in the thickness of the wall.
The built-in mixer with a thermostat is characterized by a laconic design, but if the device needs to be repaired, access to it can be difficult
There is also a so-called thermostatic central mixer. This device supplies hot water of a given temperature to all points of analysis in the house at once.
It sounds great, but in practice this device is far from being as convenient as we would like. This faucet does not make it possible to make hot water for a bath or shower. You will either have to raise the temperature of the water for the whole house, or be content with not too comfortable water procedures.
The use of such a device makes sense if there are several washbasins in the room. Separate thermostats should be used for the bath and shower.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of using thermostatic bath and shower mixers are obvious and undeniable:
- despite the complex device, the device is exceptionally easy to use;
- provides water supply with a stable high temperature;
- it is not difficult to install it yourself;
- water always comes with a suitable pressure;
- the device is safe even in case of emergencies, for example, when cold or hot water is turned off;
- reduces water consumption, which, without the use of a thermostatic mixer, was lost when manually setting the temperature;
- allows you to save energy for heating water with autonomous hot water supply.
Among the shortcomings can be noted, mainly the high price. Although the owners of houses and apartments, who have tested this device in practice, consider their costs to be quite justified.
Another problem that often causes problems with thermostatic faucets is the poor quality of tap water, which is especially common for centralized water supply in apartment buildings.
Over time, the device becomes clogged, its performance deteriorates, and unpleasant noise appears during use.
In the best case, the problem can be eliminated by cleaning the device, but sometimes the mixer simply breaks down and has to be completely replaced. You can increase the service life with the help of coarse filters installed at the inlets to the mixer.
Some models are equipped with special meshes that should filter out debris, but practice shows that the effectiveness of these materials in combination with Soviet-built water pipes is not great.
Another problem is the low water pressure in the house plumbing. The passport of each mixer indicates the minimum pressure at which the operation of the device will be sufficiently effective. If the necessary indicators are not available, it does not make much sense to purchase and install a mixer with a thermostat.
You can correct the situation by installing a special pump that will raise the pressure in the water supply. Thus, in order to install a thermostatic mixer in conditions of poor quality tap water or low water pressure in the system, additional costs will be required.
These points should be taken into account when planning the purchase of a thermostatic mixer. It is possible to adjust the water pressure with the help of such a device only in the direction of decrease.
It should also be remembered that thermostatic mixers, especially their electronic version, are quite difficult to repair. This can hardly be done at home, you need to contact specialized service centers. In addition, not all problems can be solved with the help of repair.
Installing a thermostatic faucet
In general, the installation of a thermostatic mixer is not too different from the installation of a conventional model. It must also be connected to pipes with cold and hot water, seal all connections, and check the operation of the device.
Of course, the procedure for installing the device is somewhat different depending on the installation location:
- on the wall;
- on a separate rack;
- on the washbasin;
- on the side of the bath;
- inside the wall.
In addition, the installation of each individual mixer model may have its own nuances. Therefore, before installation, you should carefully study the manufacturer's instructions.
In general, the installation procedure for a mixer with a thermostat may look like this:
- Completely shut off the supply of cold and hot water in the house.
- If necessary, clean and lubricate the stopcocks to securely shut off the water supply.
- Dismantle the old mixer.
- Unscrew the fixing nuts of the mixer with thermostat.
- Check the integrity of the metal discs and threads of the new device.
- Unscrew the eccentric discs (counterclockwise movements).
- Clean discs and outlets from accumulated dirt.
- Install old cleaned disks or replace them with new ones.
- Wrap a layer of sealant on the thread of the mixer: FUM tape, tow, etc.
- Install gaskets.
- Loosen the outlet nuts as far as they will go.
- Install decorative trims.
- Screw on the mixer.
- Install a spout, shower head and other hanging elements.
- Seal all joints carefully.
- Connect the water and check the operation of the device, as well as make sure there are no leaks.
- Set the temperature of the water coming from the faucet.
The installation procedure for the Hansgrohe wall-mounted faucet is illustrated in the following video:
To install a built-in faucet with a thermostat for the bathroom, first a special cavity is made in the wall, as well as strobes for supplying hot and cold water to the faucet, if necessary.
But when it is planned to create a false wall at the installation site, for example, from drywall, it is not necessary to hollow out the main wall, the device will be hidden behind the false wall panel.
To seal the threaded connections of a mixer with a thermostat, use tow, linen thread, FUM tape or other suitable sealant, as when installing a conventional mixer
A very important point when connecting a thermostatic mixer is the correct connection of the device to the pipes of cold and hot water.
The inputs for the respective outlets are marked on the mixer. Most models are made to European standards, so cold water should be brought to the mixer on the right, and hot on the left.
In the post-Soviet space, the plumbing is done exactly the opposite: cold water is supplied to the left side of the mixer. When installing a faucet with a thermostat on an old-style water supply system, confusion can arise due to these features.
Incorrect connection may damage the faucet.
Special flexible hoses can be used to correctly connect the mixer with a thermostat in the bathroom to cold and hot water supply.
It is not always possible to simply turn the mixer, since its spout will be directed upwards. To install a wall model, you will have to significantly redo the plumbing.
For other types of faucets, it will be enough to use a pair of flexible hoses to make the connection correctly.
To set up the electronic model of the mixer, a control panel is used, with the help of which they set the level of pressure of the water entering the spout, as well as its temperature.
In mechanical models, the setting is performed differently. By default, the manufacturer usually leaves the device in a neutral position, which allows you to get a stream of water with a temperature of 38 degrees. Even if such settings are suitable and do not need to be changed, they must be fixed.
To do this, remove the protective cover from the mixer, under which the control valve is hidden, and rotate it. To measure the water temperature, it is recommended to use a conventional thermometer.
To set up a mechanical model of a mixer with a thermostat, use a special lever hidden under a protective cap and a household thermometer.
Centralized water supply in most cases is ruthless to modern plumbing, including thermostatic mixers.
In addition to the already mentioned problem with poor water quality, water hammer, as well as sudden pressure drops in the plumbing system, are dangerous.
To prevent a problem, it is worth installing a check valve and / or a reducer at the inlet to the apartment plumbing system, which should be adjusted in accordance with the characteristics of the mixer.
