How to restore the ball valve. Repair of ball valves: tips for beginners.

The ball valve is often assembled by the manufacturer in such a way that its housing is difficult to disassemble. Those. It is assembled from two parts on a threaded connection with the use of a strong fixation in the thread of the sealant. As a result, unleash such a connection in the domestic environment is very difficult. In fact, the crane is not considered demountable, and in the event of a breakdown, it needs to be changed entirely.

But nothing is impossible. To unscrew the ball valve (threaded connection), you can do the following. Clamp the housing in a vice, heat the housing around the coupling with the gas burner to a light darkening, and use a suitable powerful key to unscrew the coupling.

Thus, you get access to the ball-bolt and seals between which it is located. This is the main point related to the repair of the ball valve.

Another question is whether there are seals suitable for this crane model, which need to be replaced instead of damaged ones? If there are, then you can start repairing the ball valve.

Design

The ball valve has a fairly simple design and a minimum of details. To understand how to disassemble and how to repair the ball valve, it is enough to take a closer look at the picture presented here.


The following details:

  • Housing.
  • Seals in the body (two seals in the form of teflon rings between which is the ball-bolt).
  • Ball-bolt with a through hole, located between the seals (saddles).
  • Ball control valve stem.
  • Seals, bearing and stopper on the control stem.
  • Handle with fastening elements.

Disassembly sequence

  • Unscrew the handle fastener (bolt or nut), remove the handle;
  • We unscrew the crane body with a large key;
  • We take out the seal-saddle, the ball valve, and one more seal-saddle;
  • Remove the stem retainer ring (untwist the stem nut), remove the seals, the bearing (if any), and then the stem itself;
Actually the disassembly of the ball valve is finished.
Now we examine all the details. True, without proper experience, it is difficult to determine the nature of injuries. But basically the seals and possibly the ball valve are changing. If there are spare parts, we assemble the ball valve in the reverse order, inserting the necessary parts into our seats.

How to repair

To find out what details it consists of, how it is sorted out and how the ball valve is repaired, you can see from the video

Types of malfunctions

  • Not complete overlap of water.
  • Leaking fluid through the handle rod.
  • Tight rotation of the handle.

Causes of breakdowns

  • The ball valve or its parts are not made of standard materials. Simply, we have a fake. In this case, it makes no sense to repair the crane, it is much more profitable to replace it.
  • Feeding a chemically aggressive liquid onto the valve that damaged the seals.
  • Feeding to the liquid tap is contaminated with a large concentration of abrasive substances. Seals are damaged, and a ball-bolt.

Suddenly a tap was dripped? What to do in this situation, we will tell our readers.

Ball valves are widely used for indoor or in-house water supply and heating.

No matter how reliable the ball valve is, situations arise where you need to repair the product yourself.

Introduction to plumbing

Structurally, the device is fundamentally different from conventional valves, but to perform repairs on its own - it's not difficult.

Just need to have a minimum of knowledge:

  • crane arrangement  (about the regulating passage is written);
  • design features;
  • principle of operation.

Most have become accustomed to the idea that polymer pads are changed in taps.

After that, the device works again.

Ball valves  It contains sealing gaskets, but in addition, other malfunctions are possible.

Arrangement of stop valves

The shut-off valves of this type consist of several parts:

  • housing,
  • lever arm,
  • a locking mechanism of a spherical shape.

The different position of the ball inside the enclosure allows you to block or pass water.

The second reason is the clogging of the aerator  (grid) at the exit from the tap.

In this case, removes the mesh and is cleaned of rust, scale or debris.

Liquid with mechanical impurities, rust (read about de-ironing water with your own hands) is the cause of faults in the shut-off valves.

The following problems occur in the ball device::

  • reinforcement flows;
  • weak pressure from the tap;
  • improper mixing of water of different temperatures.

The appearance of leaks  is caused by clogging of the space between the ball and the gaskets.

A small grain of sand or a piece of rust  can break the integrity of the device.

In the event of a malfunction, the seat of the locking element is cleaned and cleaned.

Otherwise, solid debris can destroy the rubber gasket, which will lead to the need to replace the sealing insert.

Reduction of pressure is caused  partial clogging of the shutter. The solution may be installing a strainer at the input to the house or apartment.

Failures in temperature control  appear as a result of clogging of one of the holes with rust, scale, sand or other solid particles.

There are cases when it is not possible to determine the cause of the malfunction, but the valve is defective.

In such situations, the product is replaced.

Cheap faucet or faucet  are made of silumin, which does not have great strength.

Such devices can crumble with little mechanical stress.

Therefore, the right choice  is of fundamental importance. Quality ball valves will serve without repair or replacement for longer than a few cheap models.

Repair by own hands

In case of self-help troubleshooting, the following sequence of actions should be observed:

  • the water supply is blocked  on the device;
  • the screw holding the swivel lever is loosened.
      Next step, remove the lever;
  • then open the threaded part, which is unscrewed with a screwdriver clockwise;
  • pliers, remove the dome and remove the polymer element;
  • the seal is inspected for wear or solid debris.
      Clean the rubber bands gently, trying not to damage the gasket;
  • take out and inspect the ball element.
      When detecting chips, cracks or other damage, we change the sphere;
  • remove seals, fixing the swivel structure.
      To do this, use a flat screwdriver.
      If we detect defects in gaskets or springs, then we replace the elements with new ones.

Under the same scheme, repairs of the faucets in the bathroom (about installing the mixer is written) or in the kitchen.

Reassemble in the reverse order.

Mechanism assembly

It is advisable to replace the gaskets, even if there is no visible damage.

On the seals, we apply a layer of grease suitable for this reinforcement.

Before applying grease, read the composition.

Otherwise, the composition may cause damage to the device.

IMPORTANT!
  Self-repair of the ball valve must be done carefully - look through each element of the structure.

Close attention  pay attention to the presence of debris in the swivel element and on the surface of the gaskets.

After the repair, it is necessary to check the valve for leaks. The tap is connected to a water pipe and a trial run of water is carried out.

If the work is done correctly, then you will not see leaks, the liquid head will match the pressure in the system.

Look at the video shot during the repair of the shut-off valves with your own hands.

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  • Selection
  • Installation
  • Finish
  • Repairs
  • Installation
  • Device
  • Cleaning

Repair of ball valve

  • Installation of ball valves
  • Repair and maintenance of ball valves

Situations when it is necessary to eliminate the malfunctions of the ball valves on their own at home can be found quite often. On the device the ball valve differs from other similar devices. However, almost every man who has the minimum necessary knowledge and skills can perform repairs for him. And to know for this you need a crane device and the principle of water supply.

The scheme of the device of the ball valve.

Many are used to the fact that in a conventional tap you just need to replace the silicone or rubber gasket, after which you can continue using it. In a ball valve, both similar malfunctions and many other failures can occur, leading to poor performance.

Installation of ball valves

The ball valve consists of the following parts: inside the faucet or mixer is mounted a locking device, which looks like a metal ball with special holes for water outlet. When this ball is turned, the water pressure decreases or increases or the valve closes completely. The mixer has two openings for hot and cold water. At the outlet, there is a single hole for water to escape the desired temperature.

Therefore, in case of difficulties, repair of such devices should be entrusted to the plumber, who will make it qualitatively and quickly.

However, you can save a little and fix all the malfunctions yourself.

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Possible problems when using a ball valve

The scheme of the device of a ball valve of a high pressure.

The crane can not be repaired if it has visible damage in the form of cracks on its casing. Such a defect is often found in cheap cranes made of poor material. When reducing the pressure of water, it is necessary to disassemble the device and look for problems inside. To begin with, it should be checked whether the pressure is not lower due to the water pressure drop in the system. To do this, you need to open other cranes in the house and see what is the pressure in them. Another reason is the clogging of the aerator on the outlet channel. You just need to take it off and clean it. If rusty water flows from the tap, the reason is to look in the water supply system, and not in the device itself.

The most common breakdowns of ball valves are: water leakage from the mixer, weak water pressure and improper adjustment of the water temperature. Water can leak because of clogging of the space between the rubber gaskets in the cartridge and the swivel element. Even a small grain of sand can lead to a breach of the tightness of the structure and leakage. Therefore, you should also clean it, otherwise leakage will increase due to deformation of the rubber gasket, which will require replacement of the latter.

The cause of a weak water pressure may be a blockage of the shutter. In order to avoid the occurrence of this malfunction, it is necessary to install a filter in front of the mixer and at the inlet to the house coarse cleaning. The change in water temperature causes clogging of one of the holes in the ball with grains of sand or pieces of rubber gasket.

If the cause of the failure could not be detected, a replacement of the tap on the riser with water is necessary. The reason for this is the desire to save on the purchase of quality cranes and mixers. Such devices are usually made of silumin - a cheap material that has low strength and is often crumbled by any mechanical action. Therefore, it is better to purchase a quality device than to repair a cheap mixer.

May 30, 2015.

There are many types of faucets and mixers. In recent years, ball type faucets and mixers are very popular.

Ball valves are distinguished by their reliability, but sometimes there are certain breakages in them. And when it is necessary to make an urgent repair of the ball valve, even experienced locksmiths are lost. This is due to the design features of this crane model, which is quite complicated.

In ordinary cranes, everything is extremely simple. It is necessary to untwist a couple of nuts, replace the leaky gasket or crane-axle, tighten the nuts back and check the valve for leaks. But the ball model of the crane can cause very much sweat, especially if a person who does not have special training and work experience will take care of the repair.

In general, suppose that there was a small accident on a ball valve installed at your house or a mixer, and it must be eliminated on your own in a very short time.

This situation is very common, since the mechanism of this crane, in addition to the considerable advantages (in the form of very precise and rapid adjustment of the temperature and power of the water flow), has some drawbacks. A number of factors, which will be discussed below, lead either to leaks, or to the fact that it ceases to correctly mix the water temperature. This is the main breakdown of the ball type of the crane.

Ball valve design

Before you take on the repair of the ball valve, be sure to familiarize yourself with the design of its design. It is desirable to study the instructions for a particular model, but if it is not at hand, then you can follow the general principles of the structure ball mixer.


The ball models of the crane are produced by many manufacturers, but the principle of their structure remains unchanged:

  • in the core of the crane is a hollow ball of stainless steel. In its cavity and mixing of water occurs: cold and hot water enter the inlets and the water at the required temperature;
  • the ball is mounted in the cartridge, that is, a special sleeve. To fix it in the cartridge there are special saddles of rubber, which reliably fix the ball, which is under the pressure of water.

Problems with the operation of the ball valve

What are the most common problems when using a ball type mixer?

If you do not consider those cases where the cause of the breakdown is mechanical damage, that is, a crack on the housing or there is a problem with the water supply, for example, water with rust constantly flows, then the most common are the following problems.

The most common problems are:

  • weakened pressure provided that the pressure in the water supply system has not decreased;
  • water leak;
  • heavy temperature adjustment (it is not possible to install warm water).

The most common problem is a mixer leakage. Its cause is a clogged space between the ball and the saddles in the cartridge. Even a microscopic mote can break the tightness of the crane and subsequently deform the saddle.

The head is not difficult to adjust, changing the position of the rod connecting the lever and the ball to each other. By changing the position of the rod, it is possible to set the position of the pipes so as to provide the necessary pressure in the valve.

There may also be problems due to clogging of the shutter. This problem is easily solved by getting the aerator, cleaning it and returning it to its original position. In order to avoid the occurrence of blockages in the future, it is necessary to install water filters that will be able to catch solid elements, which also clog the mixer.

Mixer repair step by step

So, let's look at what needs to be done to repair the kitchen ball valve?

Video repair of the ball valve

There is a certain sequence of repair of the crane, which can not be changed. After all, from how accurately all the recommendations will be fulfilled, and the success of the repair will depend.

The main stages of repair of the ball type of the mixer are the following operations:

  • first, shut off the water supply to prevent water leakage. Drain the remaining water that has remained in the mixer;
  • loosen the screw that must hold the mixer lever. To do this, unscrew it with a hexagonal wrench. Remove the lever by pulling it up and simultaneously loosening it. If your mixer has been used for a long time, then it is possible to make some efforts. But at the same time be extremely careful, as the quality and strength of handles and housings in inexpensive mixers leaves much to be desired;
  • now, when you removed the lever part, you got access to the threaded connection. Turn it with a screwdriver clockwise, applying some force. Be careful and careful at the same time so as not to damage the water rods;
  • remove the dome of the crane using pliers and remove the small plastic part that is located under it;
  • if there is a tap leakage, the problem is most likely in the condition of the sealant, which can be either worn out (most often) or covered with mineral deposits (if the water pipe is too hard water). Deposits can easily be removed with non-abrasive cleaning agents;
  • remove the ball from its attachment point. If it is deformed or damaged, it may need to be replaced;
  • dismantle the seals that fix the ball. They are easy to remove if you use a sharp flat screwdriver. Change them for new ones, it is also desirable to replace the springs, which gradually lose their elasticity and stop fixing the ball in a qualitative way;
  • new lubricants to extend their life.

Attention! You can only use the lubricant that is designed for this model of the ball mixer. Often the composition of the sealant materials manufactured by different manufacturers may be quite different, and therefore the use of a lubricant of an inappropriate type can result in leakage and damage to the sealing rings.

After the seals are replaced, assemble the mixer according to the instructions. To do this, first install the ball of steel, and then follow it - the flywheel and the casing. Be sure to carefully check the tightness of absolutely all connections, connecting the access of cold and hot water. If the water does not flow anywhere, the head is strong enough, the temperature is easily adjusted, and the pipes do not hum, then it means that the repair was successful and the problem is fixed!

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We take out the plastic part in the form of a shield, consisting of two parts of black and white colors.

The black part is the seal. Usually, after long-term operation, its conical shape is violated or rusty coating is present, as a result of which the tap passes water. Most often for enough to remove all the dirt, but if the cause is not in the seal, then disassemble the faucet further.

We extract the ball from the crane in one movement upwards. The ball has a limiting hole specifying the range of rotation of the mechanism. Carefully inspect the ball stopper for dirt, surface cleanliness and cleavage. If the coating is damaged, then the ball most likely needs to be replaced.

When installing a new ball, make sure that the cutout on the right side of the part hits the ledge near the top of the valve. Then insert the shield, which is placed in the slot of the side of the valve with a plastic fuse.

Under the black seal are springs, which at the time of disassembly should be operable. If they do not perform their function, then they need to be replaced. To do this, carefully remove them with a flat screwdriver. Since the new springs are much longer and stronger than the old ones, when installing them, it is best to use several platypuses and pull the shield down until the springs are compressed. Then you need to install the chrome-dome and the ring, then tighten them with pliers. The longer the ring is tightened, the heavier the mixer will turn on.

When replacing seals, it is necessary to use silicone grease, which will prolong their service life. It is not washed with water, and a small amount of lubricant will improve the running of the rubbing parts of the crane.

In order to assemble, the crane takes all the actions in the reverse order. Before assembling the valve, it is necessary to lubricate all the seals with silicone grease for sanitary parts. This completes the repair. Now it only remains to turn on the water supply and check for leaks.

Very often a leak is detected near the base of the crane or in its upper part. In order to fix this, you need to lift the spout at the base after removing the ball and pull upwards.

Rotating spout of the ball mixer seal the two O-rings, it is these gaskets that tend to form leakage over time. These rings must be removed very carefully with a small flat screwdriver. After replacing the rings and before re-fitting the ball valve, it is necessary to apply a little silicone grease to these O-rings to reduce the wear of the seals.

It should be noted that the plumbing market is represented by ball Valves  different modifications, so the ways of disassembling them may be somewhat different. When installing the ball mixer and subsequent repairs, each threaded joint is sealed with a fluoroplastic tape or a special thread in the cassette.