When working on the construction and design of your own bathhouse, it is important to consider every little detail to ensure maximum functionality and comfort for visitors. Among other tasks facing the owner, the main one is organizing the water supply. The latter is necessary for washing and generating steam, without which the whole procedure loses much of its charm and usefulness.
Bronze model
Bronze bath taps are controlled using valves, spindles, disks and plugs. Hence their classification. They also differ in the type of mixer head. The housings are made of metal with double-sided threads and a supply pipe. In addition to the replaceable fittings with a head, the faucet has a nose that determines the direction of the water jet. When purchasing, you need to pay attention to the material from which the faucet is made, its characteristics, spout, design, price and functionality. For example, one made of brass is more expensive than models made of stainless steel, but it is stronger and more functional in operation.
Valve model
Valve taps have a head with an external thread and an internal thread. Thanks to the external thread, you can mount the valve head, and with the help of the internal thread, you can ensure the movement of the rod fixed in the regulated section in a spiral. As a result of such manipulations, the valve, having fixed the stem at the bottom, can control the position of the seat, that is, the hole for the flow of liquid. From the outside, the rod can be controlled using a conventional handle. For strength, the saddle is equipped with a gasket, a structure that ensures that the mixer adheres to the saddle. To stop the flow of water, the head body is sealed using a special packing and tightly compressed by a sleeve on the side where the device handle is located.
The features of valve models include simple and cheap repairs during repairs: the mechanism is easy to disassemble, the prices for parts are low. They differ from other varieties in their high wear resistance and reliability. In addition, such products can withstand high water pressure. But it is worth keeping in mind that if the thread is damaged, the device becomes unusable.
Design differences
Valves with spindle heads do not differ in operation from valve models. The only difference is the movement of the valve stem. During operation of the device, a stationary rod is observed. The model works thanks to thread cutting located inside the rod. Unlike other varieties, spindle taps are distinguished by their quality and convenience. However, they also cannot be repaired if the threads are damaged.
Cone types of taps have a primitive operating scheme. The spindle is a plug with slots and a hole through which the liquid flows. By turning the handle, both pipe connections are aligned. When you turn the handle in the opposite direction, the water turns off.
Such models have their own characteristics
- Housings are made only from cast iron, and structural working elements are made from steel alloys, flexible cast iron or bronze.
- The handle is formed only from wood or plastic.
- The device head can only be repaired by tightening the nut.
Models with ceramic discs are very similar in design to cork discs, the difference is in the module that replaces the cork. It fits tightly to part of the disk and when, when moving the handle, the tap displaces the hole of the ceramic spindle with the body, the liquid begins to flow. The difference between these models is the highly sensitive handle, as well as its handles, which are reduced several times. Therefore, the jet can be controlled with a light touch of your fingers.
The advantages of such devices are reliability, tightness, low price, the ability to install servos and durability. The main disadvantage is the need for clean water. The faucet quickly stops working if the water is dirty. During repairs, you will need to replace the mobile module.
Spindle taps
This type is a certain improved version of the previously mentioned one. Here the rod is made motionless, and the opening is made due to the thread located inside it. This design has no particular advantages over the previously described one.
There is only one difference - the valve moves inside the stem, which quite often leads to the spindle thread breaking when trying to tighten it. It is very difficult to repair such a breakdown. To repair, you will need a number of specific tools and a lot of experience in handling locking valves.
Knowledgeable people recommend doing the following to extend the service life of a new spindle crane:
- take it apart;
- unscrew the spindle;
- remove the valve;
- Place a ring of copper wire with a cross-section of 2 millimeters on the upper edge of the latter.
Thanks to this simple but quite effective manipulation, a more noticeable extension of the valve is ensured and, accordingly, its tightest fit to the seat.
However, now in specialized stores for little money it is not difficult to purchase a completely new head assembly, the installation of which requires only a regular adjustable wrench and about 5 minutes of free time.
Bath taps with wooden handle
Bath taps with wooden handles are quite popular due to the advantages of wood over other materials.
- Sanded and treated wood is pleasant to the touch.
- Wood is a good heat insulator, so the handle will be warm and you won’t get burned on it.
- Wood is easy to process, any type of handle can be constructed from it, and the handle can be decorated with carvings.
- The wooden handle will fit perfectly into the decor of a bathhouse or sauna and will be an additional source of a pleasant smell indoors.
However, bath faucets with a wooden handle have their drawbacks. Wood is a fragile material compared to metal; a wooden handle can quickly become unusable. Therefore, it is better to buy a faucet with a handle made of hardwood.
Bath mixer
When choosing a faucet for a bath or sauna, you need to give preference to materials such as titanium, brass and stainless steel. Brass makes the faucet durable, since zinc is considered the main alloying component in its composition. In addition, brass protects the faucet from corrosion. Titanium makes the product reliable and wear-resistant, and stainless steel makes it easy to use. But it cannot be called wear-resistant during friction.
When choosing a bath mixer, it is better not to choose models made of silumin. This is a synthetic, fragile alloy, subject to corrosion and rapid wear in contaminated water.
What you should know about faucets
The samovar faucet lacks care and maintenance the most, so it is important to periodically carry out a couple of simple operations in order to eliminate the occurrence of troubles. (See also the article How to choose a sink faucet: highlights.)
Advice! In order not to make a mistake when choosing and choose the right size, it is best not to be lazy and bring the samovar with you, so you can check whether the mounting hole of the samovar fits the faucet or estimate how well the cone wrench fits into the seat on the faucet.
Maintenance activities
To eliminate the possibility of trouble occurring, it is necessary to periodically carry out preventive measures:
- At least once every thirty days, the key is removed, cleaned of any scale, if any, and lubricated with any edible oil . The use of technical lubricants is not allowed, since they are unsafe for human health; it is better to use any plant or animal composition. In addition, cleaning should be carried out carefully so as not to damage the surface.
- For the period when the samovar will not be used, it is imperative to obtain the key in order to lubricate it . This element should be stored separately, this will avoid troubles and keep the structure in good condition for as long as possible.
- Periodically you need to check how the faucet is working properly and whether it is letting too much water through . This will make it possible to identify problems in advance and solve them at the initial stage of their origin.
Note! Three drops per minute is the norm for a samovar faucet to leak; in other words, in addition, correctly fitted elements will be able to leak little water, you should not worry about this. In addition, much more often water flows only at a time when it is warm and the metal is expanding, while the samovar is not in use, the tap, by and large, does not let water through.
Problem solving options
In addition, if you carry out periodic preventative maintenance, this does not exclude the occurrence of malfunctions. The first of these cases is when the key is stuck to the mounting hole and does not move.
You should never apply force, you can do it, and a good half of the key will remain in the tap, in this case you will need to turn to experts, since it is difficult to fix such a problem with your own hands.
The work is carried out as follows:
- If the faucet of the samovar does not open, you need to treat the mounting hole of the key with the so-called “liquid key”. These sprays effectively fight rust and scale, dissolving it. It is better to carry out the treatment 2-3 times and leave the structure for 20-30 minutes.
- Then a wooden block is taken and placed underneath. Blows are carefully applied through it with a hammer until the stuck element is removed, and at the same time you need to hold the fastening of the tap to the samovar.
- Do not forget to carefully rinse all components at the end of work, since the compounds of this group are very poisonous.
If the faucet is leaking from below, the instructions for carrying out the work are as follows:
- The samovar tap needs to be ground in; do it carefully so as not to remove too much, otherwise the lock will fail and a leak will form at the top.
- For lapping, a special paste for automotive valves is useful. The pin is lubricated and inserted into the hole; now you need to heat the water in the samovar.
- The key is turned back and forth a couple of times, after which you need to check for leaks. If it runs out, work stops and the system is flushed. (See also the article How to repair a leak in a pipe: highlights.)
Other fittings
To supply water in the bathhouse, in addition to taps, pipes, fittings, fittings, water outlets and mixers are used. To ensure uninterrupted operation of water, carry out preventive maintenance and repair, each device must have shut-off valves installed that allow you to shut off the water, find the source of the breakdown and eliminate it. In this case, the valves must be made of stainless steel, brass or titanium.
Thanks to shut-off valves, the flow of water is blocked for repairing pipes and plumbing fixtures. If the valves are open, repairs will not be possible. Shut-off valves must be installed:
- at the beginning of the section;
- in the place where the bathhouse will be located;
- in all places where the pipeline branches off;
- at the beginning of any mixer;
- in places where there are racks located vertically.
By design, straight-through, angle or direct-flow valves for water supply systems resemble spindles. The valve can be connected to the stem using ball fittings.
Shut-off valves are distinguished by the fact that they do not require constant repair. The problem that has arisen can be eliminated in the same way as in the case of a valve mixer.
Attention! Valves need to be maintained carefully, as if not properly maintained they can fail and need to be replaced.
Drain taps are the main purpose of emptying the pipeline. They are required in cold weather, when it is necessary to drain all the water due to the approach of autumn, and in the summer, when it is necessary to carry out the opposite process. Every person uses them every day, washing in the sink, taking a bath, etc. Such devices are created from brass, stainless steel and plastic.
Drain mixers need to be installed:
- in an independently functioning water supply system;
- at the beginning of all devices;
- At the beginning of the pipes entering the room.
They are indispensable in various situations, for example, automatic drain faucets empty the pipeline so that you can use the water intake system in winter.
Important! Instead of a simple drain mixer, an electromagnetic type of valve is more often used. It is considered the best due to its remote control. However, it costs significantly more.
The need for a drain valve
A drain tap in a bathhouse is necessary not only for more comfortable procedures. If an autonomous water supply system is organized in the room, then drainage devices play a huge role in its conservation. Water is drained from the summer system at the end of the summer season, and from the winter system if the site is left for a long period of time.
Drain taps are installed in several places:
- In front of all devices;
- At the starting point of the outer line;
- Before introducing pipes into a building.
In modern baths, not only ordinary taps can be installed, but also solenoid valves that are turned on/off remotely.
Shut-off valves
A shut-off valve structure is installed to shut off water in the event of an unexpected failure of one of the sections of the system. In the “normal” state, the taps are in the “open” position. During renovations, they are closed.
If the bathhouse has both hot and cold water supply, but valves must be installed on each line.
