Mixer installation height above a bathtub

Regardless of the style in which your bathroom is decorated, there is a certain set of items that must be in it. Without them, the very existence of a special room for hygiene procedures loses all meaning. You can take a washing machine and cupboards to the kitchen or to the corridor, but it will be difficult to do without a bath, sink and faucet. It is very important that the plumbing equipment is located as conveniently as possible. What should be the height of the mixer above the bath? Read our article.

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What is a mixer?

At its core, the faucet is a part of the plumbing system. With this element:

• hot and cold water is supplied;
• head is regulated;
• temperature is regulated;
• the flow of water is directed to the spout or shower head.

The mixer has a lot of functions, it is often necessary to use it, so you need to install it in such a way that all family members are comfortable:

• In a large bathroom there may even be several similar devices - above the bathroom and above the sinks. Separate taps are very different in design, because the one above the sink is not connected to the shower.
• In small rooms they usually put one tap, it is located above the bathroom. If necessary, which occurs several times a day, it is turned to the sink.

Depending on which option you prefer, the choice of installation height of the mixer above the bath will also change.

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Mixer design

Plumbing shops sell a wide variety of faucets. But in design they have a lot in common. Each similar device has:

• housing;
• lever;
• sidewalls;
• sleeve;
• union nut;
• movable cone;
• gasket;
• spout;
• sealant;
• holder;
• supply pipes or flexible hoses.

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Types of Mixers

Depending on how the water supply is regulated, the mixers are divided into three types:

• single lever;
• Thermostatic
• two-valve.

Single lever

Single-lever models appeared relatively recently, but have already become very widespread. They do not yet have a settled name, in the instructions they are called differently:

• articulated;
• “Joysticks”;
• monocommand.

A single lever tap consists of two spheres or plates made of a special polymer. Spheres or plates are tightly connected, each has a hole. The strength of the water flow depends on how much the elements fit together at a given moment.

Important! The main advantage of a single lever mixer is that you can turn it with one hand, and it takes an instant to shut off the water. In this case, leakage is practically excluded.

Having decided to get such a device, first of all, see who made it. Reliable single-lever mixers are produced by many European companies, including quite well-known ones. This model should be chosen. “Joystick” can not be very cheap, so refrain from buying cheap Chinese models. They most likely will not stand even a few weeks.

Thermostatic

Its main advantage is the ability to obtain a constant temperature of the outlet water.This is especially important where the parameters of the hot water entering the final consumer (that is, into your apartment) fluctuate. Thermostatic equipment avoids vibrations.

Important! If you take a shower, and at this time the pressure of hot water decreases, water of a given temperature will still flow from your watering can.

The design of such a miracle of technology is quite simple, which allows you to operate it for a very long time. Managing it is also quite easy. Thermostatic mixers are divided into two types - mechanical and electronic. Their advantages are obvious:

• no need to rotate the valves;
• it is possible to adjust the optimal temperature once, and the next time the “smart” tap will itself supply water, according to the entered parameters;
• There is a security system that prevents the unexpected supply of boiling water or ice water.

Important! The obvious disadvantages include the price. It is still quite expensive devices, however, many apartment owners, appreciating the advantages of “smart” technology, prefer it.

Dual valve

It is also called the "herringbone". This model is still popular, you have seen it more than once. It consists of two taps marked in red and blue (or other markings). In many homes, such devices have been standing for more than a decade, they rarely break down, if the owners do not forget to change the gaskets in time.

Important! They are less convenient than single-lever ones, they do not look as impressive as thermostatic ones, but they are cheaper than both, and they are reliable, which explains their great popularity.

“Herringbone” can be of two types:

• with ceramic discs;
• with rubber gaskets.

Temperature and water pressure are controlled by valves. If you decide to buy just such, do not forget to check how well all the parts work, as well as the quality of the fastening.

Important! If you come across a defective faucet - troubles cannot be avoided, it will be impossible to completely shut off the water. As a result, you will receive not only a space bill for water consumption, but the crane itself will quickly completely fail. There are situations when cranes are scrolling - this option will not suit you either.

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Materials

On sale you can find faucets that have a very different look. From silver metal, gilded, with handles for ceramics or marble - in general, lovers of various styles can choose the suitable option and install the mixer over the bathtub. However, the gilded tap is not made of gold at all. For the production of such equipment, two metals are most often used;

• brass;
• stainless steel.

Brass plumbing

Brass is a traditional material for the manufacture of faucets and other plumbing equipment, which should be made of metal. We can say that this is a classic of the genre. Brass, that is, an alloy of copper and zinc, has a lot of useful properties:

• strength;
• durability;
• noble appearance.

A decorative plating is usually applied over a brass base. The brass surface is usually yellow, but the coating can be either greenish or reddish.

Important! The disadvantages include the fact that the mineralized deposits settle inside the brass parts very intensively. It is because of this that buyers often prefer steel.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is a cheap, practical and very reliable metal. Plumbing manufacturers especially love him because he is not subject to corrosion and does not deform. Moreover, on parts from this material, deposits form more slowly than on brass ones.

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How will it be attached?

The installation height of the mixer in the shower to a certain extent depends, among other things, on how it will be mounted. Mount may be;

• on the wall;
• on the counter.

On the wall

Most bathrooms and showers use the first option. It is especially convenient in small rooms.In addition, no additional plumbing work is required - all bends are already made during the construction of the house.

Important! Unfortunately, in order to change the installation height of the mixer, serious repair work is required - very often the pipes are walled up in the wall, so you will have to free them and rearrange the input, so that you can not do without welding. In addition, you have to hollow the wall, and then repair it again.

Rack mount

A very convenient option for large rooms, where the bath is not located against the wall and not in the corner, but in the middle. The installation height of the bath faucet in this case is regulated quite simply: it is necessary to remove or weld a section of the supply pipe.

How to determine that the mixer is uncomfortable?

Usually, all plumbing equipment is installed according to standards, and almost everyone is satisfied. Plumbing has to be rearranged if adults of very tall or too short stature live in the apartment, or if the builders screwed up. For a person of average size, the standard installation of the mixer above the bathtub is quite convenient, he does not have to bend over or stretch to turn on the water.

How to sort it out?

• At a standard mixer installation height, a jet of water under high pressure enters the bathtub without abundant splashes or too much noise. If the faucet is installed too high (and this happens if the construction company is not careful about the standards), quite a lot of water is on the floor.
• Too low installation of the general mixer does not lead to additional water consumption, it is simply inconvenient - for example, the tap common to the bathtub and washbasin constantly touches the edge of the sink. But even in this case, it is better to rearrange the wash basin or even the bath.

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If the mixer is separate

In this case, the height of the bath from the floor plays a role. The mixer installation standard is 80 cm from the already tiled floor surface. This is a very convenient option, if only the font is set to a standard height. This usually happens, in the vast majority of manufacturers of such equipment make legs of the same height. But there are exceptions. If the legs are too high or the bathtub is almost on the floor - it is easier to change its height, and not to edify or cut pipes embedded in the wall.

Important! By the way, in baths and saunas the same standard is adopted - 80 cm from the floor. And this means that you should not be wise and rearrange the faucet, unless you have very good reasons for this.

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General mixer

Water, which is supplied to the bathtub and sink from the same tap, is a fairly common phenomenon. If you put the general mixer at the same height as the separate one, it will become impossible to use the sink, because it is placed above the bathtub. In this case, a different standard for the installation height of the mixer is applied - 1 m. The countdown again goes from the floor on which the coating already lies.

Important! Regardless of whether you have a common faucet or a separate one for a bath, the height above the side should be about 20 cm.

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Shower faucet

A person usually uses a shower cabin while standing. And it’s very inconvenient to bend too low if the faucet is at the same height as above the bath. And the standard for the general mixer is not very good. Therefore:

• The crane needs to be positioned higher - at a height of 1.2 m from the floor.
• The watering can holder is best raised to 2.15 m - but here, as they say, options are possible.

Important! The lowest adult member of the family should freely reach the holder. By the way, the watering can can be removable.

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Sink faucet

If the bathroom has a washbasin on which you can put a separate faucet, it is best to do this. In this case there is more scope for imagination - sinks come in different depths and heights. It is important that the distance between it and the mixer is approximately 20 cm.

And if the bathroom is very large and each family member has his own personal washbasin? In a large apartment or private house, this is quite possible. Then:

• It is also necessary to determine the distance between the axes. It can not be less than 65 cm.
• As with one sink, the height is 20 cm.

Important! When installing plumbing, do not forget that the water flow should not break on the side of the font or sink, that is, the pipe should be quite long.

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Stand mixer

In luxury apartments with large bathrooms, the mixer usually stands on a special column. The area allows you to place the font somewhere in the middle. The height of the rack itself can be different - it depends entirely on the model. But in any case, the following considerations must be considered:

• water under pressure should not be very sprayed;
• it should not fall on the side;
• mixer installation height should be such that it is convenient to use the crane.

Important! Trying to calculate the distance, you are likely to come to the same results - 20 cm above the side and 80 cm from the floor. The result may not be entirely accurate - if your faucet is at a distance of 82 or 78 cm from the tiled floor, nothing bad will happen, it will not affect the flow of water in any way.

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Mixer installation

If you do not need to change the length of the pipes, installing the mixer in the bathroom will not cause any special difficulties. The main thing is to carefully read the instructions.

Materials and tools for work

You will need:

• the mixer itself;
• set of keys (adjustable, plumbing, socket, open-end);
• sealant (linen tow);
• sealing grease;
• FUM tape;
• flexible hoses.

Important! Any plumbing equipment that you buy must be fully equipped. The packaging and instructions indicate what should be in the box. Do not forget to check it all out, otherwise, you may expect unpleasant surprises.

In the plumbing shop you will find a sealant - flax thread is most often used, it is quite cheap. Ftoroplastovaya costs a little more, besides, it is difficult to regulate. You will also find sealing paint there - sellers call it “dirt” or “plumbing dirt”.

Start dismantling

In order to remove the old mixer, you need a set of keys:

• adjustable wrench:
• plumbing;
• end face.

Next, get to work:

• As with other plumbing, you must first turn off the water, that is, turn off the taps on the inlet pipes of hot and cold water.

Important! With parallel wiring, this is enough. If the wiring is consistent, you will have to block the water in the entire apartment (using the valve installed at the entrance). Sometimes there are no shut-off valves in the apartments, in this case you cannot do without a utility company - you will have to block the pipes in the entire entrance.

• Relieve residual pressure - just open the taps and wait for water to flow out.
• Disconnect the mixer from the water supply.

Important! It is necessary to dismantle the mixer very carefully so as not to damage the equipment already in the bathroom.

Installation

Where to begin? Of course, with the instructions. Quite often, the mixer is sold already partially assembled. If not, you need to collect, and then:

1. Make sure that the gaskets are pressed tightly enough.
2. Make sure that all parts, with the exception of valves or levers, are fixed firmly and stand still.
3. Wind the seal onto the thread.
4. Coat flaxseed with sealing paint.
5. Screw in the centering sleeves (first with your hands, then, when you feel that they are hooked, with a key). The bushings should be screwed to the end, but without much effort, because they will still have to be adjusted.
6. Screw the faucet with the union nuts, not forgetting the sealing washers.
7. Turn centering sleeves to the desired angle.
8. Tighten the nuts.
9. The mixer is assembled.

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Stock footage

In this article you learned everything about how to choose a bathtub faucet, what should be the height of the mixer above the bathtub with different variations of plumbing, and how to perform all installation work. We hope that our information was more than enough for you to do everything accurately, reliably and competently.