Washing machine faucet is a shut-off valve that is used to connect household appliances in a cold water supply system along with adapter fittings and a hose. In this case, the product must not only reliably shut off the water supply, but also be placed in an easily accessible place. “Plumber Portal” will tell you about the features of the faucet for connecting a washing machine to the water supply and how to install the part.
Purpose of shut-off valves
The need to install a tap that shuts off the flow of water when connecting an automatic machine and disconnecting it from the cold water supply line during downtime is indicated in the operating instructions for the technical device. The manufacturer indicates two main purposes of this plumbing element:
- A flexible supply hose is not able to withstand constant pressure in the system; when the pressure increases or sudden pressure surges, the hose sheath can become deformed and leak.
- The check valve consists of a spring and a rubber disk, and is designed for temporary operation when the chamber with the drum is filled with water. Constant pressure stretches the spring, causing the shut-off membrane to not fit tightly. Also, under strong pressure, the rubber membrane may burst.
As a result, these factors lead to leaks and disruption of the functionality of expensive household appliances.
The absence of a tap in the water supply system to the washing machine is dangerous because breakthroughs usually occur at night, when the pressure in the circuit increases and all residents are sleeping. If this factor is not so important for the lower floors, then for owners of apartments on the upper floors, saving on shut-off valves can entail disproportionate expenses for repairing their own and neighbors’ homes.
The faucet connected to the water supply system must operate in an on-off mode, which does not require adjustment of the water flow. Therefore, they install inexpensive but reliable parts with a simple design and a large time interval for maintenance and repair of equipment with the replacement of worn out elements.
The shape of the product body is selected from the position of the most convenient location for access to the handle in the form of a long asymmetrical lever or butterfly.
Correct installation
After purchasing, you need to install the faucet for the washing machine correctly. Therefore you will need:
- Various hoses are included with the SM. It is recommended to select a double hose of the required length. Thanks to wire reinforcement, such hoses serve for a long time and reliably.
- Flow filter. There are a lot of impurities in tap water, so it is better to install a mesh filter to trap debris.
- For work, the following are used: a calibrator, an expendable wrench for nuts, nuts, and a special tape for sealing.
Installing a tee tap on a washing machine
- Turn off the cold water.
- Drain off any water if any remains.
- Having calculated the size of the tee tap with a strainer, cut a similar connector in the pipe.
- Place the nut on the pipe, previously removed from the triple tap.
- Using a calibrator, make a larger hole in the pipe.
- Install a tee (or another tap). Where the pipe connects to the thread, install a ring to seal it.
- Secure the nut.
- Install the water supply hose to the outlet with the valve.
Installation of an angle and flow valve is carried out according to the diagram described above.
Design Features
The ball water tap has a simple structure, a high degree of water resistance, small size and ease of use. The main design elements of a standard water shut-off device are:
- Frame. Typically made of chrome or nickel plated brass. The inlet and outlet pipes are equipped with external threads for connecting the part to the pipeline of electrical and plumbing fixtures.
- Ball. Made of polished and ground brass, which is coated with chrome on top. Inside the ball at the top there is a small rectangular recess intended for inserting a rod.
- Stock. It is produced in the form of a brass rod with sealing rubber rings. A handle is attached to one of the edges of the rod. There is a hole on top for screwing in the fixing screw or the pulley has a thread for attaching the handle to the nut. The opposite side of the rod with a rectangular cross-section is designed for insertion into the body.
- Seat and seal rings. The seating rings, which are located on both sides of the ball at the inlet and outlet of the passage channel, maintain tightness and prevent the flow of liquid when the valve is closed. An O-ring placed on one part of the housing prevents it from leaking when connected to another element.
- Pen. The rotating mechanism is connected to the rod with a screw or union nut made of nickel-plated steel. Made of nickel-plated steel or aluminum coated with polymers in a liquid plasticizer (plastisol).
Depending on the type of faucet for the washing machine connected to the water supply, the set of elements may vary.
Types of water taps
All faucets for washing machines can be divided into several categories, differing in different parameters:
- Material of manufacture. Usually made from: brass, stainless steel, silumin. The most reliable and high-quality, but also the most expensive, are brass parts. The cheapest products are made from silumin with low strength and low weight. Average in price and quality - steel elements.
There is another option - using a polymer faucet, which has average reliability, but is more flexible than silumin products. They are easy to install - you can solder directly into a polypropylene pipeline without adapters.
- The principle of operation of the locking mechanism. There are two groups of shut-off valves: screw and ball.
In screw models, the flow is blocked gradually due to repeated rotation of the valve, which is irrational for a part whose main purpose is to supply and shut off the flow of water.
In models with a ball, it is enough to turn the handle at a right angle and the water will be supplied or turned off instantly. This is the main task of the fittings, so a two-way ball valve is usually installed for a washing machine.
- Execution of the body. Based on the location of the pipeline and the comfort of approach, the following variations of shut-off valves are installed in the water supply system:
- A straight or straight-through faucet with inlet and outlet pipes located on the same line is installed in a water supply system with a separate outlet for connecting household appliances.
- Tee tap. In this design, the water flows inside the housing in a straight line, and there is an outlet in the side wall for connection to the equipment. The tee is used in water supply systems with previously connected plumbing. Often, a three-way valve is placed under a kitchen sink or a bathroom sink, connecting a flexible hose from the washing machine and sink to the inlet and outlet pipes, respectively, and the faucet body to the water pipe.
- Angular. Often the washing machine is connected to a water socket built into the wall. In this case, it is more rational for the inlet fitting of the flexible supply line to approach it at an angle of 90 degrees. To do this, screw a corner product of the appropriate diameter into it and connect a hose to it, which is led down the wall.
When buying a faucet to connect a washing machine to the water supply system, they evaluate various modifications of its design, production material, manufacturers, price, choosing a more rational combination of all characteristics.
Tips for choosing
The location where the washing equipment is located is the main criterion when choosing a faucet. Corner parts are more suitable for small apartments. They allow you to reduce the space required for connection. If there is a need to connect several plumbing fixtures at the same time, it is better to purchase a three-way tap. A pass-through version of a ball valve would be appropriate if you already have an outlet for a washing machine.
The material from which products are made is not the least important. Brass components are more expensive than silumin ones, but they pay for their price due to their long service life and the ability to withstand significant loads. The next parameter worthy of attention is the diameter of the device. It must match the dimensions of the water pipes. You should also pay attention to the features of the carving. Size is important, as is its presence from the inside or outside. It also happens that carving is done independently by a home craftsman. When purchasing a crane, they also look at the angle of rotation. If, when closing the valve, it is directed towards the wall and touches it, it becomes difficult to use.
How to choose a product?
When selecting shut-off valves for connecting household appliances to the water main, the editors of the website santehnikportal.ru recommend being guided by the following principles:
- To quickly control water flow, ball valves are best suited.
- Handles in the shape of a butterfly look more aesthetically pleasing. But for hard-to-reach places it is better to use a handle in the form of a lever.
- The best material for the production of locking parts is brass, which is resistant to corrosion. However, when installed in a polymer pipeline, an adapter from plastic to metal is required.
- You should pay attention to the position of the handle when the tap is open or closed. For example, it is more convenient for a tap with a long lever located close to the wall covering to close closely parallel to the wall, and open perpendicular to its plane, protruding outward. This will prevent involuntary rotation and unwanted opening of the channel.
- The sanitary fittings of the following Russian and European brands are of high quality and have proven themselves in the domestic market: Bosch, Bugatti, Elsen, Grohe, Itap, Valtec.
- The choice of housing design depends on the connection method - if it is installed in a gap or pipeline to which sinks, a faucet or its outlet, or a shower hose are connected, a triple design is used. When a water socket comes out of the wall, the best option is a corner housing; the straight pass-through version is not used too often and is connected to pipelines or water sockets located below the floor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU9e0c3aReg&feature=youtu.be
There is another design type of a walk-through faucet, designed specifically for simultaneous connection to a faucet and a washing machine; during installation, the faucet and extension pipes are screwed between the water sockets and the mixing unit.
Additional connection options
Separately, it is also possible to highlight non-standard methods of connecting a tap. They are used when conventional options are not possible or such options are more necessary.
No. 1. Installing a tap on a mixer
This type is often used in practice, as people like it because it is simple and accessible. But it cannot be considered too convenient, since this option has many negative sides.
This position of the tap has a bad effect on the mixer. The latter is subjected to very high loads, and this greatly reduces the service life of the mechanism. And the combination of two devices at once makes it difficult to use both the tap and the mixer.
According to experts, it is permissible to use such a solution only for a while, and you definitely need to think about how to properly connect the washing machine.
You need to be careful if you want to install a faucet on old faucets. But this operation will require a complex procedure that will cost a lot of time and money.
Expert opinion
I work in the household appliance repair industry. Extensive experience in restoring washing machines and dishwashers.
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But if it is necessary to use this particular connection option, it is good to immediately replace the old mixer with a new one.
Method No. 2. Installation on old pipes
Buildings from many years ago (especially Stalinist ones) are distinguished by a metal (most often cast iron) water supply network. In such cases, the ends of the pipes are damaged by rust, and this makes installation work difficult.
This installation complexity can be solved as follows:
- The ends of the pipes are processed with files. The ends of the elements are aligned, so the hose is laid next to the pipe.
- An extension cord is installed, at one end it is hidden by damaged ends. On the other edge, this part is mounted with a reinforced hose with a gasket.
You must be sure of the integrity of the assembly and protect the pipes from subsequent damage, for example, paint them with paint that protects against rust. But it’s better to change the pipes right away, and connecting other devices will not create difficulties.
Video
Method number 3. Double connection
There are washing machines, usually of Japanese and American production, with the ability to connect them directly to hot and cold water flow.
This type of SMA greatly saves electricity consumption, because there is no need to heat water, like the most common types of machines.
These washing machines are not very widely used due to the poor composition of hot water: it contains a lot of sediment, so there is a high risk of damage to parts and poor quality of washing clothes.
