All plumbing equipment is connected to water pipes using rigid or flexible hoses. Rigid hoses are less preferable, as they require higher precision during selection and do not allow the device to be moved in any direction. You can connect a flexible line to a faucet or other plumbing device yourself.
Connecting the mixer with flexible hoses
What is flexible eyeliner?
First of all, although this option for supplying water is considered budgetary, it is quite reliable, provided the materials are chosen and the connection technology is followed.
In essence, a flexible hose is a rubber hose (the same as a watering hose) placed in a tight-fitting braid made of metal threads. Its main function is protection from external and internal mechanical damage. The latter may occur due to water hammer. In accordance with the standards, such connecting hoses must be designed for a pressure of at least 10 atm.
Below is an example of connecting a herringbone sink faucet with flexible hoses (A) used to supply cold and hot water.
Connection example using flexible hoses
Please note that the sink siphon is connected to the sewer with a corresponding flexible connection (B).
Touch basin mixer Swedbe Europe 6020 RUR 12,365
12748 RUR
Mixer Aquanet AF300-10С 4390 rub.
Mixer Aquanet AF320-10С 4990 rub.
Grohe single lever basin mixer 34294001 RUB 12,960
Grohe single lever basin mixer 23106DC1 RUR 28,320
Methods for attaching a faucet to a sink
There are two main methods for installing mixing fixtures on sinks or sinks, which are inherent in their design.
Mixers are attached to kitchen sinks in the following ways:
Using pins. The valve body for this installation is equipped with an additional threaded hole into which a pin with an external thread is screwed. To connect it, use a flat screwdriver, which is inserted into the slot at its end.
After screwing the threaded rod and flexible hoses, the mixer is inserted into the sink hole, an arc plate with a rubber seal is placed on the stud and clamped with a union nut. The mounted nut is rotated with a socket or open-end wrench.
It is worth noting that a similar fastening system is widely used not only in budget mixing devices of domestic and Chinese production, but also in expensive European models.
Kinds
These water hoses come in the following types:
- for connecting the washbasin mixer, shower cabin and other equipment to hot water. To identify them, red threads are added to the braid (“A” in Fig. 2);
- for connection with cold water supply pipes. Their braid contains blue threads (“B”);
- universal, allow connection to any type of water supply. The braid of such pipes is marked red and blue (“C”).
Rice. 2. Hoses for cold and hot water, as well as universal ones
In addition, the eyeliner differs in the braid material, which is reflected in certain characteristics, namely:
- Aluminum reinforcement. Currently practically not used. The only advantage is the low price, which is not justified due to the short service life (3 years). In addition, such protection cannot withstand pressures of more than 5 atm. But the main drawback is instability to corrosion. In a damp room, the braid quickly deteriorates and the rubber hose quickly becomes unusable. Therefore, such pipes can be used when connecting kitchen equipment, for example, a mixer with a pull-out shower head (with a flexible hose), but they are not suitable for a bathroom or shower.
Aluminum braided eyeliner
- Stainless steel braid (the most common type). This design option significantly extends the service life (a high-quality product can be used for at least 10 years). These pipes can withstand a pressure of 10 atm and they have no restrictions on the type of premises, that is, installation is allowed even in a steam room.
Stainless steel braided eyeliner
- Nylon braiding significantly improves performance. They can be used for 15 years, and they are designed for pressures of up to 20 atm and a temperature of the technical environment of 110°C. True, the cost of these pipes is higher than that of the two previous types. In everyday life, it is not advisable to use eyeliner with nylon braid.
Nylon braided eyeliner
There are pipes where the hoses are made not of rubber, but of rubber; they are more reliable, but also much more expensive.
As additional protection, the braid can be coated with a silicone layer, according to manufacturers, this allows the service life to be extended to 20 years.
Bellows liner.
Despite the fact that it is also physically flexible, it is customary to distinguish this type of eyeliner as a separate type, due to significant design differences. The peculiarity of the bellows liner is that the shell is a metal corrugation, durable and flexible; in addition, there is no rubber hose inside.
Bellows liner
It is also worth noting that the fitting together with the terminal clamp are connected to the corrugated hose by welding, this significantly increases the reliability of the design. The service life of products of this type is at least 25 years, and they can be used to work with process environments heated to 250°C. As a rule, corrugation is made of stainless steel, but there are VIP category plumbing fixtures where brass and copper are used for this purpose.
This is a new type of liner, and at the moment there have been no appearances of non-original products on the market and the price is significantly higher than conventional connecting hoses.
Material of manufacture
Regardless of the type of connection chosen, the main selection criterion is quality. Of course, this affects the price, but it’s not worth saving: a good hose for a kitchen faucet means both a low probability of leaks and durability.
Things to consider:
- Appearance of the product. It should not be deformed or too thin.
- The manufacturer is also important: unknown companies are too risky a choice. They often make a cheap but not reliable product.
- It’s good if the seller is ready to provide quality certificates.
Tip : to avoid lifting heavy pots of water, you can purchase Novara-Plusс. It is equipped with an exhaust hose.
Features of materials used in the manufacture of eyeliner:
- Steel - durable galvanized pipes are not afraid of rust. May expand slightly at high temperatures.
- Copper is ductile, does not rust, disinfects water, and remains operational at +250 °C.
- Brass - withstands up to +300 degrees, resistant to chlorine, high pressure (up to 400 atmospheres).
How to replace eyeliner
Ceramic sink BelBagno 13100-KL RUR 12,890
Ceramic sink Gid 9010E 71106 11050 RUR
Furniture sink Della Mia 85 RUB 3,750
Furniture sink FLORENTINA Prima 100 10.010.01000.001 8470 RUR
Countertop washbasin Jacob Delafon EVC11200 RUR 33,320
When replacement is necessary
It is necessary to change the hose if:
- The flexible line broke. Breakage of the braid or rupture of the internal hose will lead to the formation of a leak and, as a result, flooding of the room. The causes of leakage may be high pressure in the system or mechanical impact;
Loss of tightness of the connecting hose
- A flexible hose leak was detected at the junction with the mixer or water pipe. The causes of leakage may be natural wear of the gasket or a crack in the fitting (nut).
Leak at the hose connection
Flexible line replacement process
To install a flexible water supply to connect a mixer, you must:
- turn off the water supply. This can be done using a tap installed in the apartment;
- open the mixer taps to drain the remaining liquid;
- Using an adjustable wrench or a wrench corresponding to the diameter of the union nut, unscrew the hose from the water pipe. If the connection point is rusty and the hose does not unscrew, then you should not make any effort to remove the liner. In this case, a solvent or WD 40 liquid is applied to the rust, which removes plaque;
Disconnecting a flexible hose from a water pipe
- remove the mixer. To do this, it is necessary to loosen the nuts securing the device;
Places for fixing the mixer to the plumbing equipment
Installing flexible hoses on the mixer
- Attach the supply hoses to the outlet of the water pipe.
- When you turn on the water for the first time, it is recommended to check the flexible hose and connection points for leaks. The average inspection time is 20 – 30 minutes.
The process of replacing connecting hoses is presented in the video.
Replacing flexible hoses yourself is not a problem. The main thing is to choose the right hose that meets all the parameters.
Installation of connecting hoses
Having dealt with the types, let us consider for general reference the typical design of a flexible liner.
Rice. 7. Design of flexible pipes for mixers
The product consists of the following main elements:
- Sealing gaskets to ensure the tightness of the connection and prevent leakage “A”.
- Brass or steel nipple "B".
- Rubber or caoutchouc hose “C”.
- Aluminum, stainless steel or nylon “D” protective braid.
- Press the sleeve (clamping the nipple) “E”.
- Connecting fitting (steel or brass) “F”.
- Union nut "G".
The liner is manufactured with three types of connections: nut-nut, fitting-nut and fitting-fitting. Standard sizes for the nut are 1/2“, for the fitting - M10. Sometimes you may come across a non-standard connection, for example an M8 fitting or a 3/8“ nut. In this case, you will need an appropriate adapter for a kitchen faucet or other equipment.
The length of flexible hoses can be from 500 to 2000 mm; we recommend choosing the appropriate size so as not to install extension connections.
Note that the fitting can be short or long. The latter is more convenient to connect the mixer.
Eyeliner with short and long fittings
Problem #2: Having the necessary inventory
For me, this, in fact, was not a problem, since I always try to keep my workshop as complete as possible. But I advise everyone else, before installing any plumbing fixture, not just a faucet, with your own hands, check that you have the following tools and materials on hand:
| Name | Purpose |
| Adjustable and gas wrenches | Unscrewing and tightening threaded connections |
| FUM tape | Sealing of threaded connections |
| Spirit level | Maintaining the horizontal position of fittings and mixer |
| Hammer and grinder | Creating grooves for pipes |
| Pipe soldering iron | Connection of plastic pipes |
A gas wrench is the most important tool when working with plumbing.
The best brands
Among most manufacturers there are the most popular companies. These include German companies Grohe and ProFactor, which produce high-quality products. The products are durable, reliable, but expensive. There is a brand from Italy called Remer, which is a competitor to its German counterparts. You can find fakes from this company; they do not include all the components for the mixer.
Among domestic brands, ST Giant eyeliner from Santrade is distinguished. Reviews about this product are mixed. The company produces products at different prices. Products of low cost are of poor quality, hence the different opinions of consumers.
The Spanish brand Industrials Mateu has high product performance and always controls its quality. Products are manufactured according to international quality standards. The Turkish company Rispa, founded in China, has an affordable price and fairly good quality. The product can operate uninterruptedly for many years. Therefore, if you have a limited budget, you can buy products from this company.
How to connect a kitchen faucet with deep hose mountings
I bought the OSGARD Brant 31073 mixer that I liked. At home I noticed that the seats for the hoses were located deep in the mixer body, in a tight cylindrical cavity at a depth of 4 cm. Braided rubber hoses were included in the kit. I tried to screw the bait in by hand. They screw in normally, but you need to tighten them further! You can’t push any tool through, you can’t twist the hose by the rubber. The instructions, if you can call it that, simply say this: connect and you will be happy. Am I not understanding something?! This is how the developers imagined it when designing such a deep landing. Tell me, smart people, how to screw in connecting hoses without tools?
09.10.2010 at 21:22
Yes, there is no need for special strength. Seal with a thin soft rubber band. Tighten the elastic band by hand and that's enough.
