The single lever mixer is very practical and can be used in many ways. Faucets are available for the bathtub and shower, but also for the wash basin and kitchen sink. The fittings are durable and can remain in use for many years. Sometimes they are stiff or squeaky. You can remedy this with various measures.
As a first step, you should consider when you bought the single-lever mixer. If the squeaking sound occurs during the warranty period, there is a defect and you are entitled to a replacement. You have a two-year guarantee for all faucets that you buy or order in Germany. You should not attempt any repairs during this period as you would void your warranty. Dismantle the tap and bring it to the dealer together with the receipt. He will arrange for an exchange or a repair. If you have ordered the single-lever mixer, contact the dealer by phone or email.
Cost of this solution:
If the defect is a warranty case recognized by the manufacturer, you will not incur any costs. You only have to take into account the journey to the dealer. If you send the faucet in for repair, the dealer is obliged to bear the costs. You should point this out to the retailer if they want to invoice you for the costs.
Good to know: The dealer has the right to rework. You must therefore expect that you will not be able to use the water basin in question for a period of up to two weeks if you do not have an old tap to replace it.
Proceed like this:
If the measure did not help, you can also dismantle the single-lever mixer and use the pipette to introduce the oil into the mechanism from below. However, it is less effective because the oil is usually needed at the top of the faucet. The lever can be dismantled on some models. This is very practical because you can then enter the oil directly into the mechanics.
Cost of this solution
Penetrating oil is available as a practical spray. There are tweezers on the cartridge so that you can easily dose the oil. The costs are between five and 15 EUR for a bottle. Some retailers offer larger quantities in a canister. You pay around 35 EUR for this. This solution only makes sense if you want to use the penetrating oil differently.
In hardware stores or specialist shops you can get small bottles in which the tweezers are integrated into the screw cap, similar to medicine. These are particularly suitable for use on the tap. You pay between three and seven euros for this product. Since the penetrating oil has a long shelf life, you can use it several times. This is recommended if you notice after a while that your tap is becoming stiff again.
Good to know: If you only use a very small amount of oil, there is almost no chance that you will make a mistake. Proceed carefully and with a sure instinct. If there is really a little oil in the water circuit, let the tap run for one to two minutes. In most cases, you can then use it again without restrictions.
Cost of this solution
Household vinegar is very inexpensive to use. However, you should make sure that you use vinegar in the form of an essence. You can get it in all supermarkets and discounters for one to two euros per bottle.
A descaler is also available in supermarkets, but also in drug stores. Depending on the manufacturer, you pay between two and five euros. Descalers that you can get in hardware stores are somewhat more effective. These products are sometimes not suitable for sensitive sanitary ware. However, you can safely use this descaler for the tap. You also pay around five euros for this product.
Good to know: An aggressive descaler or citric acid can damage the high-quality mechanics. You should try home remedies first.
A broken or worn seal can also cause the faucet to make a squeaky noise. Obtain a new seal from a retailer and replace it. It works like this:
Cost of this solution
A seal is a very inexpensive item that you can pay just a few cents for. The costs are rarely more than two euros. The prerequisite, however, is that the seal you need is available in stores. This can sometimes be a problem with older faucets or models that are no longer in production or are from a foreign manufacturer. There are providers where you can have a seal made to measure. The cost is a little higher but still cheaper than buying a new faucet. This is especially true when it comes to a faucet in the bathroom that is no longer available in this design. If you value a uniform look, you would also have to replace the other fittings, which can be very expensive.
Good to know: Sometimes it is successful if you combine several of these measures with one another. Start with the oil, descale and, in the last step, change the seal.
Cartridge change
Changing the cartridge is not difficult, you can do it yourself. Proceed as follows:
Cost of this solution
A new ceramic cartridge costs around ten euros if you choose a model from a third-party manufacturer. Before you buy, however, you need to make sure that the new model will fit your old faucet. Unfortunately, the third-party manufacturers do not offer suitable cartridges for all single-lever mixer taps. In this case, you can contact the manufacturer. If a cartridge is available for your model, you can pay up to 50 EUR. This is worthwhile, however, because after using the cartridge you will get a new faucet. In addition, it is not necessary to exchange the other fittings in order to obtain a uniform appearance.
Good to know: With the insertion of a new cartridge, you can easily turn the lifter again and also eliminate the squeaking of the faucet.
Single lever mixer and possible problems with its use
Single-lever mixers convince with their simple functionality, but also with their durability. In principle, it is not a problem to use the mixer tap for several years or even decades without causing problems. Nevertheless, it can happen that the single-lever mixer causes problems after a long period of use. The faucet's lever is difficult to move, sometimes it can hardly be moved or it squeaks every time it is turned. Buying a new faucet is not necessary with these problems. Before you decide to replace it, you can take various measures to remedy the situation. It is best to act as soon as you spot the problem. Otherwise it will get worse, and at a certain point in time repairs will no longer be possible and a new purchase will be inevitable.Squeaking every time the tap is turned - the solution to the problem
When operating the single-lever mixer, you may notice a slight squeak. At the beginning this is hardly audible. However, the more often you need the tap water, the more persistently you will realize the unpleasant squeaking sound. He won't go away on his own. If this is not a reason for you to invest in a new faucet, remedial action should be taken. It can be that the unpleasant squeaking sound is accompanied by a stiffness and in this way two problems are mixed up. However, it often happens that the lever is very easy to operate, but that you still feel disturbed by the squeaking sound.Check the age of the faucet
As a first step, you should consider when you bought the single-lever mixer. If the squeaking sound occurs during the warranty period, there is a defect and you are entitled to a replacement. You have a two-year guarantee for all faucets that you buy or order in Germany. You should not attempt any repairs during this period as you would void your warranty. Dismantle the tap and bring it to the dealer together with the receipt. He will arrange for an exchange or a repair. If you have ordered the single-lever mixer, contact the dealer by phone or email.Cost of this solution:
If the defect is a warranty case recognized by the manufacturer, you will not incur any costs. You only have to take into account the journey to the dealer. If you send the faucet in for repair, the dealer is obliged to bear the costs. You should point this out to the retailer if they want to invoice you for the costs.
Good to know: The dealer has the right to rework. You must therefore expect that you will not be able to use the water basin in question for a period of up to two weeks if you do not have an old tap to replace it.
The use of oil in the single-lever mixer
Basically, you should be careful when pouring oil into the inside of the mixer tap. In the worst case, the oil will get into the running water and you will no longer get clean tap water. However, if you find the squeak uncomfortable and you don't want to swap out the mixer tap because you do Design or planning a new investment, you can try very carefully with oil too work. It is very important that you use a light penetrating oil. This has the ability to penetrate deep into the interior of a material and develop its effect there. Make absolutely sure that you only use a very small amount and use high-quality oil and not a cheap product.Proceed like this:
1. Turn off the water
2. Open the lever and let the last drops of water flow out of the pipe
3. Use a pipette with a very small amount of oil
4. Put the oil on the edge of the mechanism that turns the lever
5. Wait some time for the oil to soak into the inside of the faucet
6. Remove the residue with a soft cloth
7. Turn the water on again and do a function test
If the measure did not help, you can also dismantle the single-lever mixer and use the pipette to introduce the oil into the mechanism from below. However, it is less effective because the oil is usually needed at the top of the faucet. The lever can be dismantled on some models. This is very practical because you can then enter the oil directly into the mechanics.Cost of this solution
Penetrating oil is available as a practical spray. There are tweezers on the cartridge so that you can easily dose the oil. The costs are between five and 15 EUR for a bottle. Some retailers offer larger quantities in a canister. You pay around 35 EUR for this. This solution only makes sense if you want to use the penetrating oil differently.
In hardware stores or specialist shops you can get small bottles in which the tweezers are integrated into the screw cap, similar to medicine. These are particularly suitable for use on the tap. You pay between three and seven euros for this product. Since the penetrating oil has a long shelf life, you can use it several times. This is recommended if you notice after a while that your tap is becoming stiff again.
Good to know: If you only use a very small amount of oil, there is almost no chance that you will make a mistake. Proceed carefully and with a sure instinct. If there is really a little oil in the water circuit, let the tap run for one to two minutes. In most cases, you can then use it again without restrictions.
Descale the single-lever mixer
If you are unsuccessful in adding oil to the mechanism, it is possible that the single-lever mixer tap is calcified. This is the case if you have very hard water in your area. You can get information about this from the local waterworks. You have the option of removing the limescale. You will only be able to do this if the process is not too far advanced. Use pure vinegar, a little citric acid or a high-quality descaler. Place this in the mechanism with a pipette as described and allow an hour or two for it to act. Then try the function. In many cases, the uncomfortable squeaking of the faucet is gone.Cost of this solution
Household vinegar is very inexpensive to use. However, you should make sure that you use vinegar in the form of an essence. You can get it in all supermarkets and discounters for one to two euros per bottle.
A descaler is also available in supermarkets, but also in drug stores. Depending on the manufacturer, you pay between two and five euros. Descalers that you can get in hardware stores are somewhat more effective. These products are sometimes not suitable for sensitive sanitary ware. However, you can safely use this descaler for the tap. You also pay around five euros for this product.
Good to know: An aggressive descaler or citric acid can damage the high-quality mechanics. You should try home remedies first.
Seal is defective
A broken or worn seal can also cause the faucet to make a squeaky noise. Obtain a new seal from a retailer and replace it. It works like this: 1. Turn off the water.
2. Dismantle the single-lever mixer from the water basin
3. Open the mixer tap so that you can access the seal
4. Put in a new seal
5. Reinstall the mixer tap on the water basin
6. Turn on the water
Turn the lever a few times so that water flows to check that it is working properly. In many cases, installing a new seal will solve the problem.Cost of this solution
A seal is a very inexpensive item that you can pay just a few cents for. The costs are rarely more than two euros. The prerequisite, however, is that the seal you need is available in stores. This can sometimes be a problem with older faucets or models that are no longer in production or are from a foreign manufacturer. There are providers where you can have a seal made to measure. The cost is a little higher but still cheaper than buying a new faucet. This is especially true when it comes to a faucet in the bathroom that is no longer available in this design. If you value a uniform look, you would also have to replace the other fittings, which can be very expensive.
Good to know: Sometimes it is successful if you combine several of these measures with one another. Start with the oil, descale and, in the last step, change the seal.
The faucet goes hard - here's how to solve the problem
The lever of the mixer tap is difficult to move or it cannot be moved at all. You can also try to remedy this problem before buying a new faucet. If the lever on a mixer tap is stiff, this can have various causes. You will not always be able to find out the real cause, because the mechanism is self-contained and cannot be removed from many taps. However, there are several ways you can solve the problem.The single-lever mixer is difficult - the initial measures
The first thing to do is try the measures you take if you notice your faucet squeaking or being difficult to move. Proceed in this order:1. Treat the mixer tap with penetrating oil as described
2. Descale the mixer tap
3. Put in a new seal
It often happens that the squeaking of the lever is accompanied by sluggishness. If none of the measures help, you have to replace the cartridge. However, this is only possible if you can buy a new cartridge in stores. If the faucets are very old, you won't get them anymore. In this case, only replacing the faucet will help.Cartridge change
Changing the cartridge is not difficult, you can do it yourself. Proceed as follows:
1. Turn off the water.
2. Dismantle the single-lever mixer from the water basin
3. Open the mixer tap
4. Remove the cartridge
5. Install the new cartridge
5. Reinstall the mixer tap on the water basin
6. Turn on the water
Check whether the tap is working smoothly again. In some cases, the effectiveness becomes apparent only after prolonged use.Cost of this solution
A new ceramic cartridge costs around ten euros if you choose a model from a third-party manufacturer. Before you buy, however, you need to make sure that the new model will fit your old faucet. Unfortunately, the third-party manufacturers do not offer suitable cartridges for all single-lever mixer taps. In this case, you can contact the manufacturer. If a cartridge is available for your model, you can pay up to 50 EUR. This is worthwhile, however, because after using the cartridge you will get a new faucet. In addition, it is not necessary to exchange the other fittings in order to obtain a uniform appearance.
Good to know: With the insertion of a new cartridge, you can easily turn the lifter again and also eliminate the squeaking of the faucet.
