"There is nothing more important than trivialities" -this is a common expression that describes the plumbing as accurately as possible. Any negligence in the installation or an attempt to save money when choosing the reinforcement can later become a cause of great costs - both material and mental. Flexible piping for mixers is not only the fastest and most convenient way to connect them to the water supply, but also the most common cause of household accidents. Therefore, in order not to eliminate the unpleasant consequences of household floods, it is better to immediately choose a good water supply. That is why today we will talk about how to choose a quality flexible liner for mixers .
Flexible piping for mixers - features of choice
Let's figure out what the flexible piping is, and from what constructive elements it consists:
- The most important part of this connection is a rubber flexible tube, on which the reliability and safety of the entire structure itself largely depends. When choosing, first of all, pay attention to the material from which such a tube is made. In good quality piping, the tube should be made of non-toxic rubber marked with EPDM, which is capable of withstanding significant temperature changes and does not emit toxins. Determine the quality of rubber is easy enough - low-quality material makes itself felt a specific sharp smell.
- The second part of the flexible connector for the mixer is an outer braid, traditionally made of stainless steel, aluminum or galvanized steel wire. When choosing, it is necessary to draw a hand over the surface of the braid - for quality products it will be smooth, without protruding elements and burrs. Blue and red threads in a braid indicate the type of water they are intended for - cold or hot.
- To the mixer and water pipe, the feeder is connected by means of nuts and union nuts. For the convenience of mounting a flexible connection to the mixer, it is equipped with fittings of different lengths - short and long. Only the fittings and union nuts made of brass can provide a guarantee of a reliable connection, with brass of the correct thickness. Thin-walled and, especially, plastic fittings will very quickly fail. In addition, complete with padding should go sealing gaskets, and of rubber of high quality (EPDM). Low-quality technical rubber in gaskets can collapse even at the time of installation, not to mention prolonged use in a humid environment.
Dimensions of flexible subassemblies for mixers
Currently, the markets can find flexible connections to the mixers, produced in a fairly wide range of different lengths, ranging from 30 cm to 2 meters. At the same time, it is not worth saving and buying the flush-fitting "back-to-back", the length of which will be strictly equal to the distance from the mixer to the water pipes. This can lead to a serious accident even at the slightest pressure drop in the system. The optimal option is to buy a line of this length, which during installation forms a small ring.
The diameter of the flexible connection to the mixer depends on the diameter of the water pipes. The most common are linings with an inner diameter of 8.5 mm and an outer diameter of 12.1 mm.
The service life of flexible mixer feeders
The way the mixer liner lasts depends, of course, on its quality. Cheap "nameless" Chinese-made pipelines can withstand operation for 3-6 months. If we talk about the production of good firms, then the lifetime in many respects depends on the material of the braid. So, the liner in the braid of galvanized steel wire has a service life of 12 months. The braid made of aluminum wire lasts longer - an average of 5 years. And the real champion in this respect is a stainless steel braid, which keeps integrity for 10 years.