How to replace a flexible eyeliner for water with your own hands. Plumbing fittings: types and arrangement

All plumbing equipment is connected to the water pipes with hoses of rigid or flexible eyeliner. Rigid hoses are less preferred because they require higher definition when selecting and do not allow the device to be moved in any direction. Connecting a flexible eyeliner to a mixer or other plumbing device can be done independently.

What is flexible eyeliner?

Flexible eyeliner is a hose protected by a special braid. On one side of the hose is a crimp sleeve designed to be connected to the mixer. On the other hand is a flare nut, supplemented with a rubber gasket. With the help of a nut, a connection is made between the liner and the branch.

Eyeliner hose can be made:

• from rubber;
• made of rubber.

The rubber hose has an unpleasant odor and cannot be used to supply drinking water.

For braiding can be used:

• aluminum. Hoses with aluminum braid are designed for the passage of water, the temperature of which does not exceed 80 ° C. Working pressure no more than 5 atmospheres. The average life of the product is 5 years. The main disadvantage of aluminum-wrapped hoses is their high susceptibility to corrosion when used in rooms with high humidity;
• stainless steel. The service life of such a product is increased to 10 years. At the same time, flexible eyeliner is able to withstand water temperatures up to 95ºС and pressure up to 10 atmospheres;

• nylon. The hose with a nylon braid has a high service life (up to 15 years). Installation is possible at water temperatures up to 110ºС and pressure up to 20 atmospheres. The cost of such products is higher than other types;

• galvanized wire. Hoses are characterized by high flexibility and low price, but at the same time and short life;
• one-piece corrugated hose (bellows eyeliner). Eyeliner is quite strong and durable. It has a high cost.

The most common home applications are stainless steel braided hoses.

Eyeliner selection

If replacement of a flexible eyeliner is required, then first of all it is necessary to choose the right hose for connecting the mixer. When choosing you need to rely on the following factors:

• the appointment of eyeliner. On sale you can find hoses for connecting cold and hot water, as well as universal products. Eyeliner for cold water   wrapped in blue thread. For hot water - a red thread. Universal eyeliner interspersed with both blue and red threads;

• hose parameters. Choosing the parameters, it is necessary to determine the type of connection of the inlet to the mixer and the water pipe (nut, fitting, and so on), as well as the type and size of the thread. The thread is internal and external. Thread sizes range from ½ ”to 1 ½”. At the next stage, the hose length is selected. To make the connection as reliable as possible, it is necessary to eliminate the possibility of voltage on the hose. To do this, you need to choose a device whose length is slightly more than the distance from the mixer for pipe removal;

• material for making fittings and nuts. Brass is more reliable and durable. The connecting elements can also be made of aluminum (over time, the material becomes rusty and unusable) or plastic (highly susceptible to mechanical stress);
• the hose should be flexible enough. If the hose takes a hanging position at one end while holding the eyeliner, then this indicator is normal. If the hose takes a horizontal position, then the indicator of elasticity of the product is small;
• there should be no visible damage to the winding, nuts and fittings, which will shorten the life of the product.

Based on the factors presented, each user can independently choose the most suitable and durable product.

How to replace eyeliner

When replacement is needed

Change the hose if:

• flexible eyeliner burst. Violation of the braid or rupture of the inner hose will lead to leakage and, as a consequence, flooding the room. The causes of leakage may be high pressure in the system or mechanical stress;

• a leak of flexible eyeliner was detected at the junction with or water pipe. The cause of leakage may be natural wear of the gasket or a crack on the fitting (nut).

Flexible eyeliner replacement process

To install a flexible water supply for connecting a mixer, you must:

1. turn off the water supply. This can be done with a crane installed in the apartment;
2. open the taps of the mixer so that the glass is left with liquid;
3. unscrew the hose with an adjustable wrench or a wrench corresponding to the diameter of the union nut. water pipe. If the junction is rusted and the hose does not unscrew, then do not make efforts to remove the eyeliner. In this case, a solvent or WD 40 liquid is applied to the rust, which removes plaque;

To avoid flooding with the water remaining in the hose, it is recommended to substitute a container under the connection points of the wiring.

1. disconnect the hoses from the mixer with an adjustable wrench;
2. connect new connecting hoses to the mixer and reinstall the device in its original place. If the mounting on the hose does not match the connector on the mixers, then adapters are additionally installed. When installing the adapter, it is important to take care of the tightness of the connection, which is equipped with the FUM tape or linen thread;

1. fasten the supply hoses to the tap of the water pipe.

It is required to screw the hoses to the mixer and the branch without special effort, which can lead to the formation of a crack in the union nut or fitting. To seal the connection, you do not need to use additional tools, since the eyeliner already contains built-in gaskets.

1. when turning on the water for the first time, it is recommended to check the flexible hose and connection points for leaks. The average audit time is 20 to 30 minutes.

The process of replacing the connecting hoses is presented in the video.

Replacing the flexible eyeliner yourself is not a problem. The main thing is to choose the right hose that matches all the parameters.

What plumbing fittings are used in our time? We will analyze the main types of pipes and methods for their connection.

Alas, in the framework of a small article it is impossible to pay attention to all the details of the device and the use of existing fittings, so our acquaintance with them will have a somewhat superficial character.

For the installation of plumbing, two fundamentally different pipe connections are used:

• Pressure water pipes are designed to transport hot and cold water under pressure. The same pipes and methods for their connection are used in the installation of heating systems.
• Sewer Specifics - Movement wastewater   by gravity. Connections must be tight; but they are not calculated for overpressure.

In this order, we will consider the relevant sectors of the modern market.

Plumbing and heating

Steel pipes

Please note: galvanizing is strongly recommended to be assembled on threads.
  Welding breaks the protective zinc layer, making the seam vulnerable to corrosion.

Two types of fittings are used to connect them:

1. Threaded. Couplings, elbows, tees, adapters and locknuts are made of brass (often chromed) or cast iron. The advantage is the exceptional mechanical strength of the joint. The main disadvantage is the complexity of the assembly and the need for accurate adjustment of the length of the nozzles and threads.

1. Compression fittings   use a silicone or rubber seal, which tightens the tube tightly when the nut is tightened. Their price is much higher; however, they provide simple and quick installation in problem areas where no cutting is possible. The main disadvantage, in addition to cost, is the lower mechanical strength of the joint.

Copper pipes

Their compounds are usually soldered with a gas torch using flux and solder. Fittings for copper are corners, crosses, tees and solder bends. Before joining by means of rolling, a sleeve is formed on one of the connected products, into which the edge of the other is inserted.

Metal plastic

Between the two layers of plastic there is a stiffness and strength giving the structure an aluminum layer. Pipes are delivered in bays, which allows dispensing with short splices.

When a fork is formed or plumbing is connected to the water supply, one of two types of fittings is used:

• Compression   in this case is somewhat different from that.
  The aluminum layer of metal plastic is quite plastic; in order to ensure the strength of the connection, a union nut and a split ring are put on the calibrated end of the pipe, after which the fitting fitting is inserted into the pipe. The nut tightened after it, by means of a split ring, compresses the pipe on the fitting and makes the connection airtight.
    Such a connection is very easy to assemble with the simplest tools; however, it is not suitable for hot water and heating. After several heating and cooling cycles, the fitting begins to flow.

Metal-plastic corner - thread with compression joint.

Curious: the author suspects that only fittings with rubber sealing rings displaced during assembly on the nozzle flow.
  If this is the case, a more thorough calibration of the pipe and lubrication of the fitting with solid oil should help, which may well prevent the displacement and damage of the rubber rings.

• To assemble DIY plastic on press fittings, you will need a special crimping tool. The pipe on the fitting is fixed by a sleeve, which is guaranteed to provide tightness. Including hot water.

Polypropylene

Here, the assembly instruction is also not very complicated: the pipe outside and the fitting inside are fused with a low-temperature soldering iron with a nozzle of the corresponding diameter, after which their surfaces are combined. A few seconds - and we have in our hands a whole product.

Both pipes and elements for their connection are the cheapest. However, it is worthwhile to use them, in addition to cold water, in autonomous systems of hot water supply and heating: a combination of high temperature and a pressure jump during a water hammer can well lead to a break in the piping or riser.

In the photo - tees on a polypropylene water pipe.

Polyethylene

Ordinary polyethylene is used exclusively for cold water.

Pipes are connected in several ways:

• Compression fittings   for cold water can be made of the same polyethylene and equipped with rubber gaskets. They are easy to install without any tools; however, the bond strength is low. However, on sale you can also find a brass fitting for HDPE pipes.
• Low temperature soldering with a soldering iron is also used here. Plastic solder plumbing fitting is cheap, but on sale, alas, is not found everywhere.
• Finally, electric-welded plumbing fittings differ from the previous ones in that they are equipped with a heating element. After assembling the water supply, voltage is applied to each pair of contact terminals of the fitting - and after a few seconds the elements are soldered.

On hot water and heating, the so-called cross-linked polyethylene is used, which differs from the usual strength and heat resistance. During installation, the pipe is stretched by a special expander and put on the fitting, which, thanks to the effect of molecular memory, after a dozen or two seconds is very firmly crimped. An additional fixing of the connection is provided by a sleeve worn on the outside.

Corrugated stainless steel

The device of its fitting almost exactly repeats the compression joint for a steel pipe. However, thanks to the corrugated surface, the connection is not only tight, but also extremely durable: it is almost impossible to tear out a section of the water supply.

Sewerage

Here docking methods are much less.

Cast iron

Traditionally, chasing is used for joining cast-iron sewers:

• The pipe is inserted into the socket of the fitting;
• The space between them is densely choked with a heel - oiled organic fiber;
• Then the joint is smeared cement mortar   or filled with a molten sulfur.

Accordingly, fittings are combinations of bends with the same diameter as pipes and sockets.

However, new pipes and pipes are increasingly supplied with rubber seals, ensuring tightness during ordinary docking.

PVC and polyethylene

And polyethylene, and much more common PVC pipes for sewage, and fittings for them are again equipped with rubber seals in the sockets.

Two details are connected with the docking:

• It is desirable to remove the outer chamfer of a cut-off nozzle. Otherwise, it will be difficult to insert into the rubber-sealed bell.
• The joint made on the sealant is guaranteed not to leak due to drying out of the rubber.

Conclusion

Of course, we have provided only the most general information about the types of connections used in modern plumbing, heating and sewer systems. The video in this article will give you some additional information on this topic.

Good luck in the repair!

1. The service life is several times longer than the durability of other communications.
2. Lack of leakage due to the smooth surface of the inner walls on which deposits do not settle. They have low hydraulic resistance.
3. No corrosion.
4. Chemicals do not affect them.
5. Pipes have such a level of reinforcement that even during freezing they will not become a cause for rupture and leakage.
6. Thermal conductivity is low and will not be a reason for reducing heat in the heat supply system.
7. Easy to install. Pipes can be installed even by yourself without the use of any special tools and soldering irons.
8. Safety of products and devices for humans.

In addition to all of the above, it is worth noting the installation speed separately, since steel communications are installed much longer.

But the main difference is the internal section, which in PP products does not decrease with time, but in steel it is overgrown with serious calcareous deposits.

There is also no need to clean, paint and oil the communications, and water hammer in the system will not affect at all.

Physical characteristics of pipes for hot water supply

It is noteworthy that plastic pipes for hot water supply relate to a synthetic material, which has several qualities at the same time. Flexibility and hardness, with such hardness that counteracts the mechanical influence and flexibility that is inherent in all polymer derivatives. The extreme melting and softening temperature of the pipe is 150 °. And if heated to 180 °, then the polymer will flow and gradually turn into a viscous liquid.

As most manufacturers indicate, PP products will withstand maximum temperature   water at 95 °, so any temperature rise is only harmful, but since in all heating and water heating systems the temperature does not exceed 95 °, there is no need to wait for problems.

There are certain areas where systems can operate above 100 °, but more often they either use reinforced pipes or increase the pressure in the system.

PP pipes with reinforcement

Reinforced pipes always withstand thermal fluctuations upward. Composition: the same plastic pipes for hot water supply, but already with protection against bursting, represented by a layer of putty and aluminum foil.

What does the reinforcement look like?

1. A layer of aluminum foil.
2. A layer of any fiberglass.

The foil is not very successful in the sense that if contact with water occurs, there may be electrical activity that causes corrosion. Therefore, it is worth using fiberglass, in which there will be no electricity, and the service life is many times higher.

In a reinforced pipe, 2 layers of polypropylene are laid, between which there are fibers of fiber and fiberglass. Three layers are welded to each other, thereby providing extreme strength.

This strength becomes the key to safety in working with high water temperatures and the heavy weight of the entire structure. An unreinforced compound may swell and burst when heated.

Plastic pipes for heating

Plastic pipes for hot water supply and heating have many common stereotypes about their unreliability. Stereotypes are completely untrue. Communications are reliable for domestic hot water and heating according to the above-mentioned qualities, in addition, they are much cheaper than steel communications, and are easy to install. For installation you need only one soldering iron for plastic.

Also, their small weight plays an important role, since the joints can be laid even on the roof of the building. Reliability is not inferior to metal.

In conclusion, it must be said that polypropylene pipes   able to create communications with almost all types of materials, including steel. In addition, the scope is not limited to hot and cold water supply systems, and is also used to install sewers, irrigation systems of private areas at home, gardens and greenhouses. Due to their flexibility and low weight, their installation brings only pleasure, as it pleases that you can install absolutely any water supply scheme.

And as mentioned earlier, pp pipes are not subject to corrosion and deposits on the walls. And their care is so simple that it can be said that they are ideal for heating and domestic hot water systems.