Replacing the washing machine faucet

Before a vacation or a long trip, it's recommended to turn off the washing machine's water inlet valve. Unfortunately, if you do this too often, you can accidentally break the valve handle. Calling a professional for replacement is recommended, but repairs can be expensive, and you don't want to pay for a simple repair. Fortunately, replacing the water inlet valve yourself isn't as difficult as it might seem.

Changing the washing machine faucet yourself

To replace a washing machine faucet, first turn off the cold water supply. This is done using the faucet that controls the flow of water from the standpipe. Afterward, drain any remaining water to prevent it from becoming a nuisance.

It is convenient to drain the water by opening the tap in the kitchen to the maximum.

After the above manipulations, you need to prepare the following:

• adjustable wrench;
• pelvis;
• rag;
• winding.

Place a basin under the pipe with the tee tap, place a rag underneath, unscrew the nuts securing the tap to the pipe, and remove the inlet hose nut. Now, test the new tap mechanism, wind the threaded ferrule (two or three turns are sufficient), and then screw the new tap on. Carefully tighten the metal nuts with an adjustable wrench, being careful not to strip the threads. Finally, manually install the plastic inlet hose nut onto the tee.

Now comes the most crucial moment. You'll need another person to open the cold water supply while you check the work. If the connections are loose, water will leak, and your helper will be able to quickly shut it off. Be careful – the leak may not appear immediately, so it is worth checking the connections within 10-20 minutes. If water does not appear anywhere, then all manipulations have been performed correctly and the machine is ready to wash.

Choosing a new faucet

Buyers often ask why they should buy a tee instead of a regular faucet, or even go without one altogether. Of course, you can save money and live without a faucet, but in that case, the savings will go toward paying for repairs for the neighbors downstairs.

If you've witnessed such an unpleasant phenomenon as water hammer in a water supply system, you can easily imagine how metal and plastic pipes can burst at the seams. And if even thick pipes can be easily destroyed, what will happen to a washing machine hose directly connected to the water supply? In a matter of seconds, it will become unusable, after which the apartment will be filled with knee-deep water.

To prevent this, you need to purchase a faucet. Why a triple faucet? Such a device is indispensable in the bathroom – it allows three appliances to be connected to a single water supply. A regular continuous faucet can't connect a washing machine and a dishwasher at the same time, but a triple faucet can.

If you're planning to replace your water faucet yourself, consider the following nuances when choosing.

• Material. Today, there are thousands of different options available in brass and silumin. Brass products will last quite a long time, but the same cannot be said for silumin faucets.
• Shut-off mechanism design. You can choose between a ball or multi-turn design. It's best to choose the former, as it will last longer.
• The valve's design is also important. It should be designed so that you can immediately shut off the water flow in an emergency.

Buy faucets with a large, comfortable handle so that your hand doesn't slip and can grip it comfortably.

Silumin faucets are considered to deteriorate four times faster than brass faucets. However, they continue to be popular due to their lower cost compared to brass. We strongly recommend choosing a brass faucet from a reputable manufacturer to avoid paying for repairs and replacements.

   

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