Renovation and arrangement of a bathroom inherently includes the stage of installing piping and taps. It is important that the height of the mixer above the bathtub is optimal for the convenience of taking water procedures for all family members, and at the same time, the design looks aesthetically pleasing and practical. Are there rules at what height to place the mixer above the bathroom and what are the installation rules for such a design - read more about these details in this review material.
Location of the tap in the bathroom according to SNiP
Despite the fact that each consumer independently decides at what height the mixer should be installed above the bathroom, very specific requirements for the installation height of the mixers are indicated in the building regulations. According to the documents SNiP 3.05.01-85, the following standard is indicated - the distance from the bathtub to the tap must be at least 200 mm, and the height of the mixer in the bathroom from the floor must be at least 800 mm.
At the same time, in accordance with regulatory enactments, the recommended parameters can be changed. So, for hospital and medical institutions, in order to install a mixer, you need to measure the distance from the floor and install the valve at a standard height of 1100 mm. And in the shower version, the distance between the mixer and the bottom of the tank should not be less than 1200 mm and not more than 1500 mm.
Modern builders and plumbers, especially in private households, do not comply with SNiPs, and the installation height of the bath mixer depends on the personal preferences of the consumer. At the same time, specialists adhere to the installation rules specified in the instructions for the device.
How to calculate the installation height of a faucet in a bathroom?
When calculating at what height to install the mixer above the bathroom, a distance of 200 mm is taken as a standard, however, practical experience shows that the installed tap can be at any distance convenient for the consumer. However, in the process of calculating the installation, several basic rules should be observed:
1. Before starting the installation of the tap in the selected place, attach it to the wall, try it on in height, see if the spout will interfere, evaluate the convenience of such an arrangement of the device.
2. Remember that if you want to install a shower column with a mixer, then the distance from the bottom of the bowl in this case must be at least 1200 mm.
3. Many people, when calculating the final height of the mixer above the bathroom, make a serious mistake, taking the height of the bowl itself as a reference point before its installation. This is wrong, since in order to ensure greater stability of the bathroom, sometimes you have to resort to the fact that you need to put special supports. As a result, it may turn out that the height of the mixer, verified by previous calculations, of 20 cm, "falls" to 10 cm, as a result, the tap will hang over the bowl, which will not only spoil the appearance, but will also create some inconvenience during use. In addition, not all models of plumbing taps can be installed at such a short distance.
4. It will not be superfluous to make measurements and calculations in advance of the distance of the mixer from the edge of the bath. This is useful for those who in the future plan to turn the tap from the sink to the bath and vice versa. Consider the height of the sink itself, models with a height of less than 850mm are extremely rare. To these parameters it is necessary to add the dimensions of the mixing mechanism and the centimeters between the sink and the spout - here it would be better to make a mistake in a plus than a minus.
5. The installation volumes are also influenced by additional accessories that are often equipped with modern taps - for example, water softeners, as well as the wishes of those who will use the bath, some prefer that the tap above the bath is located a little higher - this allows you to wash your hair without filling bath with water or take a shower.
6. When installing the mixer on the surface of the bathroom wall, it is necessary to avoid that the structure is attached to the tiles, namely to its borders - in this case, the rough texture of the material coating will not allow the tap reflectors to be tightly fixed. Because of this, the height of the crane installation is often related to the height of the curb (most often it is 1 meter from the floor level).
Follow these simple rules and your mixing device will last a long time.
The installation of the mixer will not cause many problems for a person who is more or less familiar with the design of this device and knows how to handle the tool. To do this, you need a fully equipped device and an adjustable wrench. Dismantling the old mixer is done carefully so as not to spoil the outer coating of the bathroom.
If you want to install a tap on the side of the bowl, you shouldn't place it clearly in the center. For greater comfort during further operation, it is recommended to move the structure towards the legs.
Between the hot and cold water taps, the distance in the axial directions must be at least 150 mm. To determine the installation depth of the fittings, it is best to do a trial assembly of the structure.
When working with the fitting, be sure to use the building level. This tool will help to mount the water sockets in the desired axes and parallels with each other. It must be remembered that the location of the mixer plays an important role in its installation - the taps are mounted both on the body of the bathtub, and on a special podium or directly on the wall.
The simplest thing is to install a flush-mounted mixer, the modern design of the baths provides for this special technological holes. If the holes were made on their own, then here too the installation will not cause much trouble - the mixer is connected to the water supply using flexible pipes through which water will be supplied. After sealing with washers and gaskets, the valve is fixed in the hole with a fixing nut. The water supply pipes are fixed in the same way. If they turn out to be a little longer than required, cut off the excess, and grind the sections.
When installing a mixer on a podium or a stand without the help of a specialist, it will be a little difficult - this will require skills not only in plumbing work, but also in construction, because when installing this structure, it is necessary to supply water pipes to the stand.
Now you know that the height of the mixer in the bathroom will be the most optimal in your case, but do not think that the indicated distance is a standard, ergonomics should play the main role. So some baths, together with the legs, can be either higher or lower, so the optimal distance must be determined taking this parameter into account.