In modern plumbing, single-lever mixers have replaced traditional taps. Unlike older models that use rubber washers, these contemporary faucets rely on ceramic disc cartridges. This system, housed in a cylindrical plastic casing, ensures greater durability and requires minimal force to operate.
How it Works
The cartridge is the “heart” of the mixer. It controls the opening, closing, and mixing of hot and cold water. Inside the plastic housing, two ceramic discs—one fixed and one mobile—slide over each other.
- The mechanism: Holes in the discs align to allow water in (hot/cold) and out through a central channel.
- The advantage: Ceramic is incredibly resistant to wear and limescale, making the faucet reliable and smooth to operate for years.
Maintenance and Replacement
If your tap is leaking or you can no longer balance the water temperature, the cartridge is likely faulty. While you can attempt to clean it, given the low cost of a replacement (often starting at just a few euros), it is usually more efficient to install a new one.
Step-by-step replacement:
- Shut off the water (either the main valve or the under-sink valves).
- Remove the decorative cap on the lever and unscrew the grub screw using an Allen key.
- Pull off the handle and unscrew the decorative cover.
- Use a wrench to unscrew the brass locking nut.
- Extract the old cartridge and insert the new one, ensuring the lugs align with the holes in the tap body.
Where to Buy: Original vs. Universal (Kerox)
Many leading Italian and international brands use Kerox cartridges. Kerox is a Hungarian leader in the industry, producing high-quality ceramic discs and specialized cartridges (thermostatic, joystick, etc.).
- Kerox Replacements: Often more affordable than “branded” versions, even though they are identical. Models like K35, K40, or K25 fit a vast range of Italian taps.
- Original Spares: If your tap belongs to a specific designer series (e.g., Gessi, Fantini, Paini), it is often easier to search by the manufacturer’s brand name.
ORIGINAL Cartridges for Single-Lever Mixers
We have previously discussed cartridges manufactured by Kerox which, once rebranded, are often included in the official price lists of many leading faucet manufacturers. In such cases, they automatically qualify as “original” type cartridges. Naturally, Kerox does not cover the thousands of faucet series produced over the decades; therefore, the faucet manufacturers themselves—either directly or through third parties—provide the correct cartridges under their own brand: the ORIGINAL cartridges.
If you know the specific series of your faucets, it is much easier to find the replacement cartridge for your mixer by consulting the spare parts catalogs of the individual brands.
In the “Plumbing Spare Parts and Accessories” section of this site, you will find replacement cartridges for many faucet series, categorized by manufacturer:
BONOMI, EURORAMA – ART DESIGN, FANTINI, FIR, F.LLI FRATTINI, GEDA, LINEABETA, PAINI, PONSI, RITMONIO, GESSI.
Visit SINTESIBAGNO.SHOP to browse our extensive catalog, where you can compare measurements or search by brand.
