Moen shower faucet cartridge replacement

D

dishdude

Joined
Nov 14, 2008
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Phoenix
I have an 11 year old Moen shower faucet that started dripping. We did a complete remodel when we bought the house in 2015, and in my mind that was yesterday. Reality, things we already replaced are starting to need attention. I specifically bought Moen because the previous house was built in 2006, 3 years later no hot water in one of the showers. Called Moen and they sent a new cartridge, I swapped it and don't remember it being anything difficult. Also the house before that had it's original Delta from 1994 and I swapped that no problem.

Call Moen and they send a new cartridge, great! On a whim I decided to watch a YouTube video (never did for the previous swaps but glad I did). Learned I needed a puller to get the old one out so ordered one from Home Depot along with a new clip they recommended. A $24 order they delivered for free via DoorDash or similar service at 7 AM 🤪

Get into this and everything has calcium deposits on it (set screw on handle, we have ridiculously hard water here) escutcheon is trashed. Toss those in vinegar. Get the cartridge out with this ridiculous puller (like pulling a steering wheel) and can't get the new one in! Double check the brass valve body and it's smooth and clean inside and finally get the cartridge in. Found a trim kit on ebay for $25 so just replacing all the trashed trim pieces. This was much more of an ordeal than I was expecting so just throwing this out as a warning. Not thrilled with this design.



 
Last edited:
I've been through this. But not quite to the degree of frustration you are going through. There are 2 thing that come into play when dealing with these types of "Pull / Push / Twist" shower faucets regardless of brand. (Moen Delta). First is to take your time and clean the inside of the tube that receives the valve itself, after you finally get it out. With hard water there will be crap inside.

A set of wire bottle brushes is really helpful when doing this. I cut the wire loop off the end so I can stick it into the chuck of a variable speed drill. Or you can try a 12 gauge bore brush on the end of a cleaning rod and do the same.

I then use one of those cotton 12 gauge bore mops to clean it out after brushing. The second thing is to use plenty of O-Ring lubricant. The more the better. Both on the valve and O-Rings, and inside the bore with your finger.

Think of it like oiling an AR-15 bolt carrier group. Whatever excess you put in will get blown out. Don't count on the small amount the factory pre lubes it with. It's not enough. After doing this 4 years ago, our master bath shower still opens and closes like the day I put it in.

Another thing I found out is these valves will tighten up from just sitting. We never use our bathtub. But every few days I turn the faucet on and off just to run a couple of gallons through it while twisting it from full cold to hot. That keeps it nice and smooth running.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/7Pcs-Bra...ing/9016772186?classType=REGULAR&from=/search
 
dishdude said:
I have an 11 year old Moen shower faucet that started dripping. We did a complete remodel when we bought the house in 2015, and in my mind that was yesterday. Reality, things we already replaced are starting to need attention. I specifically bought Moen because the previous house was built in 2006, 3 years later no hot water in one of the showers. Called Moen and they sent a new cartridge, I swapped it and don't remember it being anything difficult. Also the house before that had it's original Delta from 1994 and I swapped that no problem.

Call Moen and they send a new cartridge, great! On a whim I decided to watch a YouTube video (never did for the previous swaps but glad I did). Learned I needed a puller to get the old one out so ordered one from Home Depot along with a new clip they recommended. A $24 order they delivered for free via DoorDash or similar service at 7 AM 🤪

Get into this and everything has calcium deposits on it (set screw on handle, we have ridiculously hard water here) escutcheon is trashed. Toss those in vinegar. Get the cartridge out with this ridiculous puller (like pulling a steering wheel) and can't get the new one in! Double check the brass valve body and it's smooth and clean inside and finally get the cartridge in. Found a trim kit on ebay for $25 so just replacing all the trashed trim pieces. This was much more of an ordeal than I was expecting so just throwing this out as a warning. Not thrilled with this design.



Click to expand...

Does Moen require a puller tool? I used to replace cartridges frequently working maintenance using channel locks. Tenants would crank down on the faucet ruining the cartridges. My shower has seats which I think is a better design. I always sprayed the cartridge with lithium grease if I remember correctly as I had to tap them in with a mallet.
 
Softeners will most definitely help, but these type of push / pull valves will tighten up over time regardless. It's the design itself. Without lube to keep the O-Rings soft and pliable, the hot water will cause them to stiffen up over time. Resulting in a tight handle that is difficult to operate. Along with having it starting to drip.

Repeated use after they get tight will most always cause the O-Rings to start getting chewed up. After that things will go downhill fast. I've ended up replacing so many of these cartridges, I always keep a 4-pack, "in stock".

https://www.amazon.com/Enhon-Cartri...k+valve+replacement+cartridges,aps,183&sr=8-7
 
billt460 said:
Softeners will most definitely help, but these type of push / pull valves will tighten up over time regardless. It's the design itself. Without lube to keep the O-Rings soft and pliable, the hot water will cause them to stiffen up over time. Resulting in a tight handle that is difficult to operate. Along with having it starting to drip.

Repeated use after they get tight will most always cause the O-Rings to start getting chewed up. After that things will go downhill fast. I've ended up replacing so many of these cartridges, I always keep a 4-pack, "in stock".

https://www.amazon.com/Enhon-Cartridge-Replacement-Compatible-Faucets/dp/B0BXXJCS6X/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2V6Z2RWJQ5GY3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nWg1A8rhHm5-Gv_L5mkOHgM0yq7MbCgzFLYLCt_y361-RDSOkSp3g8bF3oOOpfzLZQQp5V6c-xBgL7WYyRsPoHrjcJ238sjyUsVMatrB2v-G7qsRp0evdzGO_lBxgaaf7Zd5ifB06hmv-U8e-bIiuqU7KFLnWQPcJGBvbLv2LUdpGtgUfeYX4gTvQT3vF6abM_TAKvN_dLwoSS-fOqhAfD4UnrAd2anvXAY21M0Kp3rDsdqmzO8aBOpop8VSl_gm5R918sfCDlBTKE5fNw83skVr7tS49TKMyLvEqH1DysM.R5Yk1sAsnanX0j9jcXLIwEz0AJcFrmrV5tqyexyjZJw&dib_tag=se&keywords=moen+shower+4+pack+valve+replacement+cartridges&qid=1780914081&sprefix=moen+shower+4+pack+valve+replacement+cartridges,aps,183&sr=8-7
Click to expand...
Of course, the manufacturer greases these things from the factory, and replacement cartridges are supposed to the greased. Ill tell you what really happens:

Moen pressure balance valves come assembled from the factory (or at least the one in question). When installed on the rough stage of construction, debris that makes its way inside the water distribution pipe, (through transport, installations, and municipality debris when water service is hooked up).....said debris gets into the cartridge.

When this situation is detected, the plumber removes the cartridge, purges the valve, WIPES off the cartridge, and reinstalls. If the issue is resolved, you think he removes cartridge again? No.

Years later when a leak happens, the greaseless cartridge housing (valve body) has debris from water quality, and others mentioned earlier.....does the normal homeowner clean the mating surface of the valve before install? No.

Then, during this service call, typically, the water has been turned off and drained partially. When the water comes back on, being as this valve is a mixing valve between hot and cold, a turbulent condition occurs in the water heater (which has debris) and the cycle happens again. Rarely does someone turn the main valve on to slowly fill the system again, and if they do, they still probably do it too fast.

People freak out about service fees for stuff like this. Imagine how much a bill would be if someone did this right.
 
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