How To Fix A Leaking or Dripping Shower Head or Bathtub Faucet, by How To Home on YouTube. 10 min 42 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 42 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Shut off the hot and cold water supply to the shower or tub. Open the faucet handle afterward to release pressure and confirm the water is off.
Pry off the decorative cap on the handle with a flat tool or your fingers. Remove the screw or set screw underneath with a Phillips screwdriver or Allen key.
Pull the handle straight off the valve stem. Set the screw and cap somewhere you will not lose them.
Remove the trim plate or escutcheon. Take out the screws holding it to the wall and slide it off the cartridge.
Grip the retaining nut with channel lock pliers and turn it counterclockwise. Remove the nut and set it aside.
Pull the old cartridge out. If it sticks, thread the Moen cartridge puller onto it and turn the tool to draw it free.
Wipe the inside of the valve body clean and flush it briefly with the water still off. Check that no old rubber or debris is left inside.
Coat the new cartridge O-rings with a thin layer of silicone grease. Slide the cartridge in with the tabs lined up so it seats fully.
Refit the retaining nut and tighten it with the pliers. Put the trim plate, handle and screw back on in reverse order.
Turn the water back on slowly and check for leaks around the handle. Run hot and cold water, then shut it off and listen for drips.
Tips and common mistakes
Buy the exact cartridge for your faucet brand and model, since a Moen 1222 will not fit other valves.
Do not overtighten the retaining nut, or the handle will feel stiff and the cartridge can crack.
If the old cartridge will not budge, use the puller instead of yanking with pliers so you do not damage the valve body.
Turn the water off at the main or the fixture shutoff before you start, or you will get soaked.
Questions
How do I know which cartridge my faucet needs?
Take the old cartridge out and compare it with the replacement, or look up your faucet model on the maker's site. Moen single handle tub and shower valves commonly use the 1222 cartridge.
Can I fix the drip without replacing the cartridge?
Sometimes a good cleaning and fresh silicone grease on the O-rings will stop a small drip. If the cartridge is worn or cracked, replacement is the reliable fix.
Why is my shower head still dripping after the repair?
Water left in the head can drip for a minute after shutoff. If it keeps dripping, check that the cartridge is seated fully and the retaining nut is snug.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
