Moen Faucet Low Water Pressure? Fix It FAST! (Easy DIY Solution), by DIY FIX on YouTube. 5 min 21 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 21 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Open the tap fully on hot, then on cold, and check another tap in the house. If every tap is weak, the problem is your supply, not the Moen faucet.
Close the hot and cold stop valves under the sink and put the drain plug in. A dropped screw or small part down the drain is the most common way this job goes wrong.
Unscrew the aerator from the tip of the spout. Turn it by hand first, then use pliers wrapped in a cloth if it is stuck.
Rinse the aerator screen under the tap and pick out grit and scale with a pin. Soak the parts in white vinegar for 30 minutes, then scrub with a soft brush.
On pull-down models, unscrew the spray head and soak it in vinegar too. Clear the small holes with a pin, since scale here cuts flow just as much as a blocked aerator.
Refit the aerator and spray head, open the valves and test the flow. If it is back to normal, stop here and save yourself the cartridge job.
If flow is still weak, shut the valves again and remove the handle with a Phillips screwdriver or hex key, following your model's handle style.
Pull the cartridge straight out, check it for scale, cracks or a worn O-ring, and soak it in vinegar or fit a new Moen cartridge with the same part number.
Check the two supply lines for kinks and make sure both stop valves are fully open. Flush the lines for a few seconds before you refit the cartridge.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not overtighten the aerator when you refit it, or the plastic threads will crack and you will need a new one.
Use white vinegar, not bleach or harsh descaler, on aerators and cartridges.
If only the hot side is weak, the cartridge is the likely cause rather than the aerator.
Write down the model number from under the faucet base before buying a cartridge, as Moen sizes vary.
Questions
How do I know if the problem is the aerator or the cartridge?
Clean the aerator and spray head first and test. If the flow is still weak on both hot and cold, or only one side is weak, the cartridge is the next thing to check.
Can I clean a Moen cartridge instead of replacing it?
Yes, if it is only coated in scale. Soak it in white vinegar and rinse it. Replace it if the plastic is cracked, the O-rings are worn, or the handle feels stiff or drips.
Why is the water pressure low only at this one faucet?
That points to a local blockage, usually the aerator, spray head, cartridge or a partly closed stop valve under the sink, rather than a problem with your home's water supply.
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.
