Fix Leaking Moen Shower Faucet

How do you replace a Moen shower cartridge? To replace a Moen shower cartridge, turn off the main water supply to the shower at the shutoff valve. Remove the faucet’s handle, shower plate and the old shower cartridge. Install the replacement shower cartridge and ensure it is firmly held in place. How can you fix a leaky Moen faucet? You need a Philips-head screwdriver, shower stem socket, flat-head screwdriver and pliers to carry out the task. Using a Philips-head screwdriver, remove the screws retaining the faucet’s handle and then pull off the handle, away from the faucet valve. Remove the shower plate by unscrewing the screw holding it in place and then pull it from the wall. Unscrew the nut holding the faucet’s valve by inserting the shower stem socket via the shower wall onto the nut. Turn the nut counter-clockwise to remove it. Hold the old shower cartridge at the tip using a pair of pliers and then remove it from the wall. Insert the new shower cartridge and tighten its screws to ensure it is tightly held in place.
Place the shower plate back on its original placement and tighten the screws retaining it, using the Philips-head screwdriver. Slide in the faucet handle and tighten the retaining screw at the center of the handle. House For Sale In Naga Cebu PhilippinesInsert the decorative cap covering the handle, and then turn on the water supply.Homes For Sale Stonewall Ms What causes Moen faucets to break?Homes For Sale In Wolf Creek Jacksonville Fl Common causes of problems with Moen faucets include scratched o-rings or grommets, a broken handle, a faulty rubber seal, a clogged cartridge or an obstruc... Repair a leaking Moen kitchen faucet by replacing the cartridge. This fixes a faucet that is leaking at the handle or one that does not shut off....
How do you fix a leaky shower faucet? Leaky shower faucets are usually fixed by replacing worn out parts in the shower faucet valve such as the cartridge in single handle shower faucets. What is needed for installing a basement shower? How often are water meters read in Los Angeles County? Whom can you call to fix your Glacier Bay kitchen faucet? Hoe do you repair a leaking toilet tank? What if snow on the roof clogs the sewer vent pipe? What products does Delta Faucet sell? Moen 96988 Cartridge Repair KitDetailsMoen Cartridge Puller For ALL 1200, 1222 & 1225 Single Handle Cartridges Moen 1222 Single-Handle Posi-Temp Replacement Cartridge FREE Shipping on orders over $49. Buy "Moen 96988 Cartridge Repair Kit” from Amazon Warehouse Deals and save 40% off the $16.60 list price. 3 x 1 x 3 inches Brass / Antique Brass #40,029 in Home Improvements (See top 100) #151 in Home Improvement > Kitchen & Bath Fixtures > Bathroom Fixtures > Bathtub Faucets & Showerheads > Showerheads > Handheld Showerheads
#1,414 in Home Improvement > Rough Plumbing See all 17 customer reviews See all 17 customer reviews (newest first) ordered as a spare Works great very smooth operation! Missing o rings, I bought the missing ones at my local hardware.Make sure you buy the puller tool. Moen 1222 Single-Handle Posi-Temp Replacement Cartridge Moen Cartridge Puller For ALL 1200, 1222 & 1225 Single Handle Cartridges Moen 1222HD Commercial Heavy-Duty Brass Shell Posi-Temp One-Handle Replacement Cartridge Moen 1225 One-Handle Replacement Cartridge See and discover other items: sink valve, shower faucet cartridge, moen faucetA common issue with older Moen shower faucets is only cold, or only hot water coming out of the faucet or shower head.  This often happens with showers that are not used very often, or where the water supply is particularly hard or has high levels of contaminants.  If you search the web for help, the most often suggest is to replace the main cartridge (part number Moen 1225 or 1200).  
However, this is most likely not the source of the issue. If you remove the shower faucet knob, and remove the cover behind it, you should see something like the image below.  This is a Moentrol 3570 valve, there are other similar model numbers. Within the valve is what is called a balancing spool.  This balancing spool valve contains a piston which moves back and forth maintaining a given temperature even if the pressure on the cold side is reduced, for example someone flushes a toilet when the shower is in use.  It prevents a sudden blast of hot water which can lead to burns.  When you suddenly experience only the cold or hot water flowing regardless of where you set the flow handle, this valve is almost always the culprit. The piston which is inside the balancing spool will get stuck in one position or the other.  When this happens, it essentially shuts off flow to either the hot or cold side.  Poor water quality and age will eventually cause the piston to get stuck in its bore.  
The balancing spool (part number Moen 1423) can be seen clearly in the photo below. The first step in repairing the balancing spool valve is to remove it.  You will need to use a VERY large screw driver to unscrew the valve (number 2 above).  Make sure you shut off your water first!  You can also use a straight-edge piece of metal clamped in vice grips if you do not have a large enough screw driver.  Spray the outside of the screw with Liquid Wrench or other penetrating oil in advance of your attempt, it can be difficult to loosen.  If you are lucky, the valve will come out with the screw.  But, most likely the top of the spool will separate, like in the photo below. If this happens, you will need to retrieve the stuck piece.  The way that I accomplished this was to soak it in Liquid Wrench for an hour before my attempt.  I inserted a screw driver down into the piston and tried to lever it out, tapping with a hammer at the same time.  I then bent a piece of metal rod into a hook shape and fished it inside and caught it against one of the holes in the body of the spool.  
Using a pair of vice grips I pulled until it came loose.  This may take some work, so be patient. Once removed you have two options, replace with a new one, which is not cheap, retail price is between $55-95.00.  Or, you can usually successfully clean the spool.  To do this, remove the round piece of metal at the back of the valve (seen above).  Just slip a small screw driver into the gap and twist it out.  Then tap the piston out of the bore.  I used a socket to support the back of the spool, and used a hammer and screw driver to tap it out. Next, you want to use fine sandpaper to clean off the piston journals, and the inside of the bore of the valve.  Get aggressive, you want the bore and journals to be polished clean.  Work the piston back and forth in the bore until there is absolutely no sticking or binding.  Then apply plumbers grease and reassemble.  Turn the water back on and test the faucet, you should now have hot and cold water, and just saved yourself a couple hundred dollar repair bill.