What is faucet cartridge?

Category: home and garden home appliances
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Each faucet handle (hot and cold) has its own cartridge, a valve that turns with the handle to control the flow of water into the faucet spout. If you have a very old two-handle faucet, it may be a compression-type rather than a cartridge.



Thereof, how long do faucet cartridges last?

20 to 30 years

Beside above, are all faucet cartridges the same? The cartridges are usually not interchangeable. A hot side cartridge will only fit the hot side of the faucet, and the same for the cold side. There are slight differences in how the cartridge is manufactured depending on whether it is for use on the cold side or hot side of the faucet.

Hereof, how do I identify my faucet cartridge?

For sink faucets, look at the front of the spout. The logo may also be on the base of the spout, where it meets the sink, either on the front or the back. For shower faucets, look on the round plate (escutcheon) behind the handle, on the handle itself, or perhaps on the actual valve behind the wall.

Can you fix a faucet cartridge?

If you have a two-handle faucet with handles that turn 90 degrees, you have either a cartridge or compression faucet. Leaks in cartridge faucets are usually caused by worn-out cartridges or worn rubber O-ring seals. These problems are easily fixed using repair kits that include both replacement cartridges and O-rings.

34 Related Question Answers Found

Why do faucet cartridges fail?

Usually, cartridge faucet woes mean that the rubber O rings inside the faucet have worn out, or that passages within the cartridge have become clogged. To do this, find the two shutoff valves beneath the sink that control the plumbing leading to the faucet. Turn the valves clockwise to close them.

Why do faucet cartridges go bad?

In the shower faucet, there is a valve cartridge. This makes your shower valve go bad because it becomes worn out and defective. One other major problem that is seen is leaking or seeping water. The rubber rings and parts around the shower valve and cartridge have to be placed.

How much does fixing a leaky faucet cost?

The national average cost to repair a dripping faucet is $65–$150, but the cost may be higher, depending on the nature and cause of the leak. Fortunately, this is a pretty easy fix. Faucets that drip at the spout may be fixable by tightening a stem screw or replacing a corroded valve seat or worn out washer.

Are Moen faucets lifetime warranty?

Warranty for Moen Home Care Bath Safety Products
Limited Lifetime Warranty - If this product fails due to a defect in materials or workmanship at any time during the life of the product, Moen will replace it free of charge, postage-paid. Simply contact Moen at 1-800-BUY-MOEN for replacement information.

How do you remove the cartridge from a kitchen faucet?


To remove the cartridge from your kitchen faucet assembly, first use a flat-headed screwdriver to carefully pry the cover from the top of the handle. Using a Philips screwdriver, unscrew the handle screw and pull the handle up off the faucet assembly. Unscrew the collar by hand and lift off.

How does a cartridge faucet work?

A cartridge faucet is so common you've probably seen dozens and not even noticed. It's a simple faucet, but instead of having two separate taps or knobs for both hot and cold water, there's simply a lever above the spigot. Raising the lever turns the water on, while pushing it down turns the water off.

Can a bad faucet cartridge cause low water pressure?

Unfortunately, water line breaks and routine repairs can cause low pressure. If that's not the problem, your kitchen faucet either has a clogged aerator on the faucet's tip or it has a clogged cartridge. Both are easy to repair, and you don't need any special plumbing skills.

How much does it cost to replace a faucet cartridge?

Expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $350 for the installation of a tub faucet. You'll need to make sure and keep your faucet in line with the plumbing for the tub.

Top Brand of Bathtub Faucets & Costs.
Brand Average Unit Cost
American Standard $50-$800
Delta $50-$2,000
Grohe $50-$3,000
Pfister $200-$1,000

What is a cartridge for a faucet?

Most bathroom faucets that have two handles are cartridge-style faucets. Each faucet handle (hot and cold) has its own cartridge, a valve that turns with the handle to control the flow of water into the faucet spout. If you have a very old two-handle faucet, it may be a compression-type rather than a cartridge.

How much does it cost to replace shower cartridge?


If not, cartridges I have seen run from about $15-60 - the changeout and initial temperature setting will probably be minimum service charge assuming it can be changed by just removing a decorative faceplate - from $75-175 labor normally except can be more in extremem high cost big city areas - normally around $125

How do I know what shower cartridge I need?

Look at the center of the trim plate behind the shower handle to find a brand name or manufacturer symbol. If you see a "K," the faucet is a Kohler unit; an "M" signifies Moen. American Standard, Delta and Price Pfister typically print their entire name on the faucet.

Where do I find my faucet model number?

The model number is printed on a tag that is attached to the cold water supply line of the faucet. The supply line is located below the sink, countertop, bath rim, or behind the bowl of a bidet. The model number, or part number, is typically preceded by "P/N."

How do I know if my shower cartridge is bad?

There are several signs of a cartridge needing to be serviced or replaced. The most obvious is that you have a drip or running water when you turn the handle to the off position. You may also get a drip at the handle itself. Furthermore, you may feel the handle getting increasingly more difficult to turn.

How do I know what Moen cartridge I need?

If not the series number can be usually be found on the underside of the faucet or on the decorative escutcheon ring that goes around it. If you still don't know “what Moen cartridge do I need”, the second way to identify your Moen valve cartridge is to remove the old one.

What are the different types of faucets?


The most common faucet types are:
  • Ball Faucet. The first type of washerless faucet, ball faucets are commonly used in kitchens.
  • Cartridge Faucet (Two Handle) Cartridge faucets utilize a movable stem cartridge which moves up and down to control the flow of water.
  • Disc Faucet.
  • Compression Washer Faucet.

How do I know what Delta shower cartridge I need?

Go to Delta Faucet Website
After you've identified the features of your Delta shower faucet, you can use your computer or smartphone to go to the Delta Faucet website to find Delta shower cartridge types and other parts. At the top of the Delta home page, click on the "Bathroom" link.

How do you lubricate a faucet cartridge?

For one-handle faucets with a 1225 cartridge, simply remove the cartridge and lubricate it both inside and out with a silicone-based grease (Moen part number 99915). Do not use plumber's grade faucet grease, silicon sprays or any lubricant that may contain petroleum.