With so many video tutorials on one handled faucets, this was the only one I could find for my particular faucet cartridge. THANK YOU ! This saved me so much. Your directions, tool selection and model types made this so easy for me to handle in just 15 minutes! You are awesome!
thanks to your video I was able to fix my shower. i was like 2 months dealing with a leak. Finally today I managed to make time and did it. so proud of myself right now 🤣
Thank You for your time and video! I am not a plumber, I work in health care. I watched your video a few times just to be sure and finally was successful! Again, Thank You!
This is the best video as far as discussing what happens if your clip won't go back in. It took me a while to notice the openings in the underside of the outer brass fitting. Even then, I had to take a small screwdriver and pry the ends of the clips out so that they would slide into those openings. You can see the openings (he calls it a slit because he just had one long hole, whereas I had two small ones), at 8:52.
Hey Matt. It's not easy to use a puller. But thanks to your clear explanation on how to use it I was able to pull the cartridge and fix my shower. I thus save myself lots of money if I would've had to call a plumber on a sunday evening. Keep up the good work.
I fixed mine with the help of this video. One thing I'll say is that these 'universal' cartridge pullers really are not. My cartridge was probably 30 yrs old (house built in '92) and the end of the cartridge had a lip on that that prevented it from properly fitting over the puller, and the screw wasn't quite long enough to reach the cartridge head. I ended up filing down the edges of the puller so the cartridge would fit over it. Then, with some effort, I was able to reach the hole with the screw and gently work it out. I think you do need the puller for this job as an old cartridge will most likely be stuck, and if you attempt to pull it just with pliers, you'll risk bending the pipe behind the wall. You need something to push back on the pipe while you pull the cartridge out..
Glad the video helped and you got it sorted out! There very well could be another puller, this is the only type I could find at my local home depot and it works well with the newer cartridges. And you definitely need a puller for older cartridges, especially in a place like AZ where the hard water is almost like a weld haha. If it is a new cartridge and you don't have hard water, the little plastic thing that comes with the cartridge sometimes will loosen it without the need for the puller. But even with the cost of the puller, it still saves money, instead of calling the plumber.
Folks, I just did my 1222 posi-temp cartridges and I learned everything from these channels, but I always encourage everyone to lay a wet washcloth or rag over the drain and I stuff a rag in the diverters rough opening-to prevent loss of the retaining clip that holds the cartridge in the diverter…..plus I take a 1 inch plumbers wire brush and “gently “ clean the in side of the diverter cavity while inspecting with a thin flashlight…..the newer diverters have an independent shutoff on the left “hot” and cold right that you can use while-having the main valve on…..good day…
I bought the $40 puller from Moen, a little costly but perfect for the job (rest of the parts were free under warranty). By the way the instructions for using the puller and the rest were very helpful, thank you!
If your faucet is hard to pull or rotate, even if it doesn’t leak, you need this. Couldn’t live without posts like this on RU-vid. 3 day job! 1 day, study all tips on the Moen 1200. Day 2, order new cart from Amaz, get the brass model with plas tool and clips in a kit $16. 3d day, 20’ to replace. Thanks guys. However, all these tips are missing a few critical points: 1. It may be easier than you think. Mine was installed 50 yrs ago and I had no real problems, parts are available everywhere. That is amazing considering you have to replace a computer and software every two years in our modern world. Read all the tips first. You may not have to even remove the cover plate. Remove the knob. Pull the sleeve off the cartridge. Remove the retainer clip (Fun when if falls inside the wall- but there’s a new one in the replacement kit). 2. Insert the plastic thingy and twist to and fro to free up the cartridge. 3. Screw the knob back on and pull, don’t wiggle, hard, just short of breaking the screw. Or use that fancy tool you just bought. The cartridge should slide out of the casting. 4. Still stuck? Time for the current tip. Push the center control hard into the off position to remove force on the C-ring retainer on the inside of the spool. Remove the C-ring. Patience-you’ll find the right tool to get it out. Watch where if flies, but you probably won’t need it. Pliers or knob again, pull the center spool out. 5. Now you can fit a 1/2” tap, coarse or fine into the opening. Put the retainer clip back in to hold it and put a few threads in the chamber. That should give you purchase just with the tap in place to yank on the sucker. Or go back to this tip and use a bolt. 6. Done. Now flush out the fixture. Whenever the water is turned off then on, the air pockets will loosen debris in the pipe, so turn on the water slightly, let your faucets run as well as spill into the tub. Inside the center spool, there’s a screen which will fill with dirt or rust, clogging your valve. Bad. 7. Now, grease the inside of the casting and new cartridge with waterproof grease. Looking at the cart, the side with the oblong O-ring pointed to the front should be on the right side. Reverse it and your hot and cold will be reversed. Assemble with the clip. The little flat spot on the control shaft should face up when you add the knob. 8. Done. And thanks again for all the tips.
It definitely depends on where you live though. Here in AZ the tap water is terrible, and the hard water is bad. Unless you have a water softener. But if you don't, the cartridge is super stuck. So the plastic thing doesn't work, it won't budge. In that case you will need the cartridge puller. All the plumbers here in AZ that I know of don't even mess with that little plastic, they just go straight to the puller, works without fail every time. Of course, they get more use out of it than the average person. But they aren't super expensive. And still much cheaper than hiring a plumber. Even with buying the tool and the cartridge, still only around 30 bucks. Not too shabby. It saves to do the work yourself! And it can be fun haha.
WOW!! You are the best instructor. Thank you so much for teaching me how to do this and saving this single mama SO MUCH MONEY!! I can’t believe I was able to do this myself. Thank you! Thank you!!
Well, thank you, Georgia!, such a nice compliment! You are so very welcome, I am glad you were able to fix it on your own and save money. :) :) If you are a fan of cooking and baking check out my main channel :) ru-vid.com
Thank you for this video, it was very helpful to me, the recommendations were exact and the use of the puller made all my work very easy. For the first time I did this job to fix my shower and it was a success
Thanks for the great video. It helped me fix leak for same faucet. Only time I had to rewind the video a few times was how to use the core puller. It took me a few tries on how to use core puller but it worked. Plumbers quoted $100-$200. Some plumber even said its the spout that is broken! I had to pry open the faucet handle cover with a knife. With a core puller and right replacement cartridge, total job shouldn't take more than 15-20mins.
Hey Matt, Great and clear video, everything thoroughly explained. I just changed the original Moen cartridge installed more than 23 years ago without a glitch. Thanks and happy holidays!!!
Thanks for the vid. I would clarify that if hot and cold are reversed you only turn around the little valve that pulls out. I turned the water back off and turned the entire cartridge around to no avail. 😄🤷🏻♂️ After *two* tries of turning the little valve (not sure how I messed up the first time) I was back in business!
You are very welcome!! :) Note you can try using the white plastic tool that comes with the cartridge to loosen the old cartridge, without buying the cartridge puller, but if you have hard water like we do here in Phoenix, and that old cartridge has been in there for a super long time, it probably won't work, but worth a try, before buying the specific cartridge puller. :)
I wanted to get the old valve out and take it with me to the hardware store to be sure I had a match. I did manage to get it out without using the special puller tool, but man, it was NOT easy. 😆
I don’t buy the brass cartridges because it builds up corrosion to a point that it welds itself to the housing which is also made of brass making things very difficult the plastic ones don’t corrode as bad
Yes, they are interchangeable. And 1200 is the all brass version. Some people think 1225 is actually better. This is a great article about the two. nextmodernhome.com/moen-1200-vs-1225/
If it is the pull out kind like mine either the 1200 or 1225 will work. But if you turn your water to the house off first then remove the old cartridge, you can take it to the store and get the same exact one, but I am 90% positive it will be either one of those. The problem is if you need to buy the tool first that is two trips, so I recommend just buying one or both of those and you can return the other later the next time you go to Home Depot or Lowes, Ace, etc.
Hmm darn that is a shame about the threads. I had that same thing happen to me years ago. I can't remember what I did to get it out. I think I used one of those tapping tools that you use to create threads or something and just gently pounded it in the hold of the cartridge then like vice grips on that to pull it out. It was an ordeal for sure. Unfortunately if you can't get it out, you may need to call a plumber, ughh.
HI Lily, you need to make sure the cartridge is on all the way, otherwise the pin won't go back in place and it needs to line up perfectly. It may be a bit finicky. Use needle nose pliers to hold it in place that will help.
So I replaced my Moen 1225 cartridge about a month ago. Was very hard to remove, almost thought I’d have to call a professional. But using the removal tool, and pulling at full strength with my body weight and my feet planted up against the wall, I got it out. Leaky faucet was fixed, and worked fine until yesterday. Now, my faucet is leaking again. And it’s not a small drip, it’s a steady stream of water. Any ideas on what I did wrong? Why’d it fail? And what should I do differently next replacement?
It could have just been a faulty cartridge. Replace it again, this time it should slide out pretty easy since it has only been in there for a month. If the next one fails again, you might need to call a plumber.
It could be a defective cartridge. Did you put the little clip back in place, so you are sure that the cartridge was completely set? Maybe it was a little loose or something and that is why it was leaking at that spot.
If you bought one with a lifetime warranty, I imagine so, you would have to send it to the manufacturer. Not sure returning it to Home Depot will work, but it might.
1225 or 1225B www.homedepot.com/p/MOEN-Single-Handle-Replacement-Cartridge-1225/100051867 or www.homedepot.com/p/MOEN-Single-Handle-Replacement-Cartridge-1225B/300502984
Hi there I'm finding your video the most helpful however I'm having a problem getting the old cartridge out. I tried with plyers etc, tried with the little plastic piece that comes with the new cartridge, and finally resorted to the core puller I purchased juuuuuust in case. The problem: I followed all steps but for some reason the screw from the puller doesn't seem to be reaching the old cartridge??
Mmm I have never had that problem before. Make sure to look at the cartridge and see if it has a hole for the cartridge to screw in. If not, then it is a different style of cartridge and you may need to resort to a plumber unfortunately.
Good news!@@MattTaylorVariety I kept at it and used the little white plastic piece that came with the new cartridge. A gazillion attempts later I finally got the inner metal piece to pull out enough that I could get the screw from the extractor to reach it and... out it came!! Your video for this process was by far the most helpful of allllllll the ones I referenced -- THANK YOU! And thank you for replying so quickly to my comment😇
Thank you so much for your easy to follow video. Today was my turn to replace shower faucet cartridge. The reason I decided to try it myself was because I was given estimate by Plumber that was too high to believe. He told me that he has to replace the shower valve and trim because cartridge is too hard to pull out. I did not believed him. He was going to make an easy payday for himself. So I purchased the tool you mentioned, Moen cartridge 1200 and plumber grease for a fraction of what he was going to charge me. Thank you again.
That is so awesome!! Glad you gave it a try yourself and saved money. Now that you have that tool, you can replace any others and it will be even cheaper. Or help other friends and family members.
While that is true, most people don't hold onto their receipts for that long. It is an only a lifetime warranty for the original owner as well. So if they were installed before you bought your home, they won't replace it for free. "Proof of purchase (original sales receipt) from the original consumer purchaser must accompany all warranty claims."
One of the best how to video’s out. Matt takes his time and thoroughly explains everything you need to know in how to replace these cartridges. Other videos I’ve seen rush through the process and leave you still needing help with questions.
So I got a handyman to look at mine, and I'll be honest mine have not been replaced in about 28yrs. He managed to pull out what I think is the inside of th cartridge . Leaving the outer brass in the tube. Is there anything I can do, should I just try to pull it out? Its might be stuck do to calcium build up.
I am not a plumber, just kind of like a DIYer. So I can't say for certain. You could just try adding a new cartridge to replace the old one. But if what is stuck is still part of the old cartridge, you will need to get that out as well.
Next time the Moen cartridge should be free. Never pay for them they have a lifetime guarantee. Doesn't matter if it is a plumber or you that gets it... always free for life. I just did mine today and it was free to get a new one.
@@NoelleDecker-Phillips-mu9wv It depends on where you take it. I took mine to Kent which is a Canadian Company I had the old one and they gave me a new one for nothing, the lady wrote free on it for the checkout people. When I did it a few years ago I went to Home Depot and I didn't get it free there (I didn't have the old one either though). I think if you take in your old one they will give you another one for free. Other plumbers had told me before that Moen has a lifetime guarantee. If they will not exchange it for free just call Moen and they will help you out.
@@NoelleDecker-Phillips-mu9wv It depends on where you take it. I took mine to Kent which is a Canadian Company I had the old one and they gave me a new one for nothing, the lady wrote free on it for the checkout people. When I did it a few years ago I went to Home Depot and I didn't get it free there (I didn't have the old one either though). I think if you take in your old one they will give you another one for free. Other plumbers had told me before that Moen has a lifetime guarantee. If they will not exchange it for free just call Moen and they will help you out.
Thanks a bunch. I have my Moen brass cartridge sitting by my computer rarin to go! I did this once before about 10 years ago but forget how I did it and so this is a good reminder, thanks!!
Any suggestions with the retainer clip on it not lining up correctly? I'm of by fractions of a mm and yes I have the correct model cartridge, can I lightly tap the cartridge with a hammer?
Hi! If it is off a bit from left to right, you can rotate it slightly. If it is off in or out, just double-check that there are no obstructions in the pipe. I am guessing it isn't going in quite far enough? I don't recommend using a hammer that can damage the cartridge. Try putting the old one back in and see if it lines up easily.
@MattTaylorVariety hey Matt, yes the old one went back in thankfully otherwise we'd have a smelly family on our hands lol.. I just returned that cartridge to home depot and purchased a new one praying it was defective, unfortunately I'm dealing with the plastic version since they don't have the brass, me and my neighbor are going to try again later today and see if it goes back in.. I had this same issue with my other bathroom and my neighbor helped and was able to get the clip in, and again It was off by a hair so when we take it out again I'll make sure there is no debre in the pipe.. also when I changed the other one in my spare bathroom I noticed some of the black plastic parts broke off while trying to pry it out so maybe that's what's blocking it I'll let you know tonight thanks for getting back to me!
@@MattTaylorVariety So with teamwork we were able to get the retainer clip in I had to push it in once it went through the top part with a Flathead screwdriver while my neighbor tapped on the top with a hammer and thankfully went in all the way But wow what a pain in the butt those things are to change
How does everyone figure out what cartridge they need? Is it labeled on the removed one? I'm not sure what make or model of shower handle/faucet I have
Hi Ben, if you live in the States, there are only a couple that it could be. Some people buy a couple different ones and then after installation return the one they didn't need. OR just remove the one that you have first and take it to the store, it is very easy to tell which one it is when it is in your hand. Just remember to turn that water main off first!
Just a note, the 1220 is the same fit as the 1225 but it is all brass whereas the 1225 has a clear plastic outer sleeve and a couple of extra rubber strips on the outside. I put in a 1225 and took it right back out and one of the two plastic strips had broken in two! So I went and got a 1220 and used it instead. The 1222 is larger in diameter.
White tool that comes with the new cartridge, and cartridge puller you bought, can be turned to break seal before pulling cartridge straight out. Flush out any debris from valve body by turning water back on for a few seconds...before replacing with new cartridge.
Hi Nicholas, it depends on where you live, haha. The hard water here in Phoenix is horrible, and if it has been in there several years, it is pretty much "welded" in. that little plastic piece doesn't do a think, except break. :)
If you can't get the cartridge out using the cartridge puller, you will probably have to call a plumber. Just double-check to make sure you are using the cartridge puller correctly.
Do you mean it is still in there? You will need to use something like tweezers to get it out. And if you can't find or see it, don't worry about it, and just put in the new cartridge.
Thank you so much! Especially pointing out the different cartridges. I would've panicked when I pulled mine out and it wasn't brass, but plastic&brass like yours. It worked perfectly and no more running water!!
Thank you!! Oh I forgot to mention in the video, the little plastic white tool that comes with the new cartridge, sometimes will loosen the old one, without the need to buy the cartridge puller. However, I have found because the hard water is horrible here in Phoenix, that plastic thing doesn't work. But it does work fine adjusting the new cartridge once that is in.
Sorry I just barely saw this comment. Did you get it figured out? If the cartridge is brand new, then double check to make sure you installed it correctly.
What if the retaining clip is stuck from hard water? Any recommendations? I watched a plumber do this years ago and I decided I can do it myself except that clip is stuck.......thanks very much
Hi Matt. The cylinder cover outside the cartridge runs through the outer plate and can't seem to pull that out like you did. You think I need to remove the outer plate first?
Hi Roger, Yes, you will need to remove that outer plate in order to pull the two prong pin that holds the cartridge in place. If it is old, it may be "welded" by hard water or rust. Try using vice grips to hold onto it or needed nose pliers. That might help get it out.
Hey Matt. Was able to pull out the old cartridge, but now having trouble inserting the 1225 all the way in. It stops just a little shy of being able to put the retainer back in. I tried w/ my old cartridge and it does the same. I've used all my human energy to put it in and even tried turning and pushing but to no avail. It feels like it just stops like it's at a dead end. Any idea or experience w/ this situation? Thanks again
To clarify, you need it back enough so the plastic is behind the slit where the retainer drops in right? The point being the retainer will hold the cartridge in place from the water pressure. I can't get to pushing it behind the retainer slit.