How to Replace a Moen Posi-temp Shower Valve Cartridge 

Best video out there. Had to make an extension for the puller that came with the valve . Original cartridge had a washer at the deep end, way inside. New cartrage only had one washer. Works fine.

Thank you for this video. Although i installed everything correctly... the faucet didn't operate as intended. The off position for me was up and down, with the handle upside. After watching your video, you stressed the importance of the valve stem position prior to reinstalling the handle and associated hardware. I was able to troubleshoot and correct the issue. Thank again!!!

Thank you. Very clear instruction for dummies.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate this video. I ruined my first cartridge and after I watched this video I was able to save so much money…

if anyone needs the tool to remove the cartridge, ACE sells one for $12. It's the "ACE" in house brand and it works perfectly.

great video, i need to work on mine soon, this video had some info that others didnt have, much appreciated

Great job. This is the best how-to video that I have viewed. Excellent filming, close-ups, illustrations, humor, and narration. Keep up the fine work. Thank you.

Right on. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you. I did this before about 38 years ago LOL, no videos back then. You helped me a lot and saved my bacon. Cheers

Thank you for explaining the temp limiter for me. A lot of people are unaware of this feature and have lived with not great cold water temps in there shower, like me. So thank you sir.

Saved me great video

OMG. That tip about bending the legs of the clip saved me a call to the plumber. The new cartridge sticks out just a tiny bit. I just couldn’t put the clip back in. I even bought another type of clip to try to put it in. Didn’t work. I was to the point of giving up and was gonna call a plumber. Everything was in place but couldn’t get the d@mn clip back in!😅 Finally I searched to see if anyone is talking about this problem. And there you are! You showed how you can bend the clip to fit it in. Woala! It worked! The faucet is fixed! Thank you!!

This is the best how-to video I've watched. I was so frustrated replacing my cartridge the other day and wasn't satisfied with the results. Now I'm going to go back and re-do it. Thanks for this video 👍🏼

Excellent tutorial, I have replaced a few of these at home. However, you still simplified it. Took out the guess work👍

When you have detailed instructions like this one, you can fix anything you want.! Thank you for this video, which shows how professional you are. I am no longer afraid to do it by myself. I have some suggestion how to remove old silicon.. The best results is to use a safety razor blade and press it flat against the surface of the tiles. Best regards from Polish handyman.

I know it's been a year, but can a cartridge be initially installed just a tiny bit off? Or does the faucet equipment dictate that 2 and 7 are right? Seems like our facets aren't at 6, more at 5.5 when off.

Thanks brother

I just now finished installing a new 1222 cartridge replacing the original (leaking) cartridge that came with the Moen Shower faucet (installed in back in 2008). Removing the old cartridge was indeed quite an ordeal as the unit was very heavily crusted with lime deposit - it took my son and I about 45 minutes to loosen it (odd as we have had a soft water system since 2008). I will say that I'm very glad that I opted for purchasing the puller tool as I don't think the outcome would have been successful (BTW, the Danco brand puller tool that I purchased at 'Home Despot' was was much cheaper than the Moen version). Just the same, thank you very much BJ for the video. It was very helpful.

You saved the day Poznecki.... thank you --- thank you !!! indeed it is impossible to remove the old cartridge because the wing washers fray and are sheered off in the removal process. like delicatessen slices they get wedged in the pipe and the hot/cold openings and make removal an impossible task. With my wrench I broke off the metal piece and the plastic began to crumble. - I was in total panic mode !!!!! Thanks to the secret Poznecki double screwdriver technique I was able to ever so slowly forward the cartridge to a position where I could get a firm grasp on the cartridge body. Much appreciation .... Bo

What should i do if water comes out of the cartridge when i turn it on?

The handle on my shower is now loose. Did I not tighten something correctly when I installed everything back together?

Mine was stuck in the rough valve. I used the extractor tool but it ended up breaking the cartridge. I called two plumbers and they never responded so I ended up chipping it out with a hammer and a 1/4” chisel. I was as careful as I could be to not gouge the brass and fortunately I did not. Once I got past the two rubber side pieces of the 1222 I was able to pull the remaining part out with a needle nose pliers. Cleaned it up with a toothbrush and some CLR then flushed it out really good with water. The first 1222 that I reinstalled was faulty - maybe my fault, not sure - I did twist it slightly in both directions as I was installing it - maybe that ruined the O ring. The second one I installed I did not twist at all - just pushed it in pulses and it slowly went in. I used the extractor tool to help push it in the last 3/8” or so. No leaks. Works nice and smooth now. And don’t hesitate to call Moen for a free replacement - they’ll ask you some basic questions and want a photo and they’ll send you one for free 5-7 business day shipping though (unless you pay extra). So glad I didn’t pay $350 for a plumber - chipping it out was relatively easy - only took 10 mins or so.

My friend had a new shower installed and they installed a Moen posi-temp and now she has no water pressure in her shower how does she increase the water pressure

Mine won't come out, do t know where to squeeze with the pliers. Mine has never worked since the dude installed it. Just leaked through the ceiling once and now plugged . No idea what the f is going on. Anyway I pulled the pin out , put the pliers on the shaft with a soft rag . Can't tell what's on or off but it won't come out. I'm super frustrated

Do moen positemp cartridges have a generic or off brand replacement? Also just an FYI I have a single family home (in Oregon) where the where shutoff is at the front of the property where the city shut off is.

So I'm reading my instructions for installing 1222 cartridge and they say remove black ovals & lube on both sides 😉

Is there a difference between the Moen 1222 and the 1222B, thanks waiting on your reply

The best video!! Watch the whole video first before performing the job. Turn off the water first always. I learned the hard way

Nice job dude see u in xsport gym

Great video but I have a problem. I replaced the valve about 8 months ago. The tub faucet dripped just slightly so I bought a new 1222 cartridge. It appeared to stop the dripping until recently again. So I replaced it again. This time it doesn’t drip continually as one drop every second but about every minute it releases a little trickle 😩. Any advise? Bad valve?

So at about 4:10 you skip the part where you're removing the metal adapter - the same piece you're calling a handle mounting piece at 14:38 - Mine is completely caked on with calcium and no matter how much CLR or W2-40 sprayed onto it, I just can't pull it. I wanted to see how you would pull and remove it but it must have just come out ok for you, huh? It seems so easy to DIY but since I don't want to break it, I am having to call a plumber for this job.

i replaced my bathtub faucet (moen 1222), but it still continues to leak :(

If you can't pull the cartridge out like he shows then get the fricken puller.. Especially if the valve is more than 4 years old. Mineral deposits can build up inside and make pulling out the cartridge with pliers/vice grips a PITA.

Great how-to! I would have appreciated finding this last Sunday when I had to replace my mother-in-law’s shower cartridge. Here’s a little tip for you and your audience from my experience; After replacing the cartridge as per instructions, the water would not shut off completely. There was substantial dripping with the valve in the off position. My suspicion was hard water deposits which turned out to be correct and the likely culprit of the original valve failure. I removed the new cartridge and inspected the valve body bore. Sure enough, mineral deposits visible in the bore. I used plumbers emery cloth and, by hand, gently polished the inside of the valve to remove the deposits. Once I flushed and cleaned the valve, reinstalled reapplied lubricant and replaced the cartridge, the valve sealed beautifully! Good luck and God bless!

This video was a life saver. Thank you. I did have one small problem, though. Everything is working fine, but my handle is much looser now. Any idea why that would be? Did I miss something?

Thanks BJ! Your instructions made this task easy.

Good explanation. You might have mentioned what to do if the cartridge is stuck. I just changed a stuck positemp and it was a bear.

At 3:12 BJ shows you what size allen wrench you'll need for the job. I have a 14 key allen wrench tool that has never failed me, so when I watched other videos without this information I thought the allen nut on the handle was rusted/worn or calcium deposited into non-working condition. Images of major demolition played in my head. But BJ's coverage of this made me realize that I didn't have the right size allen wrench, so a quick trip to the hardware solve the problem. Thank you!

Who uses a hammer as pliers?? Never knew!! Lol

Thank you much, BJ! Couldn’t of done this fix w/o this video!! I’m no handyman, but was able to replace the cartridge w/your help. TNX again.

Thanks for the video. I had some issues after replacing the cartridge. When I turned the main water back on after replacing, the water was flowing freely from the shower head. Is this a sign that the cartridge itself is defective, or something wrong happened with the installation? Or is it possible that I installed it upside down, and that is causing the water to flow that much? I removed the cartridge and cleaned out the pipe to make sure there was nothing left. When I was taking out the old one, it broke off so I have to break it into many pieces to get it to come out. Some water was trickling out, so I think the debris is all gone. I noticed that the O-ring edges are flat on one side, so it looks like I have have sheared off a bit of the ridge on the o-ring. Not sure if that would cause that much water to come out when the handle is in the off position though. Anyway, I reinstalled the cartridge and then shut off the water to one of the pipes by the shower so the water is off for now. My plan is to buy a new cartridge and reinstall closely with your steps. Do you have any idea why the water still flows when its in the off position?

great video. Thank you.

Great video! I managed to switch it by following your tips, thank you! One problem, when I divert the water flow to the shower head, the valve pushes it self out, causing water to spray everywhere. Anyone have any ideas what I did wrong?

Thanks. Is the escutcheon tube extension needed? Can this install work without one?

Great video. Answered all the questions I had on this repair. One thing I did to keep water from getting behind the wall under the valve body was to put a piece of plastic wrap under the valve body before pulling the cartridge. Mine was slightly recessed into the wall.

Moen shower valve install

Thanks for your video. It has been very helpful. Follow your detail steps and I was able to replace the broken posi temp valve today. Saved me time and money.

Excellent DIY video. Thank You so much.

Can you do all this with the handle down and thus without turning off the main water ?

Thank you!!!

How many times did BJ say caulk?

even after putting the top plastic part at 3 o'clock position I am still getting a little warm water from cold setting. Not sure is the valve or plumbing problem.

Just replaced my leaky cartridge using your excellent guidance, thanks BJ P.

Great video, just replaced the cartridge but not getting hot water. We are getting hot water out of the sink and bathtub but not the shower, and if I have the sink or tub turned on then we get hot water in the shower! The maximum temp is set to the 12 o clock position as well. We have a tankless water heater any help is appreciated!

you really know your way around the lube

Agreed, best video out there 👌...any ideas on having moen refund the cost for a $55 value that is lifetime warranty??

My father broke it I fix it my wife happy lol

Do you have a video on the pull turn cartridge?

Is that gray piece supposed to just slide off?

Replaced the cartridge but the faucet is still leaking a little bit. Took out the new cartridge and made sure it was installed properly. Still slightly leaky. Could it be the faucet itself?

Thank u…

Great Video

BJ, thank you for this video it save me the double work. It just happened that ours was in the same configuration as in this video. If I followed the Moen video, I would definitely installed the Cartridge incorrectly.