How to Replace a Shower Cartridge | Ask This Old House

[@elliothudsonhudsonhomesott2694]

I grew up watching This Old House and Bob Villa with my Dad. Today I'm a renovation contractor, and I'm sure these wonderful memories are part of what inspired me to start my own business.

[@iwontreplybacklol7481]

I bought a fixer upper 20 years ago. Its still a fixer upper, its the gift that keeps on givin'..

[@davidmatke248]

If only plumbing were as easy as Richard makes it look!

[@Zero-mt7lh]

Only easy if you understand plumbing

[@davidmatke248]

Understand or not, there are still a lot of variables that almost always seem to work against you.

[@MattyWill1]

I was gonna say. Everything goes so smooth on camera .🤔 LOL

[@Zero-mt7lh]

@@davidmatke248 True, I guess experience makes it seem easy to me

[@mikewilson4141]

I would like to invite you to my home in Florida to teach me how to replace my shower to a single handle , and I need to RAISE my shower head ? NEED your HELP !

[@MYT1FL]

This is one plumber who REALLY loves his job! Good for you, sir!

[@stephensnell1379]

It's because he's a qualified plumber so that's why he does it without problems

[@indycustommade3568]

Great stuff. I remember years ago If you had issues with anything it was time to get books and read how to fix stuff. Now you can watch these guys and get the answers in videos and not pictures. Keep them coming TOH. Thanks

[@prepostgamer305]

The engineering that goes on in our household really is amazing and overlooked

[@psi23k]

Very knowledgeable and a pleasure to watch. Explains everything as opposed to just fixing. I'd trust him working on my house

[@imaginasean]

Thanks to this old house, the recommendations here made the job easy and fixed another problem I didn't realize I had. The water in my hot water tank gets hotter now because there is no more cold water bleed-over due to unequal pressure that apparently happened at the faucet. We can take hotter baths because of you!

[@TheTerminator1919]

3:51 That face when you hear the contractor spit words but know you'll forget what he says in 10 seconds.

[@kermitefrog64]

Great video. I had to replace the cartridge in my manufactured home and even though it was slightly different than the one showed here it is similar. My home is 37 years old. The new valve was a simple with the use of a MIXET Tub/Shower stem with MXT07 .

[@AndreViens]

Great timing - I planned to replace my cartridge tomorrow. This was helpful in understanding why I need to replace it.

[@dks13827]

How did it go ?

[@inspectorsteve2287]

Why do repairs on this tv show always gdoes as planned? Anything job I do in my house no matter how small turns into a bigger job for some reason. Tried hanging selves in the closet just to find out the closet wasn't framed right so now I need to buy special anchors. Come back the anchors are the wrong size so I go back. Start to hang and hit a pre patched hole in the drywall that wasn't done right by previous owners. Patch falls out now I need to patch the hole properly before hanging shelves. I'm sure every diyer had a small job turn big for some reason. You never see that on this show.

[@Datronus]

So true, I was doing a faucet similar to this the other day and the O-rings/cartridge was so degraded I had a hell of a time getting it out. I also happened to cash out my bad luck lottery that day as only a few moments after I got the cartridge out, the main ball valve coming off the water heater failed, and lets just say I took myself an extra shower with the bathroom, haha.

[@inspectorsteve2287]

It happens to everyone.

[@Samuel-km5yf]

Yes! No project EVER goes as smoothly as they go in KZbin tutorials. Every time I take on an "easy" project, it turns into a day long cuss-filled endeavor.

[@inspectorsteve2287]

@@Samuel-km5yf next time I do a project I'm going to record it. Hopefully pretending yo put it on KZbin will make it go smoothly. Lol

[@Mr_Chris77]

No matter what project we have around the house, I always add three hours to my time estimate. It's always some bullshit that arises. Usually a few small things that add up.

[@CharlesMurphy1]

This saved me!. The explanation was 'spot on' and was super helpful. Saved me time, headache, and $$$. Well done, Thank you Richard!

[@trek520rider2]

Did you buy the extractor tool?

[@joekrolikowski8637]

Thank you for posting this very helpful video. I had to do this job today and your video gave me the confidence to take care of it!

[@brackengossett1255]

Thank you for including the very specific shot of Richard biting his lip as he removed the cartridge.

[@mariovasquez4727]

Very clear explanation with this model example very professional Sr Richard thanks a lot

[@steveb1370]

Hey really neat explanation on the cartridge & new valve's balancing features, very neat

[@myothercarisadelorean8957]

I did similar job on my dad's shower. Its a Moen brand. It was a "pausie-valve" replacement. The only hard part was busting the screws lose because they were so carotid from hard water build up. Nearly snapped my allen wrench from trying to bust it loose.

[@ZakTheRipper18]

Did you type this with talk-to-text? Lol “carotid”, you mean “corroded”.

[@Warturtle16]

Thanks for the help! Helped me change my shower stems!

[@TheVinceZampella]

That new valve is so cool!

[@cliffvalentine7370]

hi took me abt 2 hours. didnt notice there was a tiny washer where you insert tool so it would not go in.finally noticed and took it out. also it was very difficult to insert the staple back agn. now i can do job in abt 15 minutes.

[@Chitowndave88]

Thank you good sir! This video saved me hours of unknown work on my behalf. I’m totally clueless about piping and replacing a shower cartridge. Thank you again 😁

[@reynaldovalle1773]

Nice to see they have a replacement for that good to know thank you very much Richard

[@mattb9664]

Just replaced the Moen 1222 cartridge- which must have been 20-25 years old. The handle was hard to turn and the shower dripped every 5-6 seconds. The inner rubber valves were totally hardened, and ended up crumbling during the removal. Make sure to turn left and right as well as push and pull these cartridges while removing! Just good enough to tide us over until I rip the entire shower for the bathroom remodel.

[@ChefBoyareB]

If you have the right tools it makes it easy. That extracting tool was the wrong tool for the 1220 Moen cartridge there. That was a tool for extracting the newer Positemp cartridges. The proper one threads into the stem. If the stem pulls out from the center, it has a special rod to insert into the remaining parts to pull them out.

[@deletesoon70]

Yeah, good old Seattle back in the before time, 2018 👍

[@kenj1862]

Excellent explanation of how this cartridge works and details on replacement

[@donnarehrig5808]

I have a shut valve before and after my water softener. Which do I close or do I close both? And what kind of grease did you use, a special kind or vaseline ? thanks so much

[@johngreen3513]

He really should've used that "special tool" that he used to spin the cartridge instead of the pliers. That tool simplifies removing the cartridge and definitely prevents that pulling face he had when pulling the old cartridge out. There's a small screw that connects to the old cartridge that secures the tool to the cartridge, then the larger nut on the outside starts to pull the old cartridge out by securing the tool to the valve body by spinning the larger nut in a clockwise motion.

[@SadUncleTed]

That's a Moen cartridge puller. Threads likely aren't the same. I have the same tool and off-brand cartridges that are super stuck will never accept the screw on the puller. Sad times.

[@johngreen3513]

@@SadUncleTed I'm aware of the Moen cartridge puller. He referred to it as a "special tool". That machine screw is for Moen cartridges, but the Danco/aftermarket cartridges are hit and miss. Danco has their own version of the cartridge puller, but it's not as good as the Moen version. I've been a licensed plumber for 27+ years and have come up with alot of fun ways to get cartridges out when I needed to, but yanking them out with channel locks or vice grips are usually a great way to fling your body into a wall lol

[@SadUncleTed]

@@johngreen3513 Big fan of using the torch and heating the valve body up. Works well if it's a one-piece cartridge. Three piece stuck? Enjoy your reno plate.

[@johngreen3513]

@@SadUncleTed LOL right?! Believe it or not, I've only ever had to use a reno plate 2 times in my career (hated it both times). My most favorite trick when the Moen 1200 brass cartridge comes out in pieces, or to put it plainly, when the housing gets stuck, is to get a 3/8" npt pipe tap and run the tap in the housing as far as you can (you'll see the housing start to spin). Then take a 3/8" galvanized nipple and tighten it into the housing, then screw a 3/8" galvanized tee and screw the branch of the tee to the nipple into the housing, then take 2 more nipples and screw those into the run of the tee. Basically, you're making a tee handle tool. Once you're freshly made tool is together, you'll spin the cartridge 3 times in a clockwise motion, then start pulling as you keep turning in a clockwise motion and the cartridge will pull right out. It also works for the 1225b plastic cartridges as well, and even for the aftermarket cartridges as well

[@johngreen3513]

@@SadUncleTed this trick that I just mentioned above has suited me very well throughout the years. Works everytime I've ever needed to use it

[@josevelez7539]

So educational to watch your videos!

[@argon805]

ah hah, another feat of wonderful plumbing engineering. I need one of these new valves in MY shower!

[@stevemurch3245]

So well explained. Thanks

[@MorganWhitten]

What a cool and informative video! Would a how water return facilitate a need for a new cartridge every so often, even on a newer system about 15 years old?

[@louis3998]

Thanks for taking the time to do the city off samples. I work in construction however not very knowledgeable in plumbing. But when I see the city off samples along with the explanation process. Really help better understand how things work.great job

[@nutz4gunz457]

That's real nice of them to make the replacement cartridge out of plastic... Good luck getting it out in one piece when it has to be replaced.

[@jej3451]

Not all plastic is created equal.

[@lju3428]

@@jej3451 there is also a tool that just pulls out the outer barrel if by accident the center stem comes out.

[@loueckert4970]

Rich is a GENIUS

[@TNtoolman]

Evidently one of the owners of this house owned stock in a caulk company...

[@Guardducks]

That's what we call silicone man in the trade. When they run a bead of silicone that big.

[@JeevesReturns]

Porsche924Tim As they say, ‘caulk is cheap’!

[@robertbogan225]

No one ever gave you a cualk gun and ordered you to fill a 2in gap before? I was like uh I guess I'll have to build this up quite a bit.

[@dvader3000]

@@JeevesReturns caulk fixes everything. We have that saying in the glass business.

[@dvader3000]

Caulk is cheap and leaks are very expensive. I know,I work in the window industry

[@Wes.264]

Good video. It would have been helpful if you would have shown what happens if you install the valve backwards. Fortunately there are videos out there showing what to do if that happens.

[@bert1913]

That is a really clean kitchen

[@ijordo]

Saved the day! Thank you!!

[@Michael1M6]

In any shower demo video I’ve never seen shut off valves at the shower!

[@TwistedD85]

I had to do this just the other day and I followed this, but I do wish I would've read the instructions as well. You don't always need to remove the escutcheon plate, I gave myself a little extra work with that. If your plumbing is secured with plastic tabs/clamps, specifically old ones like mine, rather than metal chances are they'll break if the cartridge doesn't want to leave it's home without a fight. Lastly if you get everything back together and your hot and cold are reversed don't fret, just remove the knob and twist the center part the knob screws into 180 degrees. Put the knob back on and you're good. Thankfully there's no need to go any deeper.

[@AStanton1966]

Good to remove it to check for leaks.

[@oshtheld]

Richard always saving the day with the cut-aways!

[@bababujurg4209]

Never have been clicked on subscribe button so quick to any other youtuber. What a quality content..!!

[@kumbackquatsta]

twisting it with the puller helped loosen it up. didn't need the puller after that

[@seededsoul]

Best video you've posted in a while!

[@NcGamingCreations]

Really good quality video and it's really interesting to see these valves explained

[@mikedastagehand1]

thank you!!!!!!easy fix!!!!!

[@aulii11]

How well does the pressure balancing valve work with a tankless water heater? Our tankless takes a minute to recover from any fluctuation in the flow of hot water.

[@burroriderjeff]

Where do I find the tool for extracting the cartridge? Where is the best source for the replacement cartridge? This job looks exactly like the Moen valve I need to change in my house built 1968.

[@iamthehandle]

As someone who just finished dealing with a stuck MOEN cartridge without the special OEM tool, WD40 IS YOUR FRIEND!! Lube the living hell outta the crack between the cartridge and the pipe, wait about 7 minutes, then get some normal pliers and grip the part of the plastic on the left and right of the "HC" text (around the middle where the brass comes out) REALLY hard. You'll want gloves for this, as my pliers gave me a nasty bite on my first attempt. Don't try to grip the brass, you won't get enough purchase. Pull firmly while turning back and forth. Lube some more if you don't make further progress, then wipe the excess and pull/twist again. Patience is key here, any progress is better than no progress or breaking it. Repeat until the cartridge pops out. Took me about 2 hours to figure it out my first time doing this. When you get the cartridge far enough out, you can grip the circular portion for better leverage. If you need some help in the early stages, there should be a slot near the top you can get a screwdriver into to coax it out. Take your time and make sure the water main is off. If the handle is upside down to turn off the water, you just need to flip the black plastic part and you're good to go.

[@tberkoff]

Where did he get that special tool??

[@therealamirhere]

What was the point of showing Richards facial expression here haha 3:18

[@topgunns1000]

LoL no kidding!

[@seededsoul]

If you don't make these faces, you're not a real man!!

[@karsonkevin2]

😬 emoji on Android

[@hardtyme3]

That's my farting face!

[@handymanhoney-do6881]

That’s the money shot.

[@davidbradley6179]

I’ve had to drill out a few Moen cartridges because they never ever come out that easy well maybe sometimes

[@nosilverharbinger]

This video makes a point I don't know that it intended to. Mainly, that while the older style cartridge (Moen 1200) has issues due to not pressure balancing the less complex design also gives them an advantage of longevity and (generally) easier replacement that can't be denied. In general, it is also substantially less money than a more complex cartridge (though in the case of the 1200 versus the 1225 that is not true). These days getting 20 years out of a modern cartridge is about the most anyone could ever hope for. It will probably be less time, and probably substantially less, than that before problems start showing up. Cartridges like the 1200 do last 40 or more years, so to me that is more valuable than having pressure balancing.

[@timpolster]

Thank you!

[@zaction10]

I would assume those new mixing valves don’t last long in well water systems. Seems very sensitive and precise.

[@johnjin9836]

Great help and learning from every single video. Thank you so much

[@jeanricketts6880]

Wow! Love your expertise guys...going to get mine fixed.

[@dalebennett5227]

Richard, I have Moen shower valve it is leaking out of shower head. How you know which valve replace will I need. Thank you

[@gregoryburkhead7813]

Nice video

[@rvalcourtpersonaca]

I have a hot and cold faucet in my garage that has a garden hose hooked on to it. The nozzle on the garden hose has a shut off on it, when the nozzle is shut off and the hot and cold valves are left on I can’t get hot water anywhere in the house. That may also be your problem.

[@geoffdearth7360]

You could get carpal tunnel from not using an electric screwdriver on those escutcheon screws.

[@jeffp2001]

I’m changing a cartridges for strictly on off volume control with the water off there still a good amount of water in pipes is there a way to drain so it doesn’t end up in wall it’s a tiled shower and the carriage is in the wall. I have multiple cartridges to change and was concerned about watering getting in wall. Thx

[@dalebabbitt6185]

As always, good stuff.

[@TB-ip1fc]

Nice Video but you did not say if there is a way specifically to position the catridge while inserting it back into the housing.

[@tymr.t3645]

Love the show. Ive done alot of home improvement projects watching the show. He makes it simple. Breaks it down for you. Damm he is good I would love for him to come to my house 🤗👍

[@thekingiscoming2731]

what is the difference between replace the cartridge and the valve?

[@MaltaMcMurchy]

Fun to watch, thanks for posting!

[@znrctrnn]

They make stems and seats to keep 70 year old valves in service. Her 40 year old was easy with the cartridge though.

[@Bo.un_ez]

You have any videos for a 2 handle shower not turning off ?

[@bayareajacob]

After watching and being super confident, I went and bought all the items needed and then proceeded to remove the cartridge. Well I did pull out the 1/2 of the cartridge. Now I'm screwed. So now its either i cut and cap or plumber cut and caps. They said owning a home would be fun. HAHAHAHAHAH!

[@s2000.]

With a tap and tie you could put a bolt in it and pull it out.

[@impsquared]

cut-away of a cut-away 🔥🔥🔥

[@jfarinacci0329]

So good. Thank you.

[@jjjjjjjjj99]

Never knew about the specialty removal tools. I will have to get one to avoid breaking it off and making a bigger problem.

[@myetman]

Good advice, loved the foam bead. thanks

[@Chaotic_Enigma]

I know this is an old video but I was told that there are only 2 types of cartridge's no matter if I know the manufacturer or not, is this true?

[@johncalder1147]

How do I take off shower control...single lever..pull out.to activate...turn right to left to increase water temp.water ingress somewhere to affect wood below shower base...thank you.

[@vxCOCOxv]

We have to cut the fricking tile because they only left enough space for the valve to come out. People who do home reno’s, imagine you have to replace it yourself :/ or sell your home. It’s so much work for us to do ourselves.

[@CrociatoAzzurro]

My home is only 1 year old and by the symptoms I have it appears the cartridge is defective. Do you think I need the tool to remove the cartridge? Or can make do with just pulling?

[@AStanton1966]

Harbor Freight makes a kit which is cheap and has 3 different types of removal tools for shower valves. The cost has to be a lot less than a plumber.

[@slackwayneo]

If i have a 40 year old pressure valve and i do not want to remove whole shower.can i just replace valve and it will be okay

[@zombiekush760]

I always wondered why people in movies would scream when they were showering when someone flushed the toilet

[@michaelz7683]

Yep. It took the cold water away for the time of the flush

[@1992djg]

I just did this new cartridge comes with the spinning tool and the damm thing came half way out the the core pulled out of it and It has service Valves that had turned green and froze open and when I finlay got it all back together I turned the water back on at the street just for the valve there to turn into a sprinkler so now the water company had to be called so they can come fix their valve

[@arishem555]

so many little tricks which you are getting year after year

[@cafemolido5459]

Which model# was this Cartridge?

[@itsGuy]

Why not just replace the handle and shower head while there?

[@dks13827]

How do you service/maintain that new valve system ?

[@davidbradley6179]

No the shut off valves or just one more thing that will screw up. Shut the water off to the house how hard is that

[@biglou1186]

My single valve let's in hot water first instead of cold water. Can I flip the cartridge or is it a plumbing issue? Thanks

[@tiger.6509]

718Moto Just watch this a dozen times and you figure it out

[@HeikosGarage]

Is that foam seal that you installed backer rod?

[@uncleblack7322]

Makes it so easy...thank You

[@donradcliffe5446]

Richard, I have a similar problem. But I have tried numerous times to remove the cartridge and replace but it won't budge and Ive put so much pressure that I had to stop in fear of damaging the valve. What is the tool you used to loosen the cartridge and where can I get one. Would sure appreciate any info.

[@thisoldhouse]

Hi! The replacement cartridge should come with a little plastic tool that mimics the tool Richard used, so you don't have to buy one. If you want that specific tool, he used a Moen Catridge Puller that should run like $15-$20 (this is all assuming you have a Moen shower valve like in the video). Go slow and good luck!

[@fred4755]

This channel is so helpful, thanks old house.

[@nathankennedy4263]

3:18 pause to see Chris Farley

[@timwebber8630]

"Livin' in a van, down by the river!"

[@davidbuss3672]

A quarter of the plastic of old cartridge broke off in pipe. Suggestions? Thanks

[@flat-earther]

Interesting. I'm not familiar with those, but what did you en up doing?

[@davidbuss3672]

@@flat-earther I bought a 1/2 lag screw, turned it a few times in pipe and pulled straight back. It worked👍

[@briandjordjevic9969]

I had the same shower body and the cartridge broke inside but I used a tap and die and was able to use a bolt to put the piece out

[@JohnstonPettigrew]

Every one of the old Moen valves ends up the same way.....the tap/die and bolt with ledge.......I guarantee that insert in the video was removed by a helper first and then Richard stepped in for the easy look. The force it takes to get some of these out is unbelievable... . and some have to be removed in pieces when the stem breaks free of the cartridge......it's a bit of b.s., but still an interesting video though.

[@madcow3007]

I've changed hundreds of these cartridges in my apartment buildings. He had the fancy tool to pull the cartridge and used a pair of pliers instead. If you use the tool to remove the cartridge you can spin the cartridge while removing it. The fancy tool can be found at any home depot for about $15. If the inside stem breaks out of the cartridge there is yet another fancy tool that can go inside of the cartridge to remove it. Not sure where to pick that one up though...I inherited that tool.

[@ms.s0665]

@@madcow3007 do thy typically break?? I want to attempt to change mine but I'm afraid I'll be lost and stuck if it breaks

[@dks13827]

@@ms.s0665 Watch several videos on this............. then buy every tool you might need............. and, know a plumber that could come over that day if need be. Start the work as early in the day as possible.

[@emmilouwho1530]

I had to buy the special tool to get mine out that was caked with minerals but it definitely worked

[@anthonymalvoso6100]

No plumbing or electrical fix is complete without at least 3 trips to Home Depot……

[@peter-hr1gl]

helpful, but not for changing TODAY's Delta and Moen faucet cartridges (very common ones). Also you did not show or mention cleaning off the gunk surrounding the escutcheon plate before installing the new one. Very important for a good seal.

[@therealtoxicbeast2267]

NExt video I watch. What Is a shower cartridge.

[@workingshlub8861]

ive replaced dozens of moen cartridges that were 5 years old that were a pain to get out...t handle tool is the way to go...he got lucky or he came in before..