Moen Faucet Repair, part 1

Very difficult extraction of a 25-yr-old Moen #1248 faucet cartridge, including "advanced" techniques for stripped and broken parts, like using a soldering iron to melt through a stuck plastic retaining nut, a lag-bolt chopsticks technique, and more. I found only one other posting on this kind of faucet, so I added this one so others can benefit from my misadventure. (Part 2 coming soon.)

[@TJJewett]

Thank you! thank you so much for sharing this. I've been dreading fixing my leaky garden tub faucet for exactly this reason. I'm so tired of repair videos making everything look easy. It's great to see how it's "supposed" to go, but seeing all the ways it can go wrong is so much more useful in being prepared for eventualities.

[@hardin1271]

Man, you did a great job. You had the best tool on your side the whole way thru… patience.

[@samquinn6427]

I have the same age and type tub right down to the white tile. After watching the video, I called a plumber and ate lunch while he did the job. Thanks.

[@roberthare2251]

Your self-discipline is admirable. If I'd known where this one was going, I would have taken a different route. My life is full of projects proving you can make a bad plan work if you throw enough labor at it.

[@andreamosca1752]

OK, you've scared us away from this. We have a1985 mobile home and our large oval tub is leaking just a little. Nope nope nope.. we are not opening this can of worms! We thought we could do it on our own! Thank goodness we found this video!!!!

[@hiseminencetheholymacdiarmada]

I’ve found that a square drive works great for stripped out cross tip screws.

[@robertwieczorek5838]

What a nitemare

[@dannyyu1628]

This video is very helpful for me！and could you tell me what size the large lag bolt is? I need it! Thank you！

[@LivingInWild]

Hi, Robert! Today I have successfully completed the replacement of the Moen cartridge for Roman tub, following your dedicated video! Thanks alot! In my case, the correct part number for cartridge is 1224 instead of 1248 that you used. And the correct part number for stem extension is #13463. As you did, I had to destroy the corroded screw, which connects stem extension with the cartridge, with a metal drill bit. Also, I used the soldering gun to melt the plastic lock ring. One extra step that was not mentioned in your video is to use “Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover” fluid. I poured it into the copper tube before trying to remove rock ring, extension stem and the cartridge. This helped to lose any mineral build up. Because of this chemical treatment, in my case, it was easy to take the cartridge out! Once again, you help me a lot to finish this project! Thank You!

[@abb3373]

How do you know what model number faucet you have to order a replacement cartridge?

[@ExtremeRecluse]

The new valves seem much easier. But, cutting an access panel through the tile would be a big mess. I could cut away the plywood subfloor from inside the basement

[@ELENAIZQUIERDO-it1re]

We do not have the aerator that goes inside - cannot find the size. Would you happen to know? That would be sooo helpful!

[@kellyannesteagall43]

Does the water supply to the house need to be turned off to do this?

[@roberthare2251]

Yes, unless you have some other shut off available to the tub. The faucet is the only thing keeping water under pressure from pouring out of the pipe to your tub.

[@LivingInWild]

You are very creative in doing the job. I learned a lot from you. I am in the middle of the same project, currently stuck in removing the plastic retainer.

[@roberthare2251]

It was a challenge. I'm not sure if I included it in the second video, but when the plastic was too deep to use the soldering iron to melt it, I heated the tip of a screwdriver to get deeper into the shaft.

[@vikinglaw88]

It just went from bad to worse 😂this is why plumbers charge so much

[@bridgettaylor4420]

Am trying to upgrade my old Roman faucet. It’s not leaking. It passed the upgrade test.I just need to know what faucet model options are compatible with the upgrade kit?

[@roberthare2251]

If it's working well, I would leave it alone. You would need to know the part numbers for your specific faucet to get an "upgrade kit.". I put my part numbers in the video, but there are some similar parts with different numbers.

[@markhuenefeld4515]

This is almost exactly how all my DIY projects turn out.

[@roberthare2251]

Yep. How to make a bad plan work if you throw enough time and energy at it.

[@markrice2855]

We have a very similar garden tub and I am having a challenge to remove the cartridge retainer. Appreciate your excellent video guiding us through the process. I have just ordered the special Moen tool and will be tackling this in a day or two

[@roberthare2251]

The whole project is relatively easy if you can get the retainer nut out. You need steady downward pressure to keep the tool locked onto the nut.

[@markrice2855]

@@roberthare2251 Repair went well with the Moen tool and your video as a reference, thanks for compiling the steps!

[@Ryandevito]

Looks like a tough job, thanks for the guidance!!

[@djbromann88]

I have the same tub set up with moen same handles but my problem is kinda worst the last plumber strip the copper pipe where the cartridge you had problem with. How to change the pipe without cutting hole into tub. ASAP before i let plumber cut

[@roberthare2251]

Good luck, or, I hope it went OK if you already went for it. I cut the grout between some of my tile under the tube when I realized I would like break at least one trying to pry them loose when I decided to work through the project the way I did it.

[@djbromann88]

I went ahead and had them cut hole in tub wow plumbers these days have gotten lazy

[@emom551]

How did that go? My plumber wants to do the same as he can’t remove the corroded cartridge. I can’t find videos about cutting holes into the tub.

[@djbromann88]

@@emom551 well it turn out that I had to get a hole cut into the tub because it seems like nobody wanted to go through cutting the seal around the whole tub but either way I had to change the piping because of the strip stem so the plumber put in a universal piping but he put in another type faucet which he said was a top 10 pfiher I know it's spelled wrong lol but you know what I'm talking bout but it took 45 minutes just to get the tub half full my water pressure was all good but called moen and order from them they sent the piping that fits the faucet now everything back to normal just have a little door compartment on side of my tub now

[@emom551]

@@djbromann88 thank you for responding. Was it hard to find a compartment to fill it in?

[@zhouyu7281]

Hi, thank you for the video. We have a similar faucet. It’s too old that we are thinking of replacing it. We’re just wondering if we could just randomly pick up any design and brand we desire or it has to be the same model and brand as the old one? Thank you.

[@roberthare2251]

If you are replacing it, you could change to any brand or style, but it's usually easier to work with the framing and holes that are already there by using a similar replacement. The main reason I worked so hard to fix this one is that I couldn't loosen the tiles on the wall in front of the tub without breaking them. Sometimes, it's easier to tear out a wall, but usually the more you tear out, the more you find you need to change or replace, and a small job can get really big.

[@PBlaik]

I'm in the exact same position. I'm totally gonna steal your melt the old retaining nut out with a soldering iron tip! Thanks for the video.

[@roberthare2251]

Hope it worked out for you. A guy on here used a soldering iron to repair a crack in a plastic gas tank, but mine was too far gone when I tried it. The flashback to that failed attempt prompted this win and probably saved me from busting out my wall to replace the whole fixture.

[@smoothsmitty67]

I have something similar but don’t have any access underneath the tub. Will I need to get under the tub at some point

[@ericrudy2504]

This is the exact same faucet I have and the cartridges are corroded in place. I just ordered a new faucet lol.

[@stphndrn]

Is there a replacement compatible one to change it to, without breaking the tile? Or does it have to be the same one? And where would I find that?

[@roberthare2251]

In my case, I would have needed to tear out some of the tile and part of the wall to replace the whole fixture. I started to cut out the grout between the tiles but found it very likely that I would break them - which is why I chose to keep the old fixture and just replace the cartridges. Sometimes this kind of a job is easy. In this case, it turned out to be very difficult. The cartridges have to match the original fixture. I think I included part numbers.

[@hughmccorkle7190]

Thank you for this. I have the exact one with the same problem. I can buy the cartridges but not the chrome rings?

[@roberthare2251]

Yes. Good luck.

[@TheJmn1888]

Hmmmm my 💭 if your Moen is more than just a couple of years old I would run far away from doing this particular job. Mine was 6 years old. Began leaking out of the stem. I called a 28 year veteran licensed plumber. He was booked up for nearly 3 weeks. Once he arrived and saw it was a Moen he immediately declined the job. Said that his company would not do the Moen brand due to the plastic nuts in their products. Me in thinking wellI have done plant factory machine maintenance for years. Maybe I should try it myself. The only other option the plumber gave me was tear out either the entire tub or part of the wall and replace the unit. I called Moen I purchased the tools that they recommended from them and got all of the parts to rebuild both handles. Well I should have just tore out a piece of the wall. The thin cheap metal tool wound up twisting and warped due to having to put so much pressure trying to turn the plastic nut. Eventually the nut failed ripping the head ears off. I had soaked the threads with Vinegar and after tries liquid wrench letting them both sit 24 hours. Now I understand the plumber 👨‍🔧 It’s just not worth it. First time I have dealt with a Moen product. Moen says the commercial versions are built with more metal and much less plastics making much easier work. Moen did offer to give me 75% off on a brand new unit. But at this point the only thing I would consider would be the commercial units. Which are much more pricey. Sadly now my other bathroom tub just began leaking as well and it’s a Moen the same age. Guess I am going to have to tear out 2 walls. I am not trying this again.

[@roberthare2251]

Totally agree about the flimsy plastic nuts and poor design. On the bright side, mine lasted about 26 years, and my repair job is holding up great nearly a year later. I would have needed to tear into a wall to replace the whole fixture. This repeair is full of challenges, and obviously not for everyone.

[@TheJmn1888]

@@roberthare2251 Moen seems to think that hard water plus the fact that plumbing routing and city water pressure dropping then surging is causing “early failure”. I also had a Moen Posi temp shower failure several months ago with dripping out of the shower head. All of these fixtures are 2015 models so maybe it was just a bad year in plastic

[@patsiyarborough2046]

Should the hole in the cartridge be open or closed?

[@eddyrivas5147]

Thanks bud for the info

[@andyb8952]

Hi, can you please share the part number and the trim info etc?

[@roberthare2251]

I'm quite sure I included them in part 2... I'd have to watch it myself. It's been a couple years.

[@patsiyarborough2046]

Should the hole on the side of the cartridge be open or closed?

[@roberthare2251]

I don't think it matters if it's open or closed when you install it - open is on and close is off - but the hole should be facing the supply line to the spout which should be straight toward the middle of the assembly. The water comes from below and exits the cartridge to go to the spout. The picture is fuzzy, but you can see it at 5:16 in the first video.

[@traceydailey3254]

Is there no access to under the faucets?

[@roberthare2251]

You can make an access. Here, I would have had to cut out part of the wall in front. I started to do it, but I was quite sure I would break at least one tile, then if I couldn't match it, I would have had to replace the whole wall... so I decided to hang in there and do it the way I did. If you want to replace the whole fixture, you'll have to tear into wall to access it.

[@epistemicMaverick]

Did you shut the water off or no?

[@roberthare2251]

I'm not sure of the context to your question, but I shut the water off to the whole house anytime I got to the retaining nuts on the cartridges. You can control the flow of water as long last the cartridges are secured in their proper positions. I did one side at time to reduce my overall risk of not having any water.

[@dh7228]

Dude

[@stephenreed1283]

This video shows why people need to leave the plumbing to plumbers. This video shows you all of what not to do. GET THE RIGHT TOOLS AND PARTS FROM MOEN.