How to Repair a Moen Shower's Faucet That Leaks When Off
A Moen shower faucet that leaks water when it is supposed to be turned off is an annoyance and wastes your money as your water bill increases. Sediment buildup inside the shower head, such as hard water deposits, can cause leaking, as well as a worn-out valve cartridge inside the faucet. With a few supplies from a hardware store or plumbing supply center, fixing either problem does not take a high level of expertise. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Bucket
- Mineral remover solution
- Phillips screwdriver
- Allen wrench
- Needle-nose pliers
- Moen cartridge remover tool
Instructions
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1
Unscrew the shower head from the curved pipe in the wall by turning the shower head counterclockwise. Dump out any loose sediment inside the shower head, then submerse the shower head in a mineral remover solution in a small bucket. Allow the shower head to sit overnight, then rinse it with water and reinstall it on the curved pipe.
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2
Turn off the flow of water going to the faucet by closing the main water valve in the house. Turn on another faucet at a lower level of the house, if possible, to release pressure from the plumbing
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3
Remove the faucet's handle by backing out the retaining screw, located either underneath a plastic cap in the middle of the handle or in a small hole on the side of the handle. Use an appropriately-sized Phillips screwdriver or Allen wrench, depending on the type of screw in the handle, to remove the screw without stripping it.
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4
Remove the metal pin in the middle of the valve cartridge, or the horseshoe-shaped clip in the side of the cartridge, using a pair of needle-nose pliers. Slide a Moen cartridge remover tool over the cartridge, then twist it counterclockwise until the cartridge comes free of the water pipe.
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5
Screw the new cartridge into the water pipe, using the Moen cartridge remover. Replace the other parts you took off the faucet, then turn the water back on.
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