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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: Moen identifies its shower cartridges by what the handle does. A single handle that only rotates takes a 1222 (Posi-Temp) or, on an M-CORE 2-Series valve, a 1212. A single handle you pull out to turn on and rotate for temperature takes a 1225, or a 1213 on M-CORE 3-Series. Separate hot and cold handles take a 1224 each. Confirm against the old cartridge before you order.
Rotate-only Posi-Temp shower? Moen lists the 1222; the 1222HD is Moen’s heavy-duty brass-shell version. Not linked: on 10/3/2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller, not by Amazon or the maker.
Moen Shower Cartridges at a Glance
Moen’s own identification chart sorts shower cartridges by what the handle does, not by what the trim looks like. Start there, because trim styles change and the handle behavior does not. The same handle test tells you which trim kits fit; our Moen shower trim compatibility guide covers that side.
| What your handle does | Moen valve family | Cartridge |
|---|---|---|
| One handle, rotates only; no separate volume control | Posi-Temp (pressure balanced) | 1222 |
| One handle, pull out to turn on, rotate for temperature | Standard, or Moentrol (pressure balanced) | 1225 |
| One handle, rotates only, M-CORE 2-Series valve | M-CORE 2-Series (ceramic disc, pressure balanced) | 1212 |
| One handle, pull out to turn on, rotate for temperature, M-CORE 3-Series valve | M-CORE 3-Series (ceramic disc, pressure balanced) | 1213 |
| Two handles (hot and cold), or three with a center diverter | Two- or three-handle | 1224 in each hot/cold handle |
Everything in this table comes from Moen’s “Faucet Cartridges: Shower” chart. Moen also lists separate cartridges for ExactTemp thermostatic valves and transfer (diverter) valves; those are covered further down.
Step 1: Work the Handle Before You Take Anything Apart
- It only turns, from off through warm to hot. On a single-handle Moen shower, that is a cycling valve with no separate volume control. Moen lists two cartridges that work this way: the 1222 in a Posi-Temp valve and the 1212 in an M-CORE 2-Series valve. Both are pressure balanced.
- You pull the handle toward you to start the water, then turn it for temperature. Pulling farther gives more volume. Moen lists the 1225 for this in both its standard single-handle shower valve and its Moentrol valve (Moentrol is the pressure-balanced version), and the 1213 in an M-CORE 3-Series valve.
- Separate hot and cold handles. Each handle has its own 1224 cartridge. If there is a third handle in the middle, that is a diverter that sends water to the tub spout or the showerhead; Moen lists the 94543 diverter before 2010 and the 116719 after 2010.
Step 2: Tell Posi-Temp From M-CORE
A rotate-only handle can be either a Posi-Temp (1222) or an M-CORE 2-Series (1212), and a push-pull handle can be either a 1225 valve or an M-CORE 3-Series (1213). Moen’s chart describes both M-CORE cartridges as ceramic disc cartridges and shows a color photo of each cartridge, so the surest check is the old cartridge itself. Once the handle is off, Moen’s 1222 install steps describe what you should see: a retainer clip that slides up and out of the top of the valve body, an H and C tab on the cartridge, and a brass stem with a notched side. The clip alone does not settle it, because Moen’s 1225 is also held by a clip. If what you find does not match any of this, stop and compare it to the photos on Moen’s chart before you order.
The 1225 Is Not Only a Sink Cartridge
Plenty of advice online says the 1222 is “the shower cartridge” and the 1225 is “the sink cartridge.” Moen’s charts say otherwise. The 1225 shows up in its shower chart (standard and Moentrol single-handle valves, plus the lower handle of Moentrol valves with an integrated transfer valve) and in its kitchen and bathroom faucet charts. What decides it in a shower is the handle: push-pull points to the 1225, rotate-only points to the 1222 or 1212. If your shower pulls out to turn on, a 1222 is the wrong part no matter what a store tag says.
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Spa, Thermostatic and Transfer Valves
Showers with more than one control on a larger plate use different cartridges again. From Moen’s chart:
| Valve | Control | Cartridge |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2″ ExactTemp (2000–2006) | Upper handle: thermostatic temperature | 103674 |
| 1/2″ ExactTemp (2000–2006) | Lower handle: on/off flow | 1248 |
| 3/4″ ExactTemp | Thermostatic temperature (before 2009 / after 2009) | 130156 / 147208 |
| 3/4″ ExactTemp | Volume control (before 2009 / after 2009) | 130157 / 147210 |
| Moentrol with integrated transfer valve (3320, 3330, 3350) | Lower handle: temperature and flow | 1225 |
| Same valves, transfer handle | Transfer (3-function before 2007 / after 2007; 2-function on 3350) | 1200 / 116719 / 162154 |
Moen also lists cartridges for its independent transfer valves (2060, 116719, 162154, 163127, 200758 and 200759, by valve number). Moen notes that a transfer valve’s trim plate is about 4 inches wide while the mixing valve’s is about 7 inches, which helps you tell the two apart. For these systems, match the valve number on Moen’s chart before you buy.
Getting the Old Cartridge Out
Moen says its 104421 cartridge puller removes the 1200, 1225 and 1222. Its steps: pull the retainer clip, then pull a 1200 or 1225 stem to the full open position, or turn a 1222 stem with an adjustable wrench so the notch faces the top. The puller’s knurled screw threads into the stem, you run the hex nut down to the valve, and you twist the tee handle to break the cartridge loose before pulling it. For a 1222 without a puller, Moen’s own replacement steps use the plastic twisting tool to rotate the cartridge a little more than a quarter turn (Moen also says 45 degrees), then pliers on the stem to pull it out, and warn that it “may require some effort.”
Two details from Moen’s 1222 instructions that save headaches: cover the drain before you start so the clip cannot fall in, and flush the valve body before the new cartridge goes in. If the retainer clip is damaged or will not go back in, Moen says the water cannot be turned back on until the clip is replaced.
What to Buy
These are genuine Moen parts, matched to the chart above. Most other Amazon results for these part numbers are aftermarket copies; this page links only Moen-branded listings.
- Rotate-only Posi-Temp (1222 valve): Moen 1222HD PosiTemp replacement cartridge (not linked: third-party seller only on 10/3/2026). This is Moen’s commercial, heavy-duty brass-shell version; its listing says it “offers quick and hassle free replacement for Moen PosiTemp one handle shower faucets” and calls it an authentic Moen part. The standard residential 1222 was only offered by a third-party seller when we checked, so we did not link it. If you prefer the exact number on Moen’s chart, a plumbing supply counter can order the 1222.
- M-CORE 2-Series (1212): Moen 1212 M-CORE cartridge. Amazon sells it, but it was down to its last unit when we checked on September 29, 2026, so we did not link it.
- Push-pull valves (1225) and M-CORE 3-Series (1213): we did not link these. The genuine 1225 was down to a low-stock warning when we checked, we did not find a genuine 1213 we could link, and most other listings were “compatible with Moen” copies, not Moen parts.
Parts You’ll Also Need
Moen’s puller instructions call for the 104421 puller and an adjustable wrench.
- A cartridge puller for a seized 1222 or 1225: the Danco Moen cartridge puller (86712), which its listing says removes Moen Posi-Temp cartridges in the 1200, 1222 and 1225 series. It is a Danco tool, not Moen’s 104421, but it is built for the same job.
When to Call a Licensed Plumber
- The cartridge will not come out with a puller, or the stem breaks off in the valve.
- You cannot shut the water off to the shower, or the stops will not hold.
- The brass valve body itself is cracked or leaking inside the wall.
FAQ
How do I know if my Moen shower takes a 1222 or a 1225?
Turn the handle. If it only rotates, from off to hot, Moen lists the 1222 (Posi-Temp) or the 1212 (M-CORE 2-Series). If you pull it out to turn the water on and rotate it for temperature, Moen lists the 1225, or the 1213 on an M-CORE 3-Series valve.
Can I put a 1225 cartridge in a Posi-Temp shower?
Moen does not list it for one. Moen lists the 1222 for Posi-Temp valves, which rotate only, and the 1225 for push-pull valves, so buy the cartridge Moen lists for your valve.
Is the Moen 1225 only for kitchen faucets?
No. Moen’s shower chart lists the 1225 in its standard and Moentrol single-handle shower valves, and its kitchen and bathroom charts list it in single-handle faucets too.
What cartridge does a two-handle Moen shower use?
Moen lists the 1224 cartridge for two-handle and three-handle showers, one behind each hot and cold handle. On a three-handle valve the middle handle is a diverter: 94543 before 2010 and 116719 after 2010, per Moen.
Do I need a cartridge puller for a Moen shower cartridge?
Often. Moen’s 104421 puller is made for the 1200, 1225 and 1222, which can seize in the valve. Moen’s 1222 instructions also show removal with the plastic twisting tool and pliers, but warn it may take some effort.
Why Trust Plumbing Picks
Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. Every part number, marking and fit on this page comes from the manufacturer pages listed below, which we opened and read; product details come from the Amazon listings, not from hands-on testing. Each linked part was shipped or sold by Amazon and could be added to the cart with no low-stock warning when we checked on September 24, 2026. Nobody pays to be included here. Where a link goes to Amazon we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. More on who writes this and how we pick.
Sources
- Moen: Faucet Cartridges: Shower
- Moen: Using a 104421 Cartridge Removal Tool
- Moen: 1222 Cartridge: Single Handle Shower- PosiTemp
- Moen: Faucet Cartridges: Kitchen
- Moen: Faucet Cartridges: Bathroom
Bottom Line
Work the handle first: rotate-only means 1222 or 1212, push-pull means 1225 or 1213, and two handles mean 1224. Pull the old cartridge, compare it with Moen’s chart, and then order. A puller makes the 1222 and 1225 much easier to remove, and the retainer clip has to go back in before the water comes back on.