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When a single-handle kitchen or bathroom faucet drips, gets hard to turn, or can no longer hold a steady temperature, the part to blame is almost always the cartridge inside it. It is the valve that controls flow and mix, and like anything with moving seals, it wears out. Swapping it is one of the most worthwhile DIY plumbing jobs: 30 to 45 minutes, one small part, and no more dripping.
(Doing the same job on a shower valve? That is our separate shower cartridge guide.) For a broader look at drips first, start with how to fix a dripping faucet.
Cartridge, Ball, or Ceramic Disc?
Single-handle faucets come in a few internal styles, and knowing yours saves a trip to the store. Cartridge faucets (Moen, most modern Delta) have a cylindrical cartridge you pull straight up, the most common and the easiest. Ball faucets (older Delta/Peerless) use a rotating ball and springs/seats. Ceramic disc faucets use a sealed disc cartridge. The repair below covers the common cartridge type; the others use a brand rebuild kit but the teardown is similar.
Match the Cartridge to Your Brand
This is the step people get wrong: cartridges are not universal. Buy the one made for your faucet brand and model. Moen alone uses several: the 1225 (held by a copper clip) in older single-handle faucets, the 1255 Duralast family (held by a retainer nut) in single-handle faucets after 2009, and the 1224 or 1234 in two-handle faucets.
For Delta and Kohler, match the exact Delta cartridge or Kohler cartridge to your model, those links are searches on purpose because the right cartridge depends on your specific faucet. Browse the full lineup in our faucet cartridge guide. Have a Moen? Our Moen 1225 vs 1255 vs 1224 guide shows how to tell them apart once the handle is off.
How to Replace the Cartridge, Step by Step
- Shut off the water. Close both supply stops under the sink and open the faucet to relieve pressure. Plug the drain so small parts cannot fall in.
- Remove the handle. Pop the decorative cap, remove the set screw (often a hex/Allen screw), and lift the handle off.
- Remove the retainer. Under the handle is a retaining nut or a small clip holding the cartridge. Unthread the nut or pull the clip with needle-nose pliers, keep the clip.
- Pull the cartridge. Grip the stem and pull straight up. Moen cartridges that have sat for years often seize, a brand cartridge puller pulls it without breaking the stem. Note the orientation of the hot/cold notch before it comes out.
- Drop in the new one. Wipe a little Danco waterproof silicone faucet grease on the O-rings, set the new cartridge to the same depth and orientation, and reinstall the clip or nut.
- Test before reassembly. Turn the water back on with the handle off and check for leaks and correct hot/cold. Then reattach the handle.
The Mistakes That Cause a Repeat Drip
Same three I warn about on any cartridge job: using a universal part instead of the brand cartridge, skipping the silicone grease (dry O-rings tear and weep), and installing it rotated the wrong way (reversed or scalding hot/cold). Get those right and the faucet is good for years. If the faucet body itself is corroded or the spout is cracked, it may make more sense to install a new faucet, compare against the cost to fix a leaky faucet.
When to Call a Pro
This is a beginner-friendly repair. Call a plumber if the cartridge is seized so badly the stem snaps off inside the body, if the shutoff valves under the sink are frozen or leaking, or if the faucet is so old that parts are no longer made (time for a new faucet). Otherwise, one cartridge and half an hour ends the drip.
If it does come to a new faucet, the brands differ more in how easily you can get the next part than in anything on the spec sheet — see Moen vs Delta vs Kohler and our wider kitchen faucet brands comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my faucet cartridge is bad?
The common symptoms are a faucet that drips after you shut it off, a handle that has become stiff or loose, water that will not get fully hot or cold, or reduced flow from that one faucet. Since the cartridge controls both flow and temperature mixing on a single-handle faucet, any of those usually points to a worn cartridge rather than the faucet body.
Are faucet cartridges universal?
No. Cartridges are specific to the faucet brand and often the exact model. A Moen 1225 will not fit a Delta, and universal aftermarket cartridges are the top reason a repaired faucet starts dripping again within months because the tolerances do not match. Identify your brand and model, or take the old cartridge to the store, and buy the matching part.
How long does it take to replace a faucet cartridge?
For a standard cartridge faucet, plan 30 to 45 minutes the first time. The actual swap is quick; what slows people down is a cartridge that has seized from mineral buildup, which is where a brand-specific cartridge puller saves you. Shut the water off, note the cartridge orientation before pulling it, and grease the new O-rings on the way in.
The tool that decides how this goes: a seized cartridge will not come out with pliers, and levering on it can crack the faucet housing. Danco Moen cartridge puller.