If you have a cartridge faucet installed in your kitchen sink, the chances are that it’s a Moen kitchen faucet. Moen, after all, is the biggest name in the industry when it comes to cartridge faucets. The removal and installation of nearly all sorts of Moen kitchen faucets are similar and relatively easy. If you want to remove one, or even install a fresh piece in its place, you don’t need to call in a plumber.
In this guide, we’ll learn how to remove Moen kitchen faucet that has a single handle. What you should know before starting the project is the model number and type of Moen kitchen faucet that you are removing so that you can get the correct replacement part for the faulty one. It’s best if you find a replacement part since then you’ll just be replacing the part that’s faulty instead of the entire faucet. If you can’t get hold of a replacement part, you’ll need to replace the whole unit.
Table of Contents
What you’ll need
Removal of a Moen kitchen faucet is rather simple, and you won’t be needing many supplies at all. Just a couple of tools are required to complete the project. Here’s a list:
- Screwdriver
- Needle nose pliers
- Wrench
Steps to follow to remove a Moen kitchen faucet
If you have a leaky Moen kitchen faucet with pullout spray, the chances are that it’s the sprayer hose that’s causing the leak. In such a situation, the leakage can cause water to collect under the sink. Let’s learn all about Moen single handle kitchen faucet with pullout spray repair.
Whatever the problem might be that needs fixing, the first step that you’ll need to take is to remove the Moen kitchen faucet. By removing it, you’ll have clear access to the internal parts that require a repair.
Here are the steps that you need to follow:
Step 1: Turn off water
Locate the water supply under the sink and turn it off. If there are separate supplies for hot and cold, turn both of them off.
Step 2: Drain the pipes
Open the Moen faucet to drain out any water that may still be inside the pipes. The water pipes around the Moen faucet must be empty before you begin disassembling it.
Step 3: Remove the handle
Use a screwdriver to take apart the handle of the faucet. Once the handle is loose, you’ll find a set screw connected to it. Use a wrench to loosen this screw and then pull out the handle.
Step 4: Remove the dome and plastic sleeve
Once the handle is out of the way, you’ll see a dome. It will slide out easily. Next, you’ll find a black jacket that needs to be turned anti-clockwise using a wrench to be removed.
Step 5: Removing the handle mechanism
What lies below the black sleeve that you removed in the previous step is the handle mechanism that controls the water flow out of the faucet. A screw holds this mechanism together. Unscrew it using a screwdriver, and the entire arrangement will come out with it.
Step 6: Remove the ring and washer
Under the handle mechanism, you’ll find a white ring that comes off easily. Just remember the direction is points in so that you can fix it back correctly when you install the faucet back after the repair. Next, there will be a washer that will need to be removed using a wrench.
Step 7: Remove the spout
Once you have removed all the rings and washers that come in the way (remember their directions and their sequence), you will see the water spout. The spout will slide off without any tool. After removing the spout, you’ll see a clip holding the cartridge. the clip can be removed with a screwdriver.
Step 8: Pull out the cartridge
The old cartridge may be removed by holding the stem with pliers and twisting it in different directions until it comes off. You may need a cartridge puller for this step if pliers don’t work.
So, you have learned how to remove Moen kitchen faucet. Let’s see how to repair it.
Possible repairs
Once the cartridge is out, check it’s condition. If there are cracks on it, you will need to replace it. If there’s just scaling, you can reuse the old one after leaving it in a vinegar solution overnight. Take out the cartridge from vinegar in the morning, and you’ll see that all the scaling is gone now.
Here is a Moen single handle kitchen faucet repair diagram:
If you decide to reuse the same cartridge, do remember to replace all the O-rings on the base of your faucet with new ones. The old ones can be removed with the help of a screwdriver. These O-rings are available from stores in packages, which will also include gaskets and lubricating liquid. Lubricate the new O-rings once you have fixed them in their correct places at the base of the faucet. It’s better to replace all the old gaskets with fresh ones as well.
If, after you have made these replacements and fixed the faucet back together, you still find the same leak, the problem may be in the valve seat. Purchase a new one from the hardware store and follow the same steps to take apart the faulty kitchen faucet. Using a seat wrench, remove the old valve seat and replace it with a new one. Doing so should fix the problem.
Fix it back!
Remember all the steps you followed to remove your Moen kitchen faucet? Now follow them in reverse order, taking care to set everything in the right direction and the correct order. Doing so should fix everything back up, and the leaky kitchen faucet will be repaired!
Conclusion
It may seem a little hard at first, but once you’ve learned how to remove Moen kitchen faucet and completed the project on your own, it will be worth it! A leak-free kitchen faucet without paying a plumber is what you get in return for a little hard work. Isn’t it worth the trouble?
