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[Explore Stack Internal](https://stackoverflow.co/internal/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=diy-community&utm_campaign=side-bar&utm_content=explore-teams-compact-popover) # [Fix a Leaky Faucet?](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/4619/fix-a-leaky-faucet) [Ask Question](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/ask) Asked 14 years, 11 months ago Modified [14 years, 11 months ago](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/4619/fix-a-leaky-faucet?lastactivity "2011-02-12 00:05:40Z") Viewed 1k times This question shows research effort; it is useful and clear 10 Save this question. Show activity on this post. I have a Moen single handle kitchen faucet. When you lift the handle to start the water flow, water also flows out almost as fast from underneath the handle and floods my counter. I cannot figure out where exactly the leak comes from though. When I take the handle off to look, I can't start the water flowing. I know that Moen makes repair kits, but I don't have a clue how to find out what model of faucet I have or where to buy a repair kit. Help? - [faucet](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/faucet "show questions tagged 'faucet'") - [leak](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/leak "show questions tagged 'leak'") [Share](https://diy.stackexchange.com/q/4619 "Short permalink to this question") Share a link to this question Copy link [CC BY-SA 2.5](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/ "The current license for this post: CC BY-SA 2.5") [Improve this question](https://diy.stackexchange.com/posts/4619/edit) Follow Follow this question to receive notifications asked Feb 11, 2011 at 17:57 [](https://diy.stackexchange.com/users/1094/james-p-wright) [James P. Wright](https://diy.stackexchange.com/users/1094/james-p-wright) 46322 gold badges55 silver badges1111 bronze badges [Add a comment](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/4619/fix-a-leaky-faucet "Use comments to ask for more information or suggest improvements. Avoid answering questions in comments.") \| ## 2 Answers 2 Sorted by: [Reset to default](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/4619/fix-a-leaky-faucet?answertab=scoredesc#tab-top) This answer is useful 9 Save this answer. Show activity on this post. I assume that this is leakage that happens with normal use. I have found that with many single handle faucets, if you push the handle all of the way open, hard over and hold it there, they will all leak. Turn off the water to your faucet from under the sink. There should be a shutoff down there. Make sure that both the hot and cold water lines are shut off, so that when the faucet is open, no water should come out. Open up the faucet by removing the handle. Usually this is easily done with a screwdriver. There will be a screw someplace to do this with, although it might be an allen type set screw. Sometimes that screw is neatly hidden underneath a plastic plug. Pull out the cartridge. Drive to your nearest home center, with the cartridge in hand. Now it will be trivial to find the exact cartridge. If you are still unsure, ask for help. Buy the proper replacement cartridge, complete with all o-rings, etc. Replace the cartridge into your faucet with the new one, replacing ALL o-rings, all of the pieces that come with it with the new ones. Put the handle back on, turn on the water. If it still leaks, buy a better grade of faucet. I have found that cheap hardware sometimes really does perform like CHEAP hardware. [Share](https://diy.stackexchange.com/a/4621 "Short permalink to this answer") Share a link to this answer Copy link [CC BY-SA 2.5](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/ "The current license for this post: CC BY-SA 2.5") [Improve this answer](https://diy.stackexchange.com/posts/4621/edit) Follow Follow this answer to receive notifications [edited Feb 11, 2011 at 21:14](https://diy.stackexchange.com/posts/4621/revisions "show all edits to this post") answered Feb 11, 2011 at 20:39 user558 3 - I have done all of that except for taking the cartridge to the local hardware store because I don't know what the "cartridge" is. :) I am useless around the house. I couldn't see any parts that looked broken when I opened it so I didn't know what to take to the hardware store. As for the leakage, it is much more than slight...it comes out of the leak nearly as fast as the faucet so I'm assuming something is very broken. James P. Wright – [James P. Wright](https://diy.stackexchange.com/users/1094/james-p-wright "463 reputation") 2011-02-11 21:45:43 +00:00 [Commented Feb 11, 2011 at 21:45](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/4619/fix-a-leaky-faucet#comment5422_4621) - 2 @Pselus: Check out [visual.merriam-webster.com/images/house/plumbing/faucets/…](http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/house/plumbing/faucets/cartridge-faucet.jpg) and [sanliv.com/faucets/faucet-cartridge-replacement.jpg](http://www.sanliv.com/faucets/faucet-cartridge-replacement.jpg). Lots of variations of course, but it's usually held in by a nut of some kind, which you can unscrew and then pull the cartridge out. gregmac – [gregmac](https://diy.stackexchange.com/users/157/gregmac "29,368 reputation") 2011-02-11 22:44:41 +00:00 [Commented Feb 11, 2011 at 22:44](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/4619/fix-a-leaky-faucet#comment5424_4621) - I have also found that the cartridge hold down nut on Moen single handled sets often work loose over time and allow water to leak. Sometimes just tightening the cartridge into it's seat solves the problem. But,,,,,worn or broken O-rings is also common. shirlock homes – [shirlock homes](https://diy.stackexchange.com/users/386/shirlock-homes "58,648 reputation") 2011-02-12 13:11:03 +00:00 [Commented Feb 12, 2011 at 13:11](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/4619/fix-a-leaky-faucet#comment5436_4621) [Add a comment](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/4619/fix-a-leaky-faucet "Use comments to ask for more information or suggest improvements. Avoid comments like “+1” or “thanks”.") \| This answer is useful 4 Save this answer. Show activity on this post. To add on to @woodchips: My guess is an o-ring at the bottom is broken, or the cartridge is no longer seated well. I have a similar faucet, and you're not going to get the cartridge out easily without the tool that comes with the repair kit (catch-22). When I went to Home Depot, there were two types of Moen cartridges, plastic and brass, but they seemed interchangeable. These two videos pretty much nailed the procedure for me. Check and see if this looks the same. If so, you should be able to replace with a [Moen 1200](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B00069DWYQ). Mine came with the little plastic cap you need to get the old cartridge out. You'll still have to search for the other parts, but you can take those with you. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5M4feAc7Y8> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMbr7wqwgTY> [Share](https://diy.stackexchange.com/a/4623 "Short permalink to this answer") Share a link to this answer Copy link [CC BY-SA 2.5](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/ "The current license for this post: CC BY-SA 2.5") [Improve this answer](https://diy.stackexchange.com/posts/4623/edit) Follow Follow this answer to receive notifications answered Feb 12, 2011 at 0:05 [](https://diy.stackexchange.com/users/517/steve-jackson) [Steve Jackson](https://diy.stackexchange.com/users/517/steve-jackson) 3,84088 gold badges3939 silver badges5151 bronze badges 1 - And blogs! Everyone needs a [blog entry about fixing faucets](http://diy.blogoverflow.com/2012/01/beginner-faucet-fixin/). Disclaimer: I wrote this several months after this answer. Steve Jackson – [Steve Jackson](https://diy.stackexchange.com/users/517/steve-jackson "3,840 reputation") 2012-02-21 23:15:06 +00:00 [Commented Feb 21, 2012 at 23:15](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/4619/fix-a-leaky-faucet#comment16826_4623) [Add a comment](https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/4619/fix-a-leaky-faucet "Use comments to ask for more information or suggest improvements. Avoid comments like “+1” or “thanks”.") \| Start asking to get answers Find the answer to your question by asking. 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I assume that this is leakage that happens with normal use. I have found that with many single handle faucets, if you push the handle all of the way open, hard over and hold it there, they will all leak. Turn off the water to your faucet from under the sink. There should be a shutoff down there. Make sure that both the hot and cold water lines are shut off, so that when the faucet is open, no water should come out. Open up the faucet by removing the handle. Usually this is easily done with a screwdriver. There will be a screw someplace to do this with, although it might be an allen type set screw. Sometimes that screw is neatly hidden underneath a plastic plug. Pull out the cartridge. Drive to your nearest home center, with the cartridge in hand. Now it will be trivial to find the exact cartridge. If you are still unsure, ask for help. Buy the proper replacement cartridge, complete with all o-rings, etc. Replace the cartridge into your faucet with the new one, replacing ALL o-rings, all of the pieces that come with it with the new ones. Put the handle back on, turn on the water. If it still leaks, buy a better grade of faucet. I have found that cheap hardware sometimes really does perform like CHEAP hardware.