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True Value
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Replace Cartridge — Install New Cartridge and Reassemble Valve

Beginner3 hours

Part of project

How to Stop a Dripping Two-Handle Bathroom Faucet · Step 5 of 6

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In this video

Remove and replace the cartridge. Gently pry out the old cartridge with a small flathead screwdriver. Clean any debris from behind the valve and clean the inlet lines to prevent damage to O-rings. Apply plumber's grease to the O-rings on the new cartridge. Carefully insert the new cartridge into the valve body, ensuring proper alignment and install it, keeping hot to the left and cold to the right. Ensure cartridge sits flush.

Goal: Stop the leak

  • Apply plumber's grease to O-rings to ease installation and prevent future binding.
  • Note the orientation of the old cartridge so the new cartridge is installed correctly.

Used in this video

  • Flathead screwdriver (brand: Husky, Purpose: Removing the cartridge, Tip type: Flathead) · optional — Removing the old cartridge
  • Toothbrush (Purpose: Cleaning the valve) · optional — Cleaning the valve body
  • Flashlight (Purpose: Inspecting the valve, Flashlight type: Penlight) · optional — Illuminating the valve body
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FAQs

Do I need all the specialized tools listed, like the specific Klein wrenches, or can I use more common household tools?

While specialized tools can make the job easier, many tasks for a two-handle faucet repair can be accomplished with standard items. A Phillips head screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and a good pair of pliers (like tongue and groove) are usually sufficient for most beginners.

How realistic are the "beginner" difficulty and "3 hours" estimated time for someone new to DIY plumbing?

This project is indeed beginner-friendly as it avoids complex pipe work. While 3 hours is a good estimate, allow yourself extra time if you're new to plumbing, especially for identifying and sourcing the correct replacement cartridge or dealing with old, seized components.

How can I be sure I'm purchasing the correct replacement cartridge for my specific faucet?

The most reliable method is to remove your existing cartridge first and take it to the hardware store for an exact match. Faucet manufacturers often use proprietary designs, so matching by appearance and model number (if available on the faucet or cartridge) is crucial to ensure compatibility.

My faucet is still dripping after I installed the new cartridge; what should I check?

First, ensure the new cartridge is seated firmly and correctly within the valve body, and all retaining nuts are snug. Hard water deposits can sometimes prevent a good seal, so clean the valve body thoroughly before installation. If the drip persists, the issue might be a worn O-ring elsewhere in the faucet assembly, or the valve body itself could be damaged.

Transcript
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and i usually try to wiggle these but they end up pretty good with the o-rings you don't want to wiggle hard just try to gently pull if it don't come then i usually get a flat head and you see here we'll just take a flat head from this viewing angle here maybe you can see it better and we'll work it in there and just pry it gently out and some of the water starts coming out i think it's got a little vacuum on it there we go and it's out just like that just again notate which way yours was in which notch was on this side of course mine's going to be the hot on the left side when we go to put it back in one thing we're going to do before we put it back in and just get something um even a toothbrush will work well and get in there and your inlets and just clean up just to make sure there's no debris that may have uh come out from behind that valve that could cut your o-rings so just make sure we're all clean there and another thing to help with the o-rings i'm going to put some of the super lube on it i use this stuff on o-rings a lot so it helps with rubber in general just any kind of plumber's grease you want to use but this is just a synthetic food grade grease that i can put on the o-rings it'll help with installation as well as um keep the o-rings from binding or rolling on you so they should slide in and here i'm pushing gently but i don't want to push too much because we're pushing on the main plumbing and the main valve so after i got it started and feel the resistance of the o-ring i'm simply just going to put my brass nut on there and run it up i can feel it pushing right on in i'm just using the clamping pressure if you will of the brass nut to pull it up so i'm going to back it back off and i'm just verifying that it is flush and i'm just putting the nut right back on wipe off any moisture and just make sure i got it good and tight but hand tight is all you need this guys no rings should be needed here i believe we will have to make some adjustment on this skull control here because i believe from the fact that it's going to limit

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