I've read most of the questions on this website about this matter, but I'm still confused. I pulled off the handle and wall plate. But what do I do after that?

I see a small (4 inch approx.) hole in the wall with a "unit" that looks like a cartridge that holds the handle. I can turn it to hot and cold, but that's about all I can move. What do I need to look for to clean out any possible garbage that may be stopping the hot water from reaching the shower? And yes, the faucet at the sink does produce very hot water!

If you can describe to me what I need to do - step by step, I would greatly appreciate your help!!!! I am REALLY tired of taking luke warm showers!!!
THANKS!

speedball1

Moen faucets have only one moving part. The stem slides up and down to open and close the faucet and rotates to regulate the flow of hot and cold water. Any leaking requires replacement of the cartridge.


First, turn off the water. To remove the cartridge, you'll need to remove the handle. This project can be like working a puzzle. If you have the manufacturer's instruction sheet for the faucet, you're ahead of the game. Without it, look for a retainer clip at the rear of the faucet just below the handle. Or, you may have to remove a set screw or snap-in "hot-cold" button and a handle pin or screw. On some faucets the swing spout must come off first. The retainer clip may be hiding beneath the handle inside a lift-out tube. Some cartridge faucets use two retainer clips–one by the handle and another by the cartridge. Retainer clips can be pried out with a screwdriver.


Once the retainer clip is removed, the cartridge simply pulls out. Use pliers, as shown in Fig. 6. Install the new cartridge by pushing it into place with the flat arrow, or other mark upward. If you use a lubricant on the cartridge, make sure it's silicone grease.

Check and clean the cartridge inlet ports. Before you button up the faucet turn the water back on for a minute to flush out the supplies.\Good luck, Tom

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johnsmom

Ok, I've turned off the water. I've pulled off the handle and face plate that is against the wall. I see the cartridge with some type of clip that is on top of it. But I can't pull the clip out with my regular pliers. Do I need a special tool? I don't think I can pry it up with a screw driver. I don't see any other buttons or screws that I can remove. The unit did have a metal "sleeve" over it, which was easily removed. Now what???

speedball1

Get a grip on the clip and pull hard. There's nothing securing it. If it comes out hard stick a small rod through the hole in the clip and tap it out. Nowc pull the cartridge out. Good luck, Tom

doug238

i sure hope you turned the house main off first.
your problem sounds more like a scaldguard adjustment than a cartridge problem. under the handle is 2 plastic parts that have gears on them. they are adjustable to limit the range motion of the handle. basically, it stops the range of the handle from turning all the way over to hot. on the chateau the adjustment is on the metal sleeve. the gears are under the handle on the positemp.

johnsmom

Thanks everyone! Both showers now have HOT water!!! Now to try to figure out why the pressure is lower than the cold water!!! Could it be because of the extremely hard water ( no softner system - lots of lime, etc.) that we have here in central TX??? Is there anything that can be done to clear up some of the pipes -without paying major bills???

doug238

make sure the water heater valve is completely open. letmetellu is from texas, he may be more familiar with your water.

yucongtao

Can you tell me how you fixed exactly? Did you replace the catridge or simply adjust the scaldguard? I have a very similar problem that the same moen single handle shower faucet does not produce hot water. Thanks.

-yucong

doug238

replace the cartridge if it is leaking.
there are 2 types of moen single handle faucets. the chateau which has been around a long time, and the positemp. the chateau turns on by pulling the handle straight out then turn right to cold or left to hot. the positemp simply turns from right to left to turn on and to get warmer. it has a cog type gear that is under the handle which limits the amount the handle will turn to have a code required scald gaurd. for best results, adjust hot to a point that is very uncomfortable but you can keep your hand under it.

yucongtao

Thanks Doug.

that faucet is a posi-temp valve and it is not leaking. So it is not the cartridge problem. It must be the scald guard you mentioned. I was able to retrieve the original installation instruction. It mentioned about temperature limit stops to adjust for hot/code water. Is the scald guard same as the temp limit stops?

-yucong