Replacement for Moen 1225 and 1200 Brass Cartridge
Single-handle kitchen, bath and tub faucets.
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You can fix this
Likely cause: worn o-rings, or a handle leak puddling at the base
Water at the base of a single-handle faucet is usually spout o-rings, or a handle leak running down and collecting on the base plate. Check which before replacing anything.
Why this happens
Moen's guidance for a kitchen faucet leaking around the base points at a scratched or torn o-ring on the cartridge or spout. Moen also notes that a handle leak can puddle onto the base plate and look like a base leak. Pfister's fix for a handle leak is to tighten the retainer ring under the handle before replacing parts.
How to fix it
- Dry the base, wrap a paper towel around the handle, and run the faucet. A wet towel means the handle is leaking, not the base.
- Handle leak: shut off the stops, remove the handle and dome cap, and snug the retainer ring clockwise with a wrench. Reassemble and test.
- Base leak with the faucet on: shut off the stops, remove the handle and spout, and replace the spout o-rings. Moen says to use only silicone grease on o-rings, never a petroleum-based lubricant.
- Base leak with the faucet off too: replace the cartridge, since it is passing water past its seals.
- Pull-out or pull-down faucet: also check that the hose-to-wand connection is tight.
When to stop. Water under the sink that is not coming from the faucet body is a supply line or connection. If tightening the supply nuts does not stop it, shut the stops and call a plumber.
The part that fixes it
O-ring kits are faucet-specific. If the cartridge is the cause, match it to your valve.
Replacement for Moen 1225 and 1225B Push-Pull Cartridge Kit
FourHome is our own brand of replacement parts; this site is published by the team behind it. We earn from purchases made through this link.
Not sure which part you have? Pull the old one and match it by brand, length and broach on Stems & Cartridges, an identification index of faucet stems and cartridges by part number.
If this does not fix it, tell the plumber
- Whether the water appears only with the faucet running, or also when it is off.
- Whether the paper-towel test showed the handle leaking.
- The faucet brand and whether it is a pull-out or pull-down model.
Build the full list: what to tell the plumber.
Start this troubleshooter over
References (every fact above comes from one of these pages)
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