Moen dominate the US market for interior design, especially when it comes to kitchen and bathroom fittings. A combination of exceptional build quality, fantastic style, and reasonable cost for what you’re paying makes them basically the best choice for a lot of people.
But even the most well designed product can get loose and develop issues over time. Thankfully, Moen faucets are designed to be simple to fix, especially if you have the right tools and a little know how.
Read on to find out exactly how to tighten a loose Moen single handed kitchen faucet.
What you will need:
- A flashlight
- Safety gloves
- An adjustable wrench
- A basin wrench
- A small knife
- A 5/64 inch Allen wrench
Contents
Step 1: Plug your drain
Start by blocking the sink drain with a piece of rag or similar cloth to prevent anything from falling into it as you work. There are a number of small nuts and other parts inside a Moen faucet, and losing them can prevent it from working, so make sure you keep them safe as you work.
Step 2: Switch off the water supply
Your faucet is fed by water pipes that should run underneath it. In all likelihood, you’re going to have two separate supplies, one for cold, one for hot.
Switch them both off, then turn the faucet on to clear any remaining water in the pipes and equalise the air pressure.
It’s also worth placing a bowl or bucket underneath the valves as you work, to catch any drips or leaks.
If you struggle to close either of the valves, you can also switch off your property’s master water valve.
Step 3: Remove the water lines
Looking under the base, find the points where the water supply lines are connected to the inlet lines.
You’ll need an adjustable wrench to undo these. Turn anti-clockwise, and you might need to use a little force to separate them. Be careful not to damage anything, and it’s best to wear gloves to keep your hands safe.
Step 4: Remove the handle cover
Point the handle downwards. At the rear of the handle, you’ll see a small cap set into the structure. You’ll need a small, pointed tool like a Swiss Army knife blade or thin flat head screwdriver. Pop this free, and set it aside.
The cap covers an access point for an Allen key, which should be a 5/64 inch width.
It’s possible that the looseness in your faucet handle could be solved by tightening this socket, so always start by checking this, by turning it clockwise.
Step 5: Removing the handle
If tightening the Allen screw didn’t stop your faucet from wobbling, then you need to remove the handle cover, as the problem is internal.
Turn the Allen screw counter-clockwise until you can remove the handle. You won’t need to remove the Allen screw entirely, so turn it in stages until you can gently remove the entire handle cover.
Step 6: Check and tighten the internals
Underneath the handle you’ve just removed will be a switch mounted to a bolt, which will fit any standard socket wrench set.
This bolt adjusts how tight the handle is. If your problem is a handle that’s too tight, or too loose and easy to turn, then adjust this bolt. Clockwise for tightness, anti-clockwise to loosen.
If instead the handle feels loose against the faucet body, you need to look underneath the sink. At the top of the mounting point is a second nut which has to be driven upwards to tighten it.
When tightening this nut, you may need a second pair of hands, as the faucet has a tendency to twist as well. So if you can’t reach the nut and the faucet at the same time, recruit someone else to help you.
Step 7: Check everything
Reattach everything in reverse, then reconnect the water supply and check that everything is in place, then run your faucet for a minute or two to make sure that everything is correct and working.
Once you’ve run the faucet, recheck under the sink to make sure that the water valves aren’t leaking, and you’re done!
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do Moen faucets come loose?
Because Moen products are made to a very high standard, the chance that they will develop issues is less than you’d expect for an equivalent product.
However, your faucets will see a lot of use, and over time it’s normal for any working parts to become looser and develop a little bit of play.
Are Moen faucets expensive to repair?
As long as your Moen product is still within warranty, any repairs or replacements are completely free.
However, once a Moen product is out of warranty, replacement parts and labor can be relatively expensive, so it’s worth checking to see if any leaks or loose parts can be simply fixed from home.
How do I know which Moen cartridge I need?
Any reputable hardware or plumbing provider will be able to advice you on which Moen cartridge you need to replace your existing one.
An alternative is to contact Moen directly, which can be done via their support page, or by phone on their toll free number.
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