A Shower Faucet Issue

[Don]

Scenario: This morning I shaved at the bathroom sink with hot water, no problems. When done I turned the shower faucet on full blast hot and the water barely trickled and the water was cold. Slowly the water got hot and the pressure got up to full power, took shower. An hour later my wife took a shower and she reported the same thing except the water never got more than luke warm. Ever since then there has been a steady slow trickle of water coming out the shower head. This is a stand alone shower, no tub, 3 years old, Moen Single handle faucet. What do you suppose is going on here, is the cartridge going out? A web search shows that these cartridges are kinda pricey at $35 and up depending. Thanks.

[Doug Kanter]

Could be the cartridge, although I'd also wonder about debris. Unscrew the aerators at one or two sink faucets. Anything unusual in there? If you see something like white plastic particles, that's the dip tube from your water heater crumbling into nothingness.

As far as the cost of the cartridge, do what I did a couple of years back (which I'll assume still works). Go to the Moen site and find the "contact us" page. It should ask for your full address. Provide that info. Write a note telling them the model number of your faucet if possible, and say that before you head to the store, you want to make sure you know the correct cartridge model. If you don't know your model number, ask to have someone call you. They will probably send you a cartridge for free. This happened to me - the cartridge was ruined by crap from a water heater problem - not Moen's fault at all. I explained this, and they said "We're sending you a free one because we just want to make sure you're happy".

[Don]

Thanks Doug, I'll do what you suggested. The WH is 3 yrs old, we're on a well and the WH has never been drained so there may be some stuff in the cartridge. One more thing that needs to be done around here.....

[Doug Kanter]

I'll fix your faucet if you install a deadbolt in my back door, several coat hooks near my basement stairs, tear up my kitchen floor *and* subfloor, install vapor barrier and insulation in the accessible-in-no-other-way crawlspace under the kitchen, reinstall the floor, paint the ceiling, replace my bathroom sink, and remember fer cryin' out loud already to bring the battery indoors from the boat that's stored out in the cold garage.

Deal? :-)

[nospambob]

[Tom Miller]

[snip]

Heh, heh. This is exactly why, after 25 years of owning an 85-year-old home, I can't wait to move into a high-rise condo. I love the house but ....

[Don]

Oh man, we're not gonna start comparin honeydew lists are we? Lets just tell the ol' ladies to get lost and do our best to get rid of a case of green bottles instead. :-)

[Doug Kanter]

I'm divorced! Can you imagine what the list would look like with an "advisor" around?

[Don]

Unfortunately I don't have to imagine, bright and early in the morning I will be reminded, by my ball N chain. You lucky dawg......

[beekman]

I am unable to unscrew the alen set screw on the Moen faucet. Do I have to tear it off? Any thoughts?