How To Tell If A Faucet Cartridge Is Bad (Signs, Reasons, and Fixes)

A cartridge of a faucet controls the flow of the water. You can find the cartridge inside the handle of the faucet.

However, a bad cartridge will not allow the flowing of water from the faucet properly. Most of the time, when a cartridge fails, water begins to leak from different places of the faucet.

By reading this article, you can determine whether or not your faucet cartridge is defective.

However, the following information will also teach you how to replace a faucet cartridge and what causes a cartridge to go bad.

Signs of a Faulty Faucet Cartridge

As I mentioned before, leaking water from different parts of the faucet indicates a bad cartridge.

You may be curious about the components of the leakage. I’ve listed a few scenarios below. You can tell if your cartridge is defective by determining them.

1. Leakage from the Spout

The water of a faucet flows through the spout. When you turn off the handle, the spout stops flowing water, but a bad cartridge will not be able to stop the water properly.

Water leaks from the faucet even after turning off the handle. So, if you notice the water leaking from the spout, that indicates your cartridge is bad.

However, you can stop the water from leaking from the spout by over-tightening the handle or placing the handle in a particular position.

Still, tightening it or handling it in a specific position irritates the user. As a result, it is preferable to replace the cartridge.

Test for Detecting a Leaky Spout 

It becomes increasingly challenging for our eyes to spot a leaky spout most of the time. Most frequently, it occurs when the water is dripping slowly.

You can determine a leaky spout by testing it. To test, follow the steps below. 

2. Leakage from the Base of the Faucet 

The faucet base is the area where the faucet joins to the sink. Water leaking from the faucet’s base is most likely due to worn-out O-rings in cartridges. 

Furthermore, this type of leak occurs only when your faucet is running. You can stop leaking water from the base of the faucet by replacing the O-ring. 

Test for Detecting the Leakage from the Faucet Base

You can conduct a test to ensure that your faucet base is dipping water. To perform the test, follow the steps below.

3. Difficult to Adjust the Water Temperature 

In a double-handle faucet, the right handle is used to flow the cold water on the other hand left handle is for hot water. The cartridge of the faucet helps to adjust the water temperature coming from the faucet.

Both handles have separate cartridges. If one or both cartridges get damaged, adjusting the water temperature will be difficult.

So, in this case, you need to replace the cartridge.

An example of a bad cartridge is when you turn on the right handle of the faucet, hot water flows out instead of cold water. So, changing the right handle’s cartridge can solve the issue.

Replacement of a Cartridge 

You may not always need to replace the cartridge. Sometimes replacing the O-Ring or cleaning the O-Ring passage can solve the issue of water leaking.

When water leaks from the base of the faucet, you need to replace the O-Ring. On the other hand, you need to replace the cartridge when the water leaks from the spout. 

Moreover, by examining the cartridge, you can determine which parts you should replace. To inspect the cartridge, you have to remove it first. Then follow the instructions below −

How to Replace a Faucet Cartridge?

You need to replace the cartridge of your faucet if water starts leaking. Before replacing, you need to collect some tools. The tools that you will need are −

The steps for replacing a faucet cartridge give below. 

1. Turn off the Water Supply 

First, turn off the water supply. Rotate the shutoff valve clockwise below the sink until the water stops. 

2. Remove the Handles

Depending on your faucet, it might have a decorative cap that covers the screws holding the handle in place.  Pop off the handles cap with a flat screwdriver.

Then, using a Phillips screwdriver, unscrew the screws and remove the handle from the cartridge.

3. Remove the Cartridge 

Remove the bonnet nut from the cartridge by using a crescent wrench. Then remove the cartridge from the faucet. If you find any brass screw at the top of the cartridge, remove it.

Now use a cloth to absorb the water from the faucet shank.

4. Install the New Cartridge

Replace the small brass screw on the top of the cartridge, if necessary, before moving on. Now line up the new cartridge’s tab with the faucet’s slot.

Then, using a wrench, screw on the bonnet nut.

5. Reinstall the Handle

Reinstall the handle and then attach the decorative cap.  Finally, turn on the water by rotating the shutoff valve anti-clockwise

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What causes faucet cartridges to fail?

A faucet fails due to a worn O-ring or worn cartridges. Another reason is that clogging on the passage of the O-Ring causes the cartridge to fail.  Leaking from the base of the faucet indicates the O-ring is worn, while leaking from the spout indicates a bad cartridge. 

2. How long do faucet cartridges last?

Usually, a faucet cartridge lasts ten to fifteen years. That doesn’t mean the cartridge won’t fail before it. Rusty usage can cause an early failure of the faucet cartridge.

Final Words

Leakage from the spout or the base of the spout indicates a faulty cartridge. Another sign of a faulty cartridge is difficulty in adjusting the water temperature.

It is best to change a cartridge as soon as possible. A worn O-Ring or a damaged cartridge causes a cartridge to fail to function.

When you notice water leaking from your faucet, remove the cartridge and inspect it. Replace the O-Ring or cartridge as necessary by inspecting.