How to Stop a Moen Shower Head From Dripping (Step-by-Step)
By Julian Gill Updated · 8 min read
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In this article
A shower head that keeps dripping is annoying, it wastes water and it leaves stains in the tub. On a Moen shower, the fix is usually quick: in most cases, the cartridge inside the valve is worn and needs replacing. Here is how I find the cause and replace the cartridge, step by step.
Quick answer
To stop a Moen shower head from dripping, shut off the water, remove the handle and trim, pull the U-clip and replace the worn cartridge with a new one installed the same way as the old one. If the drip is at the joint between the shower arm and the head, tighten and retape that connection instead.
Key takeaways
- A short drip can be normal: water left in the arm and head drains for a minute after shut-off.
- A steady drip means the cartridge: it no longer closes the water off fully.
- Note the orientation: the new cartridge must go in exactly like the old one, or hot and cold will be reversed.
- Test before you close up: check for drips before you put the trim and handle back.
Why Does a Moen Shower Head Drip?
Moen shower heads and valves are among the most popular on the market, but like any fixture they wear over time. When a shower head keeps dripping after you turn it off, there are two usual causes.
- A loose shower head: if water leaks at the joint between the shower arm and the head, the connection is loose or the thread tape is worn. Tighten it with a wrench (protect the finish with a rag), or remove the head, rewrap the threads with plumber's tape and screw it back on.
- A worn cartridge: if water drips from the face of the shower head, the valve is not shutting off completely. Seals inside the cartridge wear out, and mineral deposits make it worse. The fix is a new cartridge.
In my experience as a plumber, the cartridge is the answer most of the time. The good news is that it is a job most homeowners can do with a little mechanical ability and basic tools.
Tools and Materials You Need
- Replacement Moen cartridge (the right model for your valve)
- Silicone grease (often included with the cartridge)
- 7/64 inch Allen wrench
- No. 2 Phillips screwdriver
- Flat blade screwdriver
- Needle-nose or lineman's pliers
- Razor knife or putty knife
- Silicone caulk
- Bucket and rags
Safety first
Turn off the water before you start, and check that it is really off. Old shut-off valves often do not close completely, and a cartridge pulled under pressure will spray water everywhere. Cover the tub drain so small parts cannot fall in.
How to Replace the Moen Shower Cartridge
These steps show a single-handle Moen shower valve with a temperature limit stop and a 1222 cartridge. Other Moen valves follow the same logic, with small differences in the trim.
- Shut off the water supply
Close the main water valve. On most quarter-turn valves, the handle is parallel to the pipe when it is open and perpendicular when it is closed.
- Open the shower valve to drain it
Turn the shower on and let any water left in the lines drain out. This releases the pressure before you open the valve.
Open the valve to drain the lines. - Remove the handle
Loosen the set screw on the handle with a 7/64 inch Allen wrench, then pull the handle off.
A 7/64 inch Allen wrench releases the handle. - Remove the temperature limit stop
Take out the screw in the center of the valve with a No. 2 Phillips screwdriver. Then pull off the handle mounting piece and the temperature limit stop (the plastic piece that sets the maximum hot water temperature).
Remove the center screw. 
Take off the temperature limit stop. - Pull out the extension tube
Slide the extension tube off the cartridge stem. Note which way it was facing so you can put it back the same way.
Remove the extension tube. - Remove the cover plate
Cut through the silicone caulk around the cover plate with a razor knife or putty knife, then remove the screws and lift the plate off.
Remove the cover plate screws. 
Cut the caulk around the plate. - Clean off the old caulk
Scrape the remaining caulk off the wall with a flat blade screwdriver. Work gently so you do not scratch the wall, especially on a fiberglass surround.
Remove the old caulk without scratching the wall. - Take off the U-clip and pull the cartridge
Pull out the small U-clip that holds the cartridge in the valve body with pliers. Then grip the cartridge stem and twist it gently back and forth to loosen it. Keep twisting and pulling until it comes out.
Remove the U-clip. 
Twist and pull the old cartridge out. - Note the cartridge orientation
Look at the cartridge stem before you set it down. It has an HC mark (hot and cold) and a small dash. Note whether that mark was facing up or down in the valve, because the new cartridge must go in the same way.
- Flush the lines
With the cartridge out, hold a bucket or a rag over the valve opening and turn the water on for a few seconds. This flushes out debris and sediment that could damage the new cartridge. Then shut the water off again.
- Lubricate the new cartridge
In this project I used a Moen 1222 cartridge, which came with silicone grease. Coat the O-rings of the new cartridge well so it slides in easily and seals properly.
The new cartridge with its silicone grease. 
Grease the O-rings before installing. - Install the new cartridge
Push the new cartridge into the valve body gently with your thumbs, with the HC mark in the same position as on the old one. In my case, the HC mark was facing down.
Install the cartridge the same way as the old one. - Reinstall the U-clip
Slide the U-clip back in from top to bottom and make sure both legs go all the way through. If the clip has a slight curve, insert it with the curve facing toward the back of the valve.
Push the U-clip fully back in. 
A curved clip faces toward the back of the valve. - Put the extension tube back
Slide the extension tube back onto the stem, facing the same way as before.
Reinstall the extension tube. - Test for leaks before closing up
Turn the water supply back on and rotate the stem through its full range, from cold to hot. On this valve, the 6 o'clock position is cold and the 9 o'clock position is the maximum temperature. Turn it off and check that the shower head no longer drips and that the valve body does not leak.
- Reinstall the cover plate
Put the rubber gasket behind the plate, set the plate against the wall and drive in the screws. Then run a fresh bead of silicone caulk around the plate.
- Put back the temperature limit stop
Reinstall the temperature limit stop and the handle mounting piece, then tighten the center screw.
The limit stop and handle mount go back on. - Reinstall the handle
Push the handle on and tighten its set screw with the Allen wrench. Make it snug so the handle does not come loose, but do not strip the screw.
Tighten the handle set screw.
Troubleshooting After the Repair
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Still drips | Wrong cartridge, or debris on the new seals | Check the cartridge model, flush the lines and reinstall |
| Hot and cold reversed | Cartridge installed upside down | Rotate it 180 degrees to match the old HC mark |
| Water not hot enough | Temperature limit stop set too low | Adjust the limit stop and test again |
| Cartridge will not come out | Mineral buildup holding it in the valve | Use a Moen cartridge puller instead of forcing it |
FAQs
Why does my Moen shower head keep dripping after I turn it off?
If it drips for a minute or two, that is usually just water draining from the arm and head. If it keeps dripping, the cartridge in the valve is worn and no longer shuts the water off completely.
Which cartridge does my Moen shower valve use?
It depends on the valve. Many single-handle Moen shower valves use the 1222 cartridge, while others use the 1225 or a different model. Check the valve model or take the old cartridge to the store.
Do I need to turn off the main water to replace a Moen shower cartridge?
Yes, unless the valve has its own integral stops. Shut off the water, then open the shower to release the pressure before you pull the cartridge.
Should I flush the lines before installing the new cartridge?
Yes. Debris and sediment in the pipes can damage a new cartridge, so briefly run the water through the open valve into a bucket before you install it.
What if the hot and cold are reversed after I replace the cartridge?
The cartridge was installed upside down. Take it out, rotate it 180 degrees so the HC mark is in the same position as on the old cartridge, and reinstall it.
A dripping Moen shower head is almost always a worn cartridge, and replacing it is a simple project for any homeowner with basic tools. Shut off the water, note the orientation of the old cartridge, flush the lines and test before you close up. If the head itself is old or clogged, our guide to the best shower heads for hard water can help you pick a new one.