While it may not be difficult to do it yourself but without the experience and know-how, it will always be tricky if you don’t know how to replace cartridges in Price Pfister 2 handle kitchen faucet.
This is even scarier when you have to deal with such stuff and you are a complete newbie. You don’t want to end up messing.
The best part is that even a first-timer will easily pull through the job with the right guidance.
Faulty 2-Handle Kitchen Faucet?
A 2-handle kitchen faucet usually brings onboard hot and cold water, with each handle bearing the different extreme temperatures.
With the Price Pfister 2-handle faucets, each handle features a cartridge on its own.
How do you know which cartridge is damaged? Just feel the water that runs from the Faucet because it is almost obvious that only one of the cartridges is faulty.
If the water is colder, the handle’s cartridge with hot water is faulty, and vice versa.
Nevertheless, if you doubt that both cartridges are faulty, it wouldn’t harm to confirm and correct the condition.
Replacing Cartridge in Price Pfister 2-handle Kitchen Faucet
Let’s get on to the basics of replacing the Price Pfister 2-Handle Kitchen faucet’s cartridge. Essentially, you will need the following;
- A Phillips screwdriver
- pliers
- An Allen wrench
- Plumbers’ grease
You will be needing these tools whenever you attempt to repair Price Pfister kitchen faucets. Now we will go through the simplified steps involved in the cartridge replacement;
- Clear Your Working Space
The first step is to ensure that your working space is favorable for the task. Fundamentally, ensure that you have all the tools with you before you start on the work.
Then, clear away everything that is in the sink or around the sink. I mean, it is a kitchen sink, so there are bound to be several stuff lying around it.
Next, turn off the water to ensure a convenient working space. You can actually shut off the water from the main house water supply to ensure that not even droplets will deter your functioning.
- Unscrew The Handle from the Faulty Faucet
Check where the screws of the faucet handle are positioned. If you cannot locate the screws, then it means that your Faucet has them covered.
Look for a cap covering, which is most often plastic in the material. Remove the cap from the Faucet to get to the screws.
Using the Phillips screwdriver, unscrew the screws, turning the screwdriver anticlockwise until the screws are loose. Then, remove the screws with your fingers until they are off the handle.
Once the screws are off the handle, the faucet handle will be so loose that you can pull it off the Faucet. You don’t even need much force or pressure to pull the handle.
- Unscrew the nut on the Faucet
Underneath the handle lies another block to the cartridge, which is known as the retaining nut. Using the pliers, loosen the nut, turning the pliers anticlockwise until the nut is loose enough.
Then, You can use your fingers to rotate it faster until you pull it out.
Please keep it safe with the rest of the faucet accessories in case you need it with your new cartridge.
- Already On the Cartridge?
When you remove the nut, you will now face the Price Pfister faucet cartridge.
Ensure that you have a closer look at how it is installed, given that both sides will almost resemble each other.
Taking note of this will help you have an easier time during the installation of the new cartridge.
After that, you can remove the cartridge by pulling it up. If it is difficult to remove by hand, you can use the pliers to pull it up more easily.
- The New Replacement Cartridge Installation
If you don’t already have the new cartridge or are new to your type of cartridge, you can take a photo of the cartridge. Send the photo to your supplier, because there are different models.
This way, you can get an exact compatible cartridge for your faucet handle.
The new cartridge could have its retaining nut, but if it doesn’t have one, remember that you can always use the one from your former cartridge.
If it’s still in good condition, make use of it rather than purchase a new one.
So, put the retaining nut on the new cartridge before installing the cartridge, though you can also tighten it while the cartridge is on the Faucet.
Then, apply the plumber’s grease on the cartridge’s outer side, all around the o-rings. Don’t use too much as this will lead to wastage, and you only need to smoothen the cartridge o-rings.
Check the basics of the Faucet’s orientation and outlook, then insert it on the Faucet in the same way as the first one was. Once it’s well-set, you can push it until it’s set in position as it should.
- Finishing Off the Installation
Finally, you can tighten the retaining nut on the cartridge, though you should be careful not to overdo the tightening.
Put back the faucet handle, and put each screw in its place. Tighten the screws together with your fingers to ensure balance before embarking on the Phillips screwdriver.
Then, tighten the screws on the handle for a secure fit.
If the screws were protected with a cap or a panel, you could put it back to get the faucet handle’s former look.
- Get on to the Next Handle Cartridge
What if both handles had a cartridge problem? Then it would help if you fixed both so that you sort the problem once and for all.
So, get on to the next handle, and work on the cartridge changing in the same process as the first.
- Confirm Your Success
Once you are done with the cartridge replacement, put on the water supply to see whether your task was successful. Use both handles to see if the water temperature is back to normal.
Why Does the Faucet Leak after Replacing Cartridge?
There are several reasons why your Faucet may still leak even after replacing the cartridge. These include;
- The cartridge’s seat may be cracked, broken, or worn out, which means that the cartridge does not fit appropriately. Therefore, the water will still find a way out, even if it drops, causing the leakage.
- The o-rings could be broken, so you need to check that the cartridge itself is in good condition, even if it is new.
- Check that you installed the cartridge correctly because a simple mistake could lead to the cartridge’s inefficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Right at the bottom of the cartridge opening, there is a brass or ceramic seat to form a seal. Just with regular use, this seat can be damaged. Besides, the O-ring also can be cracked and cause leaks.
You are having difficulty maintaining the water temperature, dripping water from the sprout, inadequately heated water are some signs of a bad faucet cartridge.
Sometimes, the water keeps dripping from the sprout even after fixing the spring and seats. This is when you need to replace the cartridge.
The rubber washer is the most frequent failure part in a typical faucet. When the rubber washers wear out, you will see leaks under the handle or knobs and around the faucet base.
The O ring will wear out and cause a leak. But this is just one of the so many upcoming bad things!
In a Nutshell
How to replace a cartridge in Price Pfister 2-handle kitchen faucet? It is no longer as challenging as you probably thought it to be, right?
Now you can get on to the task yourself, at least if you have gathered the confidence already! I bet you must be dying to do it yourself at last!
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