When you use brands like Price Pfister, the chances are that they will be double handle faucets. These double handle faucets have a separate cartridge for hot and cold water.
When you use your faucet for a long time, the chances are that it will get loose over time. The loosened faucet will start leaking or dripping, so you need to replace the cartridge to solve this problem.
In this article, we explained the steps in a simple way so that any beginner can easily replace the cartridge in Price Pfister 2 handle kitchen faucet.
Just follow the step-by-step process and you will easily replace the cartridge on your own.
So, let’s begin the work
Tools required for replacing the cartridge
To replace the cartridge in Price Pfister 2 handle kitchen faucet you need essential tools. These are the following tools that you need for the task.
- Phillips screwdriver
- Flathead screwdriver
- Allen wrench
- Pliers
- Plumber’s grease
These are the tools you need whenever you repair the Price Pfister kitchen faucet. Now we will go through the step by step guide to replace the cartridge.
How To Replace Cartridge In a 2 Handle Kitchen Faucet
1. Clear Your Working Area
The first step is to make sure that your working area is clear so that you can easily work around the sink. The sink is a busy area in the kitchen and there are many kinds of stuff lying around the sink.
So clear away everything that’s lying around the sink. Because you don’t want any obstacle that makes your work difficult.
2. Turn Off The Water Supply Lines
Now turn off the water supply lines before you start the work. There are two water supply lines for hot and cold water. You will find these supply lines under the kitchen sink.
Go under the sink and close the shutoff valve by turning them in a clockwise direction. If you don’t have water supply lines under the sink then turn off the main water supply lines of your house.
Once you turned them off, now turn on the faucet handle to release any kind of water or air pressure left inside the pipe and let the faucet handle open for 2 min to drain the water properly.
3. Unscrew and Remove The Faucet Handle
To remove the faucet handle you have to find the screws. Firstly you have to examine the faucet handle that how it is installed.
Usually, most of the handles have set screws on the side or on the rear of the faucet handle.
If you can’t locate the screws then you can find them under the decorative cap. These caps are made up of plastic material. If your faucet has a decorative cap, pry off the cap with a flathead screwdriver or use your fingernail.
After removing the cap, remove the handle screw with a Philips screwdriver.
Turn the screwdriver in an anticlockwise direction until the screw is loose enough. If your faucet has setscrew then remove the setscrew with an Allen wrench.
Once you remove the screws from the handle, the faucet handle will be loose and you can easily pull the handle straight up.
4. Remove The Nut
After removing the faucet handle, you need to remove the nut. This nut is basically called a cartridge retaining nut.
Use pliers to remove the cartridge retaining nut. Turn the pliers anticlockwise until the nut is loose enough.
Then you can use your hand to rotate the nut faster. While removing the nut Make sure that you keep the rest of the faucet accessories at the safe place in case you need it with your new cartridge.
5. Remove The Cartridge
Now you need to remove the cartridge. When you are removing your old cartridge, you must note the orientation of the cartridge, you have to install the new cartridge in the same way.
Most cartridges are set with two tabs and some of them have one also. This tab fits into the notches on the faucet body. Pull the cartridge in the upward direction to remove it from the faucet body.
You can easily remove it with your hand. But if your cartridge is stuck in the faucet body and it’s difficult to remove by hand. You can use pliers to pull it up easily.
6. Get The new Cartridge
Buy a new cartridge that you want to install. You should bring your old cartridge to the home improvement store or hardware store so that you can easily find the exact replacement.
When you buy a cartridge, you will get new o-rings included in the cartridge. Also, make sure to buy plumber grease for the o- rings. It will be used for coating the o-rings.
7. Install The New Cartridge
Now you have to install your new cartridge to your Price Pfister 2 handle kitchen faucet. Before installing the cartridge make sure that you coat the o rings with plumber grease.
Apply some plumber grease all around the cartridge because it will help you to insert the cartridge easily. Once you are done with coating, now you can install the cartridge.
Remember the orientation of the cartridge, you have to insert it in the same way as the first one was. Push the cartridge a little bit and Make sure that it is properly fitted with the notches on the faucet body.
8. Complete The Installation
After installing the cartridge, put back the retaining nut on the cartridge. Now carefully tighten the retaining nut with pliers. Do not over-tighten the nut.
Put back the faucet handle and set screws in its place. Tighten the setscrew to secure the faucet handle, you can use an Allen wrench or any wrench to tighten the screw.
If you have a decorative cap then put back the cap on the faucet handle.
If both handles had a cartridge problem then you have to follow the same process for the other handle.
9. Check The Work
Once you are done with the installation, now it’s to time check your work. Turn on the shutoff valve of the water supply lines.
After that turn on the faucet handle to see whether the faucet is working properly. Check both handles of the faucet and if they are working properly then your job is done.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I replace the faucet cartridge?
When you observe that water is constantly leaking from the spout or handle, facing difficulty in turning the faucet handle, water dripping when the handles are in the off position, or inconsistency in temperature control. If you are facing any of these problems then you should replace the cartridge.
How do I know which side is defective?
It is very easy to check which side of the faucet is leaking. Let the dripping water, fall on your hand. If the water is hot then you have to change the cartridge on the hot side, if the water is cold then you have to change the cartridge on the cold side.
What are the reasons that my faucet cartridge is leaking?
You will notice that at the bottom of the cartridge opening, there is a ceramic or brass seat that helps to form a seal. As we use faucet regularly due to this the seat can be damaged and water starts leaking. The major reason can be o-rings, maybe the o-rings are cracked and cause a leak.
How do I know that the cartridge is defective?
You will face low water pressure in your kitchen faucet, water constantly dripping from the spout, and facing difficulty in adjusting the water temperature. These are the signs of a defective cartridge.
Final Thoughts
Now you had learned how to replace a cartridge in Price Pfister 2 handle kitchen faucet. But believe me, once you will do it on your own then your confidence will be at the next level.
The task is very simple and you don’t need to pay your hard-earned money to a plumber.
You have to just follow the step-by-step process and the task will be completed within an hour. If you are an active person and more into DIY activities then you will find most of the tools in your home.
In this article, we covered how to remove and replace a cartridge in Price Pfister 2 handle kitchen faucet.
So if you are facing a problem with your cartridge then just follow the steps mentioned above and your problem will be solved.