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Removing the Cartridge — Remove the Old Cartridge

Beginner2 hours

Part of project

Shower Valve Cartridge Replacement: A Step-by-Step DIY Guide · Step 5 of 8

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In this video

The screws holding the cartridge are removed, and the old cartridge is pulled out. The presenter recommends looking up the correct replacement cartridge online or at a hardware store if you are unsure.

Goal: Remove the old cartridge.

Used in this video

  • Screwdriver (brand: Unbranded, Screwdriver Head Type: Phillips, Screwdriver Handle Material: Plastic, Screwdriver Tip Size: #2) · optionalRemoving the cartridge screws.
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This Old House

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FAQs

Is replacing a shower valve cartridge a genuinely beginner-friendly DIY, and how long should I expect it to take?

Yes, it is considered a beginner-friendly project, primarily involving basic removal and reinstallation steps. While the estimated time is 2 hours, allow for extra time, especially if you encounter stubborn or corroded parts.

What specific tools and materials are essential for this shower cartridge replacement project?

You will need screwdrivers (multi-bit is useful), pliers, and the new shower valve cartridge itself. Don't forget plumber's grease to lubricate the O-rings on the new cartridge for a proper seal and easier installation.

What if I encounter difficulty removing the old cartridge or its retaining clip/nut?

For older fixtures, parts can be corroded. Apply penetrating oil and let it soak, then use sturdy pliers to gently wiggle and pull the cartridge out. Ensure you are using the correct type and size of pliers for the retaining clip or nut to prevent stripping or damage.

What is the most critical safety step I need to take before starting this project?

The most crucial step is to completely shut off the water supply to your shower, or ideally, to your entire home, before you begin any disassembly. Failure to do so can result in significant water damage and flooding.

Transcript
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point hooray give yourself a pat on the back because you got the handle off and the next part of this job is pretty easy you're just going to start removing everything and getting the old cartridge out and the new cartridge in if you don't have the cartridge or you don't know which one you want you can look them up online or you can take them to the hardware store to figure out which one it is manufacturer of this one was Kohler but all manufacturers of these things have a very similar process you can go to their website you could call their customer service you can email them pictures and they will even sometimes send you the parts for free now once the exterior trim of the fixture is off inside of some fixtures like mine you'll have integral shut off valves which you can turn off the water to service the inner workings of the cartridge but if you don't have these you'll need to shut off the whole house and drain the water down I'll do a video on how to locate your main water shut off and how to drain down your house at some point in the future let me know in the comments if you need that right away and I'll get on it I do have integral shutoff valves make sure you use a big flat head to get them started because you don't want to strip these out either it can be quite challenging to replace and annoying to find the part as well it'd have to switch over to a smaller flathead screwdriver to get the valve to go in all the way but that's totally fine because the majority of the force was spent on getting the screw started to turn now you want to spin the valve with your hand to make sure that there's no water coming out of it before you start removing the cartridge heading on the manufacturer you may have some screws that secure the cartridge or there may be a ring if you have that it's likely a Delta and I've done some videos on that as well those kind you can get like a pair of pliers or channel locks and you can get it started like that and then screw it off by hand but on this one I'm using my electric screwdriver which I absolutely love these things if you don't have one yet be sure to check the link down below I'll have all the tools and parts that needed to fix this thing listed below after the screws or the ring that is securing the cartridge are out of the way there'll be a little bit of water I like to tuck my and under here to try to guide that water out from behind the wall it's okay if a little bit gets back there but you don't want all this to…

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