Anyone else having Moen probs?
Last week I installed a Moen Lav. faucet.
Yesterday I got a call from the property manager that the faucet was dripping and the tenants could not shut it off. This is the third time in the last few months this has happened with Moen.
I called the help line. Left a message and nobody called back, so I called at 6:30 this morning (Pacific).
Here is what I was told.
(excerpt) “This can happen if there is some soldering debris and it gets caught in the cartridge. (I did not solder anything)
“It also happens when there is too much grease in the cartridge. Plumbers just take the faucet apart, clean the cartridge, and then it’s fine. I’ll send you a new cartridge”.
I may be a little simple, but if I buy a brand new item and it malfunctions, and it does it over different models and over time, maybe it’s time for a redesign. What really makes me angry, is that they mail me the part (a week) instead of expressing it, then I have to make room on my schedule, make the trip and do the labour. For their design problem. At my cost, which is a lot more than the stupid cartridge.
I have never had this issue with Delta, or even Price-Phister! Bah!
I’m buying Delta after this.
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada
Replies
I put (plymber installed) a Moen shower valve in our old house and before I pulled the cartridge out and cleaned it I was only getting hot water. Called my plumber about it and he told me the procedure for pulling and cleaning the cartridge. Seemed like he'd done it a time or two before.
We install Moens almost exclusively unless the client has something pre selected. In 7 years of installing around 30-50 a year we have had 3 the dripped when they were first turned on and 2 call backs.
Even if you didn't solder anything you can easily knock some debri, pipe dope or thread tape loose and cause it to drip. We usually just change the cartridge which takes 5 minutes and it has always worked.
Delta, on their lesser priced units have top seal issues and we have had a leak issue with about a third of the ones we install. I think PF are a pain to install and a little on the cheap side although we do install them once in while.
So in short we have had good success with Moen and are going to continue using them but I will keep an eye on it and post if we do see an issue. DanT
My complaint about moen is the cheap popups. The lever rusts off and it seems impossible to get a replacement which will last. The ones you can get are expensive and again will rust off. Also the parts seem much higher in price than competitors.
Doesn't Moen only have plastic cartridges these days? No more ceramic?
I think that I heard Delta bought out Moen after old man Moen died. Moen has stood behind their lifetime guarantee for me except that they quit making the sand color pullout parts for my faucet so now it is white.
I agree with the PF comment. Moen invented the single lever cartridge system and I've had good luck with them and worse luck with the other brands.
"I think that I heard Delta bought out Moen after old man Moen died."No, the company that ownes Moen also makes Makers Mark and FootJoy.http://www.fortunebrands.com/The company that ownes Delta also makes knockdown furniture, radiators, and installs fireplaces.http://www.masco.com/
I went through too many moen lav faucets about two years ago, I've no been back to them since.
In my case it was the joints where the supply pipes conncected to the valve body. There is just not way to not move them around during installation, and that seems to break the factory solder seal. All of which seems to be "ok" for about 1-2 days, and then you're back, underneath a "finished" sink for free, fixing a factory defect they will not acknowledge.
The kitchen faucets don't seem to be quite so finicky, but, I know I go over them in much greater detail looking for problems than with other brands.
Let me preface my comments by saying that I am not a pro. I've gotten that "wipe the grease off" comment from Moen. My parents did a gut and remodel on their kitchen and had a problem with the Moen kitchen faucet. The water would come out just fine at the wide open setting but the water wouldn't come out at anything less without the faucet turning itself off. Called Moen and got the "grease" story. They offered to send me some washer kit that required taking the faucet apart. But wat about that excess grease? They sais don't worry about the grease, the problem will be solved if you install the washer kit. Okay so I put the washer kit in and that took care of the problem, but what a pain in the #### for someone who would have to call a plumber to have the repair done. Oh yeah, Moen made no offer to cover a plumbers service call. A few months later my parents do a complete remodel on a resort property they own 2000 miles away in Colorado. The Moen was choosen for aesthtic reasons at their full time home so it was speced for the Colorado place too. A few months later I am on a fishing trip in Colorado and stop by to see how the kitchen came out. Everything looks great and I turn on the faucet, great wide open, anything less it turns itself off. So I call Moen and they give me the "grease" BS again. They tell me that, according to their records, I have already received a washer service kit and I would have to pay for a second kit. I told them this is the second faucet I have with this problem. Asked them to overnight the washer kit so I could take care of the problem for my parents before I went home. They piss and moan about the overnight charge but refuse to pay for the plumber to come out. Finally they agree to send the kit overnight I install it in a second, because I've had practice. They obviously have problems and are looking to take care of those problems as cheaply as possible. Who wants to issue a recall on a faucet, that could get expensive. To be fair, both faucets have worked fine since.
Third one in a few months... What was the problem with the first 2?
DrippingQuality repairs for your home.
AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada
The few cartridge problems I've had with Moen (one old, one new) were resolved by walking into Home Depot and getting a new one free, on the spot. Lifetime warranty.
Regards,
Tim Ruttan