How to Find the Right Replacement Cartridge for Your Faucet

TL;DR: Most faucet drips come down to a worn cartridge, not the whole faucet, and replacements run $8 to $25 depending on the brand. To find the right one, check the faucet manufacturer's name (often stamped on the spout or under the handle), pull the old cartridge, and match it by model number rather than by guessing from a photo.

_Last reviewed: July 2026 · 6 min read_

A dripping faucet that keeps you up at night usually isn't broken beyond repair, it's just wearing out a $15 part. The hard part isn't the wrench work, it's figuring out which cartridge actually fits your faucet before you order the wrong one twice.

Okoniq Property Hub helps you log which cartridge model fits each faucet in a property, so the next repair takes five minutes instead of an hour of searching.

How do you know it's the cartridge and not the whole faucet?

If your faucet drips from the spout when it's fully off, or the handle feels loose or hard to turn, the cartridge is almost always the culprit. Cartridges control water flow and temperature mixing inside single-handle faucets, and they wear out from mineral buildup and rubber seal fatigue, typically after 7 to 10 years of daily use in homes with moderate water hardness.

A single dripping faucet at one drip per second wastes roughly 3,000 gallons a year, according to EPA estimates, which adds real dollars to a water bill over time. If the leak is instead coming from under the sink or around the drain, that's a different repair path. Check out clogged drain: when to snake it yourself and when to call a plumber if the issue is slow drainage rather than a drip.

Where do you find your faucet's brand and model number?

Look on the underside of the spout, on the base plate near the handle, or in the box or paperwork if you kept it from installation. Moen, Delta, Kohler, and American Standard cover roughly 70% of residential faucets in the US, and each uses its own cartridge numbering system, so brand identification is the single most important step.

If the stamp is worn off, pull the handle and take a photo of the cartridge itself, including the notches, the length, and any printed numbers on the stem. Bring the actual old cartridge to the hardware store or use it to search online rather than relying on a picture of the faucet from the outside, since many single-handle faucets look nearly identical but use completely different internal parts.

What are the common cartridge types by brand?

Once you know the brand, matching the exact cartridge is straightforward because each maker uses a small handful of standard part numbers across most of their product lines.

| Brand | Common Cartridge | Typical Price | |---|---|---| | Moen | 1225 (2-handle) or 1255 (1-handle) | $10–$20 | | Delta | RP19804 or RP4993 | $12–$25 | | Kohler | GP500520 or GP77748 | $15–$22 | | American Standard | 990580-0070A | $10–$18 |

Bathroom and kitchen faucets from the same brand sometimes share a cartridge family, but not always, so match the exact number rather than assuming "Moen" alone is enough. If your faucet is decades old and the manufacturer no longer sells parts, a universal cartridge kit can work as a stopgap, though fit and longevity are less consistent than an OEM part.

How do you replace the cartridge once you have the right one?

Shut off the water supply valves under the sink first, then remove the handle (usually one hidden screw under a cap), pull off the retaining clip or nut, and slide the old cartridge straight out. Most cartridges pull out with steady, even pressure and a pair of pliers if it's stuck from mineral deposits, no special tools required beyond a screwdriver and adjustable wrench.

Coat the new cartridge's O-rings lightly with plumber's grease before inserting it, seat it fully, and reverse the steps to reassemble. Turn the water back on slowly and run the faucet for a minute to clear any air or debris before checking for leaks at the base. If you're also dealing with grout or caulk issues around the sink from long-term moisture, bathroom tile regrouting DIY covers the six steps to stop that water damage from spreading further.

What if the leak keeps coming back after a new cartridge?

A repeat leak after a cartridge swap usually means either the wrong cartridge was installed or the supply valves or connections have their own wear. Check that the cartridge's orientation notches line up correctly, since installing it backward causes hot and cold water to mix even when everything else is correct.

If water is pooling under the sink rather than at the faucet head, the problem may be further down the line. Older homes with original drain pipes sometimes have separate corrosion issues worth checking, covered in cast iron drain pipe replacement, which explains how to spot rust before it becomes a bigger repair.

FAQ

How long does a faucet cartridge usually last?

Most cartridges last 7 to 10 years under normal residential use, though hard water with high mineral content can shorten that to 4 to 5 years.

Can I use a universal cartridge instead of the exact brand match?

Universal kits work as a temporary fix, especially for discontinued faucets, but they fit less precisely and may not last as long as an OEM cartridge matched to your model number.

Do I need to shut off water to the whole house to replace a cartridge?

No, the two shutoff valves under the sink for hot and cold supply are usually enough; whole-house shutoff is only needed if those valves are missing or seized.

Why does my faucet still drip after installing a new cartridge?

The most common causes are an incorrect cartridge model, a cartridge installed backward, or worn O-rings that weren't replaced along with the cartridge itself.

How much does a plumber charge just to replace a cartridge?

Expect $75 to $150 for a service call plus parts if you hire a plumber, compared to $8 to $25 in parts if you do the swap yourself, since the labor typically takes under 30 minutes.

This is educational information, not plumbing advice. Call a licensed plumber if you're unsure about shutting off supply valves or if the leak persists after replacing the cartridge.