How to Tighten A Loose Moen Single Handle Kitchen Faucet

Kitchen faucets are a vital element of our kitchen. Faucet problems are among the most common concerns you may encounter in the kitchen. How they begin is usually a puzzle. However, there are ways to fix the issue so that you can concentrate on what truly matters: cooking delicious meals.

With time, the Moen kitchen faucet might become loose and require maintenance. There is no need to be frustrated, as the issue may be resolved in minutes without the need to engage a plumber. This is an entirely do-it-yourself project for which you’ll save a few dollars.

First things first

• Switch off the water supply. Like any plumbing repair, the water is turned off for obvious reasons. Remember that there are two feeds: cold and warm.
• After shutting off the water supply, turn on the faucet. This will alleviate any lingering pressure and drain the faucet.
• Cover the drain of the sink. There is at least one minor component to the faucet that must not go down the drain. A dishcloth or hand towel will suffice. Now that these safeguards have been taken, let’s examine the faucet handle itself.

Tools Required

A pocketknife. There is a little cap that must be removed in order to have access to the nut that secures the sink handle to the gear mechanism. This is the little portion that should not be flushed down the drain, hence the advice to cover the drain hole.

An Allen wrench. This will go into the opening that the aforementioned tiny cap covered. We will discuss this more in a bit.

Step 1: Clear the sink

Clearing any object on the sink is the initial step that ensures that there will be no restrictions. Any material on the sink will prevent you from having a smooth operation. Make sure your sink is clean and there is no debris left.

The next step is to disconnect the water supply valves for your kitchen. Ensure that there are no drips from the supply source for smooth operation. To check if there is any water supply, turn on the faucet handle; once you notice that no water is flowing, turn it off.

Step 3: Inspect the kitchen faucet’s handle

Make sure you check the moen kitchen faucet’s mechanism and understand it well before tampering with it. This is an important step as it will determine how you will handle the problem at hand. You might find two things on the moen kitchen faucet a screw or hex nut at the entrance point of the faucet handle. On the top of the handle, you will see a cap.

Step 4: Remove the Hex Nut of the Handle

Find the little cap mentioned previously. It will be the point where the handle contacts the gear cover. Depending on how near the faucet is to a wall, it is tiny and not always simple to reach. After locating the cap, remove it with your utility knife. Place it in a secure location where you will not lose it.

Your moen kitchen faucet may either be having a screw or hex nut on its handle. Unscrew the hex nut gently and smoothly to avoid damaging the handle. It does not need a lot of time; in a few seconds, you will be done.

Step 5: Look For the Setscrew Hidden In the Cap

This is a very important trickiest step in this whole process. Sometimes it is not easy to see the setscrew, which is normally located under the cap. However, note that not all tools are able to reach the setscrew under the handle’s cap.

An Allen wrench is a tool that can reach most of the faucet’s corners, making the work easier. The Allen wrenched sized 3/32 is the best size to install the handle scree since it can reach most equipment’s tough corners.

Pick the right size of the Allen wrench and use it in fitting the handle screw. If you can’t find the screw by applying it straightforwardly, enter it at a slight angle direction.

Step 6: Tighten the Setscrew of The Faucet Handle

Once you are through with the trickiest part of locating the hidden setscrew, the rest of the process is easy to handle. After you find it, hold the screw using the basin wrench, and then tighten it by twisting in a clockwise direction.

Apply medium pressure to tighten the setscrew firmly. Since you might want to open the handle at some point, ensure you don’t tighten it too firmly.

Step 7: Connect the Water Supply Valves

Once you are through tightening the faucet’s handle, you have to check if the handle is tight enough. To do this, reconnect the kitchen faucet’s water supply valves, and then turn it on to let water flow. Determine the tightness of the handle while turning the faucet on. You must also ensure that the water is flowing smoothly.

If the faucet’s water smoothness and tightness are good, you are through with the work. If it’s the opposite, go on tightening the setscrew of the handle to be more firm.

Tips

• Use a flashlight during the process to help you see clearly.
• Wear gloves to keep your hands safe from any accident.
• If possible, have someone to help you during the process.
• Choose the correct size of the Allen wrench when locating the hidden setscrew.

diy videos on How To Tighten a Loose Moen Kitchen Faucet

As with the most of today’s do-it-yourself handyman projects, there are countless YouTube videos with straightforward how-to instructions that you may view. If you like to learn visually rather than by reading, we’ve identified a few for you:

 

Re-Assembling the Moen Kitchen Faucet

You already know how to disassemble the faucet, so simply reverse the procedure.

Reattach the cover to the gearbox. Righty tighty gets the job done. Make the tip of the shaft point downward. This will make it simple to reattach the handle. Replace the handle on the shaft, ensuring that the hole that provides access to the hex nut is accessible.

Put the wrench into hole until the hex nut becomes engaged. It should just need a few turns to tighten. Again, the orientation for this rotation is clockwise. Replace the hole’s coverplate. Your index and middle fingers will suffice to complete this task.

You have previously verified that the handle is no longer slack; there is no wiggle. You have ensured that the mechanism is not overly tight, therefore turning the water mains on and off should now be simple and effortless.