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Kohler Cartridge Issue

Author: Rick Laser (CA)

We have a relatively new Kohler Roman tube faucet. No more than 6 months old. It has ceramic cartridges. Recently only when we run the water we see some water come out from under both the hot and cold faucet handle bodies right at the porcelain level. No water leaks from the spout or handles when the water is off. The amount of water leaking is small but we don't want the water to eat away at the top of the cartridge. That happened with an older faucet with a brass cartridge and the water rusted the top of the cartridge away to the point we had to replace the entire faucet. Can this problem be fixed by removing the cartridges and putting pipe dope or Teflon tape on the threads and then putting the cartridges back in? I don't want to fiddle with it unless that sounds like a promising undertaking. Thanks.

Re: Kohler Cartridge Issue
Author: dlh (TX) maybe but it is most likely either a loose packing/bonnet nut or a bad o-ring or possibly even the cartridge - - - - - - - PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"

Re: Kohler Cartridge Issue
Author: hj No way to tell, because the stem seals or the body seals could be leaking. A brass faucet does NOT "rust away" by being exposed to water.

Re: Kohler Cartridge Issue
Author: Wheelchair If the faucet brass base is old and worn, it could have developed tolerances in the base threads. Try a couple wraps of teflon tape and see if that makes a difference..... Best Wishes

Re: Kohler Cartridge Issue

Author: Rick Laser (CA)

We had a nice Harden Roman tub faucet for 21 years. We noticed water from under the faucet handle body for the cold water side during the past year and did nothing about it. Eventually a plumber came in, removed the faucet handle body, and what we saw was mostly reddish brown rust. He was afraid to touch it since it could fall apart and we replaced the entire faucet with the new Kohler (K-T12885-4-CP).

The water leaking is mostly a nuisance but we don't want another ball of rust cartridge that cannot be replaced. The cartridge in there now is ceramic with a silver top part. It does look like some rust is appearing at the faucet handle body/porcelain border again.

If the water only leaks when the valve is opened, then maybe the leak is above the threads level in the cartridge? The threads don't move when water is turned on. Just the top part does.

Thanks.

Re: Kohler Cartridge Issue
Author: waukeshaplumbing (WI) Call Kohler (1800 -4 kohler) and ask for 2 new cartridges and replace them....the o-ring that seals it is most likely part of the cartridge odd that both would leak at the same time though

Re: Kohler Cartridge Issue
Author: LemonPlumber (FL) The failure point is the cart stem o-rings.you should replace the carts!!!!You could pull the stems apart and lubricate and then teflon wrap the stem o-rings but the failure will re-occur.Please be sure your carts where hot/ cold installed correctly and not reversed stop installed.