moen 1222 cartridge failure

[cmanglin]

We have moen positemp shower hardware. The 1222 cartridge in this unit tends to "gum up" every few years. When that happens, it is no longer possible to adjust the water temp gradually, it's either real hot or real cold. In the past it has always worked to replace the 1222 cartridge to fix the issue. But this time replacing it doesn't work. Prior to this you could tell a new 1222 from an old because when you shook it, you heard an internal rattling noise which was apparently the internal piston moving before it became gummed up. Now the new 1222 "B" doesn't make that sound. When I called Moen about this they said the 1222B isn't supposed to make a rattling noise.

Does anyone know what's going on with the 1222 and what I can do to get our Moen positemp to work again?

Thx!

 

[TomFOhio]

Try flushing the faucet out with the cartridge out. There's no difference between the 1222 and 1222B cartridge. The
B stands for bulk. After flushing it out put a genuine Moen 1222 cartridge back in.

 

[cmanglin]

I tried flushing it out. Still doesn’t allow any fine adjustment of temperature.

over the last 10 years I’ve replaced the 1222 cartridge several times when it would lose capacity to fine tune heat. The replacment cartridges always had a piston type internal piece that would rattle if you shook the cartridge. None of the several I have tried this time make any sound when you shake them. And on a moen service call, they said the 1222s shouldn’t make that sound. It seems like the lack of movement internally is the root cause of our issue, but I can’t get anyone to confirm that or what to do about it. The cartridges I bought first at Home Depot this time I think did not have the B designation. can you help me with this dilemma?