Review on Moen Commercial Heavy Duty Shower Only Replacement by Bohyun Hansen

This brass version doesn't fit. I had to run to Home Depot at the last minute for a standard plastic cartridge to fit. Since purchasing I have also learned the following: 1) Plastic cartridges are often better for home use because mineral deposits will build up and bind the brass cartridge to the valve body, requiring special tools and significantly more force to remove. Minerals do not stick to the plastic cartridge, so it can be removed with traditional sewer locks. 2) Rubber pads will almost certainly wear out before a plastic case in normal home use. Since the brass version and plastic version use the same seals, changing to brass does not increase the time between valve openings. The cartridge is almost impossible to remove. If this happens with a plastic cartridge, a screw can be drilled into the plastic housing that can be gripped with a tool. 4) The key to minimizing repair frequency is using the right type of lubricant. I have found that Home Depot sells "silicone" grease which is not actually safe for these pads. Because of this, my previous cartridge failed in less than 4 years. For normal home use I would recommend replacing it with a standard 1222 plastic cartridge and just using the lube that comes with it.