Finding a Cartridge for a Discontinued Faucet
A discontinued faucet usually still has a replacement cartridge: a superseded part from the original maker, or an aftermarket equivalent. How to find it, why the replacement may not look the same, and what to do when nothing is made.
Updated
On this page
Short answer. A discontinued faucet almost always has a replacement cartridge. The original maker may still supply it under a newer, superseding part number. An aftermarket maker may produce an equivalent, especially for older lines and brands that no longer exist. The replacement may be a different color or stand a little taller and still be right. The hard part is identifying exactly which cartridge the old faucet takes.
Discontinued faucet, not discontinued part
When a manufacturer stops selling a faucet, it usually keeps supplying service parts for it, often for many years. Kohler, for example, publishes a faucet service parts catalog for exactly this purpose. Over time the original part number may be superseded: replaced by a newer number that fits the same valve.
The catch is that one faucet model can use different cartridges depending on when it was made. Moen notes this for some of its own cartridges. So the date matters as much as the model.
Where replacements come from
| Source | What it is | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Original maker, current number | The superseding part for that valve | That it covers your faucet’s production date |
| Aftermarket equivalent | A part made to fit the original valve | Fit, seal, stem tip and rotation match the old one |
| Distributor stock for gone brands | Stems and cartridges for brands no longer made | Same checks; often the only source |
| Made from a sample | For a few parts, a replacement built from your old one | Possible for some parts only |
Why the replacement may not look the same
This worries people and is usually fine.
- Color and material differ. Aftermarket and updated cartridges are often a different color or plastic from the original. Shape decides the fit, not color.
- The stem may stand a little taller. Exposed stem height is a tolerance item: the handle slides over it. Push the handle onto the new part before installing to check it seats.
- An extension or adapter may not come with it. If the old cartridge has an extension or adapter on the stem, it can usually be moved to the new one.
What has to match exactly: how the part fits the valve body, the seal at the bottom, the stem tip the handle grips, and the direction it turns off.
How to find it
- Find the model number if you can. See where is the model number on my faucet.
- Pull the cartridge and note its length, diameter, stem tip and which way it turns off.
- Check the maker’s current parts list for that model and production date.
- If the maker is gone or silent, identify the part from the cartridge itself. Photograph it next to the handle and a specialist identifies the replacement, including aftermarket equivalents for older and discontinued lines. If you can measure it, narrow it down in the CID Finder.
When nothing is made
- A replacement made from your sample is possible for some parts.
- A rebuild kit replaces all the working parts of an older two or three handle valve at once. Browse rebuild kits.
- Replacing the valve is the last resort, and on a shower it means opening the wall. Have the part identified first. What looks unavailable is often just unidentified.
Related guides
- Replace the cartridge or the whole faucet?
- Store-brand faucet cartridges
- How to identify a faucet cartridge
Common questions
Can I still get a cartridge for a discontinued faucet?
Usually, yes. Discontinued normally means the faucet is no longer sold, not that its cartridge disappeared. Manufacturers keep service parts for years, often under a newer part number, and aftermarket makers produce equivalents for older lines.
What does superseded mean?
The manufacturer replaced the old part number with a new one that fits the same valve. The replacement may look a little different, because the maker updated the design, but it is the part they now supply for that faucet.
The replacement is a different color from my old cartridge. Is it wrong?
Not necessarily. Aftermarket and updated cartridges are often a different color or material. What has to match is the body thread or fit, the bottom seal, the stem tip, and the direction it turns off.
The new stem sticks up a little higher than the old one. Is that a problem?
Usually not. Stem height above the bonnet varies between makers and the handle slides over it. Push the handle onto the new part before installing to check that it seats, which also keeps the part unused if it turns out to be wrong.
What if no replacement is made at all?
For some parts a replacement can be made using the old one as a sample. Otherwise, a rebuild kit or a valve replacement is the remaining route. Have the part identified before deciding, because what looks unavailable is often just unidentified.