Moen 1222 cartridge - plastic or brass shell?

[JerryR]

I just swapped out a Moen 1222 positemp shower cartridge at my daughter's 10 year old house. The OEM Moen branded valve was standard plastic shell.

I see that Moen sells a commercial version 1222HD which is brass shell. Is there a benefit or using one or the other?

JR

 

[Terry]

Since the moving part is brass anyway, sliding through rubber seals, I don't think so.

New Moen 1222, found in a 2021 Posi-Temp valve.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Asktom]

I agree with Terry but will add that the brass shell would be more apt to get corroded in place just as the 1200 cartridge is prone to do.

 

[hj]

The plastic ones can be hard enough to extract, I would not want to fight a corroded brass one to remove it.

 

[JerryR]

The plastic ones can be hard enough to extract, I would not want to fight a corroded brass one to remove it.

This was the 2nd Positemp cartridge I have replaced. Both lasted about 10 years. Without the special Moen tool I would not have been able to get the old ones out. The one today had one of the rubber seals folded over and it took pre-lube and lots of heavy pulling and twisting to extract it.

I can see how a corroded brass one would have been worse.

Thanks for the advice, I'll continue to use the OEM, Moen brand, plastic ones.