How to Tighten a Loose Moen Single Handle Kitchen Faucet Base

August 12, 2020 - DIY Plumbing

How to Tighten a Loose Moen Single Handle Kitchen Faucet Base

Are you looking for the best way to tighten a loose Moen single handle kitchen faucet base?

Then you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few ways to tighten a loose Moen single handle kitchen faucet base and we’ll also show you how to tighten a loose Moen single handle kitchen faucet handle if you need to do that as well.

How to Tighten Kitchen Faucet Bases and Much, Much More

If you haven’t visited the website before, welcome! Video Chat a Pro is a live streaming platform that connects people doing any at-home repairs or DIY projects with licensed tradesmen through their smartphones. The licensed tradesmen can then see your project or situation and give you advice and guidance that is specific to your situation and the tools you have available in real-time right from your smartphone without having to install any apps or download any programs. If you’re struggling with a project, check out our Livestream DIY Video Chat feature.


To help people with their at-home repairs, installations, and DIY projects, Video Chat a Pro recently launched our very own resource section called How to DIY with Video Chat a Pro. The resource section will be filled with How-Tos like the one you’re reading now, so after we fix that loose Moen single handle kitchen faucet base, check it out for more How-Tos and useful tips.

Tightening a Loose Moen Single Handle Kitchen Faucet Base in 6 Easy Steps

Step 1: Gather all the necessary tools. You’ll need:

  • A flashlight (or your smartphone)

  • An adjustable wrench and a basin wrench or needle nose vice grips

  • A small knife

  • 3/32 inch Allen wrench

  • Recommended: Gloves

 

Step 2: Block or Clog the Basin

Before getting started, you’ll want to stop up the drain to make sure that no debris or pieces of anything fall out while you’re tightening your loose Moen kitchen faucet base. Use your drain cover if you have one. 

 

Step 3: Turning off the Water

Before you start unscrewing anything, you’ll want to turn off your water first, otherwise, you might get soaked pretty quick. For a Moen single handle faucet base, you’ll want to find the hot water valve and the cold water valve. It might be dark under there so you’ll probably want to keep your flashlight handy. Once you find them, you can turn off the water by twisting them counter-clockwise a few times. Don’t worry about tightening them completely.

 

Step 4: ‘Run’ the Water

Next, you’ll want to ‘run’ the water by opening the handle of your faucet to release any remaining pressure in the water lines.

 

Step 5: Moving the Water Supply Lines

With your adjustable wrench and your flashlight, you’ll want to locate the inlet and the water supply lines. You can use the adjustable wrench to pry off the water lines by twisting in a counter-clockwise motion.

 

Step 6: Let’s Tighten that Loose Moen Single Handle Kitchen Faucet Base

With the water supply lines out of the way, you can use the basin wrench to tighten any of the loose nuts that are responsible for attaching the faucet to the base. Then all you have to do is replace the water supply lines and make sure everything works!

 

Tightening a Loose Moen Single Handle Kitchen Faucet Handle

Is the handle on your Moen Single Handle Kitchen Faucet also a little loose? We can help with that too. 

 

Step 1: Getting Started 

Clear everything out of the sink before you begin and then get your flashlight out. Just like when fixing the Moen single handle kitchen faucet base, you’ll want to turn off the water supply lines (see Step 3).

Step 2: Determining Your Moen Handle Type

There are two main types of Moen Single Handle Kitchen Faucet handle. One will have a setscrew at the end of the base with a recessed hex. The other has a removable, decorative cap on the top.

Step 3: Removing the Cap

If your Moen single-handled kitchen faucet is the later model with the decorative cap, you’ll just need a screwdriver and possibly a pair of pliers to remove it. If it doesn’t, just skip this step.

Step 4: Tightening the Set Screw

Next, you’ll just have to find the right-sized hex head wrench (usually a 3/32 inch Allen wrench) and tighten the setscrew in a clockwise direction. Then you just have to reattach the water supply lines and test out your new tightened kitchen faucet handle.

 

Video: How to Tighten a Loose Moen Single Handle Kitchen Faucet Handle

In case reading these instructions didn’t help and you need a little more help removing the cap or finding the screw with the Allen wrench, here’s a video of the process you can view on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKcB9DJ8J2Q

 

Questions People Also Ask About Tightening a Loose Moen Single Handle Kitchen Faucet Base


Now that you’ve fixed your loose Moen kitchen faucet handle or base, or maybe both, it’s definitely possible that you’re feeling invigorated and ready to tackle some more projects around the house. We all know a loose faucet or faucet base can be a bit of an annoyance, in this question and answer set, we’ll look at how to stop the wiggling.

 

How do I stop my faucet from moving?

“First locate the mounting and loosen the hex nut that holds the clamp to the bottom of the countertop. Put the thread locker on the shaft where the nut and clamp will stop when tight to the countertop then with the faucet base in place tighten the nut to hold the faucet base where you want it, then caulk it to keep in place.”

 

Source: https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-fix-the-base-of-a-kitchen-faucet-that-moves-because-it-was-not-installed-properly-Do-I-use-caulk-plumbers-putty-or-stabilize-it-some-other-way-See-picture-in-description-I-intentionally-moved-it-out-of

 

Next, you might be wondering what to do if you have the opposite problem. If your kitchen handle faucet is too stiff, you may want to try adding some lubricant. So in this question and answer set, we’ll look at how to get that done.

 

How do you lubricate a single-handle faucet?

“Remove a swivel-type faucet spout by twisting it back and forth while pulling it up and off the faucet body at the same time. Apply a small amount of silicone faucet grease to the two rubber o-rings on the faucet body, as well as the inside of the spout. Press the spout back into place using a gentle twisting motion.”

Source: https://homeguides.sfgate.com/lubricate-singlehandle-faucets-24323.html

 

It’s that easy! Just remember to run to the hardware store and grab some silicone faucet grease, otherwise, you might find yourself having to do the whole process twice!


Still, Need Help with Your Moen Single Handle Kitchen Faucet Base?


If the videos and tips in this How To didn’t work to help you tighten your loose Moen single handle kitchen faucet base, consider seeking some expert advice from a plumber with years of experience in the field. The Livestream DIY video chat feature costs a fraction of the price of an in-home estimate and visit, keeps a stranger from coming into your house during this whole coronavirus thing, and helps you learn a new skill with the reassurance of a licensed professional in the palm of your hand.

 

To browse the available plumbers and their recent reviews, just click here.