September 9, 2026 Easy Plumbing

KOHLER Cartridge & Valve Guide: Finding the Right Replacement Part

A dripping KOHLER faucet or a shower that will not hold temperature is usually a cartridge, not a faucet. Cartridges are inexpensive and the repair is well within reach for most people — once you know which one you need.

Start with the faucet model, not the part

KOHLER part numbers are not guessable from the outside of a faucet. Work from the model number instead:

KOHLER model numbers begin with K- followed by digits, sometimes with a finish suffix such as -CP for polished chrome or -BN for brushed nickel.
Look under the sink on the faucet body, on the underside of the escutcheon, or on the original paperwork.
The finish suffix does not affect which cartridge you need — the base number does.
On a shower, the trim model and the valve model are different numbers. The cartridge belongs to the valve.

Common KOHLER valve platforms

Rite-Temp — KOHLER's pressure-balancing shower valve. If your shower will not hold temperature when someone runs a tap elsewhere, the pressure-balancing unit inside the Rite-Temp valve is the part to look at. Service kits are available and are a far smaller job than replacing the valve.
Ceramic disc cartridges — used across most modern KOHLER sink faucets. They rarely wear out but can be damaged by grit after plumbing work, which shows up as a drip or a stiff handle.
AquaPiston canister — the toilet flush system. There is no flapper; if it leaks you replace the canister seal.

Two things that are not the cartridge

Before you order, rule these out — they are cheaper and more common:

A weak or uneven stream is usually a blocked aerator. Unscrew it, rinse the screen, refit. Try this first.
A pull-down spray head that dribbles or will not switch modes is usually the spray head or its hose, not the cartridge.

A genuine cartridge fault normally shows up as a constant drip from the spout with the handle fully off, a handle that has become stiff or loose, or hot and cold that no longer mix properly.

Before you start the repair

Shut off the supply at the stops under the sink, or at the main for a shower, and open the faucet to release pressure.
Plug the drain so retaining clips cannot disappear down it.
Some cartridges need a puller. If it will not come out with steady hand pressure, get the tool rather than levering — a damaged valve body turns a cartridge job into a wall-opening job.
Photograph the old cartridge from the side and end before you fit the new one, and note its orientation. Fitted 180° out, hot and cold will be reversed.

Older and discontinued faucets

KOHLER supports parts for a long time, and many cartridges for discontinued faucets are still available. If a model has genuinely been superseded there is often a current equivalent that fits. Send us the model number and we will check what is still supplied before you decide whether to repair or replace.

Browse our selection: Repair Parts | KOHLER Products