Product Review: Moen M3715 Dishwasher Aerator

When the faucet adaptor on my apartment-sized washing machine gave out, I headed to my nearest hardware store with the expired piece in one hand and my handy-dandy handyman-boyfriend in tow. After searching the faucet accessories aisle and double-checking my boyfriend's sage choice with a "trained" store employee, I left with a Moen adaptor firmly in hand.

Moen Dishwasher Adaptor

Item #3302-982 Model #M3715

• Faucet adapter with aerator
• Snap Fitting
• Dual threads
• Outside thread fits 55/64 - 27
• Inside thread fits 15/16 - 27

Note: The first two photos to the right are product images of what this adaptor was supposed to look like when I bought it. Whatever that little flap-thing is inside the adaptor in Photo #1 did not come with mine. Nor is it pictured in the installation instructions on the package (see Photo #3). Also, see that nice thick o-ring in Photo #1? Yeah .... Mine didn't come with one that thick.

Both Home Depot and Home Hardware carry this product for $7.99 CAD (plus tax) which is comparable to similar products from other brands.

The Moen faucet adaptor is used to connect dishwashers that are not permanently installed to your kitchen sink faucet. Although marketed for dishwashers, I have been assured that this adapter is also suitable for apartment-sized washing machine. Since I couldn’t find anything in the store like this product that was made specifically for a washing machine and the nipple end matches my machine connection exactly, I have to assume this is the case.

Installation is very simple. You unscrew your current faucet aerator (if it has one) and screw on your Moen adaptor, making sure it’s on nice and snug. If the inside thread doesn't work, the outside one will because it has both. Then, your machine hose connector is snapped onto the nipple end of the adaptor.

The only tool that may be required is a pair of pliers. Apparently, we didn’t even need plumber’s tape -- Thank goodness! Who wants to wrap plumber's tape on their faucet every time they hook up and then take it off again when the washing is done?

It was shiny. It was dual threaded. It fit my hose connector. It was in my price range. I was happy because, with this simple adapter, I could once again hook up my teeny-tiny washing machine to my wibbly-wobbly kitchen faucet and do my weekly mountain of laundry.

As promised, the adaptor was easy to install and my machine hooked up to it with a satisfying Snap. I did my washing with no leaks, no pressure problems and no worries. When I was done, the adaptor came off easily and I put it back in the accommodating little plastic container it came in.

Life was good ... for the first few weeks.

After my 30-day money back period expired, so did my new adapter. It sprung a leak, dripping steadily from the threading. Shortly thereafter, the thin metal of the thread began to break off, turning the annoying drip into an alarming spray of water that jetted across the kitchen.

Determined to get my $7.99 plus tax out of this product, I draped a dishcloth across the faucet to block the spray and continued to use it. Over the next few weeks, the O-ring that came with the adaptor shrunk and more pieces of the threading crumbled away. The spray of water turned into a gusher that doused the kitchen (and anyone in it) like an uncontrolled fire hose.

So much for their slogan:

"Buy it for looks. Buy it for life."

I’m off once more to the hardware store to purchase an adaptor. This time, I will be avoiding anything that says Moen on it.

© 2011 Rosa Lee. All Rights Reserved.