DIY Network – Home Improvement How-To & Projects : DIY Network

This happens quite frequently and usually some draino or whatever will do in a few days time.I live in a top floor apt. so I have no access from below. I removed the drain ring but can’t quite see what it is clogging up the drain. I’m sure its hair and soap scum, but this time the water looks awfully murky and almost like these some solid base to it. Almost looks like wet cement. I know I need to try to get IN there phsyically to see what I can pull out but theres this outter metal ring attached to the tub(fiberglass tub) that can’t be removed. It has a line down the center so it blocks your fingers and makes it difficult to snake somehting in there.I also have figured I need to plunge but I have shoulder replacements BOTH arms so that may not work for me. It’s been getting worse instead of better. Any suggestions? Or do I just have to suck it up and get someone to fix this before it totally stops up? We’re in a tight place here with money but I know the longer one waits the more it could add up.
Thanks for ANY help or suggestions.
Love this site and the people here!

First off, if you are talking about the metal piece on the bottom of the tub, STOP RIGHT THERE !!!

When you pull it out, you will most likely find some hair all over it. That may be the extent of your problem. Sometimes you will have some hair caught on the bottom drain which you will need to pick at with your fingers or needle nose pliers. If you continue to have problems, you can plunge the tub by first stuffing a wet rag or sponge into the overflow tube so no air can escape, then you can plunge the drain. If all else fails, you can try a snake, but you must be careful because you will need to snake through the trap. Sometimes that will not work.
Last plan of attack is call a plumber.

admin Plumbing Bottom Drain, Clogged Tub Drain, Drain Ring, Draino, Extent, Few Days, Fiberglass Tub, Fingers, Linkage, Money, Needle Nose Pliers, Overflow Tube, Shoulder Replacements, Snake, Soap Scum, Sponge, Tight Place, Wet Cement, Wet Rag

Just moved into a house with a 1991 model 532, sn m930610.

It’s making ice just fine, just that it seems to throw a little extra water into the mix so that at the end of a few cycles we have about half the “free” cubes we should and the rest is melded into one big block.

Any ideas on troubleshooting I can do? I tried one trick mentioned elsewhere of trying to grab the supply line with needle-nose pliers and pull it closer to the dispenser but couldn’t reach it without disassembly. May not have been a good idea anyway.

If you shut the icemaker off, do you still have a clump of ice? If not, you can decrease the amount of water going into the icemaker. 1991 icemakers should have an water adjustment screw you will see if you remove that square plastic cover on the back of the icemaker.

admin Appliances Adjustment Screw, Clump, Free Cubes, Icemakers, Needle Nose Pliers, Sn, Sub Zero

I have a leaking single knob shower faucet. The faucet is a Moen that is over 20 years old.

I believe all I need to do is replace a washer. The problem I have is that I cannot figure out how to remove the valve.

Is a special tool needed? I would attach a picture of the valve but I can’t find the attachment button. Any ideas.

If I am correct about the valve (without seeing it or a model number) you will be replacing a cartridge. to do this follow these instructions

First remember to turn off th water, both hot and cold to the faucet.

Then remove the handle noting any special way it comes off for proper replacement.

Next remove chrome piece around stem area, it should pull straight off. There may be a couple plastic pieces before the ring, you will need to remove them first but be careful and try not to change them so you can replace them the same way. Theses plastic pieces are for adjusting the max. temp for the anti scald device. It is a SAFETY item.

Then look closely at the top of the stem you should see a little copper clip sticking up that was in the bump of the chrome ring you took off.
With needle nose pliers or such, pull the ring straight up and out. you have now released the cartridge.

NOTE THE POSITION OF THE CARTRIDGE INCLUDING THE NOTCH ON THE BRASS PIECE IN THE CENTER OR YOU COULD PUT IT TOGETHER BACKWARDS.

Now comes the hard part.

Grasp the brass stem that the handle was mounted to and pull straight out. Vise grips are a good tool for this step. This may not want to come out easily as there is buildup around the stem and 2 or 3 O-rings that are fighting against you, but I have never had one I could not get out. The newer style faucets come with a plastic piece to aid in the removal of the stem but I am pretty sure it will not help you. If you cannot remove it check Moen’s web site and see if they have a tool to help you.

Once removed, check inside of valve and clean out any dirt etc. and then reinstall in the opposite order. Should work just like a new faucet when you are done.

admin Plumbing Anti Scald Device, Brass Piece, Bump, Chrome Ring, Copper, Dirt, Leaking Faucet, Leaky Faucet, Leaky Shower Faucet, Max Temp, Model Number, Moen, Needle Nose Pliers, Notch, O Rings, Plastic Pieces, Theses, Vise Grips