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Materials
- Cleaning solution or vinegar and baking soda
- Heat resistant grease
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| Foot Lock And Roller Ball Tub Drains |
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- If
you are fortunate enough have one of these types of drains, it
should be an easy fix. To remove the plugs from foot lock or roller
ball tub drains, simply rotate the plug counterclockwise until
it is free of the drain.
- To
clear clogged or sluggish drains see How
To Clear Clogged Drains. Clean the plugs with mild cleaning
solution or vinegar and reinstall.
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| Lift And Turn Tub Drains |
- Lift
the drain plug and locate the set screw under the lip of the plug.
Loosen the set screw and remove the plug.
- If the drain is sluggish or clogged, see How
To Clear Clogged Drains.
- To
clean any remaining residue, it's a good idea to flush the tub
drain and overflow drain with a solution of one cup vinegar and
one cup baking soda. After it stops fizzing, rinse with boiling
water. Clean and reinstall the overflow face plate and drain plug.
Be sure to retighten the set screw.
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| Pop-Up Tub Drains |
- Set
the trip lever in the open position. Wiggle the assembly to get
it out of the drain. The assembly isn't actually attatched to
the drain, but don't be surprised if it takes quite a bit of effort
to get it out.
- Take
the screws out of the coverplate. Remove the trip lever and linkage
from the overflow drain.
- If
the tub is sluggish or clogged, see How
To Clear Clogged Drains. If the tub has been leaking or the
drain is hard to operate, clean the linkage, rocker arm and stopper.
Use a brush and mild cleaning solution or vinegar. Flush the tub
drain with a solution of one cup vinegar and one cup baking soda
and rinse with boiling water.
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Lubricate the moving parts of the rocker arm and stopper. Slide
them back into the drain until the stopper is in the closed position.
Lubricate the moving parts and the threads of the linkage and
reinstall into the overflow drain. It may be necessary to adjust
the linkage. To increase the flow rate of the drain, loosen the
lock nut, turn the lift rod counterclockwise and retighten the
lock nut. If the stopper will not seal in the closed position,
loosen the lock nut, turn the lift rod clockwise and retighten
the lock nut. To avoid over-compensating, screw the lift rod in
or out three or four turns at a time.
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| Plunger Tub Drains |
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Take out the screws on the coverplate, and pull it away from the
tub wall. The linkage and plunger will come out with the cover
plate.
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If the tub is sluggish or clogged, see How
To Clear Clogged Drains.
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If the tub has been leaking or the drain is hard to operate, clean
the plunger and linkage. Use a brush and mild cleaning solution
or vinegar. Flush the tub drain and overflow drain with a solution
of one cup vinegar and one cup baking soda. Rinse with boiling
water.
- Lubricate
the plunger and linkage; reinstall them into the overflow drain.
Partially fill the tub and check to see if the drain holds water.
Then open the drain and check the flow rate. If the drain allows
water to seep out, loosen the locknut, turn the lift rod counterclockwise,
then retighten the lock nut. To increase the drain flow rate,
loosen the locknut, turn the lift rod clockwise and retighten
the lock nut. To avoid over-compensating, screw the lift rod in
or out three or four turns at a time.
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