Q: I read your article about adjusting my shower temperature. However, I do not have the faucet you talk about. My home was built in 2007, and it is different. Can you tell me how to adjust the temperature with a different faucet? My faucet handle has a cover with a screw inside—looks like the way to remove the handle. Should I try that to see if this adjustment is inside?
A: The adjustment is similar, but the parts are different. Here are the parts of the temperature limit stop on the exploded view of the shower valve.
To show you exactly how to make this adjustment, watch the video from the Moen site: www.moen.com/chateau/chrome-posi-temp-r-tub-shower/_/r-consumer%3A2353
The video shows how to install the shower valve and how to set the temperature limit stop on the Chateau model shower faucet.
More on birds in vents
A reader emailed us to share her experience with birds in the microwave vent in her house. They brought with them mites that infested her house.
“Shortly after moving in, we noticed that birds had built a nest in the exhaust vent of the microwave oven. We thought we would wait until the babies matured before removing the vent. Huge mistake. It took a while before we realized that we had been infested by bird mites.
We could not get rid of them. This was a nightmare, thousands of tiny little mites smaller than a speck of black pepper. Even household bleach wouldn’t kill them. No exterminator would come, because they could not guarantee that they could eliminate the problem.
We finally removed as much of the nest as we could reach, placed a screen over the opening, and began experimenting with pesticides. It took about three weeks before completely eliminating the mites. We have learned that they will eventually die if there is no food source (blood, human or aviary). My advice is to cover those vents before the birds move in.” (Check mysundaynews.com for the article on covers for the vents on your house.)
• If you have suggestions for future tips or have questions about maintenance around your home, submit them to ask.the.woodchucks@gmail.com
