I'm trying to do something that should be really simple – clean the filter in my GE Triton dishwasher, which won't drain. It has this screen that covers most of the bottom of the dishwasher, and I need to remove this screen to get to the filter in the back. But the screen is attached to plastic posts with these metal objects – I don't know what to call them, but they look like they are designed to go on once and not come off.
The plastic posts appear to be part of the base of the dishwasher and they don't budge. I have pulled pretty hard straight up on the screen and these things don't come off naturally. I've gone at them with a pliers with no effect. Is there a trick to removing these or does it have to be destroyed?
I've found one youtube video where someone removes the same screen and it doesn't appear to be attached at all, so I assume this was installed in a non-standard way. I definitely have to remove it to get the screen out.
Best Answer
Those are called "push nuts" and they can be quite difficult to remove. I've been most successful by inserting a thin screwdriver underneath the nut and gently prying up as you work your way around.
Alternatively, you can try to snap the nut by prying up an edge and then using a pair of needle-nose pliers to twist the edge until it breaks.
Another approach is to take a pick and pry up the teeth that are biting into the post so that they release. You'll need to bend them far enough so that after you remove the pick they don't bite back into the post. Work your way around and release all the teeth.
In either case the nut is unlikely to be reusable so you'll need to find some replacements. I've seen them at well-stocked hardware stores or home centers and you can find many online suppliers after searching for "push nuts".
Try to avoid breaking the post itself as it appears to be plastic.
Are you sure you need to removed that screen? It doesn't appear that the manufacturer intended for it to be removable, at least not easily for cleaning. It appears to me that nothing large enough to clog the drain should fit through that screen.