My dad Tommy and my brother Evan are both pretty handy when it comes chores around the house, fixing broken things, etc.
For whatever reason, that gene didn't end up in the mix for me.
I suppose I'm serviceable. I've installed a few light fixtures, painted lots of walls, fixed a few squeaky spots in the floor, and once replaced the starter on my old truck. However, it is always a struggle and I always seem to end up in pain, embarrassed, or cursing - usually all three.
Tonight, I began a fairly significant undertaking. Our dishwasher died about 2 months ago. I'm not exactly sure why it broke or how it is broken - it just stopped working one day. It is about 12 years old, so I guess it was about time for it go to.
We bought a new dishwasher this weekend and I'm attempting to install it myself. Why?
Step 1 - remove the old dishwasher. Enjoy the pictorial below.
Behold my old dishwasher. It took about 45 minutes to figure out how to jigger it away from its little cubby hole. Note the pile of dirty dishes on the counter awaiting the new Kenmore - scheduled for pick-up at Sears tomorrow evening.
This is where my dishwasher used to me. Much like the Internet, I find it easiest to conceptualize dishwashers as a series of tubes:
The electricity tube was the hardest nut to crack. Just before I knocked a hole in the sheet rock under the counter - both out of frustration and to find the plug - it dawned on me that it would be best just to un-couple the wires in the connection box. Here is a closer look at the electricity tube, with wires exposed:
I'm pretty sure this is the broken part. It is called the supply valve. I'm leaving it in a pot overnight because it is dripping water. (I tried to detach and was unsuccessful.)
Tomorrow, I'll hacksaw the pipe, attach an elbow connector, reconnect the pipes, tubes, and such to the new dishwasher, and that will be that. The machine does the dishes, I watch the TV - just like it is supposed to be.
Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion!
For whatever reason, that gene didn't end up in the mix for me.
I suppose I'm serviceable. I've installed a few light fixtures, painted lots of walls, fixed a few squeaky spots in the floor, and once replaced the starter on my old truck. However, it is always a struggle and I always seem to end up in pain, embarrassed, or cursing - usually all three.
Tonight, I began a fairly significant undertaking. Our dishwasher died about 2 months ago. I'm not exactly sure why it broke or how it is broken - it just stopped working one day. It is about 12 years old, so I guess it was about time for it go to.
We bought a new dishwasher this weekend and I'm attempting to install it myself. Why?
- It would cost $130 to have some mongoloid from Sears install it.
- I'm just as smart as they are.
Step 1 - remove the old dishwasher. Enjoy the pictorial below.
Behold my old dishwasher. It took about 45 minutes to figure out how to jigger it away from its little cubby hole. Note the pile of dirty dishes on the counter awaiting the new Kenmore - scheduled for pick-up at Sears tomorrow evening.
This is where my dishwasher used to me. Much like the Internet, I find it easiest to conceptualize dishwashers as a series of tubes:
- At the top left, you'll note the drainage tube. This is where the waste water goes.
- At the bottom left, you can see the hot water tube. This is how the hot water gets to the dishwasher to clean the dishes.
- Lastly, on the bottom right, you can see the electricity tube.
The electricity tube was the hardest nut to crack. Just before I knocked a hole in the sheet rock under the counter - both out of frustration and to find the plug - it dawned on me that it would be best just to un-couple the wires in the connection box. Here is a closer look at the electricity tube, with wires exposed:
I'm pretty sure this is the broken part. It is called the supply valve. I'm leaving it in a pot overnight because it is dripping water. (I tried to detach and was unsuccessful.)
Tomorrow, I'll hacksaw the pipe, attach an elbow connector, reconnect the pipes, tubes, and such to the new dishwasher, and that will be that. The machine does the dishes, I watch the TV - just like it is supposed to be.
Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion!