33: Eleven Things I Learned From Installing a New Dishwasher

Misc. notes from a do-it-yourselfer:

1. Pay someone else to do it
And here is where that leads: the guy finds some non-existent dry rot or termite damage and says the floor needs to be replaced. Then there needs to be a new electrical line run from the main panel because whoever did the first install didn’t do it right. Then he shows how the fittings don’t work with the garbage disposal and that you need a new one of those. Etc. So the $150 just turned into $500 and counting.

4. Get moral support from a friend
The main reason for this is to keep you from saying bad words.

5. An empty house makes it easier to think
This keeps the family from hearing the bad words that may slip out.

6. Eat good food and get all the tools ready before help arrives
Not sure about this one. Trying to crawl around on your hands and knees, bending up like a pretzel under the sink doesn’t work too good on a full stomach. Enough of this and your stomach won’t be full, involuntarily.

7. Don’t give into the pressure of other people’s needs if you aren’t capable
“If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” So some of the pressure is marital and needs to be addressed with much tact and handled very carefully.

8. Don’t base your time estimates on a pro if you aren’t a pro (see #1)
There is probably a complicated math formula that one can apply here to figure out exactly how long it will actually take. This formula would probably include how long the install booklet is, how many pictures it doesn’t have, and how many tools you don’t have or don’t even know what they are.

9. Take a break and come back to it later instead of continuing to grind away on the problem
I have walked away from many projects, have even left work, “I’ve made enough mistakes for one day.” Like you said, there is something about leaving the task for a day or two to give perspective. This also helps from getting to the “bad words” stage of the project.

10. Read the install manual several times, then start on the first page and forget about the other pages
Now this just isn’t right. What you are supposed to do is skim the manual and then do it your own way. Which may or may not be right. But if the manual was translated from Burmese to English by a Russian, then it won’t make much sense anyway. And they have a tendency to leave critical stuff out, especially without a picture. “Do this”. Right…what is “this” and how do I “do” it? Plus it’s the American way to not follow instructions, especially for last borns, like me. If you are not a last born, then do what John said.

11. Good lighting and reading glasses make a difference
The worst thing about getting old is the need for 7 different pairs of glasses for 4 different tasks. I prefer 3.25 from Walgreen’s. Not too good for more than 2 feet away but they are great for seeing molecules flow through electrical wires. Beats touching the wires to see if the power is off or not. Also, indispensable are the FREE flashlights you get at Harbor Freight. I have a LOT of these, especially the multi-led ones. Small but put out a LOT of light, and won’t burn you like the metal cage trouble lights. And they are free. It’s the American way. And the Poelstra way.
And yes, it was worth doing it yourself. Nothing like a great story to pass on to the next generation. “Remember son, the day I tried to install the dishwasher? What did we learn from this?…….What bad words?”