How many of us have had to DIY when something in the house broke down? Uh, none of you? Some of you? Is it easier to call the maintenance guy? But all those bucks!
No one is going to believe this but its true. In the last 30 days we experienced an electrical break down of things we never would dream would disappoint. Let me detail. The two weeks before Christmas our 2007 Refrigerator still on warranty just started whining this wail that kept us up at night. Then the temperature wouldn't hold and we knew -- some part was not doing its job. We called the place that we had purchased it, waited half a week until the maintenance guy came out to check. "Yep, it needs a part I don't have and need to order. It may take weeks." This wasn't happening. Christmas was upon us. I needed to shop and store food. I sent my husband to the appliance dept in that store and said, "buy a new frig. We'll store this one or sell it but we have no choice." So he went and found a deal, same frig only better lighting. It arrived a week later. I had to hold off buying food until the eleventh hour. Ask me if I was in a mood. Three weeks later they found the part needed and fixed the old frig which now takes up room in the garage along with my old washer and dryer, "just in case my son moves out."
Next on the long list was the disc player in our just paid off SUV. Worse yet, I could not un-jam it or pull out the old discs. Everything is electrical and computerized and I was told not to play with it. It was a goner and until we could get it fixed, it would sit. We do not get much in the way of AM/FM up here in the canyons and high desert so I sing in the car now.
Following the disc player was the nine year old garbage disposal. For years I had been so careful not to plug it with celery, onion skins, egg shells or coffee grounds but that wasn't good enough. We went to Sears and knew there would be a cost for the item which was pleasantly on sale plus another hundred to call a maintenance guy. The nice man in Sears said, "why call him? I put in my own garbage disposal and I just followed the instructions. Save your money." So that is exactly what we did. But while my husband was under the sink, he found another problem. A leaking water filter, also nine years old. As they say, the number nine represents completion of a cycle. So, that will be the next step while I step over the wet rugs that lie over the laundry baskets to air out and the crates of cleaning junk.
Moving right along I should mention another nine year old problem. Replacing the stove grates that cleaning does not do it justice anymore. Just thought I would add that to the list while we are at it.
The flusher on the toilet was not doing well. To push it down sounded like a plane landing on the tarmac so we lifted the hood on the darn thing and rearranged a few things. You can always gizmo a rod or a spring. It works now but no, plumbing is not on our DIY list.
Two nights ago, we had settled comfortably into our living room after a knarly day at work, to watch some of our TIVO'd programs. We heard a crash and a loud grating sound that knocked our eardrums crazy. The picture faded on our five year old 52 inch wide screen and then a sound likened to a lawnmover that was chewing up a piece of wood followed. My husband started pushing buttons but the sound persisted until we unplugged the TV. My spouse is very devoted to a cause and that cause carried him into the middle of the night exploring and surfing the internet on parts. But what he did find was a company that gives free advice and then offers parts shipped. The diagnosis was made over the phone and parts ordered much cheaper than if another, you guessed it, maintenance guy came out to check and repair. We watched a few back episodes on the computer but reading took the place of TV-itis.
I didn't mention the dryer. It had backed up with soot and what not and we spent an hour vacuuming THAT out. And during the escapades of repair, we were visited by communities of ants during the rainy season.
I think we are beginning to accept the fact we are not cursed and life can be easy and smooth again. The stressload of one thing after another was over. We think. What we learned was hand wringing is unnecessary and that DIY is the way to go if you have the bravado to do so.
