Handy WO-Man

In an effort to save money after I bought my house I ended up buying a washing machine and dryer from a relative for a pretty cheap price, and thought I was getting fantastic deal! Long story short it took about a month before the dryer was hooked up and plugged into the wall. "Finally," I thought "I don't have to keep wearing card board underwear!"

NOT! Have you ever stood by a freight train for say a 50 minute cycle? Holy cow this dryer was sooooo loud! Actually loud doesn't even begin to describe it! It sounded like it could use a gallon of WD-40 to stop the squealing, not to mention the cinder block that was tumbling around in there! Seriously, I could hear it plain as day behind the laundry closet door, my bedroom door, bathroom door, fan on and shower running!!! I couldn't stand listening to it and I didn't dare run the thing when I knew my neighbors were home. So I've spent the last month only using the dryer at a last resort. What a pain!!

Well after describing the problem to my Dad, 2 trips to the part store, and 4 more weeks of being annoyed and stressing about it every time I needed to do laundry I have finally fixed it. That's right me, myself, with no help from a man. It took me 2 hours last night, grease to my elbows, broken fingernails and a nice big cut on my arm but this is now the quietest dryer around. I basically rebuilt the thing and replaced all the parts except the motor and the drum. (Thankfully the new parts were only about $50 total so still cheaper than buying a whole new dryer.) Someone may actually be able to stand being in the same neighborhood while it is running. Woot Woot!

I'm feeling a bit like Rosie today. :)
So what I have I learned from this experience?

1. I don't really NEED and man to fix stuff for me - although having a mechanically minded one around would have been much less stressful.

2. Don't do business with family.