My husband and I are not handy. We try, but usually our attempts to fix or install things end in a more expensive ordeal than if we'd just hired someone at the outset, or replaced the broken thing.
When we first bought our home, a townhouse-style condo, we had visions of improvement projects we'd embark on together. Chris and Joanna Gaines, perhaps not, but we thought we'd at least have an average person's capability for home repair. We learned some lessons the hard way.
One that sticks out is trying to install a toilet paper holder in our downstairs bathroom, which ended in a full day of Ryan swearing, and having to drywall patch and re-paint an entire wall. It was a true disaster. I'll never forget the look of shame on his face when the contractor came in and asked, "So... how did this happen?"
We recently had to replace our washer and dryer, but we didn't even try to fix those. It was their time to go. No regrets- our new appliances are fantastic. My laundry is fresher and drier than it ever was with those ancient things, good riddance.
But now, the dishwasher, too? Sigh. Right now, Ryan is upstairs on the kitchen floor surrounded by mechanical parts and a bucket of gray dishwater. I can hear the youtube tutorial optimistically saying, "Dishwasher won't drain? It's usually an easy fix! Try these 3 simple solutions..."
I'm downstairs, writing this slice, and googling "best dishwashers 2021" and "standard size dishwasher, stainless steel, ratings". Am I a pessimist, or a realist? Only time will tell.