If you have ever owned a home with a garbage disposal in the kitchen, then you know they don’t last forever and will eventually need replacing. The person at Home Depot said they last about 10 years. We’ve been in our home for 14 and we just now had to install a new one. We don’t know how long it was in the place before we moved in. A mid-range new unit runs over $100.00. ($149.00 to be exact.) If you are anything like we are, you will want to save on the installation if possible. My husband and I spent some time replacing our garbage disposal yesterday, and I wanted to share a few things that we learned in the process. .
1. Watch this video before you start. Make your husband watch it too. If he is anything like mine, he will not want to but he admitted afterwards that he was glad he did. It gives you a list of all of the tools and materials you will need in order to install your new unit.
2. Look at the unit you will be replacing and how it is connected. Determine the correct size of the unit you will be replacing before purchasing a new one.
3. Will you need to purchase an installation kit as the video says? Don’t let the salesperson at your local home improvement store talk you out of it if you think you need one. If you end up not using it, you can always return it. It will save you a trip to the store in the middle of the process.
We purchased our new disposal without doing any of this beforehand and it resulted in two trips to Home Depot while we were installing the new unit. The first trip was for the salesperson to talk my husband out of getting an installation kit, and the second was actually to purchase the kit. What should have taken an hour at the most, took four instead.
4. Read the installation instructions that come with your new unit. Again, your husband won’t want to do this, but trust me…he won’t be sorry if he does.
5. Do not believe the person at Home Depot when he says it will be simple. In theory, it is, but you know the person that made the video I shared used the art of editing before he posted it! Duh!
In retrospect, the most difficult part of the installation was hanging the new unit. They are heavy and neither my husband nor I were able to hold it up in place long enough in order to connect it. I have no upper body strength, and my husband has a physical condition that prevents him from lifting his arms over his head. Just as I was admitting defeat and calling my son for help, my husband gave it, one last shot and got it connected.
6. Learn to cuss. As a young child, I used to watch my father do things around the house like work on plumbing, etc. Things always seemed to go better when Daddy cussed. I tried this myself once and it worked. I think my husband cussed just as the disposal unit finally slipped into place.
7. Maintain a sense of humor throughout the process.
So, four hours, a migraine and a stiff neck later, I have a new garbage disposal! We saved at least $100.00 by installing it ourselves.
8. I almost forgot to mention one last thing we learned while replacing our garbage disposal and you should remember while you are replacing yours. When the old unit is disconnected and the new one not yet attached…remember…DO. NOT. Turn. On. The. Water! Unless, of course, you mean to mop your kitchen floor in the process.
So here is my creation for today. It uses an oldie but goodie stamp set Thoughts and Prayers.
Hope you enjoyed your visit here today. Until next time…
Happy Stamping!
Well, today you made me laugh!! And any home project always takes longer than anticipated!!!! And my husband has me read the directions and then interpret them…..
Mary Ellen, I only know how to interpret them in so many ways…then I need to start acting them out! LOL!