Dishwasher Dilemma Resolved

We always set our dishwasher to run at night because it is loud. I'd keep the kitchen clean and fill the dishwasher. Jesse would set it to start at midnight and unload it in the mornings before work. 

A few weeks ago, we thought the timer was messed up because it never seemed to work. Dirty dishes were filling the sink and dishwasher. The dishwasher would start but never release the soap and actually clean. After wasting who knows how much water, Jesse called an appliance repair company. They sent someone out two weeks ago. The man informed us that the control board was malfunctioning and our dishwasher was leaking behind it. Since it would cost over $400 to repair it and the parts were only under warranty for 90 days, he suggested we buy a new one. Then he charged us $79 for the house call.

Though Jesse assures me that we have enough emergency funds, I refuse to spend several hundred dollars for convenience. (If I did, we would have fixed the van door a long time ago.) A dishwasher is not a necessity, though it's certainly a huge time saver. Thankfully, a friend posted on my Facebook wall that her brother was renovating and planned on donating his current appliances to the Kidney Foundation. He would give it to us for free as long as we picked it up. 

We had poor communication and lots of going back and forth between my friend. Finally, the owner asked if we could come Wednesday night. I read that e-mail request on Wednesday afternoon and called Jesse to figure out our plans. He came home right after work and began to take our old dishwasher out. It didn't come out as easily as he thought, which should have been expected. Several YouTube videos later, the dishwasher was out. However, our kitchen sink could not be used since we had to cut the water off to prevent flooding.

I called the owner to tell her my husband was on his way. I got the answering machine multiple times, which meant they weren't home. Jesse decided to go ahead anyway since she had requested that evening. He and Jack took the carseats out of the van and laid the seats down to make room for our "new" dishwasher. After lots of calls, texting, and meandering around nearby stores, Jesse came home sans dishwasher two hours later. He also had to put the old dishwasher back in so I could use the sink, and put the carseats back in the van so I could drop Jackson off at preschool the next day. It was a long night for Jesse!

I played phone tag with the owner for a few more days before we decided to pick it up on Saturday at 10 a.m. The second attempt was a success!  

Jesse began installing the dishwasher on Saturday afternoon. He had a very curious helper.

Jesse doesn't have the best track record when it comes to home improvement. Miraculously, he installed the new dishwasher without any complications!  It may not match our other appliances, but we are well past the point of caring.  We are now proud owners of a quiet, clean, properly working dishwasher.