Thursday September 28, 2006

Over designed?

Or under designed?

We have had a dishwasher saga going on. For TWO months. It goes like this...

Dishwasher dies. Measure hole in cabinets. Find new dishwasher. Order it. Schedule install. Installer can't fit the dishwasher into said hole in cabinet. The hole is too narrow. Dishwasher goes back to appliance store. Grrr.

We then have numerous consultations with contractor types. Cabinet to the left has space on the left so move it over? Nope. Cabinet is screwed and glued and has a very long run of counter on top. So take the wall of the cabinet off and router out more space? Nope. The drawer can't be adjusted like that. Order a different sized dishwasher. Grrr.

I was not at home when the installer came out, so I head to the appliance store to see for myself what the issue is. Turns out to be rubber gaskets doohickeys on either side of the dishwasher. Part hard plastic and part soft, these two parts run up either side to seal the space between the dishwasher and cabinet to keep steam out of the cabinet space. They are the ONLY part of the dishwasher that requires a 24" opening.

Some things just beg for reality adjustments. Or strenuous application of a sharp instruments.

The installer was scheduled to return. I was ready this time. Had several different blades to choose from. I explained my plan of attack. Having attempted to install the dishwasher once already, he was not keen to take it back yet again so he was game.

I sawed, sliced, and whittled plastic while he wired up and plumbed the beast. He had to help me in the end as that plastic was hard. But we managed to remove enough of the hard plastic while leaving the soft plastic to seal the sides. Had to slice off a bit by the hinges to remove parts that rubbed.  He told me he had never in his 7 years of installing had to make modifications like that before. Between us, we did a good job too.

Never get between a determined mom and her dishwasher.

[evil laugh]