Out With The Old, In With The New

Don't you love it when a major appliance breaks right before Christmas? So I've had to buy myself a new dryer. Bad timing for this sort of thing. My present to myself....
The old one was dying a slow death, and finally announced it's departure with fiery finality. The start button just couldn't get the motor to kick in. Then the button gave up too, and died. Then the big, stinky cloud of smoke started, coming from the drum. I flung the wet clothes out, to save them. (It was all the underwear I own, of course.) I unplugged the dryer, and dragged it away from the wall, to save the house. The smoke kept coming for quite a while. Stink-eee!

I do try to fix my own appliances, so I did what any self respecting DIYer would do - I hit the internet. My absolute fave for troubleshooting appliances is the Samurai Appliance Repair Man at http://fixitnow.com. The forum there is a great place to get expert advice, fast. Just post your make and model number, and problem, and actual repair persons will give you great advice, and diagrams!

Anyway, the forum search indicated that the motor was shot, and costs well over $100 smackeroos, plus shipping. And that assumes that there isn't anything electrical that needs replacing. That's a problem, because I don't have, or know how to read, a meter.

My sister wanted me to get a second hand, reconditioned dryer from a business that she has bought from. I did try to, but they were closed, although it was an hour before the posted closing time. So we went to Lowes for prices there, and then to Best Buy, which was having a sale. A pretty good sale. I bought an Inglis (a Whirlpool Corporation) washer. The drum is flippin' huge inside. I think I can fit everything I own in one load. I'm very happy so far.

I feel bad for the old one. It was my close friend for many years. I am making our breakup as gentle as possible, though. Meet my new plant stand....At least I didn't leave it in the front yard for the winter. The neighbors would not be amused.