How to Fix Stuff

I have a GE side by side. Some 16 years old now. GE is notorious for their wiggy icemakers/water dispensers. I’ve had mine apart more times than I care to think.

 

They are very nice to have but also very finicky.

 

This isn't a post about how to fix stuff. This is a post about how to eliminate misery from your life. About 22 years ago I bought one of those Bissell carpet cleaners. It worked great the first time or two (I mean how often do you use it). Then it started having troubles. Where to begin? Poor spray, no spray, poor soap mixing, no soap mixing, poor suction, no suction, belts breaking, suction diverters breaking, leaks galore, trigger malfunctions, pump failure, roller failure, heater failure, valves clogging, valves failing, spray nozzles clogging...just to name a few. Decided I had a lemon so like a fool I went out and got another one, basically the same one. Well guess what? The second one was the same as the first. Whoduh thunk? Worked great the first few times then went the same path as the first. Nothing but trouble. I refused to give up on it. I cannibalized the old one for parts to keep the new one going. Did this for years and years. Every time I used that machine I had to fix stuff on it. Not some of the time, not most of the time, not every time but once. No, EVERY TIME! I hated those machines with every fiber in my being. Total, 100% pieces of ! Nothing I have ever owned has caused me more headaches than those satanic appliances.

The other day I finally came to my senses when, yes again, it failed. I unplugged the machine, picked it up and threw it as far as I could in the driveway. Grabbed a large ground stake and beat the hell out of the thing. I felt better. Went in the attic and grabbed the first Bissell which had been reduced to bits and pieces in its box. Also grabbed the box for the newer one threw all the bits in those two boxes, loaded it on my truck and drove it to the dump. They are out of my life. FOREVER!

Bought a new one. A Bissell Revolution. Why another Bissell? Several reasons. 1. They are completely different these days. Much, much, much simpler. Less than half the parts. Wont bore you here with the details. 2. It got the best reviews on You Tube. And I watched a ton of reviews. 3. Does anyone seriously think any of those other brands are any better?

Went back and re-cleaned all the carpets I started. What a difference! The new design is so much better. Very few knobs, levers, and buttons. So much less stuff to break or malfunction. So many less places for crud n crap to build up. Simple, simple, simple. And it does a better job than the old ones ever did. Bissell finally got smart. They sell two versions of the Revolution. The more expensive ones have a few extra gadgets on them that are utterly worthless. I'd pay extra money to leave them off. Just more crap to break.

So folks, keep in mind there are just some things in life not worth fixing anymore. Do something else with your life. Find another way, get a different appliance, hire someone, beat a dead horse, whatever. But know when to give up on something. Spare yourself the misery.

 

Love that name "Mordacai". Remember I'm the guy who told you my favorite all time baseball name is Mordacai "Three-Finger" Brown.

Anyway, I don't believe these box store carpet cleaners stack up to other methods...primarily professional carpet cleaners. They simply can't do the job a $10,000 machine can do. That said, they have their place. Good for in-between professional cleanings. Or if you're willing to clean more often you can probably get away with no professional cleanings. Hiring pros is expensive and these cheap box store cleaners are certainly better than nothing. I've also noticed the cleaning solutions have improved quite dramatically over the years.

 

Just replaced a kitchen faucet. Got a Moen Noell off Ebay for $115. Home Depot sells them for $200 but I think they just lowered the price to $190. Easy installation. Taking off the old faucet was harder. Overall it was easy. Very nice faucet.

i will be giving a preliminary review of my gutter guards in the next week or so. Leaf season is coming to an end so it will be a good time for a fall review. My final review will be after pollen season in the Spring. They will be one year old then.

 

I had a little plastic piece on mine that was busted in half. Emailed Moen and they’re sending me a whole kit no questions asked.

 

I have one of those pullers in my tool box but it's useless because I mistakenly threw out the little piece that inserts into the copper pipe from a previous job. They're a little squirrely but they work.