Saved some money replacing my own dryer heating element today.

[neurosis]

Holy shit.  lol

My dryer heating element went out last week. We've been hanging clothes up all over the house for the last week trying to figure out which new washer and dryer set we wanted to spend 2k on.   

I finally said "f-it" and decided to try a new amazon purchase (always a gamble) for 35 bucks and try to install a new heating element myself.  I've never worked on a dryer before so I figured this was a gamble. 

Other than my condo smelling like it's been set on fire, it appears to be working?    I'll let you know if I actually saved money here in a few weeks. 

[RobertELee]

Should have changed the belt and idler bearings/spring while you were in it.

[Leehound]

I have saved a lot of money repairing my own appliances over the years.

YouTube really does have an indispensable utility to it.

[Flycut]

Finally a topic I can relate with.
Struggling to save a few bucks. lol

[neurosis]

Should have changed the belt and idler bearings/spring while you were in it.

My next project is the door switch.  The dryer doesn't turn off when you open the door. At least it went that direction rather than not turn on. 

I get the feeling that these are going to be replaced in the next year.  The g/f already has her mind set on it and knows what she wants.  This is just a crutch to give us some time to make a decision I get the feeling. 

[neurosis]

Finally a topic I can relate with.
Struggling to save a few bucks. lol

This could be every one of my topics. 

[Flycut]

Maybe one day I'll give you guys a tour of my garage/shop.
Many pennies saved there MacGyvering everything I could.

[Del.]

I worked on my washer one time. Ordered parts but didn't fix it. I had that thing tore down in 15 pieces sitting in kitchen. I just laughed at myself for all the trouble I went through and told wife to pick up a new one. I said I could have fixed it if I knew what was wrong with it.

[neurosis]

I worked on my washer one time. Ordered parts but didn't fix it. I had that thing tore down in 15 pieces sitting in kitchen. I just laughed at myself for all the trouble I went through and told wife to pick up a new one. I said I could have fixed it if I knew what was wrong with it.

I was worried that was the direction I was headed. At least the dryer doesn't have many parts.  Once I got in there it wasn't too bad.  Other than everything being 20 years old and stuck together.  It's the original dryer that came with the condo. I'm surprised it lasted this long.

[YoDoug]

Funny story about fixing the dryer. When I was young man the plastic latch that holds the dryer door shut broke. I was looking at it to assess how to make a quick fix so we could finish a load of clothes when I saw a cinder block sitting in the corner of the basement. I pushed the block in front of the door and problem solved, or so I thought. Several months later, cinder block is still working like a champ to hold the door closed. My 6mo preg wife doesn't want to bend over to move the block. She tries to push it with her foot and tips the block onto her other foot. Ends up with a broken toe. this happens right when she is getting ready to leave the house for work. She asks me to call into her work for her. So I do, they ask what happened so I tell them whole story. After a few minutes of laughter her boss says for her let him know when she is ok to work again. Being preg she couldn't take more than Tylenol for the pain. I think I slept on the couch for few nights that week. She said her coworkers gave her crap for months.

[Smit]

I've saved a lot of money with repair parts from Amazon. They cost a fraction of what it would cost to buy a replacement from the manufacturer.

[Del.]

Appliance pros is a good site for parts and videos.

[YoDoug]

IMO, if you want to own a home and not be broke, learn how to fix sh!t. If you have to call a service co every time your washer/dryer/furnace/AC/etc doesn't work you will spend a lot of extra money. I could probably list a dozen times I have fixed one of those things and saved hundreds each time.

Last summer my AC went out. I investigated and found the compressor motor buzzing and the top of the starter capacitor was pushed up. I found a capacitor at a supply shop 20 minutes from my house for $12. I would have spent a couple hundred just to get a tech out to look at it.

[Del.]

I did replace my toilet a few months ago. I usually flood the floor and call a plumber.

[Incogneeto]

Should have changed the belt and idler bearings/spring while you were in it.

and vacuum out the vent and exhaust hose.