Yesterday I installed a new (NEMA 10-50R) outlet for our dryer (replacing the old range-style outlet [10-30R] on the same circuit). I hate working with electricity. I've been shocked plenty with 110v and was scared crapless at the prospect of getting zapped with 220v. My fear was that whoever wired the breaker box hadn't properly labeled the dryer circuit, although it was the only 30amp circuit...so why so scared, Paul?

I also figured out, using Science™, why the dishwasher backed up when Jenny ran the in-sink-erator. It backed up for the same reason the in-sink-erator backs up when the dishwasher drains (but in reverse). Except that apparently the dishwasher doesn’t drain on its own, the circulator pump needs to cycle first. The Science™ part is that I figured this out by treating the dishwasher like a black box and drawing a diagram, then testing the black box by running coffee grounds and other stuff through the in-sink-erator. So Science™ has at least two uses:

1. Asking stupid questions during ultrasound tests
2. Figuring out really basic plumbing problems.

The “fix” for the dishwasher — such as it was — was the run the dishwasher through the end of its cycle. Also (and FFR): don’t drain a full sink all at once through the in-sink-erator.

I need to point out here that I am not usually a handy person, so this is probably about 50% of the Handy Homeowner stuff I’ve done in my whole life.

Probably Related:I'm trying to teach myself some knots from Knots and Splices. I never remember knots. I remember a few knot fundamentals, like slipknot, double-8, and hitch, but my knot philosophy is “if you can’t tie a knot, tie a lot.” Someday I’m gonna have to teach my son how to tie good knots. I can’t throw a baseball and don’t know jack about cars, so I figure need to pass on some kind of manly stuff.