Simple Living

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This is a place to discuss simple living in all it's forms. Some may live a different life to you & that's okay, everyone is welcome here. Please keep it civil, we're all here for a good time.

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Simple joy from repairs? (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Our washing machine broke last week and the first thought was to buy a replacement but I wanted to at least attempt a repair first.

The machine would still fill and empty water, but the dishes remained dry and there was a burning smell. So, I unplugged it, tipped it over and popped open the bottom cover.

Aside from the controller, the dishwasher was very simple: a drainage pump, a circulation pump, a heating element and some solenoid valves. A multimeter showed the (main suspect) circulation pump still had continuity which narrowed the search down to the pump’s starting capacitor. Seven euros and a few days later and it’s back in action!

The simple fix really gave me a sense of joy and satisfaction. It feels great to extend the use of something that I already have rather than need to consume more.

Can anyone relate? Any good repair stories?

I’m a big fan of the right to repair movement.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I relate. I like working on my car for similar reasons. As others have touched on, you feel like you’re cheating the system when you do it yourself and save money. Very satisfying.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Congrats, I hope it stays fixed! I can't repair anything, but I support the movement in principle. I usually try to take good care of the things I own and buy things which with replaceable parts (think headphones) or things which are more ecological (think traditional wet shaving with a DE razor). Actually, come to think of it, I might try to repair my headphones. Something that can't be replaced broke -- part of the headband near the ear cups but I think I can fix it with tape.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

DE razors are sooo material efficient!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, they're pretty good! I've been shaving with DE razors for two years. But there is a danger of starting to hoard equipment, especially shaving soaps. I currently have five, but I know people who have dozens, even hundreds. Good thing my budget doesn't allow that... 😅

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I was able to replace a light in the bathroom with an energy saving led version and although the result isn’t perfect it gave me a lot of satisfaction knowing I had succeeded doing that for the first time and saved a few hundred to the electrician.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

All the time. That and maintenance. I got so much joy from finally having the supplies to change my car oil at home.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I keep having better salaries in time. I noticed, I still manage to not save any money from one year to the next. Why? Objects require maintenance/repair/cosmetic care a lot faster than I can afford to keep replacing them. Buying something new feels profoundly shallow and ungrateful based on what good objects I have. Example: i had a xiaomi robot vacuum. Almost replaced it when I realised I'm better off replacing the battery (that's what I assumed was broken). For 20$ i extended its life for another 2-5 years. Respect for the object, respect for the time I spent earning how much it cost, and by extent, respect for myself and my life.