1. Please do not try to replace your dishwasher without disconnecting the electricity first.
2. You might want to turn off the hot water.
3. Ok really you might want to turn off all of the water.

My back is broken, I’m not currently the best person to ask if you need help replacing your appliances, but my station wagon is helpful for transporting things. And Aunt Esther taught me how to fix the dishwasher we got for free off of craigslist, so that was cool. We managed to get the old dishwasher detached from the counter, and then we tried to turn the water off so we could disconnect the old dishwasher. Key word tried. I even pulled the handy-dandy WD-40 out of my car to help the attempts.

Decisions were made. An attempt was made to unhook the old dishwasher without first turning off the water… Which ended in a flooded kitchen. But then as my cousin’s outside calling the landlord and the plumber and my aunt is practically swimming under the sink, I see sparks.

Sparks! Oh shit! Aunt Esther I really think you should get out of there… How could I have forgotten to make sure the dishwasher’s electricity was turned off? Water+electricity=BAAAAAD

All I can say for myself is that I was more along for the ride on this particular adventure. And that I turned off the electricity as soon as I realized it was still on. And that while I was at it I managed to turn off the hot water, leading to a) less water spewing into the kitchen and b) non-scalding water spewing into the kitchen. Both of which made it a lot easier to finally get the new dishwasher connected and therefore end the flood.

Moral of the story: take the proper precautions when replacing your dishwasher or you might just end up sitting in your cousin’s apartment drying the carpets with a hairdryer.