My OperaDC Water
Friday, October 10, 2008 1:50:08 PM
We had to get a new dishwasher a couple of weeks ago. The old one (not that old, really) died. Repair guy says needed new circuit board, at about $250.
Why did the circuit board die and when are you going to get to the water, you ask? Patience.
The circuit board probably died because of a voltage spike. Sounded credible to me. Ever since the construction of the new Convention Center, the electricity seems to have had many more drops and problems than the previous couple of decades (we're supplitd by the Tenth and L substation). I remember working at my computer, a few feet away from the upstairs furnace, during the digging up of the corner at Ninth and M for utility work. Power dropped and came back on. I could hear the circuit board in the furnace go Pffft. Or something like that. It did not die a quiet death.
So the new dishwasher was installed. One of the (compression) connections leaked very slightly. We didn't notice at first. But, having done many of these connections over the years, we relaxed. We knew that in a day or so, the connection would be fine, since there are enough minerals in DC water to plug such a minor leak. DC water didn't disappoint.
DC water is also why we can't keep a humidifier on the furnace: It calcifies far more quickly than the surrounding jurisdictions, or so say the HVAC maintenance guys.
Win some, lose some.
Why did the circuit board die and when are you going to get to the water, you ask? Patience.
The circuit board probably died because of a voltage spike. Sounded credible to me. Ever since the construction of the new Convention Center, the electricity seems to have had many more drops and problems than the previous couple of decades (we're supplitd by the Tenth and L substation). I remember working at my computer, a few feet away from the upstairs furnace, during the digging up of the corner at Ninth and M for utility work. Power dropped and came back on. I could hear the circuit board in the furnace go Pffft. Or something like that. It did not die a quiet death.
So the new dishwasher was installed. One of the (compression) connections leaked very slightly. We didn't notice at first. But, having done many of these connections over the years, we relaxed. We knew that in a day or so, the connection would be fine, since there are enough minerals in DC water to plug such a minor leak. DC water didn't disappoint.
DC water is also why we can't keep a humidifier on the furnace: It calcifies far more quickly than the surrounding jurisdictions, or so say the HVAC maintenance guys.
Win some, lose some.
