The part was shipped on June 27th but did not arrive until July 11 because someone at the Lake Charles Fedex place doesn't know how to use google maps. They called me on Monday morning before 7am to ask if my address was valid and to ask for directions. I was extremely groggy and accidentally said to go north instead of south. When I tried to ask for the tracking number of the package, the woman hung up on me. I called back later in the day but the woman who answered had no idea what I was talking about and wasn't willing to check the logs to see who had called my number at that time (I know a good business is supposed to keep logs of that with notes). I was told they would call me back. They lied. I figured it had been a package for my a-hole neighbor since Insinkerator's people told me they were shipping via USPS. I waited until Thursday to call Insinkerator to ask why I didn't have the part. They said they sent via FedEx and gave me the tracking number.
So then I looked it up and saw that the part had been in Lake Charles since July 2 and there were "exceptions" where they claimed they could not deliver due to bad weather, invalid address, and customer not available. They claimed there were over 5 delivery attempts. So I called Fedex to ask WTF the problem was because I had been home every time of the supposed delivery. The lady on the phone told me that there had been weather problems and that "today" was the first day they were actually attempting delivery. I called BS and said the notes said they had been trying to deliver. I was then told some other excuse-- I forget exactly what. She said I would have my package by 6pm and to call if I didn't have it by then. I left detailed instructions on how to find my house. 6:20pm rolled around and I still did not have my package. I called and was told that they could not reach the driver and that when they did, they would call me back. 8:20pm rolled around so I called back (previously on one of the calls they had put me on hold and I'd gotten disconnected). They were giving me the run around and said something about how the driver had too many packages to deliver and therefore he hadn't gotten around to mine yet and had to return to the "base". I called BS because he'd had the package for over a week. I then said the magic words: "I'm going to file a formal complaint". They said they would make sure I got my package the next day. Within a few minutes the driver called me and apologized. He told me he would bring the package by between noon and 1pm. I personally gave him instructions on how to find the house just in case he hadn't been given them. I also said that if need be I would drive in to town and meet him somewhere if he could not find the place because I needed the package.
2pm rolls around and I'd been sitting there for 2 hours needing to pee but afraid I would miss the driver if he showed up. I finally had to go and then I called FedEx and got put in to phone transfer hell from one division to another until I was speaking with someone from the Lake Charles office. They told me that they don't even send packages out on Mondays so I mentioned that I was not at all pleased that they called me before 7am on a Monday and woke me up. I am not a morning person. They then told me that the driver wasn't supposed to promise any specific time and that he wasn't supposed to arrange meetings other places. They then said something about an investigation that would take 48 hours and that I would have to wait until Saturday-- at which point I interrupted and let them know it was absolutely unacceptable to wait one more day and that I was livid about the situation. They said they couldn't reach the driver but would text him some info. I wasn't going to be home from 3:30 to 4:30 since I had to go into town.
Anyway, I had to leave and while I was sitting in the Pizza Hut parking lot waiting for my housemate to get out so I could take him home, the Fedex truck pulled up and a haggard looking guy sweating bullets walked up. He said "I'm the FedEx guy". He'd called and my brother told him where to find me. He apologized profusely and I looked at the now filthy package and saw the map they had stuck on it for him.. It wasn't even the right Parish (county) much less city. I don't know where they pulled that map from but it didn't even remotely follow my instructions. It showed my address in the middle of some intersection in Evangeline Parish. WTF. I felt bad for the driver, but FedEx really needs to get better maps. My address shows up fine on google maps.
Anyway, I got home, cleared some space, checked that the flange was still in place and didn't want to budge, held the flange down while my skinny friend (the one from Pizza Hut) popped the snap ring on.
Then I started messing around with the circuit breaker to figure out which one powered the garbage disposal. It's the one that provides power for my room, my mother's computer, and the refrigerator. I used a voltage detector to check to make sure it was dead. Then I started removing the screws to the cover plate.
Unfortunately one of the screws was stripped and would not come out with any screwdrivers I used. The electric one just kept slipping out. I had to take a break because it was hot in the house and I was sweating like crazy. I was also quite annoyed so I waited until I calmed down a few hours later (and the temperature was lower). I had turned the power back on while I rested and then flipped it back off before taking another crack at it. I removed the screws for the plastic casing and pulled it out of the way and removed all of the screws that I could before trying the stuck one again. No luck. I got a little irritated and bashed it with heavy wrench (I couldn't find my hammer). It bent the plate so that I was able to get the flat heads under it and pry it up. Then I grabbed it and ripped it off. I then removed the wires and set the old disposal under the sink with a soft mat on top so I could rest the new disposal on top. I removed the plate and started to do the wiring when I realized I was missing a part.
Far left "cable connector". I thought I would have one in my electrical toolbox, but I was wrong. I didn't even know what size one I needed or the exact name because my google search wasn't exactly fruitful. I see it seems to also be called a relief clamp. Someone on amazon said they got a 1/2" one for that model. Unfortunately by the time I found that info, the hardware stores were closed (the only hardware stores left in town close at 5pm weekdays, noon Saturdays, and don't open on Sundays). So I have to wait until tomorrow (later today) to go searching for it. I tried a few other stores, but nobody had the part.
Hopefully I'll get the right size one (I might get an extra in a different size just in case) and get this done and hooked up.
Then comes the plumbing..
Can I use a regular T fitting or do I need a sanitary tee if I want to connect it to the sink drain pipe just before it goes in to the trap?
And how do I judge if it is at the 1/4" per foot slope?
Do they make sanitary tees that can be attached without glue (with those little twist-on plastic thingies-- brain is not working right now).
I'm also trying to figure out to what I should ground the ground wire. The copper is all green from floating around under the sink and getting wet.
I'm also going to do a leak test on the flange before I actually attach the disposal to make sure that it is properly sealed. I should do that soon...