21st Century Style A P10A Kerosene Heater Ignitor Review

Customer Ratings:

Living in California, where kerosene heaters are now banned from new sales, owning one left me high and dry when it

came to finding replacement parts. I found the ignitor that was broken doing a google search and now have a fully functional heater!

This was my first Amazon ordering experience and it went so well I've made this sight my first point of research!

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Reviews of Dimplex #ETS610W2 Electronic Line Voltage Thermostat Single Pole

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We are in the process of upgrading the thermostats for the electric heat in our house. The 20-year-old bimetallic thermostats have minimal utility--basically they seem to operate as on/off switches. Even when a temperature is set, +/10 degree (F) fluctuations are not uncommon. So, we want something a little more accurate as well as something that looks more contemporary. For most of the house, I have Aube or Honeywell digital thermostats. They are perfect--quiet, accurate, and reasonably attractive. I saw the Dimplex thermostat and thought I would try it. In the photos provided, it looks much more attractive than the digital thermostats by other vendors. It's also currently priced more than the digital thermostats--so, its selling point is really aesthetics. A couple points to note, however:

1) Make sure you get the right model. There's precious little description on the Amazon Web page, but there are two models depending on the Wattage requirements.

2) In the photos, it looks like the thermostat flush mounts to the wall. This for me was the real selling point: I can finally have a thermostat that's inconspicuous! As I installed it to my standard wall box, I quickly became convinced that there was no way to have a flush mount. Perhaps if the wall box was recessed into the wall and you could cut away the drywall around it, you might be able to get a flush effect. Instead, it sticks out from the wall (like every other thermostat), except the faceplate protrudes. This just looks silly. I have explored numerous ways to make this look better or to recess more of the unit into the wall, but I am convinced that this is not possible without a custom installation. Perhaps there is an optional decorative plate to go with it?

3) It's really loud when it clicks on or off. Louder than the old thermostats, and certainly lounder than the completely silent digital thermostats made by several vendors. The clicking could be quite distracting if put in a bedroom.

4) The plastic on the housing and especially the dial is very flimsy. The mechanism for turning on the thermostat entails pulling out the nob. The nob felt like it might actually break in the process. Similarly, the plastic is so thin on the faceplate that the LED status indicator actually lights up a good portion of the faceplate when there are no lights on in the room. It feels and looks cheap.

Bottom line: Save your money. At current Amazon pricing, you can buy nearly two nonprogrammable digital thermostats for the same price. I suspect they will ultimately look better and hold up better than this product.

Plus: Works with radiant and fan based heat. Electronic and therefore more accurate than bimetallic thermostats.

Cons: Poor fit to wall. Loud! Cheap materials.

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Bi-metallic thermostats are a thing of the past. Our old thermostats wasted energy since they needed +-15 degrees variance to turn on or turn off. These thermostats are great replacements for your old bimetallic sets. They don't ground to the frame like the old ones which seemed weird, but they have nice long leads red and black. I have them running large cadet fan/element heaters in the walls. When the unit turns on, a nice subtle blue LED lights up just above the dial. Pull the dial out and the unit is active. Push the dial in and the unit is inactive. My wife is happy that I installed the Celsius rings instead of F. We set them to 22 degrees as a back up if the fireplace would run out of wood. Every degree clicks into place for exact temperature and I it's accuracy with a room thermometer. It was off only 1 degree. Fits into a standard box, but you will want to insulate the box since the unit will allow you to see into the box through the main panel. They really kick butt! Remember, these are 16a max. I guess that's why they can use only two wires for a single pole. Very nice product. Simple and accurate. Replaced three of them, box to trash, in under 30 minutes with a Phillips head screwdriver. Awesome!

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Got the product and installed it same day. It worked for about 1 hour then burned out and went crazy. Manufacturer claimed it would work fine with my system. Don't spend the money for this unit, it is noisy and failed in the first hour.

Review of Soleus Air MS-09 Oscillating Reflective Heater

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List Price: $59.99
Sale Price: $53.24
Today's Bonus: 11% Off

I'm getting another one, I love this sucker so much.

Energy efficient at 400 and 800 watts vs 1500 for a convection heater.

In short, if you:

1) stay pretty much in one spot during the day

2) have high ceilings or your home is really hard to heat

3) have dust allergies

4) use a heater just during your waking hours and pile on the warm blankets at night

5) are not bothered by some light being emitted from your heater

6) have cats or dogs

7) love how it feels when the sun warms up your clothes and skin

8) are concerned about energy efficiency

9) need a heater that won't burn anyone who bumps into it

then this is the space heater for you!

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I'm a graduate student living alone in a one-bedroom apartment. Here in Reno, I pay more than $100 for the electricity during the winter season. I figured out that this is probably due to my heaters which are electric-powered. My apartment has a built-in electric heater and I have a Delonghi heater (DFH 333MT). I have no complaints about the Delonghi heater except that it consumes lots of electricity(1500 W) and I just don't like the feeling of the warm air plus it makes me feel dry.

To save money I decided to invest in this little heater and I was not disappointed. It just consumes 400 W (low setting) and 800 W (high setting).

To give you an idea of how good it is, I turned off the built-in electric heater in my apartment and the Delonghi heater and I did not feel cold at all even in the LOW SETTING.

The lights at LOW SETTING is not as bright as I thought. But in case you cannot sleep with its emitted light, I suggest that you put a blindfold. The light feels good. This device has also a safety mechanism. If you tip it, it will stop working and if it reached a certain high temperature,it will automatically stop. To sum up, a good buy.

This heater is made in China. I just hope that it will last for a long time.

UPDATE: In colder evenings, you need to use the HIGH SETTING. The light is too bright but the heat is enough esp. if you are at least 3 feet apart from it. In my case, I still need to turn on my apartment's built-in electric heater but only at LOW SETTING. This Soleus heater is just not enough to heat my whole room which is connected to the kitchen.

Well, it has been more than a year since I updated this review. I now live in Moscow, ID (from Reno, NV)doing postdoctoral studies and this heater still works!

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I bought this product to help heat a large loft. Knowing that hot air would simply blow away and be expensive, I thought I would focus on something energy efficient that could target a location. So here's a little breakdown.

The effective range of this product is limited. We keep it about 5-8 feet away to heat an one person at a time. It really has a max target area diameter of about 4-5 feet from that distance. Left on for a while in a small room, Like a bathroom...it does eventually heat up that space, but otherwise it's for very target heating.

Positives:

Warm instantly when in target area

Not hot to touch

energy efficient

Negative:

Really bright, you can't look at the thing for more than a few seconds when it's on high. We refer to it as "turning on the sun." Imagine a 50 watt bulb with a silver reflecting dish pointed at you.

See the angle that it's pointed in in the picture? It's slightly up. It's as low as it goes, it doesn't go directly straight or down why does this matter? We'll because say I want to heat myself from behind so it doesn't blind me I can't place it on a shelf or table.. It has to be on the floor and every chair I know has a back...so no help there. It will always shine on you. I'd also use it to heat my bed but I can't point it down at the covers. So basically it must be on the floor only.

Overall, a good product if you need target heating, from the floor, and can deal with brightness.

Honest reviews on Soleus Air MS-09 Oscillating Reflective Heater

If you want heat, this one's for you. It puts out more heat at 400 watts than most 1500 watt heaters, so it'll cost far less to run. I haven't even set it on high (800 watts) because I haven't needed to. Some may object to the light it emits but that's like complaining about the sun because it's too bright if you stare at it. You can set it up peripherally or at a slight angle away from your direct vision, avoid the light and still get plenty of heat. Buy this now while it's on sale and you can get free shipping. I don't know how long these halogen bulbs last, but it really does the job.

UPDATE (11/07):

After using this for two years, it's easily paid for itself. However, I bought one for a friend and it and its replacement (covered by Soleus under warranty) were defective. The third one she received seems to be OK, however she prefers the Presto Parabolic Heater since she claims it heats a wider area and doesn't emit as much light. The Presto costs half again as much ($75), may do slightly better but also uses more electricity, so figure out what's right for you. I should add I don't use the Soleus at night, it's less intrusive and more efficient to use an electric blanket instead.

UPDATE (1/13):

Still going! I bought another Soleus a few years ago, slightly different model but both work like charms. I'm convinced this is the best value in space heaters and I'm glad to see they're still available. Look for the best deal and get yours while they last things this good are usually phased out for more expensive/lesser quality "upgrades".

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I recommend this heater, especially if want to stay toasty warm while saving energy. With energy costs going up dramatically this winter, one real way of saving money is to heat the area you are in, rather than the entire house. In the old days, the wood stove would heat the central area of the house, and the bedrooms would be bone cold and one would be buried under a pile of blankets at night. This might not be our favorite thing, but was wise in terms of energy use (and saved a lot of wood-chopping!).

This heater would allow one to keep the temperature of the home much cooler, while staying nice and warm while reading, watching TV, working at the computer, etc. Another advantage to the heater is where the people in the home have different personal "thermostats". Some Nordic types like to be cool all the time and even sleep with a window open every night. Others like to be toasty warm all the time, seemingly lacking the inner furnace that keeps others comfortable in relatively cool (60-65°) household winter temperatures. In addition, as people age, some want to be even warmer as is often the case in nursing homes and I know of those who keep their winter house temperature at 85° on the coldest of days. Unbelievable to me both in terms of energy cost and energy waste.

The bottom line: this heater will save you money, and might help household relationships by allowing those who want to be toasty warm all the time to be so, while allowing others who prefer to be cool, to be comfortable as well.

Read the directions and keep them. When the heater trips off, which can happen from movement or if it is knocked over, etc., it will not come back on until it has cooled, which can take 10 minutes. This is a wise safeguard for this and any electric heater, as they do produce warmth, and one must use common sense in using them. Another example: one should always use a heavy-duty extension cord with electric heaters, which is mentioned in the manual. All easy to do, but important to be aware of in these days of central heating, when many are unfamiliar with space heaters and do not take the time to read the directions. It is always sad to hear of house fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, etc., during the holiday season, as people forget basic safety matters in their desire to be warm.

Review of DeLonghi PAC T110P 11,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner

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List Price: $1,050.00
Sale Price: $482.82
Today's Bonus: 54% Off

The packaging was damaged but UPS checked it out to make sure that the unit was not damaged before delivering.

I like the ease of moving it from one room to another. The casters roll smoothly. It cools a single room very quickly but is noisy.

The window insert could use some rework. It needs to be beefed up and perhaps some ribs to line it up with the window. It tends to pop out from under the window because the duct is so much heavier than the insert.

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Works well, could use a better mechanism to connect to the window when a sliding window (side-ways)

Seems to use more Amp than specified, measured it to use 11.5A instead of the 9.7A rated.

Other than that, chills very well, no need to empty water overflow (yet) and not too loud (not quiet either)

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The A/C unit puts out a tremendous amount of cool air and works as advertised. Previous reviews mentioned that it was noisy and that is indeed the case. However, that is a small price to pay after a hurricane has knocked out our power, the generator has been turned on, and it's a humid 95 degrees out without a breath of wind. The price was right, too. I'm very pleased with the purchase. Setup is easy and the manufacturer quickly replaced a minor plastic part that got broken during shipping.

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I bought two of these, a 10,000 BTU and one like this one, 11,000 BTU. They are very good as air conditioners, they seem to cool a lot more than the room they are in, if strategically located. For best results I coupled them with a high velocity fan blowing away from them, towards the rest of the house. This way the cold air from the air condition circulates faster through the room.

At first I noticed that regardless of how low I would set the temperature, the cooling was just O-K. Not great. But what really got me upset was the humidity. I had never felt humidity in the house before putting high efficiency windows. Apparently, it is an undesired result of the upgrade, as there are no cracks for the air to circulate and the humidity to escape anymore. To get rid of the humidity I set the Pinguinos to work as dehumidifiers. This seems to be their best function yet. Because they are vented (I have both hoses connected, the one at issue is the exhaust now), the exhaust expels outside the hot air which a normal dehumidifier would release in the room. This makes the room a LOT COOLER than using the air condition function.

For better results yet, I connected the hose in the back of the Pinguino and out the window, so now all the water goes out and the Pinguino can work uninterrupted until it reaches the desired humidity level (I set it at 35%).

Was it worth it???? buying such an expensive piece of equipment x2 and ending up using it as a dehumidifier? Would I have been able to buy 10 to 15 dehumidifiers for the price? Absolutely on both counts. I could have spent a lot less money for dehumidifiers, but I do feel it was worth getting the Pinguinos, after all. -Even if only because I can move them at will...

The jury is out on power consumption. When I was researching about the equipment, I read that they were so much more efficient than the US had standards to measure them by, and that was the reason they were not energy star rated. I also read that they were compliant with the new (2009) EU energy efficiency standards, which are by far better than the US ones. With that in mind, I set out to compare electricity bills. I am not happy so far, but I have other mitigating factors (need new refrigerator, have not used the 'smart mode' enough, etc.) to consider first. I will revisit the issue and write a separate comment on the energy efficiency when I have better indicators.

Nov. 26, 2012.

I have used this units for 2 summers now. I have better indicators about the electricity usage. They are very economical. My electricity consumption this summer was 40% less than last summer according to the electric company data (the stuff we can see online about our consumption, etc.). Some of it is due to generally better management and better understanding of waste. But having the right equipment is the most important part of that management. I have not changed electricity suppliers (yet). I am adding another star to my review.

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This looked good "on paper" after I researched portable a/c's.

The one I have doesn't cool well, its being returned. I made a test where it was on for several hours, and couldn't lower the temperature below 75, when it was only 80 out, but set to 66. I expected to freeze, not be merely comfortable. It won't be good enough for 90+ days.

There were missing parts to connect to the window outlet (I used duct tape workarounds to test), and Delonghi said the serial number indicated it was manufactured over a year ago, and suggested it may have been returned. They seemed quite willing to send the parts...

The good; it looks made well, no cheezy parts. No signs of the water bucket filling (which seems to happen dehumidify mode only), its relatively quiet. It moves fairly easy on the rollers. With separate air intake and output hoses, it should work better (but...).

Con; no side to side adjustment for airflow. You seem to need to point the whole thing in a direction. Its very big and heavy. And it didn't cool well, but perhaps mine was returned by someone else.

Cheap CASTLECREEK Media Stand Electric Fireplace

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List Price: $650.00
Sale Price: $379.99
Today's Bonus: 42% Off

Nice product. Easy to put together. More for looks then heat. Makes my living room feel cozy. Warningwhen you peel off the letters on the pieces of wood( after the product is put together) wipe with water first to get sticky off, otherwise, it will peel off the wood look.

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CASTLECREEK Media Stand Electric Fireplace took several hours to assemble but nice product for the money would recommend it for

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This product is basically 100% pressed wood with a paper simulated wood grain finish over it. Be ready to screww your azz off, because nowhere in the ad on amazon did it say anything about assembly required. This is "furniture in a box" many parts and many, many screws and fastener blocks. I was expecting this item to arrive ready to plug into the wall, NOPE!. 3 boxes and alot of parts. If not for my son who is a carpenter by trade offering to assemble this product for me, it would have been right back on the truck returning to the seller. if you decide to order this product or anything similar, I would recommend having a power screw driver available to make it easier and speed up assembly time. Also the assembly instructions could stand to be revised a bit.

Buy Tiger PDN-A30U Electric Water Dispenser, 3.0-Liter

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List Price: $187.00
Sale Price: $129.20
Today's Bonus: 31% Off

This unit was a replacement for a previous different model heater which lasted many years. It is easy to use, the lid is solid, and the pump is quiet. The adjustable temperatures are convenient. The only thing that could be improved is to be able to shut off the beeps that occur after the water is ready to be used following a refill. It is Ok during the day, but not necessary at night. It is possible to delay the heating with a timer, which then also of course delays the beeps to the next morning.

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I bought this model a year ago. Love the convenience of getting hot water any time. However, half a year later, there seemed to be some corrosion spots on the bottom. Now, the spots are more prominent and are rusty. The thought of drinking water with rust in it does not seem safe to me.

Buy Kalorik SFC 24713 Steam Mop with Removable Water Tank

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List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $85.22
Today's Bonus: 15% Off

I bought this steam mop for my wife because she was dying to try one out, with a baby tearing up the kitchen and all. However, this specific mop didn't even come close to where it needed to be in order to get the job done.

The main problem here is that steam mop technology just isn't quite there yet. The steam alone isn't enough to get a lot of stains up, but since you can't use any type of chemicals in conjunction with this mop, it does very little to get the floor clean. Even worse, the process of steaming leaves a fine silt-like film all over the area after you're done. You pretty much have to break out the old mop and bucket just to clean up the mess that this "new and improved" mop made. I believe someone was good to try to apply steam cleaning to a handheld mop, but the process of just squirting the steam out of the bottom with nothing more than a cloth cover to clean the floor isn't really a good idea. Match that up with the $90 price tag, at least when I purchased it, and it makes this mop pretty pathetic as far as value is concerned.

Overall, please save your money. You'd be better to buy a large steam vacuum for a little more that will at least have rotating brushes or some other gizmo that actually breaks down stains and stuff on the floor, instead of just relying on steam alone. I think this is pretty common with all of the steam mops out there, so again...please save your money.

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The Steam Mop left my floor very wet and did not put out that much steam. My regular hand mop did a better job. Returning product.

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Kalorik Steam Cleaner

After about the 3rd use, my steam cleaner overheated after about 5 minutes of use. It was so hot it burned my finger to hold the button down. I didn't try to take it back because I no longer had the receipt plus I had it a few months before I even used it. I tried it again after about a month and it did the same thing. Money thrown away.

Honest reviews on Kalorik SFC 24713 Steam Mop with Removable Water Tank

This mop seems well built and the handle is much sturdier than others.

The pad stayed on well during use and washed well.

It heats up fair temp wise and while its not super hot steam wise, it did remove grime and made a decent amount of moisture. If you over steam it will leave the floors pretty wet. My main complaint with its use was design..the triangle head wants to lift off the floor in front as you pull the mop back..and the small head, while being perfect for bathrooms and baseboards etc... ends up being too small for larger floor surfaces, takes a long time to cover the entire area.

I gave the mop to my son who has smaller square footage to clean and will be trying another steam mop. The jury still seems to be out on this whole steam mop revolution. I think the over-all technology and construction still needs to be improved based on the many, many reviews I have read in here.

On that note..I greatly thank amazon for the review system here, it is a very helpful tool for consumers.

(EDIT) I payed $75 for this mop, from Amazon, now I see its been reduced considerably and is sold by another company, I assume they are being clearanced out.

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This product only does a fair job of cleaning. I have tile that is less than one year old and the grout only looked a little cleaner after 3 uses.

It leaves a film of water on the surface that takes at least 15 minutes to dry and some spots have to be wiped up by hand.

Would I buy this again, no. Jean

Oster 5965 1-1/2-Liter Electric Water Kettle, Stainless Steel Reviews

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List Price: $79.99
Sale Price: $38.33
Today's Bonus: 52% Off

I read reviews for many electric kettles and in the end chose the great Oster 5965. It had no reviews at all, but had all the features that were important to us:

Concealed Element

Short cord/cord keeper

Auto-off, no whistle

Boil dry protection

Mesh/screen pouring filter

Water level indicator

This kettle boils water quickly and my favorite feature is the Keep Warm button. Especially helpful if you tend to get sidetracked like I do. Just don't forget to turn it off! It pours neatly, looks nice on the counter, and is great when you are cooking and need boiling water. The on/off switch is a rocker button and the Keep Warm is a push button. These two were a plus for me as they are sturdy to the touch. I felt the spring type switch on the Aroma (a contender) felt flimsy and that the time would come when it would not 'catch' in the on position.

The only con is the opening for adding water is rather small. I was concerned about cleaning it, however there are directions in the manual for cleaning it with a mix of white vinegar and water, allowing it to sit overnight to remove any scale buildup.

If you have read reviews of other products where people complain that the kettle gets hot, this one is no different. But what do you expect from a steel kettle that is full of boiling water?? It's no different than if it had been sitting on the stove except that you didn't have to heat up the element and have the residual heat from the stove heating up your kitchen.

I paid $40 at Target and I recommend this Oster Brushed Stainless Steel Kettle.

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I bought this kettle to replace a plastic kettle that I've had for years. Concerns over plastic in contact with boiling water convinced me to buy a stainless kettle. There is a little plastic in the water with this kettle from the water level indicator but it is greatly reduced from my all-plastic version.

I bought this at Target because I wanted to check out the inside of it before purchase; there were no pictures online which is why I posted some at the top of this page.

It is 1500 watts and boils water fast. Also has a keep warm feature which is something I don't need. I have had no leaking water problems.

The opening is small but I can get my bottle brush inside to clean with no problem. The mesh filter pops right off. If you develop scale, just pour in a cup or so of vinegar, add some water & let it sit for an hour. I have very hard water so I do this every other week. I fill the kettle from my refrigerator water tap because that water is filtered. I had tried another pot before buying this one but I could not use my refrigerator tap; water ended up on the floor. This kettle has a nice flared spout that makes filling easy. I remove the mesh strainer when filling. I'm contemplating removing the metal bar that holds the strainer because I don't really need the strainer. The strainer hangs securely on that bar; no clicking anything to lock it. It's really simple/smart.

You'll see my little back dots on the water level indicator. (I'm referring to my photo above.) I added those with a Sharpie so I know how much water I need for everyday coffee making. I use the pour-over method to brew coffee directly in to my carafe. I use more water on the weekend, less during work week & the least when it's just me. I need things simple in the AM before I've had my coffee! The measurements are in liters on one side and cups on the other side of the indicator. This is very helpful.

Yes, it gets very hot when boiling water; it's a metal kettle with boiling water. Treat it like you would a hot pan on the stove you grab the handle not the pan. The handle is very comfortable to grip & far enough away from the body of the kettle to prevent burning. Also the kettle spins on its base so there is no need to grab the body to move it around. Just grab the handle & you're good to go. Yes, steam comes out of the spout & you may want to direct the spout facing out from under your cabinets; boiling water creates steam. Do not exceed the max water level. I tried that to see what would happen. It burped some hot water out of the spout; you could burn yourself doing that.

The "Keep Warm" feature keeps the water below boiling for up to 12 hours as long as there is enough water in the kettle. If there isn't enough water, the kettle has a "boil-dry, fail-safe device" which turns the kettle off. You just push a button to use this feature. I never use it but according to the instruction manual, the water is kept at 70 C / 158 F.

The cord wraps around underneath the electric base so it's out of the way. I always unplug this device when not in use. Just like my iron and toaster.

This is a pretty, curvy kettle; one of the nicest designs I've seen. I like the brushed stainless which looks nice next to my brushed stainless carafe.

Update 5/2013: I still use this kettle although I moved it to my cabin so it only gets used on weekends now. The kettle does not leak, still heats quickly & still looks good.

My coffee bean grinder: Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder, Black

This is my carafe:

Copco 2 Quart Thermal Capacity Brushed Stainless Steel Carafe

I brew directly into the carafe using this filter cone (pour-over method):

RSVP Maunual Drip Coffee Filter Cone for Carafes or Thermos

I use these filters:

Melitta Cone Coffee Filters, Natural Brown, No. 6, 40-Count Filters (Pack of 12)

Best Deals for Oster 5965 1-1/2-Liter Electric Water Kettle, Stainless Steel

The Oster stainless steel electric kettle lives up to its reputation in our household. We replaced our old and trusted plastic Oster electric kettle of many years good service, because we became concerned with boiling water in plastic which can leach toxins. The new design is beautiful to look at and has the added advantage of a "keep warm" feature the older model did not have. It is a bit less easy to read the water gauge, but you get used to it. It still boils water very fast, keeps it warm if you so wish and has no nasty taste or smell like so many other models you read about. It is heavenly for a tea drinker like me who drinks as many as ten cups a day!! Perfect for a fast oatmeal, instant coffee, instant soup, jello, adding boiling water when cooking soup and much more. At your finger tips, withing a couple of minutes are 1.5L of fresh boiling water. It turns itself off, swivels 360degrees. Love our Oster. Very well built and we expect to enjoy many years of good service like we did the previous Oster model.

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I loved this kettle as the other reviewers did but at six months it started leaking thru the bottom. I don't know if this is a design flaw or a fluke.

UPDATE: I contacted customer service and was sent a new kettle with a slightly different design but the same item number. The design flaws appear to have been addressed and this one has had no problems even with daily use. We've already purchased another for my daughter at college.

UPDATE 2: The replacement kettle is now over a year old and still working great. Whoever gets up first turns it on and it is on most of the day almost everyday with several refills. Upgrading to 5 stars!

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Number one, the price was irresistible and it is true stainless, not cheap plastic looking stainless At the time of this writing it was $30 or so. I am so tired of sticking a measuring cup in the microwave to create hot water this is such a time saver. I use this mainly to heat water for:

1) French Press Coffee

2) Tea

3) Soups

4) Grits and Oatmeal Instant Type

5) Unexpected Entertaining

6) The new Apple Cider Powder Mixes

7) Hot Chocolate

And the list goes on. I use only distilled water in the unit which will help the life of the unit by a few years and with any luck the life of me.

It does heat up fast only two minutes when it was half full and that may be incredibly valuable if electric is being rationed because I live in hurricane alley and have been out of electric weeks at a time. Being able to "borrow" a few minutes of someone's generator definitely comes to mind. This is also a great gift for someone already in such a situation. I also love this appliance for "boil water" advisories which we are seeing more and more of in any state in the nation. So, yes, I would not worry about distilled if I really need water during a boil water advisory and I would use this kettle.

I actually bought this because I will be away from home for a few months...and in "camp" like conditions. Luxuries will be few and so this is one of my picks to be with me.

For anyone in snow conditions this unit has to be a total necessity. I will have this with me when I go on a two week ski trip this upcoming holiday season. In fact I will plan a lot of ski meals around this kettle.

Downside? Well, I initially flipped out the cord was so short however, being short seems to be a big asset now and it is attractive enough to earn its prime property location in my kitchen.

EXTRA THOUGHTS: Thermal Ware can be a huge plus. If you are doing powered soup mixes, grits, oatmeal or noodles anything, you will need some heat retention capability because boiling water is not enough for some foods.

I am liking this series to buy next and in different colors so I know whose is whose when I am making small meals.

http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Foogo-Proof-Stainless-Steel/dp/B0025Y6742

Reviews of Hoover Platinum Collection Carpet Cleaner with MaxExtract

Customer Ratings:

We should really be hired to test vacuum and carpet cleaners, but even so the price of this dream clean machine gave me some pause (okay, a lot). With 2 kids, 3 dogs, and 2 cats and fairly light carpets, we put our cleaners to the test. I have gone through SEVERAL carpet cleaners (roughly 1 every 2 years) and have also had the carpets professionally cleaned. Honestly, this carpet cleaner cleaned as well if not better than the pros, and worlds better than our current Hoover F6207-900 SteamVac Lite Carpet Cleaner with Heated Cleaning.

Pros:

1) Handle can lay back fully with no strain on the hose I mention this after replacing the hoses several times on previous Hoovers

2) You do NOT have to mix the detergent!!!! Wow what a great feature, no waste!

3) 2 separate rollers actually scrub the carpet amazingly well

4) No fuss dial system incredibly easy to go between standard clean, spot clean (does not pick up so you can scrub, scrub, scrub away the years of bad carpet cleaners), and rinse (the water rinse is GREAT!)

5) Easy to follow indicator lights let you know if you know when it is cleaning (detergent), rinsing (water only), or drying (neither light on)

6) Spot clean is easy to follow actually squirts out the front so you can actually see the spot you are hitting (2 settings, spray or stream)

7) My previous Hoovers had this obnoxious detachable hose reel, and then when the clips that hold it on break, you find yourself dragging accessories around the house this one is not detachable.

8) The hose remains attached, you don't have to plug it in, so no hose door to break and lose (yeah, I've done that too)

9) Scrubber assembly comes off easily for cleaning (but not the front roller, which might be a problem if you don't maintain it)

10) generous cord longer than previous Hoovers

11) 6 year warranty makes it cheaper than replacing 3 $200 Hoovers with 1 year warranties (just check where your service center is ours is about 30 miles away and always very responsive)

12) Since it is clear plastic (opposed to grey or purple) it is easier to see when the water being picked up becomes fairly clear indicating you have extracted the maximum amount of dirt you can

Cons:

1) It's big and heavy and I have tons of stairs

2) Blue light shining on carpet this gives me eye strain after a while

3) Waste container there's no delicate way to dump it it's opening is like a big bucket and it gets everywhere. I suppose it will get better with practice, and it is easier to clean this way, but I think it was a step backward

4) Very small holes to pour in the detergent and water buy a funnel since the detergent is pricey

5) Detergent guzzler

Eh's (take 'em or leave 'em):

1) Heat I don't think it really did much (It didn't feel substantial)

2) Waste container sensor doesn't detect the detergent well, with the clear plastic, it's pretty obvious when they need emptying/filling

3) Blue light why blue simulated uv? It doesn't actually illuminate anything.

4) Carry handle it's made of molded plastic and is in the back, so... yeah, pretty awkward hoisting it up and down the stairs. But, I really don't have a better option, so am not putting it as a con.

How did it do???

If I had known how well it would do, I would have taken pictures or video, because it is unbelievable. I cleaned my ancient 15 year old carpets (about 1600 sq. feet worth) and actually managed to get them back very near their original color. Shockingly old stains that my kidlets provided that were not removed by the pros or the old cleaners are gone. One caveat here is that I used around 64 ounces of detergent. I started with the professional grade, but used the cheap stuff in the kids' rooms (smells better anyway). Based on the amount used and lack of discernable difference, I cannot recommend the "professional" cleaner but instead Hoover 40321130 Premium Pet Formula Carpet/Upholstery Detergent, 128-Ounce, which has what I would call a lemony scent. If you are scent sensitive, then try Hoover 40321128 Deep Cleansing Carpet/Upholstery Detergent, 128-Ounce. I use the 4-for-3 to really make it a great buy. In any event, I took my time actually read the directions for once and made sure I did several dry passes. I took advantage of the spot clean followed by rinse only for high traffic areas, used the powered hand tool on the stairs, and the upholstery brush on our chairs. All works admirably providing results that made the initial investment worth it. The carpets look amazing and were dry within two hours (aided along by a hot day).

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I bought this cleaner yesterday after reading many reviews. My little Bissel steam cleaner stopped vacuuming up the solution after just using it 10 times, so I decided to invest in something I won't have to replace once a year. I was nervous at first because the cleaner is very expensive compared to other cleaners, and putting it together, I was terrified it would break, as it's made of plastic which doesn't feel very strong to me. It was simple to put together and get started, and once I started cleaning, I knew I'd made a good choice. I cleaned the carpet in my 17 month old son's room, and was shocked at how differently this cleaner worked compared to my Bissel. With my Bissel, an entire gallon of solution was sprayed onto my carpet, but only a few ounces of the solution was vacuumed up. I contacted Bissel and they assured me this was normal, as I have thick carpets. However, the carpets sometimes took 24 hours or more to dry, which is very frustrating. Needless to say, I hardly used the Bissel cleaner as it was a pain to wait an entire day for the carpets to dry. With this Hoover cleaner, though, nearly ALL the solution was vaccumed back out of the carpet! It took about 5 hours for the carpet to dry (very thick carpet!) and the dirty water was BLACK when I was done. I'm disgusted at what a terrible job my Bissel did, and grateful that this cleaner works so well!

What I love about this cleaner:

You don't have to mix the detergent in water, the machine mixes it for you, making it easier to clean small areas if needed without making an entire gallon of solution

I'm a small woman and this machine is pretty big, but it's easy to push, I had no problems with it

The LED light on the front reveals conspicuous stains the carpet

The machine rinses and partially dries the carpet, without leaving an overwhelming smell of chemicals in the room

It comes with a 6 year limited warranty. Other Hoover cleaners come with a 1 year warranty. (Hopefully this means that they are confident with this machine, and not that they anticipate problems, I'm quite cynical)

The dirty water bin is VERY easy to clean. My Bissel was terrible to clean, it took me half an hour to clean it because of the design.

The suction is great, it actually vacuums up nearly all the water out of the carpet

It actually gets my carpet clean! Finally!

What I don't like:

The machine appears to be sturdy, but I'm still a little nervous about all the plastic parts. I keep thinking something might break off if I'm not careful. It's an expensive machine and I can't afford for anything to break.

You can use any Hoover detergent in the machine, but the the platinum detergent that comes with it is VERY expensive, much more than Hoover's original detergent. I've contacted them to see what exactly the difference is and if the Platinum detergent actually works better or if the original detergent will do just as well.

Edit: Hoover got back to me and told me that the "Recommended" shampoos for this machine are the Platinum detergent and the Hoover SteamVac Ultra carpet and upholstry detergent. They said the other brands might foam too much and cause problems. The ultra detergent is about half the price of the platinum, so I bought 4 bottles of it with the buy 4, get 1 free deal on amazon. I just used the detergent last night on a fresh chocolate milk stain and it didn't get it out, but I don't know if the platinum would have, either. Seems like decent detergent, though! And a lot more affordable!

Extra Edit: After using this cleaner for several months, I still don't regret buying it because it cleans so well, but I do have a few comments on cleaning it. The rotating brushes on the underside of the cleaner pick up a lot of lint, hair, and gunk that vacuums do not pick up, and the junk gets really nasty in the brushes. I've actually had to take my cleaner outside, turn it over, and pull everything out of the brushes. Very gross, but it keeps from spreading on my carpet. Just wanted to mention the fact. This is still a wonderful cleaner and does a great job, but cleaning the brushes is a bit more extensive than other carpet cleaners I've owned.

Best Deals for Hoover Platinum Collection Carpet Cleaner with MaxExtract

I have dogs so I'm always on the lookout for a better and easier way to clean my carpets. I bought this top-of-the-line Hoover Platinum Carpet Cleaner a few months ago. I used it no more than 5 times for some quick clean ups in the first couple of weeks and was very impressed. It did such a good job making "clean spots" that I took it out on the weekend to do the whole carpet.

I used the cleaner as indicated in the manual, and I used only Hoover Platinum cleaning solutions. After cleaning about 120 square feet, in mid-clean, the steamer stopped dead. There was no problem with the outlet; the machine was totally unresponsive. I cleaned it out, put it away, and tried it again the next morning thinking it might have overheated. Still dead, so I returned it. I expected a lot more from a top-of-the-line product from a reputable company.

My experience may not be typical; the cleaner might have been defective. It has a lot of good features, but it also has drawbacks. Factor in the high cost, the PROs and CONs, and make your own decision.

PROs:

1. Minimal assembly. The upper handle attaches with just two nuts and bolts. That's it.

2. 6-year warranty.

3. 30 foot power cord.

4. Spot clean function. You can dispense a thin stream of cleaning fluid or a wider spray and then the brushes will scrub at any set in stains for as long as you want before you set it to extract.

5. DualScrub technology. There are two rows of brushes, a SpinScrub brush and a power groomer brush (like a traditional beater bar brush) located right next to each other. What one brush doesn't get, the other will.

6. MaxExtract technology. This is a heavy machine with significant suction. Despite the weight, it's easy to push and pull and does not leave the carpet saturated.

7. Tank full / tank empty indicator lights let you know when the dirty water recovery tank is full and when the clean water and soap tanks are empty.

8. Powered hand tool with SpinScrub brushes, upholstery tool, and crevice tool on board. Switching over to use the on-board tools is simple and easy.

9. AutoRinse technology. Depress the trigger and push the machine forward and it dispenses the cleaning solution and scrubs the carpet. Keep pressing the trigger as you pull it back toward you and it extracts the dirty water and dispenses a clean water rinse. Release the trigger and do another pass or two back and forth and the Platinum extracts any liquid in the carpet.

10. The soap and clean water are stored in separate tanks and the machine mixes them automatically depending on the type of cleaning you select. This cleaner actually uses less soap than the other carpet cleaners I've owned, which is good since the detergent is quite expensive.

11. A computer-controlled panel that looks like it would be at home on a star ship and lets you know exactly what the machine is doing. Cool and distracting at the same time.

12. The SpinScrub brush bar detaches easily for cleaning.

CONs:

1. The price: $400.

2.The electric blue LED headlight. This is supposed to help illuminate stains, but I found it blinding. The one thing it absolutely did not do was make it easier to see stains. I couldn't even tell where I had cleaned because everything was bathed in this eerie bright blue light. This feature was beyond annoying.

3. Very expensive cleaning fluid. The detergents made exclusively for the Platinum ("professional strength") come in small 50 ounce bottles and cost between $18-$22.

4. If you don't use the Platinum formula detergent, the control panel light indicates that the soap tank is empty because it doesn't "recognize" other detergents. The machine will still work. Hoover says that other less expensive detergents might foam excessively and damage the cleaner.

5. The Direct Heat Drying feature. This just seems like machine exhaust directed at the carpet. It's supposed to help the carpet dry more quickly, but I don't see how a couple of quick passes over a wet carpet blowing some hot air will make a difference.

6. This cleaner is heavy, almost 29 pounds before you add water and cleaning solution, which brings the weight up to near 40 pounds.

7. The clean water tank is 128 ounces (1 gallon) and the dirty water recovery tank is 96 ounces (3 quarts). Because it is so small, it requires frequent emptying, and the timing does not coincide with when the detergent and clean water tanks need refilling. Annoying.

8. It's challenging to get the soap tank, clean water tank, and dirty water recovery tank to slide back on the machine easily. When the clean water tank is full of water, the handle on the tank seems way too flimsy to support the weight of the tank. The bottom of the dirty water tank is not flat and takes a few attempts to get it seated correctly.

9. The soap tank is poorly designed. There are three compartments -the center one that holds the soap and two empty "wings" on either side. It looks like you have more soap in there than you do because 2/3 of the tank is empty. This makes no sense functionally.

10. You are not supposed to store the machine for any length of time with detergent left in the tank, but the design of the tank (fills from a small hole in the top) makes it almost impossible to empty without spilling soap all over the place, and it is way too expensive to waste. Everything about the soap tank is clunky -odd design, wasted space, lack of functionality. This could use a major redesign.

11. It is also challenging to empty the dirty water tank without making a mess. The plastic hinges on the lid are flimsy and a potential weak spot. I accidentally touched the release button for the lid on the dirty water tank while I was carrying it to dump out and it spilled out all over the floor. Draining dirty water out of the tank is so messy that I do it outside and even then, it's messy. It splatters all over the place.

12. The design of the lid on the dirty water tank and the recovery nozzle assembly (the plastic cover through which the water is extracted and from where the heated air comes) makes it hard to rinse clean without splashing water all over the place. Another outside job.

13. You cannot transport the cleaner by wheeling it in an upright position unless you empty the dirty water recovery tank first. If the machine tips back when you push it and the tank is near full, dirty water will slop out (yuck). This is a major design flaw and should have been corrected before Hoover ever released this product for sale to the public.

14. You can remove the SpinScrub brushes easily for cleaning, but not the beater bar-style brush next to it.

For the very short time the Platinum worked, it was a decent carpet cleaner. I love the automatic clean water rinse and the ease of using the tools. The Platinum detergents do a good job and the machine sips rather than gulps the cleaner, but I'm not convinced the soap does a better job than other available brands and it is very expensive. The electric blue headlight has got to go. Hoover should replace it with a clear LED. A really serious concern is how quickly my machine just stopped working altogether; I hadn't even owned it for 3 weeks. For the price and considering the Hoover name, I absolutely expected better. Based on my own experience, I just can't recommend this cleaner.

Honest reviews on Hoover Platinum Collection Carpet Cleaner with MaxExtract

My wife and I live in a split entry ranch (raised ranch) home. We have been in it since 1994. Wall to wall carpet with the exception of 2 baths, kitchen/dining room and the laundry room.

We put new carpet in the house when we moved in... and then again when we remodeled in 2004. We had a professional rug cleaner do it (previous to the remodel and currently) every spring and fall (upstairs spring, downstairs fall) until we called to make an appointment a few weeks ago and they were out of business.

We decide to research a home cleaner and give that a try instead of looking for a new company. I Googled "carpet cleaners" and the Bissell Pro Heat 2X 9500 seemed to be the one model that kept popping up and had many good reviews.

I go to one of our local department stores to purchase the Bissell... I asked the manager of this department what he thought of the Bissell and he said "since you asked and to be honest with you... the Bissell cleaners are the most returned model here at the store". I then asked what he recommended. He said "I have a Hoover Steam Cleaner myself and it works well and we hardly get any Hoover returns. We also just got this new Hoover Platinum Collection Cleaner in this past weekend."

So I went with the Hoover F8100900 Platinum Collection Carpet Cleaner and I did the upstairs and the stairs... and all I can state is "unbelievable on what a FANTASTIC JOB IT DID !!!".

It looks better than when the professional company had done it! It also dried as fast if not faster.

This machine does what it says it will do... and more!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Hoover Platinum Collection Carpet Cleaner with MaxExtract

My Hoover Platinum Carpet Cleaner arrived last Saturday and I put it to work in less than an hour. I have and used both Hoover and Bissell in the past and this, by far, exceeded my expectations. I first cleaned all my area and throw rugs and they look like new. It also did a good job on old pet stains on my main carpet. Cleaning the unit is a snap, except for the horizontal roller! Fibers and pet hair wound up around it and I couldn't clean it without removal. Hoover instructions are silent on how to clean this roller. Being mechanically inclined, I removed 3 screws and detached the roller from it's bearings and belt drive. After cutting off the rolled up hair and carpet fibers and washing the bristles, I reassembled the roller back into the machine. This part of the cleaning took about 20 minutes. Despite this, I highly recommend the machine. It got out dirt I never dreamed was there!

World Marketing America Pelonis Hc461 Convection Heater Electronic Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $212.81
Sale Price: $101.00
Today's Bonus: 53% Off

Use it outside when cold and it is a directed heat with limited heat range and blower. I will get a new bigger one next time, because this is under sized for what i wanted it.

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This is the real deal HC461 and not the similar less expensive version. Heats a very nice area and reduces power draw when it reaches the desired temperature. Make sure your cart specifies HC461 in the description. A search often brings up the cheaper one and it is easy to end up with that one instead.

Reviews of Deep Blue Hand Tufted 100% Wool Rug

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $79.95
Sale Price: $74.25
Today's Bonus: 7% Off

After searching in stores and online for a nice, thick half-moon shaped hearth rug, I finally found it!! This rug is a beautiful rich navy color and is really thick and plush. I highly recommend this rug!

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Looks much nicer in person than online. Wool, soft, thick and easy to clean. Stands up to much abuse and a quick vacuum and looks new again. Looks great in front of the fireplace.

Best Deals for Deep Blue Hand Tufted 100% Wool Rug

We ordered this after having our fireplace converted back to wood burning from gas logs. Figured that it might protect the carpeting if a spark escaped. It looks great and seems to be well made. We are quite satisfied with it.

Honest reviews on Deep Blue Hand Tufted 100% Wool Rug

My husband inadvertently burned a whole in our family room carpet. I think a spark from the wood stove flew out when he opened the door. I needed something to cover the whole and this hearth rug was perfect.