Showing posts with label qmark heaters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label qmark heaters. Show all posts
Friday, October 31, 2014
Reviews of 10,000 BTU AC w/ Heater By Sunpentown
The air conditioning component works very well. However, the heating component leaves much less to be desired. Certainly not as functional during the winter with high ceilings.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Buy Classic Flame San Marco 28WM671-W501 MANTEL ONLY.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Review of Holmes HCH4830-U Oscillating Twin Ceramic Heater
I bought this heater because they keep the temperature so low at my work. Some days I can't even type because my fingers are so cold! I plug this little heater in every morning, and it keeps my cubicle nice and warm all day. I love that it has not only "Hi" and "Lo" settings, but also different temperature settings. The oscillating is another plus.
Note though, I don't plug this into my cubicle's outlet that would more than likely cause a fire or power overload. I plug it into a wall outlet that is next to my cubicle.
The controls are incredibly simple and easy to use, with 1 button cycling through all combinations of power levels and temperature settings and 1 switch for oscillation.
However:
1. The thermostat and control unit at the top is poorly ventillated and is heated by the elements.
2. The control unit generates a lot of heat. This warms the temperature sensor as much as 10-20 degrees F above room temperature, so the heater will only warm the room to 60 to 70 degrees F at the highest setting of 80 F.
Of course this is a good thing if you want to save energy.
Note though, I don't plug this into my cubicle's outlet that would more than likely cause a fire or power overload. I plug it into a wall outlet that is next to my cubicle.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
My unit is quiet and it does throw a lot of heat. The oscillating feature works well and appears to be robust.The controls are incredibly simple and easy to use, with 1 button cycling through all combinations of power levels and temperature settings and 1 switch for oscillation.
However:
1. The thermostat and control unit at the top is poorly ventillated and is heated by the elements.
2. The control unit generates a lot of heat. This warms the temperature sensor as much as 10-20 degrees F above room temperature, so the heater will only warm the room to 60 to 70 degrees F at the highest setting of 80 F.
Of course this is a good thing if you want to save energy.
Best Deals for Holmes HCH4830-U Oscillating Twin Ceramic Heater
The Holmes Space Heater is what we expected-good. There was a pad on the bottom (1 of 4) missing when I received it. Holmes sent me a another heater.Honest reviews on Holmes HCH4830-U Oscillating Twin Ceramic Heater
The heater has been working great so far, no problems, that I have seen, looks good. The biggest somplaint I would have is that even though it is digital as advertised the steps are too big between the settings. 5 degrees is kind of steep between 70 and 75. 75 can be too high and sometimes 70 can be too low. If it is on 75 might as well just have it set to continuous, on 70 it can leave you wishing it would come on because the room is cold. At least one more step at 72 would have been useful. Other than that, the output is great even when set on low, have not really even needed the high setting so far.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Holmes HCH4830-U Oscillating Twin Ceramic Heater
This machine is handy for a small room. It definately gets hot. I really like that it has so many setting options for heat temp. I also like the way it oscillates I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because what I don't like is that the vent grille kept coming off the back. It is definately not a quiet machine. It is a little too loud if you don't want anyway to know you have it under your desk and gives off a vibrating noise when put on high.Saturday, August 30, 2014
Soleus Air MT1-19-32, Humidibreeze Portable Misting System Reviews
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $225.99
Sale Price: $115.49
Today's Bonus: 49% Off

Got this product for use on the patio when it is 90 degrees and over. Works well. It has a novel concept of pumping water onto a spinning disk and then a fan blows it outwards, making you feel cooler. It has a setting for the water. On high, you will get wet if you are close by but that can be fun. It is very directional, so it is only good when blowing on 1 or 2 people. The fan does not have any speed settings so I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars. Makes an Arizona patio usable in the heat.
I had read somewhere that you could not use an extension cord with this. I am using a heavy duty outdoor extension cord with no problems whatsoever.
List Price: $225.99
Sale Price: $115.49
Today's Bonus: 49% Off
Got this product for use on the patio when it is 90 degrees and over. Works well. It has a novel concept of pumping water onto a spinning disk and then a fan blows it outwards, making you feel cooler. It has a setting for the water. On high, you will get wet if you are close by but that can be fun. It is very directional, so it is only good when blowing on 1 or 2 people. The fan does not have any speed settings so I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars. Makes an Arizona patio usable in the heat.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
This fan is far more convenient and effective than our standard misting fan with nozzles. I was somewhat hesitant because you have to fill it up rather than connect it to a hose like our other one. It turns out that was an advantage. Under normal conditions there is no water buildup in front of the fan and the cool air that reaches you isn't wet. As soon as I tried it, I bought a second one as a present for my son who is in the middle of the Texas drought and I will probably buy another for myself.Best Deals for Soleus Air MT1-19-32, Humidibreeze Portable Misting System
Pretty good product. Only negative is it is not oscillating but every review on oscillating fans are negative. this unit cools one area right in front so it's a one person fan. For me, that's fine and until they make a unit that's affordable with good reviews that oscillates, this one is what you should purchase. If you put it on high, you get wet and that's all there is to that. But at half speed, it's good, Even the dog enjoys it. At half speed the water tank lasts about 2 hours. Not having used the other fans, I have no comparison but I cannot give it any negatives.Honest reviews on Soleus Air MT1-19-32, Humidibreeze Portable Misting System
My patio faces the west and to make things worse it is an apartment with stucco walls protruding outward to make it like an oven on hot Texas summer afternoons. Before I purchased the Soleus Air MT1-19-32 Misting Fan, my patio would get up to about 120 degrees fahrenheit and now it is a tolerable 97 degrees. So the fan does what it is advertised to do and then some. The only thing I don't like (which is not the fans fault)is when it is turned up to the maximum mist setting, you have to fill up the tank about once an hour. Since I have no water facet on an apartment patio I certainly cannot complain about that and I highly recommend the Soleus Air MT1-19-32 Misting Fan.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Soleus Air MT1-19-32, Humidibreeze Portable Misting System
Yes, you read the title correctly. While most people use this out on their deck to keep themselves or guests cool, I have it outside in front of my chicken coop to keep my hens cool. And this baby does the trick. Just plug it in, fill it up and turn it on. Thats all there is to it. It holds 1 gallon of water. Since the water tray, located in the back of the unit, is a little small, I use a 2 liter bottle to fill the Humidibreeze up. The neck of the bottle fits perfectly above the tray and the bottle itself holds enough water. I fill the Humidibreeze a little past the Max water line, and set the cooling knob to 1 turn below high. By doing this, the mister can go 9 1/2 hours before it needs to be filled up (I am in NV, where it is very hot and very dry). While I am at work I know that my hens are staying cool and comfy, whether they are out in their attached run, or in their coop.I had read somewhere that you could not use an extension cord with this. I am using a heavy duty outdoor extension cord with no problems whatsoever.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Reviews of Great Northern Popcorn Pop Heaven Commercial Style Popcorn Popper
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $999.95
Sale Price: $342.47
Today's Bonus: 66% Off

I cannot express enough how happy I am with buying this popcorn machine. we have had the machine for a couple months now and have used it numerous times. I originally bought the machine to use at my son's circus themed birthday party in July but bought it early seeing as it cost as much to buy it as if i were to rent one. I figued it should work ok enough but was expecting it to not work very well since it was at a steal deal in comparison to other poppers of its size. Now, i tell my husband, this was the best investment weve made!! We have use it numerous times. Once to make popcorn bags for my son's t-ball team as end of the season give aways (about 40 gallon-sized bags,the kids LOVED them as did the parents),twice for concession stand production (it worked continuously, without any malfunctions, producing delicious perfect popcorn for over 300 people each time, although one time a kernal got stuck in the spinner and burned a batch...but that was a single incidence) and for home gatherings. The popcorn is cooked perfectly and delicious. we also purchase the great northern prepackaged 12oz portion packs which makes production so easy. to top it all off, the popper and the popcorn shipped free to hawaii. a lot of times shipping can easily cost just as much as the item being purchased. God bless amazon...they have made puchasing online in hawaii affordable!
Heats right up in about 3 minutes dump the corn in and a full 12oz batch takes about 2 minutes to pop to completion. The cycle is a little shorter after that if you are in continuous operation mode.
I haven't tried the pre-packaged corn/oil it sounds tasty and convenient. But the popcorn from the 50lb bag was good using popcorn oil from local big box store.
One thing I wasn't quite sure of from the description but now that I see it and have thought it through this machine will clearly hold 5 gal of popped corn in the warming area. Of course, you are not making 5 gal in a single batch! You can tilt the stainless panel out and then close the doors. This enables you to scoop out the popped corn while another batch is in the kettle.
List Price: $999.95
Sale Price: $342.47
Today's Bonus: 66% Off
I cannot express enough how happy I am with buying this popcorn machine. we have had the machine for a couple months now and have used it numerous times. I originally bought the machine to use at my son's circus themed birthday party in July but bought it early seeing as it cost as much to buy it as if i were to rent one. I figued it should work ok enough but was expecting it to not work very well since it was at a steal deal in comparison to other poppers of its size. Now, i tell my husband, this was the best investment weve made!! We have use it numerous times. Once to make popcorn bags for my son's t-ball team as end of the season give aways (about 40 gallon-sized bags,the kids LOVED them as did the parents),twice for concession stand production (it worked continuously, without any malfunctions, producing delicious perfect popcorn for over 300 people each time, although one time a kernal got stuck in the spinner and burned a batch...but that was a single incidence) and for home gatherings. The popcorn is cooked perfectly and delicious. we also purchase the great northern prepackaged 12oz portion packs which makes production so easy. to top it all off, the popper and the popcorn shipped free to hawaii. a lot of times shipping can easily cost just as much as the item being purchased. God bless amazon...they have made puchasing online in hawaii affordable!
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I bought this pop corn popper and donated it to an inner city school in Flint, Mich for them to use as a fund raiser. It replaced a unit that was over 16 years old. The Great Northern popper work great right out of the box and got rave reviews from the parent that had been making the pop corn forever. The kids also loved it as the old one burned the popcorn much of the time. Within 90 days, after approximately 12 uses the kettle burned out. I probably would not have bought this unit if I knew it only had a 30 day warranty. The silver lining in all this was a that the kettle was repaired by the company within a week for only $25.Best Deals for Great Northern Popcorn Pop Heaven Commercial Style Popcorn Popper
We just received this and fired it up. I am impressed with the overall rugged construction. As stated, the plexi used on the sides and the doors is commercial not flimsy at all. The kettle is well made looks and feels commercial. One tip on installing it install the kettle tilted a bit as if you were dumping it. This keeps the gear/axle from being engaged while trying to slip the kettle into its bracket.Heats right up in about 3 minutes dump the corn in and a full 12oz batch takes about 2 minutes to pop to completion. The cycle is a little shorter after that if you are in continuous operation mode.
I haven't tried the pre-packaged corn/oil it sounds tasty and convenient. But the popcorn from the 50lb bag was good using popcorn oil from local big box store.
One thing I wasn't quite sure of from the description but now that I see it and have thought it through this machine will clearly hold 5 gal of popped corn in the warming area. Of course, you are not making 5 gal in a single batch! You can tilt the stainless panel out and then close the doors. This enables you to scoop out the popped corn while another batch is in the kettle.
Honest reviews on Great Northern Popcorn Pop Heaven Commercial Style Popcorn Popper
We purchased this as a second pop corn popper for our middle school because we couldn't keep up with the demand for pop corn at events. Our new popper seems to pop the corn at twice the speed. We love the way the kettle can be removed easily for cleaning. We are very happy with this purchase.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Great Northern Popcorn Pop Heaven Commercial Style Popcorn Popper
We used this as soon as we got it out of the box. We also had purchased the premeasured popcorn kits. Together they made popcorn exactly like the theatre. Love it!Monday, June 23, 2014
Discount DUXTOP 1800-Watt Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $129.99
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 46% Off

I swear by gas stoves. Wouldn't buy a house that didn't have gas. It was my ONLY show-stopper condition when we were house shopping. I was flexible on everything but that.
I cooked A LOT. The only reason I bought an induction cooktop was because I wore out both sides of the inserts on my [brand name] gas cooktop (they rusted to bits from constant use) and since I wanted time before I decided what my replacement would be, I ordered one of these to tide us over. We had the grill insert, so with one "burner" and a double grill, I'd have time to think.
I was shocked at how great the Duxtop induction cooktop was. I was a tough sell, but they won me over.
Water (for pasta) came to boil faster than my gas stove ever did. Peanut oil, for frying chicken, was also ready faster than anything I'd ever experienced with gas, and it stayed hot (I burned the first batch!). It has also been marvelous for wok cooking, and that's what made me a total convert. I've had to learn how to cook with it, but that hasn't been too difficult, since the results have been worth it.
The heat is so hot that I ruined a wok with a non-stick coating and had to go for the old-fashioned, steel kind instead. I like that! You'd think that would have turned me off of induction cooking, but just the reverse. Stir fry is SUPPOSED to be hot and quick (that's how you get cooked through veggies that maintain their color). I spent $25 on an all steel Wok at the cooking store with the initials W&S, and I've been making the best stir fry to ever come out of my kitchen. If for no other reason, getting one of these cooktops is worth it just for that (just don't use your non-stick coated wok with it--it WILL get too hot). Be sure to buy a wok with a flat bottom, and it has to be steel, of course, or the induction won't recognize it, and it won't turn on.
I was enjoying all of this so much, I ordered a second Duxtop cooktop, exactly like the first one.
The other thing that's been fun is cooking wherever I want in the kitchen (or where there is an outlet). There's a nice spot, right next to the sink, where there's great light in the kitchen. This is where it has been best to stir fry, near the sink (as I don't have a pot filler tap next to my stove), and having water close to a steel wok for quick rinsing between dishes is a good idea. No problem if I spill a bit, and it is close to where I've cut all the veggies. No walking back and forth to the stove. (Made me realize even more how badly laid out my kitchen is--as if my husband needed me to have more of a reminder of that!)
All of this has made me rethink my stove replacement. Maybe I don't need to do anything other than buy a replacement drop-in for the exact same cooktop I already have, and continue using the Duxtop Cooktops, as I'm using them now. Maybe we should all rethink how we cook in our kitchens, eh? Some of us have multiple sinks and dishwashers now. Why not multiple cooktops, in different cooking zones?
And no, I'm not a shill for Duxtop. It just makes sense to think about cooking zones in the same way we're thinking about other zones in our kitchens.
This is not to say I'm a total convert to electric cooking. It still has its downsides, as always. I can't scramble eggs with it without burning them or overcooking (or anything that requires medium or subtle heat, or with copper bottom pans--which is unfortunate), but induction cooking does bring something to the party that ordinary electric cooking never had: Higher, quicker heat. Did I say quick? I mean IMMEDIATE! Electric cooking is always going to have the same problem of hot zones that it always had, and these are not going to solve that problem. With gas heat (especially with copper bottom pans) the heat spread is even, and spreads evenly up the sides of the pan, covering the bottom. With electric, the heat is going to be hotter where there is a coil. Induction improves on that a bit, because there are no coils, but there is still a cooking center. (I found that if I move the pan so that it doesn't have a chance to get too hot in any one place, I burn the food less.) All of this takes practice and experience. I'm sure that people who have more experience with electric cooking burn food on gas stoves, so it is what you are used to--so this isn't a magic bullet, but it is certainly better than the old-fashioned coils. But, as I said, the speed at which you can boil, or bring heat to other dishes is well worth the learning curve, where it wasn't worth it before.
These cooktops have two methods of setting the temp: either a numeric setting of 1 to 10 or a kind of high/medium/low, but in a setting of 1 to 4 (I think, I never use that setting). I prefer the 1 to 10 setting (giving the greatest control). I set to 10 when I want to bring water to boil, but then quickly change the setting to about 3 to keep things boiling, and 2 to maintain a simmer (for things like sauces), or 1 to keep things warm.
It's my belief that every house needs at least one of these. They're handy for parties (when you need an extra burner), for emergengies (if the gas stove breaks), they'll be great for the summer for boiling corn (take it outside and put near the grill), and there is no way to get this kind of high heat for stir fry or quick boiling without upgrading your gas pipe to 3/4".
You don't have to be as crazy as me and buy two, but at these prices, it isn't as crazy as it sounds. Party, table cooking (for shish kabap or steak on "stone") will be great this summer too.
I'd recommend these to anyone... and I'd recommend two. Just avoid buying the interface disks (the products sold so you can use pans other than steel). Those ARE a waste of time. They don't work (they get too hot, causing the cooktops to shut off). Spend your money on a few extra steel pans instead... because you can't have too many pans EVER.
UPDATE 2/2012: I've had these a year now. I continue to use them, meaning they haven't ended up in the dead/bored appliance part of the pantry. Most of the time I keep one by the stove (that I still haven't fixed) and one by the sink. I'll move them around, as needed. I'm still not a very good electric-stove chef, but they continue to work, as advertised. If the food doesn't turn out properly, the fault is definitely with me. They were a saving grace during the Holidays: 3 burners were enough to get us through Thanksgiving and Christmas. The advice above, to allow the pan to warm up a bit (to setting 5) before blasting it (at setting 10) has prevented other non-stick pans from losing their non-stick coating, and having it flake off on the food. Not a good thing at all.
So it's been a month and let me put it this way this is our "go to" burner when we need to cook something on the stove. We set it up on our countertop (old laminate not granite) next to our also old cooktop. All we can say is WOW!! It is fast and leaves no heat in the kitchen like our old electric burner. (Important when you live in the South and it's in the 90's everyday.) There doesn't seem to be much or any heat coming off the bottom our countertop is still cool when we're done using the Duxtop.
There is a fan that turns on when you start it. That is to keep the magnets cool and when you turn the burner off, the fan runs for a short time just a few min afterward and then shuts off. My husband couldn't believe how fast it boiled water and cooked some of his favorite items. Suffice it to say, we're sold and yes, we're keeping this baby. Next purchase will be a set of induction-ready cookware. Like some others have done, it would be a snap to put it outside to boil corn in the summer when you don't want all that steamy heat in the kitchen.
This is easy to use. Take a magnet with you when you are shopping for pots/pans. If a magnet will stick to the bottom, you can use it on the induction hob. And also check the pans for a flat bottom. Some pans are slightly rounded on the bottom and I don't think they would work as well on the induction cooktop.
Enjoy! Bon Appetit!
I contacted Secura and asked if this was "normal", and they responded with an indirect answer about grid voltages being different that could cause power variations of +/-5%. They didn't address whether cycling power on the lowest 2 settings was normal, so I assume it is. I emailed them back pointing out that the upper 6 levels were all within 1% tolerance, but the lower 4 were high by well over 5% and they never responded.
To amazon's credit, they offered to allow me to return it on their dime. But since all I do with it is boil water, stir fry, and cook eggs for breakfast, I'll just learn to like my eggs scrambled. However, if you really need the finer power control, I would recommend against buying this item.
List Price: $129.99
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 46% Off
I swear by gas stoves. Wouldn't buy a house that didn't have gas. It was my ONLY show-stopper condition when we were house shopping. I was flexible on everything but that.
I cooked A LOT. The only reason I bought an induction cooktop was because I wore out both sides of the inserts on my [brand name] gas cooktop (they rusted to bits from constant use) and since I wanted time before I decided what my replacement would be, I ordered one of these to tide us over. We had the grill insert, so with one "burner" and a double grill, I'd have time to think.
I was shocked at how great the Duxtop induction cooktop was. I was a tough sell, but they won me over.
Water (for pasta) came to boil faster than my gas stove ever did. Peanut oil, for frying chicken, was also ready faster than anything I'd ever experienced with gas, and it stayed hot (I burned the first batch!). It has also been marvelous for wok cooking, and that's what made me a total convert. I've had to learn how to cook with it, but that hasn't been too difficult, since the results have been worth it.
The heat is so hot that I ruined a wok with a non-stick coating and had to go for the old-fashioned, steel kind instead. I like that! You'd think that would have turned me off of induction cooking, but just the reverse. Stir fry is SUPPOSED to be hot and quick (that's how you get cooked through veggies that maintain their color). I spent $25 on an all steel Wok at the cooking store with the initials W&S, and I've been making the best stir fry to ever come out of my kitchen. If for no other reason, getting one of these cooktops is worth it just for that (just don't use your non-stick coated wok with it--it WILL get too hot). Be sure to buy a wok with a flat bottom, and it has to be steel, of course, or the induction won't recognize it, and it won't turn on.
I was enjoying all of this so much, I ordered a second Duxtop cooktop, exactly like the first one.
The other thing that's been fun is cooking wherever I want in the kitchen (or where there is an outlet). There's a nice spot, right next to the sink, where there's great light in the kitchen. This is where it has been best to stir fry, near the sink (as I don't have a pot filler tap next to my stove), and having water close to a steel wok for quick rinsing between dishes is a good idea. No problem if I spill a bit, and it is close to where I've cut all the veggies. No walking back and forth to the stove. (Made me realize even more how badly laid out my kitchen is--as if my husband needed me to have more of a reminder of that!)
All of this has made me rethink my stove replacement. Maybe I don't need to do anything other than buy a replacement drop-in for the exact same cooktop I already have, and continue using the Duxtop Cooktops, as I'm using them now. Maybe we should all rethink how we cook in our kitchens, eh? Some of us have multiple sinks and dishwashers now. Why not multiple cooktops, in different cooking zones?
And no, I'm not a shill for Duxtop. It just makes sense to think about cooking zones in the same way we're thinking about other zones in our kitchens.
This is not to say I'm a total convert to electric cooking. It still has its downsides, as always. I can't scramble eggs with it without burning them or overcooking (or anything that requires medium or subtle heat, or with copper bottom pans--which is unfortunate), but induction cooking does bring something to the party that ordinary electric cooking never had: Higher, quicker heat. Did I say quick? I mean IMMEDIATE! Electric cooking is always going to have the same problem of hot zones that it always had, and these are not going to solve that problem. With gas heat (especially with copper bottom pans) the heat spread is even, and spreads evenly up the sides of the pan, covering the bottom. With electric, the heat is going to be hotter where there is a coil. Induction improves on that a bit, because there are no coils, but there is still a cooking center. (I found that if I move the pan so that it doesn't have a chance to get too hot in any one place, I burn the food less.) All of this takes practice and experience. I'm sure that people who have more experience with electric cooking burn food on gas stoves, so it is what you are used to--so this isn't a magic bullet, but it is certainly better than the old-fashioned coils. But, as I said, the speed at which you can boil, or bring heat to other dishes is well worth the learning curve, where it wasn't worth it before.
These cooktops have two methods of setting the temp: either a numeric setting of 1 to 10 or a kind of high/medium/low, but in a setting of 1 to 4 (I think, I never use that setting). I prefer the 1 to 10 setting (giving the greatest control). I set to 10 when I want to bring water to boil, but then quickly change the setting to about 3 to keep things boiling, and 2 to maintain a simmer (for things like sauces), or 1 to keep things warm.
It's my belief that every house needs at least one of these. They're handy for parties (when you need an extra burner), for emergengies (if the gas stove breaks), they'll be great for the summer for boiling corn (take it outside and put near the grill), and there is no way to get this kind of high heat for stir fry or quick boiling without upgrading your gas pipe to 3/4".
You don't have to be as crazy as me and buy two, but at these prices, it isn't as crazy as it sounds. Party, table cooking (for shish kabap or steak on "stone") will be great this summer too.
I'd recommend these to anyone... and I'd recommend two. Just avoid buying the interface disks (the products sold so you can use pans other than steel). Those ARE a waste of time. They don't work (they get too hot, causing the cooktops to shut off). Spend your money on a few extra steel pans instead... because you can't have too many pans EVER.
UPDATE 2/2012: I've had these a year now. I continue to use them, meaning they haven't ended up in the dead/bored appliance part of the pantry. Most of the time I keep one by the stove (that I still haven't fixed) and one by the sink. I'll move them around, as needed. I'm still not a very good electric-stove chef, but they continue to work, as advertised. If the food doesn't turn out properly, the fault is definitely with me. They were a saving grace during the Holidays: 3 burners were enough to get us through Thanksgiving and Christmas. The advice above, to allow the pan to warm up a bit (to setting 5) before blasting it (at setting 10) has prevented other non-stick pans from losing their non-stick coating, and having it flake off on the food. Not a good thing at all.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
This Duxtop is my 2nd induction cooktop. The 1st one is working fine, but has only 1300W. I did enjoy the no flame heating of induction cooking, but the other big advantage of induction cooking device is the fast heating, which is missing with my 1300W cooktop. Now I have this more powerful duxtop cooker, I can tell you the cooking speed is really amazing. How fast is it? I did a test heating up the same amount of water using 1300w induction cooktop and my 1800w duxtop. It took the 1300w 6mins to boil the water, but it took duxtop only 2mins and 40secs to boil the same amount of water. That is over 100% percent saving of your precious time. If you are looking for a powerful and reliable induction cooktop or just want to see if induction cooking technology is something you may interested in, I will recommend this duxtop.Best Deals for DUXTOP 1800-Watt Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner
We bought this to see how we would like Induction cooking since we will be replacing our stove soon. I had read about induction on some other web pages and thought this would be a good way to try it out.So it's been a month and let me put it this way this is our "go to" burner when we need to cook something on the stove. We set it up on our countertop (old laminate not granite) next to our also old cooktop. All we can say is WOW!! It is fast and leaves no heat in the kitchen like our old electric burner. (Important when you live in the South and it's in the 90's everyday.) There doesn't seem to be much or any heat coming off the bottom our countertop is still cool when we're done using the Duxtop.
There is a fan that turns on when you start it. That is to keep the magnets cool and when you turn the burner off, the fan runs for a short time just a few min afterward and then shuts off. My husband couldn't believe how fast it boiled water and cooked some of his favorite items. Suffice it to say, we're sold and yes, we're keeping this baby. Next purchase will be a set of induction-ready cookware. Like some others have done, it would be a snap to put it outside to boil corn in the summer when you don't want all that steamy heat in the kitchen.
This is easy to use. Take a magnet with you when you are shopping for pots/pans. If a magnet will stick to the bottom, you can use it on the induction hob. And also check the pans for a flat bottom. Some pans are slightly rounded on the bottom and I don't think they would work as well on the induction cooktop.
Enjoy! Bon Appetit!
Honest reviews on DUXTOP 1800-Watt Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner
The upper 6 cooking power levels are advertised as 1200W, 1300W, 1400W, 1500W, 1600W and 1800W. Using a kill-a-watt, these all measure correctly. However, levels 3 and 4 are supposed to be 800W and 1000W, but draw 1000W and 1100W respectively. I've tried various steel and iron vessels of various sizes and have gotten similar readings. It makes it hard to fry things like eggs without burning them. Levels 1 and 2 are advertised as 200W and 500W--they achieve the lower levels by cycling the power to the coil on and off at 1000W, which makes it impossible to maintain a slow boil/simmer when cooking things like rice and pasta.I contacted Secura and asked if this was "normal", and they responded with an indirect answer about grid voltages being different that could cause power variations of +/-5%. They didn't address whether cycling power on the lowest 2 settings was normal, so I assume it is. I emailed them back pointing out that the upper 6 levels were all within 1% tolerance, but the lower 4 were high by well over 5% and they never responded.
To amazon's credit, they offered to allow me to return it on their dime. But since all I do with it is boil water, stir fry, and cook eggs for breakfast, I'll just learn to like my eggs scrambled. However, if you really need the finer power control, I would recommend against buying this item.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for DUXTOP 1800-Watt Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner
I have enjoyed the Duxtop Induction Cooktop. It has taken some getting used to, as I have been cooking on gas for quite a few years. I am amazed how fast it heats. It works great for boiling water and eggs, making hot tea, etc. It is easy to burn some foods until you know how fast it does heat. The issues I have with it can mostly be addressed with repeated use of it and gaining more experience. I can cook most anything that I cook with gas if I cut it down to a low setting but then I haven't gained the benefit of its fast cooking time. It tends to have about an eight inch area in the very center of the cooktop that is where the induction concentrates its energy. I quite often cook with a ten inch cast iron fry pan and the two inch area nearest the side of the pan does not heat up like the center does. I bought this to see if I would consider someday replacing my gas range with an induction cooktop. I probably would not because I live in a remote area and quite often loose power in the winter. I can cook with gas without having electric power but I will keep the portable cooktop. It complements the gas range well for certain tasks but does not replace it. I've noticed that it operates on the same principle as the microwave oven. It cycles between full power and off for all cooking temperatures. When you select a low temperature, the heating cycle is real short followed by a long off cycle. This is evident when you are boiling water on power setting two or three. The water boils during the heating cycle and then immediately stops until the next heating cycle. Possibly the full size induction ranges have better control over the cooking temperature. If that is the case, maybe I need to talk to someone who has one as I may not be giving a fair appraisal to induction cooking based on the portable cooktop.Thursday, May 29, 2014
3 Ton 16 Seer Rheem / Ruud Air Conditioning System - 14AJM36A01 Review
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $3,099.00
Sale Price: $1,895.00
Today's Bonus: 39% Off

From a users perspective this combination has required very little. Keeps home at a constant 74 all year round in Sarasota Fl. And have watched power go up per kilowatt of usage.
Since this combo was installed, ( 3 years ago ), my actual bill has decreased by 18-25% a month !
Had a SEER 13 system that lasted 15 years (Bryant). The manufacturer RHEEM air handler is SEER 15.5 and Compressor is SEER 14.5, the SEER 16 is a 3rd party industry standard. Of which you will get no argument from this owner. PERFECT BUDGET VALUE FOR THE BUCK. Highly recommended.
NOTE: pick your installer very carefully as a bad installation won't always show up immediately ! My neighbor had installed the more expensive version RHEEM and the installers messed up the installation she has had nothing but problems Also check date of manufacture !
List Price: $3,099.00
Sale Price: $1,895.00
Today's Bonus: 39% Off
From a users perspective this combination has required very little. Keeps home at a constant 74 all year round in Sarasota Fl. And have watched power go up per kilowatt of usage.
Since this combo was installed, ( 3 years ago ), my actual bill has decreased by 18-25% a month !
Had a SEER 13 system that lasted 15 years (Bryant). The manufacturer RHEEM air handler is SEER 15.5 and Compressor is SEER 14.5, the SEER 16 is a 3rd party industry standard. Of which you will get no argument from this owner. PERFECT BUDGET VALUE FOR THE BUCK. Highly recommended.
NOTE: pick your installer very carefully as a bad installation won't always show up immediately ! My neighbor had installed the more expensive version RHEEM and the installers messed up the installation she has had nothing but problems Also check date of manufacture !
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Buy Swissmar KF-77041 Gourmet 8-Person Raclette Grill, Black
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $100.00
Sale Price: $95.71
Today's Bonus: 4% Off

I had been looking for a good raclette grill for sometime, after using several different styles at friends and families homes, I saw this one on Amazon. It arrived intact with all the necessary parts and is very easy to use. The grill top reverses to a crape grill which is also fun.
I recommend this particular grill above others I have used for several reasons. First, it can accomodate 8 people, while many grills max out at 6. Second, it has an adjustable temperature. We generally start out at a higher temperature then when everyone has slowed down and wants to eat slowly and talk I adjust the temperature down. Third, the grill is easy to clean. Its non-stick surface easily wipes off. I would advise to only use the included scrapers on the non-stick surface, if it gets scratched it will not be as easy to use. And fourth, it is very sturdy. This is a solidly built grill and looks great on the table. It is a little more money than some other models, but if you want to use it for years I would definately invest in the better grill.
This grill is great fun for dinner parties. I have now thrown 4 dinner parties using it from basic grilling to fajitas. I plan to try the round side of the grill next for dessert crepes. Traditional raclette is cheese melted in the drawers, with pickles and cold meats. I also use it as a party activity for more healthy fare by offering a variety of marinated vegetables portobello mushrooms marinated in balsamic vinegar, olive oil, basil, garlic and red pepper is my favorite. I've grilled shrimp, asparagus, onions, chicken, tofu, bell peppers, sausages, sliced potatoes (I boil them a bit first.) Then I put out sauces for people to dip into as well.
I find it helps break the ice with guests who don't know one another so well, as they can talk about the grilling, etc.
My one complaint is that it would be hard for eight people to use, the most I have used it for now is six, but it worked really well for six. The adjustable heating works really nicely.
If you're looking for something new and fun, I highly recommend it. It is great for dinner parties and book club meetings (everyone can bring something to grill.)
We bought some very inexpensive miniature wooden tongs from a Chinese supply store that work very well for taking your food on and off the grill surface. I had to subtract a star just because calling it an 8 person grill is a bit of a stretch.
List Price: $100.00
Sale Price: $95.71
Today's Bonus: 4% Off
I had been looking for a good raclette grill for sometime, after using several different styles at friends and families homes, I saw this one on Amazon. It arrived intact with all the necessary parts and is very easy to use. The grill top reverses to a crape grill which is also fun.
I recommend this particular grill above others I have used for several reasons. First, it can accomodate 8 people, while many grills max out at 6. Second, it has an adjustable temperature. We generally start out at a higher temperature then when everyone has slowed down and wants to eat slowly and talk I adjust the temperature down. Third, the grill is easy to clean. Its non-stick surface easily wipes off. I would advise to only use the included scrapers on the non-stick surface, if it gets scratched it will not be as easy to use. And fourth, it is very sturdy. This is a solidly built grill and looks great on the table. It is a little more money than some other models, but if you want to use it for years I would definately invest in the better grill.
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I have a love for swiss food ever since I came back from Australia and missed my favorite Swiss Restaurant called Kellers. I heard about these Raclette grills from an officemate who used to live in Switzerland. Let me tell you it might seem like a complex item but it truly isn't. It is good for so many uses because it is a grill and broiler in one. On Saturday I go to the store and buy different fresh veggies, french bread, and meats. I marinate the meats and put them in the freezer and fridge. I usually do this in no more than an hour. Then every night after work my husband and I and any guests that might be visiting pull all of these out of the fridge and freezer and grill up whatever we want. Everyone can have the same thing or they can fix their own dishes using all the items you have out. Your options are limitless. We have made kabobs, sandwhiches, stir fry's, potatoes, omlettes, garlic bread, pizza, pretty much everything. Clean up is very simple you just clean the top grill plate and any raclette dishes you used. We keep the grill out on our table for every meal and saves me from standing on my feet all afternoon over a hot stove. Which can be very hard when you have come home late from working a long day! I also have a picky husband and this is a great way for us each to have whatever we want cooked the exact way we want it cooked.Best Deals for Swissmar KF-77041 Gourmet 8-Person Raclette Grill, Black
I know and love raclette dinners from my home country Germany, so I was happy to find some that will work in the US. I tried to find out what the dimensions of the raclettes offered are, but without success. There was no answer to get anywhere. The dimensions listed on this page are obviously bogus, Amazon can not be contacted and Swissmar doesn't answer to emails. So finally I decided to just order one and was really disappointed: this raclette is much smaller than the raclettes I'm used to from home. The size of the grill plate is just 24 cm x 36 cm. The dishes are just 8.5 x 8.5 cm. The dishes are all lined up to the two sites, you can't turn the handles of the ones at the end to the front sides. If you sit around a rectangular table, the guests at the front ends of the table will have trouble to reach theirs. This raclette might work for 4 persons but is not suitable for 8 as normal European raclettes are.Honest reviews on Swissmar KF-77041 Gourmet 8-Person Raclette Grill, Black
We are having a lot of fun with this grill.This grill is great fun for dinner parties. I have now thrown 4 dinner parties using it from basic grilling to fajitas. I plan to try the round side of the grill next for dessert crepes. Traditional raclette is cheese melted in the drawers, with pickles and cold meats. I also use it as a party activity for more healthy fare by offering a variety of marinated vegetables portobello mushrooms marinated in balsamic vinegar, olive oil, basil, garlic and red pepper is my favorite. I've grilled shrimp, asparagus, onions, chicken, tofu, bell peppers, sausages, sliced potatoes (I boil them a bit first.) Then I put out sauces for people to dip into as well.
I find it helps break the ice with guests who don't know one another so well, as they can talk about the grilling, etc.
My one complaint is that it would be hard for eight people to use, the most I have used it for now is six, but it worked really well for six. The adjustable heating works really nicely.
If you're looking for something new and fun, I highly recommend it. It is great for dinner parties and book club meetings (everyone can bring something to grill.)
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Swissmar KF-77041 Gourmet 8-Person Raclette Grill, Black
I bought this Raclette grill for my wife thinking that it would just be another kitchen gadget that we never used. Wow, what a great way to have an intimate dinner. It's perfect to enjoy a relaxing meal with 2-4 adults. I guess you could entertain a larger group if you don't mind getting your fixins close to each other! If you're use to eating a fast meal in front of the TV then you should try raclette. It really makes you slow down and enjoy the meal.We bought some very inexpensive miniature wooden tongs from a Chinese supply store that work very well for taking your food on and off the grill surface. I had to subtract a star just because calling it an 8 person grill is a bit of a stretch.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
GE WR50X10068 Defrost Thermostat for GE Refrigerators Review
This product goes hand in hand with GE Defrost Heater. May not be necessary but worth getting for a little extra insurance of having things work well.
This part works WITH the defrost heater, so replace them both at the same time and be done with the job!
The seller shipped FAST and it arrived well-packaged.
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thermostat came quickly and was genuine ge part. great price too! hope no one has to go through this whole no defrost thing but if you do this part along with the heater will help you fix it.Best Deals for GE WR50X10068 Defrost Thermostat for GE Refrigerators
DO NOT BUY THIS PART! The thermostat fails in the continuous position causing the fridge to overheat. It is supposed to switch off around 30-40F. Instead this thermostat didn't switch off until 100F !!! ReturningHonest reviews on GE WR50X10068 Defrost Thermostat for GE Refrigerators
my fridge died anyway, but this product was exactly as described and we received it in appropriate time. very happy with our purchase, just wish it would have saved the fridge. :)Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for GE WR50X10068 Defrost Thermostat for GE Refrigerators
If you are going to the trouble of replacing the defrost heater in a GE by removing the ice maker, the light, the condenser fan, and then melting all of the ice that built up, spend the few more dollars and replace this guy at the same time! In my refrigerator, I had to cut the wires between the old thermostat and the wiring harness, then use wire nuts to put the replacement into the circuit. So, be prepared to solder and heat-shrink, use electrical tape, or use wire nuts like I did.This part works WITH the defrost heater, so replace them both at the same time and be done with the job!
The seller shipped FAST and it arrived well-packaged.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Reviews of Waring Pro CU55 55-Cup Stainless-Steel Coffee Urn
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $190.00
Sale Price: $81.50
Today's Bonus: 57% Off

This coffee maker WAS great! Now, less than a year later, it switches from Brew mode to Keep Warm ("Ready") mode prematurely before coffee is half brewed. It now delivers "coffee-stained" water that is not too warm. I think the thermostat has gone south because "Ready" light comes on rather quickly now and brewing stops abruptly. Good while it lasted; wasted money in retrospect.
BE CAREFUL TANK IS SUPER HOT WHEN ITS BREWING.
List Price: $190.00
Sale Price: $81.50
Today's Bonus: 57% Off
This coffee maker WAS great! Now, less than a year later, it switches from Brew mode to Keep Warm ("Ready") mode prematurely before coffee is half brewed. It now delivers "coffee-stained" water that is not too warm. I think the thermostat has gone south because "Ready" light comes on rather quickly now and brewing stops abruptly. Good while it lasted; wasted money in retrospect.
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I bought 2 of these at the same time, for a catering service. One burnt out within the first couple weeks, at a job site. I had to run to target and buy a cheap 12-cup coffee maker. It made me look unprofessional. A couple months later, the other one burnt out at another job. I had to drive 25 miles round-trip, to pick-up an older urn I had for a replacement. Again, it made me look unprofessional. DON'T BUY THIS GARBAGE. YOU'LL REGRET IT!Best Deals for Waring Pro CU55 55-Cup Stainless-Steel Coffee Urn
I use 30-100 cup coffee urns regularly for classes that I teach. I purchased two imported Waring Pro 55 cup urns. Just like the other reviews, one of mine malfunctioned after only half a dozen uses, resulting in lightly colored hot water rather than coffee. I have been using WestBend Coffee Urns for many years. You can't kill West Bend coffee urns. I liked the Waring stainless steel because it required much less scrubbing than the aluminum West Bend products. But from now on, my future purchases will be West Bend performance over good looks. My Waring now sits looking pretty but useless, until I place it in my recyling bin, or start using valuable time writing letters to Waring to try to get them to replace it.Honest reviews on Waring Pro CU55 55-Cup Stainless-Steel Coffee Urn
I Bought one of these to use for parties. So everybody could have coffee throughout the night. What i really use it for now is to brew tea. I put 15 tea bags in the top and fill to about 50 cups with water and have fresh tea for 3 days. I have had this unit for a year now, and so far no problems. I recommend this unit to any entertainer, or anybody that would like alot of coffee or tea.BE CAREFUL TANK IS SUPER HOT WHEN ITS BREWING.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Waring Pro CU55 55-Cup Stainless-Steel Coffee Urn
We bought this coffee urn for our Church. It gets used once a week and after a few months it no longer perks. It sounds like it's perking, but by the time the ready light comes on, it still looks like stained water and the grounds are still mostly dry. The instruction booklet says to replace the rubber caps at each end of the tube in order for the unit to continue to brew properly. There are no rubber caps and no available parts on-line that I can find! Perhaps we lost the caps??? I don't know, but we can't even replace them! Don't waste your money, this coffee urn is a dud.
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