Review of Suncourt HC500-B Flush Fit Brown Register Booster

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List Price: $65.73
Sale Price: $34.98
Today's Bonus: 47% Off

If you can figure out the thermostat dial for the automatic shut-on/shut-off, this product can make the affected room two degrees cooler (although it remains two degrees warmer than the rest of the house). Initially we got it figured out and were pleased, then it got knocked out of whack and took some tinkering to get it set properly again. Now it seems to be working its two-degree magic again. The key is to get it set so that it sucks in the cool air when the A/C is running, but does not suck in the warm air after the A/C stops running.

As for noise, it really is not bad. Even on the High setting, it probably is less noisy than the oscillating fan we already use.

Finally, it's not as ugly as I thought it would be, but it has a VERY bright blue light on it that you may want to cover with tape.

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First and foremost, I want everyone to understand that this is NOT an air conditioner or furnace, nor does it create colder or warmer air. All it does (and claims to do) is move a little more air out of a weak register. Another thing...do NOT expect this unit to be as quiet as your old register. Your old register didn't have 2 fans running...this register will. Anyone expecting to spend $35 and solve an entire room's HVAC problems has extremely unrealistic expectations.

That said, this unit has worked decently for my HVAC needs. I live in a 3-level condo, where the bottom floor will normally have a 10-degree difference from the top. Unfortunately, the top floor happens to be the bedroom, the one room that temperature actually matters. Rather than do some extensive modifications to the house, I figured I'd give this unit a shot.

It's a pretty cut and dry operation, with an on, off, auto-heat and auto-cool setting. The latter 3 settings all have low-medium-high fan settings. From the way some people were talking, I was expecting this thing to possibly sound like a box fan, though I was relieved to find it to be much quieter than that. It was, however, still noticeable when it was on. Airflow was maybe 50% better than without, although it didn't quite seem as powerful as I was hoping. I'm almost positive that these fans are almost interchangeable parts with a computer CPU fan. The Auto Heat/Cool functions are nice, but take a good amount of tweaking before you get them in the right place. Be prepared to have to make at least 3-4 adjustments, minimum.

After doing some other research, I found that many people have come up with an answer to the semi-noisy fans, and I figured that I would try it myself. If you turn the register over and cut the air grates off the backside, it will make a drastic improvement on noise. (See attached picture) I would go as far as to say it's a 50-75% improvement of overall noise. People also claimed a 50% improvement on airflow, although I personally found it to be maybe 25% better, if that. I would, however, HIGHLY recommend this modification if your primary complaint about the register is how much noise it makes. One word of caution though...this modification will likely void your warranty, and you will NOT be able to return the item. Choose wisely.

Lastly, I bought this as an open-box item and got it quite a bit less from Smarthome. When it showed up, I couldn't even tell it had been opened. It was probably from someone who didn't care for the noise and was a like-new return. If I were looking to pick up one of these, I would strongly consider an open box item.

Summary:

PROS:

-Works fairly well (4-6 degree difference on 3rd floor home)

-Quiet after modification

-Good value given other expensive options

-Auto Heat/Cool functions

CONS:

-Semi-noisy fans if left unmodded

-Somewhat short cord

-AC adaptor gets pretty warm

-Auto Heat/Cool takes some tweaking

Final Thoughts:

I would definitely recommend this for around $30. If you pay $50, it's getting a little steep. If you're afraid to cut off the rear air grates, you may not care as much for this product, as it yields a drastic difference in the noise level.

Best Deals on Suncourt HC500-B Flush Fit Brown Register Booster

This unit is very effective. I have it in a room that is the fartherest from the furnace/air-conditioning. It has made a noteworthy diffrence in the temperature of the room. The fan cycles with the flow of air very nicely and the noise level is not annoying. This unit was a great purcase and has performed better than I expected.

Honest reviews on Suncourt HC500-B Flush Fit Brown Register Booster

I put this in my daughters room upstairs which typically reads about 5 degrees cooler in the winter than the rest of the house. On the low setting this really didn't make a difference, temp difference was less than 1 degree. When I put it on the medium fan setting though we were able to feel a difference it seemed. According to our portable thermostat the room was reading about 2-3 degrees hotter than it was before. I was really impressed it delivered that much, seeing how it doesn't create the heat, it just tries to pull it through the vent. Plus in a 2 story home, the upstairs typically is always colder anyways.

The only down side to this unit is the fan noise. If they put in quieter fans in this this would be awesome. Other than that, really I can't imagine anyone would use this higher than the medium fan speed because medium is not quite at all and high is just too loud for my comfort.

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I bought this item on May 4, 2010 to pull some extra air into a small bedroom without a return vent. It definitely improved the situation, particularly when used on the high setting with the door open. Unfortunately, the high setting is also rather loud, much more so than it could be if better parts were used.

The biggest problem, however, is that, today, after two years of use, the unit caught fire. I noticed a burned wire smell coming from somewhere in the house and just made it into the room in time to see it spark and ignite. I yanked the plug out of the wall (which was extremely hot) and covered the fan with a blanket until it went out, leaving a black mark on the carpet. Needless to say, I would not recommend using this unit.

Discount AKDY 23" Black Electric Firebox Fireplace Heater Insert Azfl-23r

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List Price: $599.00
Sale Price: $185.00
Today's Bonus: 69% Off

In 2005, I had purchased a beautiful fireplace, wooden mantle, the works, for my bedroom which tends to get chilly in winter. The actual fire heater box finally broke down in 2009. I went to the store where I originally purchased the fireplace and they no longer make them. I searched the internet EVERYWHERE to find a fireplace box replacement but they were not the correct measurements. So for 4 years, I just did without the use of my fireplace all together and spent many cold nights in my room.

I decided to search again, when I finally found that Amazon had exactly what I was looking for, I was shocked! The measurements were right on point, the heat is immediate, and it even came with a remote control which the ORIGINAL didn't even come with.

I'm now nice and cozy in my bedroom again and more importantly, I don't have to get up each time to adjust the heat!

I couldn't be any more happier with this purchase!!! Highly recommend it!

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the heat element is awesome. The fire or wood burns individually or together with or without the heat being on.

Review of Cuisinart DCC-1100 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker

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List Price: $130.00
Sale Price: $62.99
Today's Bonus: 52% Off

After buying a succession of cheap coffee makers which broke down after a year or two and made mediocre coffee, I decided to upgrade to Cuisinart.

I don't agree with the negative comments about this product.

The clock is easy to program and it's clearly indicated that you should either use paper or gold filter (twice in the instructions). It's also easy to pour water in the reservoir if you use the carafe. You can turn the coffee maker to the left, and the reservoir opening is easily accessible. Its opening is by no means tiny, as a reviewer described it.

The center funnel which holds the filter is well situated and there is very little risk of dropping coffee grounds into the water reservoir.

The carafe is well designed, with a comfortable handle. It pours neatly, without dripping coffee all over the counter, something which always happened with my old Mr. Coffee.

You do have to realize the lid snaps down on top of the carafe. This is not explained in the instructions.

Most importantly, it makes an excellent coffee.

There is a 3 year guaranty which is more than I have seen for others.

So far, I have no complaint, and I am glad I bought this product for a great price.

UPDATE: I am still using this coffee maker as of today, August 13, 2012. It's still working well though there are signs of wear. The carafe lid is looser and the cover hinge has a tendancy to stick. Otherwise, there are no problems.

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My name is Ryan, and I'm a coffee addict... My habit ranges from 1 to 3 pots a day just to remain conscious. So you can understand the level of misery I have had to endure this past week as my 4 year old Gevalia machine met an untimely death during a recent lightning storm. I then began the hunt for a new machine. Basically, Amazon was my first stop since they have everything. I read all sorts of reviews, and finally settled on this one. I must say, this is by far the best machine I've ever owned.

In reading the reviews, I found a few gripes that I don't agree with, so here's my response to those:

1. The number one gripe I see is filling difficulty. The fill hole is much larger than my old machine. Some people said its too small and makes a huge mess. My first time, it did drip a little bit but if you leave the lid off the pot while pouring, works like a charm. Let me put it this way... I wake up in the morning with the jitters, like a fiend looking for some crack... If I can pour it without making a mess ANYONE can. And that's a fact.

2. Numero Dos: Programming difficulty. I'm no rocket scientist by any means, but I had this thing programmed within about 5 minutes. I had no problem understanding the directions. I believe most gripes in this area are operator error.

3. Basket issues: It doesn't stand up on it's own, true, but I don't understand how anyone could miss the basket. Leave it in the machine for pete sake! I hope they don't miss their mouth with that hot coffee! Again, If I can do it without making a mess, anyone can. As for choosing paper or mesh filter, paper of course filters better, but mesh makes it stronger and leaves a bit of sediment in the pot... each way has it's benefits depending on how you like yours.

4. Flip-top so large you have to pull it out from under the counter: True, but how lazy can you be... honestly? It's not that hard of a chore. You'd be hard pressed to find a machine that isn't like this.

I, like others, had some pre-conceived notions from negative reviews, but I found most if not ALL of those to be some pretty weak arguments. I guess some people have more problems than others when trying to understand directions and such. This machine is top notch for the price, hands down!

OH! And please look through all the comments, It's going on 3 years and I have given multiple updates as time has passed. I'm sure you will enjoy!

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Hello fellow coffee drinkers. Like most of you I have looked long and hard for a good basic coffee maker. In the last 5 years I have gone through 4 new products and have been quite dissapointed in this whole experience. I mean how hard can it be to make a good coffee maker. I had the basic braun coffee maker for 10 years and loved it. However, two new braun coffee makers later I realized that quality had gone down the drain with the coffee grinds. Then I purchased a krups. I returned it to the store within two weeks as it stopped working. They gave me a replacement which lasted just past the warranty. (figures) Then I tried a GE combo grinder brewer. That was the worst mistake I could have ever made. The first sign that it was garbage should have been when the GE emblem fell off. It leaked. It spilled. I spent more time cleaning than brewing, and thankfully it didn't last as long as its warranty and I had no intentions of getting another one free or not.

I have had this cuisinart now for three weeks. It does everything it says it will do. It never leaks, spills or makes a mess. As per the other reviews I feel it could have a bigger fill area but it really is no more difficult to fill than any other brewer I have owned. (don't let that stand in the way of buying this) I also think it is very easy to program and will even keep your settings in memory if it is unpluged for a short period of time.

This coffee maker works perfect and I hope it lasts as long as the warranty and beyond.

Happy brewing.

Honest reviews on Cuisinart DCC-1100 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker

To make drip coffee, a machine has to do just two things well -heat the water adequately, and disperse the hot water over the grounds. Oddly, most coffee makers fail at one or the other. This Cuisinart does both pretty well, which is why it is probably the best machine on the market right now under $200 (and the reviews at Amazon testify to that).

TEMPERATURE: The overwhelming majority of brands do not heat the water adequately -if the water at the grounds is only getting to 175-180 degrees, you will have sour, weak coffee. Ideal temperature is around 202-205. Using a digital thermometer, I measured the DCC-1100 at 197 in the filter basket, which is quite good.

DISPERSION: The second task is showering the hot water over the grounds somewhat evenly. Many coffee makers just stream it in from a mini-faucet, so they overbrew the grounds in the center of the filter and neglect the grounds around the edges. Result is weak, slightly bitter coffee. The very expensive Capresso machine has this problem -it heats water to nearly 200 degrees but delivers that water poorly. The Capresso, which costs close to $200, makes mediocre coffee (at least it did for us). The Cuisinart isn't perfect in this regard but it does have a "shower head" design that disperses the water pretty well.

One other tip, which applies to all drip machines: Don't start with cold water. Room temperature is good. You can do this by running the tap partly warm, or by pouring the water the night before and letting it get to room temp. It gives the heating element a much better chance of getting the water to a good brewing temp.

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This coffee maker makes great coffee, is fairly easy to use, and is true red. However...when ordering they do not tell you that it uses a small charcoal type filter that needs to be replaced every month or two (depending on use) and that these filters are far from cheap!

Best Estate Design Electric Flat Panel Fireplace Heater Deals

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List Price: $279.99
Sale Price: $200.00
Today's Bonus: 29% Off

I looked at a lot of wall hung electric fireplace/heaters, and chose this one due in large part to a thorough review that told me the unit vents the heat from the bottom of the unit, unlike most others. This was just what I wanted but hadn't found yet.

The unit came well packaged, but without mounds of extra unnecessary cardboard or bubble wrap.

It was really easy for me to install by myself (an average size 5'3" woman) with clear directions.

I live in an older home that does not have any insulation in the walls, and when I turn the unit on in the bedroom, it turns a frigid room into a comfortable one within about 5-10 minutes.

I would recommend this to anyone wanting a space heater that is attractive and doesn't take up floor space and doesn't project far from the wall when hung properly.

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Originally the photo associated with this was of another estate design fireplace, (don't worry the correct image is up now) so when I received it that was the only thing that was disappointing; however, my husband convinced me the black design would work best in our living room and he was right. I get many compliments on this fireplace and the kids love it because I can change the backlight colors. A very cool feature is the heater....the heat works great and comes out from the bottom on the far left and far right, you have the option to use only one side, both or none. The remote is easy to use and gives you several flame options as well as backlight options. I am happy with this purchase and the only thing I need to figure out is how to hide the cord to make it perfect.

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It is absolute the best heater I have ever used!!! I tried over 8-9 heaters ranges from $70 to $250 (all with 4+ ratings, as I read all reviews before buying) and I rarely would give anything 5 star. Here is why: 1)It is very quiet, 2) warm, 3) it has a temperature control which was a bonus as it was not on the description when I purchased it 4) the temperature is very accurate unlike many others out there, it shuts off right when it reaches the temp, 5) very attractive looking, 6) can be stand alone or wall mounted. We used it in our bedroom, which I think is a waste as it is so pretty that it should be placed in the living room to show it off! Excellent buy!

Honest reviews on Estate Design Electric Flat Panel Fireplace Heater

I was very disappointed in the look of this heater. It looks nothing like the picture. It is a small plastic looking screen surrounded by black metal. If you have a nice house, you will not want this hanging on your wall. I could not get past how it looked so I cannot say if it's a good heater or not as far as warmth goes but it certainly was a let down. I was so looking forward to having it.

Discount Optimus H-4501 14-Inch Oscillitating Pedestal Digital Dish Heater

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List Price: $100.22
Sale Price: $74.24
Today's Bonus: 26% Off

I have had this heater for about two years. I am a 62 year old grandmother and take good care of my equipment, so this heater has been well cared for. The cord wrapped around the pedestal this morning, creating a tiny bit of tension at the point where to cord enters the back of the fan. There was a loud pop and then flames shooting out of the back of the fan. Thank goodness I was standing right there or my house could have burned down. I will be reporting this to the company than makes them, but I am getting rid of the other identical heater I have. This is a fire hazard.

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I bought my Optimus H-4501 heater last month and am super impressed with it. First of all, for anyone who uses a heater at night in their room, having a low-laying floor model makes no sense. It will just point heat at the side of your bed. Having the elevated "heater on stick" model makes all the sense in the world. Now the heat is aiming at you. I have another pedestal heater of a different brand which made its way to my garage, because although it has a shut-off timer, it has no thermostat, so it's either on low, on high, or off. The Optimus has a thermostat, and a good one, not just a dial, but rather a digital display where you pick the desired temperature digitally and the heater turns off when that temperature is reached and back on when the room gets cold again. I've never seen a pedestal heater that has both a timed shut-off feature and a thermostat until I found this one. Also, it's very QUIET in its operation, even while in oscilating mode. And I like the backlit digital display which is at eye-level from a bed. It's got a nice remote control, but I hardly ever use it sense the screen and controls are at very easy to reach (as opposed to my old heater which had them located on the base of the unit). Last, but not least, like all dish heaters I've tried before, this heater projects substantial heat at you very quickly. I've never had to use the high setting yet. I would recommend this heater to everyone. I really feel it's the best space heater ever!!!

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I have only had this product for one day as of 01/09/2013. I will comment later if need be.

So far, I don't see any problem with the item itself, HOWEVER, I thought I was buying, and paid for, a new product. It may be new, but the packaging (original) was definitely previously OPENED and then poorly re-boxed. I was skeptical but took the heater out of the box anyway since the box didn't appear to be damaged.

All the parts were there except the two AAA batteries that are advertised as included. This could be an oversight on the person who re-boxed the heater. The remote worked okay but was just tossed loose in the box and could have been damaged or lost, BTW, the box exterior states two AA batteries included! I tried to install two AA 's before I realized only AAA's would fit (dah).

The assembly is very simple, no tools required. The unit, while operating in the oscillating mode is a little wobbly, sort of top heavy but acceptable. The pedestal telescopes and is extendable somewhat, in the highest position while oscillating it is a little noisy but in the lowest position I didn't notice it.

You can run the unit with or without the timer (8 hr max) and with or without oscillating.

The safety tip-over switch is built in to the unit (a mercury switch I guess) and is NOT a visible on-off switch on the bottom of the stand. I tested it and it works fine from any tipped position.

So far, so good :)

Honest reviews on Optimus H-4501 14-Inch Oscillitating Pedestal Digital Dish Heater

been using it for a month now and it works great I have a unheater enclosed deck and keeps the room nice a warm. I would recomend this product to everyone

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Optimus H-4501 14-Inch Oscillitating Pedestal Digital Dish Heater

This heater works great. I like the display and the remote and the fact that it moves like a fan. What I did not like, the noise. It was fine at first but now it's louder than a fan. I would have given it 5 stars but the noise is a bit annoying.

***the noise comes once in awhile now. it's been used at least 12 hours a day for the last 10 days.

Reviews of Vogelzang F-1 Blower for Sentry/Hearthwood

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List Price: $230.23
Sale Price: $99.99
Today's Bonus: 57% Off

Was very satified with the product arrived very fast works great.....Very easy to install I love it couldnt ask for better service

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We havent used it that much yet but when we did it worked great.It was easy to install also and didnt take much time to install.

Buy Honeywell Baseboard Heater, HZ-519

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List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $81.75
Today's Bonus: 18% Off

We needed a supplemental electric space heater for an unheated bedroom in our home that is occasionally used by guests. I selected this model over the Honeywell HZ515 because it has a screen to display the temperature instead of just a selector dial. We own one other electric heater that has a thermostat without a display, and it is much harder on that Delonghi unit for someone to set the temperature without consulting the manual. This heater is quite straightforward to operate in comparison.

If you simply push the power button, the unit will come on at full power and keep heating at full power until you turn it off again.

If you push the power button and then use the upand down-arrow buttons, you can select a temperature (in Fahrenheit or Celsius) that the unit will attempt to maintain (up to its 1500 W capacity) until you turn it off.

If you push power, then use the arrows to select a temperature, and then push the timer button (and use the arrows to increase/decrease the amount of time), the heater will run as much as needed to keep the heat to the pre-selected temperature for the amount of time you've selected. I believe the maximum is 10 hours--enough for overnight use.

For me, this offers some extra peace of mind. I can set this heater for a guest (or tell them how to do it) and not feel the need to check up on them in the morning to be sure the heater has been turned off.

Two other features on this heater are superior to those on my Delonghi Mica Panel heater:

* the Honeywell HZ519 has a 5 year warranty (vs. Delonghi's 1 year)

* the Honeywell HZ519 has a three prong power cord (vs. Delonghi's 2 prong plug)

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I own five of these, and heat my home with them (and five upright oil-filled types).

Pros: usually safe to touch, non-electronic glowing badge-type overheat indicator, timer, quiet, five-year warrantee, great flexible 16-gage 3-wire cord (stays cool), appears to be of highest quality, inexpensive.

Cons: Although there is a bright bulb indicating the unit is on, the LCD panel is unlit by it, so you can't check the indicator easily when it is dark. This is important, because the heaters sometimes reset themselves to maximum, so you need to look at the panel repeatedly during the night.

The timer only works for shut-off, not for timed turn-on, so you can't use it for programmed heating, such as warming up for the morning, or warming up for return in the afternoon.

Timer and temp settings are lost when powered off (no back-up battery or constant power to the panel from the plug).

Temp settings unpredictably reset to maximum, so you can't leave these heaters on unattended (for instance, to keep the house above freezing when going out for the day or a weekend). You may come back to a house at 80 degrees, at great electric expense.

To repeat, on all five of my units, if I have them set at some lower temperature, say, sixty-five degrees, I may come back some time later to find it at eighty degrees. So I must constantly go around checking them.

On one of the five units the tilt switch burned out. Not from being tilted, just from being on for a few months.

Many of the high-raters of this heater mention these same problems, but don't consider them as bad as I do. That is probably because they don't use the heaters as much as I do.

Many of the low-raters of this heater don't understand that all 1500 watt heaters put out the same amount of heat, and don't understand that a thermometer near the heating element is bound to read higher than one across the room, and don't understand that a convection heater is bound to be slower than, but ultimately equal or superior to, a fan-forced or radiant heater of the same wattage. Oil convection heaters are even slower, since the oil has to heat up first. Radiant heaters lose heat out the window if pointed at an unshaded window. There is a theory that radiant heat is equivalently comfortable at lower power use. Fan-forced heaters' fans will eventually fail, sometimes causing a fire.

Some reviewers mention the poor instructions, and how important they are. Much better instructions are available online. The controls are not obvious; you are sure to misuse them if you don't have the online instructions. Basically: to set the temperature, turn the unit off, turn it on, press the Temp button, use the up/down buttons to set the temperature, and then don't touch it again. If you subsequently touch any button it will reset to maximum. At first the indicator will show what temperature you have set it to try to get up to. After a while, the indicator will show the actual temperature at the unit you can no longer check the temperature it is attempting to attain. Ignore the fan icon: there is no fan. If the clock icon appears (unintentionally), you have double-clicked, and must start over. The thermometer icon shows you have set the temperature. When the temperature blinks, it has attained the goal you set.

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This heater really heats up a room in a hurry. To provide some context, my kitchen is in the vicinity of 120 square feet, and it only takes 5 minutes or so to heat up after turning this heater on. As advertised, it is indeed silent. And even when first turning it on, it didn't emit that nasty new-heater smell. This heater is a great value and I'm glad I bought it.

Honest reviews on Honeywell Baseboard Heater, HZ-519

I've had one of these heaters for a couple years and it has worked well for occasional use & I've been quite happy with it. So, last week when I saw them for sale at Home Depot I picked another one up. I used it for a couple days, turning it on during the day and off at night. Then one morning I went to turn it on and was surprised to find the unit was hot. Even though it was powered off and the display was off the unit was still heating. I unplugged it and tried again later with the same result. I don't know if this a common problem, but you may want to make sure yours is working OK.

Thankfully I was able to return the defective heater to the store I bought it. But my experience with this heater and a previous experience with defective Honeywell humidifiers makes me wonder if Honeywell's quality no longer lives up to their reputation. And their support company, Kaz, leaves very much to be desired in regard to customer service.

If I had no concerns about the safety and reliability of this heater, I would give it 5 stars, but unfortunately that is not the case.

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Moved into a new place that didn't have central heating, got rather cold at night and in the morning so I searched for an electric heater. Never bought one before, but I came across this one and purchased it. Very happy with the purchase, it is dead silent, heats a rather large bedroom well and keeps it warm through the night so I am not freezing in the morning. Has great options, you can leave it on and just constantly running or set it at a certain temperature and it will turn it self off when it reaches that temp. I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a reliable, silent heater for a decent sized room.

Reviews of Yama Glass 5 cup Tabletop Ceramic 20oz Syphon w/Butane Burner

Customer Ratings:

I've always wanted to try out a vacuum brewer, and so I bought this one since it had a great price and included a burner. I have used the burner a few times at the table, but I have found I mostly prefer to simply use the gas stove. The butane burner does work well and has plenty of heat to get the job done. Plus the whole package is very handsome.

I didn't think I'd use this much because it's a bit more of a hassle than a french press, but I like the coffee it makes so much that I use it every day. I'm surprised it makes coffee that is better than the french press, but it does make it a lot smoother and the cup has absolutely no grounds or mud in it.

I roast my own coffee now, and this the perfect companion to the roaster for the way I like coffee, which is smooth, consistent, and flavorful. Plus it is fun to watch it work. The included bottom glass makes enough to for two normal sized coffee cups or one large mug for the road. It includes 5 cloth filters, and I have used the same one for many months now. Daily cleanup is with the sink sprayer which gets the filter clean enough for more use. Then once a week, I pull the filter out of the metal holder and clean it up well.

The amazon page states quite a long lead time for shipping, but it came in just over a week--which was great.

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If you love a French Press, but want to move into something a bit more elegant and exotic to make coffee the Siphon Based System is just the answer. I opted for this device because it is fueled by Butane Gas the same gas to fill Cigarette Lighters.

If you love hot coffee that is not burnt or over cooked, and you wish to get away from the paper filters, this Siphon Pot of perfect. I loved it.

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My parents used a vacuum coffee maker back in the 1950's...that being said the absolutely best cup of coffee I've ever had in my life was in Jakarta (on, of course, the island of Java) from a table-top vacuum coffee maker.

This product makes absolutely perfect coffee. The presentation for guests is amazing.

YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS COFFEE MAKER.

Honest reviews on Yama Glass 5 cup Tabletop Ceramic 20oz Syphon w/Butane Burner

You wouldn't be investigating this product if you didn't love your coffee, so the fact that this is more work than a drip machine is likely irrelevant to you. The payoff for (not really all that much) extra work is a great cup. Once you've gone a few rounds with this method, the end to end time (burner-on to coffee-down) is less than 10 minutes. Actual brewing, which is the only part where you actually need to pay close attention, is 2 minutes. And man, the coffee is good.

I have no fewer than 6 coffeemaking appliances -ancient Bodum Santos Electric (a warhorse that I used constantly for over 10 years, still works like new...sadly, Bodum stopped making these); reasonable mid-line drip machine (only use when I need to produce a volume of coffee for guests); a Bodum french press; an Aeropress (pretty cool, makes a smooth cup); a Coleman percolator we use for camping; and the Yama. They all have something to recommend them, but my runaway favorite is the Yama.

The manufacturer has made an honest attempt to make this unit pretty, with the floral scrolling in the base and its overall design. Even so, the first impression is that it's a bit rickety-looking. The screw-on uprights move a bit, and the whole thing flexes in a mildly unnerving way. But I've brewed well in excess of 100 pots in the Yama and it shows no sign of wear or failure. Nowadays I don't even question its sturdiness...it has help up just fine.

A few weeks into usage, I started getting a nasty flavor note. After some investigation online, I determined that it was buildup on the 3 cloth filters. I tried the various methods that were suggested for cleaning them, but was never able to completely eliminate that off-note, so I tossed them. There are two excellent alternatives to the cloth filters. First, you can use the paper filters for Aeropress. They are very inexpensive and fit well. They do deposit a little more sediment in the cup, but some people like that. Since I don't, I tried another method, which is a Yama stainless steel filter. Make sure you wash the steel filter well before putting it to work, as it does present a slighty metallic taste on first use. But it doesn't leave as much sediment as the paper filters, produces a cup that I think is as good as the cloth filters, and most importantly doesn't get nasty with use. It rinses clean under a faucet, and stands up to repeated use. Mine has had most of those >100 pots pass through it, and it's still in fine shape.

I think the butane burner is the most effective of the available means of producing heat. Stovetop would probably work if you have a gas stove, but electric stovetops are too up-and-down on the temperatures, making for more drama than needed during the brewing process. Alcohol burners work ok, but they take longer than butane burners....a lot longer, in my experience.

YMMV, but for my money, vac pots are the best way to brew coffee. I'm giving the Yama 5 stars because it is a good value for the money, it hits its design goal beautifully, and for me it has stood up to a lot of use. It does everything it is purported to do, and it makes killer brew.

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Very happy with this syphon. Have made some very nice coffee with it. Only down side is the plastic service handle around neck of the bowl which broke quickly but is easily fixed.

Optimus H-7247 Portable Oscillating Ceramic Heater with Thermostat Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $36.99
Sale Price: $34.99
Today's Bonus: 5% Off

I didnt go into this buy with much expectation. but upon receiving the heater, it was a little smaller looking than the picture leads it to be. What it lacks in size it makes up for in functionality. I am currently deployed and live in a 15x20 shack with two other guys, and it easily keeps us all warm at night on just the low setting. Also has a tip over switch on the base that keeps me from worrying about any mid-night fires. The small size has actually grown on me since we have very limited space to begin with. GREAT BUY!

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The heater is smaller than expected; it's barely a foot tall, but it does the job admirably. It has two heat settings and when the room is warm, I turn the heater off and the room stays toasty for hours. Unlike another reviewer, I have not had problems with the oscillator making noise, but even without oscillating the heater still heats a room; the oscillator is just a bonus. It also has a fan setting that I will try out in warmer weather.

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it makes a creaking sound when it rotates, and is annoying enough that it is unusable. we just use it for straight heat.

Honest reviews on Optimus H-7247 Portable Oscillating Ceramic Heater with Thermostat

This heater produces enough heat to warm an office with floor to ceiling windows on north side of building. The oscillating feature allows it to distribute more evenly through the space. Heater is very quiet.

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This is exactly what I needed! It's for at work. I have it up on my desk so I can hear it more than I would if it were down on the ground but I'm not putting it down there (cleaners killed my last heater with a vacuum!).

It swivels, it heats and it serves as a fan + $26 plus free shipping = excellent deal!

Discount Proctor Silex 45802B Hot Pot, Blue

Customer Ratings:

I purchased this product in the mistaken belief that it was a kettle; i.e. that it boils water and then turns off. It doesn't. It boils water, and any other liquid one cares to put in it, but then maintains the temperature at a given level.

To that extent the product is very good value for money.

It has no visible heating elements so scale is not a problem and it looks nice. As a hot pot, the only drawback I can find is that a gap develops between the back of the lid and the handle when pouring liquid. This, of course, means that steam can escape and provide a nasty shock by scalding one's hand; nothing fatal, just a little annoying. The other annoyance is that there is no "Off" switch, which means that I have to take the plug out when I have finished using it. However, for [the price] I can't really complain too much.

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While researching inexpensive electric kettles for the occasional in-office cup of tea, I checked for capacity, ease of cleaning, etc., but I never thought to check if it would actually TURN OFF. After ordering this 45802 Hot Pot I failed to note that the temperature dial goes from Warm to Boil but has no actual Off position. After boiling my first cup of water on Friday (which did work nicely) I left, only to come back on Monday to discover that the pot was warm! Luckily there was still some water in it and no damage done. In addition, I have also found that the way that the lid seals near the handle is prone to leave a small gap through which boiling steam will escape as you tip it forward, thus exposing your hand to an unpleasant surprise. I think that someone let the junior engineer work on this one and would choose another model next time.

Update (01/02/13) While the missing 'Off' stop is annoying and I have learned to pour and avoid the steam, I have used this kettle for over 7 years, nearly 5 days a week and it is still working without any problems. I guess I have to up it's rating from 2 stars to 4 based on extreme reliability.

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This hot pot is great in the dorm. It boils fast, cleans easy, and is small enough to not be a problem. I haven't had any problems with a "placticy" taste, and really no problems overall.

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In addition to being attractive looking, it is a rapid boiler, so I make my much needed first "cuppa" in a flash. Product performs as advertised! Winnie P.

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This hot pot was the only (!!!) kind of electric tea kettle available anywhere locally (checked WalMart, KMart, Big Lots, Hall's Hardware, and the grocery stores).

What I strongly dislike about the pot is the fact that it doesn't switch off automatically once its content has reached the boiling point. It also doesn't have an off switch, so make sure you unplug it after every use!

Another safety hazard is the lid: I have scalded myself several times because I hadn't put it on exactly right and hot steam was coming out of a small opening right where you put your thumb. It would be much better if this pot had a flip-top.

I wish I had done some research and purchased a kettle online!

Discount Nordic Pure 16x25x1M12-12 MERV12 AC Furnace Air Filter, Box of 12

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List Price: $144.95
Sale Price: $73.20
Today's Bonus: 49% Off

Great value. I checked out MER rating and compared with 3M we had been getting. These are very comparable for 1/3 the cost

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I was skeptical at first, not getting 3M, but these turned out to be great. I've used them for 2 years now. Very happy.

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My order arrived yesterday. I took one out, of the box, and held it up in the sunlight. It is easy to see that this is well made, and made of quality materials. I have purchased many HVAC filters before (good and bad). I have no doubt that these are as good as any I have used. P.S. I bought these on-line because my size is hard to find.

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says 20x24, actual size is more like 19x22.5 I'm not sure as the air handler turns on/off that it doesn't cause the filter to shift around. It works, but it would be nice if the size was accurately represented.

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Works as promised. Product is Easy to install, took few minutes only. and no problems at all. Price was great

Discount Fahrenheat Radiant Convection Panel Heater

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List Price: $189.99
Sale Price: $177.10
Today's Bonus: 7% Off

I installed this in the living room of my 5th wheel trailer. We rarely see temps below freezing, so this does a nice job of keeping my trailer toasty. The all steel construction is much better than the plastic De Longhi that it replaced. I have it wall mounted, so I can't comment on the wheels.

RV's do not have unlimited current available, so the ability to run this on 5, 10 or 15 amps is very useful.

Expensive, but worth it. The steel case can be opened, it therefore can be repaired.

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Buy OceanAire HFQ15A Warmwave Fan Heater

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List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $12.97
Today's Bonus: 57% Off

I 1st purchased this product at Home Depot 1 year ago. It works great! I used it alot. I'm the kind of person that needs soft heat thats not harsh coming out of the heater because my body is sensitive to harsh blowing heat. This heater delivers. I purchased 2 from amazon.

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I have had this product for a few months and find it gives out adequate heat for my use. I am a diabetic and my feet are always cold. I keep this directed at my feet when I sit at my computer desk. It warms my feet quickly and I then keep them comfortably warm by periodically turning the heat on as needed. I also sometimes place it on my desk for cooling off when I am too warm. I use the cool fan level for this and it is really great to keep me comfortable when I don't want to use my air conditioner. I really like this versatile product.

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This is a great heater for a small room. I have bought other small heaters and returned them because they were so noisy. This one is really quiet.

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Perfect for a small space where you work or play games. Quiet, adjustable and powerful heating.

It stops working when the room temperature is normal, which was unexpected. I have it running for over two hours when it was 40*f outside, so it really knows when to work!

-1 star because the air comes out horrifically dry.

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The heater arrived quickly and it was just what we were looking, something small and efficient and puts out some good heat.

Intermatic FF15MH 15-Minute Spring Loaded Wall Timer, Brushed Metal Review

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List Price: $21.36
Sale Price: $19.99
Today's Bonus: 6% Off

Simple to install but the fan or appliance it is connected to needs a separate on/off switch as once it is activated the appliance cannot be turned off using the timer itself. The audible ticking down is soft enough to be acceptable. Works well here in Australia with our 240v power supply. Easily fits our standard wall fittings though you have to drill two screw holes to in order to fix it to our wall brackets. Pity I could not get this in a white color at the time of purchase as it would have been better had it matched the rest of our electrical fittings in the home. For us, these were used to control bathroom Exhaust fans. All members of the family are pleased with the results.

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