Best Vitapur VWD5446BLS Full Size Water Dispenser Deals

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List Price: $249.99
Sale Price: $223.50
Today's Bonus: 11% Off

We've had this Vitapur cooler/heater for approximately 1.5 years. And I have had to replace the main circuit board once. My time +$25(Can) for a replacement board. This because we could not find our purchase receipt(we purchased at a local bricks&mortar). The circuit board was full of corrosion.

This past summer the heater stopped working. (the connection to the element appears to be corroded and was making poor contact and now the contact is completely burned off).

The final straw is that the cooler stays on and freezes the water in the reservoir to a solid block of ice.

I would leave the whole thing on the curve tonight for garbage pickup but it's got freon in it so I have to take it to the local hazardous waste disposal.

It is a shame the design & build quality is so poor, the machine is attractive looking and was exactly what we were looking for.

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Looks great, works great. Took a chance with some bad reviews because I liked the design. Looks very well built.

Paired it with the Greenway water filter.

I like the on-demand hot water. Some reviewers did not. It only takes a few min. to boil. Very hot! The blue LED lighting in the dispensing area is kinda cool too.

I'll give it 6 months and update my review.

-->> ***Update at 6 month ownership***

Have owned for 6 months now. Still give it 5 stars. Only problem I've had... Once time I hit the hot water button and nothing happened. Just unplugged the cooler and plugged it back in. Worked fine after that.

It's still cooling great and is very quiet. Actually quieter than when new. Hot water is still boiling hot. No leaks, no nothing!

Will update at one year or if I have an issue earlier than that. Again, very happy with this purchase.

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To bad you can't rate this with minus 5 stars...had to give it a (1)star. Purchased a Vitapur water dispenser a few weeks ago. Like other reviewers stated, their patiented "hot" water system, and I use the term 'hot' loosely, will only provide a cup of hot water in about 3 minutes. It is not a constant hot water dispenser like others I had, and the cold water even on max is not much over room temperature, and again not much over a cup at a time without having the machine re-chill. It has no on/off switches, and the water jug piercing spindle for standard water jugs is longer than most, with holes only on the top of the spindle so even though the water jug is empty the cap "well" is left with water standing that needs to be removed with a towel because if you place a new water jug in, when it seats, water splashes up and over the sides and surroundings. It may be stylish, but no where near fuunctional if your looking to have instant hot water and cold water like conventional multi-temperature dispensers. Might as well use a microwave or coffee pot to heat water...it's quicker!

My recommendation is don't waste your money like I did and stay away from this water dispenser. I'm now looking for a different 3 temperature water dispenser,.... to return it to Greenway/Vitapur would cost me about $100 between restocking fees and shipping.

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I purchased this dipenser about 2 weeks ago and returned it. This dispenser do not have hot water automaticlly, you would need to press a hot instant buttom to boil it, and it only gives you almost one cup. also if you boil it and not use, it will cool down, you have to reboil, it takes about a min to 3 mins to boil.

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We use this machine in an office with 13 people and frequent guests. With a Zero Water filtration system it produces a lot of water every day. The instant hot feature makes it much more efficient than a machine that keeps water hot all the time.

Reviews of Mr. Heater MH25NG 25,000-BTU Natural-Gas Radiant Heater

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List Price: $349.99
Sale Price: $314.99
Today's Bonus: 10% Off

I have used this in my garage for several years now, if I have my garage door closed it will warm the space pretty well. Directly under the heater its really nice and toasty, but the furthest corner of the garage will still be cold. In a 20-degree day with the garage door closed (I have a two-car garage with most of the garage walls NOT insulated), I get over 70 degrees directly under the heater (where I usually change the oil etc.) and at least 40 degrees at the coldest corner of the garage. Most of the garage becomes very comfortable to work in, that I usually don't even need to wear a jacket. BUT as soon as I open the garage door, I lose all the warm air and it takes a little while to heat the whole place back up. That being said, I typically also let it run for an hour or so before I start working on my car, just so I know the area is nicely heated.

Hope that helps. :)

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I purchased this heater about 2 years ago to keep my garage about the freezing level, principally to melt ice and snow from the cars, but also to provide a comfortable sleeping environment for my dog (and to keep his water from freezing). For this purpose, it works very well, and even keeps the snow melted from my snowthrower, which I keep on the opposite side of the garage. It was quite easy to install after getting all the proper fittings and hoses, which are not included.

I do have some complaints, which keeps me from giving this 5 stars.

1. Clearance is very important. When the burner ignites, I'm always alarmed because of the small ball of fire that the heater emits across the burner.

2. Because of the radiant heat nature, I have burned my hands while working under the heater, similar to getting a sunburn.

3. I've had problems with the pilot light going out. It is easily adjustable with a screwdriver, but is very sensitive and this was very annoying to fine-tune in the beginning. I still have to adjust it about once a year.

4. The garage always smells like natural gas.

This heater worked well in my situation, because I had natural gas stubbed into the garage when the house was under construction. Had I not done this, I would probably opt for an electric heater next time, and this means you need 220 volts. Depending on the size and type of heater, most also require some type of vent.

I would recommend this heater as it works as advertised for my 625 SF garage. However, I also recommend you explore other options first.

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I have just gone through my 2nd unit with the same problem. My Carbon Monoxide alarm has been going off. Something with Mr. Heater's quality control or packaging is seriously wrong.

This isn't my first rodeo with this model. I bought one 6 years ago and worked with good success. No C.M. alarms....ever.

so when the original unit started emitting natural gas fumes, I was told my their tech support that it's almost cheaper to buy a new one. So I bought the exact same model recently.

When the new unit arrived, the valve assembly mount looked bent. Sure enough, it was burning extremely hot and out of control.

when the next replacement arrived, it looked fine. It also burned hotter than normal (flames over the top) and began emitting Carbon Monoxide.(set off my alarm)

Also the thermostat had to be set at 40 degrees to maintain 70 degrees.

Amazon has been very good about taking care of the problem with me. Hats off!

Mr. Heater on the other hand needs to not be so arrogant (based on my calls to tech support)and address their quality control problem!

Honest reviews on Mr. Heater MH25NG 25,000-BTU Natural-Gas Radiant Heater

Bought this to heat an insulated,2 bay garage/shop. Not bad it you are directly under it, but five feet out and your out of it's line of fire. It you turn it on 30-60 min earlier, you will take the chill off. Should have gotten the next size up, this would be great for a single car garage. Overall, it beats not having a heater.

Also, it does recommend you cut a "vent" in your wall above it and have an opening below it (like a window open a couple inches for ventilation.

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I bought this for my indoor swimming pool. Even with the furnace heat you still need that extra warmth to make it feel like Miami Beach in NJ in January. I could not find a better looking heater and my only dislike is that this looks too much like a garage heater which it is. This unit comes with a thermostat and requires no electricity which would also be useful in the event of a power failure. I am still not sure how the thermostat manages to work without electricity.

I placed my unit so it casts the infra red heat right in the middle of the pool and has an effective floor area of about 18 by 18 feet when placed 15 feet above. Since the swimming pool is at the lowest level and cold air tends to settle to the lowest level this heater comes in very handy even when the water is heated and the furnace is blowing warm air. It also feels like the sun when you come out of the water even if you are wet. If you close your eyes you can almost imagine you were on a beach in Hawaii. I am thinking about buying another one for the deep end.

Review of Holmes Triple Ceramic Heater with Comfort Control Thermostat Gray

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List Price: $156.29
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 53% Off

After seeing how well one of these worked for my parents (for the past 3 years), I decided to get one for myself. I ordered it on a Monday and received it by Thursday. (A week ahead of expectation.) I've seen other reviews of this product and can tell you that its fan is NOT loud and it doesn't stink like burnt plastic when used. The remote control is a great feature and a plus. It's exactly what I expected. I saw it cheaper at Target ($34.98) but they were in season clearance sale and out of stock until next winter in the city where I live. With list price at around $132, this price is still a bargain.

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I bought this heater last winter and had no problems with it. However, this fall the heater stopped heating on a regular basis. I began shopping for another brand of heater when I decided to call Holmes to see if there was anything they would do for me, despite not having my receipt.

They very helpfully found me a similar, but newer model heater and shipped it out to me free of charge. They said I could dispose of the one that wasn't working. I'm incredibly impressed by how helpful Holmes was. I will definitely look for more Holmes products as a result of their great customer service and warranty.

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I got this only a few days ago, but so far it's working awesome. The oscillation helps spread the heat, the heater sits up off the ground a little so you don't have to worry about spilled liquids or overheating carpet, and the digital thermometer is nice for automatic heat regulation.

The only complaint I have is this... there is no audio feedback when changing the temperature with the remote, and since IR is unreliable you don't know for sure that you actually did change the temperature or if the signal was lost and the temp did not change. Strange oversight by engineering since the reliability of IR really is poor.

Anyhow, I highly recommend this over the more dumb heaters where you just turn it to a preset 1/2/3 and let it continue forever. Temp regulated space heating is the best :D

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Bought this for my cabin which is a 20' X 20' room. It does a decent job and is not loud. Great auxilliary heat and the safety features are nice. It does not get hot to the touch. Has a remote control which does not matter much to me. I wanted a reliable, safe product which it seems to be. It it lasts a few years then it will be a great purchase.

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We have a small office and wanted the heater to come on at 7am, one hour before arrival and go off at 4pm. We originally bought the Holmes HQH319, it was quiet and output was great however a wall timer will not work with the unit. I called Holmes and they said, "you need the Holmes HCH6150 it has a built in timer." Returned the first unit bought the second. The timer is a crude count down until it turns off and on. That means while it's on you have to press the button 8 times to get it to go off in 8 hours. If you want it on the next morning you have to press the button 15 times to get it to come on. This is a huge hassle to manage twice a day. Also, it makes too much noise for a quiet office.

Review of KRUPS Cordless Electric Kettle

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List Price: $72.00
Sale Price: $59.51
Today's Bonus: 17% Off

As a Brit living in America I spent years boiling the water for my tea on the stove top, as none of the (very few) electric kettles available in the shops looked any good certainly not up to the standard of a typical British kettle that could be purchased for a fraction of the price back home. Finally I decided to look online and see if I could find a decent kettle there and, after doing extensive research, I settled on this Krups kettle as being the best model available in the US for a decent price. The best thing about it is that it has 1750 watts of power (more than any other kettle I found available in the US), which means that it compensates somewhat for the lower voltage in the US and actually boils almost as quickly as a British kettle. The minimum amount of water you're supposed to boil at one time is 2 cups, and this boils in just under two minutes. However, since I am usually just making just one cup of tea at a time, I often boil just one cup of water and this takes 1 min 8 secs and doesn't seem to harm the kettle, as the base is fully covered by the water. I also save loads of time when cooking pasta now by boiling the water in the kettle first before pouring it into the pot and adding the pasta. This is also much more energy efficient. I have owned the kettle for about three months and have used it daily, and it has not caused me any problems at all. I would highly recommend this item especially for all you tea drinkers out there fed up with more antiquated methods of boiling water!

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This kettle never worked correctly from the start. I had to repeatedly press the "on" button to get it to bring water to a boil, as it would shut off prematurely. When I finally got tired of dealing with that, I sent it into Krups authorized repair. When I got it back, it was no better than when I sent it in. They did nothing to repair it.

After complaining to Krups itself, I received an email promising to replace the kettle. I sent the broken kettle in to Krups, as per their instructions. After waiting many weeks, it never arrived. I again complained to Krups, and this time actually got a phone call from a representative who said the kettle would be mailed out "soon". That was months ago, and it never arrived. I've written off this kettle and Krups, for that matter. My only regret is that Amazon's rating system doesn't allow "zero" stars. This doesn't even rate a "1".

I for one will never buy another Krups product. They apparently don't stand behind their products with anything but empty promises. Lousy kettle, lousy company.

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I had the same issue as the person who bought it for their grandmother. I called Krups, and they gave me the number of a local repair place. I called them and the repair guy told me to turn the on off button on and off like 6 times and try again.

This time it worked perfectly.

He said there is a thermestat in there that sometimes gets stuck in shipping, and I should contact them again if any other issues pop up.

edit: the problum popped up again, we tried to unstick it but found we kept having to do it over and over. Contacted the Krups repair and they sent us a replacement item for FREE. The replacement one works perfectly and has now for over a year.

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The kettle's appearance is nice. It has high power and boils fast. Due to design of the lid the water is tightly covered so there is less evaporation.

Here are the problems.

1) The stainless floor becomes spotted and uneven really fast (faster than with my previous Braun kettle).

2) On my first unit power switch was malfunctioning. It took me 2-3-4 attempts before I could start it. I replaced the kettle with a new one and had the very same problems.

The bottom line.

If you decide to buy, don't do it online. Buy at some place where you can easily replace the kettle if the first (second, third etc.) one is defective.

I decided to return this kettle and buy Braun for the same price.

Update 08/08/2008

After half a year I decided to give it another try and bought a new black Krups Kettle from Bad Bath And Beyond again. I hoped that they produced a new batch with the known defect fixed. Nothing has improved. The third kettle is also defective in exactly the same way power switch doesn't work properly and turns the kettle off several seconds after turning on.

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An Electric Kettle is the only way to boil water. Stovetops (electric or gas) take much longer, create more heat, waste energy and require monitoring. The Krups FLF2-JI is by far the best product available and well worth the extra cost. There is no "coil." The solid but lighweight "pitcher" sits on a stand and is removed when the water is ready. There is no heat emanating from the pitcher surface. Simply pressing a button starts the water boiling. A green light goes on and then automatically shuts off with a "click" when the water has boiled. The design and balance could not be more ergonomic and user friendly. It is aesthetic and wlll enhance any kitchen.

European Dual Voltage Travel Water Heater Kettle - 2 Cups Reviews

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I am very pleased with the performance of this water heater. I have burnt up coils before, in just a few days, so I was reluctant to spend the money. I'm glad that I did. This heater worked fabulously on a 3 week trip to Peru at 220 voltage, and a week in Jamaica at 110, and is still going strong. It can bring water to boiling surprisingly fast. It takes up very little space in the suitcase too. I'm taking this baby with me everywhere I travel.

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My wife and I travel 3-5 times a year. We both enjoy either tea or flavored coffees. Hotels and cruise ships do fine for delivering ready made coffee, but hot water is not always hot. By the time it goes into their thermos or pot, then is poured into a cold ceramic cup/mug, it is not at all piping hot! So, we either run water through the coffee maker without coffee and get that wonderful acidy after taste, or use the luke warm water provided.

This little travel pot is great. It is faster than our previous Frantz unit, and works perfect. The first dozen or so uses had a plastic tasting flavor, but we seem to have worked past that. Weight is not bad, size is minimal, and the piece nest together nicely for packing in a suitcase. The voltage can adapt to whatever country you are in, and we've never not been able to use it. Hotels, cruise ships, even bed and breakfasts. This unit gives us the flexibility to have morning or afternoon coffee at our leisure, and to have it HOT!

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I looooove this gadget! It heats water real quick and it's very lightweight. I am a flight attendant and I fly international and in most foreign countries other than UK and France it is hard to find a Water Heater in the room. It's dual voltage so its a plus for me. I put it in a little puch and throw it in my suitcase and there we go. It's very lightweight and the cord wraps around it nicely.Also it brought a little 110 plug,how sweet.It's been already to Africa and Paris,not that you can't get a great cup of cafe au lait in Paris.But it's very convenient while I'm getting ready having a nice cup of tea or coffee. Haven't tried for soups yet,but I guess it'll do the trick as well.I totally recomend it.

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We travel a lot and always take this heater with us. After 10 years it eventually burned out. We have bought another. It is light ,compact and has worked in all sorts of third world countries. Simon

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I'm a frequent business traveler. I've had multiple immersion coils fail after a few uses so as far as I'm concerned they're worthless. Plus they don't work well anyway. This heater does a great job and is relatively small so I can take it with me when I do just carry-on luggage. I've had it for a month and so far it's lasted longer than any coil. If it fails I'll come back and let you know. Highly recommended

Progressus ServIt Hot Plate Heaters, Pack of 4 Reviews

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We did finally purchase these because our Fiestaware plates are so thick, they pull the heat from your food. These heat mats definitely do what they claim, but there are a couple of things that concerned us. First, they DO smell like a car tire when heated. You don't have to have a sensitive nose to get this. The smell of car tires isn't the worst thing, but I don't think it's very appetizing, either. The smell does transfer to the plate until the condensation evaporates, but we did notice that they sometimes leave a film on the plate that doesn't go away with the condensation. Not sure if this is something the silicone secretes, or some kind of other reaction to heat, but I don't want it on my food. We have been able to wipe it off with a dry paper towel and have continued to use the heat mats, despite this nuisance. That said, we certainly do like having warmer food on our plates. I just hope I don't start turning into Lou Ferrigno!

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My wife & I love these. It is so simple. Just put on flat plate, stack multiple plates, and put in microwave on high for 30 seconds. The plates get really hot and the edges are plenty cool to touch. It has really saved our food from getting the heat zapped so quickly in the winter, especially for food that doesn't hold its heat very long like eggs and pancakes. But we use it for every hot dinner, even before placing pizza slices on a plate. It really couldn't work any better. They are simply constructed, so I would expect them to last a very long time. Just have a hot pad handy to set the warmer on after you take it off the plate. It doesn't hold its heat very long on its own, but for a few seconds it is pretty hot, mostly from heat from your plate which retains its heat.

I'm sure warming times vary by your microwave. On my 1100 watt microwave (1650 input, 1100 cooking output), it takes only 30 seconds on my thickest plates stacked by 2, and less on smaller thinner plates. I would be careful about over heating your plates if too rapid of expansion could possibly crack your plate. I have plates I really like and haven't been worried at all by these. I just don't push it. 30 seconds is really hot for my thick plates.

I used to run hot water and dry them, which took a while so I rarely did it. This is so much more effective and easy.

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These plate warmers are just what we were looking for. 30 seconds in the microwave and the plates are preheated. Excellent

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Following directions, we used these several times. The third time, it cracked a plate that we'd long had and often heated in the oven. As one thinks about it, this isn't too surprising: The ServIt heats the center of the plate strongly while not heating the circumference at all; thermal stress is a certain result and a cracked plate is a likely outcome--as we found in practice. Progressus ServIt Hot Plate Heaters

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I've bought some more for myself and some for family. Why put a nice hot dinner onto a cold plate? Easy to use and good value.

Holmes Ribbon Radiant Heater, 17 1/2 x 6 1/2 x 11, Light Brown Reviews

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List Price: $73.45
Sale Price: $61.53
Today's Bonus: 16% Off

The heater warms up really quickly and heats up a whole room. I had one and then I got on for my mother, she loves it. it makes the room warm even witht he door open

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it worked fine for a short while, but now it will go on for a second and the sensor will shut it off, over and over again. at least this defect fascinates my cat.

Buy NewAir AC-10000H Portable Air Conditioner & Heater

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List Price: $534.88
Sale Price: $429.95
Today's Bonus: 20% Off

These portable heat pumps are good. I have the 12000 btu version as well. If you try to cool a room a couple degrees just realize how long your furnace or air condition takes to accomplish the same task. Do not over size as this will cause the compressor to short cycle plus it will not have a chance to dehumidify. Try to heat/cool open spaces. Once unit catches up to set temperature it maintains it well. This is not a miracle fix all, give the unit time.

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Mr. Heater MH125KT Forced Air Kerosene Heater Reviews

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Very good experience. Ordered this heater on 2/13/07 at night and UPS had it at my house on 2/15/07 in the morning. Works great. I did see it listed somewhere else for a few dollars less but that place didn't have any. This was my first purchase from Amazon and I was a little leary but it worked out great.

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I use this heater to heat a 1500 shop. It works well, was easy to assemble and is not too loud. The electric ignition and thermostat shut off are great features.

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Have owned this item for over 4 years. Just recently had the ignition module fail (ignition coil), so I replaced the module & while I was in there, replaced the hoses (which were all cracked/split & ready to leak at any moment),the igniter electrode & the air gauge, which was broken the day I received the unit. No surprise, as all parts stamped "made in China". But the unit works great after you play around with the air nozzle adjustment screw to get a good burn, but not so good as to trip the overheat switch, which shuts the unit off until you walk over there & press the reset button -a PITA if your in the middle of a time-sensitive job. Once that was worked out, you'll only need to fine tune it for extreme cold (thicker air). Not worth the $300 I paid in March 2004.

FYI: Unit will NOT run on DIESEL -KEROSENE ONLY. Been there, done that! Diesel is too thick & slows the motor down gradually until it eventually stops (if you let it run that long, you'll probably either burn the motor out or melt the pump vanes). Drain out diesel & refill with Kerosene & it works fine again.

...and the handles are poorly made & need to be welded back together since they broke off. I guess you have to shell out the big bucks for quality these days!

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I bought this heater from my Ace store three years ago and I love it!! This is a great heater and performs flawlessly. Thermostat works great. I'm remodelling my old garage and I can work whenever I want as Mr. Heater is always there waiting to help me out. I use only kerosene for fuel as its basically odor free. If I do get a whiff of kerosene I know its getting low on fuel. Pick it up at Ace and put it to work today! Its cheaper there too. Amazon is great, but there are some items that I feel are better purchased locally and this is a case in point.

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bought new at amazon 2/26/08 used it one day and hasn't worked since.couldn't ship it back cause it had fuel in it at one time,no mr heater repair shops in our area wouldn't fix it and told me to scrap it.it would cost more to fix than I paid

Comfort Flame BK3 Fireplace Wood Burning Triple Fan Blower Review

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List Price: $128.00
Sale Price: $100.74
Today's Bonus: 21% Off

My BK3 Triple Blower Fan is installed now and working great but not without a few challenges.

The main gripe I have is that the listing says something like "fits all FMI models". Unfortunately this is not true. I have a 36" FMI fireplace from the early 90's. In the end I got it to "fit" but none of the mounts, screw holes, or anything else was as described in the diagrams. I had to come up with a completely custom rig to install the blower fan.

Other details you may want to know... (1) It's a little noisier than I had hoped for but we got used to it. On the other hand we are very happy with the amount of heat our fireplace now kicks off. (2) When I purchased this unit the image on amazon showed the wrong model. The image that is there as I write this review is corrected (a metal frame with 3 separate black plastic propellers). (3) I found it interesting to know that the fan unit draws about 70-90 watts.

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Discount Frigidaire FRA086AT7 8,000 BTU Window-Mounted Compact Air

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List Price: $249.99
Sale Price: $209.98
Today's Bonus: 16% Off

I am reviewing the Frigidaire FRA086AT7 8,000 BTU Mini Compact Window Air Conditioner. I am giving this AC a good review, but will mention a few things I didn't like about it. All of the complaints are minor, except for one, which was a problem for me, but might not be for you. I'll start with the background information, then list the features, and then list the good points and bad points.

Background Information:

This is a great AC with many features, good looks, digital display, remote control, and it cools the room very well. I'm using it installed in a window for my bedroom. Mine is 8,000 BTUs, but Frigidaire has similar models with different BTUs. It only comes in White. Even though it is described as "Mini Compact," it appears very sturdy and well-made and isn't really that small. Installation was a breeze because the unit weighs only about 50 lbs. It comes with the AC unit, a window installation kit, a nice manual, foam that you can put between the windows, and self-adhesive weatherstripping to cover any openings. All hardware is included. You just need a Phillips screwdriver to install it and a drill if you want to screw the top of the unit into your window. It is Energy-Star Compliant. The warranty is ONE YEAR Full Coverage and FIVE YEARS for the AC compressor.

Features:

* It has a green LED digital display with membrane button controls. You press buttons to control the unit. There are no knobs. Membrane means that all the buttons are covered by hard plastic and you press the label on the plastic that covers the buttons underneath. Each button press emits a beep, but if you hold the temperature/timer button down, it scrolls faster and only beeps once.

* It has buttons for On-Off, Mode, Fan Speed, Temp/Timer Up, Temp/Timer Down, Timer, Sleep, Filter Reset, and Clean Air.

* The Green Digital display shows the Temperature and Timer. Normally, when the unit is on Cool or Econ, it shows the temperature you have set, like a thermostat. However, when the fan only is on, it shows the actual temperature in the room. When you are setting the Timer, it displays the count-down timer.

* It has green LEDs for the 3 modes, the 4 fan speeds, whether the digital display is showing Fahrenheit, Centigrade, or Timer, Timer On, Sleep On, Filter Reset On, Clean Air On, and Remote Sensing On.

* You turn the unit on and off and it remembers your last settings. You press Mode to select from Cool, Econ, or Fan Only. Econ is Economy Mode that cycles the AC compressor on and off, once it reaches the set temperature, to conserve energy.

* Fan Speeds are Low, Med, High, so you have 3 speeds for both the AC and fan. The AC also has Auto Fan, which regulates the fan speed automatically for you. It comes on full blast when you first turn it on, then gradually lowers the fan speed as it reaches your desired temperature.

* The Up and Down buttons are used to set the temperature on the digital display. You can set it from 60 degrees to 90 degrees and display it as either Fahrenheit or Centigrade. These buttons are also used to set the Timer.

* The Timer button allows you to program the unit to either turn on or shut off one time over a 24 hour period.

* The Sleep button raises the temperature you have set by 2 degrees, one half hour after you activate it, and then by another 2 degrees, half an hour later. Then it keeps this temperature for the next 7 hours. It sounds more confusing than it is. Basically, you can activate the Sleep feature when you go to sleep. It assumes an 8-hour sleep cycle. So if you set the temperature for 72 degrees, then an hour after you go to sleep, it will be set for 76 degrees for the next 7 hours, and then go back to 72. The theory is that it you can fall asleep with the temperature you have set, and it can gradually get a bit warmer during the night, without it disturbing you, plus, it will prevent you from becoming too cold.

* Filter Reset has an LED that lights after every 250 hours of use. When it lights, it reminds you to clean the filter. After you clean it, you press the button to turn off the LED and reset it. Then it will remind you after the next 250 hours of use.

* Clean Air is a built-in Air Ionizer and Purifier. If you turn it on, it will automatically remove dust and impurities from the air while either the AC or fan is running.

* It has two separate air vent openings at the top that can be controlled independently.

* The enclosed remote (2 AAA batteries included) has an unlit LCD Display that shows the actual temperature at the remote, presumably that is where you are sitting. You can control everything from the remote, except the Filter Reset and the Clean Air Filter. A red LED blinks when you press a button. You can also turn Remote Sensing on and off from the remote. When it's on, a corresponding LED blinks on the AC unit to show it's activated. Normally, the unit controls the temperature, based on what the temperature is at the AC unit itself. When Remote Sensing is on, the unit then controls the temperature based on what the temperature is where the remote is located.

Good Points:

* Cools fast and extremely well.

* Very quiet.

* 6 foot long, 3-prong power cord, so you probably won't need an extension cord.

* Remembers your last settings, even if the unit is shut down due to a power failure.

* Auto Fan speed is very nice and is similar to digital climate control in a car, plus you have the other 3 manual fan speeds.

* Sleep feature is a nice touch to prevent you from getting too cold while sleeping.

* Reminds you when to clean the filter.

* Air ionizer is a good idea and makes you wonder, why didn't someone think of this before.

* Very attractive looking unit.

* Remote control adds a level of convenience, but it is the temperature display right on the remote that is an added bonus. Plus, having the unit control the temperature right where you are with the remote is very nice.

* Small and easy-to-remove air filter. It slides out from the top.

* Very energy efficient and the increase in my electric bill is much less than with other AC units I have owned.

Bad Points:

* Can't speak French. (Honeymooners' reference.) ;)

* It's slightly annoying that if the AC is on, you have to cycle it to Fan to display the actual temperature in the room, and then set it back to AC. There should have been a separate toggle button that would allow you to view either the temperature you set or the room temperature right on the AC unit itself. There is a temperature display on the remote, but when I am closer to the unit than the remote, I often use the unit to see what the temperature in the room is.

* The vent is always closed. It's the first AC unit that I've owned that strangely doesn't have a Vent Open and Vent Closed control. A number of my other ACs have Vent Open, Vent Closed, and Exhaust controls. It's not that big a deal, but with all of its other features, I wonder why this very basic control was left out.

* When you press a button on the unit, the beeps are very loud.

* For many people, the Timer feature will be a great thing, but I have been spoiled. The Frigidaire unit I am reviewing is replacing a Carrier AC that lasted me 21 years! The Carrier worked perfectly from 1988 until the end of summer 2009 and then it broke. I replaced it with this unit.

The Carrier was ahead of its time and it also had a timer. It was an analog timer, but it allowed you to turn the unit on or off, at hour intervals, as many times as you wanted over a 24 hour period. That might sound like overkill, but I would use it to turn the AC on one hour before I came home from work and then shut off 2 hours later, just in case there was some emergency and I didn't make it home right after work. Normally, I would come home, the room was nice and cool, and then I would turn the timer off. But just in case, I had the peace of mind knowing the AC would shut off in 2 hours, instead of staying on all night, if I didn't make it home.

You can't do that with the Frigidaire. You simply set a countdown timer and when it reaches zero, the unit will turn on, if it is off, or turn off, if it is on. Also, you have to set the timer every time you use it. With the Carrier, you could set the programmed times once, and then just turn the timer on when you wanted to activate it. Again, this is not that big of a deal and many people may not even use the Timer.

* The major drawback for me and the only thing that prevented me from giving the unit a 5-Star Rating was that the air-directional controls are absolutely horrible. I'm talking about the opening at the top of the unit where the air blows out from. I honestly can't understand how such a nice unit could be so deficient in this regard. They really missed the boat on this one.

All the ACs I've had over the years had very similar air-direction controls and they all worked great. Basically, they all had little handles, where you could rotate the vent flaps either left or right. Then there were also up/down flaps, where you could direct the air to blow upward. The bottom line is that you could control the direction of the air flow beautifully.

With the Frigidaire, they advertise it as 8-way air control. If you look at the picture you can see that you can control the left and right vents separately. So the left vent can be controlled left-right-up-down and that's 4 ways. Then the same for the right vent, makes 8 ways. Well, it sounds good on paper, but the vents simply do a bad job of controlling the direction of the air flow.

Each vent has a knob that you rotate to presumably control the left-right air flow. Then, you can also click each vent either up or down. Well, if you look at the picture you can see that a plastic rod with small plastic circles on it controls the left-right air flow. The problem is that these plastic circles don't go all the way to the top of the unit, so air ALWAYS blows straight ahead, no matter how you adjust the controls. If you adjust them full left and full right, some air will be directed left and right, but the majority of air will still blow straight ahead. To add insult to injury, the up/down controls are totally useless. They don't swivel, allowing you to position them at numerous up/down positions. There are only 2 positions. Straight ahead or you can click them up one notch, which raises them up about a quarter of an inch. They are useless because they only vary the up/down air flow by about 6 inches.

I made a big deal about this because I'm using it as a bedroom AC and it affects me when I'm sleeping. Truth be told, in most circumstances, the air-direction controls of an AC are not that big of a deal. If it's not used in a bedroom, or if it's installed high in a wall or even in a window that's not next to a bed, this should not create a problem for you.

However, as fate would have it, the unit is installed in a window located to the side of my bed. That's where the Carrier AC was installed and when I adjusted its vents, the air would blow upward and to the sides, so it NEVER blew directly on me while I was sleeping. With the Frigidaire unit, no matter what I try, the AC always blows directly on me while I am sleeping and I don't like that. So the bottom line is that this may not apply to you, but it's something you should be aware of. It's really quite annoying that I can't adjust this unit so it doesn't blow on me while I'm sleeping.

Conclusion:

This is a great unit and I highly recommend it, but with one reservation. You virtually cannot control the direction of air flow and it always blows straight ahead. Depending on your circumstances, this might not matter. However, if the unit will be installed in a window next to your bed or next to where you will be sitting, be aware that it will blow directly on you.

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The best thing about this little AC unit is the "remote sensing" feature. It has a thermometer on the remote control and can use that as the input for the thermostat, set the remote in the middle of the room and it will keep it at an even temperature. It also has an "econo mode" setting and a "clean air" ionic air filter. It is small, relatively quiet, and the 8000 BTU's do a fantastic job keeping the place cool (it hardly ever runs in econo mode but still keeps it cold). This unit was only $10 more than the equivalent 6000 BTU Frigidaire unit.

Best Deals on Frigidaire FRA086AT7 8,000 BTU Window-Mounted Compact Air

Ok, I did my research before I bought this unit. It seems like the most bang for your buck. Amazon.com was VERY fast shipping this to me! I was shocked how fast.

The manufacturer claims that it uses only $59 of electricity a YEAR on average. We'll see. I haven't gotten the bill yet.

The unit has an ionizer and here's what I found about them:

"An air ionizer is a device that is intended to purify the air. As its name implies, instead of using fans and filters, an air ionizer creates ions which remove microscopic particles from the air. Rooms are healthier for those suffering from asthma, allergies, impaired immunity, or respiratory ailments, without as many allergens circulating in the lungs. Dust and mold collects inside heating and air conditioning ducts. Higher humidity inside allows bacteria to thrive. An air ionizer addresses these home and office sources of pollution and odor. The ozone that is created when negative ions are generated battles pollution by breaking it down into smaller, harmless components. Published research shows that high levels of negative ions are a useful treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder."

Then again, a new study conducted by Consumer Reports indicates that ionizers also create ozone that isn't good for you. So who knows? I've been using it.

Pros

* Cools great! Cooled my whole apartment!

* Remote control

* Can use the remote for sensing the temperature instead (nice)

* Easy to install (took me an hour)

* Has an ionizer on it

* Lots of features

* I personally love the sound of the fan. It sounds a lot like a really nice box fan. I sleep like a baby and it downs out the noise from outside since I'm off a busy street. (people pay a lot of money for white noise machines!)

Cons (not enough to deduct a star though)

* No option to use vent to bring in outside air (on the bright side, bugs can't get in through the unit)

* On energy saver mode, it only checks the temperature every 10 minutes (it got up to 80 degrees in here in-between 10 minute checks)

* You'll need weather sealing tape for the side panels (so little bugs don't come in the sides and cold air gets out)

* Smelled a little metallic at first (I think it's the lubrication inside the unit)

Please note: You will probably want to weatherize the room (or your place) the unit is in. This is very easy to do (I put "high density foam tape" around the doors and "clear weather sealing tape" where air could come in around the unit) and makes a huge difference. If hot air is coming in and cold air is getting out, then no normal air conditioner is going to seem good enough. Plus, you lose a lot of money on wasted electricity. That's pretty common sense. If I can do it, anyone can.

CHECK WITH YOUR ELECTRIC COMPANY! I was eligible for a $30 dollar rebate on my electric bill for buying this "green" unit. Every little bit helps!

I found all the specifications before I bought the unit and thought I would share:

Plug Type (NEMA) LCDI 5-15P (Normal Plug)

18-1/2" W x 13-2/5" H x 18-1/8" D

Product Code: FRA086AT7

Product Type: Compact

Power Type: Electric

Installation Type: Window Mounted

UPC Code: 0-12505-27363-6

Color: White

Exterior Dimensions

Height: 13-2/5"

Width: 18-1/2"

Cabinet Depth (with Front): 15-1/2"

Performance

BTU (Cool): 8,000

Dehumidification (Pints/Hour): 1.7

Cool Area (Sq. Ft.): 350

Energy Efficiency Ratio: 10.8

Performance Certification: AHAM

Electrical Specifications

Voltage Rating: 115V, 60Hz

Amps (Cool): 7.0

Watts (Cool): 740

Horsepower (Cool): 0.99

Power Cord Length: 6' (6-1/2')

Plug Type: LCDI 5-15P

Controls

Console Location: Center

Sleep Mode: Yes

AC Specifications

Fan Speeds (Cool): 3

Fan Speed (Fan): 3

Low Voltage Start-Up: Yes

Auto Cool Function: Yes

Energy Saver: Yes

Filter Check: Yes

Clean Air Ionizer: Yes

Remote Control: Full Function / Remote Thermostat

Air CFM (High): 217

Air CFM (Med): 176

Air CFM (Low): 147

Motor RPM (High): 1,600

Motor RPM (Med): 1,500

Motor RPM (Low): 1,400

Air Direction Control: 8-Way

Noise Level dB (High): 60.9

Noise Level dB (Med): 56.6

Noise Level dB (Low): 52.5

Vents Closed: Yes

Filter Access: Tilt-Out

Depth: 18-1/8"

Cabinet Louvers: Yes

Window Mounting Kit: Yes

General Specifications

Filter Type: Anti-Bacterial Mesh

Warranty: 1 Year Full/5 Year Sealed System

Refrigerant: R410a

Window Height (Min.): 14"

Window Width Min. (Max.): 23" 36"

Product Weight (lbs): 46

Shipping Weight (lbs): 55

Exterior Specifications

Dealer Front Material: HIPS

Certifications & Approvals

ENERGY STAR® Certified: Yes

Safety Certification: UL/CUL (SA11087)

You can download all the guides that come with the unit:

Owner's Guide:

manuals.frigidaire.com/prodinfo_pdf/Edison/2020211A1112en.pdf

Installation Instructions:

manuals.frigidaire.com/prodinfo_pdf/Edison/2020211A1131en.pdf

Product Specifications:

manuals.frigidaire.com/prodinfo_pdf/Edison/FRA086AT7_0411.pdf

Energy Guide:

manuals.frigidaire.com/prodinfo_pdf/energyguides/RAC/FRA086AT_EG.PDF

Wiring Diagram:

manuals.frigidaire.com/prodinfo_pdf/Edison/202021190024.pdf

I hope that helps others as much as it did me.

Honest reviews on Frigidaire FRA086AT7 8,000 BTU Window-Mounted Compact Air

I don't have a lot of experience with window a/c units, but this little guy seems to do alright. I moved to Brooklyn recently in the midst of mid-90s heat, into an apt with 0 a/c. Units were sold out all over town (except in overpriced specialty stores) so I had this unit rush delivered. The quality seems pretty good, given the relative low cost. I have this installed in my bedroom and it keeps the entire room chilly (68 F) on the lowest fan setting. Another plus is that I've not been bothered by any water dripping inside or out of the unit, which has been a problem of mine in other units.

The one negative I have is the loudness of the lowest setting. I wish there was another setting lower that was a bit quieter.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Frigidaire FRA086AT7 8,000 BTU Window-Mounted Compact Air

4 stars instead of 5 due to noise not terrible, but not the best available. Just purchased this unit from Lowes (slightly newer model remote control has been changed to the thin "credit card" sized remote control). About the same noise level as my 2-year old Kenmore 8000 Btu; not as quiet as my 20-year old Kenmore 8000 Btu (I have all 3 units installed and running in various rooms, so can compare). This unit is slightly cooler than the 2-year old unit, about the same as the 20-year old unit. Adjusting the directional vents on this unit is better than the older Kenmore, but still not great (no A/C I've seen has had good directional control). One annoying item for a bedroom installation: there is a really loud "beep" whenever you adjust anything. Would be really annoying to a partner if you adjusted the unit in the middle of the night.