Showing posts with label infrared heaters electric. Show all posts
Showing posts with label infrared heaters electric. Show all posts

Monday, August 4, 2014

Best Tiger PDN-A50U Electric Water Dispenser, 5.0-Liter Deals

Tiger PDN-A50U Electric Water Dispenser, 5.0-Liter
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $210.00
Sale Price: $140.19
Today's Bonus: 33% Off
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This water heater, which is made in Japan, is slick in design. Although it holds 5 liters of water, it doesn't take as much counter-top space as I expected. It is quiet and efficient. I can choose from three temperature settings that are designed for making tea or cooking instant noodle. I especially like the 6 or 9 hours "sleep timer", which is one of the reason that I purchase this product.

The only thing I wish it would have is a stainless steel interior, but I would still give it a five-star rating.

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I purchased my first Tiger hot water dispenser in 1996, at the PX, at Camp Casey, Korea. I have never been withoug a Tiger hot water dispenser since. This model has worked excellent for 4 years now. Absolutely, positively no problems. It's great for a quick cup of instant soup, coffee, or hot chocolate. I never have to wait for room temperature water to come to a boil for cooking. Instead of me waiting for the water to come to a boil...my hot water is ready for me.

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It is a good device, quiet, boils fast, dechlorinating water good and will buy it again if necessary. No complaint.

Honest reviews on Tiger PDN-A50U Electric Water Dispenser, 5.0-Liter

This was the perfect item that we wanted, Thank you Amazon for having what we wanted. The water heater was the perfectly described and sized that we needed.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Tiger PDN-A50U Electric Water Dispenser, 5.0-Liter

WORKS QUIT WELL FOR US. HEATS WATER AT 3 TEMPERATURES. BE CAREFUL WITH HIGHEST SETTING VERY HOT! EASIER TO CLEAN THAN EXPECTED AND MORE COMPACT ALTHOUGH IT HOLDS AS MUCH AS 5 LITERS!

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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Samsung WF330ANW 3.7 cu. ft. High Efficiency Front-Load Washer Reviews

Samsung WF330ANW 3.7 cu. ft. High Efficiency Front-Load Washer - White
Customer Ratings: 2.5 stars
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When my 5 year old Maytag top loader washer crapped out, I decided to replace my 18 year old dryer as well. I Purchased the matching set of Samsung 330 washer and dryer. If I knew then what I know now, I would have purchased these front loaders a few years ago.

I did a lot of research and found most of these front load washers use much less water, less electricity, and do a better job at cleaning clothes than most top loaders. My laundry is on the 2nd floor of my house so I was concerned about noise and vibration. And of course like everyone else I was looking for the best value for my dollar. Some reviews complain of vibration. Maybe they were not leveled correctly. Mine was delivered and installed professionally. The machine is super quiet and vibration free even to the touch. The only noise or vibration comes from the super fast spin cycle, and even that is much less than my previous top loader.

Here's what I have found so far:

Pros:

Cleans better than top loaders

Will handle much larger loads

Uses less detergent

Uses much less water

Uses less electricity

You can barely hear it run

Very little to no vibration, even to the touch.

The fast spin cycles removes more water from the clothes thereby making the dryers job that much easier.

Cons:

The cycles are about 20% longer than my previous top loader.

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Be careful. Go to Google and search "Samsung washer won't spin". This washer has a problem spinning. My washer is installed in our basement on a concrete floor. It is level (has been checked by a technician as well as us). The load cannot balance and it won't spin. Once it tries to spin and can't, it throws the load back into a rinse cyle. This is why the load of wash on "Normal" takes almost 2 hours instead of 58 minutes!! Samsung finally admitted to us through the repair tech that the oil surrounding the drum gets thick at any temperature under 60 degrees. That leads to problems with spinning/balancing the load. If you are putting this washer in your basement or garage or any place it may drop below 60 degrees...think twice. We may try to return this to the store where purchased but I am afraid I will have to fight for it. A very expensive mistake.

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I never really liked how this machine did wash. It was unpredictable in how long the cycle was, whether it would get the HE detergent completely out of your clothes, etc.

But this is what did it for me. An undocumented error code, that requires a service call, appeared on our machine 1 year and 10 days after we bought it (but less than 1 year after we received it since it was back ordered) and Samsung wants to charge me for a service call.

And the manager on the help desk can't do anything about it.

This is only what I can describe as horrible customer service.

Honest reviews on Samsung WF330ANW 3.7 cu. ft. High Efficiency Front-Load Washer

This machine doesn't have the annoying buzzer that our last machine did. It chimes. At first the dial with all the buttons was intimidating and I thought I would have to read the manual from cover to cover just to run it. However, I soon found out after turning it on how really user friendly it was. It even alarmed letting me know that it's hot water hose was crimped. Sure enough the hose was crimped and after getting it straightened out it was good to go again. It is really easy to pause the cycle too. This machine uses very little water and is very quiet so if your like me you may think something is wrong with it and sit with a flashlight looking in watching in amazement. You can really cram a lot in it and it all come out clean, and unlike top loaders it uses less soap and won't mess your bras up around a central spindle.

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We are very pleased with the washing machine. It is very easy to read the front of the machine to do the type of fabric you wish to wash. It is very quiet running and has a set tone to set when finished washing. I could recommend this washing machine to anyone who was interested.

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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Discount Duraflame Infared Quartz Electric Portable Heater Air Purifier

Duraflame Infared Quartz Electric Portable Heater Air Purifier Colby - Cherry
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $249.99
Sale Price: $189.99
Today's Bonus: 24% Off
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This heater is very well made and is not made for instant heat, and it takes about an hour and it heats the air and objects. I am heating 2000 square feet with two of these heaters and the weather has gotten down to 20 degrees and heats the house just fine and stays about 72 degrees in the house I am very pleased with the overall way they work. If you are expecting instant heat in a short period this is not the heater for you it takes a little bit.

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In my quest to lower my oil heating bill, @ $4 per gallon, I did an extensive investigation of supplemental space heating solutions.

I bought a DeLonghi TRD0715T oil-filled radiator and a Vornado AVH2 Vortex Whole Room Heater. I also have my 20+ year old Pelonis 4-Disc Furnace--my trusty old Pelonis does not have thermostatic control, only a High/Low switch--I wanted a heater that had automatic control so I could "set and forget.".

The Eden Pure brochure got me interested in Infared Quartz heating. The Eden Pure sounded enticing, but I thought it over-priced, and the extensive research I did indicated there are better and cheaper alternatives in IQ heating.

After checking comments on different brands of IQ heaters, I settled on the Duraflame Colby and decided to buy from a local retailer (Fortunoff Backyard Store) rather than online because if it did not work out, I did not want to pay shipping to return it.

Instead of one unit, I bought two of them since the retailer was liquidating them as end of season merchandise--if I wanted/needed a second one later on, they would be out-of-stock. I have only set up one of them to test. I bought it at a $175 price.

The Duraflame Colby seems well built, with a nice wood cabinet. Sitting 6 feet away, I can feel the warmth, and the unit cycles on and off. However, before it cycles off, it runs to cool itself off internally and is thus blowing cool air. The built-in thermostat is reasonably accurate, when measured against an external thermometer. Whether it can heat 1,000 sq. ft. is still questionable, and perhaps doubtful, and whether it can do so at favorable electric cost is not apparent at present. Since I have only had it for a little over a week, I cannot comment on its durability. It does have a 3-year warranty, and the quality and packaging was good--perhaps an indicator of quality. I am glad I did not buy the Eden Pure--the Colby is so much cheaper.

I am concerned about electricity use since the entire purpose of my experiment is to substitute expensive oil heat with electric heat in the hopes of achieving immediate savings.

These space heaters are considered an investment and need to generate enough savings in one winter, over and above their purchase price, to justify their use. While I may use these heaters for many years to come, I am only considering the investment return horizon as one winter--the space heaters have to generate savings in one winter--my oil usage has to decline dramatically, and my electricity usage should not be tremendously higher in offset. I am investing $600 in heaters and need to recover this cost plus the incremental increase in electricity just to break even. Increasing the time horizon or alternatively figuring in an end-of-horizon salvage value may be reasonable but immediate payback is what I am after.

My plan is to keep my 2 zone thermostats at 60 degrees, and use the space heaters to push the temperatures on both levels of the house above that. I may even lower the house thermostats lower than 60 degrees after I see my electricity bill.

So far, it is still early on in my experiment since I have not received my most recent electricity bill to gauge usage. In addition, it has not been really that cold outside yet. I will update my comments as I gain more experience. In October and December, with mild temperatures, I got two oil fill ups totaling $1,100, so I am super motivated.

So far, these are my findings.

I will need to return the Vornado Whole Room heater, if I can. Judging from the dimming of lights, the Vornado uses a lot of electricity but generates little warmth. My old Pelonis heats up a room much, much quicker. The Vornado is also only suited for a small room, and I think it will use a lot more electricity to heat up the same amount of space that the Duraflame Colby does.

The Delonghi seems to consume less electricity. It generates strong heat off of the top, rising upwards. The lights don't dim as much, and it seems to be able to heat a large area if kept on continuously. I could use it in a smaller area as a continually on device. I may add a fan to circulate the heat. It is a keeper.

The Pelonis is the most efficient--instant and rapid heating. I plan to buy another B-6A1 classic 4 Disc Furnace with thermostatic control, although I am apprehensive that the new ones do not have the same build quality of my original--that original is over 20 years old and still functioning like new. Nothing is built like it used to be. That the warranty now is only 1-year, down from 3-years, which is down from 7-years is an indication of build quality. My original one was made in Taiwan; the new ones are made in China.

If the new Pelonis performs as well as the old one, it will definitely out-perform the Vornado, as it generates more heat in a shorter timeframe thus saving electricity, and with thermostatic control, I would not have to monitor it like I have to do so with my original Pelonis without automatic control. Thus the Vornado definitely has to be replaced.

I will use the Pelonis to rapidly heat a room as needed, and the Durflame Colby to maintain the larger spaces at an even temperature level, and keep the house oil furnace set at a base temperature level.

I will inform later on how this strategy and experiment works out.

UPDATE--OBJECTIVE COMPARISON TEST RESULTS: 1/12/2012

I have had the chance to make an objective comparison, and make further observations about the Colby, along with the other space heaters. I did an objective comparative test of the four space heaters I own, holding as many factors constant as I could.

I used the same room, an enclosed (door closed) 160 sf room, and placed the same thermometer in the same location during each phase of the test. The outside temperature was relatively constant throughout the test periods. I started each phase of the test at the same base level temperature of 60 degrees, and timed the test for 30 minutes for each type of heater. I recorded the increase in temperature achieved by each heater at the end of 30 minutes.

These are the findings:

Duraflame IQ Colby: (60 degrees to) 67 degrees, 7 DEGREE increase (in 30 minutes).

DeLonghi Oil-filled Radiator (pre-heated--non-cold, plus external circulating fan): 66 degrees, 6 DEGREE increase.

Pelonis 4-Disc (20+ year-old unit): 64 degrees, 4 DEGREE increase.

Vornado Whole Room Vortex: 67 degrees, 7 DEGREE increase.

The results were surprising:

Subjectively, I had thought the Pelonis would raise the temperature the most, since its heat is instant, intensely hot at close distance and it just subjective felt warmer. I will repeat the test with the new Pelonis I ordered when it arrives--maybe because it is 20 plus years old, the output is diminished, even though it seems as strong as when new.

I was impressed that the Delongghi achieved a 6 degree increase (I started with a warmed up Delonghi and not from a cold start because the DeLonghi needed time to heat the oil, and I added an external circulating fan since the Delonghi's heat only comes out of the top and hot air rises--thought this would make it more comparable, as the thermometer is resting on a bed and not hanging from the ceiling, and it does not have a fan to circulate).

I was surprised that the Vornado was able to match the 7 degree increase of the Duraflame Colby. The Vornado is not promoted as a large area heater--just as a "whole room heater." The mfg. rated output is 5,118 BTU's. I was going to return it, but based upon the test results, I've changed my mind.

The Duraflame Colby in comparison is somewhat of a disappointment. It is rated at 5,200 BTU's, matching the Vornado, but promoted as a 1,000 sf heater. I would have expected it to be able to raise the temperature the most (fastest) since it is promoted as a large space heater, thus presumably more capable of pushing out more heat--but it just matched the Vornado.

In using the Colby to heat my upstairs area, about 800 sf, I had noted that the temperature did not rise much in spite of continuously running on cycle. Given this objective test, I can only conclude that the Colby would not be able to heat 1,000 sf, and is at best a small/medium room heater. That being the case, I am not going to keep the second unit I purchased to heat large space. I have a call in to Twinstar--the manufacturer--to see what they say--to see if I have a defective unit or whether such performance is what is to be expected.

Given the results, the Colby is not a good value (typical retail at $200 plus shipping, althought I bought it for $175 plus tax=$190), being twice the price of the Vornado at $98--I got the Vornado from Hammacher Schelmmer at $120 plus shipping--one pays more at HS than Amazon. The DeLonghi is the best value--I bought it from Amazon for $68. The new Pelonis (to be received yet) was purchased at a cost of $75.

I hope the above test results will be helpful to prospective purchasers. An objective test certainly changes subjective perceptions--ie, it reversed my opinion of the Vornado's effectiveness, and I am going to keep rather than return it. It makes my decision on keeping the second Colby easier--it will not do what I expected it to do, heat a large space. The DeLonghi is confirmed as a keeper. Too bad about the Duraflame Colby--I like it and had hoped it would heat large space, and wanted to keep both units. Now I will just keep one for small space heating. I lowered my rating from 5 stars to 3 stars, taking off one star for performance and one star for manufacturer's stipulations not met.

FURTHER UPDATE: 01/13/2012

JUST GOT MY NEW PELONIS 4 DISC FURNACE TODAY. DID COMPARATIVE TEST LIKE BEORE. THE NEW PELONIS WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE ROOM TEMPERATURE BY 7 DEGREES FROM 60 DEGREES, AS OPPOSED TO ONLY BY 4 DEGREES WITH THE OLD PELONIS, ALL OTHER THINGS HELD EQUAL. RE-TEST OF THE OLD PELONIS CONFIRMED 4 DEGREE RISE ONLY.

However new Pelonis has awful smell--hope it outgases. Sides of new Pelonis gets warm, unlike the old Pelonis, which stay cool. Case, grill and cord on new Pelonis all inferior to old Pelonis.

In summary:

Duraflame 7 Degrees

Vornado 7 Degrees

DeLonghi 6 Degrees

Pelonis New 7 Degrees

Pelonis Old 4 Degrees

In summary:

Thus all types pretty much comparable in 30 minute test. BTU rating is determinant of heating ability. So beyond hype and claims of marketers and manufacturers, it is a matter of features and value.

Re the Duraflame Colby, it cannot heat 1,000 sf; for about 600 sf open area, it runs non-stop for hours and only manages to raise temp 1 to 2 degrees, when house heating is set at 60 degrees--had to supplement with Vornado and/or Pelonis to further raise temperature, thus running multiple heaters for the same space--defeats the purpose--might as well raise the house thermostat.

The Colby is best used as a small/medium sized enclosed room portable heater--but as such, the other alternatives do equally well.

A call to the manufacturer, Twinstar, to check if I have a defective unit, did not result in a timely response--still waiting. Will definitely return the second unused unit.

UPDATE: 11/30/2012

The remote failed to work. Changed batteries, still no luck. Contacted Twinstar and the telephone answerer took the model and my personal information and said a technician will contact me about sending out a new remote--strange procedure--I guess they outsource customer support. Will update further when remote received, and if it solves the problem.

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I had this heater for a month now and have used it on and off this fall. I wanted to use it to heat a 825 sq foot area. The heater could not heat this area. I have a seven year old prefab modular home that is very well insulated. I wanted to heat the open floor plan of the first floor which is 825 sq feet. The outside temperature was 50 degrees and I set the heater on 70. The farther away from the heater the less it heated. The manufacturer stated it will heat up to a 1000 sq feet. The heater is made in China. I decided to use it in the master bedroom which includes a walk in closet, and master bathroom. It worked great there and it's about 400 square feet. It's a nice looking heater and I like the remote control. The heater did smell the first couple of days but got better after a while. If you're looking to heat up to 1000 sq. feet you may be disappointed. I like the heater. I purchased this heater at Northen Tool on sale for plus shipping.

Honest reviews on Duraflame Infared Quartz Electric Portable Heater Air Purifier

I purchased this heater with the hopes of saving a little money on my oil bill this winter. With 2 little ones and a wife at home all day, heating the whole house when everyone is downstairs in 3 rooms didn't make a lot of sense. After reading a fair number of reviews, I decided to take a chance on this unit. We haven't gotten our 1st electric bill yet, but we've been using it almost every day. This unit takes about 45 60 minutes to reach full heat output, but once it does, boy does this thing cook. I have been able to lower my thermostat 3 degrees and have a warmer downstairs than with the furnace alone. Turned up, the space downstairs becomes uncomfortably hot. Our furnace is cycling on noticeably less than before when this is in use (my thermostat is located about 25 feet away from the heater, on the far side of a wall). The heat is even, the fan noise isn't any louder than our forced-air HVAC, the front grill doesn't get hot to the touch (the heating elements are contained within the body of the unit), the cabinet is very attractive and blends-in well with our furniture. Plus, it is well-made and comes with a remote. So far, I am very happy with this heater.

** update 11/17/2012 **

This unit works so well we're going to buy a 2nd one for another room. Drawing only 1500W also makes this an option when running on generator power, if you don't have a transfer switch installed (we will, but don't yet). This one's a keeper.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Duraflame Infared Quartz Electric Portable Heater Air Purifier

Use in an older home not very well insulated and it gets comfortable within 2 hrs of starting. Works well for the cold basement too! Have it set on 74, hasn't gotten below 30 deg outside yet but have no doubt with a top heat of 97 it will handle below zero weather! Strong smell on 1st startup and a lil noisy for some consumers.

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Friday, March 28, 2014

Discount Intermatic FF5M 5-Minute Spring Loaded Wall Timer, Brushed Metal

Intermatic FF5M 5-Minute Spring Loaded Wall Timer, Brushed Metal
Customer Ratings: 3 stars
List Price: $19.80
Sale Price: $16.86
Today's Bonus: 15% Off
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This product does seem a little cheap but I don't think it would ever break or malfunction. The face plate is small enough that it won't hide scratches from previous switchplates. I bought one over six months ago for a bath-fan and I liked it so much I bought two more for my other bathrooms. It saves us a lot of power.

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The description for this item said it was for a multi or single gang switch. It is only for a single gang switch.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Cheap Brentwood 1.2L SS Cordless Tea Kettle Brushed

Brentwood 1.2 Liter Stainless Steel Tea Kettle Model KT-1770
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $45.00
Sale Price: $19.65
Today's Bonus: 56% Off
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I drink tea every morning. Until a couple weeks ago, I was heating water in the microwave every morning. Then my brother-in-law informed me that was the least efficient way to heat water, I did some research and found he was right. I was very excited to get this electric kettle. I looked for one that could be lifted off the corded base, had an auto-shut-off, boiled water quickly so I could get out the door quickly in the morning, was not expensive, and did not have plastic in contact with the water that could leech BPA or other dangerous chemicals. I took a chance on this one based on what I saw and read here.

In most ways, this kettle works great. There's a light indicating when it's on, it heats 16 oz of water in a little over two minutes, is easy to handle, use, and pour. The plastic locking lid is a little awkward sometimes, just pushing it down does not always close it tightly, sometimes you have to pull the lock back with your finger at the same time.

But on the bottom of the box there is the California Proposition 65 warning (from the 1980s) that this product is made with chemicals known by the State of California to cause cancer or infertility. Ok, fine -which chemicals and are they going to leech into the water or are they say just on the lid or handle? I was unable to find any explanation or answer to that question.

On top of that, there is a strong odor inside this electric kettle when it gets hot. It is strong enough that if you boil water, pour the water out, open the lid, put your nose up to the top and take a deep breath, you will recoil a bit. It's not a disgusting or especially bad odor. I'm not able to identify what the source is, whether it's from hot plastic, or hot silicone, or something else. But in combination with the chemical warning (and I'm glad to be warned if it's not safe), I'm not willing to risk my health on a cheap electric kettle that might not be safe for the daily long-term use I intended for it.

I am trying to return the kettle. Since it was sold by an Amazon partner instead of Amazon proper, I am still waiting to hear whether that's possible and how to do so.

--UPDATE ---

Thank you for your comment. They accepted my return request within a few days.

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I bought this for my boyfriend because he didn't own any form of kettle (crazy!!)

He uses it now to boil the water for his ramen noodles and instant coffee and he loves it!

The only thing is he says it takes a while to boil the water and maybe doing it by stove is faster than this kettle. It also doesn't keep the water hot long after it boils. It's good for him because there is only the plug and on/off switch so his technophobe mother can use it without freaking out :D

Good item for the price. Stainless steel helps prevent the plastic taste of water like the plastic kettles and doesn't leave residue like glass kettles after a while :)

-Water indication level when you open the top and look on the inside, there are rims indicating the minimum and maximum and something in between also.

-The Kettle detaches from the heater that gets plugged in at the bottom.

-Its very lightweight but it gets the job done. Once water is boiled, it shuts itself off.

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Hi all,

For years I have warmed up water for instant coffee and tea bags in the microwave. After seeing a similar, but larger, kettle that our son had, we decided to give this a try. It heats a cup of water to boiling in the same time as the microwave and we don't have to reach up to get the cup out of the microwave a plus since both of us are not tall. The auto-cutoff works as advertised. I recommend it without reservation.

Ben

Honest reviews on Brentwood 1.2L SS Cordless Tea Kettle Brushed

Will this water ever stop tasting like plastic? After six weeks of boiling water twice daily in the Brentwood tea kettle, it still tastes like plastic.Thinking it had to be from condensing water dripping down from the inside of the plastic cover, I tried leaving the cover open and blocking it with a china teapot lid. No luck, the boiled water still tastes like plastic, not my favorite flavor!

I had an aroma tea kettle of similar design which worked great and produced water flavored water, but it died suddenly after only a year of use. So I thought I would try a different brand and bought the Brentwood version.

If you want boiling water for washing your dirty socks, the Brentwood is for you;the toxic flavor may help kill the cooties in your socks, too. But for drinking or cooking, forget about it!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Brentwood 1.2L SS Cordless Tea Kettle Brushed

The kettle was a replacement for a plastic kind that I had used previously. After my "old" kettle broke down (the water level window popped off) I had decided to aim for something a bit better built without any windows or weaknesses where water could eventually find its way through.

Picked this kettle as it seemed to fit the criteria. No plastic cheap viewing window, won't break easily if dropped (not tested) unlike the glass kettle(s) and reviews seem favorable. Bought the kettle and put it to use as soon as it arrived on June 23rd 2011 (literally minutes after it arrived I had washed it, boiled one max fill and poured it down the drain to prep the kettle).

It has been used on daily bases (multiple times) up until about 3 days ago when I noticed that kettle is displaying curious symptoms, namely I will turn the kettle on and it would not boil water until I turn it off and then on again. Also sometimes it will start to boil the water but then cut out half way through or turn on and off in random cycles. It is still usable, simple turn off and on usually fixes the problem and kettle boils the water as expected.

It has lasted Almost 10 months without any issues, no spills, no leaks and nothing broke off (yet!). For the price I'd say it served it's purpose well enough although product life expectancy might be something to be longed for in this case. Having said that I am giving this product 4 stars out of 5. Others might have had better luck with their orders of this product however, so I would recommend basing your decision on more than one review.

UPDATE (December 3rd 2012): It has been almost a year and a half since I bought this kettle so I believe I can comment on it's performance and life-expectancy a bit better. Since the kettle is still operational (with occasional glitches described above) I have upgraded the rating to full 5 stars.

The kettle still works as well as it did when I wrote the original review. An occasional mishap when the kettle fails to turn on or cuts out during the use before it finishes the job it has survived through is not enough of an issue. It's more of a nuisance that I have learnt to accept. The kettle works as well as expected for a product that was designed by an imperfect being (a human I hope?).

The upgrade of the rating is due to the simple fact that the kettle has not developed any additional issues (no leaks, no broken parts or bits missing) ,it looks exactly as it did when it arrived 12.5 months ago (maybe not as clean I'll admit, since I can never get into little nooks an crannies around the handle).

UPDATE (March 15th 2013): A curious development with the kettle. The issue that I had described before where it would fail to turn on or it would turn off too early etc. has now vanished. Kettle is still performing as when it was when we first got it which actually amazes me as I am one of those people that think companies nowadays tend to design their products to fail within a certain period of time and therefore make us buy products more frequently. The kettle did not develop any new issues after being used every day on average about 4 times (sometimes more often). If I HAD to pick one thing to complain about I'd say that the base is too light which means that the heavy duty cable will move it about depending on how you have it positioned. Obviously this is picking at straws so to say, honestly it has lasted longer than any kettle I've used before (and I've used a few back in the UK). This one's definitely recommended if you want something that will last you.

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Monday, January 27, 2014

Buy Towel Warmer

Towel Warmer
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
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I fully understand you cannot ever please everyone. The main reason I like reviews on Amazon is that I can read everything, possibly understand why someone did not like something, see comments others have made about those reasons, and decide for myself if it's something I would still be ok with. This towel warmer is great. I got it as a Christmas gift 2010, and just really like it. I wanted one for my enclosed outdoor gazebo where the hot tub is, and I didn't want something that had to be plugged in and left powered on all the time. I put the towel in when I go into the gazebo, when I take it out to use I immediately drop in my robe so it's warm when I am done with the towel. This is definitely the warmer to make those "right out of the dryer" towels and robes. I have also dropped in socks, sweatpants and shirts on occasion. I have a huge towel that is 5'x7'... it fits in this warmer just fine. I do not roll my towels up as the photos of the item suggest. I hold it by one corner, drop in the opposite corner, and kind of just wiggle the towel down into the warmer, push it down to fit the lid on, and it warms even that huge towel completely.

As for the smell, yes it's noticeable at first, but has already dissipated in mine to where it's barely there anymore. I would suggest turning it on without a towel in it, leave the lid off and let it run the warming cycle. Let it cool down completely, then run it again like that. I can see why it takes awhile to get rid of the smell if you're only turning it on while a towel is in it and the lid is on. The smell has nowhere to go but into your towel!

This was purchased from Brookstone through Amazon, on my husbands account, so it doesn't show that it's a verified Amazon purchase, even though it was.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I got this directly from our local Brookstone due to one of the raters on this item bemoaning having to return (a defective unit?) by mail. I would feel comfortable buying this online here because I'm extremely pleased with the warmer I got locally over 3 weeks ago. (This was originally posted in February 2011.) I've been using it at least once a day and sometimes twice a day from the day I bought it. I would definitely recommend this to someone looking to buy a great working and sturdy towel warmer.

REMEMBER: LARGER THICKER TOWELS TAKE IN MORE HEAT AND RETAIN IT LONGER! Don't be a cheapo and use small flimsy towels. They won't hold heat or warm right.

This warmer is shaped like a trash can, just short of 2' tall and 13" at the widest point. I would have preferred a smaller warmer but am so pleased with the way this unit heats towels I don't care anymore that is larger than I wanted. The cover is clear Plexiglas and you can see the condensation from the warmer drying any damp towel you'd put in there. I have even used it to dry a damp towel before hanging the towel back up. I always warm 2 large bath towels without having to cram them in. It is also large enough to warm jackets, bath robes, reasonably sized blankets, gloves, socks, pants and even shirts or sweatshirts or use your imagination for something you may want warmed. Just be careful when warming things with metal or plastic zippers, buttons, or snaps. It could end up causing something sensitive to become very uncomfortable.

Run the unit open and several times to try and get some of the VERY LIGHT plastic smell out before using this for towels. I like to warm 2 large 5' X 3' plush towels at a time and run the cycle twice. The secret is to start about AT LEAST 15 18 minutes before you plan on getting out of the bath or shower. When the green light goes off wait about 30 to 60 seconds and start the heat cycle again. You may have to wait a bit longer or keep pressing the start button or hold it down a few seconds to start the second cycle. There will still be a VERY SLIGHT plastic smell on the heated towel but nothing enough to be a bother.

Impatient people need not apply. As long as you start it before you bathe or shower it will be ready when you get out if you want to run it 2 times before using the towel(s). I tried to reheat 3 times to see what it would be like but it gets a tad hot and seems overkill.

Other than the larger size which I wish was smaller I easily overlook the size for the benefits the warmer provides. The price is nice too compared to the place that sells bedroom and bathroom things and stuff from beyond. They also carried a smaller warmer that Brookstone and Hamburger Schmuckler also sell but at higher prices that provides less space for smaller towels, uneven warming, and a product defect with the on/off button. The on off button on this model is solid.

I highly recommend this warmer and am looking forward to giving at Christmas this year! I am not easily impressed with things like this one but I am hooked on using this. I make it a point to do a 2 time heat up because I love my towels on the hot side. You won't be disappointed. If you are leery about buying online go and buy one from a brick & mortar Brookstone. That way, if you are unhappy you can return it easily, but I'm pretty sure you will be more than pleased with this warmer.

Another thing to remember is that you can run the heat cycle repeatedly (with a small wait before starting the heat cycle again) and that is great for families or multi person households. The smaller units are only good for one person with a long wait before another family member can use it. Do yourself a favor and use big thick lush towels as they retain the heat better. If you use a cheap flimsy/thin and smaller towel don't expect it to hold heat very long. I have had one wrapped around my drying long hair for nearly 10 minutes and it still feels slightly warm.

This product is also sturdy. If you are careless you could break the cover though but I think you'd have to be a gorilla or child playing the symbols to break it. Check your local Brookstone first because I got mine for $60.00.

3/8/11 Still working strong and to my satisfaction twice daily for just me. I ALWAYS run the warmer for 2 cycles with 2 large plush towels at a time just for me. Remember to wait for about 60 seconds, maybe a tad more before restarting the 2nd heating cycle. I LOVE this machine.

For best results start the heater early. The first heating runs about 15 to 18 minutes and then I wait about 60 seconds or until the button lets you start the heat cycle again. (You may need to hold the button down a tad longer) The second cycle runs about 8 to 10 minutes. If you want to luxuriate in warm towels then you have to take the time to run the warm cycle first. Time it so you start and end your shower or bath 4 to 8 minutes before you get out of the bath or shower. Anyone grumbling about cool towels or towels not staying warm long aren't using good towels and/or are running the warmer the moment they hop in the shower. Give this puppy time to do its work and you be extremely happy and WARM! Try to time it for your shower or bath to end a few minutes after the second cycle shuts off. Hey I know this sounds humbug but man the results are worth it!

I do feel more comfortable for a longer time after my showers now because of the warm towel drying me while keeping me warm unlike the regular cool towel that doesn't warm the cooling water evaporating off of your skin after hopping out of the shower as in the past. I feel warmer and better for a longer time after a shower because of using this.

To be honest I can't think of anything that makes me feel so good that I always look forward to using it and make it a point to prep it the pain in the ass way. I LOVE THIS MACHINE!!

3/17/11 The warmer is still going strong. I was about to throw the box out today and noticed that the receipt stated "We want you to be satisfied. Returns are welcome within 60 days with receipt and packaging. See reverse for policy..." When I saw that I was blown away. Not many people honor a 60 day money back guarantee nowadays. I am impressed again.

1/8/13 The towel warmer is still going strong and I still heat 2 to 3 large towels for 2 heat cycles at a time and this warmer is still rocking away. I LOVE this towel warmer!

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My husband bought this towel warmer from amazon and I felt i needed to write a review. The concept of it is wonderful and it does what it is intended to do. It warms up the towel very nicely. Just pop in your towel, hop in the shower, and by the time you are done, the towel is toasty warm for you. This item however, is only used by my husband because I CAN NOT stand the stinky smell of the machine. We have had it for 2 weeks now and as other reviewers said, you must run a few cycles without towels to make the stink go away. Well, i did this every night at least once or twice in the day for a week...without the lid on top to let the stink air out...and it STILL wreaks of something that makes me want to vomit. I even tried to put in dryer sheets in the bottom of the barrel, hoping to get rid of the smell....but to no avail. I never use the warmer because i feel dirty using the towel when i smell the smell comming from the machine. I really wanted this to be fabulous but the smell is just too gross for me. On the other hand,if you are like my husband and dont mind the yucky smell after a nice clean shower, then you may like this. I like clean fresh smells....especially after a shower.

*If you have sensitivity to smells then this is not for you.

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Bought this in Dec 2010. Worked until now but when it broke it really broke. The auto shutoff stopped working so the towel it was warming started to burn. Luckily I caught it before there were flames but there was definitely the smell of smoldering towel. The towel was almost too hot to touch. I took it straight to the bathtub and gave it a good soaking.

Bottom line: Don't ever leave this device unattended. It is a potential fire hazard.

Called Brookstone and they are replacing it under warranty.

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I will begin my review saying I may have just gotten a lemon and plan on exchanging the product for a replacement. But here goes my experience so far:

Ordered the product for Christmas and 1 week later I am returning it. The fumes coming off the warmer are disgusting. It's smells like motor vehicle exhaust like noxious fumes! I have run the product through 20-25 cycles with the lid off and no towel insideit still smells as bad as day 1. It accutally smells up the entire apartment. I have run it another 10 times with towels inside. After about three days I noticed the unit doesn't always turn off after 10 minutes like it is designed to. One day I was running a cycle to try and "burn off" the odor and came back 2 hours later to check and the green light was still on! Can we say fire hazard. 5 days after the initial use, we have noticed there are warm and cold spots on the towels indicating some of the heating element is broken. I contacted amazon for an exchange and the product must be exchanged directly to Brookstone. They emailed me a RMA # and return address label WITH NO POSTAGE. They expect you to pay to ship back the defective product. I immediately called amazon and was connected with Brookstone. They said I can return it directly to a local store which I will do this evening. There was another review stating that the local Brookstone would not accept returns from amazon purchased Brookstone products. I will find out tonight and update the review accordingly.

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