Showing posts with label kickspace heater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kickspace heater. Show all posts

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Review of Comfort Smart Mighty Oak 1000 Sq Ft Portable Infrared Heater

Comfort Smart Mighty Oak 1000 Sq Ft Portable Infrared Heater - 10QH8000-O115
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $229.00
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 24% Off
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So my first thoughts when I saw these things being advertised was...Who is Twin Star, It's not a EdenPure, it's made in China, it'll probably break down quickly, I wonder if it even heats like it says it does. I had been seriously debating buying a EdenPure but was holding off because of the price and hoping I could convince someone to get me one for christmas. I my co-worker told me that Costco was selling EdenPure heaters for $200 but when I double checked it was these things for $150 at Sams, I was cautious because when I spend over $100 on something I want to know it works and that it is of high quality. But I took the risk anyway and bought a 2 year extended warranty to go with it. So first night, I take it home and turn my central heat off, go down to my uncarpeted (but insulated) basement. It only got down to 50 degrees but that's still pretty chilly in a basement. if it didn't show me something I was taking it back tomorrow. I turned it on, gave it an hour and guess what...it started working well, the basement was WARM (I even broke a sweat under the covers), I was shocked. I went upstairs and it was way cooler than MY BASEMENT. It came with a neat little remote control that works for people like myself that get warm and lazy and don't want to get up in the middle of the night to adjust the heater. My fiance's father has an actual EdenPure that he uses in his basement and it works, I must say that in my opinion this heater matched the EdenPure's performance. I expected it to fail but it didn't. I got this for $150 plus $20 for the protection plan, the average price I saw on the EdenPure is $400. Glad I kept that extra $200+ in my pocket. Now here's where I knock on wood, at the time I am writing this I have only had this heater for a few days. I'm from St. Louis Missouri, so I have no idea how this thing will hold up during the coldest of winter months but if it's performance is anything less than what it has been, or if this thing breaks down, I will update this review.

More on the performance: It's very quiet which I like, gives off a cool glowing effect but isn't too bright. but the BEST THING ABOUT THIS HEATER IS...it does not dry out the air. The biggest problem with conventional combustion heaters especially for me and especially for the winter is that they dry out the air that's already dry from the cold. Using conventional heaters every winter I get nose bleeds from the dry air due to cold and the twice dried air from the heater burning the little water that was in the air away. I had to plug up a humidifier to try and add a little moisture to the air but the results were limited. The infrared technology does not heat in the same way that combustion heaters do so the air doesn't get dried out and I can breathe easy,

In summary it is MY PERSONAL OPINION at this moment that this thing heats as well as a edenpure costs less than half the money and best of all doesn't dry out the air. I can't talk about the durability yet but I hope this thing holds up because I already love it

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I bought the Duraflame 10HM8000. It does look nice and have a handy remote. The front grill does not get hot so its good for pets and children. However I found that it could not heat a room larger than a bedroom. I left in on for 3 hours in a 400 sq ft living room and it did not raise the temperature 1 degree. Yet it did work fine in our Master bedroom. It does make some noise but its fairly quiet. The house is in Chicago and was built in 1968 and needs an insulation upgrade. Ultimately since this was too much to spend on a bedroom heater, I returned it and bought a Mica-Thermic panel just for the bedroom.

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Ordered this after reading numerous reviews and thought for my application would work. Our house is a 1970's ranch with double paned windows and adequate but not great insulation in walls and ceiling (8 foot ceilings). Purchased this with the intent to heat a family room kitchen area of about 400 sq ft but with open doorways into the rest of the house. Wanted to augment heat pump so set the heat pump temp to 68. Expected this Infrared Heater to warm family room/kitchen area to 74 degrees and set it to that temp. Was never successful in getting the room to that temp. The temp as displayed on the unit would go up to 70 once in a while but after a minute or two drop back to 68 or 69. Understood that the temp reading might be variable in its accuracy but room felt chilly and never did take the chill off even after letting the unit run for several hours. The unit did feel like it was putting out warm air so was perplexed as to why it could never bring the room temp up. But in the end would not achieve the desired results and at this price point felt the only option was to return it. If you are going to try this make sure to buy through Amazon as there were absolutely no issues returning this which from what I've read is not always the case with other vendors of this type of product.

The two stars are for the finish of the cabinet. Very pretty and assembly appeared very solid and of quality.

This unit may work in a closed room environment but with the stated 1000 sq ft capabilities thought it would work much better in a smaller somewhat closed off area.

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Not only do you feel warmer, the floors are warm and there are no hot spots anywhere in the room or the house with this new technology for heating. I no longer use my central unit in the house because it is cheaper to operate two of these units to heat my home. I have a third for upstairs but only use it when I need it.

I have two of these units plus one Eden Pure that quite frankly I spent too much money on because this one is equally as strong and good with the results. I got mine from Sam's for less then this one on Amazon but it is the identical company unit they sell.

I tell everyone about this technology and these units. Why spend more on energy than necessary, plus the heat you feel within the room isn't the same at all.

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More on the performance: It's very quiet which I like, gives off a cool glowing effect but isn't too bright and it does not dry out the air. But,it only covers a small area in a room .I have it sitting in front of my sliding doors in the kitcken to help take the chill

off. I haven't received my electric bill yet, to see how much it will affect it.

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Sunday, December 14, 2014

Discount DeLonghi TRH0715 Safeheat 1500W Basic Portable Oil-Filled Radiator

DeLonghi TRH0715 Safeheat 1500W Basic Portable Oil-Filled Radiator - Light Gray
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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As my wife and I are perfectionistic designers, sifting through the vast variety of the space heaters available on the market was some task. We finally decided on one which would provide a slow constant wamth versus the hot air bast-types such as heat fan elements, coil heaters, etc. resting on the idea of purchasing a radiated type. We read the reports on DeLonghi products in general which overall had been favorable. We made the decision to purchase the non-timer version of the TRH0715T, the TRH0715. Although slighlty less expensive, in hind sight I think we would've spent the extra money and got the timer version. We have still to recieve our electricity bill, but guess it much more economical than slappiing down $1,500 for heating oil. The two we purchased, heat our main floor nicely (1,300 sq. ft.), and is not too inconvient when moving heaters from room to room if/when necessary. The overall design is thoughtfully provided in the form of a stealth high-heat resistant plastic handle, 4 castor-roller type wheels, a cord wrap attachement, and aerodynamic heating fins. The heat is slow and constant and does not get "burning hot" like coil-element heaters (I still don't suggest touching it however). This was a good purchase and we feel very good about the price we paid. If you're looking for a non-avant garde designed heater which provides a good steady soft heat, this is the one!

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This little heater works well! The snap-down wheels made it very easy to install (no assembly required). The thermostatic variable control works well (unlike some others I have tried). Some reviewers reported smelling an oil or paint smell when they first turned it on, however, I did not have that issue at all. Since I only obtained my heater at the end of this years heating season, I haven't yet fully tested the high heat setting, but on the low setting, it kept my 20 x 14 foot room quite comfortable this spring. It makes no noise that I have been able to tell, except a very slight click when the heater turns on at the thermostat setting.

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I got this for our 3-year-old daughter's room as for some reason she does not seem to like the sound of a radiant heater. It does a decent job of boosting the heat level in the room, which she needs because she tends to kick off her blankets during the night. I wouldn't rely on this alone to heat a room unless it was a very small room. The top and back do get hot, although you'd have to keep your skin in contact with it for several seconds to actually get burned; bumping into it should not cause any burns. I haven't noticed any odors or noises from it.

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We've had this for about a week. It does a great job of keeping my daughter's 12x12 foot room warm all night when on low setting (700 watts) and about half on the thermostat setting. We left it on full blast in the garage for three hours when we first got it, and it definitely gave off an oil smell. We moved it to the bedroom after that & no smell at all. It does get a little hot to touch, so not for use around small kids, nor can you put it against draperies or furniture.

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Have owned a heater just like this one for over five years now. It will not burn you, or a child, but gets very warm. With a box fan running quietly on low next to it to keep air moving over it, can keep three rooms relatively warm all night in coastal NC with one of these. It will drop into the teens here sometimes at night.

Feel safe with this heater for it would be hard to accidentally start a fire with it. Just ordered another one for I am going to let my LP gas provider have their tank back as soon as I use most of the fuel in it. Then, purchase my own LP tank. It's cheaper to use this along with my heat pump instead of just the heat pump alone. With LP heat for backup, Stay cozy no matter how cold it gets or if the power grid should fail.

Update: Do not understand the negative reviews outlining so many problems. Received my second oil filled heater, tested it for many hours and found it to work fine just like the one I have been using for many years now. Have owned many types of electric heaters. Like these oil filled units the best. Do not mind leaving my home with one running but it is definitely best to turn all portable heaters off when unattended. It has an overload/high temp automatic safety shutoff for safety. Use a 15 amp power strip on them with a 15 amp circuit breaker for extra safety.

Feburary 13, 2010: Both of my electric oil filled heaters are working fine as usual. Have had no problems at all with either of them. It's currently snowing outside tonight. Am using nothing but my two oil filled electric heaters with fans running quietly next to them to keep my home cozyhave shorts on. Propane prices are currently right high around here. Have plenty of propane gas on hand if the power grid should fail. My older model heat pump is not all that energy efficient. Like these cozy and quiet little heaters. Got another electric bill today. It was much lower than I thought it would be using these heaters with the thermostat on them set at a reasonable level.

Have popped plenty of 15 amp fuses and tripped breakers with 1500 watt portable electric heaters over the years. Especially in my motorhome. You can use a long, heavy duty, 12 guage extension cord with it on a 20 amp circuitno problem. Don't use anything lighter than a short 14 guage cord. Personally, will not be using a 14 guage extension cord, of any length, with a load like this. Have spare fuses on hand unless you have circuit breakers or are using a 20 amp circuit. It's a pretty heavy load for a 15 amp circuit.

Dec. 7, 2010: Am again using my two trusty oil filled heaters with box fans quietly running on low next to them to keep my house warm. An Artic blast has hit early this year. It's cold outside. Have five smoke alarms in my home for safety. Am just wearing shorts as usual. One good thing about these heaters for me is that I can sit a stock pot, tea kettle or whatever on top of them in order to quickly get more moisture into the air. Just don't let any water spill onto the control unit side of the heater. Be forewarned that if you use a fan to increase the heat output and move more air through these heaters, you'll keep the heater cooler and thermostat energized putting out more heat in your home. Therefore, it'll use more energy unless the thermostat is set on a really low setting.

March 2012: Have gotten through another Winter with these same two oil filled heaters, saving significant money on energy in the process. Am quite fond of these two heaters. Feel safe with them and late model ionization AND PHOTOELECTRIC smoke alarms throughout my home. Photoelectric smoke sensors are important to detect slow smoldering fires before the fumes get you. If paper or something similar falls aganist the bottom of one of these heaters, it's just no big deal. Being able to use one with a stock pot of water on top of it to get more moisture in the air makes a big difference. Higher indoor humidityat least 40% is MUCH better for the respiratory system in the Winter. When the water is gone, I can soon tell without even looking to see if it is empty. The water gets warm but not too hot to be hazardous to anyone. Just keep the water away from the control unit side of the heater.

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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Mr. Heater F276181 Propane or Natural gas 1/4" Quick Connector Set Reviews

Mr. Heater F276181 Propane or Natural gas  1/4' Quick Connector Set with Shutoff Valve and Excess Flow Plug
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $45.20
Sale Price: $31.97
Today's Bonus: 29% Off
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This quick disconnect was a great item for the price .I used it on my propane grill that i take camping.I would purchase again .

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this is the exact same as the one that I had to replace. went on easy, and does the job it is made for.

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This would be great for connecting to an RV, but completely unsuitable for my intended use ahead of the regulator. It would be nice if Amazon and/or Mr. Heater provided key specifications such as pressure ratings on their web sites.

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Sunday, April 20, 2014

Best Ragalta RWC-195 Purelife Series High Efficiency Thermo Electric Hot Deals

Ragalta RWC-195 Purelife Series High Efficiency Thermo Electric Hot and Cold Water Cooler
Customer Ratings: 2.5 stars
List Price: $80.64
Sale Price: $65.46
Today's Bonus: 19% Off
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Great price just what I was looking for It's nice and compacted doesn't take up a lot of room, you have to supply the bottle does not come with one, but no big deal, the cold water is nice and chilled, hot water is hot. So far I'm happy with it. I have had for about two weeks. I like that it's slim since i do not have much room in my kitchen my son had an old metal one that took up a bit more space and was kind of ugly to look at, this is attractive, light weight, but holds a 5 gal. bottle just fine, so it was just perfect. the storage underneath is nice to, I put extra cans of soda in there but it isn't refrigerated , I guess it would be a nice place to put disposable cups in for use. It does tell you to plug into an outlet that is all by it's self or could cause some issues with performance otherwise, but I did not have that choice but seems to be working just fine and have not blown any breakers so.... :)

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This water cooler has performed very well to my expectations. It is used in a manufacturing environment and is holding up well. Great price point value product.

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cooler did not cool anything hot water worked but did not cool anything....arrived in beat up packaging looked like it had been returned a few times do not buy

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This is a suitable water cooler at a very affordable price. Very light, takes up little space, suits my needs perfectly well.

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This is much smaller then I expected. The volume of cooled/heated water is very small. It has great hot water (Very hot), but the cold water is not cold. It is cool. There is no controls to adjust the temperature for either hot nor cold. It feels cheaply made.

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Friday, March 14, 2014

Review of Lasko 1,500-Watt Portable Electric Ceramic Tower Heater with Remote

Lasko 1,500-Watt Portable Electric Ceramic Tower Heater with Remote Control
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
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I just got this Heater and LOVE IT!! I'm so glad I bought this one because I had just bought a Holmes (non-ceramic) and hated it.

This heater really heats up the space quick, is quiet, has a remote and is perfect in its design because it fits everywhere. Great looking Heater too!!

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Is it possible to love a heater? If so, I do. This little guy puts out some serious heat, distributes it well in my 15'x15' room, and does both quietly. Prior to buying this, I had purchased a radiator type heater that just didn't put out much heat so I returned it. I love that I can turn on the thermostat and let it go. Nothing more to think about. The oscillation feature is a huge perk. The only thing I'd add is a feature that automatically turns the unit off if it is knocked over. I paid fifty bucks for it at my local HD, which I did so I could easily return it if need be. No need. I'll run this thing 'til it keels over.

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Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Honeywell MM14CCS 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Reviews

Honeywell MM14CCS 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control - Black/Silver
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $599.99
Sale Price: $549.00
Today's Bonus: 8% Off
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program We moved into an older home that has no air conditioning, high ceilings, no insulation, and louvered windows. This is in the eastern edges of LA county, in a valley, where it gets pretty hot during the summer and occasionally other times of the year (it was 103 yesterday, for instance, a record high).

When we moved here I got a Whynter 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner with Heater (ARC-14SH) for my office, which is at one end of this ranch style home.

I'm a big fan of the Whynter. It worked fine in the heat, never quite cooling the whole room, but certainly giving a blast of cold air where I needed it. The room was at fault, so I don't blame the unit. In fact, later in the summer we moved it in the bedroom to supplement a far too small window unit. The room got downright chilly. It started cooling down and I moved the unit into our babies room, with the heater function keeping the room at a steady temperature throughout the relatively cool winter months. Now that its getting hot again, I was torn about moving the unit out of her room. She needs it cool in hot weather for the sake of all our sanity.

So, I was looking for an addition. The goofiness of our windows and lack of ability to do home repair projects tends to cancel out window units. This one looked like a good choice so I went for it.

Which do I recommend, this Honeywell or the Whynter? Well, both have 14000 BTU cooling, with equivalent cooling power, I look at other issues. And there's no clear stand out. The Honeywell is a bit smaller, and I the vent is more variable. Though, you can't quite enjoy the full force of it hitting you. Both units prefer to vent upwards. The vent on the Whynter just closes off, never getting a horizontal direction worth noting. The Honeywell does allow for more horizontal flow, but when you close the vent to focus it horizontal, it opens a gap in the back of the vent, with about half the power or more still directed upwards.

The big difference is in the air flow in and out. Both units have a standard sized intake and exhaust, but the Honeywell, for some reason, only comes with one hose and a window adapter with one slot. This creates a possible vacuum situation, where air is being sucked in from inside the room and sent outside, which means that air has to come in from somewhere else, a crack in the window or something like that. My office is old enough this isn't an issue, but it might create a problem for other situations, and some people highly recommend always using a dual hose setup. The Honeywell, again, allows for this, but doesn't come with the attachments for it. And the attachments are surprisingly expensive unless you're able and willing to patch together your own. The Whynter comes with two hoses and a window adapter with two slots, and caps in case you're not using one, leaving a one or two hose situation optional.

The window attachment on the Honeywall is fairly shorter. I only have to take off one of my louvered window panels, while the Whynter requires me taking off two. However, the Honeywell adapter uses pegs and slots to tighten in length. Unfortunately for those with nonstandard windows, like me, the pegs don't match up, and I have to jerry rig a way to keep the adapter secure in the window.

The remote works fine, and the display and buttons on the unit are pretty much the same for both units.

Which would I recommend. Well, again, the Honeywell is a bit smaller and that might be an issue. It also seems to handle water a bit better. The Whynter has a water tray and plug that's terribly inconvenient. Too low to put a bowl by, too high to really drain the inside pan. Have to tip it and finagle it. Fortunately, we live in a generally low humidity environment, but on those rainy days in winter I was having to empty the Whynter every couple of days, taking and lifting it into the shower.

But the Whynter does have that heater. So, there's a bit more bang for the price.

I like both and am happy I don't have to pick between them for my own use.

ADDED: Got pretty hot here the other day, had the air conditioner on. Was quite dismayed to see a trail of water coming from this Honeywell unit, leaving a puddle on my hard floor. Have no idea what was happening, as it wasn't leaking from any of the plugs, just coming from the bottom of the unit itself. I live in SoCal, so humidity isn't an issue, and if it's leaking because of that here, then I have to worry about how it will leak in higher humidity areas.

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Unit appears well-made compared to the other junk out there. Interface is slick, and remote is somewhat useful. Three problems:

Unit is LOUD, even on lowest fan setting. It is a bit louder than most window-mounted units, and is about the same volume as those fan coil units installed in cheap motels. I have to use earplugs, and others have refused to sleep in the room with it on.

Unit works, but no way it is 14k BTUs! Cools more like a 6-8k unit. I have a 480sf bedroom and on a hot day (80's) it takes hours to cool down the room. Granted I have high ceilings though.

Remote control works to turn unit on & off, and to set timer (a neat feature although very coarsely-implemented). I have yet to reliably use it for anything else. Basically in middle of ight when you can't take the noise anymore you can shut it off without getting out of bed.

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Did not cool the room well. Poor air flow. My old air conditioner worked much better. Big and clumsy. It took up a lot of space.

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I have a 500 sq. foot (lower level) apartment in the city and I'm not pleased with the way this unit cooled. I expected a lot more based on the BTUs and price paid. It is also extremely noisy. I would not recommend it.

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Two problems.

1) the unit had evidently been jarred significantly during shipping, as the metal grate below the top vent had come loose and was rubbing on the main fan, causing it to sound like a blender. I removed the grate entirely and things are much quieter.

2) Be careful and measure your window before committing. The window assembly will only expand so far, and it lacked a good 18 inches of coverage on our window. Luckily I had some leftover stuff from a previously failed air conditioner and was able to hack together something that worked. The little plastic screw thing is really not sufficient the old unit had sturdy wing nuts. Poor design here.

All that being said, the thing seems to be cooling the room well, which is the primary purpose. Too bad they couldn't avoid dropping it off of the loading dock or whatever happened.

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Monday, February 17, 2014

Real Flame Ashley Ventless Gel Fireplace Review

Real Flame Ashley Ventless Gel Fireplace
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $579.99
Sale Price: $469.99
Today's Bonus: 19% Off
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This fireplace really warms up a room in a short period of time.

Installation was easy and the product has a nice finish.

This is a great backup in case the power goes out.

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Friday, January 17, 2014

Discount DorkFood DSV Temperature Controller for Sous-vide

DorkFood DSV Temperature Controller for Sous-vide
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $110.00
Sale Price: $99.00
Today's Bonus: 10% Off
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For several years I've been hankering for an immersion circulator to try sous vide cooking at home. I didn't have the $2000 plus for a complete PolyScience unit, or even the $900 or so for a pro quality circulator head. So without expecting too much, I bought the oddly, sweetly named DorkFod DSV Temperature Controller and teamed it up with a 7 quart manual crock pot I found on sale at a local discount store for $19.

Much to my surprise, the combination totally rocks. The DorkFood unit is solidly built, easy to use, and holds the temperature I set within about 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit. The natural bottom to top convection of the crock pot, even without an additional circulator, has provided even heat for my sous vide creations. If you've never had leg of lamb cooked under vacuum for 36 hours you don't know what you're missing: a mild, non-gamy flavor with the buttery texture of filet mignon. Lobster tails cooked with garlic butter unbelievably tender and sweet. Restaurant quality duck confit becomes child's play! Cure duck legs (with thigh) overnight with salt, thyme and crushed juniper berries rinse and pat dry the next day seal under vacuum with 1 tablespoon of rendered duck fat per leg and cook at 167 degrees for 30 hours or more for the most succulent duck you've ever tasted. After cooking I cut off the skin and fry it under a cast iron weight (affectionately known as a "pig") and top the duck leg with a crispy duck bacon "cracker."

There are so many free resources on-line and great books at Amazon for sous vide coooking it's easy to get started. And for a total of $118 including the crock pot DorkFood exceeded my expectations. Although I have a good vacuum sealer (VacMaster VP112) many sous vide dishes can be prepared using carefully sealed freezer quality ZipLoc bags. This product really lowers the bar for getting into the wonderful world of sous vide. Nature may abhor a vacuum, but adventurous chefs love it!

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I am so happy that there is finally an affordable solution out there for the rest of us. We frequently have dinner parties and sous vide is a super easy way to cook an amazing meal for many people. I use it a lot to cook fish and steak, but we have also used it for chicken, lamb, and even veggies. There are a lot of good cookbooks out there too, but I think experimenting with your own recipes is part of the fun.

Small hint: Whole Foods and some other stores will vacuum seal your meats if you ask nicely with a smile :)

The device may look a little intimidating at first, but its actually very simple to use. It also comes with a small handout that has instructions and pictures for setting it up. The unit is a little industrial looking so I'm happy that its small enough to put away out of sight after I'm done cooking. I hope the company makes a "prettier" version of the device soon.

But my absolute FAVORITE part about the DSV is that it allows you to transform your existing kitchen devices... those that have been sitting unused in the kitchen cabinets gathering a thick layer of dust... into a fancy state-of-the-art sous vide machine that is just as good as the $500+ models.

I would highly recommend this product to any of my friends and I'm getting my parents one for Christmas this year. It would also make a very unique wedding present or a cool gift for the aspiring chef in the family.

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Very simple tool to cook via the Sous Vide method. Did four filets with butter and salt in the bag. 135 degrees for 2 hours, a very quick sear at the end. Amazing results, may be the one of the best steaks I've ever had.

The unit is very easy to setup, make sure your Crock Pot has a mechanical temperature switch, not electronic. Kept the water at the perfect temperature for the entire cooking time. Preheated the water for 1 hour before to let the unit calibrate. Would highly recommend.

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Thank you, Dorks. This is the small scale, clutter free, set-and-forget appliance I was waiting for.

I snare spiny lobster and spear a lot of fish, and have been wanting sous vide capability for a long time. But my tiny kitchen will not fit any more gadgets; not one more pot. I didn't want a barn rigged mess of DIY components. I can't cope with longer cords or circulators or racks or vacuum sealers or any more stuff. Now with my $15 crockpot and the DSV, I'm good to go.

First try out of the box, I made the best pork tenderloin of my life. Seafood is like something from a very moist alien world. I will NEVER cook my lobsters any other way. I use regular zip bags or roll softer proteins into cling wrap cylinders. As I learn better techniques, I may just wrap. It's faster and cheaper and there is no movement to disturb it. Worries about uniform food thickness are unfounded for home cooking. That's for chefs who must produce many meals in a limited time. No part of the food can ever be overheated. Texture differences in thin areas from a few more minutes at target temperature are imperceptible. Flavors are intensified. Use less spice and seasoning.

Despite a few overwrought reviews, my Dork works perfectly. Unless you sleep in the kitchen, concerns about the clicking are ridiculous. Put on some music in the living room and it's unnoticeable. It holds 1ยบ over the displayed temperature according to a reliable stick probe. I normally preheat the water in a fast electric kettle. Then the Dork powers the crock heater for a few seconds 3 or 4 times/minute. It doesn't heat up the kitchen and that's a big deal in Florida. Like running a 20 watt bulb, the power costs a penny for 3 hours of cooking.

The only valid issue with this approach to sous vide is the use of low-power heaters. The cooking water should be up to target temperature before introducing the food, which will cool it. This can be a long wait with a 100 200 watt crockpot like mine. So preheat the water quickly in a pot or kettle, much hotter than cooking temperature. The crock has to be heated too. Then adjust with a little tap water to the target temperature and off you go. With a few tries, you will hit target temperature in 5 minutes with very little fuss. The Dork helps by constantly displaying the actual water temperature.

The general problem with sous vide is long cooking times. With a nice controller like the Dork, it doesn't have to be your time. Go outside for some sun, fresh air, and exercise. Dinner will be perfect whenever you get back.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for DorkFood DSV Temperature Controller for Sous-vide

The DSV is a fantastic way to get into sous-vide cooking without spending a ton of money. I looked at several DIY options, but I don't think they are very cost effective, nor safe unless you really know what you're doing (and I don't).

I have tried this with a 4QT slow cooker/crock pot and with a Oster 14 cup rice cooker. Either works fine.

It takes a long time to "settle" on your selected temprature, even if you pre-heat the water. For example, if I set the temp to 140F, often it will hold at about 145F after about 30 min and takes quite a while to come back down. The temprature on the unit and the temp as read on a separate thermometer are exactly same, generally about 5 degrees too high. Odd, but after a couple of hours it will generally "settle" at the selected temp. I can work around this by either intentionally setting the temp lower than desired or just wait however long it takes for it to settle at the selected temp.

They claim the device can maintain the temp at +/.25F once the unit settles on the selected temp. I have found that to be spot on, once settled it never deviates.

Overall, I am very happy with this purchase. I hope it lasts a long time!

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Saturday, January 4, 2014

Discount World Marketing GFA40/FA40DLX 40,000 BTU Forced Air LP Heater

World Marketing GFA40/FA40DLX 40,000 BTU Forced Air LP Heater
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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i do autobody in my garage and needed quick heat. this works awesome..heats up 2 car garage in 5 min to around 65...20 outside..comes with everything you need to hook up to your 20 gal typical barbacue tank..only issue is it takes a few clicks to ignite. read directions carefully guys. was worried about co gas but i had a detector in the garage the whole time and it didnt go off at all with no ventilation. it burns very clean

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works super great, uses a little less fuel than advertised. would buy another ready to use out of the box

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This heater is very capable. Our warehouse guys are much happier with their office space and shipping area. .thank you for the warmth

Honest reviews on World Marketing GFA40/FA40DLX 40,000 BTU Forced Air LP Heater

I purchased this heater to heat a 25X25 uninsulated garage in Maine in the winter (2012-13) while doing some remolding in the house. I needed to set up a workshop in the garage to do table saw, router, and sanding type work. This heater managed to keep the garage at or above 55 degrees on even the coldest days, some of which were at or near zero. It is easy to start, not as noisy as some forced air heaters I've heard on other job sites (although it still sounds like a jet engine), and remarkably efficient. I was using a standard 25 lb. propane tank and I honestly don't know how long they lasted because I wasn't the only one changing them. But I do know it was something north of 8 hours. There really was no downside to this unit with the exception that there was a "propane-ish" smell almost all the time. At first I was concerned that it was uncombusted propane, but after a day or so, I realized it was just the normal smell that comes with an open gas flame, which is essential what all heaters of this type do.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for World Marketing GFA40/FA40DLX 40,000 BTU Forced Air LP Heater

This heater is fine IF you want only one speed fan that is LOUD!! The product information specifies that is has "VARIABLE HEAT SETTINGS". IT DOES NOT! I had it in 2 car garage and could not stand to work with it in there. I could hear it from inside the house! I had to return and pay for shipping both ways which I should not have to do since it is FALSELY advertised. It is the first time I have had to return any product purchased from Amazon (and I buy a lot!). Perhaps they meant to say that the angle setting is variable, but the HEAT output is not! This works well and if you have a bigger space maybe and don't mind a roaring blower then this is for you!

UPDATE: I returned the item and was refunded by the seller plus return shipping. The seller informs me that Amazon controls the listing and that they are unable to change the listing to single speed. BUT they said they pulled the product listing to avoid confusion. I have revised my rating based on the fact that the seller refunded my money.

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Thursday, November 14, 2013

Best Fire Sense Deluxe Propane (LP) Patio Heater w/Wheels Deals

Fire Sense Stainless Steel Deluxe Patio Heater
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $369.99
Sale Price: $289.98
Today's Bonus: 22% Off
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I originally bought the Fire Sense Commercial Patio Heater (see my review of it). I was extremely disappointed in that product. It was absolutely not worth it! The parts were poorly made. It was almost impossible to put the heat shield together since the small nuts & bolts were not long enough to fit through 3 pieces of metal. After numerous attempts to make it work, I boxed it up and sent it back. To give you some sense of what a pain it was to put that heater together, the same day as I put that patio heater together, I also assembled a Weber Gas Grill. My father and I had more trouble putting the patio heater together than we did the finely crafted Weber Grill! Now with a new beautiful grill and no patio heater, I was then going to order a patio heater from Restoration Hardware since I thought they would offer a higher quality product. What I discovered when looking at their specs, the heater they offered was actually this same Fire Sense Deluxe Patio Heater offered on Amazon for $50 more then the FS Commercial Heater. Restoration Hardware offered the Deluxe heater for $449, but did include a cover with it. I opted to order the unit from Amazon at $304.00 and it arrived yesterday. I immediately noticed the quality of parts is much higher than the Fire Sense Commercial unit, and the heat shield went together without a glitch almost, you do have to push hard to get a couple of those bolts through 3 pieces of metal, but much better on this Deluxe heater. The Deluxe heater's heat shield is also better designed as it has fewer pieces. Overall this new Deluxe heater went together smoothly, except for one MAJOR flaw in the directions! The Deluxe Heater stand is not weighted, and there is a plastic unit on the bottom that needs be filled with sand. You should fill the plastic tote as your first step before doing anything else. I put the entire heater together & then was going to fill the plastic bottle at the end, but with the weight of the sand, I could not re-attach it (I was working by myself this time). I ended up having to take the heater apart again, so I could wrangle the base and attach the sand filled weight. The directions do not say anything about filling the plastic tote! My Deluxe Heater starts right up & provides excellent heat range!! The moral of this story is, do not try and save $50 bucks. Buy this Deluxe Patio Heater at the outset and forget about the FS Commercial unit! One other note on this Deluxe unit, to start the heater, it tells you to move the dial counterclockwise, move dial to Pilot position, and hear 2 clicking sounds. I only hear one click on my unit & need to move past Pilot to the low position for it to light. It does immediately light up & produces excellent heat. I would give this unit 5 stars, except they need to change their directions to tell you about the sand weight unit on the stand base! Enjoy!

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I did a bit of research on patio heaters and finally settled on this one. The review from KLV is spot on. Just a few other comments:

1. I agree that this model really is worth the extra $50 (at least at the time of my purchase). I have assembled a lot of things in my time and this product clearly has high quality parts.

2. The only catch is filling the base with sand. I am sure there is a better technique but (as I don't live near a beach) simply pouring dry sand into the base was not an option. Give yourself a good 1/2 hour to manually stuff wet playground sand into the base (as was my only option from the local Lowes/Home Depot). I suppose you could pour gravel into it but considering this thing is going to be literally on fire, I wanted the most weight possible to hold it down.

3. As KLV noted, the directions are good but not great. I missed the small note to bolt the propane tank fasteners down before attaching the ballast. Not a huge deal but I did have to do some disassembly/re-assembly to put them in.

4. *****IMPORTANT***** I wasted about a half hour trying to light this for the first time. When I read the reviews I missed this point. The directions are wrong. KLV pointed out you need to turn the dial past the "Pilot" setting to the "Low" setting for it to actually ignite. Once you do, it fires right up. Fire Sense and Amazon should send whoever KLV is a big gift certificate because I probably would not have figured this out and would have tried to return what is now an 8' patio heater.

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Please read the review by KLV. My review assumes you read that review first. Rather than repeat what KLV said, let me embellish where I can. Let's start with the fact the heater seems very sturdy and works pretty well, though I've only used it once. Construction seems solid and unit is stable when assembled correctly. If I needed another one, I'd have no problem buying the unit again. That said, the directions are terrible so I'll toss in a few things not in the KLV review.

My unit came partly assembled which doesn't match the directions. The notes below correspond to the steps and part numbers in the directions.

Step 0: There is no mention in the directions of needing to fill the "water box" with sand. The "water box" (Part #23, the thing you fill with sand) on my unit was already attached to the unit. Detach this from the stainless steel base and fill it first. Once it's filled but before you re-install it, attach the wheel assembly and put on the tank base supports (Step 1, Part #22 in the directions). Once these are on, reattach the "water box". If you have a table or bench, put the water box on the bench and then put the base over it. Slide one side of the base just off the table so you can reach the first screw. Using an electric screwdriver in one hand, slide one of the nuts from the bottom of the water base into the hexagon shaped hole and hold it there with your finger. Spin your screwdriver in tighten mode until the nut catches the and tighten securely. Remember that you are tightening metal against plastic so go easy on the torque. Turn the base slightly until the next screw is just off the table and repeat attaching the next nut. Do this until all four screws are tight. Then put the unit back on the ground.

Step 1: My post mounts were already loosely attached to the base. Leave these loose until you attach the post support.

Step 2: Attach post support securely (Part #10), then tighten the post mounts.

Step 3: The lower post (Part #6) is the part of the post without the instruction label. Tighten the screws evenly as you attach the lower post.

Step 7: [Have a step ladder hand for the rest of the assembly as your new heater is getting pretty tall at this point]. My gas hose assembly was in two different pieces. The upper piece was already attached to the head assembly so the head assembly hose must be fed down through the post from the top (not up from the bottom as the directions say).

Step 7a: Attach the gas regulator to the lower end of the head assembly hose which now extends a couple inches below the post support.

Step 10: Only one of my tank support mounts lines up with a hole on my tank base at a time. If that is the case with your tank, line up the one hole up with tank support opposite the wheel assembly so that when you rock the heater back on the wheels to move it the tank won't tip over and hit the cylinder cover.

Lighting instructions: Again, read the KLV review. My unit also makes just one click (this is the igniter lighting the pilot light). It will appear as if nothing happens since you can't see the pilot light. Let up on the control knob and turn the knob counter-clockwise to the left to "LOW" then press the knob back in. My heater lights first time using this procedure.

Honest reviews on Fire Sense Deluxe Propane (LP) Patio Heater w/Wheels

I had some reservations about ordering this, based on the reviews that commented about missing parts and difficult instructions. However, since it seemed to be a good quality heater, I decided to go ahead (I actually ordered two of them). Perhaps they've improved the instructions since prior reviews, but I did not find them difficult to follow. I also did not have any missing parts for either unit. All parts fit together perfectly. Both units fired right up and provided nice uniform heat. Although, I will say the lighting operation is a little strange, but it works fine once you get used to it. Overall, I'm very happy with this purchase.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Fire Sense Deluxe Propane (LP) Patio Heater w/Wheels

Reference the previous review about the ignition problem. It is a bit quirky, but once you get it, no problem. Just be careful if you hear the propane emitting from the burner and cannot light it soon thereafter you will want to wait a couple minutes.

Other than that, it is of quality construction and can be assembled by one person. You can tell that the directions were written in China or somewhere that is not English speaking, because there are some translation context errors in the directions. They are not huge hurdles though.

The only tidbit I have to add to the previous reviews is to be careful when tightening the bolts. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN! You will strip the threading. When you unpack everything, make sure you have an open space, because there are a lot of parts and you do not want nuts and bolts getting kicked under a cabinet and missing something. They do not give you extra parts!

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Monday, October 28, 2013

Discount Kitchen Elements Ceramic Double and Triple Tray Baking/Chaffing

Kitchen Elements Ceramic Double and Triple Tray Baking/Chaffing Heater, Set of 2
Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars
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Its perfect for small parties!! Its such a good value I bought another one. I looked around online and stores for $39 you'll get only the double tray so all in all this is the cheapest double and triple tray baking dish set you will find!!!!!

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one side of the element was little bend. other then that every thing else was OK. must be packaging problem.

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Perhaps I was reading the current product review wrong. I was expecting two different baking/chaffing heater tray sets. One, with the double set and the other, with the triple set. I was charged full price and only received the double set (the one pictured ontop of the triple). There's no way I would pay almost $40 for just the small, tiny, double set. I'm contacting Amazon right now and will give an update soon. Otherwise, DON'T BOTHER BUYING THIS PRODUCT FOR OVER $30. It's worth $25. As for the product itself, the lid is neat, but it is not stable with the handle. So the glass lid (with no lining) moves around when lifting by handle. I have tried to tighten the lid by spinning it to the right, but it's so fragile; I'm not going to mess with it. It is a wonderful little piece to look at-but I'm more upset about the price and of course, the confusion. I'm giving this product one star for gypping me with either with the price or the product and I would not recommend this product to anyone until this problem is fixed.

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