Cheap Honeywell EnergySmart Thermawave Ceramic Heater, HZ-860

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $94.95
Sale Price: $68.19
Today's Bonus: 28% Off

Bought this heater back in Dec. (from another store) to heat up a fairly large living room. The unit was a little smaller than I thought in would be once I took it out of the box, but I still thought it might do the job. I like the basic design of the unit with the curve blower at the top and it does blow a fair amount of hot air. However, I didn't feel that the air that was blowing out of it was all that hot. I have a smaller "personal" unit that seems a lot hotter. So, unfortunetly it didn't really heat the room up. I could only get the room temp to increase by 2-4 degrees no matter how long the unit was on for. It worked better as a personal heater in the room, but that's not what I bought it for. I do feel that this unit would work better in a smaller room like a bedroom, especially when you close the room up. You could have a nice toasty room in about an hour. The fan isn't to loud but it might be a little more noticable in a smaller room.

Bottom line, it's a great unit but it didn't really meet my needs in this case. Although it didn't really work for me, I think it would work great in a smaller enclosed area. I ended up returning the unit and then purchased the Optimus H-5300. Although this is a Quartz heater with no fan, it's a bigger unit and is by far, hotter. It takes a little longer to heat up the room (not much), but I can increase the room temp by 4-8 degrees.

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I brought this heater home, plugged it in, and it ran on the high setting for about 5 minutes, constantly switching between low and high. Then, it shut off, and it would not turn back on. I unplugged it and let it cool for an hour or so, and ran it on the low setting this time. It stayed on, but was constantly switching on and off, and did not give off enough heat to heat a bathroom, much less a large room. I returned the heater and got another just like it. This one ran slightly better, but again shut off after 5-10 minutes and would not power back up. This thing is of no value. You'd have more success heating a room with your computer.

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This heater will heat up a room in a fair amount of time and keep it warm even if you have it on the lowest setting. This heater does not get hot or anything if you use it although the cord may get hot after a while.

I got this heater half price for $35 at Target a few days ago and yesterday it broke on me. I only used it for a brief amount of time each day just to heat up the room for approximately 3 days and it broke. The power indicator would light up but the control panel would not work no matter how I pushed it. It would occasionally come on and off flickering on and off. Basically I think the control panel area is defective so I will be bringing it back and getting a better model.

Overall: Good price, nice heat, bad build quality. Sort of loud on high setting.

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Only things I wish it has a 3-prong plug with GFCI safety built-in, better sensor, and air filter. Also, I am not sure how good it is as a heater: the air it blows out doesn't seem to be hot enough to heat up a 20x20 room, at least not quick enough. I guess three Envi Heaters of 475 watts or four Econo-Heater running simultaneously would do a better job than just one of this 1500 watt heater. We'll see.

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If you're thinking of buying this heater I'll save you some money. A store that ends in mart and is famous for rollbacks has the 855 model for $60. Check your local store and save some cash.

Pleasant Hearth 23-Inch Lowell Cherry Electric Fireplace Review

Customer Ratings:

Really beautiful high quality dark cherry (and heavy) furniture which enhances the room even when not turned on. The flames are surprisingly much more realistic than I expected but the glowing coals in front appear to lack depth and consequently realism. Heater works well to add secondary heat to a medium sized room but fan can be a bit noisy.

The remote control is very small and works only when it wants to.

Assembly took an hour or so. Assembly Instructions understandable (and also available on line). Ships in two boxes; one for the mantel (this is the part that must be assembled) and one for the electric flame/heater box.

This identical piece is also know as Pleasant Hearth Macomb Electric Fireplace depending on the vendor (ie BJs).

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Frigidaire FRA052XT7 5,000-BTU Mini Window Air Conditioner Reviews

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List Price: $139.99
Sale Price: $119.00
Today's Bonus: 15% Off

I spent quite a bit of time researching A/C before purchasing. We live in Oregon and it doesn't get too hot but there's a month or two in the summer where the heat and humidity get oppressive in the house. I wanted an inexpensive, small, window A/C to increase the comfort. I wanted something small enough that I can store it the other 10 months.

So, after much research I ordered this model. I was going to get the 6K BTU model with the electronic controls but I figured I would get something super cheap and if it didn't work I could use it as a single room cooler. Shipped free which makes this a pretty good deal. Arrived in about a week.

Installation was easy, following the instructions in the manual. I did have to install and remove the A/C about 3 times to get all the sealing right. In the box there's a lot of different thicknesses of foam and foam tape. There is no specific instructions about what to do with this, except the stuff for the top gap of the upper sash. So, I experimented with various combos to get a good seal. We have recent vinyl windows with screens but no storms so the unit basically dropped right in. However, there are some gaps around the bottom in this configuration. I stuffed these with the thickest foam that came with the unit. This did the trick but didn't look too great. Luckly I ordered extra foam tape as another reviewer recommended, and I used small pieces of that to caulk around it inside and outside, leaving the big foam inside. It actually looks pretty neat and professional. $4 well spent ;)

Anyway, the unit is installed in our main living room. We are in a 1940's box bungalow so this room is about half of the width and length of the house. The bedrooms and kitchen connect to it. With it on HI cool/Max(7) the entire house has been very cold and huge amounts of water have been pulled out. We will see how it performs in the upcoming week of 95+ temps. We keep a few $10 box fans around to circulate air so I can move the cold air around.

One thing is that I have heard mentioned on a few other models is that the fan catches water in the pan and spits it around. This is a feature and not a bug ;). The unit is designed to pitch backward slightly when properly mounted. Moisture removed from the room collects at the bottom. The fan blade is coated in rubber and it's designed to suck water up and spray it on the evaporator coils. This facilitates some precooling of the outside air. It drastically increases efficiency. I would not drill drain holes, as other people have mentioned.

Summary:

$100, and my house is cold AND quiet. You can't say much more. If it's not enough for the hottest day I might get one more and move them to the bedrooms. It's very quiet on low but I like white noise.. I hope it lasts, even if it doesn't I'd gladly pay another $100 in 2 years.

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I got it hoping it would keep my apartment cool-ER. I expected it to keep it comfortable, not cold. I also had a bit of a problem with size. The only window that opens in my house is a vertical sliding window, which Air Conditioners I can afford, aren't made for.

Once I received it, I started to assemble and install. Originally I was going to leave the extensions off, since my window was only 18 inches wide, but after I got it and thought about it more, I realized they could still help keep it supported. So I put them on. They are about an inch inside the window, to help it from falling out. Also, I originally hoped to buy some wood and put that above it, but once I saw how sturdy it was with just the extensions, I put cardboard above it and plastic taped around the edges with duct tape. Very red neck, I know. It's sealed with the help of some other bits that came with it to help seal it.

I installed it a little over 12 hours ago and my home is cold. I live in a house above a garage. Just a large living room, average bathroom and small bedroom. It's 621 SQ Feet.(assuming I did the math correctly. 23 x 27 feet.) This is total, but there are 3 separate rooms here. (Also, I have a low ceiling, only 6.5 Feet.) I placed it in my only opening window in the living room and it keeps the bathroom cold which is closest, and my bedroom pretty cold too, which is farthest. A lot larger than advertised for. I didn't care, I needed a little cooler than I had. Before, it was hotter inside than it was outside. I have it on high, but will consider turning it down, which I never thought I would do. I like the cold. It's THAT cold.

For $110, I got an amazing air conditioner that perform WAY better than expected/advertised and it got here exceptionally fast too. It arrived 4 days after I ordered it with standard shipping and handling. I am a very happy costumer.

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I have run this all summer, purchasing it about five months ago.

It has been a relatively mild summer with only 12 days over 100 degrees.

Pros -

Easy to Install

Excellent Size for Small Windows

Fairly Quite to run (would not bother me if I slept in my office)

Keeps my office 11x14 frigidly cold when set on max (temp 7 of 7)

..(takes about 8 hours to cool down a hot room with the door closed)

..(I keep it on 5 out of 7 on the temp gauge, that even gets a little cold at times)

Cons -

The Directional Air Flow vents are poor

Not much difference between the High Cold/Fan settings and Low Cool/Fan settings

When rain blows against the unit the accordion extensions collect a little water along the bottom

I am considering getting two or three more for my house next summer.

I had one of my Frigidaire window units at the house die this year, it was twelve years old.

**UPDATE**

September 22, 2011

One year later to the date. No this was not planned. This little unit lasted through another summer, and this one was not so mild. I lost count of the days over 100 degrees. I did not buy any more for my house, as I moved into a new home with central air. This unit does however continue to cool my office as it was purchased for.

It was stored all winter in the utility closet off my office (i.e. indoors, warm, and dry). It was washed down with a power washer before being re-installed in the window this year.

Pros -

Excellent Size for Small Windows (I am still amazed I found a unit that fit)

Fairly Quite to run (I don't notice it running anymore, and no customers have complained)

It can still freeze me and my customers out when set on max temp (7)

..(I timed it again and it still takes about 8 hours to cool down a 11x14 hot room)

Cons -

The Directional Airflow vents are very poor (they are basically useless)

Still not much difference between the High and Low settings

..(I fixed the rain issue above by using plexiglass this year)

Rust has started to form on the outside grill and corners where the condensation drops

For those of you wondering, the reduced star is because of the directional airflow issues. Another review mentioned the styrofoam can be seen, and was probably used to fill the gaps. This is true but after two years it still seems to be in good shape. It also appears to be fairly thick. Some other items I tested this year...

Room size 11x14 (left on this setting for 24 hours before temperature was measured)

Average outside temperature during this week of tests was 98 degrees.

Setting Cool/High 7 brought the room to 58 degrees, outside temperature 98

Setting Cool/High 5 brought the room to 63 degrees, outside temperature 96

Setting Cool/High 3 brought the room to 74 degrees, outside temperature 100

Setting Cool/High 1 brought the room to 89 degrees, outside temperature 99

All temperatures were read at 4pm.

**Please note this was my unit's performance. Yours may differ.

Yesterday it was put back in storage until next year. I considered getting a sound level meter or loudness level meter to measure the actual noise my unit puts out, but I have not got around to that yet. Maybe next year.

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Frigidaire's warranty is a lie. They won't service a defective unit.

The manual says the product has a one year parts and labor Warranty and a five year compressor warranty. Mine went bad after 10 days. It took 5 phone calls and three hours on the phone with Frigidaire to be told that they do not service Air Conditioner units of 5000 BTU or less. Their ONLY solution is to return the item to Amazon or to where ever it was purchased. I relied upon their Frigidaire's written warranty and disposed of the box, thinking that if anything went wrong they'd come out and fix it. Fortunately Amazon will send a replacement unit and I'll use that box to return the defective one. However that solution won't work if the unit goes bad after six months. Then you'll be stuck with a company that won't honor its' written warranty.

Don't Buy This Frigidaire Air Conditioner.

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I live in a basement apartment and struggled to find an AC for my tiny windows the opening is only 16.5 inches wide and 18 inches tall. No window air conditioner would fit that space. I had an 8,000 BTU portable A/C but that thing was just very inefficient drawing in hot air from the outside as most portable units do because they constantly exhaust hot air and new air has to come from somewhere. Long story short, I stumbled upon this little unit and found out it was only 16 inches wide (sans the side panels). It fit my tiny window perfectly. Most importantly, it also does not protrude very far to the outside, and important consideration when people walk past your window.

Mounting this unit was easy. It is so light that you don't have to struggle with it like most air conditioners. You should not get a hernia lugging this unit. It also puts very little strain on the window frame and does not need any additional brackets. To my surprise, the unit also came with tons of mounting hardware including insulation often not included with other units. There was even a piece of foam to put in between the two window panes to insulate the gap in between two open windows. Nice.

I noticed a lot of people out here mount the unit in an angled position. You do not have to go out of your way to do that. If you mount it right, it angles slightly to the outside by itself. The reason for this is so that the water that accumulates in the unit flows outside and not inside. You don't have to tilt the unit outward as much as many of the pictures on here show.

What the unit lacks in size it does not lack in output. At 5,000 BTU, I was not expecting much, but this unit outperformed the 8,000 BTU portable unit easily, drawing 1/3 less electricity. It cools the entire 400sqft apartment with the help of a fan. (a well-insulated apartment, don't expect it to cool 450sqft in a poorly insulated or sun-exposed building) It is one of the quieter units out there, producing a constant hum rather than sounding like a freight train like some units. The most noise comes from the fan. The compressor is barely noticeable. It is a no frills unit with manual controls but they work pretty well. It maintains the room temperature better than many electronic units. Set to level 6, it cools the room to a comfortable 73 degrees, level 7 cools to about 69 degrees. it cycles on and off nicely and quietly. Finally, the build quality seems rather good nothing rattles or vibrates.

Overall, this is probably the best little AC out there you can get. If space is a problem and you were considering a wasteful portable unit, give this little guy a try.

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star 7-Piece Block Set Reviews

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List Price: $476.00
Sale Price: $219.00
Today's Bonus: 54% Off

These were a Christmas gift from my parents. I requested these specifically after doing several months of research on knives.

Many knife manufacturers come up with so many different 'lines' for their knives that the consumer has no idea what the hell he's looking at. It took me months to research these knives and determine they were the best value. Why?

Henckels has two major lines: 'Twin' and 'International.' Twin are made in Europe, International are made in China. Within the 'Twin' classification are about five or six different lines, from 'gourmet' to 'pro-s' with a lot in-between, but only two types of blade construction are found within this line!

Basically, when you buy a knife, you're either buying 'forged' steel--a blade produced all from one piece of metal in a multi-step process that requires much skilled labor for every blade--or 'stamped' steel, a mass-production method where the blade is cut from a sheet of cold-rolled steel. Needless to say, forged is better. And anything from China is almost certainly going to be a 'stamped' blade.

But Henckels is spreading two types of blade construction across five or six different brands, each more expensive than the last. They differentiate their knives by more ergonomic handles.

Seriously. That's the difference. This $170 kit contains all but two of the most fundamental cooking knives (what's missing is a slicer/carver, steak knives, and a bread knife). These can easily be added to the kit and still yield a much lower price than the 'full' kits of more expensive lines. It is the absolute cheapest set of FORGED Henckels blades, anywhere. The exact same blade can be purchased with a slightly different handle in the Five Star, Pro-S, and even Four Star II sets (that's right--Henckels made a new line that is much more expensive to replace these and doubled the price. The difference is a metal cap on the handle).

The 'Gourmet' and 'Signature' lines are, frankly, a waste of your time. They are stamped blades.

Henckels' forging method is spectacular and they are a company worthy of your business. But you are a customer who deserves to get the right value. This is the right value. And it's probably discontinued by Henckels now in lieu of the much more expensive Four Star II line, intended to replace these and give them a much better margin on their sales.

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After spending weeks going between the Calphalon Katanas, Wustofs classic, and the plethora of Zwilling knives I finally made the decision to purchase this set. I didn't choose the Katanas because they didn't seem to hold an edge very long and it didn't feel that great in my hand. The Wustofs I decided were too pricey because after all, I am not a professional chef, but I still want a quality set of knifes that will last me a long time.

After looking through the various Zwilling series, I discovered that there is very little difference between this older model of knife compared to the newest lines out. Here is a breakdown of the differences in the lines:

TWIN Professional `S' full tang, three rivet traditional handle

Four Star original molded handle knife

Four Star II updated version of the four star upscale knife, original molded handle with a metal cap on the end.

TWIN ProfectionFull tang, three rivet design of the poly handle is ergonomic, fitting the grip perfectly.

The new bolster design provides solid, balanced feel giving a full cutting edge.

The blades are the same on all of the above. One is not considered better than the other all have special formulated steel made to Zwilling J.A. Henckels' specifications and all are Friodur® ice-hardened, a process of heating, cooling and re-heating that changes the molecular structure of the blade for optimum no-stain features and an extremely long-lasting edge.

So when you see that the new 7 piece Four Star II set is $299 and the other sets are even more expensive, you can see the value in this $169. I purchased mine at Bed Bath with a 20% and the matching steak knives. It's a sweet deal.

Lastly, do these things cut! I used to have the Henckels International line. There is no comparison between the two. The balance, edge, and sturdiness of these are fantastic.

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I was a chef for 11 years, and early on I learned the necessity of owning top quality knives.

I purchased a set of J.A. Henckels Four Star knives in 1987, and I am still using them today -a quarter-century later. They have survived two divorces (not my ex's fault; the knives were far sharper than I was), a dozen moves back and forth cross-country, and most important: daily use, week in & week out, in professional kitchens and at home.

When it comes to chef's knives, as with so many other things, you DO get what you pay for, so my advice is simple: Buy the best knives your budget allows for, take the time to learn how to use them* and care for them**, and they will last a lifetime.

*Proper use includes how to hold your knives, the correct strokes for cutting, paring, etc., and the proper cutting surfaces.

**Learn how to keep your knives sharp with stone & steel, how to clean them and how to store them.

J. A. Henckels' knives are an investment well worth the money; they will make cooking far less stressful and a lot more fun for many years to come.

Honest reviews on Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star 7-Piece Block Set

I bought these knives for my first-time homeowner son, as a housewarming gift, because I had accumulated a number of the 4-star knives for myself.

As I told my son the musician -a good knife is like a musical instrument, you have to keep it "in tune" (sharpened) for it to work at its best. A good, sharpened knife can be poetry in motion, for those who like to cook. But it has to be sharpened to stay like that -otherwise, the "never need sharpening" knives would be a better choice. I run my knives through a two-wheel manual sharpener about every 2 or 3 times I use them. I use an electrical knife sharpener about once or twice a year.

The handles on the 4-star can discolor (whiten) if regularly washing in a dishwasher with powdered detergent. I usually wash mine manually, but I will put them in a top rack occasionally, and I use a gel detergent.

This is a great set of knives for those who don't mind sharpening frequently. I hang mine on a magnetic knife holder, I don't care for a block on the countertop. I am a bit envious -there is a Santoku knife in this set that I don't have. Because I have small hands, I use the 6" chef knife instead of the 8". I have the 3" paring knife; the 4" would be a good addition to my set.

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This set seems to be discontinued, and has been replaced with the Twin Four Star II line of knives. I'm not sure what the difference is the only thing I can tell is the handles on the new II series have a metal cap on the end of them which to me seems merely cosmetic. Regardless, these are some of the best knives I've ever used. Granted, I'm not a chef, and I've never owned anything nicer then a Calphalon knife, but these things are amazing. They feel like a precision tool in your hands, cutting through anything you throw at it smoothly and with ease. I recently visited family for the holidays and had to cook for a week with an inferior brand of knife, and it amazed me how spoiled you get with Henckels knives. I'll never use anything else again!! For $169 these are a great value and I would highly recommend them to everyone considering a good set of knives for their kitchen!!! I'm feel like a chef in the making with these!

Discount 5' Propane Hose Assembly

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List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $20.04
Today's Bonus: 33% Off

Product arrived in new condition and worked as expected. I always have been happy with products ordered from Amazon and the price was also great.

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This product is great for hooking up your Mr. Buddy portable heater to a 5 gallon propane bottle.

I highly recommend this item, you don't have to worry about running out of propane using your Mr. Buddy Heater.

Buy 45,000 BTU Kerosene Forced Air Heater

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List Price: $209.99
Sale Price: $206.36
Today's Bonus: 2% Off

Like very much, keep it in garage, a little noisy at first, but it setellled down + it's a multi fuel, which is rather unique.

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This heater is extremely efficient but very noisy. It was difficult to find a kerosene supplier in Sarasota,Fl. to use as fuel. Not recommended if your neighbors live close by. Excellent for farm use.

Discount Zojirushi CD-LCC50 Instant Hot Water Dispensers (5.0 L) - Black

Customer Ratings:

I bought one of these for work. It lives in an office breakroom and gets plenty of use. In this environment, you want the biggest one you can get, or the easiest to refill. 5L is a win. Ease of refill on this unit is so-so if your spigot or whatever can't clear its tall height. It boils, gets to temp, and maintains temp just great. The lid removes for easier fill. Easy to tell how full/empty it is. I like the magnetic power coupling a lot. Has settings for 208, 195, and 175 deg F enough flexibility, although the 175 is a touch hot for green tea. Weakness: the "timer" has only one setting: "off now, and then turn on (to stay) 7 hours from now." This timer is essentially a not-very-funny joke. There is no real time clock, no auto-on, no auto-off. Uses about 50W to keep water hot (the 4L CV-DSC40 is better insulated but more expensive). Has a handle for carrying (even hot & full) and has a built-in turntable underneath. Unit is completely satisfactory and good enough to make me want a better. Also won't go back to traditional kettle.

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After reading reviews on several products by Zojirushi as well as other companies, I sought out this particular model as having a particularly large capacity. The viewing window on the side is as simple as it gets for knowing when to fill it up, and it goes from five liters of tap-chilly water to near-boiling in a matter of minutes. The three temperatures are perfect for different applications -208F for black tea, hot chocolate, instant coffee, and filling pots for quick, lazy pasta; 195F for red teas and hardy green teas; and 175F for delicate greens, whites, and most herbals. It's also great for cleaning in the kitchen a bit of nearly boiling water on a paper towel makes stuck on eggs and ground-in floor grime come right up.

Visually, this is a compact, attractive product that can sit right on your counter with your coffee maker and toaster oven. The exterior cleans up easily with a little soap and water, and the cleaning packets that Zojirushi makes get out the built up calcium deposits from hard water simple as pressing a button. Also, unlike many, similar models, this hot water pot has button, rather than pump dispensing, so there are fewer moving parts to break down or catch grease in a kitchen.

My only slight quibble is that the "sleep" mode lasts seven hours, with no ability to program it to be longer or shorter, but it's always nice to wake up to fresh coffee, tea, and oatmeal in the morning.

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Bought this when my twins were 3 months old and I wish I bought it earlier! Saved so much time when preparing their bottles etc. Works great, easy to refill and the magnetic plug in the back means that you can unhook it and fill/unfill the container easily.

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I have this water dispenser for around 4 years. It simply works.

But I recently measured the energy consumption of it using Kill-A-Watt.

It runs on 830 Watt when it boils water and 87 Watt when it keeps the water warm.

This can be costly if you already reach the so-called Tier-3 electricity usage zone (30%-200% of baseline quantity).

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My husband and I bought this water dispenser and we are so happy with it, that we are buying another one. We use ours multiple times a day. If you are a tea drinker or like hot water on hand all the time, THIS IS the hot water dispenser for you. You can hold water temp at 175, 195 or 205, also you can add small amounts of cold water to bring the temperature down for even more fragile green teas. Water boils fairly quickly after filling no complaints from me. We had a 3 L boiler at one time but found we had to fill it to often and much prefer the 5 L model :)