The instructions are easy to understand. for the non-electrician/HVAC person, this is the way to go.
The HVAC dealers around here wanted $400.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
ProCom Reconditioned Blue Flame Dual Fuel Heater - 30,000 BTU Review
I bought this heater for my deer camp. It works great and keeps the place warm and toasty. Its is a great asset to my camp.
The heater works perfectly and puts out enough heat for over 3/4 of our 1700 sq ft. We love it!
I would recommend to all and especially when ordered through Factory Buys Direct.
PS I kept both heaters, at this price I'll have a spare!
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I will rate it a 3. Very good heater looks and works great. But no warranty didnt no that!! But it works greatBest Deals on ProCom Reconditioned Blue Flame Dual Fuel Heater - 30,000 BTU
I had a problem with the first heater of this exact same type and was prepared to send it back. I bought this unit through Factory Buys Direct, but made the mistake of calling on ProCom for help. They were no help. I purchased a second unit from Factory Buys Direct to speed up my installation. In the mean time a representative from FBD, solved my problem. It appears that there are at least 2 flaws in the ProCom manual that comes with the heater and ProCom's tech support lead me in the wrong direction in 2 other points. In the end, the installation is very easy. I suggest that you check the setting for the fuel source found under the info plate (with the cable). Both of my heaters were set for NG and my source is LP. Early on in the manual it states that ProCom ships the heater set for LP. If you have a problem, FBD will help.The heater works perfectly and puts out enough heat for over 3/4 of our 1700 sq ft. We love it!
I would recommend to all and especially when ordered through Factory Buys Direct.
PS I kept both heaters, at this price I'll have a spare!
Tiger CPK-D130 Electric Grill Pan with 2-Way Style Pans Reviews
List Price: $157.00
Sale Price: $121.63
Today's Bonus: 23% Off
i have it more than 10 years.We love the hot pot and it is so easy to clean. i want to buy another one as wedding gift to my sister in law.This product from Japan is great for cooking almost anything. We use it since almost 10 years every day and want to buy another for our summer cottage.We highly recommend.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Discount White-Rodgers 1F86EZ-0251 Non-Programmable Thermostat
List Price: $50.00
Sale Price: $48.45
Today's Bonus: 3% Off
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This White Rogers Thermostat is a bare Bones, easy to install replacement for just about anyone's basic furnace/AC set-up.
The unit itself seems well made with a nice clean appearance. The controls are pretty self explanatory. A complete exploded wiring diagram with all specs and requirements is posted on the company website so you can easily check this model against your personal electrical requirements to make sure it will work for your central units. All the info you need is posted on the company web site and is MUCH BETTER than the included instructions which are a bit hard to see for us old timers.
GO HERE to download the installation/wiring diagrams:
http://www.emersonclimate.com/en-US/products/thermostats/Pages/non_prog_single_stage_thermostats.aspx
A word on installation, if in doubt GET SOMEONE to do it for you, but if you feel comfortable reading simple schematics then it really is a piece of cake to do it yourself. It's not rocket science, it's just a switch/thermostatic control with a few connections. Total installation time was around 15 minutes and everything worked perfectly the first time. (looks good on the wall too)
I was not interested in units that are programmable or respond to internet commands. All I wanted was a good solid decent looking replacement for our ancient 22 year old dinosaur that came with the house when it was new. This Emerson branded White-Rogers does the job admirably and honestly should last hopefully as long as I do. (knock on wood)
Fairly priced, nice looking and functional. Recommended for all those needing a no frills solid thermostat.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I used this White-Rodgers thermostat to replace a Honeywell RTH221B Basic Programmable Thermostat that I had purchased from amazon.com a few years back. The installation was fairly straightforward, it took me less than 15 minutes to remove the old and put on the new. The better part is its operation, it's really fool-proof, there are only three selectable and self-explanatory modes "Home", "Sleep" and "Away", no need to read the user manual in order to know how to use it. With my old one, I could not even figure out how to programm it after reading the manual, maybe that's just me, I always used the up and down buttons to adjust the temperature when needed.Best Deals on White-Rodgers 1F86EZ-0251 Non-Programmable Thermostat
The white-Rodgers thermostat is the best for its look and user friendliness, as far as I am concerned. The blue background is very helpful when adjusting the temp in the dark. It holds only three simple temperature settings: when you are home, sleep time,and when away from home. The settings can be easily adjusted by moving the arrow up for higher temp or down for lower temp.Honest reviews on White-Rodgers 1F86EZ-0251 Non-Programmable Thermostat
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The programmable thermostat in our home has given us nothing but trouble for many years now. For unknown reasons, it will drop the times & the settings we have programmed into it. My husband & I were looking for a thermostat that was simple to install and simple to use.The White-Rodgers IF86EZ 0251 has fit the bill. My husband is technically minded, so it was simple for him to install. The thermostat has been easy for us to use. No more dropped times or settings. All we really need is something for home, away, or sleeping, which makes this thermostat perfect for us.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program When programmable thermostats first came out, I rushed out to buy one because I liked the idea of being able to pre-set my desired temperatures and, theoretically, reduce my hvac bills. As it turned out, the programming instructions proved to be complicated, so instead of programming, I would set my desired temperature and press the "hold" button. To change temperatures, I would use the arrow buttons, and press "hold". So much for needing a programmable thermostat.Over the years, and thanks to owning numerous rental Properties, I've learned that many people are just like me set temperature, then press "hold".
This easy set thermostat is made for the "hold" button crowd. All you have to do is set the thermostat for three scenarios, home, sleep or away, and then you press the corresponding button for the time of day. If you don't want to program, the thermostat has factory pre-set temperatures (see chart in the included instructions). The up-down buttons are still there, so you can adjust your Settings, and, if you desire, the thermostat has a Cool Savings Option that allows the thermostat to make small temperature adjustments during high peak demand (like the thermostats advertised by the power companies). I have not tried this setting, so cannot give first-hand experience detail.
For us, having installed well over 75 thermostats over the course of years, installation was not difficult. The unit comes with screws and batteries (many units do not come with batteries), and the unit itself is fairly small. It sticks out from the wall about an inch, but the display is a nice size and I can read the numbers without my glasses (!).
Overall, I am very happy with this unit. It is a good basic thermostat for those who don't want a fancy, programmable unit, or for landlord's who are looking for a simple digital thermostat for their rental properties.
Commercial 20L Electric Dual Deep Fryer Review
If you have a large family to feed like mine, this is the one to get. One side for the chickens and the other side for fries. Works great indoor or out and easy to clean, too. No complains and I got my package really fast. Thanks to Access Store, they shipped it the very same day of my purchase.
Discount Honeywell CT30A1005 Standard Manual Economy Thermostat
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $12.98
Today's Bonus: 35% Off
PLUMBING CONTRACTOR
THERMOSTAT WORKS GREAT ON ALL
MILLIVOLT HEATERS
I USE THEM ON WILLIAMS GAS WALL HEATERS
AND FLOOR FURNACES
SINCERELY
RAY DEVINE
DEVINE AND SON PLUMBING
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Bought this to use in a temporary trailer house we were living in and it worked great! Not exactly a fancy model but certainly served it's purpose.Best Deals on Honeywell CT30A1005 Standard Manual Economy Thermostat
look all over for a minivolt thermostat , and found this one on amazon , super easy to install , very clear instructions and it works great , thanks amazon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Honest reviews on Honeywell CT30A1005 Standard Manual Economy Thermostat
The wall heater never had a wall thermostat. The wall heater had a hydraulic style gas valve. When I installed a new gas valve I selected a valve that would use a thermostat. This thermostat was easy to install and it works as advertised.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Honeywell CT30A1005 Standard Manual Economy Thermostat
We bought 6 of these to use with our radiant floor heating system and they were very troublesome from the start.We shortly after bought 6 nice digital ones and replaced them.The digital ones work perfect and are very acurate throughout the house at maintaining correct temp.Total Chef Double Chocolate Fountain Review
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $98.11
Today's Bonus: 2% Off
I have had chocolate fountains before and I thought that this one would be great, two in one!
I just got it and the first thing that I noticed was how loud it is! I brought it to work for a fun staff day and turned it on and it could be heard throughout the building. I cannot imagine what it would sound like at a party or a wedding reception.
Seems to work well so far but the noise is annoying. I do wish it was a bit warmer too. It heats up in one section and the chocolate is not circulating as well as I would like. The plastic "dippers" are about the size of toothpicks, a little hard to dip without getting it all over.
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I was so excited to try a chocolate fountain for a party I was throwing. How cool would that be? I was wrong. I followed the instructions to a tee on melting the chocolate/oil mix before putting it into the fountain. I still could not get the fountain to flow. Numerous oil additions later and the fountain trickled. Not only did it trickle, but the chocolate now had a bad oil after taste.Lastly, the skewers that are provided in the package are like toothpicks. I bought kabob skewers from the grocery store to use instead. It is the only way to not wear chocolate fountain.
I have returned this item and would encourage you to save your money and not buy this product.
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I purchased this fountain for a birthday party. Kids loved it. I have a little cleaning tip I would like to share with you. It is rather difficult to clean, but i found that using a baby bottle and nipple brush does the job well! I can't wait to use this fountain for our future parties! I bought chocleys "just melt it" chocolate and I found it to be great tasting and easy to melt! Thanks to the review I saw hereHonest reviews on Total Chef Double Chocolate Fountain
This was a good idea for a party, but I was not impressed at all by the quality of the product. We tried it out a few days before the party to make sure that it worked. It worked, but the motor was so loud. We added more chocolate to see if the sound was dependent on how full the basin was, but that didn't fix the issue. Also, when we put both white and dark chocolate in their separate basins, the white chocolate started turning tan -we found out that the divider separating the two basins was not completely welded/sealed down that the two different chocolates were mixing. One good note about this our guests still enjoyed the chocolate fountain (I think becasue of its novelty).Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Total Chef Double Chocolate Fountain
Worked great for a while at my daughtes wedding then one side started to clump up and not work. Was very disappointed!! Havent used it since.Reviews of GZ550 Fireplace Blower Kit for Continental, Napoleon Fireplaces
List Price: $215.95
Sale Price: $121.99
Today's Bonus: 44% Off
Be aware of bad electrical connections. Check all wire connections before even testing the blower. However, the blower have worked very well for close to a month now, it is a silent unit and seems to be made of good quality and solid construction. I am editing my first review after I tested for like I said close to a month. In my opinion it is a good product for the price I paid. Buy with confidence.
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This product worked as expected, was easy to install, and is reasonably quiet. If you set the fan on high, it is a bit loud, but the high setting isn't necessary having the fan on a lower setting puts out plenty of heat, at least for our needs. Not much to say about how it works no surprises, which is a good thing.As for the install make sure you have a 120v outlet already in place, preferably wired to a discreet location below the gas fireplace (in the same area where this fan will be installed), and confirm that it has power before doing the install. The fan itself should mount to some points in the back of the fireplace one is a metal tab, which the right-side of the fan slips into, and the other is a metal bolt, which the left side slips over and is then bolted down.
Another thing to note, which confused me at first: the temperature sensor, which automatically turns the fan on and off, is connected to a magnet attach that directly to the bottom of the fireplace box. I mistakenly thought that it would get too hot in that location, but other locations didn't seem to get hot enough to trigger the switch to turn on the fan.
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Six years in on a gas fireplace, a friend offers to install a fan if I can find it. Here it is. Reasonably priced, fairly easy to install (checkout the great tutorials on YouTube.). I don't know why I waited so long. This unit cost @$100 less than the one the local fireplace shop offered to special order. Quiet, not overly forceful, does a nice job of circulating warm air in a great room area about 24' x 17'. Takes the edge off the chill and supplements the furnace. Highly recommended.Honest reviews on GZ550 Fireplace Blower Kit for Continental, Napoleon Fireplaces
Works well. Easy to install once you figure put it is supposed to hang on a bolt at the back of the fireplace. Installation instructions were the same as what came with my fireplace and left out critical steps/info. The seller has a YouTube page with installation instructions on similar models..very helpful once you find itFind helpful customer reviews and review ratings for GZ550 Fireplace Blower Kit for Continental, Napoleon Fireplaces
Having never owned a gas fireplace before, I was a little confused when I went to install it. I assumed that the blower was supposed to go directly in back of the lower access area, when in fact it was supposed to go on the left-hand side. I have a Napoleon BGD42.They sent the wrong size washer and wing nut. My fireplace needed 1/4"-20 size, and i believe they sent 1/8" diameter. I called Napoleon to verify the size, and then a quick trip to the hardware store and $2 in hardware later, i was ready to install the blower. Once I realized the correct placement and had the proper hardware, it literally went in in two minutes flat, as I already had an outlet to power it with.
The thermal sensor works as specified. The variable speed controller does not fit as snuggly into the bracket as I would like, but it's not going anywhere.
Overall very satisfied by this.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
White Rodgers 1C20-102 Single Stage - Low Voltage Thermostat Reviews
List Price: $26.14
Sale Price: $14.99
Today's Bonus: 43% Off
I purchased this to replace an identical Thermostat. It gets the job done, but sometimes it feels like the temperature is noticeably fluctuating, so not very accurate. But still it's better than the old one.
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I needed this item on a small heater and it works great. I hope it lasts longer than the previous one which was just like it.Easy to install but I could use instruction on the settings within the unit.
Cadet #63314 240v White Register Heater - Complete Unit Reviews
List Price: $150.00
Sale Price: $132.29
Today's Bonus: 12% Off
So far I must say I love these register heaters. They seem to be well made, with nice heavy steal boxes that go into the wall space. I put them in to solve a nagging problem with a rental house I own; propane tank heat. The min. purchase from the dealer is currently $300.00 plus, and that lasts about one month during the winter. I can't get natural gas run, so I had to find an alternative, other than replace my whole central system with a heat pump. (EXPENSIVE!) The house is really small so a few well placed heaters can easily heat it. I bought two of these and wired them to a good line-in thremostat on the wall. When I finished all the wiring and installation and turned them on, Super! Nice sound, not too loud, certainly not as loud as my central system fan. I still have the propane heat monster for back up when the weather becomes really cold, but these should save the tenants gobs of money compared to the gas. I added baseboard heaters to the bedrooms for their soundless heat and a in-the-wall unit in the bathroom. All Cadet, a US company. Do the calculations on energy usage and cost, I was quite surprised how little extra it adds to the bill, and compared to my propane cost, which ran every tenant off after one year. The whole package of heaters and thermostats cost me about 1.5 times the minimum charge for propane, about the same as a half a tank. I would give it five stars, but I need to see how they are after a year.
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I don't normally leave reviews But I felt like this deserved a review.I am an electrician by trade, so I have installed a number of electric heaters. This is by far the best most well made electric heater I have ever had my hands on. The case is thick metal. The heater is well made. Its great. Great quality, made in america. I can't say a bad thing about it. I am totally impressed.
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I bought a couple of these for a remodel and was replacing old baseboard heaters. I am so delighted with the appearance and function of these heaters.Honest reviews on Cadet #63314 240v White Register Heater - Complete Unit
I installed 3 of these in a basement remodel. I am driving all of them with a single thermostat and have adjusted them to match the heat requirements of each location. The ability to do this is great. Installation was very easy and they look clean. I went with these because I wanted to save the floorspace electric baseboard requires. Although the winter is over, they seem to put out a decent amount of heat but will have to wait untill fall to really know. The only thing is that they are bit louder than what I had expected. It is a hum it does not affect talking or watching TV but it is there. Probably I would not put one of these in a bedroom though.Dimplex CS1205 Compact Electric Stove Reviews
List Price: $179.00
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 49% Off
Some critter got under the house and detached our heating ducts a few years ago so we only use electric heat and ambient heat from other rooms in the livingroom. I was looking for a better space heater after an Econoheat panel shorted and melted while I slept.
The problem with most space heaters is they are UGLY. They look like they belong in a garage. I wanted something that looked like a piece of furniture that wouldn't set fire to my cats and that could heat up a big room with open doorways. I should also mention that I have a humor-based decorating style, so whether someone else will find it tacky or not is of no concern to me. I don't invite people without a sense of humor into my home.
Anyway, I went with this. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being an orange spotlight behind a fan blowing white bits of fabric around like some Halloween decorations, and 10 being a real fire, I'd give it a 7.5. It only looks like a real fire if you're not looking directly at it. The foily logs help a bit and it does have a slight 3D effect that makes it better than some, but even if you add a crackling fire mp3 and burn wood incense in the room no one is going to mistake it for a real fire.
That's not to say I don't like it. It does provide that hypnotizing effect you look for in a fireplace!
Additionally, it was 35 degrees F last night. I live in a farmhouse with 4 inch walls and cellulose insulation. I put it in my livingroom, which is approximately 500 sq feet, with an open doorway, 2 large windows, a sliding glass door, no basement, and an open stairway. It kept the room at 72 to 74 degrees all night.
It seems to be of sturdy construction. The top stays cool. The fan is very quiet. It's also light and portable. Overall I'm satisfied enough to get another one for my office.
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We got this stove as a Christmas gift this year. My husband and I were both VERY surprised at how nice it actually looks. The fire effect is very realistic for an electric unit, far more convincing than any other brands we have seen; as we have several friends with electric fireplaces and stoves made by different companies besides this one. I had researched Dimplex brand fireplaces before, and everything they claim is true...no other brand electric fireplace (at least that I have seen) really comes close to the realism that they have come up with in their units. Of course nothing will ever beat the look of real logs burning, but this is still great looking nonetheless.We use it in our 14x17 bedroom, and it warms the room up nicely, in fact TOO nicely, as we are usually sweating to death halfway through the night! We have an old, drafty Victorian house that has very little heat coming into the room at all, and this little guy does a great job. We are planning on getting a plug-in thermostat to go with it. In fact, that is my only complaint. I wish it had a built-in thermostat so you could set a temperature for the room. Because if you use a plug-in thermostat it will turn the entire unit off, including the flame effect, which I actually really like to sit and enjoy, whether the heat is on or not.
I read another review about this stove that the door does not open. Hmmm, that's interesting, because ours does open. When I showed it to my mother and opened the door for her, she was convinced enough that she put her hands in front of the "flames" to feel the warmth.
We like the stove so much we ordered black flue pipe and a collar so that it looks like it's attached to the chimney that runs up the one wall of the room. We are also building a tile hearth board for it to sit on. If you need extra heat in a room, but want something that looks nice at the same time, this little stove really does the trick!
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I purchased this product for its nice looks at first ...then when i used it ,i couldn't believe how fast and hot this item worked to heat my bedroom 14 x 16 ...I have to get up in the middle of the night and turn it off ...also I use a ceiling fan to circulate the heat as well ...I have 5 people ,5 electric stoves in my home as a main source of heat ..my bill with other electric appliances , tv 's ,washer ,dryer and lights was only $ 115.00 this month ....I have oil heat but keep my regular thermostat on 58 due to over $3.30 a gallon for oil ...This product works better and even saves more money on electric then even those infrared or those Amish heaters that are advertised lately using 12 cents an hour to heat your home ...Beware of those ...I've tried them also .....a lot higher bills then they stated ...Dimplex is the way to go ...its quiet ,efficient,and looks great ..5 stars from me ...=0) Happy Glowing......Honest reviews on Dimplex CS1205 Compact Electric Stove
With some reservations, I bought this small Dimplex CS1205 heater for my bedroom because of some cold air coming in both my windows (when winds blow). I was very happy to know that this heater was like having a fireplace in my room instead of a 'little heater', as I described it to be. I would recommend this compact stove to anyone who was looking for beautiful flowing heat and the looks of a fireplace (with the incredibly real looking fire in the front). One reviewer made a suggestion of replacing the 60 watt bulb (contained in the unit) with a 7 watt night light, which I did, and got the same real effect of a fireplace and less electricity. All in all, this was definitely not the boring, small heater I had visions of before I bought it.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Dimplex CS1205 Compact Electric Stove
We purchased this stove for our cool and drafty San Francisco living room (15' x 15'). I can't imagine a nicer room heater for the price. The stove is stylish, and the 3D flames almost look real ! Granted, this is not a real wood fireplace, but it is a great alternative. I like that you can turn on the flames without the heat. The heat is warm enough for the room. I consider this one of our favorite finds for the year !Cheap Frigidaire FRA126CT1 12-000 Btu Window Air Conditioner
List Price: $439.00
Sale Price: $332.95
Today's Bonus: 24% Off
Update 5/29/13: Member "Coug Moog" in comments to my original review turned me on to the fact that price has drop drastically at some sources on this model all the way down to $298. At that price there's no reason not to grab this more powerful unit over it's 10,000 BTU bretheren. Now that this unit doesn't cost an arm and leg over the 10K, I'll probably never buy another 10K again. I'm also upgrading my review to 4 stars as well. The 12K units I operate have served well. Since they now cost virtually the same as a 10K that's a darn good value.
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Original Review Text Titled "Not the one to buy unless you have a little window" and given 2 stars:
The 12,000 BTU unit is a bad choice for most people. The smaller 10,000 BTU unit is 33% less in cost and typically much more reliable. The bigger 15,000 BTU unit is not that much more than the 12,000 unit.
So why would you pay so much extra above the price of the smaller 10K unit, yet stop short of going all out for the 15,000 BTU unit? Only one reason window height. Beyond 12,000 BTU the case gets much larger, which means it won't fit in some window styles.
Price not important? Measure your window, and if it fits get the bigger 15K unit.
Price important? Then why would you pay so much more for this one over the 10K unit?
I've bought and run this size, but only in special cases where I was restricted by window size and had a really large room to cool.
Also to consider... here's the review I gave on another model that is relevant to this one:
------------------
Between family and rent houses I put all types and sizes to the test every year in the scorching Texas sun. Here's my experience:
If you want a solid window air conditioner, it really boils down to two choices: Frigidaire and LG. The current "sweet spot" on reliability/price/economy is the 10,000 BTU unit regardless of make/manufacturer.
Recently they've been making 12,000 & 15,000 BTU 110V (normal plug) units.
-The 12000 BTU truly is 20% stronger, but you pay 50% more here on Amazon.
-The 15000 BTU is a snowball tossing beast, but it's in a larger case that may not fit your window (height-wise) and doesn't have a long history on the market so we don't know how it will do long-term
LG Pros The 10,000 BTU LG is my "workhorse". Best value. Run them till they fail in 4 to 7 years, then swap `em out for another.
1) Better warranty (but really, who cares when it breaks because you're sitting there sweating)
2) Typically last an additional 2-3 years over other brands
3) An LG rarely just stops running it will degrade slowly over a season
4) They are more tolerant of neglect (e.g. dirty filters... can't rely on tenant to care for your stuff)
5) Better withstands being placed in harsher environments (direct sunlight, restricted airflow)
6) Lower "lemon" rate
Frigidaire Pros For family I prefer to run 12,000 & 15,000 BTU Frigidaires. They are a little nicer, and I consider it worth it even though they always break sooner. (Value and reliability aren't as important, but I do have to compensate by keeping a new boxed spare around because they always fail at the most inopportune moments. Most people can't do this.)
1) A little nicer looking
2) Better features
3) Quieter
4) Slightly easier installation
5) Circuit surge/drain on startup seems significantly less (think lights flickering when compressor comes on)
Other parting thoughts:
1) A thing to know about newer units: To obtain the higher EER (efficiency) ratings, they use finer design on heat exchanger fins. For the non-experts, this means smaller little spaces that get jammed up with dirt/mold/whatever resulting in a clogged/filthy/poorly operating unit much-much faster than your parents' old units. Appliance repair stores can service your window unit every year (clean it of filth) that will extend life by at least 2 years and sometimes much more. Of course this costs anywhere from $50 up, and the units are cheap, so it's your call whether to service or toss it.
2) The 10,000 BTU Frigidaire here on Amazon is a good buy w/Amazon Prime shipping. For other higher BTU models, as of this writing you'll be paying more but also know that right now with the national heatwave most box stores are sold out so you may not have a choice.
3) Something this heavy is a risky ship (versus store pickup). It might be shipped wrong-side-up, or dropped, or whatever. It's a risk you'll run so do so knowingly. (I seem to have pretty good luck w/Amazon shipped items.) The risk is offset, however, by advantages of buying from Amazon (store would take forever, you'd have to load it and bring it home, have to have a vehicle large enough to carry it, etc.)
4) Clean. Your. Filter. Every. Week. It will keep your little ice machine healthy.
5) Different stores have different models from the same maker. If they are made in the same year, it doesn't seem to make a difference.
6) Tempted to go cheap like a Haier? Don't.
7) Tempted to buy a 6,000 or 8,000 BTU model? Don't. Get the stronger unit. It will cool down the room faster. It will not need to work as hard as a weaker unit and last longer. It is built with some stronger/better key components.
Good luck and happy cooling.
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UPDATE We've had this AC for 2 years now and are still loving it. No problems whatsoever. Still cools like a champ, and we use ours a lot. This year, we even used it through the winter, during those uncharacteristic HOT winter days. Still love the thermostat remote too. Very happy we took the time to hunt down this specific model.And now, back to the original review....
I needed to replace a 10 year old 12,000 BTU Kenmore AC and thoroughly researched my options before zeroing in on this Frigidaire. The clincher was the unique remote control -it has a key feature that no other AC's have, including other Frigidaires.
Thermostat & Automatic Climate Control Built Into The Remote
Let's be clear -most modern AC's come with a remote that turns the temperature up or down, but that's NOT all this Frigidaire's remote does. It actually controls the climate via it's own thermostat and direct communication with the AC itself. The remote also has a digital readout that displays the actual room temperature at the remote itself. This is significant, because most AC's have a thermostat in the AC housing. But this Frigidaire has a thermostat built right into the remote control, which means the AC will cycle on and off based on the temperature at the remote, instead of at the AC unit. I hated how my old Kenmore would click off the compressor because the thermostat thought the room was cool enough, yet where I was sitting, was still hot and muggy. Now, with this new Frigidaire, the compressor keeps running based on the temperature on the remote's digital readout. Every few minutes the remote sends a signal to the AC unit, telling it what the temperature is; and the compressor adjusts, based on that readout, keeping the room a constant, consistent temperature. This feature alone sets this AC apart, head and shoulders above the rest. And after just a few days of using it, there's no way I'd ever want an AC without this feature from here on.
More About the Remote
Other than the awesome feature mentioned above, the remote can turn the AC on or off, set the temperature, timer on, timer off, sleep mode, auto fan and energy saver. It's also a cute little thing that feels good in my hand. It's about the size of a small cell phone and the rubberized buttons are well laid out and easy to use, even for those with poor eyesight and dexterity, like me.
Eco-Friendly
The power surge my old Kenmore caused would literally make the lights dim whenever the compressor kicked in. On really hot days, that sudden power drain would often trip the circuit in my fuse box, knocking the power out. But this new Frigidaire is so energy efficient, that I barely hear the compressor kick in, and the lights dim for just a fraction of a second. So the power drain compared to my old Kenmore is almost nonexistent. I feel confident that when we go through another round of brown-outs here in California, my Frigidaire will keep running even when Edison throttles down everyone's kilowatt usage. Even better, the Electric Company is giving me a rebate for upgrading to a new "green" AC; how COOL is THAT?!
Cooling Powerhouse
There aren't too many 12,000 BTU air conditioners out there; any higher in BTU, and you can't use a standard 3-prong wall outlet. So I was happy to find this 12,000 BTU replacement. This Frigidaire cools my 650 square foot room without a problem. Actually, I have yet to run it higher than Low speed, and at that setting, it's been cooling off the whole room quite quickly, and keeping it at a constant temperature. I know it's early in the season, but it's already gotten hot and muggy here in Southern California, so I've had plenty of opportunity to put this new AC through its paces already. But thus far, I'm quite confident this Frigidaire can more than handle the sweltering heats that are coming.
Clean Air
I have a couple different air purifiers, but it's cool that this AC also has a built-in ionizer. With all the air it blows around the room, it's good to know that I can turn the ionizer on with the push of a button, and minimize the dust flying around. For those of us with respiratory problems, this is a HUGE Bonus!
Installation
If I could find an AC that does all this one can, plus install itself, then it would be the perfect AC! Short of that fantasy, this AC was well worth the setup. I had help with it, and 2 hours later -voila -we were enjoying the reward of cooler air. The unit itself was a little lighter than the Kenmore I was replacing, but let's face it, it's difficult to balance a big, heavy, square object on a windowsill. We got the job done though, with no real headaches or problems. The side louvers were easy to attach, and the screws, brackets and weather stripping were all self-explanatory.
QUIET!
Some other reviews had me concerned about the noise level of this particular unit, but I have to say, this Frigidaire is about as quiet as an AC gets. I have a smaller 5,000 BTU AC in the bedroom, and it's much louder than this 12,000 BTU. My old Kenmore was waaaaaaay louder than this, even when it was brand spanking new.
Bottom Line -Frigidaire really hasn't done themselves any favors by describing and marketing this AC so poorly. They should be punching up what's special about this remote (the built-in thermostat,) how it interacts with the AC, and why that unique feature matters to consumers. It's truly one of a kind and that feature alone squashes the competition in my book. This AC is so much better than it appears, at first glance. Thankfully, I was very thorough in my research, both online and in store, and I doubt you'll find a better AC for the money than this Frigidaire. I fully expect this AC to work flawlessly for years to come; and because I'll have it for many years, I'm glad I took the time to make the right choice.
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New unit was very noisy. Rather than return it, it was easier to it take to a local warranty repair center. I kept Amazon in the loop just in case, and they were gracious in offering to exchange the unit if I chose not to have it repaired.The repair center diagnosed the noise as a bad bearing in the fan motor. The blower motor was replaced, and the unit is OK now. The motor being bad right out of the box suggests that these units go through no testing at the factory, and quality control is low.
After the repair, the overall noise level is about average which is OK with me. Most of the sound is the air movement swish of the blower. There is very little compressor sound when it is running, and a light "clunk" when the compressor turns off.
This 12,000 BTU unit is the same physical size as the 8,000 BTU Frigidaire unit I am replacing. For what it's worth, the blower in the 8,000 BTU unit lasted two seasons. That might explain why Frigidaire has only a one-year warranty (which is really one season) on that part of the unit. Perhaps Frigidaire is trying to take over Haier's role as the industry purveyor of cheap appliances.
I later found out that LG has a five-year warranty on everything -no need to buy an extended warranty. Frigidaire has five years only on the compressor, one year on everything else. The repair guy at the warranty repair center said he has seen only two LG units in the five years he has been there.
Having gone through multiple window units, I'll offer the advice that, in order to get the high EER ratings, these things (all brands) use delicate fins on the heat exchangers the design and spacing of which easily accumulate micro dust particles in spite of the filter. The moisture on the fins along with the dust encourages the growth of mold if the fins are not meticulously cleaned. But the delicate nature of the fins along with the presence of the electronic controls means you can't do like the old days where you took the thing out of the chassis and washed it out at the local car wash. Cleaning the fins now requires something like using a strong shop vac and a tooth brush to carefully comb fins clean at the end of each season.
In other words: It might have a high EER when you get it new, but it doesn't stay that way for long. It's too bad the EER is only for brand new in the lab, and no thought is given to the EER over a typical lifespan of the product.
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==================Update number one: The remote sensing is, for lack of a better word, a joke.. Yes, it uses IR light to talk to the unit, SO, as long as the remote is pointing directly at the unit and there is nothing obstructing the path between the remote an the unit, then it works fine. BUT, and this is a huge but, in the REAL world this rarely happens. I still give this unit five stars but come on Frigidaire, this is 20th century technology used in a product of the 21st century. Get with the times.
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I already have an older version of this model, and was eager to get this one. I'll not bore you with a ten thousand word essay like some feel the need to write, but I will tell you in as few words as possible that this is a good product and why. I got this unit to put in the opposite end of my home so it would take some of the work load off of my older unit, which is still working like a charm.
Size and weight for this BTU amount is good/great. One person can install it but I do recommend two. I'm going on 56 and I was able to install it by myself but don't let my results influence you. Being 115 volts instead of 220 means you don't need an electrician to install wires and an extra circuit breaker. The extra long power cord also eliminates the need for an expensive extension cord.
As far as operation, it's easy. Just put it in an window, plug it in, and turn it on. Remember this though. It is 110 volts and an energy efficient unit, SO, it will NOT produce icicles within thirty minutes of being turned on, BUT it will cool down your room and in a not so slow fashion. Plus, it will not require you to take out a second mortgage to purchase it and also to operate it.
Within an hour of installing this unit, the entire house is cooler and the humidity is MUCH lower. Thus, it is very comfortable now in all parts of my home, and also most of the time now neither unit is running so I think that two units will actually save electricity over running just one. I hope this makes sense. I'm old, and heat doesn't bother me but HIGH humidity does. So, I actually run the window units to be more of a dehumidifier than an actual cooling system. The best part of a window unit is that you get both for the price of one. Just a dehumidifier alone will cost more than a window unit.
As far as sound. This unit is not very loud but let me pass some important information along. If you suffer from hearing loss, as I do, then even the smallest amount of "background" noise will be very distracting and thus, be very annoying. For me, that is not a problem, as it helps me sleep, but while watching TV, you will find that you have increased the volume quite a bit, each time the unit turns off. ;)
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I have recently received this product. Installed it in my bedroom facing down the hallway. When i come in at night after work, I walk into a cool house from just this one a/c unit working. I have over 1800 sq ft. and this a/c unit does a fantastic job of cooling this area. I love the timer and sleep timer. The remote is a bonus. Was an easy install. Just myself and a neighbor. A little loud when you turn up the fan all the way but not to bad. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a new a/c unit.Monday, October 28, 2013
Excalibur 2500ECB 5-Tray Economy Dehydrator, Black Review
List Price: $200.00
Sale Price: $169.99
Today's Bonus: 15% Off
I researched dehydrators for almost 3 months before making a purchase, and asked a LOT of people what features they liked or disliked about their dehydrator. I discovered that the round ones, although seemingly popular (and cheaper) will not dry evenly because the fan is at the bottom, so if you have too many things on the bottom it will not let the proper amount of air above to dry the things on the upper levels which is a MAJOR drawback! Also lots of the smaller kinds of dehydrators do not have self-timers, which I really wanted because when you're drying something for anywhere from 8 to 24 hours, you don't want to have to remember to check on it to turn it off! Another thing some people mentioned were that some smaller types can be quite noisy, which I wanted to try to avoid as much as possible. There were a few other drawbacks to the smaller and/or cheaper models, but I can't remember them now as it's been several months. One of the things that really caught my attention on the Excalibur was the fact that many people had them from the 70's and they are STILL running reminds me of a Kitchenaid mixer...
SO I finally decided that an Excalibur would work best, as they have built-in timers, a very varied temperature range, and the fan is located in the back of the dehydrator instead of at the bottom (which someone has already mentioned). I was also very happy to discover that the trays are dishwasher safe, and very easy to wipe down, otherwise, as well! Well, I finally broke down and clicked the 'purchase' button, and ever since then it's been no regrets!
I have used and used and used my dehydrator for 6 months now and I still have not run into one thing that I dislike about it! It's not very noisy at all my family often mistakes it for a small fan or the air conditioner blowing. I LOVE the self timer and I don't think I could ever live without it! I can put something in when I go to bed and not have to wake up at 6AM to keep it from over-drying. I just set the timer and 'click': off it goes! I have used it for a whole week, 24 hours a day, 7 days in a row, once before and it ran fine and kept a consistent temperature. My model came with 2 Paraflexx sheets included, and I love those as well, although in some cases I believe wax paper or parchment paper would do just as well.
I have used this to dry rawfoods recipes (although I'm not a rawfoodist, I do enjoy the recipes!), for fruit leathers, made some veggie 'chips', made some strawberry-banana granola, to re-crisp stale chips, to preserve produce that is going bad from the fridge, to make yogurt, to dry sprouted beans and grains... I'm sure there's more... :-) Once you dehydrate something you will be hooked!
Trust me if you purchase any Excalibur dehydrator you will not be disappointed in any way!
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I appreciate that this model blows air from the back of the racks. This ensures that food dries quickly, thoroughly, and safely. Other styles blow air from the bottom, therefore up through the layers, creating moist air conditions at the top racks. I don't trust that for safe food preservation. This unit is fast, fast, fast! And it is easy to clean. The fruit/veggies maintain beautiful colors and flavors. Highly recommend this unit.Best Deals on Excalibur 2500ECB 5-Tray Economy Dehydrator, Black
I bought this dehydrator to make SCD yoghurt and crispy nuts (soaked and dehydrated). Both come out perfect. It is easy to remove trays to place pint jars inside. It does run a little loud from the corner of the kitchen in our 1200 sq ft apartment, but if we could plug it in somewhere a bit more out of the way, we wouldn't notice it.Honest reviews on Excalibur 2500ECB 5-Tray Economy Dehydrator, Black
I've never owned a dehydrator before so this is my first experience with one. Does the job well enough, but it is, in my opinion, too loud. And it's not just the hum of the fan/motor, the plastic case vibrates significantly enough that it makes a buzzing sound. I live in an apartment with the living/dining/kitchen rooms open to each other. If I run this thing in the kitchen I have to turn my TV up quite a bit from what I usually have it set at. So, I put it in the bathroom, but even there it's very noticeable.And I'm one who actually likes to have some background "noise" going on. I have tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and keep a fan running in my bedroom at night to mask the noise in my head. But this dehydrator is just annoying to use. Which is a shame, because I really like the results it gives.
I've done some searching and reading and discovered that others have had this problem. It seems to be a random thing. Some units are quieter than others which means there are issues with quality control.
I dried some tomatoes and green peppers today. They came out great, but good grief... it's such a relief to finally turn the thing off after 12 hours that I'm not exactly in a hurry to use it again.
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got this for the GF at Christmas and it works great. it does make a little noise but we have an out of the way room for it. we are both very glad we got it.Buy Intermatic PF1103T 1.5/3HP Freeze Protection Timer and Thermostat
List Price: $292.11
Sale Price: $156.15
Today's Bonus: 47% Off
I bought this model to replace an Intermatic 220 volt timer. I wanted to add the freeze protection. However, when my electrician began to install it, we discovered that the clock on this model only runs on 110 volt, therefore you need a "neutral line" to give the clock only 110 volt, but give the equipment 220 volt. Problem was, we didn't have a neutral line for this and had to send the unit back for model PF 1102T, which is all 220volt.
My electrician said that it was not uncommon for a 220volt outlet to be missing the neutral line, since there is no need to pull a neutral line to a 220 only outlet. I hope this helps someone avoid the mistake I made trying to save a little money by ordering PF 1103T and not PF 1102T. PF 1103T model claims it can run both 110 and 220, which is true, only if you are wired with an additional neutral line in your 220 volt outlet.
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Paid half of what they wanted in the pool store for this same model. Installed in 20 minutes and it works like a champ.Best Deals on Intermatic PF1103T 1.5/3HP Freeze Protection Timer and Thermostat
We added this item to our pool pump control. It seemed to be binding upon first engaged power-up, so I bumped it a little and the pump started. It seems to be limbering up now after a week of operation. The wiring installation was simple. I am concerned now about the freeze protection but I will keep and eye on it, when the weather cools.Honest reviews on Intermatic PF1103T 1.5/3HP Freeze Protection Timer and Thermostat
The unit looked good out of the box, however, once I had gone through all the effort to mount it and wire it, the clock didn't work. After removing the face, I noticed the clock was loose in the housing so I reset it and it worked for a little while. When the timer came around to the detents it hung up and wouldn't turn the pool on. Once again I had to take it apart and make an adjustment. This happened several times. At the moment it is working, but I would not recommend this product.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Intermatic PF1103T 1.5/3HP Freeze Protection Timer and Thermostat
My first unit like this has lasted for 19 years. I bought this one because my unit tried to quit. False alarm. Now I have a backup for half the price at the pool companies in Memphis.
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