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

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

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

Background Information:

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

Features:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good Points:

* Cools fast and extremely well.

* Very quiet.

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

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

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

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

* Reminds you when to clean the filter.

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

* Very attractive looking unit.

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

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

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

Bad Points:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pros

* Cools great! Cooled my whole apartment!

* Remote control

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

* Easy to install (took me an hour)

* Has an ionizer on it

* Lots of features

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

Cons (not enough to deduct a star though)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Product Code: FRA086AT7

Product Type: Compact

Power Type: Electric

Installation Type: Window Mounted

UPC Code: 0-12505-27363-6

Color: White

Exterior Dimensions

Height: 13-2/5"

Width: 18-1/2"

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

Performance

BTU (Cool): 8,000

Dehumidification (Pints/Hour): 1.7

Cool Area (Sq. Ft.): 350

Energy Efficiency Ratio: 10.8

Performance Certification: AHAM

Electrical Specifications

Voltage Rating: 115V, 60Hz

Amps (Cool): 7.0

Watts (Cool): 740

Horsepower (Cool): 0.99

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

Plug Type: LCDI 5-15P

Controls

Console Location: Center

Sleep Mode: Yes

AC Specifications

Fan Speeds (Cool): 3

Fan Speed (Fan): 3

Low Voltage Start-Up: Yes

Auto Cool Function: Yes

Energy Saver: Yes

Filter Check: Yes

Clean Air Ionizer: Yes

Remote Control: Full Function / Remote Thermostat

Air CFM (High): 217

Air CFM (Med): 176

Air CFM (Low): 147

Motor RPM (High): 1,600

Motor RPM (Med): 1,500

Motor RPM (Low): 1,400

Air Direction Control: 8-Way

Noise Level dB (High): 60.9

Noise Level dB (Med): 56.6

Noise Level dB (Low): 52.5

Vents Closed: Yes

Filter Access: Tilt-Out

Depth: 18-1/8"

Cabinet Louvers: Yes

Window Mounting Kit: Yes

General Specifications

Filter Type: Anti-Bacterial Mesh

Warranty: 1 Year Full/5 Year Sealed System

Refrigerant: R410a

Window Height (Min.): 14"

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

Product Weight (lbs): 46

Shipping Weight (lbs): 55

Exterior Specifications

Dealer Front Material: HIPS

Certifications & Approvals

ENERGY STAR® Certified: Yes

Safety Certification: UL/CUL (SA11087)

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

Owner's Guide:

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

Installation Instructions:

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

Product Specifications:

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

Energy Guide:

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

Wiring Diagram:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buy Sunbeam MA7117-030-000 Mattress Pad, Twin X-Large

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List Price: $77.82
Sale Price: $64.95
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When the matress pad came and I put it on the bed (which is a Select Comfort with an articulated frame), it worked for a part of the first night and then began flashing F2 which is their code for "this isn't working any more". I called Dealyard and they agreed it was broken and I should return it. They said I just had to return it via UPS and leave a message for them, and they would send out a new pad before they had even received the original back. Good service, I thought I'm impressed. However, a week later I still didn't have it and had to call again. There was some glitch between the message (which they had logged) and the send it out again. So, not so good execution of a good strategy. We got the new one and guess what one night; started flashing F2 again and wouldn't work. I was now very unhappy and ready to return the product and give up. BUT I tried one more thing I moved the electronics away from close proximity to the Select Comfort electronics and GUESS WHAT it now works fine. I gave it a "3" because it's only been a week but am recommending the product because it looks like the problem could be Select Comfort's rather than the mattress pad. Just a warning if you're using multiple electronics, especially with remotes.

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We have placed this Mattress Pad on a split king bed by select number. It fits the bed nicely and stays on and in place when the bed is adjusted. The heat from the pad when set on high is appropriately warm enough but does not ever seem to be burning hot even when left on all night. This is great for injuries and back problems.

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it's nice and warm to get into bed at night.my back feels better in the morning too. I really like it.

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Love this heated mattress pad!!! Unlike so many that the majority of the heat is at the bottom of the bed, this evenly distributes the heat throughout the whole mattress. Has nice big pockets to fit over the mattress. Nice & cozy!!!!!!!!!!

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The unit seems to heat very well. The wires are slightly noticable when laying on it, but nothing horrible though.

Honeywell QuietCare PermaFilter Humidifier, HCM-800 Review

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List Price: $69.99
Sale Price: $59.18
Today's Bonus: 15% Off

After years of replacing cool-mist filters, I wanted to try a humidifier with a so-called permanent filter. The noise is not really any more bothersome than other cool-mist humidifiers on the market. The problem with this product is the filter system. For the first month or so, I was able to keep the filter clean per the product instructions. But then, as with all cool mist humidifiers, the filter accumulates dust from the air intake and other mineral deposits. Unfortunately, it is absoultely impossible to clean the deposits and debris out of the interior wicking of the filter. The manufacturer's instructions say (in fact warn) only to clean the unit using vinegar...well, that method only works for some of the mineral deposits for the first 4 weeks or so. Plus, even with the vinegar method, you can't get the particles washed out of the interior of the filter! So after 3 months, the perma-filter doesn't retain sufficient moisture to effectively humidify the air. You are better off buying a regular cool-mist humidifier with a filter that can be replaced every few months. It will save you time, money and frustration. I have never written a review of any product before but this product is so poor that I felt compelled to do so at this time and warn others not to make the same mistake I made. This is truly one of the worst products I have ever purchased.

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We bought 3 of these humidifiers last year for all our bedrooms. Even though it was a big chunk of money, I was tired of continually having to buy replacement disposable filters for our previous humidifiers (Holmes). Three at a time got expensive!

We were so excited to use our Honeywell humidifiers, and they worked like a dream. During the winter our kids had serious coughs, and we could adjust the humidity output to make the room extremely humid for them, and keep it at a medium level for ourselves. They worked wonderfully, and I was 100% satisfied.

As time went on, I realized cleanning them was quite a chore, and using vinegar (to remove hardwater buildup) did nothing for the moldy smell. Rather than use the 1tsp of bleach (recommended), I found I had to use at least 1 cup to get rid of the mildew smell. After cleanning the filters like this about 6 times, they became quite degenerated, and no longer held enough water to get moisture adequately into the air.

Frustrated, I (then) read reviews and heard you could not buy replacement filters. However, I decided to call Honeywell myself, since I couldn't bring myself to throw away 3 expensive humidifiers. I called Honeywell's Customer Care (1-800-554-4558) and found out you CAN buy replacement filters, at $24.99 each, with 6.95 shipping (for any size order).

Despite the filter issue, my overall opinion is that these are still terrific humidifiers, and I'm glad to continue using ours. However, beware that the filter will not last the life of the machine even though it's considered to be a "permanent" filter. Going forward, I'm going to be sure to stay on top of cleanning mine out (at least every 2-3 weeks), in order to be able to use less bleach and extend the filter life.

Even if I do have to replace the filters every year or 2, in the long run it's still alot cheaper than buying disposable ones monthly. And you'll enjoy a very nice humidifier (with multiple humidity settings) in the process.

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I purchased this product at a retail store recently and overall I think it's great. I was concerned about a line in the manual that said to discard the filter at the end of the season, but when I contacted Kaz / honeywell about it, they said it was a misprint and with proper care the filter will last for the life of the product. Makes sense since that's what is advertised on the box! They got back to me quickly, too.

The machine is not silent, it's got a fan on it which to me provides some nice white noise to block out odd noises that might bother my sleep. It obviously puts out a lot of moisture because I have to refill the tank once a day, and that does as well as the crappy old vicks vaporizers that I used to use...those things were terrible. They made boiling bubbly noises and started to spit when they got old. 65 bucks for the Honeywell isn't cheap (not to me anyway) but the cost was worth it so far. I haven't had it very long yet so we'll have to wait and see how it does in the long term.

Almost forgotthere is a dial control for humidity level; the window is green when the humidity is right, and blue when the humidity doesn't match the setting on the machine. It amounts to a nice night light since I don't know or care how it functions; I just leave it on high all the time.

Honest reviews on Honeywell QuietCare PermaFilter Humidifier, HCM-800

Ok, so here is the straight dope on the filters.

Basically, this unit operates under the same principle as a whole-house humidifier you would find in a forced-air heating system. So the "filter" is the same thing as a humidifier pad. The HCM 800, since it is self-contained, just uses its own blower, and the unevaporated water coming off the pad (filter) is recycled, rather than sent down the drain. So it is a given that you will get some amount of scaling throughout the system, and mold, etc., on the humidifier pad, just like in a whole-house unit.

I wouldn't try cleaning and then reusing the pad in a whole-house humidifier, and I wouldn't try do the same with the pad in these, either.

The good news, though, is that replacement humidifier pads are readily available, and cheap. For this unit, just get (for example) a HC22P humidifier pad, cut it down to size (about 6x9) and stick it in the plastic housing where the old pad came out. The pads are flexible when they are wet and are easily taken out and installed without damaging the rest of the unit. The HC22P is about $9 at Home Depot. You could get a bigger replacement pad and cut it into several replacements for the HCM 800 if you wanted to get it even cheaper. They cut adequately with a scissors, if you don't have a band saw handy.

Overall, the buildup on the HCM 800 isn't appreciably nastier than what you find in a lot of whole-house units, when they get serviced. Ok, those are pretty nasty, sure, but that is the price you pay if you want to avoid the fine mineral dust of a piezoelectric mist unit. Nobody gets humidified air without paying some sort of a price.

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To copy another reviewers text:

"I called Honeywell's Customer Care (1-800-554-4558) and found out you CAN buy replacement filters, at $24.99 each, with $6.95 shipping (for any size order)."

I bought two (2x) filers, Price Total $56.93, 7-10 days by UPS Ground.

Kefir Maker/Yogurt Maker Kit with Cheese Maker Bag and Thermometer Review

Customer Ratings:

this is a great yogurt maker. it will consistently turn out creamyliscious yogurt. this machine has NO THERMOSTAT. you cannot make kefir in it. kefir is made at a comfortable room temp. i was so excited to have something to make kefir in and keep a consistent temp since our house fluctuates temp. this machine does that but the temp is tooooo hot for kefir.

product sent is yogourmet. different box, exact same machine. company would not recognize questions about yogurt plus.

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I have had my Yogourmet for about 15 years now, and it still makes great yogurt. I bought an extra container so I can make a fresh batch while the other is still in the fridge. This item is an incubator that keeps the milk at the optimum temperature to produce the yogurt. Any problems with the finished yogurt are due to failures in the other steps of the process.

The big advantage of this yogurt maker is that it makes one large (2-qt.) batch of yogurt at a time. You don't need to fiddle with small, difficult-to-clean glass jars. I used to use the special Yogourmet starter, but recently I've been able to save money and make wonderful yogurt by buying 8-ounce cups of high-grade yogurt with live cultures to use as starter. I make my yogurt with powdered milk and a can of evaporated milk, and it's absolutely yummy, even when it's eaten just plain.

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We purchased this product four years ago, and we can not tell you how much we have used this product! It is now like second nature to simply make a batch of yogurt every Sunday evening. The homemade yogurt is so flavorful, and we simply use a small store bought plain yogurt to use as the starter (this saves us money as the packaged freeze dried starters can be pricey). We would also recommend that you buy the strainer at the same time if you enjoy greek yogurt. This attachment makes the straining process so much easier than using cheese cloth. Plus, you double your health benefits by making it into greek yogurt--more protein per serving!

We have recommended this brand to several of our freinds and family members and they all agree that it is a GREAT purchase! In addition, we priced this out on various sites and at various stores and found Amazon to have the best price (no, we don't work for Amazon).

Honest reviews on Kefir Maker/Yogurt Maker Kit with Cheese Maker Bag and Thermometer

This is the beginning of the product description for this item ---

"Product Description

2 litre (2 quart) container. With Cheese Maker Bag and Thermostat 2 litre (2 quart) capacity plastic container. With Cheese Maker Bag and Thermostat".......

From what I understand this is false there is NO THERMOSTAT with this product. Amazon or the company needs to correct this error as it is misleading. Please note I have not used this product, just contemplating buying it. So I have no personal knowledge how good the product is, that's why a 1 rating for now since the description is inaccurate.

I wish someone, besides the Japanese, would make a yogurt maker that has a digital thermostat so one can ensure yogurt is incubating at proper temps.

Thanks for letting me share.

Linda Lea

Best 10 Sqft Mat, Electric Radiant Floor Heat Heating System with Aube Deals

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I haven't had a chance to install this, but I am definitely pleased with the customer service I received from the company. The original purchase was lost in shipment due to the shipper not following instructions. I was lucky enough to avoid this a second time as the shipper yet again did not follow instructions. I am just very pleased with how nice and how prompt the second shipment was made. I look forward to having this installed in my master bath remodel! It will be unique to have radiant heat flooring out here where the weather doesn't even call for using a heater very often. It will be a definite energy saver having this instead of the standard bathroom heating element.

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Buy Stonegate FP100709 Electric Fireplace

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We use in our central Florida enclosed lanai area to take chill off a winter morning. Looks like a more expensive unit except for one small log. A challenge to assemble. A couple pieces required drilling and instructions on which screws to use were not real clear. Tough to line up last few screws. Best buy amongst all reviewed though.

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Buy Sunpentown RF-441SS 4.4cu.ft. Compact Refrigerator in Stainless

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List Price: $275.00
Sale Price: $234.57
Today's Bonus: 15% Off

I put this in a $20K+ outdoor kitchen I built for a customer. I liked it because it had actual stainless steel on the door versus many that have a sticker that tries to look like stainless.

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The compact refrigerator stopped working five months after purchasing it. Supposedly, there is a one-year warranty, however SPT will not accept Amazon's invoice as proof of purchase. In other words, SPT will not honor their warranty, or they purposely are making it very hard for me to get this item replaced or repaired. I am very dissatisfied with SPT's warranty. I will never buy another product made by SPT.

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Advertised as "Refrigerator in Stainless Steel". In reality this is not Stainless Steal but Stainless Steal look. Please be aware. I have to return it now because it does not match all other appliances

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As of the time of this review I've had this fridge for six months now and it's worked very well at keeping all the food inside cool.

I had a Sanyo mini-fridge for about six years which I managed to break (completely my fault) and needed a replacement. What led me back to SPT/Sunpentown was a mini-freezer of theirs I bought back in 2010 which ended up being a fantastic buy. As this fridge was also roughly the same dimensions and same exterior design as the freezer I ended up stacking them and they look somewhat like one unit.

But back to the fridge, it works well, looks nice on the exterior, but whoever designed the interior didn't really know what they were doing.

1) I really don't like the shelving units being mesh, and would've preferred solid panes of plastic that slid in and out.

2) The can holder on the side door is completely useless. If you try to drop cans in there they just fly out the bottom, or worse, get stuck because it has this awkward wave design to it.

3) The lower level of the side door has a compartment to store bottles, but it can't even handle more than one two liter bottle. There just isn't enough space (but my old Sanyo, which was less cubic feet could store two, 2-liter bottles side by side on its side door lower compartment).

4) The side door lower compartment is held in with a flimsy piece of metal that clips into two holes on the side, such that if you leave anything heavy in there and open the door to quickly, it'll tip over and sometimes the metal clip will pop out.

So yeah, the fridge works and I bought it primarily because my SPT/Sunpentown freezer has served me very well over the years, but the interior layout, especially the door, is a disaster.

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I hate to be negative but I must be honest!! We got this out of the box and it never worked! We had to return it to Amazon and on a positive note Amazon was FANTASTIC in handling the return so NO complaints about Amazon's customer service.

The fridge on the other hand, STAY FAR FAR AWAY!!!!

Reviews of Weller WTCPT 60 Watts/120V Temperature Controlled Soldering Station

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List Price: $176.00
Sale Price: $139.35
Today's Bonus: 21% Off

This kind of soldering system has been industry standard since the 1950's. I learned to solder to military specifications on one of these stations back in the 1980's and used it in bench repair of avionics equipment for over 20 years. I own several surplus stations that I use in my ham radio hobby at home.

In later years I used much more expensive solder stations with higher tech temperature control methods and slimmer pencils, but I found them to be only marginally better, and so much more expensive that I didn't see any need to buy one for home/hobby use. While the more expensive systems have complex configurations that aid some surface mount work, they were not worth the hefty price for regular through-hole and point-to-point soldering.

The tips are readily available, in a considerable variety, and are very reasonably priced. The other components of the system are also readily obtained and reasonably priced. If you wear out the iron or have some mishap with the cord, repair is not a big deal.

The reason I am taking off one star is the current physical packaging. The earlier WTCPN station was taller and heavier, with the sponge and iron holder integrated into the top. That configuration was superior because the base was heavy enough to stay put in the course of removing and replacing the iron, and swiping the sponge.

There is a set of keyed slots on the WTCPT that enable the iron holder to be fastened solidly to either side of the power unit, but access to the sponge is obstructed from one side. In practice, a quick side to side swipe is normally used to clean the tip, and this is not possible with the sponge blocked from one side or the other by the power unit.

The customer image that shows the iron holder perched on top of the power supply is a great idea, but I would secure it in place with cable ties or some other means, so that it doesn't go skittering off when being used.

This is a tried and true tool for soldering, at a very reasonable price.

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I solder about 300charms a day and this has made my life so much easier. The 1/16 tip is perfect and the heat control eleminates all guesswork and the ease of ues of the iorn is just a joy! I like it so much, I'm ordering another. Everything is so convenient and easy to hand to use on this station that it saves a lot of wasted motion. The BEST!!!!!

Karen Hostetter

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I've been in the electronics business for a long time and have had the same Weller WTC iron for at least 25 years. The current WTCPT station is basically the same thing as what I have; the technology has not changed at all. Mine has been dropped, rolled over by chairs, stepped on, and used for literally hundreds, if not thousands, of hours, under all types of conditions. It has never failed to perform.

I know that my iron is an older version, but I also use the current WTCPT model enough so that I think it's equivalent in quality and function to my old one.

I like the fact that it's simple; the power supply is really just a 24VAC 2A transformer, nothing fancy, and the temperature control is very simple (it relies on the fact that when you heat a magnet to a certain temperature, called the Curie point, it loses its magnetism, and when it cools below that point, it becomes a magnet again). So not much to go wrong.

One thing I really like is that the element can put out a lot of heat when needed. That means it heats up quickly (it's fully ready to go in 30 seconds or less) and, more importantly, it can deliver enough heat to cleanly solder large expanses of copper or joints with large wires. I've soldered some things with it that I thought for sure I'd need to drag out a soldering gun to tackle.

I have other irons, including a variable temperature-controlled one, two hot-air SMD stations, and a few soldering guns (Weller 8200s) but I use the WTC for all of my day-to-day work. I'd recommend it highly to anyone who needs a supremely reliable workhorse soldering iron.

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Well worth the price tag. The best iron for any electronics board work. No adjustments to worry about. Buy a low cost 700 degree tip and it keeps it at 700 degrees so that the solder tinning doesn't boil away every few seconds. Apply solder and more power is automatically fed into the heating element to maintain solder flow. Better than the TC (thermocouple types) because the tips cost one tenth of the price. You can have 3 or 4 tips for any purpose: 1/16 inch for fine work; 1/8 inch for normal work; etc. System is grounded to protect components from static charges.

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Works Great! I am an student at Oregon State University in Electrical and Computer Engineering. This is the exact model that the university uses and I got one so that I can finish projects at home and not need to spend money on gas to drive 20 miles (one way) to school to work on things or need to have more than one set of tips for soldering irons (one for school and one for home). I figured if OSU liked them enough to only have Weller WTCPT soldering stations, they had to be good, and I have not been disappointed yet! I figure the savings I will have on gas will pay for my soldering station in less than 2 years!

Reviews of Broan Model 178 Wall Heater, 1000/2000 Watt 240 VAC, White Painted

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List Price: $165.58
Sale Price: $106.33
Today's Bonus: 36% Off

This heater is replacing a 20 year old model. Everything is exactly the same right down to the model number. Great heater for the bathroom.

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Went to a lot of work installing heater just to turn around and rip it out. Heater is very noisy. I phoned company and explained situation. They stated "they never advertised unit as being quiet" So much for that.

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The unit arrived with a damaged electrical connection to the heating element. Northside Service Co. promptly sent a replacement element which was great. After a few months of use the white metal grill (looks like baked enamel or equivalent) started cracking and flaking off at the point where the most heat comes out. I emailed Northside about this and they kindly made it clear that they warranted the product for only 60 days that I needed to talk to Broan 1-800-637-1453. Broan (Trish) said that the sellers uphold the warrantee and not Broan. They added that Northside were not authorized sellers, and that as they serviced it previously they had taken on the responsibility of servicing the warrantee, and that I should go back to them. Fortunately before I needed to take this further Broan said they would go ahead and send me a replacement grill, but they would do this only the one time.

As the unit does a great job of quickly heating the two rooms that make up our main bathroom and shower I highly recommend it. I think Broan has been around long to know how to formulate and apply an appropriate paint finish and that there is going to be odd bad unit or bad batch. So I would buy it again.

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Broan Model 178 Wall Heater, 1000/2000 Watt 240 VAC, White Painted Grille

To comply with local electrical codes (long story), I had to install one of these units in each BR. I probably should have spent more money to get a low decibel model. Yes, it has a thermostat, but when that triggers the heater to come on, it is noisy since there is no speed setting. It's on or it's off!! Oh well, you get what you pay for, eh?

Cheap White-Rodgers 1F80-0261 Single Stage 5/1/1 Programmable Digital

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List Price: $122.17
Sale Price: $44.49
Today's Bonus: 64% Off

I wired up the thermostate and it works great. It's easier to set the temperature verses our old therostate plus you can adjust Saturday and Sunday differentily.

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Mr. Heater F270385 MH210KTR Contractor 210,000-BTU Forced-Air Reviews

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List Price: $692.00
Sale Price: $442.36
Today's Bonus: 36% Off

As like everyone else i was happy to have heat from this unit when first purchesed. Now only a year later all fuel line hoses have cracked which i have replaced with fuel lines that are rated for fuel not just cheap vacuum line cannot keep unit operational i am always pulling the main jet and blowing compressed air through which is a job to remove , flushed fuel tank,tried different fuels. As far as im concerned this is just more Chinese junk.Do not spend your hard earned money on this. I know people that have had their forced air heaters for more than a decade and have had no problems. I dont like to be negative about anything but when a company is not going to build a decent product people should know.

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I have 4 of these heaters which I have been using to keep buildings above freezing for about 4 years. While they have done the job, they have been very problematic. I have had several catch on fire. They seem to be very maintenance intensive. Ive been replacing filters and nozzles on them to try and keep them running. I probably need to replace the air pumps as well but thats more expensive. The hoses seem to be ok so far. Ive been using off road diesel fuel in them. Like the other person said you are basically happy just to have heat but these are not made like old forced air heaters Ive dealt with in the past. They put out alot of heat and keep the buildings from freezing so they do the job, you just have to keep up on the maintenance on them.

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Works very well, if using in a shop move it to an area that will circulate the warm air back through it so thermostat will cycle it on and off. I was heating through a doorway and was getting cooked out of shop, once moved it worked great.