I''m able to toss this in a bag, if needed, without worrying about water spilling. This is the only 24 oz. water bottle I''ve found that doesn''t leak. The loop handle makes it easy to carry, too. A little pricey, but well worth it.
Showing posts with label showerhead water filter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label showerhead water filter. Show all posts
Aladdin 10-01320-005 10-01320-005 One-Handed Water Bottle
I''m able to toss this in a bag, if needed, without worrying about water spilling. This is the only 24 oz. water bottle I''ve found that doesn''t leak. The loop handle makes it easy to carry, too. A little pricey, but well worth it.
Watts Premier 560043 Water Filtration Booster Pump Kit Save 49% Off
- Comes with everything needed to hook up to your existing water filtration device
- Increase the production of your current RO to fill the tank faster
- High Quality pump with 110v Transformer
- Certified to ensure high quality
We''ve owned an RO system since 1994, in fact we still have it. During that time we connected it to our old Maytag refrigerator''s ice maker and water dispenser. Neither worked reliably or well. When the ice maker wasn''t literally shooting ice cubes horizontally out the cup, it would continually freeze and malfunction (as ice makers do).
Due to abnormally high frequency of repairs the only redeeming value we derived from the parade of service technicians was the opportunity to pick their brains. Time after time, each confirmed why the door mounted water dispenser was so agonizingly slow delivering water. It was primarily due to the reduced pressure from the RO system. Since the storage tank bladder and pressure were operating within spec this made sense.
While having an RO system does provide a cleaner (no minerals) source of water, the downside is low water pressure plays havoc with ice-makers creating "ice dams" that block the H2O feeder tube. The internal ice-maker switch depends on a minimum amount of water pressure to engage. RO system pressure is typically around 7 PSI which dramatically less than city water pressure (about 30-60 PSI depending where you live). Inevitably the refrigerator water line (necessary for ice making) will freeze-up disabling the ice-maker and significantly reduce flow through the door H2O dispenser.
Just about every refrigerator manufacturer recognizes this issue and addresses it within their respective owners manual. Our new Samsung is no exception. In fact, after contacting them and they highly recommend installing a water booster pump specifically for the reasons mentioned above.
So after doing some research I found this Premier model on Amazon (coincidentally from the same manufacturer of our RO system) and ordered it for less than Premier''s own website price.
Since I installed it the same time we received our new Samsung I can''t definitively state any measurable improvement. But compared with the previous Maytag, water flow is noticeably faster and dispensing pressure is higher (based on observation with pump turned on and off). I realize it may be too soon to report (almost 2 months) but best of all we haven''t experienced any ice issues. While I can''t unequivocally state this pump is making all the difference, I do feel confident it is helping prevent any recurrence of similar ice-maker issues... so far, so good.
If you''ve ever replaced your RO system filters, have experience with basic tools (semi-skilled with home repairs) you can easily install this. If not, it shouldn''t cost much to have someone do it, I was able to install ours in about 20 minutes. After depressurizing the RO system (same as during a filter change); mount the pump vertically to any wall (under the sink); splice one RO water line; re-pressurize the system; plug the pump into a standard 120VAC outlet (typically available under most sinks for dishwashers and disposals) and your good to go.
As for the pump, it operates automatically (on-demand) and is exceptionally quiet, we never notice it working...
Buy Watts Premier 560043 Water Filtration Booster Pump Kit Now
Pump was easy to install, comes with the poly hose quick connects in place and two pieces of poly hose. Mine had the instructions took 5 min to hook up. My dissolved solids went from 25ppm down to 6 and the product water has increased in volume by quite a bit.Read Best Reviews of Watts Premier 560043 Water Filtration Booster Pump Kit Here
Works great, very quite and a must for ice maker/water dispenser. Before installing ice cubes were very small and only a trickle of water came out of the water dispenser. After installation found the pressure somewhat better but still not as good as before installing the RO system. Found specs on the pressure switch that comes with the pump and was able to adjust the pressure setting, which improved the water pressure to pre-RO.The pressure switch is marked 40psi but the manufacture said the range is 40-60psi. There is a small Allen screw on the switch and by screwing it in you can increase the pressure at which the pump shuts down.
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The only reason I bought this booster pump was low pressure(20-30 psi) of tap water in my apartment building. Respectively, RO system did not work properly or stopped completely at times and tank was almost empty.It forced me to replace my 2 stage sediment filter prematurely to somehow increase water flow but did not fix the problem.After installation (1 page instruction with diagram was clear for the job)some real revolution did happen !
My tank fills out fast and is almost full, shutoff switch maintains pressure about 40 psi in the tank and I see pressure 80-90 psi before membrane while booster is operating.I do not remember so good water stream from my RO faucet. If I don''t take water after automatic power shut off, the booster will not start for hours. It is quiet if you secure plastic tubing properly otherwise it does generate some noise because pump''s vibration transmits to tubing however pump itself is very quiet.Overall, positive result is obvious. I just have to admit some RO systems on market already include booster pump for the price just 2 times more than this booster itself.
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I bought this to go along Watts WP5-50 Premier Five-Stage Manifold Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Systemby Watts(which is also very good product, and has a huge tank and can take a long time to fill ). I am glad I installed the pump beneath my kitchen sink along with the filter, because it helps fill the tank much faster. Trust me it will make things easier for you.... You will love it.
I gave it 4 stars only because it was a bit expensive..... It was a lot by the time I paid for both ( the pump and reverse osmosis).
But It is still a {musthave thing}
Brita Stainless Steel Water Filter Pitcher Save 17% Off
Despite a classier design which really is quite nice looking, there is a flaw in the construction of this model of Brita pitcher.When filled to an average level in the top containment area, the water finds its way down a channel between the plastic interior and exterior metal casing. The water leaks down the device and collects inside the container, but outside the plastic water containment area. It pools inside at the base where the metal meets the plastic foundation and leaks from there. The only solution is 1) when filling, to fill less than you''d imagine. 2) Fill as usually but be VERY careful to not tip the device at all so that the water doesn''t leak down this channel. or 3) just fill it up and leave it in the sink till the water leaks out the base.
Obviously this is a pretty serious design flaw that i''ve reported to Brita. I''ve also bought multiple versions of this same pitcher to diagnose whether or not the first one was a lemon. Unfortunately they''re all the same.
Beyond just being annoying, there is a high probability that mold will become a problem as the interior of the device is always getting soaked in a place you can''t access, clean, or wipe dry.
Whether or not this is a deal breaker is up to you, considering the pleasing design of the device even i kept my last one, but still it''s disappointing to always worry about the leaky pitcher.
I''ve reported it to Brita, and hopefully they''ll fix this issue in a future re-design.
I prepared the pitcher as directed with three changes of water. When i first took it apart to wash, I had great difficulty because the basin on top was stuck and I wound up prying it apart with a screwdriver, very gradually so as to not damage it. After letting it drip-dry a bit, i reassembled it but had difficulty because it does not fit perfectly and the diagram is useless.
Now for the taste test: not good. To be fair, our water tastes awful and this is the third pitcher that has failed to clear up the bad taste. To me it is undrinkable, although our dogs have adjusted to it.
Buy Brita Stainless Steel Water Filter Pitcher Now
This claims to be better than plastic pitchers due to plastic changing the property and flavor of water. I do prefer my beverages, especially water, to be contained in a glass or stainless steel container. This product is advertising that fact, yet the clear portion the pitcher that the water touches, as well as the filter holder the water runs through, are both made of plastic. Now tell me how that makes sense or is at all helpful? I am tempted to return this thing, but I have not seen one made from all glass or steel as of yet. Seriously Brita?! I thought you were better than that. I don''t like "trickeration".Read Best Reviews of Brita Stainless Steel Water Filter Pitcher Here
We''ve used a large refrigerator Brita filtration system for almost two decades now. I have no doubt that this pitcher will last a long time given the quality of the company and the materials it is made from. I measured and it holds just over eight cups of water in the lower reservoir after filtration. It is easy to hold and pour because while made of stainless steel it is light.There is a battery in the top of the pitcher that is supposed to light up whenever you pour to show when you need to replace the filter. Just so you know, the light only goes on after you''ve pour and it blinks very quickly and then stops so you have to look carefully for it. It has a life of 640 pours or two months. I''d have to test that for two months and I may revise this review after I do so. I do know for certain one pitcher didn''t even supply one days worth of water for my household.
There is one frustration I have with it that I frankly have with every Brita filtration system: the filter itself. I had to toss out three entire pitchers of water after setting in the new filter. I live in a city where we is it illegal to water the outdoor plants with indoor water so the water just gets wasted. If you have indoor plants you could use that water here but this is not my biggest frustration with the filters. What do we do with these filters after they have been worn out? And you know when they wear out because the quality of the water decreases and it tastes much worse than tap water. While filters might create less trash than bottles of water, at least those bottles can be recycled. Any one know what we can do with these filters?
Over all I think this is a great pitcher for water filration on a small scale. I took mine to the office where I can have it sitting on my desk and thus readily available for me to use. So I can''t say this is great for your family, but it might be just what you need at work.
Want Brita Stainless Steel Water Filter Pitcher Discount?
Brita Stainless Steel Pitcher is another product offering from Brita, one of the chief names in home water filtering. The company makes many different water filter pitchers, faucet filters and more, but this is the first offering from Brita, as far as I know, that features a stainless steel finish.I have used many different Brita products and even though I wasn''t in need of a new filtering pitcher, this one caught my attention due to its appearance. My kitchen is loaded with stainless steel appliances, both large and small, so the slick, attractive appearance of this pitcher fits in nicely. I prefer this to the clear, seethrough pictures which take on a more basic, utilitarian appearance.
As for the filtering, it works exactly the same way as other Brita pitchers and takes about the same amount of time. The water drains through the filter at a reasonable pace but it does require the exercise of patience as you wait for it to trickle down to the reservoir below. If you pick up the pitcher and start to pour while water is still filtering through, there is a chance that some of the water will pour out through the top opening and make a mess. You just have to sit back and give it a couple of minutes to filter through.
One other nice feature found on the Brita Stainless Steel Pitcher is the filter life indicator. It lets you know when the filter needs to be replaced and it is simple yet handy. I cannot speak for everyone, but I know that I am not going to remember when to replace my filter. With the builtin filter indicator, a push of the button lets you know when the filter needs to be changed. Other Brita pitchers offer the same thing, so this is nothing unique, but it is still a feature worth noting.
Brita pitchers and filters do produce clean, fresh tasting water and this pitcher is no different. Water does taste better and even though the filters cost a fair amount to replace, it is still cheaper in the long run than the price you would pay for buying bottled water. The base price of the pitcher is higher than others, but the filter cost is the same, so there is only a small extra price to pay to get this attractive product in your kitchen.
If I had to find a potential negative with this pitcher, it would be the lack of visibility of the water. Some will not care about this, but others will not like the limited view. As one can see from the image, the sides of the pitcher feature mostly the stainless steel finish. There is only a small section that is seethrough, so you cannot quickly, at a glance, always tell how much water is in the pitcher. In contrast, most other Brita pitchers allow you to see all of the water because they feature a completely clear base. Again, this won''t matter to some consumers but others may consider this a problem.
Filtering your tap water is a good idea and the Brita Stainless Steel Pitcher is a nice, attractive way to filter your water and keep it on display. The appearance is slick and handsome in any kitchen, but especially those that feature stainless steel appliances. It also produces very fresh tasting filtered water and while it does cost more than other Brita pitchers, the attractive appearance is enough to justify the extra cost.
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Black & Decker DCM2500W SmartBrew 12-Cup Coffeemaker
We all know the problem coffee makers. They have mysterious water leaks, they don''t drip into the carafe correctly, the filter basket overflows if it isn''t perfectly in place.Black and Decker (B&D) has designed a coffee maker that is inexpensive and simply eliminates those problems...
How I know:
I got this coffee maker for the office. We brew at least three 12-cup pots a day. We''ve done about 100 pots WITHOUT A SPILL OR LEAK. I highly recommend this machine.
What I know:
The "Perfect Pour Carafe" is great. B&D just gave it a wider spout! What a concept! You wouldn''t think a handle makes a big difference, but when you''re carrying 12-cups-worth of water or coffee, you will suddenly appreciate this excellent handle. This carafe even looks nice.
The filter basket does not swing out, nor must you hold it in one hand while you add the coffee. Swing-out baskets are the ones that overflow when you don''t close them perfectly, and slide-out removable baskets leave only one hand for the scooping chores. This basket can be removed to dump the old grounds, but is then replaced in the machine so both hands are free.
That is because the lid opens up to expose the filter basket and the unobstructed, large water resevoir. No careful aiming or water splashing off of useless plastic grates when filling. There is a strange looking, hinged "shower head" that delivers the hot water to the filter basket. It is simple in design and works well.
The lid closes securely and pins down the removable filter basket to further eliminate human error in basket positioning.
Even the "sneak a cup" mechanism is simple and effective. It is simply a rubber stopper on a simple lever. The carafe can be placed in a "wrong" and possibly overflow-producing position, but if you place it with the handle straight out, you can''t go wrong.
Water level is indicated externally on both sides of the machine.
Auto shut-off after two hours is essential in our office. It works and the coffee is kept quite hot during that time.
Easy to clean (buttons are water/coffee proof).
Need I say more?
I''ve had this coffeemaker for about a year and a half, and I don''t have any complaints. No parts have broken, the clock is accurate, the timer still functions, I still wake up every morning to a nice fresh pot of coffee. The lip of the pot is well formed, so that you never spill when you''re pouring a cup. These are all simple things, but coffee is a simple thing. If you don''t notice your coffeemaker, that means that it was designed well. This is an inexpensive, reliable coffee machine.
In fact, I''ve even abused the little guy. I like to make Thai iced tea, but I''m also too lazy to use a teapot, so I''ll run my tea through it three or four times until it''s dark enough, and it still holds up like a champ.
Here are some of the convenient features:
Water window on the side, so you can see how much water you''re putting in without having to measure using the pot.
Timer feature so you can wake up to pre-brewed coffee without waiting.
Sturdy, elegant pot design. The pot can be put in the dishwasher with no problems, and the large handle means you''ll never drop it.
Auto-off feature that turns the heating element off after two hours. (Another reviewer mentioned that there was no auto-off, which is incorrect)
Large capacity scales well. By this, I mean that it makes two cups of coffee just as easily as it makes 12 cups, so it''s good for a morning alone, or if you want a lot of coffee for several people.
The reason I didn''t give it a five is that there are a few minor drawbacks:
It''s a little difficult to clean, because of the design of the pot and the maker itself. Not terribly difficult, but a tad annoying.
The "sneak a cup" feature isn''t perfect, it can leak a couple drops when you use it. However, I use the timer, so never have to sneak a cup, you can just have a pot ready whenever you want.
But honestly, these drawbacks are inconsequential. You''re not going to find a better coffeemaker for under $30 with this many features, and this kind of reliability. I highly recommend it.
Buy Black & Decker DCM2500W SmartBrew 12-Cup Coffeemaker Now
Now we know why this coffee maker was rated so highly (a "best buy") by THE respected consumer magazine. Not only does it brew a flavorful cup of coffee at just the right strength (following their recommended one scoop of coffee per two cups), but the unit has the most wanted features of coffee makers without spending two-to-three times the price. The keep-hot plate auto-shutoff, and digital clock timer that allows one to setup the pot the night before and awake to freshly brewed coffee, is convenience at the utmost. The programming (including just setting the correct time, that displays in very bright red LED numbers) was a snap. (We also did buy separately a permanent gold filter, which fits perfectly.)While we have seen a number of complaints from other reviewers about the quality of this item, so far in several months of daily use we are completely satisfied. Stay tuned.
Read Best Reviews of Black & Decker DCM2500W SmartBrew 12-Cup Coffeemaker Here
My number one pet peeve with coffee makers is overflow from malfunctioning drip baskets when the coffee pot does not get seated well into the burner area. I was ready for this when I purchased this moderately priced coffee maker and was pleasantly surprised when this didn''t seem to be a problem after several days. Then it happened...and it turned out not to be the coffee pot problem at all...it is the filter basket on this little gem that gets out of whack. If it gets bumped *just a smidge* it will fail to seat itself down into the well and release the drip valve and the next thing you know you have coffee all over your counter. First time it happened I thought it must have been a fluke, but no...it''s happened three times now and this pot is going into the trash. The last thing I need to be doing is spending my morning mopping up coffee and grounds "before" I''ve had that first dose of caffiene.Want Black & Decker DCM2500W SmartBrew 12-Cup Coffeemaker Discount?
Bought it over a year ago. Use it daily. It works great with ordinary tap water. It is simply a basic coffee maker. Not beautiful, not loaded with useless features, just an excellent basic coffee maker. Broke the pot this morning, however, and that means I will need to buy another one. At $21, even that is painless.
Sodastream Pure Starter Kit Save 13% Off
It''s a nice machine, works as advertised, and I find the Diet Cola is very close in taste to Diet Coke. The other flavors are variable in quality and in how closely they replicate the flavor of the market leaders.However, you will not save money. I''ve put all the math below. For startup costs I''ve assumed you''ll want at least two additional bottles, and two additional canisters. This is probably conservative, since the whole point is to save trips to the supermarket, and the bottles will definitely wear out over time. I''ve amortized these startup costs over 3 years, with four family members each drinking 45 gallons per year of soda. The Diet Cola flavor sells for $8.32 here on Amazon as of today, and refills on the canisters cost $15 each.
Put all this together, and it comes to $1.04 per liter. Average retail on Diet Coke is $0.70. So you won''t save money.
What you will save is your time, your gas, your back and your fridge space. It''s nice to be able to whip up soda any time without having to lug big slabs of cans or heavy bags of bottles in from the supermarket. It''s nice not to have to fill up a whole shelf in the fridge with soda. That''s the real benefit to this. I think they have actually priced this out accordingly, so the slight premium you pay per liter offsets the hassle factor of buying soda the regular way.
Here are the calculations. (No, I didn''t factor in cost-of-capital. I''m keeping this simple.)
-------------------------------------
Consumption
Per Person 45 Gallons per year
People per family 4 People
Total Consumptom per year 180 Gallons per yaer
684 Liters per year
Startup Costs
Sodastream Startup Kit $129
Additional Bottles (2) $18
Additional Canisters (2) $60
Total Fixed Costs $207
Amortized over 3 years $69.00 $/yr
Amortized per liter soda $0.10 $/liter
Ongoing Costs Unit Cost Liters per unit Cost per liter
Canister refills $15 60 $0.25
Flavor $8.33 12 $0.69
Plus Startup costs $0.10
Total cost per liter $1.04
The company is misrepresenting the exchange situation in an almost criminal manner. They told me that if I bought 2 more spare bottles for 100 dollars, I would have free shipping for life as long as I ordered two exchange bottles at a time.
Not too long after, they reneged on that, and started charging me for shipping.
In addition, their site says, "Exchange locally to avoid shipping charges". That was true for me when I bought it. It did not last long. Fewer and fewer places have exchange bottles, and some have really high prices. Today, a local exchange for my (formerly) standard size 130 liter bottle is not possible in 99% of the US. Only the smaller 60 liter bottle is available in my state, as well as several neighboring states. I suspect this is a scheme to force me to convert to the smaller bottle, which will increase my costs and their profits considerably.
To add insult to injury, their site trumpets "Now available at thousands of retail locations." A quick check reveals that there are a couple hundred retail locations that will sell you the equipment, but far fewer who will exchange your small bottles, and about three nationwide that will exchange the large 130 liter bottle.
It would seem that they are far, far more interested in sales than service. This is particularly onerous, since their product requires constant refill service, and it is only available through them, at whatever price they charge, both for the refill and the shipping.
It is also worth noting that a 130 liter carbonator will not come near making 130 liters of decently carbonated water. The only way we can get 130 liters out of a refill is to make the carbonation so weak that the bottle goes flat before half of the water is consumed. This, of course, defeats the purpose of making one''s own carbonated water. You are at their mercy when it comes to how much CO2 they put in a refill, how much they charge you for it, and how much they charge you for shipping. And, that includes constant increases in their charges.
So, do your homework before you commit to this company. The deal will change.
I recently placed and order for refills, and they took a week to even get them from their facility to UPS, so plan on ordering well in advance.
The have built a booby trap into their bottles so they cannot be refilled by anyone but them, so local refilling at reasonable prices is not an option for me.
Buy Sodastream Pure Starter Kit Now
I initially bought the Penguin version of this soda maker (same maker, and also sold on Amazon), and it has quickly become the most used appliance in my kitchen next to the microwave. It makes flawless carbonated water and does so in a matter of seconds, from cold tap water without the use of any electricity. The carbonated water it produces lasts far longer in my fridge, in terms of bubbles and fizz, than any carbonated water I''ve gotten from the store, including Pellegrino.I use my Penguin soda maker with a PUR 2-Stage water filter PUR DS-1800Z 2-Stage Water Dispenser, which sits in my fridge and dispenses cold water that can go right into the soda maker carafe/bottle.
I was skeptical before buying the soda maker as I could not fathom how such a small product could produce carbonated water almost instantly without electricity. But it surpassed all expectations and continues to amaze me every time I use it, which is basically every day.
I have not used any syrups with the soda maker but typically mix the sparkling water with natural juice, about 20% juice to 80% water, and it tastes amazing and is healthy too.
I saw this classic SodaStream version of the soda maker at a friend''s house and he raved about it, so I just purchased it for a friend. It seems to work like the Penguin except that you screw the bottle in at the top to attach it to the machine, rather than slip a carafe into a holder like you do with the Penguin. I think the Penguin design is slightly less cumbersome but I thought the look on this one was more elegant and simple.
In any event, I highly recommend this product or the Penguin, without reservations. There is simply nothing wrong with it it''s perfect in every way and pretty darn ingenious (for me, anyway!).
Read Best Reviews of Sodastream Pure Starter Kit Here
While the general idea of this product is solid, consumers should understand that they are grossly overpaying for SodaStream carbon dioxide refills. In fact, the prices charged are sixteen times (16x) wholesale costs or many, many times more expensive than the prices a restaurant would pay. In Europe, frugal consumers are aware of such markups and actually purchase their own restaurant-sized CO2 refills. In the US, we aren''t so frugal.Other than the outrageous costs for the CO2 refills, there are other issues with the SodaStream Fountain Jet. One is the construction quality is quite low with very thin molded plastic and little weight. Additionally, the taste of generic soda flavors do not match that of the brand name products.
Below is the calculated cost per two liter for the output of SodaStream soda. This includes the cost of the consumables AND the equipment costs. I have used very generous assumptions, including a low discount rate (i.e. cost of money).
Transportation costs were not factored because 1) purchases of typical groceries should more or less overlap with soft drink purchases 2) grocery delivery has long been available in many areas 3) most people live closer to a grocery store than to a home furnishings store (I walk 100 ft. for groceries and drive one mile for BB&B) 4) the reverse logistics for the CO2 refills is an extra expense for the retailer that has to be factored into their profit margin and will ultimately be borne by the consumer.
One of the reasons Bed Bath & Beyond, Macy''s and Crate and Barrel choose to carry SodaStream is that they want the consumer to make MORE FREQUENT trips to their establishments for consumables. Instead of going to such establishments once every 3 to 6 months, customers will now visit once every 1 to 2 months. That makes an enormous difference for generating impulse purchases at such retailers. One could argue then that transportation costs could increase for the individual consumer.
Total Costs = $1.73 per Two Liter -More Expensive Than Retail
*Concentrate
Flavor cost bottle of concentrate $4.99
Liters of product per container 12
Flavor/l $0.42
*Carbonator
Volume of CO2 130
Cost of CO2 per refill (130 liters) 29.99
CO2 cost per liter $0.23
*Sodastream Equipment Costs Amortization Per Liter
Equipment cost $89.00
Equipment life (years) 5
Discount rate (cost of money) 8%
Liters per month 10.00
Monthly amortized cost $1.80
Cost of equipment per liter $0.18
*Water Cost with Brita Filtration
Municipal water costs per liter in US $0.0004
Brita filter three pack (454 liters of water output) $16.95
Brita cost per liter $0.0373
Water and filter costs per liter $0.0377
(assumes you already own Brita Pitcher so no equipment costs, just incremental filtration)
***TOTAL COSTS PER TWO LITER = (Flavor + CO2 + Equipment + Filtered Water) * 2
SodaStream Total Cost Per Two Liter = $1.73
Without filtered water:
SodaStream Total Cost Per Two Liter = $1.65
THE MATH BELOW IS WHAT SODASTREAM DOESN''T WANT THE CONSUMER TO KNOW
*Restaurant Carbonation (note distributor prices, so there is still a distributor profit)
weight of CO2 contents of large restaurant CO2 tank: 50 lbs
weight in grams: 22,680 grams of CO2
cost to refill Summer 2011: $35
CO2 grams/liter of carbonated water: 7 grams
*Efficiency of Restaurant CO2 Carbonation
losses: 10%
available CO2 in tank (residual is required for pressure): 85%
net accessible CO2 of total: 77%
usable grams of CO2: 17,350 grams
*Output
carbonated liters of water: 2,479
cost per liter in USD$: $0.014
*SodaStream Output
SodaStream Refill: 130 liters (quoted end product)
Cost per refill: $30.00
cost per SodaStream carbonated water: $0.231
*SodaStream Markup Economics
ratio of SodaStream to Restaurant prices: 16.3x
SodaStream inflation price over restaurant pricing: 1534%
math: [y/x-x] to give increase over base case restaurant pricing
This is an incredible 1500% markup
Pros
Saves plastic
Allows flexible mixture of flavors
Cons
Grossly inflated CO2 refill costs
Another store trip required for refills separate from grocery store visit
***Disclaimer: I am an investor who has used the product multiple times. At the time of this review, I did NOT have an investment in SodaStream either short or long. In the past, I have both owned the stock and shorted it (bet against it). I may be on either side of the trade by the time you read this -I am not very sentimental.
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After growing up with something similar in the late 80''s (which was discontinued do to shipping co2 through the regular mail, I believe) I knew I had to have this soda machine as soon as I saw it in skymall magazine. After doing some research on ways to retrofit this device to use a regular 20lb co2 tank and purchasing an adapter which makes the sodastream easily connect to said tank we ordered this machine. The Chrome/Stainless finish was the best looking design IMO when we ordered this machine in March 2011. There might be more attractive options available now but no matter the finish it still has a relatively small footprint on the countertop. I love club soda and drink it regularly. Since the water in Las Vegas has a mineral taste, having the added carbonation is enough to mask that taste and make drinking local tap water enjoyable again.We ran through the included TINY tanks of co2 pretty fast but then hooked it up to our large tank through a hole we drilled in the countertop. Keep in mind that by forcing you to use their "proprietary" co2 mail ordering service the manufacturers of this product are forcing you to pay well over retail for co2 gas and it kind of seems like extortion. We have our 20lb tank filled at a local hydroponic gardening store for around ten bucks and we have only had to fill it once so far (we''ve had it about 10 mos.) I use the machine about 2-3 times a day (make 2-3 full bottles of carbonated water) and then just dump it into a nalgene bottle and mix in some raspberry ice crystal light powder (which tastes like jello). So far all of the crystal light flavors are pretty good carbonated *except ice tea which is TERRIBLE*. I tried the sodastream brand of diet rootbeer (i think all of their syrups are diet) and was pretty disappointed as it just tasted like diet coke. We have used the sodastream brand "energy drink" which tastes and smells pretty much exactly like diet redbull/ rockstar. I sometimes also mix mine with fruit juice which is light and refreshing.
My husband uses it 1-2 times a day and mixes his with Coke brand syrup which we purchase at our local business Costco and pour into pump bottles my dad found which fit perfectly into the door of our fridge. My parents didn''t have the space underneath their counter for the large co2 tank so my dad opted for a different retrofit option where he fills the smaller bottles himself with a large tank he keeps in his garage. His solution is slightly more annoying but not as annoying as mailing them across the country and paying exorbitant amounts for CARBON DIOXIDE which is readily available everywhere! After the purchase of the machine, adapter, syrup, tank and gas we have invested around $300 on this but I''m pretty sure we''ve already saved close to that amount or more by not purchasing drinks when we eat out nor 2 liter bottles/canned soda at the grocery store. Not to mention the environmental impact of all of that plastic from the 2 liters we have avoided!
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Seagull IV X-1F (CA) Drinking Water Filter
After over 10 years ownership of our Seagull IV water filter, I''ve just had my second e-mail customer service contact. As in our first contact, the response has been immediate (one day) and effective. The product is outstanding -probably the best home water filter available.Bernard Cohen
Culligan AC-30 RO Filter Set
The Culligan AC-30 filters were perfect. Saved me a lot of money. Culligan wanted 160.00 just for the yearly set of filters, and 160.00 for the membrane. The filters that I received were all from American companies and the membrane was too. I thought it might be hard to install, but the Reverse Osmosis Superstore helped me over the phone to install them, and I quickly found out it only took a few minutes to do so. I tested the water with my tds meter and it tested at a 9, which is simply excellent. I would definitely recommend these filters...great quality, save money, and great technical help.
OmniFilter SFM2 Filter System with One GPM Flow Rate
Filter purchased to replace old model. Not sure how old previous model was, but bracket on new model did not match old model (same product #). Had to remove old bracket, but no issues. Great filter.
Behrens Galvanized Mop Bucket Save 6% Off
My title is in response to those annoying commercials about replacing your mop and broom with a Swiffer. I have a fairly large home with hard floors, most of which are tile or laminate. After spending a small fortune on a multiude of new inventions to clean them, I now aknowledge that nothing gets the job done as well or any quicker that the old fashioned broom and mop. The best mop is a cotton string one without any mechanical devices in it for wringing, but my hands don''t have much strength anymore and I needed to get a mop bucket with a wringer. This one is large enough to accomodate my big fluffy mop but small enough to fill in the kitchen sink and not too heavy for lifting it when filling or dumping. It appears to be made well enough to last for many years and was priced well below anything else in the same league.
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You might ask, "how can a galvanized mop bucket be bad?" Well, let me tell you, it can be!After searching for this product in brick and mortar stores, I realized the day of a galvanized mop bucket had past. I own one that is probably 35 years old if it''s a day and it works beautifully. I needed another for a vacation home and so ordered it. The price seemed right and the shipping was just under ten bucks so I got it.
When I opened it, I found that it was defective in several areas: 1. the "foot pad" where you stand on it to stabilize the pail to ring the mop, does not line up properly with the other "ringer" pad." So, this means instead of comfortably ringing the mop, you have to litterly stand directly of the pail while ringing a major inconvenience because not only do you get the water all over your feet, you are off balance. The ringer pad is so high up that you need to hold onto something else, like a counter, before you can place you foot onto it.
2. The rollers themselves don''t line up so there is a one inch difference from one end of the roller to the other, thus, the water never gets rung out properly.
3. The finish itself is so bad that if you attempt to touch the sides of the item anyplace there is a weld or screw, there are sharp bits of metal, and if you are not careful you end up with metal splinters.
4. The metal frame also came in bent in various areas. Since the box itself was in perfect condition, I must assume this is how it left the warehouse.
Return it? Forget it! They don''t refund the shipping price, so, I''ll not only be out the shipping costs but my cost to mail it back in which case I''ll have spent almost as much as the cost of the item itself, and then I''ll have to go through the experience with someone else as well. So, I''ll keep it as a reminder that once in awhile you get fooled.
Find someone else to get this from!
MC
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I purchased this for my mother who suffers from rumitoid authoritis and has difficulity using her hands. I thought this would work great for her as she could wring the mop using the foot pedal and less stress on her hands. Well....this bucket forces you to stand on one "stabelizer" pedal and lift your foot nearly 12 inches off the ground to step down on the wringer pedal all while holding the mop handel and pulling upward through the wringers. It''s very unstable to have to pull the mop through the wringer while using both feet to keep the bucket from falling over and pushing down on the wringer pedal, so much so, my mother requested I return it because she was afraid she would fall over trying to step on one handle, step up to the wringer pedal, then while doing all that pull the mop up through the wringer. I''m not 70 years old and I had alot of awakward feelings of falling over while using this product. I would not recommend this product. Great idea, just not user friendlyWant Behrens Galvanized Mop Bucket Discount?
Very effective mop bucket price was right just wish it was a bit wider so my full mop would wring at one time. Maybe I shoulda bought a bigger one, but I didn''t want anything that heavy. I''d recommend it to anybodySave 6% Off
Copco 16-Ounce Capacity Acadia Reusable To Go Mug
Got 6 of these in brown to handle the morning coffee commute. Kids and wife use them for everything, even cold drinks. Microwave reheating is fine. The lid goes on with a secure quarter turn and works fine. For the first week or so it had a bit of a plastic smell as whatever wonder material outgassed its yummy petroleum products...if you are one of those people who take more than 3min to describe to the barrista what kind of coffee you want, well you may want to run these through the washer about 10x before using.The real beauty of these is when you lose a lid etc, it is no big thing...it is a cheap plastic mug and there are more where that one came from. This gets rid of the usual "where is the lid to my travel mug" argument that foreshadows my morning commute. 2 pieces of wisdom to offer here:
1. Do not slam them down on a counter. Your coffee will jet up in a beautiful brown geyser of joy. I suppose if mug slamming is an important part of your morning routine, you could alter your move by putting the thumb over the hole when you do it. You can also get the coffee geyser going if you grab it by the lid and power walk it with an arm swinging, centrifuge like motion. If you put it in that little drink webbing on your backpack, you will have brown sloshy stains on your back. These are not sealed like other mugs and treat accordingly.
2. Don''t get brown. I got brown. Everyone else has brown. They look like Starbucks. So when you set your brown mug down next to someone elses brown mug, only later when you have wandered off and swigged that vile super sugared swill your friend calls coffee do you realize you picked up the wrong one. Get some flamboyant color nobody else will be caught dead with...this will avoid the confusion entirely.
I only have one complaint, and that is that the air intake hole (what allows the beverage to flow out when you''re drinking) is in the center of the lid, rather than on the opposite side, and my nose seems to hit it when I''m drinking and block the flow. It''s kind of annoying. Otherwise, the cup is well made and seems to be a good choice.
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Great mug. Does not leak. The first couple of times I used it it took two tries to get the lid on right but then I got the hang of it. The green sleeve is a little greener in color than this photo shows. It is very sleek looking.Read Best Reviews of Copco 16-Ounce Capacity Acadia Reusable To Go Mug Here
At first I loved this Copco 16 ounce cup. It was perfect for the largest cup setting on my kureig plus some creamer. However over time I began to notice that it began to retain flavors and odors.The first time this was a problem was about 2 weeks of near daily use. I sometimes drink tea other times coffee. The day I noticed it I was drinking tea and noticed it tased more like stale old dunkin donuts coffee. I washed it twice in the dishwasher and it still smelled, then let it sit with lemon juice and hot water over night. It was then good for a couple of days. So I decided to only use it for coffee.
Unfortunately, about a month later it started to smell and taste like rancid coffee no matter what I did. I never let the coffee sit in the cup and I wash it daily, and despite that it still retains odors and flavors. So this cup does not work for me.
if I started with tea and only used if for tea, it is possible I would never have had a problem with the cup. Therefore I give it 3 stars. Because as far as cups go-it holds a lot, it stays warm & it does not leak.
I will probably wash it again and this time use a bleach and water solution and see if I can start over with just tea.
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This travel coffee mug is a great size, the perfect height to fit in my Keurig coffee maker. It''s also really easy to clean and doesn''t seem to hold smells like some other mugs I''ve had. My only complaint is that there''s no way to seal it so that it won''t spill, but I knew about that when I bought the mug. Overall, a great product!
Plaston International Corp. Air-O-Swiss 7533 Deminral Granules Pk/3 Save 29% Off
I agree with some reviewers that refilling the cartridge take a little extra hand-eye coordination, and is a bit time-consuming and definitely more of an annoyance than you want to deal with re: a humidifier.. I found that just snipping off a corner of the bag allows a little more control in pouring the granules. I also plug up the center cavity with a wad of wet paper towel. Wet towels are better than dry because the grains will stick to the wet paper more readily when you pull it out.All this being said, I''m writing this review to underscore an option that the instruction manual mentioned, and which I''ve learned to swear by. USE DISTILLED WATER in the reservoir. It''s 59 cents a gallon or cheaper at your local giant-grocer. No white powder whatsoever, and you never have to clean the tank with Air-O-Swiss''s gimmicky powder cleaners. Using distilled water, you can just unscrew the water-purifying cylinder from the reservoir cap and throw it in the garbage (or, if you''re hate throwing anything out, just put back in the box which you most likely saved and are keeping in the basement). I''m a lawyer and a skeptic by nature, and I don''t think that the "purifying beads" do anything substantive. Even a fresh filter leaves that white powder. Frankly, I think that the money saved in not buying the company''s custom-designed external expenses is far outweighed by the money spent on "fancy" distilled water. I can''t help but think of the cost of printer ink when I think of these water filters; you buy the base unit (printer/humidifier) for a good deal, not realizing how much more money you will be forking over in the maintenance of the darn thing.
This is a humidifier, after all, not a life-support machine. There are two options; dealing with the vaguely annoying white powder, or spending a little extra money on something that will avoid the nuisance of cleaning up the white powder. Personally, I prefer spending my money on store-bought distilled water than some chemically questionable "white beads" (what are they made out of, anyway?? Are they recyclable? Is there any data on how much these bead actually "purify" the water? And does the production of these beads use non-renewable resources? Don''t ask Air-O-Swiss...they won''t tell you). On the other hand, I know how distilled water is made. And I can tell you from personal experience that using distilled water keeps the humidifier in tip-top, brand-new-looking shape. When the "clean" light on my unit comes on, I just reset without thinking. There''s nothing to clean. You could use distilled water for years and still have less buildup than one or two uses of regular tap water (filtered or otherwise, I would argue).
Well, enough of my ranting and raving in favor of distilled water. I think I''ve made my feelings clear. In response to the reviews from members who complained about the high cost of filter replacement in their hard-water environments, this is my "perfect" solution to you. Take it for what it''s worth.
As of he refilling part, I found it quiet easy. While emptying the filter, shake the filter in the trash can. Most of the "stuff" will fall off easily. You can wash off any that clings to the filter. Shouldn''t take u more than 30 seconds to do this. When it comes to filling up the filter, I make a very small cut in the plastic bag with a scissor. This gives me better control on the flow of the granules. I fill up the outer chamber first and then the inner one. Any slight over flows, I wash it off.
All in all, it takes 3 minutes tops. Well worth the effort.
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I agree that the cartridge was not easy to fill -the beads are a little tricky to get into the cartridge (they sort of stick to each other and to the bag they are in and to your hands, so it takes awhile to get them packed in).However, the cost savings definitely makes up for the slight trouble -3 separate cartridges would range from approx. $36 $45, while this package of 3 refills only cost $19.00! Well worth the extra 5 minutes every 3 months.
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This cartridge refill works great with my humidifier and is much cheaper than buying the actual cartridge. Most of the white dust is eliminated, just be sure to soak the refilled cartridge for at least 24 hours. I only use the humidifier at night and have found that it works much better if you keep the cartridge covered in water when the unit is not on.Want Plaston International Corp. Air-O-Swiss 7533 Deminral Granules Pk/3 Discount?
I bought these replacement packs as they are cheaper than buying the entire prepacked cartridges, however, after fumbling trying to pack the filter beads into the cartridge, I would *NOT* recommend going this route.The problem is that the filter beads absorb any amount of water in the air even inside the sealed packs they arrive in and swell, so that you are trying to coax swollen, wet, sticky beads into a small annulus of the cartridge without getting them into the center the small amount of money you save is not worth the effort involved.
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Jiffy Steamer ESTEAM Travel Steamers Save 16% Off
My father bought the Rowenta locally and I tried it out. I''d been wanting an easy-to-use steamer so I checked Amazon. The Jiffy has gotten excellent reviews whereas the Rowenta has gotten ok reviews (most negatives are about durability.) I ordered the Jiffy and borrowed my Dad''s so I could compare them.First let me say that I want a quick and easy steamer mostly to get wrinkles out of Tshirts, shorts, jeans,button-downs etc that I didn''t take out of the dryer quick enough. I usually will not be steaming full suits,etc.
The Rowenta is incredibly quick to heat up and start steaming. It literally takes about 30 seconds.
The Jiffy takes about 3 minutes. That''s still fast but if you''re in a really big rush...
When the Rowenta is heated up it basically just sits idle. I don''t think it''s losing any water while idle because there''s no steam coming out. When the Jiffy is heated up the water is literally boiling inside. You can see and hear it boiling. It constantly releases steam. The bad part about this is if you need to pause for a bit (answer phone, do something else...) then the water continues to get used up. In my case it was pumping out hot steam heating up the bathroom and fogging up the mirror. This brings me to one of the bigger complaints about the Rowenta-the water capacity. The Rowenta definitely holds less water than the Jiffy but I found the Rowenta to be more real-world convenient. 1) because it only releases steam only when you need it (you push the button) and 2) because the Rowenta heats up so fast the capacity isn''t much of an issue.
Also, the Jiffy gets hot on the exterior-real hot. So it''s not that easy to refill quickly because you have to be careful not to burn yourself. After you''re finished using the Jiffy it''s too hot to put away. You have to leave it and let it cool down. When you''re steaming with the Jiffy it''s also easy to burn your fingers with the steam. If you don''t keep it perfectly upright it leaks easily and the drops really burn you. If you get yourself with the steam you say, "OW!". If you get yourself with the drops you say, "OW S%&*!!, son of a...!!"
The Rowenta doesn''t get very hot on the exterior. If you steam your fingers it doesn''t really hurt. I also made a dumb mistake when first trying the Rowenta. I left it plugged in lying on top of some clothing for a couple hours. Of course I don''t recommend this but nonetheless it wasn''t that hot and the clothes it was lying on were in no apparent danger of burning. I believe you''re supposed to try and keep them both upright while steaming but sometimes you want to turn it to reach a spot. I don''t recall the Rowenta leaking when I did that. If it did, it wasn''t hot enough for me to remember.
I''m sure many people consider the hotter steam of the Jiffy to be a plus over Rowenta but I didn''t find this to be the case. Yes the Jiffy is hotter but it just ''boils'' steam out of the openings. The Rowenta is less hot but it ''blasts'' the steam out when you push the button. The blasting effect seemed to almost, but not entirely, make up for the difference in heat. Also, the extra heat of the Jiffy made the clothing soggy so if you touched a part that you''d already steamed it would create new wrinkles. Touching the parts that you already steamed with the Rowenta didn''t really seem to create new wrinkles. I used both steamers on the same 3 pieces of clothing for about the same amount of time. I used the Rowenta on one side and the Jiffy on the other. I didn''t tell my wife which was which and asked her which looked better. They were all basically too close to compare.
I have a toddler so there was definitely a safety issue for me. If she were to pull the cord and pull the Jiffy down on herself while on( or even 5-10 mins after you''ve unplugged it)she could be seriously injured and scarred. If she were to pull the Rowenta down it probably wouldn''t be a big issue.
So I ordered a Rowenta for myself and am sending the Jiffy back. I''m not saying the Jiffy is a bad piece of equipment, it just isn''t quick and easy like the Rowenta. I feel as if I needed something that performs like the Jiffy I''d rather just get an upright steamer.
In summary, the Rowenta is safer, quicker, and easier-for my purposes anyway. It''s also cheaper. Only time will tell about the durability.
While Esteam has become a must-have for our travel, it has also become a standby at home. We do have the J-2000 which is great, but because of the easy maneuverability of the hand held steamer I find that we use it more often.
Try as I might, a steam iron was leaving shiny spots on a taffeta skirt. The steamer smooths wrinkles with no trace whatsoever. There is a silk table skirt that we love but it was impossible to get it home from the cleaners unwrinkled Esteam to the rescue. The uses we''ve found for it are countless. It''s simply one of those household items we now wonder how we ever did without.
We like the wide mouth on the water tank, which makes it easy to fill and the fact that we can use plain or distilled water. The handle is ergonomically friendly, and the nine foot cord allows us to move about as much as needed.
Thanks to Jiffy Esteamer wrinkles are no longer a pressing issue for us!
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This steamer works great on light fabrics such as silk. However when I tried steaming my cotton dress shirts, it took forever just to get a couple of wrinkles out. For its small size and price I''m fairly satisfied with this steamer, but don''t expect it to replace your iron.Read Best Reviews of Jiffy Steamer ESTEAM Travel Steamers Here
Firstly, smallappliances.com provides a much better price on this product than amazon.Secondly, I write this review based on a 2-week holiday experience in which I utilized the steamer on a diurnal basis.
Pros: sub5 minute warm up period; uses hard or soft water; compact and durable; does an adequate job of steaming dress slacks, trenchcoats, jeans, ties and dress slacks; 800 watts of output power (most powerful portable steamer out there); never clogs; lengthy power cord; straight-forward and easy instructions; steams vertically as well as horizontally (really!); and, balanced.
Cons: goes through dihydra-monoxide quickly (which is a testimony of its steaming power and the limited water chamber); no on/off switch; only 4 steaming vents (bores); steaming head collects dirt and lint promptly & easily; have to purchase plug converters separately (utterly stupid since this unit is designed for the traveler--it''s always about $, $, $, $); and, aesthetically unattractive.
Is it quicker and more efficient than a clothes iron? Are the results better than a clothes iron? In my humble opinion... sometimes yes, sometimes no. For trenchcoats, ties, suit coats, jackets and jeans--this steamer definitely has the edge. For dress slacks and dress shirts--the jury''s still out. As it stands right now, I would have to say, "No."
All in all, it is a wise investment with ample potential.
Hope this helps.
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Just used the steamer for the first time and was impressed with how well it got up to temperature. It produces a good amount of steam for dewrinkling clothes, but keep in mind this is for short term use i.e. you will have to refill several times if you need to do several articles of clothing.The reason I purchased this was to block sweater pannels after knitting. I will need to send this gem back because the instruction clearly specify that you must keep the steamer verticle i.e. you can''t use this with your clothing article on a table. Your item must be hanging.
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