KRUPS KM720D50 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker Save 22% Off

I ordered this coffee maker after I broke the carafe on my old Braun. It looks like Braun has gone out of business so I began looking for a new one. After spending hours looking over the reviews on all of the other coffee makers on Amazon and Consumers Reports, I took a chance on this one. It was amazing how many problems all of the other coffee makers seemed to have; from pumping hot coffee all over the floor and counter to some even catching on fire. I was very nervous about ordering this one because at the time it only had one review. I can safely say now that I am very happy with this one. The coffee is as good as my old Braun, the carafe seems thicker and sturdier than the Braun and it does what it is suppose to do; safely make good coffee, keep it in the pot and be easy to clean. This is a stylish looking unit after my research I believe it is the only one being made now that does all of this. Unless you get a bad one, and all companies will problems with some of their units, I think you will be happy with this one.

The taste of the coffee from this machine when put on the "Aroma" setting is outstanding. I was wanting a replacement for an older Krups machine. It has good tasting coffee too, but this particular model has made my coffee drinking experience brand new. I have had comments from others saying "This coffee sure is good!". I do not go to any special lengths to make my coffee either. The Krups brand in my opinion is hard to beat.

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Well, I said I''d never get another Krups after the FME model I got 2 years ago made a great cup of burning plastic flavored coffee, but as you can see, I tried them again. This model isn''t listed on Krups'' website, and I only discovered this version by reading a review on another site. And if I remember correctly, none of my searches here on Amazon turned this one up until I typed in the exact model#. I tried a Cuisinart 1200, rated fairly highly here, and what it made was not coffee. So I gave this Krups a shot based on a 4.5 star rating. Yup this is the real thing. Good, rich, smooth, gourmet-flavored brew. All of you looking for a replacement for the Krups ProAroma 453 can find it here. The other good thing about this model is finally they put the clock display on top of the maker so you don''t have to kneel on the floor to see what the display says. The bad is... the clock display, at least on mine, is fuzzy & unclear unless you go up on your tiptoes (hence my 4 rather than 5 star rating). I know, I just complain, complain, complain. Also good about this model is they finally put a bright red floating ball in the water level indicators (yes, there''s now TWO of them so you can see from all angles!). All the buttons are up top & easy to figure out. You need to buy separately a #4 gold tone permanent filter. I like the top of the carafe well thought out. You open it by pressing your thumb down, which, unlike other Krups that attach on the lip-side, means you can partially open the lid while you''re pouring. I had no problems with drips when pouring. Good job, Krups.

Here''s an update after several days use. This appliance makes very smooth coffee, even when really strong. I found that adding a little extra grounds than usual makes for a mind-blowingly good brew. My wife said she could smell the power from across the room. I only say this so you know that stronger than usual may be better depending on your tastes. Also, the instructions say they advise not to make less than 4 cups coffee at a time. I agree. The ProAroma could handle one or two cups of water correctly but this one cannot. This Krups makes superb coffee when you make 4 or more cups, in fact I''ve learned to make 8 cups at a time, even tho'' I only drink 2-3, because the flavor is so superior. I''m drinking a cup now & can''t believe how incredibly good it is wow! I''m in coffee heaven.

I can now see one potential problem for the future. The carafe lid is held on by 2 nubbins that fit into slotted cutouts on the top of the carafe handle. Those nubbins & the slots are very small and I can see one of the 2 breaking off after a short time of use. In fact, I''ve already had the lid fall off all on its own. Both should have been larger so they would be stronger. The instructions warn you to turn off the maker when you pour the last cup. I know some folks, like my wife, think since it has an auto-off function, to just let it turn off on its own. That''s a really bad idea. Not only can it de-temper an empty carafe & make it more likely to break spontaneously & splash scalding coffee all over you, it can set off the thermal overload switch located under the heating plate, which means your coffee maker is outta commission until repaired or replaced. Look at all the complaints under reviews of Krups machines burning out after less than a year. That''s what happens if you leave it on when there''s no coffee in the carafe. Turn it off when you''re done so you''ll have coffee tomorrow.

Here''s one more update after having used this coffeemaker for a couple months. There is a flaw in the design of the filter housing, which is removable like with previous models of Krups machines. There''s a spring-loaded valve on the bottom of the housing so you can, in theory, remove the pot while the machine is still making coffee without hot coffee spilling out from the filter area. Many coffeemakers do this so you can get a quick cup without waiting for the whole load of water to brew. The valve assembly is not designed well. The piston is held on by a small soft washer that has a tendency to disconnect when simply removing or replacing the carafe & the whole assembly falls apart. Also, the valve stem doesn''t fit snugly in its channel so it makes a significant side to side movement when replacing the carafe. That results in the tip of the valve, where the coffee comes out, to land on the wrong part of the carafe lid & spill over the outside of the carafe. Krups states in the directions that failing to carefully place the carafe will result in spills, implying that it''s a problem. It is a problem. Just about every other potful leaks and it''s really frustrating. If they can just fix this valve problem... I''m really tempted to remove the assembly completely, which would assure the hot coffee comes out straight down where it needs to. But the coffee quality is excellent, and that, my friends, is more important than anything else in my book & I''ll put up with some flaws for the perfect taste.

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My old Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black/Brushed Metal died so needed a replacement in my office. This is a great quality product from Krups. It''s fast, convenient, and easy to clean. It keeps the coffee hot and fresh. Highly recommended.

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Love this coffee maker, just wished it beeped when done brewing. Can''t say for sure that the ''aroma'' feature makes that big of a difference. I love strong coffee so I still use a good 1 cup of grounds for only 5 cups brewed using dark coffee beans. Other than that this Krups sits real pretty on the counter. Also no dreaded drips when pouring. The carafe has no plastic on the rim. Keeping my fingers crossed that it lasts longer than a year or two.

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Bosch Ultra Series Canister Vacuum Save 22% Off

As expected from a product made in Germany and with a name like Bosch, the quality seems to be very good. The suction is great, the telescopic handle is conveinient. One thing I didn''t expect for a vacuum with a retail price of 699 was the cord for the powerhead that uses plastic snap on rings to attach it to the hose. I''ve seen 599 simplicity''s that have the cord built into the hose, but then again, I only paid 225 shipped on sale. You''d have to be an idiot to get electrocuted by touching the connector for the powerhead when the vacuum is on. The variable power is nice eacuse the powerhead can be hard to move on area rugs with full suction.

I bought my first Bosch vacuum about a year and a half ago. By far, it picked up more dirt than the Dyson or any other vacuum I have ever owned. It lasted through the last 8 months of a remodel to my home and my contractors using it on all sorts of dust and rubble! I just bought a second one to keep on the first floor! It definitly gets a THUMBS UP by me!

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There was another post by someone one out there about a Bosch vacuum cleaner who stated the same title, and I couldn''t agree more! Whomever designed this vacuum (individual or team) could not have used the final product more than 5 minutes and then only on smooth, hard surface. As the other review mentioned, I have had the handle on this vacuum break 4 times over a 3 year period. Same place, every time. In Bosch''s defense, they have continued to replace the handle/hose (it''s 1 piece) even after the warranty has expired, but all that tells me is that they know there is an inherent design defect, but they don''t want to issue a recall. Also, every new part I have received has been the same design so they are not fixing the problem. When this happens I am without the use of the vacuum for 2-4 weeks while they slowly get my part in the mail. Don''t know about you, but the benefit of a HEPA vacuum is lost if I can''t use it. There are other design issues, but this is the main one. Just to clarify, I am a mechanical design engineer, and I feel pretty confident when I see a poor design. This is a poor design.

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I have owned mine for 5 months. The power head quit working 1.5 months ago, I sent it in for a warranty replacement when it quit. They agree the part is bad but the part is backordered.

The extension tubes use very lightweight plastic where they enter the fitting and it breaks easily.

The vacuum cleans very well, but do not expect it to work for very long, and expect the warranty to be worthless. Buy a different brand and save yourself a lot of grief.

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I paid a lot for this Bosch Vacuum but, it was ok for about a year then it starts to break down, finally it''s not working today after 5 years. time to get a new one.

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MultiPure - CBVOCSB Undercounter Water Filter

• The Best Certified contaminant reduction performance ensures extremely high quality drinking water
• Tests Performed under NSF Standards 42 and 53, certified by the California Dept. of Health
• Ships complete with installation hardware, filter cartridge, Ceramic disc faucet and instructions
• Long filter life - Filters are easily changed annually
• 30 day money-back guarantee - Lifetime housing warranty - Order Now and receive FREE Shipping

We bought this filter over 15 years ago. At the time we could barely afford it but it has paid for itself many times over in savings over bottled water. We merely change the filter about once a year. Water tastes markedly better and I use it for all my vegetable washing and cooking, too. We''ve moved three times since purchasing the unit and we just take it with us. One of the best things we ever bought.

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I''ve only got the taste to go by so far, but it''s fabulous. And we''re very discerning. We''ve had other under counter filters before that we thought were good but this one is much better. First, because it''s a big unit the filter needs replacing less often and the flow rate is excellent. Next it was the only one we could find that says it supports a split delivery to the ice maker and water spout in the refrigerator. Plus, as I said before, it tastes great so much better than the Brita we''ve used for a few months since moving to this house.

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This is a well designed system and was relatively easy to install under the sink. The only hassle to far was that I needed to carefully use plumber''s tape and tighten the fitting to the unit more than I expected to keep it from leaking slowly. The water tasted better than tap and Brita in a blind taste test and no chlorine smell anymore. The flow rate is great and the chrome faucet is decent looking and does not leak.

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I love my water filter.

I bought it for health reasons, but couldn''t say better things about how it tastes.

I reviewed my city''s annual water quality report, which showed some things in the general water supply that could have potentially made me sick (not to say that they were actually in my water, since I never tested it).

Great taste, theoretically healthier =) though it did require a call to a plumber to install since my existing water feed lines were copper and not flexible enough to attach to the included fixtures (the copper tube was replaced with a plastic-like substance, possibly plastic!).

I''ve since stopped buying bottled water and carry a reusable glass bottle in my bag with me wherever I go. My water consumption has at least doubled, which seems to have helped my skin look better.

Between the cost of the unit itself and the plumber, it was pretty pricey, but in the long run I believe, worth it for me.

For the first week or so, the water that came out of the faucet was cloudy, which I learned was just air bubbles, I turned down the flow rate for the filter and the cloudy water cleared up.

Awesome seller, I received the item before the estimated ship date. Thank you.

I live in San Francisco. You would think that the water here would be some of the cleanest in the US. WRONG. The municipal water here tastes like I am gulping from a chlorinated swimming pool. The municipal water supply has been tested for carrying cancer-causing contaminants called total trihalomethanes, or TTHMs, which are by-products of the heavy use of chlorine for disinfection of its tap water. San Francisco is one of the only US cities with such high TTHM''s in its water supply.

One of the only ways to get rid of these toxins is through a carbon filter. I bought the Cbvocsb by multipure, paid my contractor $250 to install, and voilla! Our water tastes clean and delicious.

Expensive? I suppose. But not as expensive as cancer.

I paid $365 from bestfilters. They have a coupon code on their web site.

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Bionaire® Digital Cool Mist Humidifier Save 13% Off

I replaced my Graco programmable humidifier with this model based on some word of mouth reviews. I will say this, the machine looks pretty sleek, a lot better than the big white Graco. Unfortunately, looks is all that this thing has going for it.

The humidity control is a wheel that only lets you set in 10 degree increments, and then only from 30% to 60%. There is no display showing what the current humidity is, so you don''t really know how well it is working. The permanent filter is the same as the disposable filter used by every other humidifier, only it is in a plastic case and can be washed. The tank opening is small, which makes filling from a gallon jug of distilled water (best way to preserve the filter) a bit challenging.

But all of that can be tolerated, except for the fact that the machine simply didn''t produce enough humidity. I let it run nearly continuously for a week and it never hit the 40% level that I had set to trigger a shut off. It didn''t use nearly as much water as I would have thought given how long it was in operation. Finally, after a week, I used a hygrometer to test the actual humidity in the room...26%. 26% after a week of running? Nothing appears to be mechanically wrong with the machine. The fan works, the filter in the proper place, etc. It just simply doesn''t have the output I would expect from a machine at this price.

It looks cool, but I will go back to the ugly Graco and a comfortable bedroom at between 40% and 50% humidity.

I have had this device for over a year and it has worked well. Cleaning the filter is not as easy as they say. I don''t see the device working much longer mainly because of filter buildup. Lime away does not even get this thing clean.

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I bought two of these from Costco and have been extremely happy with them. I get shocked badly all winter, but these little jewels eliminated that problem. Also, the relatively smaller water tank makes them very user friendly for older, less agile people. I bought a larger one for a small lady friend of mine and she was having a terrible time carrying the larger water tank to the unit. I gave her one of these and it fit the bill perfectly. This is simple to use and reduces the electric bill because when air is more moist it feels warmer than it actually is. I have one in my bedroom that I run all night so that I don''t have those problematic dry sinus problems that accompany winter heat in the house. I also have one in the kitchen (the other end of the house from the bedroom), so that eliminates the shock factor in that end of the house. Great little product at an affordable price.

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It''s too bad there is no replacement filter for it to buy. Bionaire says it''s permanent, cleanable filter but after 2 months of use there is lime buildup and practically impossible to clean the filter.

Without clean filter and no where to buy replacement filter, it''s simply useless now.

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The water tank broke after 1 week of use. It started develop several cracks, eventually leading to leaks. I have contacted the company but no reply yet.

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Klimaire 18,000 Btu 17 SEER Save 19% Off

Last week I completed installation in my 2-car attached garage, which is in the process of being purposed as a wood shop. Mine is a typical tract-home attached garage, about 21 x 22, roughly 450 sq ft, located in Northern Virginia. The back and side walls are insulated as is the attic and I have a single garage door with insulated foam core. I installed the indoor component of the split on the back wall with the compressor directly behind it on the outside.

First the positive I gave it 5 stars for functionality. There are a couple of "cons" below but I''m so thrilled by how it works, the pros (for me) totally outweigh them.

I love this unit, did I say that??. While I may be the butt of a few jokes in the neighborhood... it is AWESOME to have air conditioning in the garage!! This weekend it was in the 90s and humid and my garage was, get this -68 degrees!! I wont run it down to 68 normally but I wanted to see if it could do it.. and it was no problem. Yesterday my wife was doing yard work and opened the garage door several times. I was amazed! Once the temp gets near the target setting, the unit backs off to a (very) quiet level just maintaining. The wife opens the big door to get the mower and for 4-5 minutes the door is open. When she leaves, I notice the Klimaire automatically kick it up to make it up. I was working in the middle of my garage and while I obviously felt the heat encroaching when the door was opened, because of the automatic speed increase, I could also feel the cold air blowing from the back and it never got uncomfortable in the middle of the garage. Once the door was closed it only took a few minutes to recover.

Now the "cons" (or at least warnings)...

These may be a bigger deal to some than they were for me. After researching it, none of this surprised me. And considering the money saved going this route vs buying a marked-up unit from an AC dealer/installer was worth the risk to me.

1. The Mini-Split Warranty Myth

After looking at a lot of product literature, poking around HVAC contractor forums, etc... one thing I have taken away is this: Though all the mini-split systems on Amazon and Ebay are promoted as "simple to install" and within the scope of an experienced do-it-yourselfer [which I agree with], the fine print clearly states that if you do, you will likely void the warranty. Most warranties require that the installation be done by "certified" HVAC technician. The supposed work-around to this is to do all the installation grunt work yourself (hang the inside unit, cut the holes, run the lineset, etc), then call your neighborhood AC guy to come out and hook stuff up, leak test, evacuate the lines, then VOILA!.. you are in business for a couple hundred bucks with a full warranty!.. NOPE... Every warranty fine print I''ve read (including this Klimaire) wants you to register the warranty with the particulars of the installation tech/company who will then be responsible for performing any warranty repairs down the road. Good luck finding any decent HVAC firm that will do that, they won''t. It doesn''t mean that you can''t find an HVAC tech to do the check-out and evacuation as a side job, and I recommend that. But your not likely to find one to sign up for being responsible for the warranty when they don''t supply the system and get the mark-up they are legitimately entitled to. So, resign yourself up front to no warranty or buy from a dealer/installer. You''ll have to decide for yourself if it''s worth the risk.

2. The DIY Installation

Again, after much surfing and reading I decided to tackle the installation myself. It seemed to me to be within the grasp of most competent do-it-yourselfers. Mine was pretty straightforward with only a 4inch frame and siding wall separating the two parts. I only used a 16ft line-set and frankly I wish it had been 10ft. You''ll notice that these systems are packaged with different lengths of line-set. The variety is obviously to fit different install scenarios, but an important thing to remember is that the amount of refrigerant charge shipped in the compressor is matched to the line-set length. Altering the length of the line-set after the fact technically changes that balance. So in my case if I shortened the line-set to 10ft I would be creating an overcharged condition and conversely if I had a 25ft line-set lying around and used it... it would be undercharged. I''m not certain how big a deal either of those scenarios might be, but I decided to try to make sure I installed the line-set it was shipped with without alteration. Not wanting to have the line bundle running vertically down the outside of the garage, I ran it inside the wall and had it come out a hole down about 12-15 inches off the ground, then I had to run it 4-5 feet horizontally before bending out to the unit. I wasn''t thrilled to have a 5 ft run but its low enough that the plants easily hide it. The lesson here is to put some serious thought into how long a line-set you''ll need. When I started planning the install (after receiving the unit) I cut a piece of Romex to the length of the line-set and played with different configurations before deciding the best place to park the outside box. I was pretty surprised how long 16ft was.

The inside and outside parts were pretty straightforward to install. As several reviewers of other units mention, the trickiest thing with the line-sets is bending the larger diameter tube. I spent the money on a fairly good tubing bender, the one that has the two handles and has sized channels for 3-4 different diameters. I think it cost me about $60 on Ebay, but it was worth every cent and the bends went flawlessly. I will probably just re-sell that on Ebay. I also picked up a flaring tool which I never used and will also resell.

So now I was at that "certified tech" part. For those whose successful install reviews I''ve read, I''m certain I must look like an idiot to you. But really, I have done some fairly sophisticated DIY stuff... lots of electrical, some major plumbing, several tile baths and couple of decks... but this humbled me. From all the reading I did, I was certain that I could do this myself if I was just careful. So I invested in few necessary tools. I bought a cheap vacuum pump on Ebay for about $100, a digital vacuum gauge for about $110 (required to read the necessary deep vacuum down to 200 microns), a set of manifold gauges for about $90 I think and a 410 adapter fitting (on Ebay for about $14). And trust me, you will need that adapter, no matter what the manifold gauges say. Mine said they were specifically for 410A (and that usually means the gauges cover a higher pressure max than the older refrigerant required)...but they did not fit the service valve out of the box. So... do the math... I am out close to $300 for tools I''ll likely never use again. Pretty sure I could have found a Craigslist HVAC guy looking for side-work for that, but some of us just like to try to do it to see if we can do it... anyway that''s me.

So I dive into playing HVAC tech and spent most of a morning realizing I''m not an HVAC tech. I spent a fair amount of time on the internet trying to figure out which ports on the manifold I should hook up to. Then another couple of hours trying to decide where the vacuum gauge should be hooked in there, suspecting for quite a while that someone must have forgotten to include the specific part I needed. Once I did get it connected correctly enough to actually get a reading on the vac gauge, imagine my excitement as I watched the digital display steadily decline from like 1900... 1840...1810...1790...1750...1710...1693...1643...1609...1588...1557 1557. 1558 .1557 .1557 WTF??? It has to down to 200 !!! Messed with the pump, oil, connections for another 2 hours... never got it go below 1200. I finally gave up trying to monitor the vacuum and to get a tighter connection I removed everything but the pump, connected it directly to the service port, let it run for an hour continuously, crossed my fingers, disconnected the pump and turned the control valves to release the gas into the lines. After much additional research, I''m pretty sure my problem was cheap Ebay vacuum pump. So I guess I should have dropped at least another $50-$70 on a better pump.. or maybe donated it to homeless HVAC guys.

The end of the story is so far a good one, the unit came up smoothly and works great did I mention I love it? I''m pretty confident I''ll recover most of the $$ for the tools. But whats eating at me is that I don''t really know how good an evacuation I got on the lines... so after all this.. I am probably gonna have a guy come out an check it out for me.

I am very pleased with this purchase, if I were to do it again, I would pay a pro to do the final checkout for cash, but again resign yourself up front no warranty.

UpdateOct 30, 2012

I am still loving this unit!! It cools the garage in no time and makes summer projects a joy. And on a couple chilly days this fall and all last winter...nice and toasty! No problems at all.

UpdateFeb 20, 2013

(Still in love!!) I thought I would update this since we''ve had some seriously cold days this winter, several in a row in the 20s and a couple of dips into the teens. I was really not expecting much heat output at those temps from a heat pump because, after all, not much heat left in 15 degree air. (And in fact purchased a 220 amp garage heater for those bitter days, not installed yet)

BUT....I have been pleasantly surprised! On a 20 degree day; while it won''t get the garage to 60-70, it does get it fairly comfortable (I''m not sure exactly how warm it got, definitely above freezing. I do know my wife complains when it''s not on and she goes into the garage to gets stuff from the spare fridge!).

The bottom line for me (re: heat) is that having this unit in my garage warms enough to solve two concerns; 1) I added a sink a few years ago and have had to use heat tape to prevent frozen pipes and 2) I do woodworking and have a cabinet full of finishes, paints, etc., that can be affect/ruined by freezing. Now I set this to about 40 and I no longer have to worry about either.

Hey, Guys. I bought two units, the KSIM009-H219 and the KSIM018-H217. Research led me directly to the Klimaire distributor in Miami (I''m in Jacksonville) where they responded to my call for info. I bought directly from the dist where they cut me a break on the shipping for the two. Ordered on Thursday, they shipped on Monday SAIA freight and arrived in Jacksonville the next day where I picked them up at the terminal. Packaging was spot on, no issues.

Installed myself, but I''m no stranger to mechanical stuff. I think an installation of this sort for a newbie would be a challenge since there''s so many disciplines involved. The biggest challenge is working with the supplied lineset and making sure you don''t damage it or run short since you don''t want to modify the length. Careful planning always pays off here. After the typical hookup, I vacuumed the lines for about two hours on both units, opened the liquid line a bit to charge the vacuumed lines and evap up to atmospheric pressure, opened both packing valves and buttoned everything up.

At this point checked for leaks with a leak detector solution and found I had leaks on three out of four connections. Some serious tightening solved those problems and I''d say that was the most surprising, it takes more than you''d think it would. I worked with a plumber for several years as a young pup and the answer to "how tight should this be?" was "till it stops leaking."

After flipping the breaker on the disconnects I started each system and have simply been amazed at how quiet and seemingly efficient these units are. I think you could run them both on power from a hamster in a wheel. Matter of fact, I did connect both of these units to my gen-set so we''ll have cooling in those two rooms when the storm hits. Less than 4 amps on the small unit and 7 on the large unit. Amazing.

My thoughts on reviews. Anyone that is considering making a large purchase such as these will do some research and inevitably run across negative reviews and there are those here as well. But, any company that is putting forth the effort to bring items like this to market is not doing it to fail. Sure there are issues and problems that can and do arise, but that''s from any company, with any product. More often than not problems stem from a language barrier, and this is where patience, compassion and persistence will help solve most problems. If you''re looking for trouble, you''ll probably find it. Those with a bad experience will rush to warn while those with a good experience will simply enjoy and move on so one needs to see all reviews in that context.

Of course most AC guys in the states hate messing with something they did not sell you, or something they are not familiar with. Most everyone is biased in one way or another. Knowing that and wanting to learn something new can make a project such as this rewarding if you do it yourself. Of course it''s all at risk, and they''ll be no shortage of people with a God complex to warn you of that fact.

All in all, I''d say that if you''re a good car mechanic and know your way around the construction of a house and have an understanding of home wiring beyond the basics, you''ll be happy.

Of course, mine could fail tomorrow.

Feel free to write me with any questions and I''ll try to help.

All the best, Don

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AquaSaver Gravity Rainwater Recovery System Save 30% Off

The Algreen water barrels are pretty well-liked Canadian products, not cheap, but also well-made and reasonably aesthetic (unlike many of the repurposed 55 gallon drums out there). This kit includes the parts needed to hook up to the drainage off of a roof. Should be easy enough to adapt this kit for other rain barrels. Depending on your setup, you might be better off financially with parts from your local hardware store though.

This is a cheap plastic system that has spent more time laying on the ground after it''s fallen than it does up on my gutter system. The hose is nice, but even with the screws, the adapters are a poor fit for my downspouts. The filter/screen is the flat square in the photo that you''re supposed to curl into a tube and place in the top of the downspout to keep out debris it blew out with the first breeze that caught it my dog ate it and that''s probably the most useful thing I can say about it. Look for a different system, or if you''re mechanically inclined, go to your local home hardware store and build your own system. I''ll be cutting my downspouts down to a length where they stop just above my rainbarrelwithout an unsightly mess that constantly needs attention.

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Pros:

relatively inexpensive

easy to install if you have the right downspout size

helps to save water

Cons:

does not fit the common 3"x4" downspout size

clogs easily with small debris which falls through the leaf gutter

difficult to clean once it is clogged

the leaf guard is completely useless

Other thoughts:

I did not read the product description carefully so I had to replace my 3x4 downspout by a 2x3 downspout which was a lot more work than I thought when I bought this product (one star deduction). Then it becomes clogged every spring with the small flower leaves from the trees. Once it is clogged, the water comes out where it is connected to the downspout and the water runs down the wall. You have to check periodically if there is anything clogged (one star discount). You have also to disassemble it completely for cleaning. Overall it is a good concept and saves you a lot on your water bill. But it would be a really great product if it would fit a 3x4 downspout and if it would not become clogged so often. I think if the water splitter could be removed, then all the water would go into the rain barrel. All rain barrels have a overflow outlet so there is no problem if the barrel is filled.

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Not really sure what to think about this. All the downspouts in my local hardware stores are the same size and that size is substantially larger than the attachments included with this kit. There is no way to attach this system inline with my downspout, as it''s supposed to be.

I rigged it so it works, after a fashion, but I defintiely won''t be screwing up any more of my downspouts.

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This works excellent. Just as advertised. Follow the instructions and it installs in less than an hour. It filled my rain barrel the first storm we got.

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Brita Water Filter For Faucet (White) Save 17% Off

It does the same things as any other Brita filter you pay three times as much for at the store. I will NEVER pay full price for one of these at the store, same great taste. Great product over all. I''m very excited about the new water bottle filters!

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Philips Saeco Vienna Plus Automatic Espresso Machine Save 39% Off

I recently purchased a Vienna Superautomatica as an inexpensive second espresso maker. The first thing I noticed is that it is Italian made like many of the great espresso machines. The body of the Vienna is "graphite" plastic, and while it does not feel first class, it somehow has a pretty sturdy feel to it. I also like that the footprint is pretty small thus taking up little counter space.

I opened the manual, which is not particularly clear, but need not be on account of very simple operation. The Vienna has three buttons--on/off, coffee, and steam. It also has a steamer control knob and a water volume knob.

I turned on the machine after filling the coffee and water tanks. The buttons feel Italian--you''ll know what I mean if you''ve owned an Alfa Romeo. They are a bit clunky next to my old Capresso C1000, but they work well (for now).

The Vienna takes a couple of minutes to warm up--I don''t mind this for reasons I''ll reveal in a minute. The coffee spout is adjustable up and down to accommodate a large variety of cups and mugs. Once it''s ready, the coffee light stops blinking. I push the button and it begins to grind the coffee. The noise level of the machine is louder than my Capresso, but not too bad. You might wake up the house with it in the morning, but my child stayed asleep. Once the coffee finishes the grind, the Vienna immediately begins making espresso.

My first impression was that I saw a lot more steam coming from the coffee than my Capresso. I am hopeful. The coffee also looked a bit thicker than the Capresso. After the Vienna finished I observed the cup: nice crema, plenty hot, and smells like the genuine article. I gave it a taste--wow, step aside Capresso, this espresso is richer, hotter, and a lot closer to coffee bar espresso. Next I took a sip. Ah yes, the cup holds rich chocolatey espresso. If you are sort of a coffee snob, you''ll like what you taste. The coffee is much richer than the Capresso, which I attribute to hotter water and fuller extraction.

I''m sure that the Vienna will not make good enough espresso for some folks, but to me, it still tastes better than Starbucks. It was more than $100 cheaper than my Capresso and frankly makes better espresso. I cannot yet speak to the durability of the machine, but the Vienna is now my favorite inexpensive espresso maker.

Vienna Plus is my third fully automatic machine. I loved my first, Saeco original Vienna, hated the second, Saeco Incanto classic. The original Vienna worked for 3 years every day, making consistently good espresso before the pump gave. I should have paid for repair, but I succumbed to that stainless steel twinkle and went for Saeco Incanto classic. More expensive for sure. Worse, better said inconsistent, coffee quality, constant small problems relating to built quality concerning the brew group, the grinder and the steamer wand. After a year of irritation a pump seal has failed while making espresso, nothing like a small explosion in the kitchen in the morning, I tell ya. Well, gone back to the trusted Vienna, now with the plus in the name. Good old days are here again .... Compared to previousit is a lot quieter, when both grinding and steaming, it is also a lot quicker to warm up then before, steam is ready a mere 15 seconds after pushing the button. Espresso has a beautiful rich crema right out of the box, I didn''t have to experiment with grind setting at all. The steaming wand (Panarello) has been redesigned and is now foolproof maker of perfect frothed foam. For the newbie I would like to add that I spent a lot of effort to find the right roast tasted more than a few before I settled on one (Peerless Coffee Espressp Perfection) that I buy now in 5 lb. bags and keep in the freezer. I should for fairness add that I never want any other coffee through the machine like some decaf or flavored stuff, so I don''t miss the alternate ground coffee option that Incanto had. My priority has always been flavor and consistency and that the Vienna Plus delivers. My friends drive miles to "see me" and, by the way, get a cup of espresso, praising each one as "this is the best espresso in the world". If that is what you desire, don''t get mesmerized by stainless steel shine or computerized display magic and save yourself some money by getting this machine. You won''t regret it. And I am unanimous in that. ;)

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We owned a Saeco Vienna Deluxe since January 2004, but decided to purchase a newer model in September 2010. The Vienna Deluxe served us well for six and a half years, but was beginning to show its age. The Saeco Vienna Plus is the updated version of the Vienna Deluxe.

Saeco''s Vienna Plus super-automatic espresso machine is simple to use. Add up to 57 oz filtered cold water to the reservoir, up to 12 oz beans in the hopper, and then turn the machine on. While warming up, adjust the volume dial for a 1 to 6 oz pour. Once ready, press the coffee button once to make an espresso or twice for a double shot or two espressos. If a latte is desired, press the steam button after the espresso has finished brewing and turn the steam knob to activate the pannarello to steam the milk. Turning the steam knob without pressing the steam button will produce hot water from the pannarello instead.

The perfect espresso may require adjusting a couple dials in the hopper. A strength dial controls the amount of grounds used per cup. A second knob controls the grind''s coarseness. These settings are typically adjusted once then left alone if you chose to alter the factory setting. The factory settings work well for us, so we didn''t adjust these controls.

Maintaining and cleaning the Vienna Plus espresso machine is just as simple. Cleaning consists of a weekly (or after every 15 pucks) wipe down of the machine, rinsing off the brew group with warm water, and emptying and washing the drip tray and grounds drawer. Incidentally, the used coffee grounds are beneficial to soil when spread out in the gardens or lawn. Once every three months, running descaler through the boiler keeps the inner workings in good condition.

A common complaint about Saeco Vienna espresso machines is the outer plastic cabinet. The durable plastic cabinet was not a problem for us on the old machine, as it didn''t chip, crack, or break with normal use. The Veinna Plus uses the same plastic material for the outer cabinet, and is probably used to keep the cost down. The internal workings, like the stainless steel boiler, are hidden from view and use more expensive materials.

Another complaint I''ve read about is the grinder getting clogged. Our local coffee shop advised us not to purchase oily beans like many flavored coffees. If you enjoy flavored coffee, add syrup to the cup instead. Choosing the right beans, and regular cleanings has kept us from experiencing this problem.

Compared to the Vienna Deluxe, the Vienna Plus super-automatic espresso machine has an updated look, but operates the same and is similarly sized. However the Vienna plus is quieter, and the pannarello has been improved for easier and more consistent frothing.

Ultimately, the Vienna Plus super-automatic espresso machine is simple to use and maintain; plus produces a great tasting espresso and Americano. If you''re looking for a fully automatic espresso machine, this one is definitely worth considering.

PROS:

Fresh quality coffee made at the press of a button

Makes consistently great tasting coffee/espresso

Simple to use

Easy to clean/maintain

Biodegradable waste is great for the garden

CONS:

This espresso machine is sure to spoil its owners

Cannot handle large quantities quickly

Read Best Reviews of Philips Saeco Vienna Plus Automatic Espresso Machine Here

We had a Saeco Vienna Deluxe for several years. The machine finally died on us. In searching for a new machine, I saw the Saeco Vienna Plus and knew this would be the next machine. It is very similar to our previous model. It is much cheaper than when we had purchased our first unit. I feel there is value in what we are getting. It saves us a fortune from having to run to the more expensive coffee shop chains to pick up a mocha when it can easily made at home. At the touch of a button or two, the coffee is ready to go. The ease of use is amazing. Clean up is easy. I would definitely recommend this machine for those who want to be able to make espresso with ease.

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Overall, I cannot recommend this machine.

The machine made excellent espresso for the first few weeks we had it. Once it was broken in, the espresso was average, and the crema was more of a large-bubbled foam. The grinder is able to create a fine grind, but unfortunately the machine can''t pass any water through it, so you have to use a mid-level fine grind. The machine is able to adjust the amount of water used per shot, but anything more than the smallest available setting creates, well, coffee. Not even an Americano, just coffee.

After three months the grinder broke. When I opened up the machine''s door a broken part flew out. Amazon sent me a new one. One month in on the new one, the brewgroup jammed. I thought it was broken, but after four days, the machine was able to pry itself loose. Ground coffee was all over the brewgroup, as if it had exploded. We''ll see how it works out.

A bright spot--Amazon was astoundingly helpful and gracious. They replaced the first one, postage payed, express delivery, with no questions at all. They offered to refund the original purchase price on the second one, until it broke loose and started working again. I cannot complement them highly enough!

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Everpure EV9970-59 Designer Series Drinking Water Faucet Save 12% Off

• Sleek lead-free, versatile design
• Selection of eight beautiful finishes to match the most popular designer faucets
• Forged brass construction
• Aerator tip provides even, clear stream of filtered water
• 0.5 GPM flow

I just about purchased a cheaper faucet but I''m glad I spent more and purchased this. It looks great with my new Moen water faucet style and finish look like they belong together. The swivel feature is nice and the install was easy.

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Culligan S1A Level 2 20 Micron Sediment Replacement Cartridge 2 Pack Save 22% Off

• Fits HF-150 & HF-360
• Medium-fine (20-micron) sediment filtration: sand, silt, dirt, rust particles and scale particles.
• Level 2 Extra Filtration
• Cartridge life 4 months or 16,000 gallons
• Not recommended for use with non-treated well water supplies

It did seem odd that a filter that was described on the packaging thus:

REDUCES

Sediment

Rust

Scale

Dirt

Course Sand

Sand

and then would go on to state: This cellulose cartridge is not recommended for use with untreated well water.

One could only wonder what was left to "Treat". Called Culligan and a technical rep explained that the statement referencing "untreated" referred to treatment for bacteria. Apparently if there is bacteria in the water they love cellulose and can rapidly compromise the filter by digesting it.

I suggested to the Culligan rep that they be a bit more explicit in their disclaimer and specifically reference treatment for bacteria.

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Our home water is supplied by a personal well that unfortunately comes with some brownish sediment that discolors the water and makes it taste a little too much like minerals. Completely harmless, but not very pretty, especially for company. Previously I had been looking into expensive water softeners or whole house filters in the $200+ range. Thankfully I found the little culligan whole house filter for $32 and this two pack of 20 micron filters for another $7 (so cheap!).

It''s been a week now, water is crystal clear. I like that I can see the filter through the casing, currently it has a light brown tinge so I know it''s working. Since the water has been so clear I think I''ll be sticking with the cheaper and longer lasting 20 micron filters, they''re supposed to last 4 months or 16,000 gallons, putting my total filtration costs at a cool ~$12 a year, far cheaper than my initial expectations when looking into larger carbon filters or water softeners.

I couldn''t be happier!

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If you haven''t tested your well water for contaminants, or for microbiological unsafe elements/organisms,

-- this filter isn''t made to purify your water.

So, if you are unsure about the purity of your well water, get your well water tested.

If your well does not contain contaminants, or microbiological unsafe organisms, but does generate sediment and/or sand particles,

-- this filter will trap the particles down to 20 microns.

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If you are using this for well water, please note that right on the packaging when you get itin the left hand front bottom cornerthat it should not be used for untreated well water. I am not sure what else you would use if for. I used this filter years ago when our well was new and I do not remember there being such a warning.

One might want to go to the 10 micron or finer size for well water and expect to change it more. I use the 10 micron filter from the same company and like them very much over the years. The 4.5 micron is also good but requires frequent replacement when a well is new or there is a lot of rain.

I was hoping to use this as we just put in a new well pump and there is a lot more sludge in a new installation, but I am hesitant to use it now due to the explicit warning.

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I use this for my well water which has sediment that stains the toilet and accumulates in the pipes. I use this as the "gross" filter, followed by a 5 micron final filter. Works great at a lot less cost than the local store.

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Omnifilter Replacement Cartridge Kit

These were replacement filters for an OmniFilter Reverse Osmosis System (Model: RO2000 series B). Priced good and arrived with other replacement items for the RO system.

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BUNN MCU Single Cup Multi-Use Brewer Save 22% Off

I purchased this Bunn My Café MCU brewer to replace my problematic Keurig B70 machine, and I am very pleased with it here on day one. I felt the same way with my B70 when I got it, however, after a few months, and ongoing failures, those machines have been nothing but problems. As this was a replacement for my Keurig machine, I will be comparing this new Bunn My Café MCU machine to the old Keurig.

First, everyone hates instruction manuals, but take the time to read the first few pages. It will only take a few minutes, and it makes it easier to understand which drawer works with the different formats.

Out of the box, this brewer is a bit different as it uses drawers for the different coffee brewing formats. It can use K-Cups, pods, tea bags, and ground coffee. The different drawers provide that functionality. On page 4 of my manual, it shows a picture of each drawer, and their purpose. It can also provide hot water to mix with hot chocolate or oatmeal in the morning.

The Bunn My Café MCU does not have all the bells and whistles that the Keurig machine has. While I would appreciate having some of those features, I would rather have a machine that actually works and isn''t always broken. The features the Bunn My Café MCU does NOT have are:

No storage reservoir. Like the B70, it has the internal tank, so brewing a cup is quick. However, you need to pour in the desired amount of water into the top each time you make a cup of coffee. The amount you pour in will control how much is pumped out.

There is no automatic on/off time. The unit is always on, but automatically sets back after six (6) hours of no use. After twenty-six (26) hours of no use, it goes to sleep. Later when you go to use it, it automatically wakes up, and returns to normal temperature.

The internal water temperature is set to 200°F. The only adjustment is for high altitudes above 4000 feet.

The Bunn My Café MCU requires an initial setup before you can brew your coffee. The brewer has an internal hot water tank that needs filled. They provide step by step instructions on page 3. You will need to add a few cups of water overall to get it filled. Once filled, it will begin to heat the water in the tank. This takes a few minutes, and the brew button turns a solid red. Red usually means problems, but now, it is just heating the water for the first time. Once heated, it will turn green, and it is ready to go.

Some notes:

The Bunn My Café MCU brewer makes a bit more noise compared with the B70 when brewing, but nothing objectionable.

The drawer for the K-Cups is easy to use. Inside, it has a handle that you may want to pull towards you. I have found that it works best if pulled more straight up first.

Unlike the B70, you can also use soft pods and tea bags. The ground coffee drawer is also nicer to use compared with the older basket I used in the B70.

This machine is probably only 2/3rd''s the size of the Keurig. Overall, it is a nice size on the counter.

One feature the Bunn My Café MCU has that the B70 does not is a Pulse mode. This brews at a slower speed to extract a stronger, bolder flavor from the coffee or tea. I used this feature with one of my Columbian K-cups, and the coffee actually has a better, smoother flavor.

As for the warranty, the Bunn My Café MCU has a two (2) year warranty, compared with the B70''s one year warranty. I have used Bunn commercial systems in restaurants for years, and they have been one of the most reliable appliances. I am hoping that same dedication to quality will exist in this home use machine too. As time goes on, I will update this review if I have any issues with this new Bunn My Café MCU brewer.

As a side note. This unit has been on back order from Amazon for some time now. I found it locally, and purchased it from a local retailer.

Update December 2012

After a month or so, I have had no problems with the Bunn. The only feature I have missed is that the Bunn does not have a water reservoir. Also, my tall 7½" insulated travel mugs do not fit in it for brewing. The largest mug that you can put in when using the K-Cup drawer is about 4 3/4" with the drip tray. Pull out the drip tray, and you can get a 6" mug in. If you use some of the other optional drawers, like the hot water one, you can get a slightly larger mug in. Right now, I have a 2 cup Pyrex glass measuring cup that sits with the coffee maker that I use to fill it. And when I need my travel mugs, I just brew into that cup and pour it into the mug. However, in no way would these missing features make me go back to the Keurig. I works every time, and heats hotter and faster.

Since my initial review, I have used the drawer for ground coffee. I purchased a new bag of Starbucks Sumatra beans, grind them myself as needed, and works well. It took a few tries to get the perfect setting in my Burr grinder to get it just the way I like it. I like my coffee dark and strong. I ground it a bit finer compared to what you normally get in pre-ground coffee. I did that too with the Keurig when I first got it. Bought the extra do it yourself pod for the Keurig, but could never get anything really good out of it. I''m guessing it''s just because the Keurig does not get as hot as the Bunn machine.

It''s only been a month or so since I got the Bunn, but so far, no disappointments, and very satisfied!

I did my homework and researched all of the single cup brewers. After spending a lot of time reading, I decided what I really wanted was the My Cafe MCU. Had to wait for the release, but pre-ordered it on Amazon. So very glad that I waited, it was well worth it. Bunn sent 4 sample pods with the coffee and I found that if you used the pulse option with the brew that they make a good 14 oz. cup of coffee. I also have used my own ground coffee and, I don''t know how Bunn did it, but the bitterness that was in the coffee when I used my multi-cup coffee maker was gone. I don''t know if I''ll be using the K-Cups, they''re very pricey and I don''t really need them, maybe for a party, but right now I''m happy with the pods and ground coffee.

I was used to having a larger cup of coffee in the morning and I thought that only being able to brew 14 oz. was going to mean that I would have to brew a second cup, but it was more than enough. As I sat with coffee and took the last sip, I realized that this was the first time in a long time that I had actually finished my morning coffee. If I wanted, it would only take a minute or so to have another fresh cup.

The only down side that I see, is that I now need a shorter travel mug. When using the ground coffee attachment, the clearance is only about 7" and that''s a lot shorter than the travel mugs I have now. That being said, I love the My Cafe MCU.

Would I recommend this? Absolutely, I recommend this to anyone who loves a GREAT cup of coffee!

UPDATE: Found this on Amazon: Contigo Autoseal Randolph Stainless Steel Travel Mug Vacuum Insulated, 16-Ounce and it works perfectly with the My Cafe MCU!

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I purchased this to replace my problematic Cuisinart Keurig brewer. Received the brewer today from Amazon. (ordered mid October before it was released) I followed the setup instructions and ran a few cycles before doing a side by side taste test with the Cuisinart. I brewed two 10oz cups, one with the Cuisinart and one with the Bunn, using the same variety of K-cup (Green Mountain Dark Magic) For the first test, I used the regular brew on the Bunn, not the pulse brew. The coffee from the Bunn was hotter after brewing than the Cuisinart, it was also more aromatic, and had a fuller flavor with no bitterness. The Cuisinart brew was a bit flat in flavor compared to the Bunn, and had just a touch of bitterness. I haven''t tried the other trays for pods/tea bags or ground coffee/loose tea yet, but so far, it definitely makes a better cuppa joe than the Cuisinart.

Pulse brew produces a richer cup with still no hint of bitterness. I like the fact that on pulse or regular, it does a pre-burst to wet the grounds. It will also make anywhere from 4-14 oz of coffee. My Keuring would only go up to 12 oz, although there is probably not enough coffee in your typical K-cup to brew a 14oz cup, the option to use the ground coffee tray to hold up to 20 grams of ground coffee will greatly increase my options.

Now I can finally get rid of the partially dismantled Cuisinart I have been using. I have taken that thing apart so many times to fix it, it was becoming a pain, so I would just leave it partially dismantled so I could directly rap on the valves when it started acting up again.

Read Best Reviews of BUNN MCU Single Cup Multi-Use Brewer Here

Yes this one, unlike my Keurig, makes a great single cup of coffee using my own ground coffee. Sludge is minimal compared to a french press or a "My K-cup". The best cup is delivered using the "pulse" feature.

I had to buy mine at the Lowes in Dalton, Georgia because Amazon did not have it in stock at the time. I''ve used every "drawer" so far except the one used for water.

I didn''t like the first couple of pods that I tried (the machine came with a package of free pods). Never had a pod machine, but I wasn''t digging the ones it came with. Do pods always taste like this or did they include only the cheap, gross ones?

I''ve used the K-Cup drawer and the ground coffee drawer several times and have loved every cup. K-cups taste really good using this machine. I use the pulse feature constantly now since it makes such a great tasting cup of coffee.

I suppose that my biggest shock is how great a single cup can be using my own ground coffee. I tried this so many times with the Keurig. I tried several grind levels, several brands of coffee YUCK! But with this machine, it is awesome. I can almost see myself drifting away from my k-cup addiction! Although, coffee is my guilty pleasure, so I will happily purchase items that produce a great cup of coffee, and k-cups are da bomb.

For ground coffee I will say that I use small, disc shaped filters that are designed for a coffee-press that I use, but they fit wonderfully in the ground coffee drawer. I do this to reduce any sludge I can possibly avoid; however, compared to other machines, this one produces the least amount of sludge I''ve seen so far even without the little filter I have on hand. Not to mention, unfiltered coffee raises cholesterol. Did you know that? It''s true.

HEATING TIME: I thought I would miss having the big tank of water constantly filled up on my Keurig so that I could have a delicious cup of coffe whenever I wanted it. I am not missing it. The internal tank keeps the water really hot, and even after you''ve just made a cup, it is ready to make a second cup almost right away. Not sure how this is possible. How does it heat water that fast? It''s magic! How big is the internal tank? I have an idea I had to prime it (important for the initial setup) twice before I could get things going. So the internal tank must be at least 14 ounces plus a bit more. Not quite twice that amount, but more than 14oz for sure.

My boyfriend said I should add a con, so here it is: It takes too many coffee grounds to make a single cup. Two scoops are recommended, so that is what I used, and I loved the taste. I can hardly stand the coffee he makes in his drip machine. It is just too weak (he is trying to save money but gets a yucky taste think the coffee-drinking scene in Pulp Fiction). Maybe if we self-ground our coffee to an espresso type ground we wouldn''t have to use so much coffee to get the taste we desire. Who knows?

My own con, but not so bad: Whatever size coffee you want, you must pour that amount in for every cup. This is not a horrible thing. Not like I thought it would be. You pour the water in and boom! Your coffee gets brewed. This is not like the first edition Keurig that makes one cup at a time. No long waits for hot water. This one is instantaneous. Actually this is not a con at all, is it? I can make a 14 ounce cup of coffee!!! No Keurig can do that!!!!

I keep waiting for this machine to break down. It is almost too good to be true. We''ll see! I was in this honeymoon phase forever with my Keurig, so maybe that is where I am now. I will update if it suddenly stops working and breaks my heart. I''ll be upset and very honest and prepared to vent when it happens.

Sorry for the long review, but I''m really pleased so far and had to tell the world.

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Okay, I just picked this thing up locally yesterday. All the materials used in the construction seem to be of excellent quality. I primed the machine when I set it up and I go to put the k-cup drawer in and brew a cup and the indicator light flashes green and red. It is clicking in correctly but the machine is not indicating that its full inserted so it will not allow the brewing process to start. All the other drawers were recognized but not the k-cup one. What i noticed is that the drawer seemed to be more flush on the left side than on the right. Its not noticeable unless you are very close up or by feeling it.

Anyway... I ran back to the store to exchange it in the hopes that this was just an anomaly in production. Luckily that was the case, as the second unit had no problem with the k-cup drawer. The second unit still is more flush on the left side of the drawer but it works! Although it does raise a concern of quality control.

As for the coffee, I brewed a cup of Starbucks Christmas K-cup this morning on the pulse setting this morning. It was great. Definately seemed more hotter and richer than with my keurig.

Deducting one star for possible quality control issue and the inconvenience of having to make the trip to exchange.

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Purenex GF-01C Single Lever Kitchen Chrome Filter Water Faucet Save 10% Off

• High Grade Chrome Finish Faucet
• Non Air Gap Technology
• RO Faucet

This looked a perfect replacement for my original which had started to leak. However, the shank was 1/2" too short for me mount it (we have a old sink with a double lip) so I had to get another style.

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First a warning... The base of this faucet is small, only about 1.5 inches diameter, while common sink cutouts are about 2 inches. You''ll have to put the black plastic or white-painted metal cone-shaped washer under this faucet, where it''s visible above your sink. I also didn''t consider either one suitable by itself, and used them both on top, leaving nothing below to clamp it down... Fortunately I had some spare hardware from other, more normal faucets, but this is a big and obvious oversight, for the sake of an additional 10 cent washer.

But other than that, one large footnote, I''m very impressed with this faucet. I thought it was strange they were selling for $30+ in stores, and this $11 unit works wonderfully. A nice solid feel to the level/valve, no sign of any leaks, and a good nozzle design. Frankly, this is probably better than more expensive units that use brass, as they include trace amounts of lead, while this does not.

I don''t know how this will hold up over the years, but it looks and feels better than my previous unit which handled 4 years of heavy use before starting to leak.

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I used one of these for several years. This is NOT made of the very best materials as the manufacturer claims, it is made of chrome plated brass. Water products like this will corrode and self-destruct eventually as mine did because the water is in contact with the brass. The very best material would be stainless steel.

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Reli on Humidifier

I''ve owned 2 of these over the past 3 years. The first was bought while I lived in a dormitory at school. It leaked one day while I was at school and made a total mess of the carpet in my room! The humidifier was sitting on the floor. I tried placing it on a rack and then the window sill. Each time, it continued to leak. Fast forward, recently just bought another one as I misplaced mine after college. This one also leaks. Water overflows the basin and leaks out the back. I come home and find my night stand and the towel (which I placed underneath in case it dripped) SOAKED. I don''t understand. I''ll never buy this humidifier again even if it is an affordable price.

We owned one of these that was great. Unfortunately my husband broke the water basin. Subsequently we have owned 2 of them that leak all over the place unless the back end is propped at a sharp angle. At first we thought it was because we lived in and older house with unlevel floors but that isn''t the case now!

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Received this as a gift. I fortunately looked online before plugging it in, and saw that it leaked. Rather than return it immediately, I decided to try it overnight sitting in a baking dish, to see how serious the problem was. This was a very bad idea on my part; in the morning, I found that there was about a half-gallon of water in the dish, and that the place where the power cord attaches was only just above the water line.

Obviously, I have now returned this humidifier. In the future, I will conduct these experiments more carefully.

The problem appears to be that the water tank releases water more quickly than the machine can vaporize it. Because of this, the water level within the machine rises until it starts spilling out the vent in the back. This product should not have been put on the market in its current state.

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It worked fine for about two weeks, then I came home one day and it had leaked all of the water out all over the dresser and floor. I returned the item.

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I don''t understand how a company can sell a product that is clearly as defective as this. The humidifier has ruined my dresser because of the leaking water. Checked the humidity of the room with a hygrometer over the course of several nights and this machine made absolutely zero difference. Tried two different units. Same results. Bad design and horrible leakage issues.

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A-MAZ Cleaning Package - Includes 3 Items

I''ve used A-Maz for years, since it does a good job getting off hard water spots. It''s not a product to work miracles, but it does a much better job than all the alternatives I''ve found.

This 3-pack of cleaning product seemed like a good way to replenish my stock of A-Maz, since it was the same price as the pieces individually. In that regard, it succeeded. Otherwise...nothing special about getting stuff bundled together. :-)

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TotalPond MF13005 Pond Pump Pre-Filter Save 25% Off

The product works fine. It seems a little pricey, and I think it should have been included with the original pump purchase.

I use this filter on a three-tier fountain on the inlet side of the submerged pump. The filter comes with a small plastic inner frame that screws into the pump and fits perfectly in Total Pond item numbers DD11210, DD11330, and DD11560 available on-line at Amazon or from The Home Depot. The pre-formed black filter material is an approx 6" long by 3" wide cylinder (about the size and shape of a 1/2 used roll of toilet tissue) and has the general appearance of fabric that might be used in a large pre-filter on a heating system.The filter slips over the frame and stays in place. The filter material is designed to filter out medium or larger debris (spiders, small leaves, and twigs) that would otherwise become sucked into the pump and clog it over time. Without using a pre-filter, I used to replace pumps about every 1.5-2 years (at about $35 per pump, plus a lot of time and effort in taking the fountain apart and re-sealing it). After buying a pre-filter, I am now into my 4th year on the same pump. So, replacing the pre-filter about once a year has made a very positive difference. I use a 1 ounce chlorine pool tab in my fountain to keep the water clear and over time, the chlorine deteriorates the filter to the point where it needs replacing about once a year. Expect to pay about $12 (Amazon) to $19 (The Home Depot). You will need to have clearance for the approx 6" filter to stick out of the front of the pump. Worthwhile accessory. Buy a few at a time and put it on your garden calendar to replace annually.

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Aquasana AQ-7000 Deluxe Inline Water Filter Cartridge Save 50% Off

• Voted Consumers Digest Best Buy
• Performance Certified by Underwriters laboratories and the California Department of Public Health
• Help prevent thousands of plastic containers from winding up in landfills and further polluting the environment
• Filters out chlorine, lead, VOCs, MTBE and Cysts
• Cartridges should be replaced every 3-6 months

This is an excellent product. It is easy to install and now if I want my teeth whiter I can do it with toothpaste not water with Chorline in it.

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Bought this mainly for my ice-cube maker in my fridge. We drink distilled water, but found it inconvenient to constantly pour ice trays. I''ve had overall good experience with Aquasana products, so we bought this unit. We''ve been happy with it, and the taste of our ice has certainly improved.

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The unit I received ran water so slow through it that it damaged my ice maker. It froze up. Then when I returned it to the manufacturer for warranty (per the instructions) the package was returned undeliverable!

Don''t buy this product.

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My water tasted awful even after installing a whirlpool inline water filter. This Aquasana water filter makes the water taste clean and pure. In addition it removes many impurities and chemicals that the other inline filters do not. What a wonderful improvement in the taste of the water. I would highly recommend this filter to anyone. In addition Amazon had a great price on it.

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Company delivered on time great. Installation was easy, even though I was skeptical about the quick connects. But I connected the plastic tubing as directed, and the connection is holding the water pressure as advertised.

I use in series with the refrigerator filter. I upgraded the refrigerator filter to the ''ultra'', and then placed this unit in series with the refrigerator filter. So, I should have double, ultra-filtered water.

How good is it? The water has none of the taste that would be there without the filter. So, that part is great. I have to rely on the specs as advertised as there is no real way to test for efficiency for removal of the other contaminants. And how long the unit lasts?, it is stated as 6 months or so. It would be nice if there were a ''sensor'' to indicate or some method like a Chlorine test that could be used to tell if the filtering has been overloaded for this particular area''s water. Total solids may not be the best way to test end of life for the filter for the other contaminants like pharma-chemicals.

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