Showing posts with label big berkey water filter review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label big berkey water filter review. Show all posts

Hamilton Beach 40515 42-Cup Coffee Urn

Hamilton Beach 40515 42-Cup Coffee Urn, SilverI have owned several Hamilton Beach Coffee Urns in the past 20 years and I''m a pretty heavy duty user. I''ve preferred them in the past because of all the brands I''ve ever owned, they keep the water the hottest. They don''t last the longest (the spigot usually develops a leak), but that''s the trade-off considering the price. My current objection has to do with the plastic cover on top, and it''s become a real health hazard. The cover on mine started to disintegrate into tiny black pieces that fell into the water. If you''re making coffee, you won''t even notice it at first (I only noticed it because I use my urn to brew large quantities of plain hot water).

We have a large (extended) family living in one household and we go through 4-5 pots of coffee in a day. This urn is an inexpensive way for us to meet the demands of all the coffee drinkers here. And everyone likes the coffee it makes. The only thing I miss that I have on the drip machine is the timer (we have a couple of very early risers) and easy on/off. We attached ours to a timer so that it will start brewing early enough. One other thing not a complaint, but a note about how it works, since it is a percolater, it takes longer to brew. Expect about 20 minutes for a full pot.

We use this coffee urn every day. If we wear it out, I will purchase another one just like it as it is so reasonably priced!

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This coffee maker makes the best cup of coffee ever. The other 41 cups are very good too. It takes about 40 minutes to brew 42 cups of coffee. we even sneak out a few cups before the red light comes on.

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This product produces a good cup of coffee and keeps it warm (not burnt) for hours. My only concern is that there is no On/Off switch. That means that you have to make sure to fill the water and add the coffee grounds and close the top before plugging it in. Not a big deal, though. Great product for the cost!

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Not a coffee drinker, bought it for hot chocolate at holiday parties. Worked great, however there is no temperature control and it gets really, really hot, keep a good stock of whip cream if using it for hot chocolate.

Zojirushi Premium Thermal Carafe

Zojirushi Premium Thermal 1-Liter Carafe, Brushed Stainless SteelI have tried a half dozen different brands over the years and this brand is excellent. I was in a coffee shop in Asheville NC and got a cup of coffee from a larger version of this product. I remarked to the server that the coffee was certainly hot and that he must have just made a fresh pot. He said the coffee was about 4 hours old and said his wife (the owner of the shop) had tested about a half dozen different brands of carafes prior to deciding on Zojirushi. He said she found it the best on the market. He indicated that they frequently take excess coffee from the day home and have it straight from the carafe the next morning and find it hot.

I got the product name and went to Amazon to read the reviews on this product prior to purchasing and was therefore aware of the problems identified by the reviewers here. I have now owned the carafe for about a year and use it most days. I usually run hot water into the carafe and let it heat up the container prior to pouring coffee and sealing it. I have kept coffee very hot for over 24 hours. Of course, the secret is to always close the carafe (check the slot to insure it is closed) back immediately after pouring a cup. I also wash the top in a dishwasher after use. This allows water to enter the top (as noted by one reviewer). I turn the top so that the horizontal hole in the side is at the bottom and the water pours out. I shake it a few times and it is good to go.

I find the product more than adequate to prevent coffee from tasting stale. I frequently make 10-12 cups of coffee at a time and pour a few cups then put the remainder into a carafe and seal it until further use. I find the coffee hours later as good as a freshly made cup of coffee. I usually drink the carafe of coffee within 4-6 hours.

After using several other similar products I find this product superior to those products therefore warranting a 5-star rating.

The one disadvantage was the higher price but after a year of use from a value consideration, it is worthwhile.

I was leery at first, thinking this would keep my coffee hotter than a couple of hours. I thought that way until 24 hours later, when I poured out the old coffee, it was steaming hot! This is unbelievable the best invention yet! A definite must have for anyone who enjoys coffee throughout the day. No more wasted, burnt coffee!

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This carafe is pretty standard, with a glass liner and a unique lid that has push-button Open/Closed positions. It even exposes a little sign that says either Open or Closed.

Unfortunately, the lid accumulates water (maybe from condensation?) that won''t come out. So stale, possibly moldy, water is there to stay. You can''t shake it out or get to it in any way.

Read Best Reviews of Zojirushi Premium Thermal Carafe Here

Zojirushi Premium Thermal 1-Liter Carafe, Brushed Stainless Steel

This is a wonderful product. Truck driver for 32 years and I''ve seen a lot of thermos/carafe products. This is one of the best ever.

Button sticks? Top probably not fully in place. Base gets loose and leaks a bit? Carefully unscrew the base,carefully wash and dry the bottle and insides then simply do a careful reassembly. Left over condensation in the lid. Several products on the market to clean out any bad stuff.Then simply run several carafes full of water through it ''till smells fresh.. Want it to keep coffee or water a bit hotter? Simply let a carafe of hot water rest in the carafe while you prepare a pot of hot water or your choice of drink and it starts hot and stays hot for a bit longer.

I''ve owned that little carafe for several months now and it''s seen almost 100,000 miles in my truck. Still keeping my coffee hot. Love it.

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We owned both Thermos Nissan and Zojirushi Premium Thermal Carafe. Here is a comparison of the two products:

Heat retention:

Some people claim that Thermos Nissan keeps heat better. We did a careful head to head comparison -hot water in each, and then tested after 1 hr, 2hr, overnight. We did not notice much of a difference until we were exhausted and gave up on further testing.

Size & weight

Both hold 1 liter (34oz). However Thermos Nissan is half of outside measure of Zojirushi (mainly the height). Zojirushi''s bulky size is due to its inside glass unit plus outside shell. For the same reason, Thermos Nissan 34oz is also much lighter.

Pouring:

W/ Thermos Nissan, you need to continuously push down a lever while pouring. This is not a problem for 34oz one, but is a bit inconvenient when holding a bigger size Nissan. Zojirushi''s open/close button does not have this issue.

Durability:

Thermos Nissan is made of steel, so not breakable. Somebody mentioned that the seal at mouth will need replacement eventually. We don''t know how soon that would be. We have owned the Zojirushi carafe for 14 years, and it is still working properly.

We have Zojirushi at home and bring Thermos Nissan to the office. We have quite happy w/ both of them.

InstaPure F8CU-1ES Faucet Mount Water Filter System (Chrome) Save 25% Off

InstaPure F8CU-1ES Faucet Mount Water Filter System, Chrome
  • ANSI/NSF Certified 42 for the reduction of Chlorine (Class II) taste and odor
  • ANSI/NSF Certified 53 for the reduction of Cysts, Lead and 53 other contaminants
  • Chrome design will compliment any kitchen
  • No tools necessary for installation
  • Not for sale in California

I purchased this item a couple of weeks ago.

The GOOD NEWS: I was very happy with the look of it, and I liked the feature that when you are using it for purification it automatically switches back to the main tap when you shut off the water stream. The Power Sprayer feature is also nice. It sprays water with more force than my kitchen sink''s hose and really blasts items clean!

The BAD NEWS: Determining which adapter (Metric vs. Imperial) to use is an iffy thing. (I discovered that my Moen faucet did better with the grey, metric adapter.) But the worst part is that neither screw on deeply/tightly enough, nor have the rigidity of hold to keep the entire unit on. As soon as I turned on the water, the entire unit blasted off! A couple of times of this and I lost the black washer the goes inside the adapter down the garbage disposal. (Note to self: Stopper up the sink when next I try putting anything on the faucet!) Without this washer, water will squirt EVERYWHERE no matter how tightly you try to screw it on to the faucet with the included plastic turning tool.

Since only ONE appropriate washer is in the package, I had to go to Lowe''s and Home Depot to find a washer to replace this one. After trying several "hard'' gaskets, and some O-rings. I finally found a rough replacement for the washer with an Aerator Repair Kit. Unfortunately, the washer wasn''t ideal and although I was able to get a few days of decent use from the unit, it unexpectedly "blasted off" again one night when I simply turned on the tap.

RESOLUTION: I sent two e-mails to Instapure Customer Service one night over the 4th of July weekend and followed up with a call on Tuesday morning when they opened for business out in Colorado. The Customer Service rep was polite, read my e-mails and listened to my complaint. I asked for (and GOT) a METAL adapter this time, along with two replacement washer kits and a spare plastic, metric adapter. They sent them out on Tuesday and they arrived USPS yesterday (Thursday). The METAL adapter immediately grabbed onto the faucet with a solid grip, and I was able to use a conventional "Vise Grip" to ensure tightness. NO LEAKS, and the unit seems to be staying on. We''ll see how it does over the course of a month or more.

BOTTOM LINE: The water that is filtered tastes fine. The features are nice. It is simple to install, BUT BE AWARE, the plastic adapters may not actually hold the unit on to your faucet! In that case, call Instapure (go to their web site for their Customer Support phone number), and ask for a METAL adapter.

NOTE TO INSTAPURE: Instapure, you should include ONLY METAL ADAPTERS for this product! The little extra money it will cost you will pay for itself many times over in saving you postage to send them out after the fact, AND will garner you MUCH more positive customer feedback!

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Length:: 0:19 Mins

Ive gone through a few sink faucet filters I think this is my third one (maybe fourth). This one fills the glass the fastest, and the veggie washer setting is a nice plus and is super powerful. And the filter is cool looking. There''s nothing I can say bad about it (yet). I''ve had it for about 2 months, and so far it''s just great!

Read Best Reviews of InstaPure F8CU-1ES Faucet Mount Water Filter System (Chrome) Here

I have had this filter about 2 weeksago. I bought it after a series of PUR filters that managed to leak from places I would have thought impossible. So far, so good with this one. Installation was really easy. 5 minutes. I like the extra "pressure" setting.

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UPDATED REVIEW 3/2013:

After more than a year with this filter system, I am back to report that it has not gone well. You can see below in my original review that we really wanted to believe in this filter system. But, I''ve had to replace the faucet mount twice due to leakage, and about 1 out of 3 filters do not filter good enough to remove bad taste. Instapure customer service is very nice, and sends replacements but it is inconvenient to be out of filtered water waiting for the replacement to arrive.

The problem we have been having is that the faucet mount leaks profusely, so it runs hot water through the filter when the filter is turned off, and the water slowly starts tasting unfiltered. It also leaks so that it lets by unfiltered water by in the filter position.

A shame, we really liked the water when this filter was working properly. Maybe the other model works better? Dunno, we are not going to waste any more time with it.

We have decided on a ispring 6 stage reverse osmosis filter (we went with 6 stage because reviewers indicated hot water coming out when the UV filter 7 stage system was used). At 200+ it is more money, but in the long term the replacement filters cost less per year than a faucet mount and the system is more reliable (based on current reviews).

PREVIOUS REVIEW:

Overall, we love this filter. As far as faucet mounted filters go, it is by far the best out there. But we did have one major gripe. Please read below:

To start, we did the research and this brand has the best filtration. Go to the website and read the long list of contaminants it filters, very impressive. The filtered water has no odor and no bad taste. THE WATER TASTES GREAT.

Having said that here are some pros:

It automatically clicks off the filter mode when you turn off the water. This we love because you don''t waste filter time by turning on the water later to find out you left it on the filter mode.

It has 3 positions on the spout. One for filter, one for regular flow, and one pulse/pressure spay. This is really cool.

The low profile design keeps the filter body out of your way in small sink spaces. This was also a big seller for us.

We have a couple of cons:

The filter is easy to install, but it does not come with any adaptors. So, if it does not fit your faucet, you''ve got to run to the hardware store. Now, at first we were a little put off by this. THE MANUFACTURER AND SELLER SHOULD TELL THE BUYER THIS FACT UP FRONT. Either that or start including some of the more common adaptors. I would have still bought the filter, and been prepared to get the adaptor at my convenience. Instead I was surprised by this fact mid way into the install, and had to drop everything to make a special trip.

Also, the filter drips a little around the unused outlets and filter body, but it''s not a lot, and not a big deal to us.

Brita and Pur both have their own set of problems. They are both leaky, and the water quality is nowhere near that of Instapure. Except for the adaptor issue, Instapure out performs Brita and Pur in every category, especially in water quality. And this is why we put filters on in the first place, isn''t it?

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One issue I have had in the past with Brita filters is that the filter is vertical and you tend to knock it loose. This filter is much less prone to that. The other issue is that the filter button automatically returns to the initial position so that you don''t have to change the knob every time you are finished with the filter. Also, the water flow through the filter is faster. The only negative is the way you connect it to the faucet. The knurled knob screws down onto the faucet and the connector to the faucet is difficult to tighten.

North Star NSC40UD1 Ultra Demand Water Softener Save 46% Off

North Star NSC40UD1 Ultra Demand Water Softener
  • Back lit LCD display
  • Features patented "Look Ahead" technology for peak performance
  • Quick set-up. Set the time and the hardness and you are done
  • Display shows: Time, Hardness, Regeneration Time, Percent Remaining Capacity, Current Flow, Total Daily Usage and Average Daily Usage
  • Efficiency selector - Choose either normal or high efficiency mode

I purchased this softener because we were having major problems with hard water clogging up our faucet filters and even our washing machine. This softener was highly recommended by our friend and I''ve been happy so far. No more problems with hard water and it''s been very easy to maintain. What a difference in our water! Glad I bought this model.

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Samsung 24 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Side-By-Side Refrigerator Save 26% Off

Samsung 24 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Side-By-Side Refrigerator - RSG257AARSThis model is newer inside than the larger, non-counter depth model RS275ACRS. I returned that model to get this one and am very glad I did.

1. This model has interior LED lights when you open the refrigerator instead of the hotter old bulbs like the 275.

2. I am somewhat compulsive about temperature control. I have two precision thermometers, one in the fridge and one in the freezer compartment. On the RS275ACRS, the temperatures were nowhere near what the external display was reporting them as. On this model, however, the refrigerator is usually within 0.2 deg F of the reported temperature (at coldest setting of 34F, thermometer reports 34.1 whereas the 275 would be all over the place, never lower than 37 or so). In the freezer, this model is rock solid at -10 F when the external display is -14 F. I consider this excellent, as most freezers can''t get this low. The 275 was lucky to get to -7 F with the display at -14 F. And yes, I allowed plenty of calibration time and took multiple readings over weeks. So, in my testing anyway, they have definitely upgraded the innards since the 275.

3. This model has the icemaker on the freezer door, not hogging the upper shelves of the freezer, which I love.

4. It is, obviously, slightly shallower than the RS275ACRS, but the markedly improved performance is well worth it to me.

5. Fridge very quiet.

6. External display slightly improved vs RS275ACRS.

We purchased the Samsung RSG257AARS a week ago to replace our old Whirlpool (around 25 years old) that chugged along like a locomotive and sounded like one too.

It''s still early, but thus far I have to give the Samsung a big thumbs up.

Pluses:

1) Very attractive design inside and out.

2) The interior theatre lighting is a nice touch.

3) Very effective cooling.

4) Exceptionally quiet.

5) Simple-to-use controls

Minuses:

1) The shelving has limited adjustment capability.

2) The crisper drawers pull out only half-way, so access is a little compromised.

3) The freezer should have a special slot for pizza boxes to be stored upright.

Side note: This model has a stainless steel finish and a great cleaner to use is Weiman''s Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish.

EDIT: (7/18/12) We''ve now owned this Samsung for nearly three years and are very happy with the purchase. The 5 stars rating remains accurate insofar as our experience is concerned. We''ve had zero problems with this product. It''s super quiet. Keeps food consistently cold. And, for us at least, the ice maker works well.

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Just got this after my old whirlpool died. It is very attractive, shallow in depth, and I love the inside LED lighting. The only thing I don''t like so far is that the produce bins don''t open all the way. You can lift the bin and pull it out more but then you risk the entire bin falling out.

I am really impressed with how much storage space there is inside this counter depth refrigerator.

UPDATE: The ice maker is SUPER slow. I run out of ice all the time if I have more than 4-6 people over for dinner and drinks.

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I really wanted a counter-depth side-by-side refrigerator. After researching a few minutes, I realized that Counter-Depth units are rare and cost much, much more for the same quality. Everything I put my hands on at the retailers (in my price range) felt like garbage, until I found this Samsung (one of the few brands I didn''t research). The local store offered me a killer deal, so I had it delivered.

After going through all the procedures in the manual, and procedures on the phone with tech support, the icemaker didn''t work. I have no issues with the water line, and my old, cheap refrigerator quickly churned out buckets of ice (old school interior style with no exterior dispensor) until the moment they hauled it off for this Samsung. I researched online and found all the Samsung icemaker horror stories. Many brands have icemaker issues but Samsung models seem to have quite a bit more?

I called the repair center and they said the first available time for a tech to arrive was 2 weeks. I did not want to get into the endless loop of "wait for repair wait for part to arrive wait for repair with part wait to see if part works rinse and repeat", so I called the local store I bought it from, and returned it. Plus, I believe that when you buy something new, and spend this much money, it should work. If not, they should send someone out immediately so you at least get up-and-running with what you paid for.

I gave up on the "counter-depth dream" and decided to buy a standard depth (in another brand) and will have to deal with the extra bulk. The price jumps too high for reasonable quality.

On the bright side, I will say that this Samsung model is beautiful and has rock solid feel to it (like the 3000-4000+ models). The LED tower lighting is amazing. Tons of space and features. I love the computer and it cooled super fast to requested temps. To me, it was like an expensive, high-end fridge and very impressive. Aside from a few minor flaws, I was blown away at the quality/price ratio. If they could only get the icemaker on par with the rest, it would be the best deal around (assuming you know how to haggle for a great deal).

In the year 2010, what is so difficult about making something as simple as an icemaker? Don''t they know that this is what typically makes or breaks a refrigerator?

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We''ve had the refrigerator for 2 years now and I don''t agree with most of the negative reviews. It''s a perfect size for a frig that fits flush with your kitchen cabinets. The lighting in this model is perfect on ever shelf. It''s cold on every shelf and bin. The ice dispenser is a bit slow but nothing to truly complain about. The stainless steel doors are a bit of a hassle with fingerprints, but every stainless steel appliance I''ve ever own shows prints. it''s a beautiful design and super quiet.

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PUR 5 Cup Water Filter Pitcher CR-4000 Save 17% Off

PUR 5 Cup Water Filter Pitcher CR-4000The PUR CR-4000 5 Cup Pitcher with One Pitcher Filter is only slightly smaller than the PUR CR-6000 7-Cup Water Filtration Pitcheror PUR CR-6000C 2-Stage Oval Water Pitcher with LED Indicator. But it is a much more affordable option. What you give up is the stability and usefulness of the other models. While the top half of the units, and the filters, are about the same, the base of this model is shorter and has a more narrow base. That means while I can fill my other pitcher standing in the sink, this pitcher tips over because the base is too narrow to be stable on any surface that''s not completely flat.

PROS:

++ Good value with the same 2-stage filter as larger models

++ 5 cup capacity is perfect for filling at once (larger models require you to wait for water to filter, then fill again)

++ Reasonable water quality and taste improvement (though some filters are better)

++ Pitcher size is compact enough to fit in small spaces

CONS:

-Overly narrow base makes it easy to tip the unit over (can''t stand on its own in the sink)

-Cannot pour while filtering (the top leaks more than the tops on larger models)

-No spout cover to protect filtered water from refrigerator odors

-No light indicator for filter changes

-Larger capacity models are not much wider or taller

CONCLUSION

As long as you carefully fill this unit and only place it on flat surfaces, it''s a decent value. But considering the parts are all similar, I wish the larger capacities were sold at a similar value. This is good but if you don''t need the compact size it''s worth paying for the larger models.

It''s very compact and basic, but does the job. No complaints here so far. Great size for one or two people to share. It easily fills two glasses with water before needing refilled. The filter it uses seems very high quality. And, perhaps most importantly, according to the research I did, it looks like this pitcher is entirely BPA-free.

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love this pitcher. have two. the water tastes a whole lot better. the water in my area doesn''t taste very good from the tap so i filter the water for my crystal light and the cats.

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Actually this model shares the same parts of the lid and blue water tank with 7cup model. So it''s like this model is just a little bit shorter by about 2cm. I saw local store is selling 7 cup with LED for less $15. I bought 5 cup model for space saving but actually it didn''t matter.

The other thing is no spout cover. Although not hard to put on foil to cover, it doesn''t look nice. After getting rid of chlorine or something, the water becomes vulnerable against bacteria. So I think this kind of pitcher should have a cover. It seems old Pur models had it though.

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I have 2 of these -one for upstairs and one downstairs in our house. Helps us have fresh, clean water readily available without wasting $$$ on bottled water.

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Watersafe WS425W Well Water Test Kit Save 24% Off

Watersafe WS425W Well Water Test KitWe have well water which we had tested by a local lab a year or two ago. I like to have the water tested regularly, mainly for bacteria, but the local lab charges $100 (if we want lead testing included, it''s $200). I ordered this test kit thinking that I''d compare it to the results we got from the lab when we last had our water tested. If anything looked weird or came back abnormal, we''d pay the local lab to test the water.

The tests that I''ve done so far have given results that are in line with what we were expecting. The local lab gives some directions that I followed when pulling my water samples. They include the following:

1) Use cold water only.

2) For the bacteria test: let your water run for 5 minutes before you take a sample. Don''t take a sample from a swivel faucet (commonly found in kitchens). They told me that it''s best to take the water sample from the bathroom faucet or tub.

3) For the lead test: Take your sample at a point where the water has been sitting in the pipes for at least 6 hours. They recommended first thing in the morning, before flushing the toilets, etc.

The instructions included with the test kit were fine, but I would have appreciated something a bit more in depth, like those provided by our local lab. Still, this test is a fraction of what the local lab charges, and at least from what I can see, it appears to be fairly accurate.

You need to carefully read the instructions before starting any of the tests. Once familiar with the procedure you are off and running. I am a professional real estate inspector and I test water wells with this kit and have found the test results accurate by comparing to other test results using different test methods.

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Contrary to the other reviewer, I found the instructions OK and the tests reliable. I was led to these tests as the cheapest tests available that pass EPA certification.

I found out that our city water in Columbia, SC had measurable, but not over limit, levels of pesticide contamination.

I bought and used these tests repeatedly, and will probably do so again.

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Had a professional lab test water and was curious to see how home test kit compared. Home test kit results were virtually identical and included bacterial and fertilizer contamination tests, something the professional lab did not test for.

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The instructions were clear. The tests were quick, except for one which took 24 hours, with unambiguous results. It covered a wide spectrum of tests. I was very happy with this product.

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Morton Whole Home Water Filtration System

Morton Whole Home Water Filtration SystemTotally mislead by Morton''s description which never warns that this product only works as a taste an odor filter for CLEAR water....anything else and it will plug up the tiny screens and orifices, reduce your water pressure to unsatisfactory levels, and require horrible maintenance to restore it that isn''t worth it in the end. I lost $600 on this journey, and went back to changing $2 paper filters once/month in a standard whole house canister water filter system. Shame on Morton for their horrible customer service as well. They claim you would never have to change filters again...who wouldn''t want that? they never admitted their deception.

I have one of these in our cabin in TN. It takes out every tiny particle of mud, well casing rust and all other particles. I had to reset it to re-charge longer and more often as the water pressure would fall every time it got full, but that''s the same with any type of filter. Perhaps that was the problem with the other reviewer. These are factory set to re-charge every 14 days for three minutes. I set mine to re-charge every five days for six minutes. It now works like a charm!

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GE FXSCH Shower Filtration System Replacement Filter Save 24% Off

GE FXSCH Shower Filtration System Replacement Filter
  • The GE FXSCH Replacement Shower Filter is used in the GE GXSM01HWW Shower Filter System
  • Reduces the effect of Chlorine on Skin and Hair
  • Also Reduces Unpleasant Chlorine Odor, Ruse ans Sediment
  • No tools needed to change the GE FXSCH water filter
  • Each GE FXSCH water filter gives you up to 6 months of filtered water. The filter should be changed after 6 months of use or 10,000 gallons, whichever comes first

We wanted to do something about our shower water, because our water is chlorinated and fluoridated. This filter does not claim to filter fluoride, but it is supposed to reduce the chlorine.

Honestly, I''m kind of skeptical about it, because my husband and I both can still smell the chlorine in our water. Also, how much could this possibly filter, with water coming through so quickly.

Still, I suspect it makes SOME difference, so a "reduced" effect is better than nothing.

I buy these filters at my local Home Depot; they''re cheaper there than here on Amazon.

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This filter works great for taking most of the chlorine out of the shower, it doesn''t get it all though. I notice a big difference in my skin when it needs changed, much drier and itchy.

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Product arrived quickly, as advertised. I will do business again with this merchant. Good quality product at a great price.

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These worked perfectly. Easy to install. Have saved my hair from being a broken spilt-end mess because there is too much chlorine in my water without this filter.

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pretty satisfied with the water now, but after all the filtration the smell of the water is still pretty dominant. Overall i like the water better than straight out of the pipes.

Cuisinart DCC-2600 Brew Central 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker Save 46% Off

Cuisinart DCC-2600 Brew Central 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Glass CarafeThis is a replacement for my old Cuisinart coffee maker which I had for about six years or so (the predecessor to this model). I loved my old one even with some of the little quirks it had. It beat out any Braun or Krupp pot which I had ever owned. This new updated model is a winner. All of the small annoyances have been solved, such as the small fill tank opening, the dripping cover that leaked back into the fill tank, and finally, thank you Cuisinart people, a water level guide on the outside of the unit. The front knobs on the front are now also easier to see and use. As my other Cuisinart did, it brews superior coffee and quickly. I find it takes about one minute per cup... 12 minutes for twelve cups, not bad at all. Yes, the unit does make some clicking and popping noises when it is new, so did my old one. But that goes away in time as the unit gets "broken in". I do not think you can find a better coffee maker on the market.

The title says it all. I''ve had 3 Cuisinart coffee makers the last 3 years, 1 thermal and 2 of these. After about a year using twice a day I start to find water on my counter top. Consumer Reports and Amazon customers love these and I did too until the leaks started. I didn''t write a review before because I figured the leaking was just a fluke and maybe it is but after 3 go rounds I doubt it. I didn''t read all the other reviews to see if anyone else had experienced this. Please understand I''m a retired senior citizen and have no axe to grind but I wanted to point out my experience with an otherwise excellent product.

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Who in the world would have a coffee pot as a best friend? When you make and drink 5 to 7 pots of coffee a day you need a best friend. You need a friend who is there for you anytime you need one and that friend has to be consistent; i.e., one good pot after another. The DCC-2600 is my new best friend. In a short time it has performed better than its older cousin, the DCC-1200. The DCC-122 is still right up there with the DCC-2600; however, I wanted a 14 cupper and it is perfect.

The coffee tastes the same: great. It still takes about one minute per cup. That is perhaps a tad too much time but I don''t care. I can always do something else while it is brewing. After all, a super cup of coffee is worth waiting a few minutes. I can always set the timer and have it ready when I awaken. The setting process is still simple enough for me to do. I really like being able to see the plain water display on the outside instead of having to strain and look over the top of the pot. That''s a nice enhancement just as it the anti-drip change Cuisinart made.

I''m not an interior designer; however, I like the changes made to the outside appearances of this pot compared to the DCC-1200. I just looks better to me. The included gold filter is a nice touch and its inclusion should be a constant; however, I still prefer the cheap, paper filters. Paper filters are easier to clean up from than the gold filter. That is the only reason for my statement.

Best friends do not let you down and this pot pumps coffee without one retort. It works well and performs the job with vigor.

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We take coffee very seriously in my house and when our old Cuisinart broke I wasn''t sure I wanted another. But they fixed the design problems (hard to pour the water without spilling, no visible water gauge) and it makes great coffee. Highly recommend it.

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Positives:

14 cup capacity

Keeps your coffee hot; even better than the thermal carafe coffeemakers!

Easy to load

Easy to clean

Negatives:

The carafe lid is prone to leak on rare occasion

Other:

Do not put the carafe lid in the dishwasher as the heat will alter the shape of the lid and you will be prone to excessive leaks from your carafe

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LuckyStore 12pcs Watering Cone Spike Garden Plant Flower Waterers Bottle Irrigation System

LuckyStore 12pcs Watering Cone Spike Garden Plant Flower Waterers Bottle Irrigation Systemi was looking for something easy to use and setup to water the plants cause i had to leave for the holidays and i wasnt gonna be able to take care of them

Haan MS-30 Multi-Purpose Steam Cleaner Save 24% Off

Haan MS-30 Multi-Purpose Steam CleanerI have had my eye on the Ladybug steamer for months now, drooling over all it could do but it was far out of my price range. I own the Envirosteamer steam floor mop and love it, but I wanted something to get into tight spaces like around the toilet, in the tub, the oven, etc. With some Santa money I got more serious about purchasing a canister steamer in addition to my floor steamer and began some comparative testing and studying. Fortunately, I live in a neighborhood that is all "green built certified" which means, in order to have a green rating, all homes were built with no carpet and lots of people hate chemicals which means it''s a neighborhood full of steam mops which makes comparing the models quite easy. That''s a good thing because it just saved me over a thousand bucks because I wound up no longer wanting the Ladybug. Here''s how they rate...you decide which is best for you:

These are the canister mops I compared:

Vapamore MR-100

Ladybug XL-2300

Haan Canister

Reliable Enviromate

V=Vapamore

L=Ladybug

H=Haan

R=Reliable

NUMBER OF STEAM JETS SPITTING OUT HOT STEAM:

V-10

L-8

H-12

R-5

WATER PRESSURE CONTEST; (1st place being shoots steam the hardest)

V2nd PLACE

L-1ST PLACE:

H3rd PLACE:

R4th PLACE:

CORD LENGTH: (so you don''t have to stop, unplug, water cools some, replug in)

V-18 feet

L-15 ft

H-18 feet

R-8 feet

recap: An 8'' cord is INSANE. I couldn''t even get across my kitchen counter or walk around my bed to steam all of the mattress without using an extension cord!

STEAM TEMPERATURE

V-256 degrees

L-297 degrees

H-212 degrees

R-218 degrees

Note: These temperatures are based upon using the small hose attachments. In every case that we used the long hose attachment included to turn these into a floor mop, the steam had to travel down the long hose so it cooled and wound up only being about 115 degrees by the time it reached the floor. Which results in very poor cleaning. Because of this, if you are wanting this mostly for floor steaming, I would suggest going with a steamer that shoots out hot steam directly onto the floor from its tank rather than through a long hose before reaching the floor as a canister mop does.

TIME TO HEAT UP:

V-10 min

L-8 min

H-3 min

R-5 min

WATER TANK:

V-1.6 liters

L-1.8+1.5 quarts

H-20 oz

R 2 liters

CLEANING:

For a controlled cleaning test, I mixed Dr. Pepper with sugar and spread it evenly across a 4'' length of my stained concrete floor and kept the pets away until it dried completely in a gunky mess. I then tested each mop against it in lengthwise strips, moving them at the same pace after a full heat up, as well as testing each on its own strip of bathroom tile & grout. Here''s who performed the best:

Tie: Ladybug and Vapamore. These, due to the really hot temps, loosened the gunk on impact and made it VERY easy to clean my floor. Their hot temps and heavier steam also cleaned tile the best but Vapamore actually did a BETTER job on uneven surfaces like tile with grout..but don''t expect shiny white grout because it wasn''t exactly returned to looking brand new either.

2nd place:Haan...but it wasn''t nearly as good as the above two.

Last place: Reliable. Although the steam temp is hotter than the Haan, it doesn''t shoot out as strong and only had 5 steam jets so this diminished its effectiveness Didn''t come close to the V or L.

All were at temps to kill bacteria and sanitize without using chemicals such as counters and mattresses, unless you tried to turn it into a floor mop which I don''t suggest because the steam was too cool to clean as well as a real floor steam mop made for that purpose..

Other notes: The ladybug was the most awkward to carry. It just wasn''t made for carrying up stairs, etc.

Conclusion: Considering the Ladybug is over a thousand dollars more than any of the other mops, this was a real eye opener! I tested these with my friends and we all agreed, hands down, that the Vapamore was the best buy. And I love it! It cleaned the best BUT the Ladybug lasted much longer as far as cleaning time. However, Vapamore cleaned for 50 minutes prior to needing a refill which, for me, is all I need. That said, if you want to use this commercially and don''t want to have to take time to refill, the Ladybug may be worth the steep price for you. Considering they have the same 3 year warranty though, I''d rather buy 4 Vapamores for the price of one Ladybug and have one in every room. I kid. The Reliable seemed to lack things that were just silly...like having a cord longer than my blow dryer and only having 5 steam jets.

My bamboo and travertine floors get a lot of foot and paw traffic. I bought the machine with a little skepticism since the floor isn''t clean unless I hand scrub it (the idea of swiffer grosses me out). I was amazed at the job this machine does and oh so happy with the labor and time-saving advantage in using it. I tested it on the walls, and viola! Nice job. I didn''t need cleaners, which is a big plus as I am trying hard to do my part in environmental mending.

Look forward to trying it on tiny tiny glass tiles surrounding my master suite bath. The only downfall is the cord length, but an extension cord remedied that.

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I rec''d my Haan Steam Cleaner on Friday and I cleaned everything in sight! I cleaned my tile shower, my hardwood floors, my tile floors, my area rugs, my windows, my bed (yep), my countertops, inside my refrigerator...my pets and husband kept away in fear I would steam clean them! I used every attachment, every pad and I loved everything about it. My house sparkles and smells heavenly without any harsh cleaners. I cannot recommend more highly.

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I researched tons of steam mops before purchasing the Haan MS-30. After evaluating my needs, I decided that I wanted a multi-purpose cleaner. A separate steam mop and handheld steamer would take up too much room. I chose the Haan because it had relatively good reviews, but mostly because it is German-made and in my experience, that has meant high quality.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was how sturdy it seemed. My best friend has let me use her Shark Vac Then Steam mop, which I liked, but it was not nearly as well-built as this one seems. It has a ton of attachments, which all seem to work pretty well.

The bathroom: Cleaned the floors great, they felt sanitized. It also got this ring that I had on the linoleum around the toilet. I wasn''t able to get it off mopping it. Granted, I did not get on my hands and knees to do it either. The squeegie attachment cleaned my mirror great and did a pretty great job on my glass shower door. I did have to stop mid-cleaning to refill the machine, but I was doing some pretty thorough cleaning, probably wouldn''t happen for maintenance cleaning. I steamed the toilet and it worked well for that. I have to admit that I don''t have water rings because prior to this, I used professional strength toilet bowl cleaner. Yes, I know, icky chemicals. I didn''t see much of a difference in the tile in the bathroom. We have subway tiles with white grout. It did wonders for the crease between the backsplash and counter. I got all kinds of crud out that I couldn''t remove with q-tips and soft scrub. Overall, I liked it for the bathroom because it felt sanitary without having to use the harsh chemicals that I normally use.

The Living Room: Great on windows. I thought I would be sneaky and use it to clean my walls...BAD IDEA. It smudged some of the paint, but that''s fine because I really didn''t like the color anyway. I had some carpet stains from where my dog chewed his bone. Mind you, we only had this dog for two weeks. The steamer and some hand scrubbing did nothing to remove it. Overall, okay for living room cleaning, didn''t really shine.

The Kitchen: This is where the Haan MS-30 shined. I have a glass-top stove that has a rubber seal around it. I have scrubbed and tried everything to get the little particles out of there, but everything seemed to push it deeper. I can happily say that this cleaned the stove to new. It blew out all of that crap like it was nothing. It did wonders cleaning the knobs and underneath them and all of the build on grease around the edges. It''s like I have a brand new stove/oven. The same thing with my dishwasher, it was amazing. The Haan did a decent job on my finished wood floors. They certainly felt clean, but later I found a place where it started to pull up the refinisher that I put on it a week ago. The angled-tip attachment cleaned between the floors and baseboards like magic...a place where I have hand-scrubbed before with no avail. It It finally cleaned the hand prints off the fridge handles that would not come off with a magic eraser or comet. My Kitchenaid mixer is now sparkling again (It is 15-years old). Overall, amazing for kitchens.

I spent about four hours doing what I mentioned above, but I suspect that it won''t be as long for maintenance cleaning.

Pros: Wide selection of attachments for every job. Great at cleaning crevices and appliances. Great for sanitizing. Decent floor cleaner. The squeeze handle lets you turn off the steam. The machine rolls very smoothly on hard floor.

Cons: The door to the storage for the cord is a little flimsy, but it is nice to be able to store the cord in the machine. The unit has to frequently pause to reboil water. You have to let it cool for about 15-20 minutes before the safety cap will come off to refill. You can''t adjust the heat of the steam.

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I am happy with this steam cleaner. It arrived in perfect condition and seems sturdy. I like the way attachments are stored inside the unit. I was impressed by the way the shortened wand and a pointy attachment melted grime on my tiles and grout. I wouldn''t use it on a really filthy floor without damp mopping first. The pad would get dirty too quickly.

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Lime-A-Way - Hard Water Stain Remover Toggle 28 Ounce

Lime-A-Way -  Hard Water Stain Remover Toggle 28 OunceI had a sink to clean which had some very thick buildup in the basin which no cleaner would remove to any significant degree. I used scouring pads and a lot of time to get no where with cleaners which would otherwise be good for cleaning a sink.

I tried Lime-A-Way and it worked great. Scrubbing with scouring pads was still necessary for the thick buildup (although, the running into the sink cleared most of the basin without effort), but it visibly and quickly allowed me to clean the sink.

The bottle top is probably secure, but I would call it a bad design. I used a screw driver to flip it open and when the bottle is full, this seems like a good design to spill or spray it by accident, however, the bottle is secure and the product works great, so I can deal with that.

I used rubber gloves and care and I suggest anyone else to do the same. It corroded the screw driver tip, and it ate away the limescale buildup.

When I moved into my house one of the toilets had nearly black hard water stains in the bowl. I tried every remedy mentioned online including letting Coke sit in the bowl over night and using CLR. While I love CLR for other purposes, it did not work at all on these stains. I''ve been using bleach to verrrryyyy sloowwwwllyyy fade the stains for 2 years. Finally I saw a commercial for Lime Away and thought I''d give that a try. Low and behold I squirted some of it around the area with the stains, let it sit for a few minutes and when I came back, the stains scrubbed off without any effort at all. There''s still a bit of stain left but I am sure that another treatment or two will leave me with a shining bowl. I couldn''t be happier!

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Lime-Away works quite well on limescale build-up but here''s a couple of caveats:

1. The cap on these aren''t tightly sealed so when the product is dispensed through the flip-spout located on the cap, the contents will ooze through around the cap as well. What a mess!

2. Per the instructions, you need a pointy object to flip the child-proof spout open. Great feature in theory but Lime-Away went a step further and made it adult-proof as well I had a hard time getting it open! Most people probably won''t close it once they''ve gotten it open so Benckiser has in effect made it potentially more hazardous than if they hadn''t child-proofed it at all.

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I used Lime-A-Way when it first appeared on the market in the 1970''s and it was amazing. It quickly dissolved calcium deposits around sink faucets, bath tubs and other locations. It was caustic so rubber gloves were mandatory. Since then, probably out of environmental and safety concerns, the product has changed its color and it''s formula to where it''s effectiveness is ZERO.

The TV commercials are misleading and wrong! The product they use to show how it dissolves calcium from a shower head is another formula that is not available. You can soak a shower head in this product for days and absolutely nothing will happen. IT DOESN''T WORK. White vinegar is cheaper and more effective. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS OR ANY OTHER LIME-A-WAY PRODUCT!

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Lime-Away works quite well on limescale build-up but here''s a couple of caveats:

1. The cap on these aren''t tightly sealed so when the product is dispensed through the flip-spout located on the cap, the contents will ooze through around the cap as well. What a mess!

2. Per the instructions, you need a pointy object to flip the child-proof spout open. Great feature in theory but Lime-Away went a step further and made it adult-proof as well I had a hard time getting it open! Most people probably won''t close it once they''ve gotten it open so Benckiser has in effect made it potentially more hazardous than if they hadn''t child-proofed it at all.