Showing posts with label consumer reports water filters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label consumer reports water filters. Show all posts

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

KRUPS KM720D50 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker with Glass Carafe and LCD screen, Stainless SteelI 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.

Read Best Reviews of KRUPS KM720D50 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker Here

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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iSpring 4-PK RO Filter Replacement Kit Save 50% Off

iSpring 4-PK RO Filter Replacement Kit for 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis
  • 4 pieces of replacement filters for 5-Stage RO systems, for Stage 1, 2, 3, and 5
  • Dimension: Diameter 2.5" x 10" length
  • Fits 10" standard filter housings, compatible to most RO systems, includes Watts Premier, Flowmatic, PuROLine, Crystal Quest, Apec, and etc.
  • Individually wrapped, fresh from factory
  • High-quality replacement water filters

Filters were easy to replace and had no issues with the installation. I had once tried to use off-brand filters and found the chlorine filter did not fit.

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Whirlpool 8171414 KitchenAid Side-by-Side Refrigerator Water Filter

Whirlpool 8171414 KitchenAid Side-by-Side Refrigerator Water Filter, 1-Pack
  • NSF certified refrigerator water filter retains beneficial fluoride in water while reducing chlorine taste and odor
  • Also reduces cysts, asbestos, particulates, lead, mercury
  • Replace every 6 months

We have a LOT of particulates in our water and this flter does a fantastic job. Unfortunately performance drops quickly, reducing flow to an annoyingly slow drizzle. If you have a lot of particles and are not concerned with cysts etc, you may want to downgrade to the 8171413 which is also effective with chlorine and lead reduction but seems to last far longer before flow is restricted.

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I replace my filter every year. I have purchased this filter every year, as it is the one that originally came with my fridge. Easy to install. Would recommend it to anyone. Nice price and quick delivery.

Read Best Reviews of Whirlpool 8171414 KitchenAid Side-by-Side Refrigerator Water Filter Here

I have ordered from this supplier on several occassions and have been satisfied every time. Product is always the correct model, works as advertised, and ships quickly.

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Seems it''s okay since the water and ice have no taste. No way to know if it''s filtering out everything it should be short of having an expensive lab test done.

Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 Water Ionizer Save 55% Off

Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 Water Ionizer by Air Water LifeI have been doing some research on Ionized and Alkaline water for a few weeks and had finally decided to buy one. I had also decided on finding a water ionizer that would produce at least negative 650 ORP, the lower the ORP the more benefits out of the water you get I found. With the very low ORP I wanted I knew I would need at least a seven plate ionizer if not a nine plate ionizer. I stumbled through many different companies with many different ionizers that all seemed to work fine for me but the price was intimidating, $1,500 to $4,500. I then finally came across this unit. The price seemed to be too good to be true, like it was a fly by night Asian company, but when I called the company I found out that was not true. They answered all of my questions and told me about their US based company and their US based warranty. Everything I wanted to hear and more. After a few days I got my unit and easily installed it. The unit works great and tastes even better. I even tried out my ORP meter I bought and am consistently getting negative 746 to 766. I am definitely telling all my friends about this unit.

If you are looking for a machine that can produce very high and very low PH levels, then this machine is not for you. It has 7 plates, but the lowest acidic level has never got down to 5. Water in my area has high alkaline level (ph=8) so the machine has no problem to make alkaline water to ph-10.

About the product: I got it from Amazon and it came without hose clips. The hoses were larger than the pipes so I could not use them without the clips. I had to spend extra for hoses at Lowes. It wasn''t a big of a deal but I hate to have to spend extra and had to take a trip to Lowes. Saying that, out of the box, it''s not working right away.

Other than that, the machine works great for my needs, its taste is great.

What''s bad? I bought it in November for $1,300 and it is $895 in December.

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I am updating this:

The unit keeps giving me high PH level (about 9.5 10 ph). However, on the acid side, the lowest I can get is 6.99. It was advertised to give PH range from 4.5 11. I would disagree with that ads. It has "setup" function, but I cannot get in there whatsoever. Normally, an ionized machine will give users option to adjust their PH level, this one doesn''t. The cleaninng function is only good if PH level is lower, at 6.99, I do not think it can handle bacteria well. Anyway, I would not recommend this unit for my friends. You must find a machine that allows customizing your PH.

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My body is very acidic so I prefer to drink alkaline water to compensate for that. I get in debates with my friends about it, and their arguments about acid-base homeostasis does make sense. However, what I do know is how I feel after drinking tap water (I know, I shouldn''t...) as compared to drinking water purified by alkaline water ionizer or my favorite brand of bottled water (pretty good on ph as well). There''s no comparison, really water that is more alkaline agrees with me much better. No cramps, no indigestion, less headaches.

I know that the health benefits of drinking alkaline water are are still being debated. However, it''s a well established fact that using an alkaline water ionizer to purify water does not have ANY negative effects on the human body. The way I see it, making sure to drink water that is more alkaline than acidic has no minuses and only potential pluses.

I had been eying Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7 among a few other models for a while. When the price came down, getting this unit finally made economical sense. My thinking was I drink bottled water exclusively. It might not look like much but when I estimated the expense over the year, I saw that I spend more to make sure I drink alkaline water than I spent on coffee! At the current price level, this water ionizer should pay for itself in a little more than a year. The replacement filters are affordable and the people on the phone seem to know what they are doing. This particular company does provide a US guarantee as well, unlike some other places I called.

We''ll see how it works in the long run. So far so good the water out of this alkaline water ionizer tastes pretty similar to the bottled water I mentioned earlier and the ph levels are close to where I want them. If this unit holds for two years, I''ll might consider springing for the 9 plate model from the same company.

Read Best Reviews of Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 Water Ionizer Here

I''ve been in the market for a water ionizer ever since I heard them mentioned in a few health blogs. You''d think that most companies would have perfected the most basic of bodily necessities but after trying a glass of water from an ionizer, I was sorely mistaken.

Picking a specific ionizer out was a challenging task because if I am going to spend this kind of money, I want a product that is going to work properly and have longevity. In the end, I decided to go with a 7 plate version because (without going too scientific) it simply does a better job of cleaning and ionizing water. I chose this model by Air Water Life over the Alive Water brand because after doing my homework, the Air Water Life is a much better bang for your buck. It''s built with higher quality parts, lasts much longer, and the representative I spoke with on the phone couldn''t have been more helpful or pleasant.

If you''ve never had a glass of purely ionized water let me tell you, once you start you''ll find yourself hard pressed to stop. It has an indescribably fresh taste and utter crispness that is completely refreshing. I''ve never had a glass of water taste this impeccable in my entire life. Water that tastes this clean and pure will change your taste buds forever. I tried a bottle of Arrowhead about a week later and it clearly tasted murkier and less pure than water from this ionizer. I kid you not. This is the best water you will ever drink, pure and simple (just like the ionizer!).

The health benefits of a water ionizer don''t seem to be public knowledge but they should be. First of all, ionized water is rich in antioxidants. After regular water sits in your system for a while, it begins to "die" because the oxygen molecules are older and not as pure. Ionized water will carry more oxygen throughout your system and infuse your bloodstream. I''ve noticed that after drinking nothing but ionized water for a good week that I feel more refreshed while waking up in the morning and I have much more energy throughout the day. That''s the power of pure ionized water. Think about it. You get in exactly what you put out. If you only put junky gas in your car, then it''s probably not going to run very smoothly. Your body works the same way. After only one week on this stuff, I have already started to feel physically stronger and more alive. It feels like I''ve flushed my system of all the junk that has accumulated and purified it. I have never felt better in my life. There''s no way I could go back to drinking bottled water let alone tap.

Also, ionized water is not just good for your system but also will increase the flavor of your favorite drinks and soups. The purity of ionized water will change the way you drink coffee and tea. I''ll never go back to Starbucks again. I made chicken soup the other night for my girlfriend who was feeling under the weather and she licked the bowl clean... And she hates chicken soup!

If you need a quick and simple way to change your life for the better, buy this ionizer today! You won''t regret it and your body will thank you every day.

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Updated review after a few months of using this unit.

Ok, If you are like me looking, reading and scratching your head not knowing what unit to purchase I took a chance on this unit, I got it in the mail and set it up right away so I could try it. I had also read from another review that one person on amazon called them on the question of lead in the unit, After reading this review I also called and spoke with there Q&A person. He told me absolutely not, there is no lead in this unit and we have the test to prove it. He was aggravated so to me that was a good sign. Because I told him I was going to return this unit if there was any danger of lead.

My older brother purchased the KANGEN branded unit for over 4 grand, is it better then this unit? I live in Moorhead Mn and our water has a 7 ph right out of the tap. I tested this unit in every mode and it does what it said it should do, I was getting a PH of over 10.5 That''s still not good enough for me, so I purchased an ORP meter because I wanted to see for myself what this unit will do. My testing indicated that I was getting an ORP of 700. I know ORP meters can be a pain to work with but I have to believe what I seen. I know other people are getting around the same so I guess it is what it is.

Bottom line. This is a great product and being a kidney transplant survivor I am looking for every way to take care of my self and detoxify my body. The anti rejection medication that I am on for life cuts your immune system in half and with that you get cancers and other life threading issues along with the chalange of everyday life and I belive this machine is just as good as the more expensive units on the market. So why pay more, as the advertisement states, if you don''t like it, send it back, what do you have to loose other then another 2 grand on the other brands.

Hope this review helps.

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Black & Decker HC100 Home Cafe Single Serve Coffee Brewing System

Black & Decker HCC100 Home Cafe Single Serve Coffee Brewing System, BlackThis coffee maker is perhaps the biggest piece of junk I have ever purchased and I returned it within 24 hours. Where O'' where to begin?

The construction of this appliance is truly a joke. There isn''t a piece of metal in the entire piece. You get a thin piece of aluminum that your mug sits on while it brews...thats it.

The lever that opens the pod holder is very flimsy. And after the initial brew, the unit wouldn''t seal right, which means, no coffee. So you pop the lever up, open the pod, make sure the coffee is seated appropriately and try again. blah, blah, blah. Do this about 5 times and for no apparent reason, it would work again.

Do you like your coffee hot? Well, you won''t get it with this device. Basically, there are 2 components to a great cup of coffee: the beans and the water. The beans have already been taken care of, so all you can control is the water source. If you are using a machine like this, how dare you put tap water in it! My filtered water sits nice and chilled in my refrigerator. Well, thats a problem for this device. The coffee comes out tepid folks. Not even luke warm! I tried it straight from the tap, and it was warmer but not hot. So if you keep filtered water in your fridge, expect tepid coffee. YUCK. I must be old fashioned, I like to blow on my coffee and see the steam rise up from the cup in morning.

The coffee I was able to drink tasted very good. But again, it just wasn''t worth the hassle of messing with that stupid lever and pod configuration.

I''m off to try the Senseo and hope that it is a little better crafted.

I purchased the Home Cafe at our local Walmart. It made really good coffee for nine cups. While brewing the tenth cup, it stopped mid-brew, spit at me, and then emmited a fatal gasp of acrid black smoke. The kitchen smelled of burning bakelite for the next several hours. I calmly packed up the unit and returned it to my friendly Wallyworld. I opted to replace the unit, rather than get my money back as my wife and I really liked the coffee. Grabbing another pack of coffee pods (optimistic me) we transported our new machine home. Again, following the directions by properly initiating the machine with a coffee-pod free whiz, we brewed another couple cups of delicious coffee. All went well. Then, on cup twelve a few days later (easy to keep track with the amount of pods left), again, mid-cup, another fatal gasp and spray of coffee, and silence as smoke curled up from the unit. Again, the rancid odor along with the bleak knowledge that no more delicious coffee would spew forth from this obviously poorly built unit. Head down with sadness and dejection I decided this time to call the 800 number provided in the instruction manual. After 30 minutes on hold I was finally connected to a friendly customer service rep who offered her condolences on the demise of my coffee maker. She took down the information on the deceased pot and said she was going to transfer me to another department where they would formally de-brief me in an attempt to correct the problem. 15 minutes later she came back on the phone and explained that all the "engineers" were busy, but someone would contact me within 24 hours. Three days later I received a phone call stating that no one at Black and Decker had heard of this problem Yeah, right. They were going to send me a brand new one at no expense. They only requested that I return the old one to them, and they would pay the shipping. Eagerly agreeing to these terms, we waited with great anticipation for the Big Brown Truck to pull up to our door. Approximately two weeks later it arrived on our doorstep!! Rushing to the kitchen, the appliance was carefully removed from its box. This time, it was different. What is this? The first two units were black. This one is white!!! Virginal White! Certainly a good sign. Again, the machine was ititiated with its plain water ritual, and then, with great anticipation and celebration, a Columbian Pod, yes, Columbian, was placed in the machine. Shortly thereafter another delicious cup of coffee was enjoyed. Never mind the gentle splatter of coffee on the counter. A mere minor annoyance given the rewards of the brew. As a matter of fact, eight, count them, eight more cups of delicious coffee were enjoyed with minimal splatter. Then, cup number ten was not meant to be. A sputter mid-cup. Arcing sounds from the front of the unit. Thin plumes of black smoke spiraling towards the ceiling. Gag reflex kicking in from the rancid odor. A tear forming in the corner of my eye knowing it was never meant to be. (Actually, the tear was from the smoke). I notified the woman at the other end of the toll-free number. I told her about all three coffee makers. No, I did not want another unit. It is just too much trouble to make ten cups of coffee, call in about the defective unit, wait for a replacement, make ten cups of coffee, call, wait, repeat--------. I guess I''ll try the Senseo. Maybe it will work.

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I bought a Senseo about a month ago and I was so impressed that I considered buying another one for the office. However, I got a $10 off coupon in the mail for this unit, plus it was cheaper to start with. So I figured, "What the heck".

I like the fact that you can use a taller cup with this unit and it is better geared towards the US palate than the Senseo (the Senseo defaults to a much smaller water-to-coffee ratio and you end up with something between coffee and espresso unless you brew a double cup.)

I also like the water resevoir on the B&D better than the Senseo. Though I suspect that the double resevoir that Senseo offers would win out over the B&D.

The Home Cafe isn''t as nicely engineered as the Senseo and it does leak when it''s brewing. It seems to be a function of how you place the pod and close it up, but you shouldn''t have to be that picky about placement. It also tends to splash as a result of the height and the way that the water comes out. If you use a taller mug, it''s not much of an issue. But if you use a standard coffee cup, you''ll need a cloth nearby for the tiny drips and splashes. It''s not like it pours gallons of coffee all over the counter, but it is a nuisance factor.

If I didn''t have a choice, I''d buy the Home Cafe and be pretty happy about it. However, having a Senseo at home, I find it difficult to tolerate the little idiosyncrasies of the Home Cafe at work.

I''d personally recommend spending the extra money for the Senseo. The Keurig is also a good option, but it''s significantly more expensive for the machine and for the k-cups. It does produce an exceptional cup of coffee, though.

Now if only all of these guys would get together and use ESE pods instead of these proprietary things we could get all the variety we want and pick the machine that worked best for us.

Read Best Reviews of Black & Decker HC100 Home Cafe Single Serve Coffee Brewing System Here

We tried this, and returned it a week later for the Senseo, which works terrifically so far.

As stated in other reviews, the design is really flimsy plastic and can break easily.

The coffee comes out just hot enough, so unless you are going to drink immediately, it will be cold.

If you do not use a very tall coffee cup, the water jet is so high from the base that the coffee dispensing out hits the bottom of the cup and splashes out, which could burn a person as well as wasting your coffee.

And as others have stated, it is really quite loud in a vibrating noisy way. It starts off somewhat quiet but as the week goes on the noise gets louder with use. It got so loud that I ran in the kitchen and shut off my dishwasher thinking it was malfunctioning only to find that it was the coffee machine making the noise.

Needless to say, we didn''t use it after that and enjoy the Senseo much more. If you really want it, wait a few months until everyone realizes it is a piece of junk and then buy it at Big Lots or another "buy out discount store" for ten dollars, which is more than it is worth.

Thanks for reading and hope it helps. We read reviews before we buy anything, so if you have another product you can review, please do so. We can save each other a lot of time passing the word around. Good luck.

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Right after unpacking it and after performing the initial "dry" brew, I made my first cup. It came out OK although I would have liked it hotter, since after a few zips my coffee was cold.

While opening the lid to replace the used pod to make a second cup, I noticed that one of the pegs from the latch broke, preventing it from making a good seal, thus leaking water from all over.

I''ll have to say that this thing is really flimsy; the latch mechanism is all plastic and it really feels like it. It does not have the sturdy feel that comparable espresso machines have (these single serve coffee makers apparently have a similiar system as the the small pump expresso machines). But in all fairness, these expresso machines are much more expensive ($100-$300) than these new single serve coffee brewers that are in the $60-$70 range.

I went to the store to get a replacement, this time I inspected the competing units from other brands and paid special attention to the latching mechanism. I went with the Philips Senseo because it has a much simpler latching system and looked less prone to breaking. I took it home.

This one brewed hotter coffee, maybe because it has a preheating time of 90 seconds (vs the Home Café which does not).

The Home Café is very convenient (thus my 2 star rating), but I believe there are better options out there.

8x16 mesh Coconut Shell Granular Activated Charcoal Carbon 4 lb Mylar Bag

8x16 mesh Coconut Shell Granular Activated Charcoal Carbon 4 lb Mylar BagI''ve been using this as an inexpensive replacement for Brita filters.

Like the Brita filters, running water through the charcoal initially causes charcoal dust to filter into the water, but after an initial period, this stops -I just ran a bunch of water through straight into the drain. The water tastes just fine and this is much more cost-effective than buying filters.

iSpring 10"x2.5" Sediment GAC/ Granular Activated Carbon Combo Filter Cartridge Save 38% Off

iSpring 10''x2.5'' Sediment GAC/ Granular Activated Carbon Combo Filter Cartridge #FPFG15
  • Sediment and GAC carbon Combo filter cartridge
  • 2.5" x 10"
  • Made of 100% Melt-Blown Polypropylene, 4-layer filtration
  • GAC carbon made from high-quality coconut carbon
  • Removes sediment, chlorine, and bad tastes

Don''t even bother wasting the money on this replacement filter, when you can buy a really good KX Matrikx VOC 02-250-125-975 for about the same price. Or even better, the KX Matrikx PB1 06-250-125-975 NSF-certified 1 micron filter.

The seller page for this ispring combo filter does not state the micron size, but I''m assuming a 5 micron nominal, 20 micron absolute size (the page for the iSpring Counter top filter unit states 5 micron size [presumably nomimal] but does not disclose the absolute size). The GAC (granulated activated carbon) section in this combo filter is loose charcoal, you can hear it shaking around like a maraca, it''s not even packed full or padded with filter fiber to prevent this.

These iSpring combo filters come with iSpring''s under counter and counter top filter systems. It did not produce ANY reduction in total dissolved solids (TDS) from my tap water (using a brand-new, freshly calibrated with 342ppm calibration solution, high quality HM COM100 lab meter to verify my tests results.) My tap water rated at 65 ppm. After filtering through an iSpring counter top system using this filter, and the secondary 5-micron carbon block filter provided with the unit, the water rated at 65ppm! Zero reduction of tds. That says "ineffective" to me.

By comparison, a standard 2-stage PUR dispenser filter knocks off at least 20 ppm tds from the readings, resulting in 45ppm +/tds.

I have ordered a set of KX Matrikx filters to replace this set. I am hoping to see significant results and will post a review on their own pages when they arrive.

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Simple Green 18300 Stainless Steel One-Step Cleaner and Polish Save 92% Off

Simple Green 18300 Stainless Steel One-Step Cleaner and Polish, 32oz Trigger Spray
  • Simple Green stainless steel one-step cleaner and polishis perfect for cleaning and maintaining high-end, chrome and stainless steel appliances and surfaces found in modern kitchens
  • This ready-to-use, high-tech formula was created to clean stainless steel surfaces of smudges, streaks, fingerprints, and water stains and protected from spills and daily wear and tear
  • New simple green stainless steel one-step cleaner and polish wipes clean for a deep luster that resists fingerprints, water spots and smudges
  • The non-toxic formula doesn''t build up on surfaces so it''s perfect for everyday use, and safer for use around your family and pets
  • It also provides an anti-static surface that resists dust, water spots and finger marks

I am a huge fan of Simple Green, and use it for everything. I thought the Simple Green stainless steel cleaner would be just as good, but I was disappointed.

It''s not a bad cleaner, it''s just that it''s really no better than any others that are out there. It requires a lot of elbow grease, and doesn''t remove all the stains. I actually find it easier to use another (nastier) regular cleaner to clean it first, and then use this product more as a polish.

The thing is, as a polish, it''s not perfect, either. It''s very hard to buff to an even shine.

The main positive about this product is that it''s completely non-toxic. You can work with it without any type of ventilation. Safe around kids, pets, etc.

Buy Simple Green 18300 Stainless Steel One-Step Cleaner and Polish Now

I purchased a floor model stainless steel refrigerator from a big box store that had stains all over it. At the store, we used the stainless cleaner there but it did not work. I purchased the refrigerator with the hope I would find a product to remove the stains. Well, to my surprise, this did the trick. I applied it and the stains came off with no problem. It makes my other appliances and stainless steel sink look great. I am very happy with this product and would recommend it to others. It can be found at the big box store with the orange lettering.

Read Best Reviews of Simple Green 18300 Stainless Steel One-Step Cleaner and Polish Here

When I decided to put in stainless counter tops in my kitchen I was warned about up keep. Keeping it spotless and streak free was a job. I used non toxic vinegar after cleaning with soap and water to polish the surface. it worked somewhat but requires a lot of elbow grease. Then I found Simple Green Stainless cleaner and polish. It really works and requires minimum effort. The results are far superior to any other method that is non toxic that I have tried. It leaves a streak free shine with depth. Highly recommend this product!

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I was planning on calling the manufacturer of my stainless washer because I could not get these drip marks off. Fingerprints came off but with a lot of effort. I surfed the internet for all suggestions & none worked very well. Then I saw a review of "best" products on a TV show and ordered this. Works with just a spray and wipe. Yay!

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This is a great product. You only need to use just a little and it takes off dirt you can''t even see without leaving any streaks. We''re going to keep buying this to clean our kitchen with.

Ettore 14150 Cleaning Critters Duck Shower Squeegee

Ettore 14150 Cleaning Critters Duck Shower SqueegeeThe colors are bright and vibrant! It''s great quality, price is great!!! My 2 year old loves wiping down the shower with this!

I had been searching for these forever since my old one failed after 10 years. Strong, easy to handle, and fun!

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Watts 500315 Counter-Top Drinking Water Filter Save 13% Off

Watts 500315 Counter-Top Drinking Water Filter
  • Reduces chlorine taste and odor, sand, silt, sediment, and rust
  • Portable; operates by use of a diverter valve attached to the main sink faucet
  • Fits on to small areas on the counter top
  • Meets all plumbing codes
  • Accepts all standard 10-inch replacement filter elements

This water filter is nice and VERY Easy to Install!! as for the hard to open I bought the

Watts wr-100 water filter wrench here on Amazon for 7.54 it opens ver easy with the correct tool.

The water taste very good and Clean!! I bought this for my son who lives in L.A. for $29.00

you can not beat the price and the cost of replacement filter at $10.00 what a deal!!!

I paid over $1.200.00 for the AQ-500 water ionzer. and after a year it clogged up on me.

it is under warranty but for the price!! the AQ water does taste better

but not by much for the price. as for the Health benifits of ionzed water Have yet to see it!

If I had to do it over again I would save the 1,150.00 and just buy this unit!!.

I still might buy one as a back-up for my own house!!

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THE GOOD

Just moved to a new town. Anywhere else around the area, my Britta would clean up the taste of bad water, but not here. Here it''s SO chlorinated, I needed something better.

After a lot of reading and research I was down to the Filtrete Under-the-counter unit and this unit. The Filtrete pro sounded like it had a strong flow and filtered down to .5, but after looking at it closer, it would be just my luck to have a connector pop out and cause water damage without me around. So, I decided on this.

I had it connected in under 5 minutes. I just needed a pair of pliers to loosen the faucet part which needed to be removed. The unit came with a needed adapter which worked perfect. I turned it on and after letting it run for a few minutes, I tried the water. AWESOME!!! Clorine smell and taste was GONE!

This thing works, and works well and I don''t have to worry about broken lines under the sink. The water flow remains good through the unit as well. I can also find many options in replacement filters because of its standard size. I love the quality and functionality of this unit.

THE BAD.

The problem was, upon closer inspection, there was a small bead of water coming from the units water output. At the bottom of the metal output piece (Which you can just pull out) there are 2 small, round O-rings, and one was pertruding. It was cracked, so only one O-ring was ok, and when I moved the water output, it beaded up.

I called the "Manufacturer", which sounds like it isn''t REALLY the manufacture, but a distributor, and was told they don''t have any parts, they get the unit assembled. The parts they DO carry they said, are all given to Amazon. SO.... they told me I should pack it back up, and send it back to Amazon.

What?!? I am suppose to ship the whole unit back, at MY expense, and have another unit sent, when a 5 cent part could be mailed out to me for the cost of a stamp. RIDICULOUS!!! Not too bright, or environmentally friendly. This is the problem with buying some things over the internet, from a place without a local retail outlet, but to save, we gamble...

Now I either ship it back, hunt online or drive to local hardware stores and look for something that COULD work as a replacement. Grrrrr.....

I finally went to Home Depot and found that they carried a package of #47 O-rings for a couple bucks that fit fine. All better now.

THE UGLY

This Item is Ugly as sin. It reminds me of my pool filter. I am going to make or find something to cover it.

OVERALL

For this price, it''s an AWESOME deal!!!

*** UPDATE 07-06-2012 ***

WOW time flies. I have had this filter now almost 3 years. It was used constantly for over a year, until I moved out of that City (YAY!!!). It then sat for about 6 months before I decided to hooked it up at my new place, so I wanted to open it to replace the filter.

I was expecting the worst. First, it''s not at all easy to open. I tried tapping it open with a hammer and a screw driver, on the bottom. I tried holding it between my legs and twisting hard. All attempts made me look silly. I eventually bought a cheapo Car Oil Filter changer wrench? at about $5.00, which worked perfectly. This, along with another pair of hands made it fairly easy to loosen.

When I opened it, I was surprised. It wasn''t as bad as I had thought it would be. After a year or more of use, and then sitting for 6 months, it was hardly dirty. I was expecting something that looked like the insides of an old Barroom Ice Maker, but it wasn''t even close. I ended up tossing the old filter, which still looked hardly used. This in itself was amazing, considering how gross tasting and smelling Fitchburg''s water was. The inside did show a little build up, and with its structural design, it had many nooks and crannies that needed cleaning out. I tried soap alone, but eventually I used a small screwdriver and paper towels to clean out the tough spots.

I already had purchased a Level 2. 10 Inch replacement filter for it, but I ended up stealing a piece of rubber off the old filter to make it fit snug. It went back together easily and in about 5 minutes of running it was as good as the first day I tasted it.

I just wish it wasn''t SOOO Ugly. I had an idea when I first got it, to hide it''s looks. I wanted to make a cover for it out of something waterproof and medium grey. Then I wanted to add big white eyes with black pupils and Large Dark Grey ears. That way it would look like an elephant. Maybe it would even make the kids drink more water? :)

Anyway, the way this thing is built, it should last generations. There are still things for sale out there well worth the cost, and this is one of them. And who-ever builds my Idea, I want the first (or second) one...

Read Best Reviews of Watts 500315 Counter-Top Drinking Water Filter Here

This unit is just what one would expect. There''s nothing fancy here, just a good solid unit. Installation was easy. The unit came with a couple adapters so that it should fit most faucets. No tools were required to hook it up. The diverter valve is a little nicer than I''ve seen on some units.

The only downside is a trait which is shared with all counter-top filters and that is that it takes countertop space and can be knocked over if one is careless.

For the price and Amazon free shipping, I''d be hard-presed to find a better unit.

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I received this item and connected to faucet....water is coming out all around connection...not where it is suppose to come out!!!!! I called the company to see what to do, the woman I spoke with was trying to help me but when she realized this was an item from Amazon.com she couldn''t help me!! She transferred me to someone else, I just got a voicemail....I left a long detailed message but have yet to hear back from anyone, this was 5 days ago! I will try again next week to see if I can get this resolved before returning this item. Hopefully I will have better info next week and will write another review.

********

Tried several more times to call Watts (they never returned my call). Each time I called I would get put on hold for 15-20 minutes and was never able to talk to anyone about problem with unit..so I have returned item. Really was hoping to resolve this, I live in the country and on well water....guess I will continue to purchase bottled water!

:( ........

**********

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I read all the wonderful reviews and for its price it was a terrific choice ...at first. It''s very easy to install but after 6 months of use the water diverter valve no longer snaps back into place. But that''s minor.

Now after 6 months is time for the replacement filter. The wrench that''s needed to open the canister was not provided. Based on other recent reviews there''s no way to get it from Watts either. We don''t have a monkey wrench at home that''s large enough to fit around the entire canister.

I gave it a one-star because a good water filter shouldn''t be this difficult to replace a simple filter.

Either way I''m very disappointed that I now have to replace the entire unit after just 6 months of use.

Sidenote: I looked on the Watts website in Nov. 2009 and they still offered support for this unit. I looked in Jan. 2010 they no longer list this unit on their website. I wonder why?

+++++++++++

Update: March 5, 2013 Just an update, I purchased another water filter system "Purenex SS-1 Countertop Water Filter, Chrome" (back in January 2010) and it came with a wrench. We tried to use that wrench to open the Watts water filter because it''s about the same size. Unfortunately, it still wouldn''t open.

The wrench opened the Purenex water filter without any problems. We''ve had the Purenex since January 2010 and it opens fine. Nothing like the unopenable Watts system. If we truly wanted to open the Watts system we probably would have cracked the chrome casing while trying. Either way no water filter system should be this difficult to open.

Of course this was all back in 2009/2010.

Omni RS3-DS String Wound Whole House Replacement Water Filter Cartridge

Omni RS3-DS String Wound Whole House Replacement Water Filter Cartridge
  • Reduces rust and sediment
  • Fits Whole House Water Filter OB1 (1653-7201) and OB5
  • 3 months or 15,000-Gallon average cartridge life
  • 5 GPM flow rate
  • 20-Micron rating

Ordered these as they seemed to be a good price for a two-pack so we ordered 2 (for a total of 4 cartridges). However, we only recieved 2 cartridges. I emailed company and they shipped two additional cartridges out. While the service was fine, I had asked in the email about the product description but the company did not answer. There is a discrepancy. "Part Number RS3-DS12-05 Item Package Quantity 1" and lower it states "RS3-DS12-05 Features: -Set of two replacement cartridges."-I am still confused as to where the error was.. the product description or in shipping. If the price is for one, it is more expensive than locally.

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I installed these on my boat and the water is very tasty, nice smelling and clear. Suitable for cooking, cleaning and showers.

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Water filters? We have a couple of whole house filters with cartridges that need replacing about every three months. We use different filter cartridges in each. This is one of them. Our water tastes good. I used to buy these at places like Home Depot, but Amazon beats the prices, especially if you buy enough stuff to get free shipping. If you need to add to your total to get the free ship, check these out: A Call to Arms! Out of the Pews and Into the Streets Prostitutes, Tax Collectors, and You

Vertex Pure Water Machine EasyPur EZ-575 Undersink Reverse Osmosis System

Vertex Pure Water Machine EasyPur EZ-575 Undersink Reverse Osmosis System
  • Patented Twist-off FIlter Cartridges for fast, easy replacement
  • All Push-Fit O-ring seal fittings
  • 3/8" tank to faucet for 1 GPM flow
  • Compact 5 Stage Design

Vertex water from Montclair California, makes a shoddy product that if it breaks, is virtually impossible to get customer service. There is only one guy, his name is Steve and he will give you the run around to make sure he does not give yo any service whatsoever. Buyer beware.

Buy Vertex Pure Water Machine EasyPur EZ-575 Undersink Reverse Osmosis System Now

This was one of the best investments I''ve ever made. The cleanest water. period. It''s a decently easy install even for a poozer like me who has no experience plumbing. There are also video tutorials online to help you out if you can''t follow the directions. AWESOME! BUY ONE OR DRINK CRAPPY WATER!!!

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It was easy to install. It has a larger tank, 4 gallons, so I don,t run out in the middle of filling water bottles. I have a pier & beam House & was able to put the tank under the floor so it hardly uses any cabinet space. Love it.

Cuisinart DCC-1100 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker Save 54% Off

Cuisinart DCC-1100BK 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, BlackAfter buying a succession of cheap coffee makers which broke down after a year or two and made mediocre coffee, I decided to upgrade to Cuisinart.

I don''t agree with the negative comments about this product.

The clock is easy to program and it''s clearly indicated that you should either use paper or gold filter (twice in the instructions). It''s also easy to pour water in the reservoir if you use the carafe. You can turn the coffee maker to the left, and the reservoir opening is easily accessible. Its opening is by no means tiny, as a reviewer described it.

The center funnel which holds the filter is well situated and there is very little risk of dropping coffee grounds into the water reservoir.

The carafe is well designed, with a comfortable handle. It pours neatly, without dripping coffee all over the counter, something which always happened with my old Mr. Coffee.

You do have to realize the lid snaps down on top of the carafe. This is not explained in the instructions.

Most importantly, it makes an excellent coffee.

There is a 3 year guaranty which is more than I have seen for others.

So far, I have no complaint, and I am glad I bought this product for a great price.

UPDATE: I am still using this coffee maker as of today, August 13, 2012. It''s still working well though there are signs of wear. The carafe lid is looser and the cover hinge has a tendancy to stick. Otherwise, there are no problems.

My name is Ryan, and I''m a coffee addict... My habit ranges from 1 to 3 pots a day just to remain conscious. So you can understand the level of misery I have had to endure this past week as my 4 year old Gevalia machine met an untimely death during a recent lightning storm. I then began the hunt for a new machine. Basically, Amazon was my first stop since they have everything. I read all sorts of reviews, and finally settled on this one. I must say, this is by far the best machine I''ve ever owned.

In reading the reviews, I found a few gripes that I don''t agree with, so here''s my response to those:

1. The number one gripe I see is filling difficulty. The fill hole is much larger than my old machine. Some people said its too small and makes a huge mess. My first time, it did drip a little bit but if you leave the lid off the pot while pouring, works like a charm. Let me put it this way... I wake up in the morning with the jitters, like a fiend looking for some crack... If I can pour it without making a mess ANYONE can. And that''s a fact.

2. Numero Dos: Programming difficulty. I''m no rocket scientist by any means, but I had this thing programmed within about 5 minutes. I had no problem understanding the directions. I believe most gripes in this area are operator error.

3. Basket issues: It doesn''t stand up on it''s own, true, but I don''t understand how anyone could miss the basket. Leave it in the machine for pete sake! I hope they don''t miss their mouth with that hot coffee! Again, If I can do it without making a mess, anyone can. As for choosing paper or mesh filter, paper of course filters better, but mesh makes it stronger and leaves a bit of sediment in the pot... each way has it''s benefits depending on how you like yours.

4. Flip-top so large you have to pull it out from under the counter: True, but how lazy can you be... honestly? It''s not that hard of a chore. You''d be hard pressed to find a machine that isn''t like this.

I, like others, had some pre-conceived notions from negative reviews, but I found most if not ALL of those to be some pretty weak arguments. I guess some people have more problems than others when trying to understand directions and such. This machine is top notch for the price, hands down!

OH! And please look through all the comments, It''s going on 3 years and I have given multiple updates as time has passed. I''m sure you will enjoy!

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Hello fellow coffee drinkers. Like most of you I have looked long and hard for a good basic coffee maker. In the last 5 years I have gone through 4 new products and have been quite dissapointed in this whole experience. I mean how hard can it be to make a good coffee maker. I had the basic braun coffee maker for 10 years and loved it. However, two new braun coffee makers later I realized that quality had gone down the drain with the coffee grinds. Then I purchased a krups. I returned it to the store within two weeks as it stopped working. They gave me a replacement which lasted just past the warranty. (figures) Then I tried a GE combo grinder brewer. That was the worst mistake I could have ever made. The first sign that it was garbage should have been when the GE emblem fell off. It leaked. It spilled. I spent more time cleaning than brewing, and thankfully it didn''t last as long as its warranty and I had no intentions of getting another one free or not.

I have had this cuisinart now for three weeks. It does everything it says it will do. It never leaks, spills or makes a mess. As per the other reviews I feel it could have a bigger fill area but it really is no more difficult to fill than any other brewer I have owned. (don''t let that stand in the way of buying this) I also think it is very easy to program and will even keep your settings in memory if it is unpluged for a short period of time.

This coffee maker works perfect and I hope it lasts as long as the warranty and beyond.

Happy brewing.

Read Best Reviews of Cuisinart DCC-1100 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker Here

To make drip coffee, a machine has to do just two things well -heat the water adequately, and disperse the hot water over the grounds. Oddly, most coffee makers fail at one or the other. This Cuisinart does both pretty well, which is why it is probably the best machine on the market right now under $200 (and the reviews at Amazon testify to that).

TEMPERATURE: The overwhelming majority of brands do not heat the water adequately -if the water at the grounds is only getting to 175-180 degrees, you will have sour, weak coffee. Ideal temperature is around 202-205. Using a digital thermometer, I measured the DCC-1100 at 197 in the filter basket, which is quite good.

DISPERSION: The second task is showering the hot water over the grounds somewhat evenly. Many coffee makers just stream it in from a mini-faucet, so they overbrew the grounds in the center of the filter and neglect the grounds around the edges. Result is weak, slightly bitter coffee. The very expensive Capresso machine has this problem -it heats water to nearly 200 degrees but delivers that water poorly. The Capresso, which costs close to $200, makes mediocre coffee (at least it did for us). The Cuisinart isn''t perfect in this regard but it does have a "shower head" design that disperses the water pretty well.

One other tip, which applies to all drip machines: Don''t start with cold water. Room temperature is good. You can do this by running the tap partly warm, or by pouring the water the night before and letting it get to room temp. It gives the heating element a much better chance of getting the water to a good brewing temp.

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This coffee maker makes great coffee, is fairly easy to use, and is true red. However...when ordering they do not tell you that it uses a small charcoal type filter that needs to be replaced every month or two (depending on use) and that these filters are far from cheap!

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The Best Grout Brush Save 54% Off

The Best Grout Brush - Grout CleanerI bought this and another model (The Grout Brush Head) just to make sure that I have one that works as I didn''t want to start and then find out that the brush doesn''t work as well as I would like. Both do a very good job but I think this model does the job a little bit better. It seems to have harder bristles. But I''m not knocking the Grout Brush Head. Both work fine. It''s nice to be able to go forwards and backwards instead of sideways as that sideways motion is awkward and you can''t get good pressure. So I would recommend either one of these products. Both swivel and both work on any handle with a screw. I am so happy that I bought this as I was starting to see some darkness in some grout lines and we have a large kitchen, entry, eating area that is all tiles. It would have cost me over $500 to have the grout cleaned and I am doing it for less than $30 plus a little exercise on my part.

So this review is basically like the Grout Brush Head review because both products meet my expectations.

My grout was filthy in my kitchen but I am handicapped so I couldn''t do much with getting down to scrub it. My knees and back can''t take the pain. This brush is fantastic! I used low splash gel bleach and scrubbed with this brush and my grout is clean again. Some jobs just need the right tool and this is it.

Update: I ordered another one for a sister in law with white kitchen tile and arthritis in her back. It was a gift. When it arrived it had been mangled in the mail and although functional, it had deep scratches and scrapes. It was not in a condition to be given as a gift. I contacted the seller through amazon and she promptly send me a brand new one with her apology. I can''t ask for better service than that.

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I tried many grout brushes and have been disappointed many times, so I know the difference... but not this time! This brush does a great job with its super stiff bristles and it is very strong, it just lasts and lasts. Other brushes fell apart before the job was done (the blue one with the white bristles what a waste of money). I am so happy that I bought this grout brush, not only because it saves my back and its so easy to use, but because its so reliable! I highly recommend this brush, it is truly the best by far!

Read Best Reviews of The Best Grout Brush Here

After checking local stores for a similar product (they didn''t carry a grout brush that used a handle, and our local tile store had "never heard of that") I bought this one from Amazon. I purchased a handle locally from Home Depot so I could make sure it actually fit.

This brush has a swivel head which makes it easy to work with, and the bristles are shaped to go into the grout lines between tiles. It''s stiff and doesn''t deform after using it for a long time. If you have a big area to clean, take a load off your back and knees. Buy this brush!

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We bought this after seeing a carpet cleaning company use a similar tool. It is so simple and works very well on our grout. I''ve tried all kinds of other tools but just hadn''t seen this one. I attached a pole to it and have now cleaned all the downstairs tile.

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Whirlpool WHEERF UltraEase Replacement Prefilter And Postfilter

Whirlpool WHEERF UltraEase Replacement Prefilter And Postfilter for WhER25 Reverse Osmosis System
  • Whirlpool UltraEase WHEERF
  • Replacement Prefilter And Postfilter
  • WHER25 Reverse Osmosis System
  • 2-Pack Includes Replacement Battery
  • 7276327. Code: 07255

I''m no expert and what I write below is based on experience and some reading on the subject.

The timer built into this product is a nice reminder to check the quality of the water being produced by the system but doesn''t necessarily mean the filters need to be replaced.

The pre-filter removes sediment and reduces chlorine in the water that is harmful to the membrane. If you are on city water then you probably don''t have much sediment but you''ll likely have chlorine. If the filters aren''t replaced frequently enough, then the chlorine may destroy the membrane. If you are on well water like I am, then the pre-filter is mainly removing sediment from the water.

The membrane will last a long time if the pH is low and no chlorine gets to the membrane from a depleted pre-filter. So, if you have low pH and low sediment you may get substantially more time out of your filters and membrane than the manufacturer would lead you to believe.

The timer is designed around a set of averages or best guesses by the designers of the system. If you are more sophisticated than the average consumer and own test equipment then you can replace the filters based on need rather than the timer.

A cheap TDS meter and chlorine test kit is about all you need to get started. This will allow you to combine your own judgment and experience with scientific measurements to minimize your cost of ownership of this unit.

As I mentioned, I''m on a well. My pH is low and I have a whole house sediment filter. I am just replacing my pre/post filters after 16 months and my TDS out of the system is < 1 so the membrane is still good and doesn''t need replacing yet. Truthfully, I''m only replaceing the filters because my wife wants me to. LOL.

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this fit my water filter perfectly and worked well. dont forget to follow the purge/sanitize instruction for the RO system

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I have found the percentage of contaminants the WHER25 removes from tap water to vary considerably. I have a PPM dissolved solids meter from our ZeroWater filter. That meter shows our (Austin, TX) raw tap water to have, typically, between 185 and 205 PPM contaminants. The WHER25-filtered water this time around is coming out at ~50PPM. Most of the time, I see it at around 15PPM. It appears that this time around, the filters aren''t doing as good a job as before.

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I use a TDS meter to measure the before and after results of filtering water with these. TDS = total dissolved solids.

These filter about 99% of TDS.

I find them quite pricey though.

These filters are hard to find and luckily I found them here. Ordered and received and they fit just perfect with my system. Very easily installed. I have to replace these filters about every six months depending on water usage. I will definitely be ordering these again when I need replacements.

Kalorik Cordless Jug Kettle Save 38% Off

Kalorik Cordless Jug Kettle, White, 57-Oz.We''ve been using this kettle at work just fine. It''s very light weight but has a tall receptacle that holds the kettle well so we''re not concerned about tip over.

It boils incredibly fast & has a nice comfortable handle & easy to use lid release.

Make sure you follow the initial instructions to boil 3x letting cool each time, before the first use to remove any foul taste.

The element is not "protected" so we''d expect scale to build up, but that''s easily cleaned.

Only gripe is that the filter seems to fall out when tipped upside down. Even so, can recommend this kettle as a low cost but perfectly functional kettle.

It does what it is supposed to do at a good price. Bought two; one for my parents and one for me.

I use it at least 2-3 times per day. Much faster than either the electric stove or gas range although I do miss the whistling kettle sound.

The cordless feature and level window were two of the deciding factors besides price.

Initial downsides, it took several boiling cycles to get rid of the plastic smell. It is fine now. Once the boil is done it doesn''t keep the water piping hot for long.

jr

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Let''s start with context: I''m British so having a kettle is not optional and I have a lifetime''s experience of kettles!

When we arrived in the US 14 months ago our accommodation didn''t have a kettle and we didn''t know any local shops so we immediately ordered this kettle. Less than 14 months later I have had to buy a new kettle as this one became temperamental about switching on a couple of months ago and finally refused altogether. It had always felt pretty shoddy and light-weight on a par with the kind of cheap kettle I took to college some 25 years ago, (very few like this are sold any more t''other side of the pond bottom end of the market only, costing less than $15 final price.) For between $16 and $20 final price you can easily get much better and more stylish ones over there.

Anyway, back to this kettle. On/off switch is very flimsy and easily comes out of its holding clips. It has an exposed element so it gets "furred up" easily. It''s base is so flimsy that the plastic covering of the connecting point was already bent and distorted when we received it. Boil time is pretty average, (actually pretty slow if you''re used to British kettles.) Scale screen broke within a couple of months when my husband''s finger went through it when he was taking it out to clean it.

I have replaced it with a Hamilton Beach one from a famous discount store for $20. It''s a far better kettle: sturdier, faster boiling, concealed element, metal gauze scale screen which should prevent accidental breakage, it''s the central mount type rather than the jug type which is far more convenient and it''s a lot more stylish (shape and it''s stainless steal and black.) Spend your $20 on the HB one!

Read Best Reviews of Kalorik Cordless Jug Kettle Here

I bought this for my latest tour in lovely Afghanistan at home I have a glass and steel beauty, and I was missing it (and the easy availablity of hot beverages).

I followed the advice of other reviewers, and boiled (the same water in my case it is at a premium here!) three + times before drinking from it. That did the job: no taint of leeching plastic.

It is very inexpensive, the base is wide enough to keep it rock solid on my makeshift table (a scrap of 3/8" plywood held up by nylon cord to the rafters of my tent). I hasn''t tipped once in any weather, though trying to seat it on the electrical connector from a seated position next to it is not easy need to be standing to use it properly.

It is well designed doesn''t direct hot steam on your hand while you pour, and the little mesh screen that snaps into place to cover the spout does well at keeping dust and bugs out of the kettle. The handle is comfortable to the touch.

I am enjoying this cheapie champion very much, and for the price: you will too. I even think it looks pretty sharp much better than the 220V ugly, steam-throwing no-automatic-shutoff deathtrap I bought in Iraq last time (just because something is made by a German company does not guarantee it is well-engineered!)

This is a great kettle for the price. I have no complaints.

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For about a year now, I have been using a Melitta kettle I got at a department store for $20. It is wonderful and gets used sometimes several times a day. I bought this kettle for my office; I assumed for the same price I could get a kettle of equal value. Instead, this kettle works well barely well enough to keep.

Probably the most disappointing thing is the large exposed coil, which looks very difficult to clean and requires that there be at least 1L in the pot for me to feel safe boiling water. It does shut off correctly after water boils, but it is difficult to see the light that is supposed to indicate that it is on, and the base design makes it somewhat awkward to use.

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Charcoal Replacement Filters for Stainless Steel Compost Pail

Charcoal Replacement Filters for Stainless Steel Compost Pail,Set of 2The double filters work great with the endurance Compost Pail. There are no odors from our kitchen scraps which is key. The only negative is that although I don''t smell anything from the pail, the fruit flies do. The pail still attracts fruit flies in the summer months. I don''t know that they can actually get in past the filters but they try. And I don''t know if there is a way around this issue.

I ordered what I thought was the correct size for my 1.5 Gal compost pail but received filters that were far too small for the lid. The problem is that there is no size on the packaging and I think the seller sent the wrong item. I still had the box that my compost pail came in so I knew the size of the pail. The filters are not described well online so you don''t really know what you are getting.

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I am very pleased with the composter pail. My former pail was plastic and after time became stained and carried an odor that cleaning would not remove. The stainless steel type cleans beautifully, can be placed in the dishwasher and unlike the ceramic types won''t break. This model holds quite a bit of scraps eliminating the need to empty on a daily basis and the double charcoal filter system really works in odor control.

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GREAT PRODUCT! I have a compost pail that I use every day, several times a day, and I keep it in my kitchen. I would say it gets filled up about every 5 days, so its sitting for that length of time with all the compost inside. When I remove the lid to add more to the pail, sometimes the smell is just awful, especially in the warmer weather when things start to decompose very quickly. But this filter is terrific; I never smell ANYTHING when the lid is on (and thankfully, neither does anyone else!) I highly recommend this filter...it really does the job it''s supposed to!

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The composter meets all our needs. It looks good on the counter and prevents any odors from escaping. It is also larger than most so we don''t have to dump as often.

Chemex Drip Coffee Carafe - 6 Cup Save 8% Off

Chemex Drip Coffee Carafe - 6 CupThere is a dirty little secret that many of these appliance companies don''t want you to know. Manual drip coffee from a simple cone device makes the best coffee. Here''s why. You need to have two tablespoons of coffee for every cup. The water must be just below the boiling point when it hits the grounds. Water which is poured in one little stream on top of dry grounds will cause a funnel effect an most of the grounds won''t immersed effectively.

The fancy auto-drip coffee makers don''t heat the grounds effectively and don''t cover them with water properly in the brewing process. If most people really looked at the back of their coffee maker and looked at where the water is kept in reserve, they would call a Haz-Mat team to clean it up.

Why get this instead of a cheap plastic cone, the filter paper is thicker with the Chemex, retains more bitter oils and the thick glass of the Chemex will keep the coffee warm enough for a second cup (I would suggest getting the glass lid for it also.

Note: I got the 8 cup version

I''ve been through a lot of coffee makers, and hated them all till now.

My biggest issue has always been cleanup! I''d leave coffee-grounds in, be too lazy to clean it up later, get mold growing in the coffee maker''s reservoir, and on and on.

The Chemex solves all these problems AND makes a stunning cup of coffee. Making the coffee takes a bit longer, as you basically have to spend about 5 minutes or so watching and pouring... however, it''s fun to do! I actually look forward to the task. You find yourself making fine adjustments to your coffee making methods every day, just to see the differences you can make.

Cleanup is where you make up for the 5 minutes of pour time... Takes about 15 seconds... Drop the filter in the garbage, rinse the chemex out, put it back on the shelf. If you use hot water to rinse, it dries instantly... No small parts, no reservoirs that remain damp 24/7 collecting fungus, no series of tubes and tunnels that can never be cleaned. And the coffee is as perfect as you make it.

I''ll never use another coffee maker.

Note, I also purchased the lid and stove grid. Helps a lot... I brew 8 cups of coffee in the morning, put it on the stove with the mesh, turn my range to low-medium, and put the lid on. Keeps my 8 cups hot and fresh all day.

Update: Well, I''ve had this coffee maker for about 8 months now, and I''m still loving it.

Update: Well, I''ve had this coffee maker for over 3 years now, and I''m STILL loving it. Works as well as it did the day I got it.

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I could never figure out why the coffee I made at home didn''t taste as good as the coffee I bought at Starbucks and other gourmet makers even though I buy high quality beans and grind them myself. The answer, apparently, is that drip home brewers just don''t brew at the right temperature. A chemex brewer is a "back to basics" system of making coffee where you pour boiling hot water directly over the grounds. You control the temperature and the special filters remove any bitterness from coffee. This is an inexpensive way to make great coffee at home. The only inconvenience is that you have to boil the water yourself in a kettle and you have to pour water into the chemex 2-3 times to make a full pot, so you can''t just walk away while it''s brewing. Also, the chemex doesn''t keep the coffee warm, so I find myself putting second and third cups into the microwave. Nevertheless, the taste of the coffee is so outstanding that I can''t bear to go back to my Mr. Coffee machine.

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It is a very pretty maker, and coffee is made under perfect conditions. The price is good through Amazon, just make sure you use suggested filters, the other DO NOT work... (learned from experience).

If premium coffee is your "thing" and pretty is a bonus, this maker is the answer

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Some information for those considering the Chemex, the Bodum French Press, and the Aeropress...

I used the Bodum French Press twice a day for years. It makes a good, strong cup of coffee. But there are some negatives to consider.

With only a filter screen, the Bodum lets a lot of solids through. Many argue that this contributes to the complexities of the taste. The downside is that you get an unavoidable layer of sludge at the bottom of your cup. A Bodum cup of coffee also starts to go bitter pretty quickly (from what I understand, this is also related to the presence of the solids). Unlike a Chemex cup of coffee (see below), a sip of a cool cup of Bodum coffee an hour after brewing will be quite bitter.

The Bodum is a real pain to clean up. I found that the grounds had to go down the sink (difficult to get them into the garbage). The filter has three different components. Ideally, it should be disassembled and washed daily, but that''s unrealistic. I usually just rinsed the assembled filter every day and then ran the disassembled components through the dishwasher a couple of times a week. But that means that you''re using a "not totally clean" filter for a good part of the week.

For some reason, I eventually began to tire of the Bodum taste and explored other options. I first tried out Aerobie''s Aeropress. It makes a great espresso-like cup of coffee, but the volume of coffee brewed relative to the amount of grounds is a bit crazy, even when you dilute it with water to make an Americano. I just felt like I was wasting huge amounts of expensive coffee.

I purchased a Chemex several months ago, and have been thrilled with it. It makes a delicious, balanced cup of coffee--perhaps not quite as hard-hitting as the Bodum, but not wimpy either. It contains no solids, so stays fresh for hours (or even days if kept in the fridge for iced coffee). Cleanup couldn''t be more simple--throw out the filter, rinse out the glass, and you''re done. Night and day versus the Bodum. The only negative with the Chemex is that it uses large, thick filters--not great for the environment.

I also find that the Chemex is a bit of a Zen coffeemaking experience. You have to slow down and live in the moment to brew. This is not the solution for you if you''re rushing out the door every morning. Its simple design is also quite a beautiful.

Happy brewing!

EDIT (seven months later): still very happy with the quality of the Chemex and the coffee. To illustrate how much easier cleanup is with the Chemex (vs. the Bodum)--I have never once had to wash the Chemex! I always rinse it out immediately after use, and it stays perfectly clean. Granted, I should probably wash it twice a year. But try that with the Bodum.

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Life Ionizer 7700

Life Ionizer 7700 - BlackI was skeptical at first about "Ionized" water, but after a few weeks of slowly turning up the PH, I felt more energy, a spunkiness I haven''t felt since I was twenty, and I was less hungry and losing weight. The machine is built like a Ferrari and each level of water is colorized on the display screen. It''s really cool to see the display turn to light blue, then purple depending on the PH level pushed. I''m glad I researched this product, because it was voted the best. Don''t spend 6K on the "other" brand, when this one is truly the superior choice. Awesome!

I have had this unit for about one year and I like the machine and my results.

The whole family likes the water and I know my Husband and I have both

seen an improvement in our health. We have also been more conscious of

our eating after reading one of the books that the life ionizer company sent us.

I hardly every write reviews or letters to companies but I did call them when

I re-ordered filters and told them how much I liked the machine. So anyway,

I am writing this testimonial because I was on amazon and decided to say

something nice about the ionizer

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I haven''t done many reviews and I was motivated to write one about my purchase of a life ionizer 7700 model.

I bought this last year and in the first three months my daughter''s joint pains seem to have disappeared.

I read some articles on line that said ionizers were snake oil but then I read a lot more articles where

people had signifcant health improvements with the same issue that my daughter had. The water from

this life machine worked well for us!

I did have a problem with the machine at first but it turned out I was not operating it right and the

technical customer service person helped me out over the phone.

It even looks great in my kitchen.

All the best,

K.F.

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I talked to a water store by my home that that sold many different water ionizers . We went over features on each and i am glad i picked this one .

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I purchased this for my mother and and it never fully worked as advertised. I would not get the full alkaline 11 pH that I should have. The bigger issue is it struggled to put over 9.0 pH even with maximizing out all the internal settings. I do live in an area with hard water so when I called customer service I would disclaim this to them (him).

He recommended several extra prefiters and cleaning solutions to the tune of $200 plus dollars. Mind you, I don''t mind paying for maintenance, all these machine are going to take some extra buck to upkeep with replacement filters and such. Unfortunately even after these purchases I have not been able to squeeze over 9.0 pH on any consistent basis. I use the drops as a rough measurment which shows 8.0 -8.5 pH so I purchased a $200 digital for more accuracy and consistent measuring which show measurements of up to 9.0 pH.

I give it 2 stars because it at least reaches or slightly surpasses the minimum 8.5 pH needed for the health reasons but I don''t give it higher because of performance of not reaching higher and customer service is ok at best.

I purchased this June 2012 and started calling support within 2 months of that. I''m tired now.