Showing posts with label water filter whole house. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water filter whole house. Show all posts

Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffeemakers Save 5% Off

Mr. Coffee TF5 4-Cup Switch Coffeemaker, BlackI have owned several Mr. Coffee 4 cup models, going back to the one that looks like it was made in the 1970''s (with the floating orange water indicator) This one is the best one to date.

The high points:

1) It''s small and light

2) While the lid is up, the water will simply cycle through the resovoir ( a great way to preheat your water is to simply keep the lid up while the machine is running until it gets (quite) hot then close the lid. )

3) It came with a re-usable basket filter (a nice feature considering the machine was only ~ 20$)

The negative

1) The carafe is just a tad difficult to pour from. Do not get me wrong, if you concentrate and proceed with caution, it does function without error. However, without due attention you might notice some drops spilling over the edge. That said, when pouring out the last few ounces at the end you will feel the steam/vapor rising up to your hand it is HOT.

For $20, I would reccomend it to everyone I know as the perfect 4 cup maker.

I finally had to admit: My Krupps 4-cup coffee maker no longer made good coffee. I faithfully cleaned it with vinegar, kept coffee oils wiped off, but to no avail. After weeks I had to admit that the "Folger''s in my cup" no longer had the power to make me sing. I turned to Community coffee--egads! How was this possible? Even my strong Louisiana coffee was lacking. Then I tried Starbuck''s. No deal there either. OK, it''s my old coffee maker, I thought. That made me sad--my long-time companion had to go.

I searched everywhere and finally settled on Mr. Coffee TF4-4-cup Switch Coffeemaker, white, of course, and couldn''t be happier! With the very first cup, I was back in business--the business of taste and looking forward to that cup in the morning. I should say mug (equals about one and 1/2 cups of regular-sized coffee cups).

Here are the reasons I like this new coffee maker:

1. It is easy and convenient to lift the lid and place the filter.

2. Of course, putting coffee into the filter is easy, too!

3. What is superior about this unit is the water-free pour into the little tank. Sometimes I spilled a few drops of water with my old unit, but Mr. Coffee''s carafe is designed to prevent spillage. The shape of the spout allows a good pour from one unit into the other.

4. The light right in front is an easy signal that the unit is either on or off.

5. Cleaning the unit is simple: Remove filter, remove basket, swipe through dishwater or rinse under running faucet, return to basket-holder.

6. But here''s the best reason: Mr. Coffee makes a great pot of coffee!!

Now I can sing again: The best thing about waking up is Folger''s in my cup and Mr. Coffee on my counter!!

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With my forced switch to decaf I needed a small coffee maker that would make two real cups (4 coffee maker cups). The Melitta take2me is a rather large machine, and was problematic in the consumer reviews. I couldn''t find a Black & Decker Brew n'' Go to look at. The TF4 is a small, very basic machine that brews as well as our larger coffee makers. The pause and pour feature works reasonably well. It uses the small basket filters. It''s easy to clean. It does, however, require about five and a half minutes to brew a full pot. So far it is well worth the $15 invested.

Read Best Reviews of Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffeemakers Here

I''ve owned an older generation 4-cup Mr. Coffee maker, and used it daily for 12 years. It worked perfectly! (I retired it only because it was getting too dirty to clean, after 12 years of use.) Amazing!

This newer sibling to the tried-and-true is thus far living up to the task, and very well I might add. I like how the lighted on/off switch is located on the front of the coffee maker, not hidden on the side where you have to feel for where it''s placed. The reusable filter (included) is a nice extra costing about 4 bucks if you buy separately. And it''s much more convenient than the paper filters.

By the way, don''t waste your money on a model with a timer. It''s small 4-cup capacity brews a full pot in only five or six minutes. Simply click it on as soon as you wake up, and before you know it, coffee''s ready!

I can whole-heartedly recommend Mr. Coffee. Anyone who can produce a coffee maker that lasts for 12 years has my vote!

Note: If you use a regular sized coffee mug and not the dainty little cups, you''ll get about 2 1/2 servings per pot... just FYI.

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This little coffee maker brews very good coffee. But there are three things to keep in mind in order to repeatedly get pleasant tasting coffee when using this coffee maker.

#1. Make sure you lightly clean the decanter & basket and brew 4 CUPS OF WATER before you ever make your first cup of coffee with this coffeemaker. This is important, and is right on page 2 of the directions.

I would bet that many people skip this step, and consequently wonder why the coffee they made has a subpar taste.

#2. Clean the coffee maker once a month. White vinegar works quite well. Again, the directions give the proper procedure.

#3. Keep in mind that with this coffeemaker, "one cup" of coffee = 5 ounces. If say, you want to drink 8 ounces of coffee(one measured cup) you should fill the reservoir to the 2 cup (10 ounce) mark. The paper filter absorbs around 2 ounces of water, so after brewing you are left with one "cup" of coffee.

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Jura Impressa Z7 One-Touch Automatic Coffee Center Save 3% Off

Jura Impressa Z7 One-Touch Automatic Coffee CenterI previously owned the S8 for about 7 years and after it broke, I decided to upgrade. I love the way Jura will repair a broken super automatic for 275.00 including round trip shipping no matter what the problem but I still wanted a newer model. I did a great deal of research on superautomatics and even bought a Saeco Xelsis. Unfortunately I had to return it as the latte temp never got above 120 degrees despite calling Saeco and working with their support line. I then bought a Jura Z7 as the manual stated that the milk could be heated up to 159 degrees and the espresso/ coffee up to 197 degrees. I love hot coffee/latte. After trying out the Xelsis, I wanted to buy a sure thing that I knew would make me happy. However, the milk at first came out about 130-140 degrees. It took three calls to Jura to figure out how to get the milk to the temp to what they advertise. One helpful person told me to pinch the tubing exiting the milk container before it enters the machine. This slows the stream of milk and increases its exposure to the heating elements but who wants to spend 3 grand on a machine and have to jury with it to get the milk hot enough. Finally, I was told of two things to do to get the milk temp up and how to keep the temp up in the cup. First, when putting the empty cup under the cappucino spout, press the milk button while the cappucino dial is set on steam water. This will spray very hot steam out of the cappucino spout into the cup. This heats up the tubing in the machine and heats up the cup. The third and most important thing is to align the notch in the cappucino spout dial on the border between the steam water icon and the steam milk icon. After flow begins, turn the dial counter-clockwise until the notch is actually into the steam water section but not so far that it stops the milk flow. By doing this I was able to get my milk temps up to the 180s (checking the temps as the milk exits the spout and before it hits the cup). NOW, I could not be happier with the taste AND and the temp of my lattes. Go Jura!!!

I don''t write many reviews, but just this week, we decided to call it quits with our 4 year old Jura, which was about as expensive as the one Amazon is selling. During long stretches, the coffee was great, as was the frother. But during the 4 years, we had to ship it back to Jura for repairs 5 times, and every time, it was for the same problem. According to Jura''s customer service agent, "an air bubble gets trapped in the line and the machine must be disassembled to fix it." Last time, I got pretty annoyed, and the service guy told me quietly that lots of machines have to be serviced more than once for the same reason..For Hello? How about manufacturing a new part, or finding some other way to deal with this design defect? Nope. Instead, it was better for them to keep fixing the machines. After the warranty ended, the cost of the repair, plus professional packing, shipping and insurance was about $300 each trip,

Jura makes beautiful machines, but I"m not going to buy another one. The company doesn''t care about its customers once they get your money.

Buy Jura Impressa Z7 One-Touch Automatic Coffee Center Now

Bought this capuccino maker about 7 months ago, so we know it well. The initial rationale was that we would save 8 dollars a day and countless wait time both of us stopping at starbucks every day. That has happened. I have been to starbucks twice since I bought this. It makes a pretty good cappuccino, I would say is on par with starbucks, my gold standard. The coffee setting tastes different, since it is really a cup of watered down espresso, but you aren''t buying this to brew coffee.

In spite of having the tallest spout on the market (at least at the time of my purchase), I still cannot fit my travel mug under it. You know the stainless steel, 16 oz mug you would want to fill up giving you a vente latte on the way out the door. Maybe they dont use these travel mugs in Switzerland, but we all do here... (In fact, I had to build my own wooden holder that holds a tilted travel mug under the spout.)

Well not only does the standard version of such mug not actually fit, (most are about .5 to 1 cm off), it brings up my second point, its almost hot enough. Well if you have prewarmed your cup in the microwave, and sat down to sip you cappuccino right then, the temperature will be a barely "ok". But if you are used to ordering your starbucks extra hot, your definately going to be found wanting. And if you have to dispense your drink into a cup, and then transfer your drink to your tall travel mug because it wont fit, your really going to be dissapointed in the temperature.

A few other gripes: the thing will only stay on 2 hours, IE it will always turn off, kudos to their green power saving. Problem is, it takes a solid 3 minutes or so to warm up. Then each type of drink you make only contains one shot of espresso. If you want 8 oz of milk with three shots of espresso, you have to turn it on, stand there for 3 minutes for it warm up, then push a button to put an 8 oz cappuccino in, wait another 2 or 3 minutes, then push the button for another shot of espresso, another 1-2 min, then push for another shot of espresso in, another 1-2 moinutes. Does that sound "one touch" to you? For me, it is stading next to a machine for 10 minutes, which is exactly what I am supposed to not have to do. (Not to mention, in the middle of all this you might run out of water, need to empty the tray, or add beans. The chances of one of these lottery wins in your 3 button oddessey are probably 25%)

What this machine needs are:

Taller spout

The milk needs a temperature setting, its not hot enough for me.

The machine needs a timer, so it can turn on in the morning and warm up.

Programmable drinks with multiple shots.

Larger bean bin, it probly cooks up only a dozen shots or so per bin.

For three grand, these things should be a given!

Read Best Reviews of Jura Impressa Z7 One-Touch Automatic Coffee Center Here

There are so many problems with this product I scarcely know where to start. The first sign of trouble is the manual: it is all but incomprehensible and only describes some of the maintenance required to keep the unit functioning. In other words, after diligently completing all the maintenance requested by the manual, the unit would still break down every couple of months; when I''d call customer service, I''d learn that far more maintenance is needed if you want to keep the unit functioning for long. Unfortunately, experience has taught me that even the most extensive maintenance will only delay but not prevent the unit from breaking down.

The need for endless maintenance is annoying since the main advantage of the unit is its ostensible convenience: in other words, it is true that you can make a cappuccino with one touch -but what they don''t tell you is that after that one touch you''ll need to complete half a dozen or a dozen steps before making another one. This obviously isn''t very convenient, nor is it inexpensive: I''ve spent countless hours and hundreds of dollars on cleaning fluids, cleaning tablets, filters, and decalcifying tablets in an attempt to keep it functioning, but all this has only delayed the inevitable breakdown.

And this is where things get ugly: after the unit failed completely recently, I contacted Capresso and was told I could get the unit repaired for a $300 fee. I sent the unit in, and to their credit, it was returned promptly; unfortunately, I could see no evidence that the unit had actually been repaired: when I started it up and filled it with water, the unit proceeded to dump the water all over the counter. I thus contacted Capresso and asked them to send out shipping labels so I could return the unit and have them correct the repair. I received no response. After waiting three business days, I asked again; still no response. After waiting three more days, I let them know that I had contacted my credit card and would be refusing the charges until such time as the unit was actually repaired; within the hour I received an email apologizing and letting me know that the customer service manager was out of the office and would return the next day. I thus waited three more days but never heard anything from the customer service manager. I then wrote to the company president asking him to intercede and address the problem: after a month, I still haven''t heard anything from him.

But the extraordinary inability to provide even the most basic level of customer service isn''t my main complaint with the product: my main complaint is that it doesn''t make very good espresso. I say this, not because I consider myself an expert when it comes to evaluating espresso, but because the unit simply does not work with pre-ground espresso. In other words, I''ve tried pre-ground espresso from each and every brand I can find; they all cause the unit to clog and thus leak. Worse, when I called to ask about this, I was told it was "normal" and that I would need to use the grinder instead. At that time, I didn''t realize that if the unit couldn''t process pre-ground espresso, then it presumably wasn''t grinding the beans to the same level of fineness as pre-ground espresso. As a result, what Capresso calls espresso is quite different from what I''m used to: its quite thin and watery and I''ve never found a way to make it any thicker. If you''re a fan of espresso, I''d encourage you to find the unit in a store and see if their version of espresso is to your liking. Of course, this may prove hard to do: Williams-Sonoma no longer carries Capresso products, and I''m not sure if you''ll be able to find anyone who still does. Given my experience with both their customer service and the quality of the products offered by Capresso, I''m sorry to say I simply don''t find this surprising.

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We purchased this machine in May 2012 for use in a small office. We probably make 2 or 3 cups of cappuccinos and an espresso each day. The original machine started giving an error message to "add beans" even though the bin was full of beans about 4 weeks after purchase. We were told to remove all the beans and `air out'' the machine because there might be an oil build up (oil from the beans). We scooped out the beans and let it `air out'' over the weekend and it still didn''t work on Monday. I called customer service again and did everything they told me to do but it still didn''t work. So we shipped back the machine and they shipped us a new Z7. After about 4 weeks the 2nd machine stopped making froth for the cappuccino. Customer service told us that it could be the froth dial. We could not use the machine but they sent us a new froth dial and it worked. 8 weeks later, here we go again we''re getting a "add beans" message on the 2nd machine. To make matters worse, even the hot water sprout stopped working so we can''t even make a cup of tea. The machine does nothing. We called Customer Service and were told, AGAIN, to remove all the beans and `air out'' the machine because there might be an oil build up, etc. We scooped out the beans and let it `air out'' over the weekend and it still hasn''t worked for 5 days. This time because we''ve had the machine for over 3 months JURA won''t send a replacement. We have to find a box and ship the 2nd machine back to them. JURA doesn''t even pay for UPS to pick-up the machine they send a receipt but you have to carry the machine to a UPS drop off location. I have a bad back and the machine weights approximately 40 pounds packed this is inconvenient and is a big deal to me. It''s too late to get our money back so we are stuck with the JURA Z7 but we are not pleased with it at all. I would NOT purchase this machine again ever. For $3,000 I expect a machine that works for more than 4 weeks before needing to be repaired. Do not purchase if you want a machine that works.

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Crane Drop Shape Cool Mist Humidifier Save 12% Off

Crane Drop Shape Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier with 2.3 Gallon output per dayI received this humidifier 2 weeks ago after searching for a decent humidifier to replace the one i owned that was famous for robbing me in replacements filter, etc. fees. This thing fits the bill. The design is great, it''s super quiet, and gets the job done. In choosing this product i read all the reviews. The reviews that made me hesitant to purchase this were the complaints that said: a)that the furniture on and around the humidifier got wet all the time, b)that the machine did not cut off if empty, as advertised, c)that the machine is hard to clean, and d) that it makes a lot of noise.

With hesitation, I purchased the product in good faith.

I was immediately pleased by the design. I read the owner''s manual even though i thought it all was a "no brainer". The manual actually explained a)how to adjust the mist as to not wet the furniture around it, and b)that the machine will turn off when empty, but the light on the device will remain lite...obviously the part those that said the machine did not turn off failed to read, and c)how the machine is easy to clean with a vinegar or chlorine solution.

Cleaning is easy. I recommend using the bleach solution as bleach will kill anything..not to mention it also gets rid of the discoloration.

Lastly, the sound the comes from the machine is very subtle, but when u hear it, it is exactly like the soothing sounds of a filter running on a fish tank. It actually helped me sleep... having this white, very subtle noise.

I like this thing. My skin and nose are happy.

I hope this clarifies some of the ambiguity i found in the other reviews....

I purchased the Crane cool mist humidifier in Dec''10 and have used it, with great success, for many months. With all the negative reviews (about 20%) I almost didn''t purchase this machine. But I''m glad I did, because it works really well for what it is: a mid size/capacity humidifier.

First of all: ***this humidifier has a 2.3 gallon per day maximum output, with a .9 gallon tank.*** Amazon''s initial title for this (and many other humidifiers) mentions daily output capacity rather than tank size... this may be confusing, although the correct specs are prominently listed on the Amazon page fifth bullet point in the "product features" section. As for Crane (the manufacturer), their package clearly states a 2.3 gallon daily output, and .9 gallon tank size... The reviewers complaining about the "misleading name" should try emailing Amazon suggesting a title change on their website... instead of writing a 1 or 2 star review of the product. That would be more helpful and more fair.

As for the product itself:

A few buyers obviously received defective machines; this has to be expected on some level with any manufacturer.

But having read over the negative reviews, I realized that most of the complaints were due to improper use of the machine.

It is essential to read the instruction manual and use the machine as intended by design. Doing so will avoid the pitfalls described by most of these 1-2 star review writers. For reference, I have addressed their most common complaints below:

1) White dust buildup in the room: use filtered or distilled water. This is important if you have hard tap water. (85% of American homes do.) I run my tap water through a Brita filter; the exchange ion resin lowers the concentration of calcium carbonates, accordingly softening tap water. It also helps keep the humidifier cleaner by removing organic impurities, and I have had no white dust buildup. ***If your water is particularly high in mineral content, you should use distilled water, or else opt for a vaporizer-type (humidifying) machine, which creates water vapor free of white dust.***

2) Limited effectiveness: you are trying to humidify too large a room. In my 500 square foot living room level the machine helps a little; in my 150 square foot bedroom the machine is more than adequate.

3) Height of machine: the manual directs you to put the humidifier *at least* a few feet off the ground; there''s no reason you can''t place it even higher up if you wish. Doing so will disperse the mist more effectively.

4) Machine runs out of water: try turning it down to about 2/3 power instead of full power. The machine is practically noiseless at this setting and the water tank if actually filled to the rim will last at least 8-10 hours.

5) Machine makes bubbling noise on high: see #4 above.

6) Wet area forms immediately around humidifier: you have the machine turned up too high for the conditions in your room. This is explained in the instruction manual: you need to make sure the mist isn''t falling down onto the surfaces around the machine; otherwise moisture will accumulate on those surfaces. Turn the power dial down until the vapor stream is fully evaporating in the air.

7) Machine leaks: Take care that the water tank fits snugly into place, with no gaps. Also, make sure you have the clear rubber ring that fits inside the tank cap. During my initial setup, this little (1 1/2" diameter) ring came loose and rolled away, and I almost didn''t notice. The ring ensures a tight seal on your water tank cap; without it, I''m pretty sure the machine would leak.

8) Machine gets moldy: you are not following the correct cleaning routine, as described in the manual. You need to empty and rinse out the tank daily, and empty the bottom part of the unit too. Once a week you should use a white vinegar/warm water mixture in the tank and bottom of unit (see manual).

I hope this was helpful. If my humidifier breaks down I will certainly update this review.

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We bought the Vicks cool mist humidifier first. it was so noisy in the nursery that we didn''t use it when our daughter was sleeping. We bought this one hoping that it would be a little more quite. We can''t even hear it! It also takes up very little space and is easy to fill in the shallow bathroom sink. Awesome purchase. worth the extra $.

Read Best Reviews of Crane Drop Shape Cool Mist Humidifier Here

This humidifier is the perfect size for a bedroom. The tank empties in about a day, so the water doesn''t sit around too long to get mildew or mold. The humidifier puts out lots of moisture, and is absolutely whisper-quiet! We have the penguin-shaped one for our son''s room, and this one for ours. Both are great.

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We bought this humidifier for the bedroom because we were waking up every morning with dry, cracked lips and sore throats and sinus due to the very dry air in the house during the winter. This unit pretty much solved the problem for us.

Pros:

Very quiet. I imagine if you set it next to the bed you could hear it, but we set it across the room and the only thing I hear is the occasional bubbling as it takes in more water.

Easily adjustable. The knob on the front that controls flow is infinitely adjustable, so you can get just the flow you want.

Easy to fill. Just take off the reservoir and fill from the sink.

Puts out enough moisture to humidify a fairly large room. Our bedroom is 16 by 20 feet, plus a master bath, and it makes a big difference in the humidity of the rooms.

Cons:

It doesn''t seem to automatically turn off when it runs out of water like the description says. Maybe ours is broken and maybe not, but it doesn''t turn off. No big deal except the wasted energy (which can''t be much) but I wish it did shut down.

I wish the reservoir was bigger. The size it is makes it easy to take and fill, but you pretty much have to fill it every single day. It''s a trade-off, but I would have preferred something twice the size that was a bit more difficult to fill due to size.

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Ceramic Dome Replacement Filter for Zen Water Systems

Ceramic Dome Replacement Filter for Zen Water Systems
  • Replaces your Zen Water Systems Ceramic Dome Filter
  • Keeps dirt, sand, particles and bacteria such as typhoid, cholera and amoeba from getting into Zen''s drinking water
  • Pore diameter of 0.2 micron while most bacteria range from 0.5 to 1.0 micron in size
  • Made of highly compressed ceramic with diatomic properties resistant to extremely high temperature.

For all you Zen Water System owners, there is apparently another vendor called Purenex selling similar item on this page. If you own a Zen Water Filter System and you need to purchase replacement filters, be sure you watch which vendor you purchase from. Purenex products won''t fit in the Zen Water Systems so be wary.

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RE: .3 MICRON Filter!!! This is absolutely the Lowest Pore Size for a Filter on the INTERNET (No Kidding, I researched the whole damn day !!!)

USE: With my Zen Water Gravity System

I SEARCHED and RESEARCHED LITERALLY EVERYWHERE ON THE INTERNET FOR THE BEST FILTER AND BESIDES A FEW OTHER CATEGORIES, THE MINIMAL PORE SIZE IS ONE OF THE TOP CONSIDERATION FOR THE BEST FILTRATION!!

.3 Micron ==> That''s 3/10 ''ths folks not 3 Microns AND is the lowest compared to most of the top filters like PUR,BRITA or most Counter Top brands. Even the Best Systems in the Hundreds of Dollars use 1 Micron (which I have also) size pores.

Basically if you have a Bacteria that sizes at 1 Micron and you have a filter that has pores as big as 5 Microns or 10 Microns, the Bacteria is obviously going to slip into your drinking cup. Well this is the lowest and it''s a huge PRO to say the least.

This translates into the percentage reduction factor as well obviously:

Like a 1 Micron filter will block 99% bacteria vs. 5 Micron filter will block 95 to 97%, you get the drift.

Here is the BAD:

When used with the Zen Water Gravity system, because of the very small pore size, this means it''s Very Slow going down the filter, but this means that obviously and translate into my being assured that the water quality will be that much better. So I guess you gotta take the good with the bad.

I didn''t time it, but for about a gallon of water that passes through this thing, it takes about 1 hour, you heard (read) that right, about an hour.

But for the water quality around here, or more appropriately, the lack of water quality around here, I''ll take Clean-Wait-for-1-Hour water over the water that got me sick. Actually I have a distiller that takes 4HOURS! for One Gallon and this one hour is actually a plus, so I guess it''s all relative.

I''m not sure how the Korean company comment(that I noticed here) has anything to do with anything unless it''s a really bad product, but overall whether US or Korean made, this filter is AWESOME!

(along with the Zen Water system: Way too cheap here so I definitely got the whole system)

Buy an extra one on hand, but these are supposed to last about a year easily by scrubbing off layers of the ceramic media.

It goes without saying, it''s definitely worth the purchase.

Read Best Reviews of Ceramic Dome Replacement Filter for Zen Water Systems Here

This filter does have very small pores, as another reviewer mentioned, and it does take quite a long time to filter the water. We like to pour the tap water into the top tank at night before we go to bed, and then we have fresh, clean water to use in the morning.

The biggest problem we have with this filter is in cleaning it. Our well water is NOT pretty it''s orange and full of sediments that clog the filter in days. We''ve learned to first put the water through a Pur faucet filter before pouring it into the top tank of the Zen unit. This extra step helps to prevent the filter''s pores from clogging as quickly. But even with that extra step, the filter needs cleaning at least once a week. At first, this wasn''t terribly difficult, but as the filter aged, it became harder to clean. The only way we can really get it clean now is to remove the filter and let it set out to dry overnight. Then the surface can be sanded down, literally, to remove the sediments that are clogging the pores. Either that or replace it every few weeks, which would get expensive. We are on our 2nd filter now and in the process of ordering a 3rd one.

All in all, it''s a fairly high maintenance system, requiring frequent filling, weekly system cleaning, and periodic filter replacement. But the water tastes great, the price of the system is relatively low overall, and I feel good about serving the water to my family.

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I purchased this filter to make a homade water filter system. This filter is cheaply made from Korea. It only has one seal instead of two. As I was screwing on the wing nut, the entire drain spout broke off from the base with little pressure being applied. Once that broke off, I got a good look at the inside and it was empty. Don''t buy this filter. Get a Berkfeld or Monolithic are sturdy and contain other filtrations inside the main filter. The company did ship this very fast.

THIS GOES ALONG WITH THE ZEN WATER FILTER, THE ZEN WATER FILTER IS WORKING

GREAT! HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT FOR ANYONE WANTS TO HAVE GREAT WATER.

Hoover SteamVac Spin Scrub TurboPower Carpet Cleaner

Hoover SteamVac Spin Scrub TurboPower Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge, F5912900My decision to purchase this was mostly on price and gauging its ease of use.

Since renting one from the market is around $50 including shampoo, my thinking was this was an appropriate price to pay for this since after three cleanings, it''s yours plus you don''t have to return anything.

The other factor is ease of use. This is pretty straightforward. The top container holds the clean water and shampoo. After using, the "sucked up" dirty water is in the container at the bottom.

The Hoover here is nice in that both snap in and out pretty easily.

There are some things to keep in mind.

Try to use near boiling hot water (or a mixture of near boiling water and hot water from the faucet) you will get a more efficent clean. Pour in the shampoo AFTER you put the water in the container otherwise you''ll get a slew of foam instead of being able to fill it with water to its highest level.

Afterwards, the things always leak some (maybe if you pay $400, it''s not a problem) so as soon as you finish, take it outside and start to disassemble the thing. Then dump out the dirty water and hose off the dirty water container. If you can leave it outside for a while to let it dry as it will still drip a little.

This model will do about a 50'' by 40'' room or so before you need to refill with clean water and empty out the dirty water so if you have many huge rooms, this might not be for you ... or your help will grumble as you have to repeat :-)

If there are specific spots, you still need to spray it with one of those carpet cleaner sprays.

The hose attachment is nice for carpeted stairs but the main unit is pretty bulky so plan carefully so it doesn''t tip over (water).

The only real con is that it be nice if the power cord was retractable but other than that, it does what it says it does and the two containers are easy to fill & remove.

Recommended.

I was hesitant that this would be a worthwile purchase because hoover makes some pretty junky vacuums, however, after reading reviews decided to buy it! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! I have had this cleaner for approximately 8 months and have used it several times already, and it is truly amazing for a few reasons.

1) It doesn''t truly "steam" carpet BUT if you put some boiling water in reservoir with detergent it does improve cleaning, but I have cleaned with regular hot tap water with good results too.

2) You will be disgusted, amazed, and pleased at how much dirt this thing gets out of your carpets. Secondly, it really fluffs it up with the 5 rotating brushes.

3) Works great on removing stains quickly (I have an almost 2 year old) so, juice, milk, throwup, you name it! etc. It cleans it out completely. Clean surge also helps.

4) In a couple of hours (or less) the carpet is really DRY!!!

5) Finished carpet "feels" clean. You can get down on it and you just know it is clean like a line dried towel.

I haven''t tried it on upholstery or car but will eventually. I am sure that it will do an equally fantastic job!

It is really addicting to use. I have used it probably 4 or 5 times already, no problems. It is true that it will leak a little after you are done with it, but it can easily be wiped up. Can''t really complain that much about it. Results are amazing! I hope it lasts a long time. It is definitely worth the money considering what it costs to have it professionally done and also cost of renting a machine (which doesn''t do half the job).

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This is great for about a year and a half, then it needs a lot of TLC.

First, you need to COMPLETELY clean out the collection chamber or it gets smelly. There are a lot of small corners, nooks and cranies that hold sediment in the collection chamber. They can''t be reached with a toothbrush; you need a coat hanger with a rag wound around it. Also, if you have any pet hair or fluffy lint associated with your carpets, you''ll need to disassemble the front part to get rid of the accumulation.

Suction is great until there is a year''s worth of wear and tear. After about a year, the hose inside tore away from the fitting because there is insufficient ''slack'' in the hose. THank goodness for duct tape. I''m now tired of retaping and am looking to purchase a new machine. (Not this one). Also, the accumulation as mentioned before seriously affects suction and its a nasty wet mess to take it all apart mid-cleaning.

The cap on the tank too is likely to lose its little rubber plug and you cannot use it any more to measure soap without dribbling all over the place.

The hand tool is only fair. You''re better off squirting your steps and scrubbing them with a brush. It''s good for sucking up the water.

I do like the brush configuration. THe round rotary brushes are much better than a single bar brush. These require a belt to drive them and the belts break easily.

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Can you believe it made in Canton, Ohio instead of China. I owned one of the $300 top of the line Hoovers purchased from a department store. Twice the upper clear acrylic tank had to be replaced $55 a piece and then the bottom clear tank would not seal and the motor was going out according to the vacum shop mechanic. After reading many reviews of the top of the line models, I concluded that they are prone to break down and basically cheaply constructed. I asked the vacum store guy about it and he said that the expensive models in the department stores are made in China out of Chinese parts and he considered them junk. He recommended this basic model by Hoover which he claimed is rock solid, made of heavy duty parts in Canton, Ohio. The tanks are an opaque polymer which he said you can bounce on the floor and they won''t leak. When I got it, the first thing I did was look at the label. Sure enough "Made in the USA". Amazing. Cleans great. As far as the rinse feature on higher models, it means another tank and fittings and one more thing to go wrong. You control the exact amount of detergent being used low tech but accurate and dependable. Since the directions said to let it dry before running a rinse I don''t rinse anymore anyway.

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I have three dogs and have had a lot of traffic on my carpets. This steamvac cleaned the carpet areas very well. I was very impressed with the amount of dirt that it pulled up versus other steamvacs that I have used on the carpets in the past. It definatley works much better than the kind you can rent from the grocery store. The only issues that I had with it was that it took a long time to clean the carpets (had to go really slowly for it to clean well), but that could have been because the carpets were so dirty. The handheld cleaner for upholstery was a little bulky for small jobs.

Overall I am very happy with my purchase. Hoover offers an excellent warranty also.

Aqua-Pure AP124 Universal Whole House Filter Replacement Cartridge Save 14% Off

Aqua-Pure AP124 Universal Whole House Filter Replacement Cartridge for Heavy/Coarse Sediment, 2-Pack
  • Heavy/Coarse Sediment (50 Micron Nominal)
  • Cartridge Dimensions: 9 3/4" High x 2 5/8" Diameter
  • Graded density for long life
  • Rigid construction withstands stressful conditions
  • Cold water only

We have well water...This filter is an excellent whole house filter for sediment and rust issues. We have standardized upon these in our home.

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Product came on time and works just like the original FILTER that caem with my Fridge. Highly recomend this product great bang for your Buck

Blueair 650E GO SMOKESTOP Air Purifier Save 8% Off

Blueair 650E GO SMOKESTOP Air PurifierI purchased the Blueair 650e Smokestop from Sylvane through Amazon and it arrive quickly. The air purifier works great and I simply put it on auto. The sensers in the unit occasionally turn the fan on high, but 95% or more of the time, it runs quietly on low or medium speed neither are very noisy. Even the high speed is not objectionable in the bedroom, since we know it will slow down in 10 or 15 minutes. I''d estimate the high speed noise as about the same as a window airconditioner running on high, but without the low frequency rumble of the airconditioner''s compressor. I''ve had asthma in the past and bought the Blueair purifier when I stopped taking Advair. I''ve had no issues since making the switch and feel better than ever.

I''ll also say I think the sensors are very much worth it. Otherwise, I''d never know when I can turn the unit down. With the sensors, I leave it all to the machine and it works perfectly. Typically, our two Great Danes come in the bedroom with us at night and the unit kicks on high speed for about 10 or 15 minutes. The rest of the night, it runs on low or medium and we never notice it.

When the unit arrived, it did not come with the Smokestop filters as described in my original purchase. I contacted Sylvane and they immediately notified me by e-mail and voicemail that the Smokestop filters would be shipped to me free of charge. The filters arrived a few days later. I''m very happy with my purchase from Amazon and Sylvane.

Definitely worth the price. We have several of them. If there is a smoker in your house, make sure you order the special smoke stopper filters. This is definitely a case of you gt what you pay for. Even my allergist told me they are the bet on the market.Blueair 650 HepaSilent Air-Purification System

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We purchased the Blueair 650E for our home after extensive research. We read reviews on Amazon of many air purifiers. We looked at informational sites on the internet. We looked at manufacturer web sites, independent web sites, and educational web sites. We read Consumerʻs Reports. We researched all types of air purifiers at all price levels, learning about those designed for home use as well as commercial use (doctor offices/restaurants). While we are buying for a home, we wanted to understand the technologies used for the "bigger problems".

We evaluated positive and negative reviews to determine if the information was valid. In addition to the units themselves, we evaluated the manufacturer for both quality and customer service. We were not interested in cheap junk that wonʻt work or wonʻt be supported or wonʻt have filters available. We quickly realized that we would need to spend more money that we had initially budgeted, but decided breathing better air is worth it. We also realized why the under $300 units weʻd previously purchased were not satisfactory. After comparing our needs to quality units, we narrowed our search to IQ Air and Blueair.

We decided on the Blueair 650E for several reasons: itʻs quieter and easier to change filters, and seemed to fit our needs better. It has easy to use electronic controls, remote, as well as an auto mode. The auto mode is well worth it and one of the best features, since it automatically ups the speed when needed, them back to low speed a few minutes later.

Prior to purchase we contacted Blueair customer service for some information, and they were very responsive and helpful.

You can purchase filters in the regular version or Smokestop version. Smokestop does not just mean smoke, but all odors and allergy issues. Blueair also has other smaller models, with various configurations to suit different needs.

After buying and using it we couldnʻt be happier. In fact, we are planning to purchase another unit for a separate part of the house.

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expensive but I''d have to say this is state of the art in air filtration.

if you are going the trouble of mitigating a problem or concern with the air in your home not buying the best product available is wasting what ever is spent on a lesser product.

the added expense of this model is clearly value added in the controls, noise levels, and design of intake and exhaust.

the replacement filter cost is comparable to the single filter 400 series.

this is my second blue air purchased. my 400 ran flawlessly if loudly for 12 years and was still working when donated it to the local hospice''s thrift store

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Don''t just look at Amazon reviews for this product. Check out other web sites. There are two product listed as the best in the *world* for air purification, and this one is one of the two. Top of the list. The other one costs over $1,000+.

The review about this item generating so much ozone that it killed their pet is nonsense. A little research also reveals that this item does not generate much, if any ozone at all. Definitely nothing that anyone should worry about and definitely not more than any other purifier of such high quality out there.

I ended up buying this device after moving into a new apartment on a major downtown street as well as a sewage treatment plant next door, and ended up with numerous health problems that were affecting my neurological health. Aside from no longer leaving my balcony doors open, I decided to clean the inside air as much as possible, and this was the best one on the market. I have improved since day 1 using this device. I put it in my bedroom at night and close the door, as well as in the living area during the day. It emits a very pleasant, cooling sound. Nothing like the other air blower type filters that roar, and blast air all over the room.

The wheels on the bottom are a great help in moving the device, and it comes with a remote control. Absolutely satisfied with my purchase. Highly recommend.

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Keurig 2700 Keurig® Vue® V700 Single serve coffee system Save 22% Off

Keurig 2700 Keurig® Vue® V700 Single serve coffee system,  1, Black/silver(TOP 10 REVIEWER)(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)The VUE is a totally different unit than current K-Cup Keurigs. I''m comparing it to the OfficePro that we use at work. The VUE is newer, sleeker, has more choices for brewing, and it''s very attractive in design (if a bit larger.) It is definitely versatile. However, there are a number of differences between the VUE and the older Keurig models and these are SO SIGNIFICANT, you should read up before you decide which model you want. For one thing, VUE cups are NOT K cups. That''s right. This coffee maker uses a different type of single-serve unit.

I will say, this is a beautifully-designed unit--very high end in appearance. The touch screen is incredibly easy to use and allows you to customize your brew more than on the standard K cup models. The temperature IS hotter, perfect for drinking. The brew is a bit better--I was able to make a "donut shop" brew at 6 oz and strong, which tastes terrific. The unit apparently pre-wets the grounds (which is why it grunts like a guy lifting 100 pound Olympic plates) and why it takes longer to brew.

**Another update--Jan 2013: I''m finding that the variety and availability of the Vue cups (which are NOT K-cups) is still limited and they are often sold out at big box stores. The price continues higher than for K cups. Solofill now has a Vue refillable cup available at Kohls. Consider that as you read this review.

FINDINGS:

1. First and FOREMOST: The VUE does not take standard K-CUPS. Oh yes, that''s right. You need a totally different sized single pack to use this machine. So if you buy your own supplies for home AND office, it would be best if you have the same models at both locales. ( There is at present, no refillable VUE cup, but I assume someone will craft one sooner or later.

I ran test brews using Barista Cappuccino variety, a 2-part cup system that makes cappuccino with milky froth, not a clone of International Coffees instant in a single-pack as in the current K-cups. I also ran a test of "Donut Shop", "Gloria Jean''s Hazelnut", Celestial Seasoning''s Southern Iced Tea, and Green Mountain Nantucket Blend Iced (brewing both over ice as directed.)

2. You have to be able to buy VUE cups where you buy coffee. Our grocery store has no VUE cups. The selection, from what I can tell surfing around, is not as diverse as for K-cups.

3. READ THIS>>>>>>> The unit is billed as being capable of filling insulated tall travel mugs. BUT...I have several travel mugs, mostly tall steel insulated models. NOT ONE of them fits under the unit EVEN WITH THE BASE REMOVED (you pull the entire black and silver plastic base forward, It comes off easily) . The tallest mug I could get under the unit was a fatter mug that holds 18 oz. If you have a collection of those stainless steel mugs that are often business gifts or sold at coffee stores, yours might not fit under the Vue. So to fill your fave travel mug, you need to measure it under the Vue without the platform to see if it will fit. NOT ALL MUGS WILL FIT. MANY DO. MANY DO NOT.

4. Says "brews hotter." Have not observed any hotter than 184 degrees, a good brewing and drinking temperature but by no means the hottest. Anyway, you can''t expect boiling water to issue forth from such a device. My pump hot water dispenser delivers hotter water, but it simply pumps boiled water out of a steel boiler, it doesn''t have to push it through a filter and past a lot of plumbing and plastic.

5. VUE cups may be hard to find at the moment at your stores, and they are not as inexpensive as the K-cups have become.

6. The drain platform is a bit clunky. You have to make sure you push your mug all the way back as far as you can, or it drips behind the mug. The mug rest, a black plastic insert that fits inside the mug platform, has a slight lip around it and if you are not paying attention, you can miss pushing the mug far enough back. To use a travel mug, assuming it will fit, the entire bottom has to come off. (Pull it off.) Most of my steel insulated mugs still didn''t fit, however. 18 oz seems to be tops. If the mug is tall to make a slimmer part to fit your automobile drink holder, it may not fit, 18 or 20 oz. You have to test it out. Buying the VUE? Take your fave mug along to test out at the store.

7. It takes about twice as long to brew and it''s noisier than the OfficePro model (similar to a B60 model.) Maybe that results in better coffee (more time to hit the grounds) but you won''t be grabbing a cup and running. Took me about 2 minutes.

8. There is some good news: one of the criticisms of the wildly popular Keurig is that it makes more landfill waste. This is true. K-cups are the least ecological of all the single-serve coffee methods, yet K-cups took over the market by storm. This is because the coffee was better (Green Mountain) and because the sealed cup is delightful to use (not messy on the hands) and seals in the fresh taste. No wonder it took the number one spot. But the K-cups apparently can not easily be made recyclable, so I am assuming that Keurig developed the VUE to make a more "green" disposable.

But to recycle the VUE cup, you need to pull out the papery insert filled with wet coffee and throw it and the foil away separately from the recyclable plastic cup. So, back to messy tasks and this is not as easy as a toss into the trash. You need two trash containers (garbage and recycle) and you have to do some peeling away --which I find a fiddly task indeed. How many people are actually going to bother to do this recycling?

9. The touch screen is beautiful, it is my favorite thing on the unit, though I find the icons very small. Still, it''s easy to use and I love its looks and it says "ENJOY!" at the end of the brew cycle. Very slick.

10. The operation is fine, though I think it is a heck of a lot noisier and slower than my OfficePro.

ISSUES and CONSIDERATIONS

1. What will happen to K-Cups? Do we have a dual "razor blade" world with two types of cups for sale on the shelves?

2. What were the designers drinking when they made too little clearance under the brewing spout to hold standard travel mugs?

3. If the new K-cups are designed to be recyclable, then must they have to have an insert for the coffee, and why then extra step is involved to recycle used cups? I presume, this is the best the designers could do....or....is it that K-cups are going off patent this year. Is the consumer going to embrace this? And will there be a self-filling VUE cup? Because many of use like those for home use.

4. This unit is billed as being deluxe, high-end, a "better" Keurig. But...is it really THAT much better, aside from recyclable cups, which I admit is good thing, despite the fiddliness of the procedure. But because this is not an inexpensive unit, and it uses new cups less widely available and with a smaller selection of coffees, is this really high-end or is it just high-price?

5. Predictable, after the Keurig took first place in the single-shot coffee world, landfills reported a deluge of the little white cups. It''s well that Keurig made a "greener" cup but the way you recycle it is not simple and I fear that many people will just toss these in the trash rather than pull apart a used coffee pod, so will it really result in fewer cups in the landfill?

5. One more small issue: you may have trouble seeing tiny icons and numbers--even with reading glasses. The touch screen display displays very small print and is a tad annoying (but I am tall and wear bifocals, so you see the issue. I''m looking down from my 6 foot height onto the counter. You may not have any trouble seeing the display.)

CONCLUSIONS:

PROS:

YES, HOTTER COFFEE, IF YOU WANT, AT JUST THE RIGHT DRINKING TEMP.

A MUCH BETTER BREW, GROUNDS ARE PRE-WETTED

CAN ADJUST FROM 4-18 OZ AND CHOOSE STRENGTH

TEMPERATURE CHOICES

TOUCH SCREEN IS SLICK AND EASY TO USE

GORGEOUS UNIT--VERY HIGH END APPEARANCE

CAN DO TRAVEL MUGS IF YOU TAKE OUT ALL THE BASE PART AND ONLY GO UP TO 18 OZ (TEST YOUR MUG)

CONS:

NOISIER

SLOWER

MORE EXPENSIVE, CUPS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE TOO

LIMITED SELECTION OF COFFEE (FOR NOW)

LIMITED AVAILABILITY CUPS, DIFFERENT CUP than STANDARD

NO SELF-FILL CUP AVAILABLE

NEED TO FIDDLE WITH VUE CUP TO RECYCLE IT

DOESN''T HOLD SOME TRAVEL MUGS (despite saying it does) YOURS MAY NOT FIT

*UPDATE: After a full weekend of putting this beast through its paces, I have to say, it''s fantastic. I did all kinds of brewing, comparing it to my office Keurig and it is undeniably slick, fun to use and flexible. I love the lighted reservoir that lets you know that the tank needs filling (this happens at 1/4 full) and I love the touch screen and the ability to customize volume, strength and temperature for brewing. Only the cost of the cups has me concerned, and the lack of a self-fill cup.

*UPDATE 2: When you purchase Vue Cups, BE CAREFUL. Some of the cocoa, teas, coffee-milk drinks have both sugar AND artificial sweeteners. If you avoid sucralose or other artificial sweeteners, then you have to read the entire ingredients of the Vue Cup very carefully. Some have stevia, which I don''t mind as much, but I do not like a mix of sugar and non-sugar. I think it''s deceptive. You may think "sugar" ok, no artificial sweetener, but it CAN be in there as well, to add more sweetness with lower volume of powder in the cup. OR to reduce the overall calorie count of a single serving to look less fattening. Be careful!

I had my trusty Keurig B60 for 5 years. Never had a problem though I''d heard it didn''t work so well for other people. I generally drink 1 cup of coffee in the morning, though during winter I might have 2-3 throughout the day. I love STRONG coffee and so, when Keurig first hit the market, there weren''t many choices, though now, there are PLENTY.

Anyway, after 5 years (I used filtered tap water)of a wonderful relationship, my Keurig started to say DESCALE every few weeks. Before this happened, I would usually descale twice a year, and don''t recall it ever telling me to until January of 2012. Suddenly, also, it wouldn''t brew and was just really acting up. I was going to try and baby my old Keurig and squeeze every bit of life out of it but then...I had no idea the VUE even existed until someone mentioned it on a social media site. I had just received a 20% coupon from a store that sells stuff for the bed, bath and other rooms, and since it was selling for less there and I had a coupon, I decided to take the plunge even after reading the negative reviews here.

So. Glad. I. Did.

First things first: Flavor seems much better not that the old Keurig brewed bad coffeebut this just seems...fresher? Also, as I mentioned, I love strong coffee. While there are now many K-Cups on the market that are really bold, finding flavored bold coffee was zilch. And I love flavored coffee every now and then. When I purchased the VUE it came with a sample of V-cups and there was a Gloria Jeans Hazlenut (medium roast), so I tried it and pressed the Strong button. It was perfect. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical that it could actually brew stronger, but it did!!! Then I tried a Breakfast Blend (light roast) Green Mountain travel mug, used Strong, and used the 12 oz button, and was very pleased! Now, they say for the larger sizes (12-14-18) you should but a "travel mug" coffee. I haven''t tried using a regular V-cup with a higher oz cup, so I don''t know if it would taste okay or not, but for me this is such a fabulous feature (the Strong button) because now I can drink flavor coffee and it''s more robust using the strong button.

I have turned up the temp to the max it will go (love a HOT cup of coffee). My first cup was not so hot but after that initial cup, the rest of the time, it is piping hot! I say this because I don''t want anyone to panic after brewing their first cup (like I did!).

I love the touchscreen. And after it''s done brewing it reads "Enjoy!" I know this is silly, but I feel like it''s "talking to me" and I smile at it every time. Just a simple silly little thing, but I love simple silly little things!

I haven''t tried the cocoa or the tea or the ice coffee/tea so I can''t comment on that. I never used the cocoa k-cups with my old Keurig and probably won''t with this.

I don''t know if the Amazon Vue comes with a variety pack like the one that was included in the one I bought at the store, but I would **think** it would the variety pack I had included one of: Green Mountain Nantucket Blend, Breakfast Blend travel mug, Tullys French Roast, Barista Prima French Roast, Cafe Escapes cocoa, Timothy''s Decafe Colombian, Gloria Jeans Hazlenut, Coffee People Donut House, Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime tea and Southern Sweet Perfect Iced Tea.

I also love the design. I keep my Keurig on the counter in the kitchen. It sits under cabinets and anytime I wanted to add water or put in a K-cup, I would need to pull it out because it was so tall. The Vue is shorter and I don''t need to pull it out at all when putting in a V-cup or filling the water. Also, to fill the reservoir, you can take off the whole top OR lift part of it (Keeping it on) and pouring in your water.

OH! Also, you can raise the platform so if you''re using a small cup, it won''t spatter a vast improvement from my old Keurig.

This is the first day I''ve used it, so, if I have any problems or anything changes, I will update. If I don''t update, I''m still really happy!!!!!!

Also note, I''m really careful with my money. Mostly all of my clothes shopping is done at a consignment store, I drive a used car, etc...that''s also one of the reasons I wanted to baby the old Keurig as long as possible...however, since I am a huge Keurig fan and rarely splurge on anything else...LOL, I decided with the coupon and price at the store (was selling for the price listed on the Keurig online store)to just go for it. Well worth it, in my opinion.

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I got the Vue about 1 week ago from BB&B for $199 (look for the 20% off coupon) and I love the machine. The noise described by some reviewers isn''t an issue to me since my old coffee pot was just as loud and it is only on for at most 45 seconds when you brew. I feel like the touchscreen is easy to use and mine worked just fine the first try. The Vue cups are nice because you can get strong coffee in an 18 oz travel mug. I do wish it was 2-4 inches taller to fit some taller cups but that isn''t going to make me give it 1 star; I use a 32 oz ''Bucee''s Cup'' and it fit fine but my tumblers are too tall.

I read some folks complaining about the temperatures being reported as ''well under advertised'' which caused me to break out my Thermapen to check mine. Mine was coming out around 184-186 with the brewer running directly where it comes out. I have mine set to 190 degrees so that is pretty close; some heat will dissipate in the Vue cup as it brews so I have no reason to believe it is that far off. At 174 in the cup after it finished even that will burn the skin off of your lips so it is plenty hot for me.

I do wish someone would hurry up and release a refillable Vue cup so we can use our own grounds and cut back on the cost of buying the Vue packs but I am sure someone will get one out soon.

I didn''t give it 5 stars because of 1 bug I am experiencing with the water tank. Mine will brew down to 1/4 left in the tank then stop brewing until more water is added (it prompts you on the screen). Yesterday it had 1/2 a tank left and did it again; I refilled it but it didn''t detect it until I power cycled the machine. I will call Keurig to report it and see what they say about it; it might be something I did or it might just be a sensor.

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First I want to start off saying I was almost disuaded in buying this item because of all the bad reviews. It seems like people are only likely to write reivews when they have a bad experience. So here I am writing a good review because I love the Keurig Vue.

First I''ll start off with the good. The new keurig comes with a button to make a stronger cup of coffee. I personally can taste a difference and I do like the option for a stronger cup. The next thing that sold me was the increase in cup size options, before you had preset options, now you as the user can decided on how big you want your coffee. The cups are limited as of now which is obvious since this is a new item but I have my favorites, and they are already out for the vue, some people are probably not as lucky as I am. The touch screen is so cool, unnecessary? Yes maybe, but very nice touch to the all over aesthetic look of the machine. As for the options available on this keurig its amazing. Theres options for almost every kind of drink. I specifically like the iced coffee feature. I was very skeptical and assumed that it would just make a luke warm cup of watered down coffee but I was so shocked. It tasted great.

Now onto the bad. The noise can be a problem. It is way louder than my old B70 model, but unlike other people it wasn''t exactly a deal breaker. There is also the issue of the tank asking you to add water. Mine does this when its about 1/3 full, is it annoying? Sometimes, but I have a pitcher of filtered water in my fridge at all times, so filling it up in a flash is a breeze. Another downside is the launch flavors available. I said earlier my favorites are already out, but I am sure some of your favorites might not be. The new keurig does brew at a higher temp. I have read and will agree it isn''t 100 percent accurate. When i tested a cup at 192 degrees, it came up around 185.6, that was close enough for me and I didnt mind.

All in all I think this is a great buy. All the negative reviews almost disuaded me but I decided to give it a try anyway. I have had it now for over a month and I enjoy it very much. It''s got a great new look, and the new design of the k-cup is so much better, in my opinion at least. Oh and for those of you green people out there, the vue cups are recyclable.

So in conclusion, I completely recommend this product. I had my old Keurig for 3 years without any problems, and so far none with my current new model. If your considering upgrading, or moving from a standard drip coffee maker to a single cup I say go for it!!!!!!

Please leave comments if you have any questions and I would be happy to answer them.

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I purchased my original Vue from BB&B online and immediately had a problem with the "two streams" from the brew head (see this video posted by another purchaser: go to YouTube and search for "Keurig Vue Problem"). Each time I got the second stream of clear water in addition to the coffee stream, the coffee produced was very weak. (I should note that I have never used a powdered or milk style V-cup in the machine. I only use the standard ground coffee V-cups.) As this problem was causing me to waste a lot of coffee, I contacted Keurig for assistance. They had me run three water-only cycles through the system to "calibrate it" and the next cup I produced was perfect (only a single coffee stream from the front hole in the brew head). Unfortunately, the problem returned almost immediately and, once again, more than half of my subsequent brewing attempts were plagued by the "two streams" problem. I tried rinsing the brew head before each cup and running more water-only cycles, but nothing helped. I finally called Keurig again and they sent me a brand new replacement brewer. This one was only slightly better. I frequently still experienced the "two streams" problem. I believe the second hole (where the clear water exits) is not only designed for water-only cycles, but also to catch any owerflow from a standard brewing cycle. I think what is happening is that the upper (center) piercing unit is not sealing properly and the leakage from the poor seal is what is causing the second stream of clear water. In looking at a used V-cup, I can see a deep indentation in the foil lid between the center piercing and the lower piercing. My hunch is that the foil is not stiff enough to make a good seal between the piercing units at least part of the time. After using the replacement brewer for about two weeks with little success, I contacted Keurig support again and informed them of my continuing problem. I did note to them that I was in a high-altitude area (around 6000 ft) and that I had tried pre-piercing the center of the V-cup and it didn''t help. Keurig support did state that they are aware of the "two streams" issue and that replacing the brewer has usually solved the problem. They recommended that I lower the brew temp to 187 degrees and try again. I did so without success. So I called Keurig support back and the rep stated that she would consult with their engineering department and call me back. I heard back from Keurig the next day and was told, per their Engineering Department, the "two streams" problem will occur at high altitudes (6000+ feet) due to low ambient pressure. Further, there is NO FIX for this issue. As such, I had to return my Vue brewer.

I have posted my experiences here, at BB&B and on another message board to inform prospective purchasers who live in higher altitude areas NOT to purchase the Vue so they can avoid the problems I have experienced.

I am giving the Vue two stars because of Keurig''s excellent customer service (even though they could not resolve my issue). Also, on the occasions when the Vue worked properly for me, it produced great coffee.

5/16/12 Update:

After reading posts here and elsewhere from people with similar problems, I decided to purchase another V700 (my third) and give it one more try. I set up the new unit and immediately started pre-piercing the V-packs in the center with a push-pin and flattening the foil prior to brewing. Using this technique, I have not experienced a single "two stream" problem with the new unit! I did try to brew a V-pack without piercing it and it worked much better than my earlier units, but did leak a few drops of clear water through the second hole in the brew head.

I tried pre-piercing the V-packs with my earlier units, but I used a pocket knife to make a small slit in the center rather than the pinpoint hole made by the push-pin. I also did not flatten out the foil.

With or without pre-piercing, this new machine functions much better than my earlier ones. I still believe that my altitude is a factor, but it pertains to the pressurized V-packs and not the "low ambient pressure" not allowing the machine to function properly as told to me by Keurig Engineering.

To sum it up, I believe Keurig does have a hardware problem with some new V700 units my current unit brews much better than my first two which were returned. That, combined with the pre-piercing technique described above, has allowed me to enjoy the latest Keuring technology despite my altitude and I will be keeping my new V700. I am not changing my original rating at this time due to the difficulties I experienced prior to getting a working setup. (I will provide another update if anything changes.)

To those in high-altitude areas: I would now recommend that you try the new Vue, but be sure to purchase it from a vendor with a good return policy. If you are fortunate enough to get a good unit on the first try and use the technique described above, you will enjoy an excellent machine that produces quality beverages.

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O-Ring Silicone Lubricant Save 62% Off

O-Ring Silicone Lubricant - 5.3 oz tubeThis product is surprisingly dense and sticky compared to my experience with silicone grease. It is probably well-suited as an O-ring lubricant, but even better as a solution for heavy weight-bearing applications where the lubricant must remain in place for repetitive motion. I should point out that Dow Corning does not call their product silicone lubricant either on the tube or on the box, nor do they specifically use the word "silicone" in the ingredients. They call it "Dow Corning Compound 111 Valve Lubricant and Sealant."

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G.T. Water Products, Inc. MP500-B4 Master Plunger All Purpose Plunger

G.T. Water Products, Inc. MP500-B4 Master Plunger All Purpose Plunger with Bucket, White
  • Great for sinks
  • Stream line design allows this plunger the power and flexibility
  • Patented air release with a quarter turn of the hand
  • All purpose plunger for the hard to reach drains and a bucket for convenient storage
  • Made in the U.S.A.

I bought this to unclog my bathroom sink and bathtub drains. Chemical drain openers hadn''t worked. This product worked like a charm. I couldn''t be more pleased.

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I just had to use this plunger again yesterday, so I thought I should mention it here. I''ve had this plunger for a few years and it''s unclogged several drains. It''s small enough to fit under the sink, is light weight (it is just formed plastic), and breaks up every clog I''ve thrown at it. Since it''s all plastic, you can wash it up fairly easy (wooden handled plungers, not so much).

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It''s just great!! I bought the black plunger, which is for $5 and shipped for free, to unclog my shower drains (btw it looks different than the picture above, it doesn''t come with a cup). Even though it''s small and light, it does the job effectively. I highly recommend this plunger.

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I hate to say it, but my toilet requires a plunger on a fairly regular basis. I''ve tried the old fashioned kind, the OXO type and several others. There are no other plungers that compare to the Master Plunger line. They are a simple piece of cheap plastic, but they work like they were designed by engineers at NASA (and I mean that in a good way). The concept is simple. The accordian design sucks massive amounts of water into the plunger and then pressing down releases it. It unclogs any mess I have seen in one plunge. After the toilet is flushed, I plunge it a couple more times to clean out the inside. The reason I like this model is that it comes with a handy stand. The master plunger can be placed right in the stand after use and will drip dry. I can''t say it is the most aesthetically pleasing item in my bathroom, but when it works this well, I don''t mind. If you''re looking for an effective plunger, I highly recommend the Master Plunger.

I got this for the shower drain and bathroom sink. I''m hairy as an ape and so we need to plunge our shower drain every month or so to get it flowing free. This does the trick very well.

Space-gard And Aprilaire #4100 Aprilaire Pump Rebuild Kit

Space-gard And Aprilaire #4100 Aprilaire Pump Rebuild Kit For 448, 445a, 445Although the component is exactly what''s needed to repair an outdated, non-functional Aprilaire humidifier, and it fits perfectly into the existing space without needing to be modified in any way, it is ridiculously overpriced. For your money, you get the two-piece, snap-together plastic pump housing, a replacement plastic pump impeller, a plastic spacer, and a thin metal washer. All told, these pieces contain possibly a dollar''s worth of materials. Although no instructions are supplied with the parts, they are easy to assemble into the existing humidifier. But, as with all special-purpose replacement mechanical components, you can''t grab them at the local hardware store: the supply is low, so the price is high. I would suggest to anyone that needs this part to consider replacing the entire humidifer instead.

Tap Master Jr. PLUS Counter-top Water Filter Save 37% Off

Tap Master Jr. PLUS Counter-top Water FilterI''m not one for fads, so the whole bottled water craze eluded me. It seemed pretty wasteful, and the idea of paying large sums of money for what is esentially still free was out of the question.

Lately, however, all of the reports of the high levels of flouride and pharmaceuticals in our water supply have been weighing heavy on my mind. I decided to finally get a water filter. Installing something heavy duty was out of the question as I am an apartment renter so I went with the Tap Master Jr.

Positive Points:

1.This system was incredibly easy to install, and looks just fine.

2.Switching from filtered to non-filtered water (regular pressure) is super easy

3. The difference in water quality is clear

4. The filtered water pressure is not that bad at all. As another reviewer pointed out, you can fill a pot of water without wasting a half hour of your life.

5. Cost effective. Beats buying bottled!

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Delta Faucet RP330 Aerator for 2.2 GPM Save 33% Off

Delta Faucet RP330 Aerator for 2.2 GPM, Chrome
  • For use in Classic kitchen and lavatory faucets
  • 15/16-Inch 22 male thread
  • For technical assistance, contact 1.800.345.DELTA

I love my Delta faucet but made the mistake of buying a generic aerator the last time from a local hardware store. That aerator never did work right and I determined to replace it with a Delta replacement which this happens to be.

Well it came in this morning and I installed it and am very pleased with its operation. How, one may ask, can one aerator work better than another? It so happens I can address that question; a good aerator creates a water stream that doesn''t splash around, a bad one produces a stream of water that is deflected all around and can make a mess.

These aerators are definitely the good ones and produce a stream of water that doesn''t splash around.

Just to be on the safe side I ordered two of them and now have one in reserve. It''s surprising how difficult it can be to find a simple replacement locally.

I would also like to compliment Grady''s Online for their prompt delivery; the order was placed on April 19th and came in today, April 22nd and that was with standard shipping!

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This part works great. It''s a good quality and you can tell that as soon as you pick it up because it''s nice an heavy (unlike the cheep plastic aerator that someone put on my bathroom faucet years ago). It fit my old Delta faucet no problems and I''d highly recommend this part.

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This aerator is PERFECT! We desperately needed this aerator. I screwed it on to the kitchen faucet and I had instant gratification! The water is beautifully aerated and it makes really nice dish washing liquid bubbles for washing the dishes. I am VERY happy with this product. I intend to purchase more as the needs arises. Thank you so much for a GREAT product and very fast shipping!

UPDATE: The same kitchen faucet had a leak that wouldn''t quit. Drip, drip, drip--all day and night. We were making plans to call the plumber and spend hundreds of dollars to get that leak fixed. Well...here''s an unexpected result. I screwed the Delta Aerator into the kitchen faucet and guess what...NO MORE LEAKY FAUCET!!! I can''t begin to tell you how HAPPY we are that we did NOT have to call an expensive plumber! Additionally, the water bill should be lower because the constant dripping increases water usage. Increased water usage means more money out of our already strapped pockets.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for such a GREAT product! (Emphasis added)

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I needed to have a supply of aerators on hand, for my old kitchen faucet spout, (Delta 380) that Delta doesn''t make any more. However, Delta still not only makes these aerators, but they work on newer model kitchen faucet-spouts as well. We have very hard water, and the aerators get lime-scale and sometimes the plastic filter cracks when you try to clean it. The rubber washer also goes bad. It''s better to replace the entire aerator, then waste time buying new bits and pieces of it. I purchased several of these to have on hand for the future. I''m really happy with Delta Faucets becasue they still support a lot of their older products.

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So happy with this aerator! I''m so tired of the low pressure in all our sinks due to the restricting aerators. This one gives a better flow so I can get rinsed in our soft water!

Omnipure K2533JJ Water Filter Save 66% Off

Omnipure K2533JJ Water FilterWe had a delivery issue, not the vendor''s fault. However, they made it right immediately. If I must make a critical comment, it would be to define the filter connections as well as use the technical names. That will help us dummies.

Im giving this product a 4 star because it arrived with no instructions. I had to YouTube it to find exact steps replacing the filter. Otherwise, the water tastes much better with filter

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Hoover SteamVac Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge Save 19% Off

Hoover SteamVac Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge, F5914-900If your new machine LEAKS, see note #2 below. I am just amazed at how many people write that their machine leaked from day one, and they returned it. It will leak if you skip a crucial one-time set-up step.

Paid $170 at Best Buy. This is my first carpet cleaner so I have nothing to compare it to except my own expectations. Even though the name is SteamVac, like all the others in this class of cleaners, there is no Steam to it. That''s just false marketing, but all the manufacturers do it, so no particular knock on Hoover.

First, let me say I''m ashamed to admit that our carpet hadn''t been cleaned in 4 years, and that we live in the country where lots of dirt gets tracked in from outside. So the carpet was pretty darn dirty. The Hoover F5914-900 did a very nice job the first time I used it a drastically noticeable difference in the appearance of the carpet. The water in the dirty water receptacle was black. Did it return the carpet to new condition? No, impossible. Did it take another treatment or two to really get it clean? Yes, that is the price I pay for ignoring wet-cleaning the carpet for years. One of this cleaner''s best features is the ability to dry the carpet quite thoroughly. Since the front of the machine is made of clear plastic, you can see when you''re vacuuming up water. If you want to dry the carpet as much as possible, keep vacuuming until you no longer see water being pulled up. As time has passed, the SteamVac has done an excellent job of maintaining my carpets.

My only gripe is that the dirty water container fills up too quickly and should be a little bigger. Ideally, the dirty water receptacle "should" be full right as you run out of clean water. Then, you shut down, empty the dirty water, refill the clean water and back to work. But this process gets out-of-sync with the dirty water receptacle filling up before you run out of clean water. So this can be a little inconvenient, but not a show-stopper.

The machine is well constructed but it IS plastic, with lots of compartments and latches and hose holders, etc, so one must simply be careful or those things will no doubt break off.

A few other notes:

1. If you are not the type to read manuals, do read this one. Assembly and operation are easy if you sit down and read the manual through before starting. It''s not like a vacuum cleaner where you just plug it in and go.

2. My machine leaked badly BUT it was my own fault. There is a one-time only setup procedure where you squeeze the trigger and push the Clean-Surge button to lock a rod into place. Push the Clean-Surge button firmly. There may be a loud SNAP which sounds like you broke something, but you didn''t. Until you get that snap, the Clean-Surge (which releases extra water-cleaner solution) is on all the time, hence the leaking. I didn''t push the button hard enough initially, so I had the leak problem.

EDIT December 2007

Apparently many people are assuming that without a loud snap, the Clean Surge will not work. All that matters is that your machine doesn''t leak. If your SteamVac doesn''t leak, it is assembled properly and the Clean Surge will work!!! The only reason I emphasized the "snap" was because so many people were having leak problems, which are easily solved. And it''s possible that Hoover has changed the design after getting so many returns from people who didn''t read the instructions in the manual. So don''t get hung up on the snap. If your machine does leak after assembly, you know what to do.

3. ANY time it seems like there is no suction, the problem is that something is not seated properly. It is easy to snap the lid onto the dirty water container without lining it up properly, which causes a vacuum leak. If there is a vacuum leak, there is no suction at the bottom of the machine, where it is needed to suck up water from the carpet. Plus you''ll see that the brushes aren''t turning, as they''re driven by vacuum. So recheck the dirty water lid. Carefully line up the hinges at the back. The front should snap closed very easily. If you have to force it a little to snap it closed, it means the back is not aligned properly and you''ll get no suction.

4. If you have velvet or velvetine furniture, do NOT use the powered tool, use the utility tool. The powered tool is too strong for delicate fabric.

5. Like others have suggested, find a cheap alternative to the Hoover brand carpet detergent. One gallon of water doesn''t clean a lot of carpet, and at 5 oz of soap per gallon, you go thru it fast.

6. Always be sure to dry vacuum your carpet with a regular vacuum cleaner first before using this machine to wash it. Be sure to remove and clean the brushes when you''re done using this machine. Otherwise hair, thread, and balled up carpet fibers will dry on them and between them. Then the brushes won''t turn. These are not "use and put away" machines like vacuum cleaners, they''re "use, clean, and put away".

7. Here''s something I do which you *might* want to try. For a very dirty carpet, I fill a cheap plastic 2 gallon watering can (or smaller for a smaller carpet) with hot water and a tablespoon or 2 of Oxy Clean. I then sprinkle the carpet heavily, being careful not to soak it. Then use the Hoover normally. Of course, this fills up the waste water receptacle long before the soapy water container is empty, but it still saves trips to the sink to load up on clean, soapy water.

8. Others have suggested using boiling water. Not for me, thanks. Too dangerous to handle and unnecessary, unless you''ve spilled or tracked in grease.

After reading countless reviews here, I have concluded that the problems people have encountered are from failing to properly set up the machine initially, failing to seat the dirty water lid properly, or failing to clean the machine after use. I recommend this Hoover. It won''t perform miracles, but I think if it is not abused it will last a long time and do an excellent job of maintaining a carpet.

The Hoover F5914-900 SteamVac with Clean Surge works astonishingly well for a consumer carpet cleaner. There are some limitations and some gotchas; I''ll tell you about both.

There''s a 2-page "Quick Assembly Guide" and a 40-page manual. If you want your assembly guide with pictures and few words you''ll like the QAG. If you prefer verbal instructions, turn to pages 4-6 of the manual; I wish I''d started there first. (It takes me longer to figure out "Store Hose" with four illustrations showing a hand in various steps of the process than to understand the eight sentences that accomplish the same instruction.)

There''s no heater in the "SteamVac", so make your gallon of water VERY hot for best cleaning. And prepare your carpet for cleaning before filling the tank with these two steps: (1) vacuum thoroughly; and (2) pre-treat heavily soiled or grease-stained areas. The vacuum in the SteamVac is designed to suck up water (which it does very well), but will only pick up the tiniest bits of solid crud. Hoover recommends buying their PreCleaner, but you can make your own for a lot less money. Just mix 10 parts sudsy ammonia to 1 part Simple Green in a spray bottle. Hit the stains with your spray, and work in with your fingers or a clean cloth.

When cleaning you''ll need to go over the carpet quite slowly to clean it well. This is the one area where the Hoover SteamVac is down a peg compared to the pro cleaners. Make two passes (one forward, one back) holding the trigger down; this is what squirts your hot detergent mix into the carpet. Then make two passes without using the trigger to suck up the bulk of the water. I found it really helps to clean your carpets barefoot. Because the "dry" pass greatly cools the carpet while it sucks up the water, it''ll be easy to tell with your bare feet if you step on a warm, wet patch that you didn''t dry yet. There''s also a thumb button -the "Clean Surge" -which squirts the hot detergent mix more vigorously than the trigger does. Hold this down while making repeated passes over the really dirty parts of your carpet, then do your dry passes. The machine changes its pitch quite noticeably when the dirty water reservoir fills up, so you don''t have to wonder about that; just pop it out, dump the yucky water in the sink, and make sure to clean the carpet fuzz off the fibrous filter.

You use 5 ounces of Hoover''s detergent to 1 gallon of water, and I found this was barely adequate for a medium-sized room. You get a 16 ounce bottle with the SteamVac. The manual says not to use other carpet detergents, as they sudse up too much. Amazon sells Hoover''s gallon size, which is handy if you want to clean your carpets regularly -it IS the best way to maintain them.

There are other carpet cleaners, both from Hoover and its competitors. But THIS is the one you want.

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I have been generally happy with my last two Hoover carpet cleaners and they have been durable for me. I used both TONS -the 1st one was a very early model that was still going strong after 5 or 6 years of hard use, and I replaced it with one that had rotating brushes. It also got years of use but I accidentally damaged it thru my negligence. (Used it in an unheated cabin, left it overnight, and it got well below freezing I broke the spray trigger when I impatiently tried to use it.) My last one still worked if you pushed the surge button and then pried it up again, but I decided to get a new one.

I purchased this model, but it leaked before even starting to use it, so I returned it and bought a Bissell Proheat 2x. I liked that it seemed easier to clean the machine than the Hoovers, and that it had a rinse option, although not conveniently located. I noticed immediately with first use that it wasn''t as good as even my old (trigger broken) Hoover. The Bissell didn''t extract water well at all, even though I went over and over an area trying to get the water up. It was obvious by looking that it also didn''t clean as well (probably as a result of leaving dirty water still in the carpets.) If it''d been my first carpet cleaner I might have thought it great since it did get dirt out, but I knew they didn''t look as clean as in the past and mostly they were WET. The next day, before returning it I bought ANOTHER Hoover 914-900 thinking the first leaky one was an anomaly. The 2nd one leaked initially also, but once I used it for a minute, pressed and released the trigger a few times and the seals got wet, it stopped leaking. Thus I had two new cleaners to try side-by-side. Where I used the Bissell after the Hoover, there was no difference, the Bissell didn''t get the carpet any cleaner. Where I used the Hoover on where I''d cleaned with the Bissell the night before -a BIG difference. The carpet was visibly cleaner; (it''s a very light carpet so it''s easy to see that) the dirty water collected confirms that it picked up dirt the Bissell left behind; and the carpet was drier. This was a return to what I expected based on my last 2 Hoovers -damp carpet, not WET carpet, and I think it''s why the Hoover cleaned better. The Hoover isn''t perfect -the tanks need to be bigger for fewer trips to the sink (if too heavy for some people, they wouldn''t have to fill as full), and there is no good way to clean it! I did like the idea behind the Bissell of having clean water with which to either mix with the detergent and spray, or to rinse with, and it would be a plus if Hoover would find a way to do that. (Especially if the "rinse" button was on the handle and easily accessible.) But Bissell''s technique of inserting a plastic bladder for clean water inside the dirty water tank means neither holds much water which makes for extremely frequent trips to the sink. Also, having to stop, bend over, and switch a dial on the base to "rinse" and the same to switch back to cleaning mode was highly inconvenient. Last, Bissell''s on-board water heater didn''t seem to make a difference. Leaving behind too much dirty water was its downfall, it didn''t matter that the water went in "heated." I used the hottest tap water I could in the Hoover and it worked just fine. The "proheat" seems to me to be just another unneeded gizmo that can break. Overall, I guess it depends on what''s most important to you. For me, clean carpets that dry in a couple of hours trumped ease of cleaning the machine.

Read Best Reviews of Hoover SteamVac Carpet Cleaner with Clean Surge Here

I just got this machine and tried it on a high traffic area rug in the entry-way of our home. While it did not get all the stains out (nothing will), it did a much better job than my 3 year old Bissell powersteamer. It was also very effective at removing baby formula & milk stains on the bedroom carpets.

The 5 rotating scrubbing brushes are much more effective at eliminating dirt than the single rotating drum brush design on Bissell and Eureka machines. The powered hand tool is also a nice feature as it also has 2 separate rotating brushes.

The suction is also very good at getting the dirty water out of the carpets. I''d say the machine sucks out 80-90% of the water that you put in. This means less drying time and less water seepage into the wood floors beneath the carpet.

The machine is fairly easy to assemble, take apart, and remove and attach the 2 water tanks.

The only gripes I have are the relatively small size of the 2 tanks (fairly standard for non-pro machines), no on-board heating (fairly minor gripe here as I could have bought another model), and the clean water tank design makes it difficult to get all the water out due to it''s "lip" around the opening. I guess it is more important to get all the water out of the dirty water tank so this is not really a major deal either. The dirty tank empties just fine.

Bottom line, unless you are going to buy a pro machine like a Rug Doctor (approx. $800), this is a good one. Now, I would definitely buy a Hoover over Bissell or Eureka carpet steamer anyday.

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Living in a one-bedroom apartment, I had real qualms about having purchased this. However, after several cleanings, I can say it''s absolutely been worth it.

I have a short-haired cat who was home one time during a professional cleaning. The cleaner had let himself in when I wasn''t home. I came home later to beautiful carpet, but I couldn''t find the cat. No, he hadn''t been sucked up by the steamer, but he was a terrified lump under the covers of the bed. He stayed there for a long time, huddled and shivering as I petted him through the covers.

With time, my carpets started getting grungy again. Like most felines, mine goes through his shed-and-barf episodes a few times a year. I used to spot clean, but it always grossed me out, and I was never convinced I was getting deep enough. Considering I now had several spots and didn''t want to put the beast through another traumatic professional cleaning, I sprung for the Hoover SteamVac.

It''s a hefty, heavy thing with minimal prep required to set it up for the first time. After shutting the cat in the bedroom, I was ready to go. I steamed the living room using the recommended amount of Hoover cleaner, adding my own boiling water from an electric kettle (the directions just say hot, but I had read other reviews here!). The stuff that came out of the carpet was amazing and disgusting. I had swept already, and still the water turned a filthy brown. It lifted the spots from the carpet like a pro. The Clean Surge feature is great for particularly difficult, set-in stains. One stain that had been there for a long time lightened, but could not be completely removed. Still, I was satisfied. The vacuum of the water worked great and left the carpet just slightly damp. It dried quite fast.

After this, I was bitten by the cleaning bug and wanted to steam EVERYTHING. My car was several years old, having been purchased as a used vehicle. The seats had always bothered me because the driver''s looked dingy and darker than the passenger side, and the passenger side was darker than the back seats. Even though the Hoover cord is quite long, I attached a couple extension cords together in order to reach from my apartment to the car outside.

Setting the steamer up for cleaning upholstery is a more complicated process than steaming your carpets. I read the directions and remembered thinking I''d better not lose them because there''s no way I''d remember what went where later. I went to work and steamed those seats. The results were nothing short of amazing. I could see muddy-colored water being sucked back into the Hoover. The cleaning using the upholstery attachments, including rotating, scrubbing brushes, worked wonders in cleaning out years of dirt and turning the seats much lighter.

Months later, I''ve cleaned my carpets repeatedly. Each time I''m thrilled with the results. I don''t always use as much cleaner as Hoover recommends because I''ve read the other reviews about cleaner possibly attracting dirt. I haven''t noticed any difference in using half the amount of cleaner after the initial cleaning with full strength.

After a cleaning, the cat barf spots are gone. Despite having vacuumed before cleaning, the cleaner still picks up cat hair and spits it out as wet little clumps that need to be picked up later when the floor has dried. It''s just confirmation to me that the steamer is really getting in deep and pulling up ground-in dirt and hair.

And you know what? This even works on linoleum! Granted, you may not want to pull it out as your primary method for washing floors, but it''s great for a periodic steam cleaning. You have the option to turn the rotation of the brushes off if you''re concerned about them on your floors. The cleaning solution also does a fantastic job and leaves the linoleum gleaming and shiny.

My carpets always look great. They always have that "just cleaned" look about them. I''ve had people comment on them as they enter my home and insist on removing their shoes. I''m very satisfied with the performance of the Hoover. If you have carpet, and especially if you have an indoor pet, you''ll get lots of use out of the SteamVac.

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