Powerpac iVac Stick Vacuum PPV808

I have wanted to find a more lightweight upright vacuum cleaner. 

While shopping for a laptop for Sera, we saw this Powerpac iVac Stick Vacuum PPV808 by chance at one of the Challenger stores (not all Challenger stores have this model). However, as we were in a rush that day, we did not have the time to ask the salesperson for more information on this.

I tried searching online for more information and reviews on this product later but only managed to find some information on Challenger's online store hachi tech and Powerpac website. There were no reviews on this.

Ardon and I went down to the same Challenger store on another day. This time, we checked with the salesperson and knew that it did not come with extra tools like the crevice tool and corner brush. However, at that price point, it was still a good deal since we felt that the suction power of a vacuum cleaner is the most important. Having extra tools would be a bonus but not critical.

After using this Powerpac iVac Stick Vacuum PPV808 for a few times, we decided it was time to write a review on this.

It has a power consumption of 800 watts. Although having high power consumption does not necessarily mean good suction power, it's the only indication of its suction power if no other information is given. The suction power of this Powerpac iVac Stick Vacuum PPV808 was definitely strong and we could feel the wind when the vacuum cleaner was switched on. It was lightweight, making it easy for me to use and carry around. I was initially worried that it could not vacuum/go under our bed and was pleasantly surprised that it could. Our bed is about 19 to 20 cm above the floor.

There is a button at the bottom of the main body for switching between vacuuming hard floor and vacuuming a carpet. See the picture below.

Bottom part of Powerpac iVac Stick Vacuum PPV808

This is also a 2-in-1 vacuum cleaner. The portable vacuum cleaner could be released by the press of a button.

Full view of Powerpac iVac Stick Vacuum PPV808

Handy vacuum cleaner

This Powerpac iVac Stick Vacuum PPV808 used a HEPA filter. It also used a washable dust cap instead of dust bag. The dust capacity was 0.8 litres. So far, it seemed large enough for vacuuming our whole flat. It could be folded when not in use, so we can put it in a corner of the living room without it taking too much space and is not so conspicuous.

Handle folded

The electrical cord of this Powerpac iVac Stick Vacuum PPV808 was only 5 metres, so it was not long enough to go around the house. The way to get around this was either to plug and unplug using different sockets or to use an extension cord.

Below are the pros and cons of this Powerpac iVac Stick Vacuum PPV808.

Pros:

1. Good suction

2. Light weight

3. Economical

4. 2-in-1

5. Compact/easy storage

6. HEPA filtration

7. Bagless

8. Can vacuum under our bed

Cons:

1. The wheels do not roll smoothly
2. Electrical cord not long enough to go around the house
3. No extra tools
4. On/off switch position was not at a convenient position

Crestar Hypac

We bought our old ceiling fans with included light kits at a sale a few years ago. The fans were sold at a low price with the light kits included at only $1 each. At that time, it was a very good offer that we couldn't resist buying. We were then looking into ways to reduce our electricity bills and the ceiling fans did serve that purpose. However, the blades were not smooth enough as they were made of wood. Dirt and dust tended to get trapped and hard to remove if cleaning was not done often. Not to mention that they were white in colour! After the most recent cleaning of the fan, the light kits would shake violently when the fan speed was switched to the highest level. We were forced to stay on speed number 2, which would still be very warm on hot days. Speed number 1 was also spoilt for more than a year. 

Each light kit had 3 light bulb sockets. One by one, the sockets failed. Eventually we were down to only 3 light bulbs for the entire living room area. There was also the problem of the shaking light kits highlighted earlier. Since all of these repairs were not covered under warranty, we decided that it was time to get new ceiling fans.

We waited for the Chinese New Year holidays to be over before getting the new ones. In the meantime, I did my research online and also asked about the ceiling fans in some relatives' homes when we visited them during the Chinese New Year.

From what I gathered, KDK is an old and trusted brand. However, it is more expensive and has limited choice of light kits. Its products were only protected by one year warranties. Crestar and Fanco were the next two well known/popular brands. Crestar fans offered a one year warranty on parts and 10 years warranty on motors. Fanco fans have lifetime warranties for their motors.

We wanted ceiling fans that used E27 light sockets for their light kits. E27 light bulbs are easier to change when they burn out and are easily available in many stores. Since we always went to NTUC Fairprice hypermarket for groceries, we took the opportunity to look at the ceiling fans on sale there. They were mainly KDK and Amasco fans, costing more than $300 each.

I did google searches online and found a shop near our place that sold ceiling fans. Quite a number of shops were not opened that week as it was the first week of the Chinese New Year. This shop was opened on 5 Feb 2017 and we wanted to get it done as soon as possible before the weather gets too hot.

We were considering between Fanco and Crestar. The sales lady told us that Crestar ceiling fans are made in Taiwan, so they are more durable and more expensive than Fanco's ceiling fans. We also asked about using built-in LED lights in the Crestar ceiling fans. She said that, usually, the built-in LED lights should last for a long time. We were told that for this type of light/lamp, if the light is spoilt, we would need to get the agent to come and replace the lamp. This could easily come up to $100++. The lamp is also not as bright as those that used the open style light kits that used E27 light bulbs. 

The sales lady suggested that we could use remote control to operate the ceiling fans as it is more convenient. However, we had a bad experience with remote control in our previous ceiling fan. When the remote control sensor/PCB board were spoilt, we were short of one lamp and ceiling fan to use for a few days before the agent could send someone down to repair it. We wanted to keep things simple and low maintenance. So we chose the Crestar fan that could use the light kits that comes with E27 light sockets. Even though the built-in LED lights should be more durable and do look neater than the E27 bulb light kits, there was no guarantee that the built-in LED lights will last long enough. It also seemed that the usage tests on how long the built-in lamps are supposed to last are usually based on only a few hours a day (probably night time).

We chose the Crestar Hypac because we wanted acrylic blades for the ceiling fans. We liked the fact that acrylic blades are lighter and smoother than wood. This would make them easier to clean. The model we chose came in sizes 48 inch (122 cm) and 54 inch (137 cm) for this model. We thought the 48 inch blades might not be windy enough for us. Our old ceiling fans were 52 inches. So we opted for the 54 inch Crestar Hyperpac ceiling fans. Of course, this time round, we chose black colour for our ceiling fans. We also used strings as the mode of operation for the fans and lights.

Delivery and installation were arranged for 3 days later. At first, one of the fans' light kit would shake when the fan was switched to speed number 2. The contractor/man who did the installation explained to us that this was a balancing problem that could be fixed very easily. He went on to fix the problem and the fan worked fine with no shaking of the light kits. 

The wind from speed 2 of Crestar Hypac is equivalent to the wind generated from speed 3 of our old ceiling fans. That's one plus point. I chose a light kit design that was different from the previous fans. The kids also agreed that the new fan and light kits looked better than the previous ones. :)

A-CON 42 Fanco Ceiling Fan/3 Blades/ Ceiling fan with remote controlLED light options/48 Inch 4

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707 Water Heater - Princeton

Our Europace Multi-point Instant Water Heater EWH138 started to leak water 3 weeks ago after about 4.5 years of usage. We were considering whether to call Europace or just get a new water heater. Upon checking the warranty, we realized that it covered only the heating element for 5 years. So, we reckoned that it would be better to just get it replaced. We were actually quite disappointed that it did not last as long as our previous storage water heater (Ariston, lasted 11 years).

Once again, we began our search for new water heaters. This time round, we wanted to buy a more trusted/old brand. Comments online for their water heaters had been mostly good.

I checked from the Gain City website that they do sell 707 water heaters. It so happened that Gain City was having their best electric sale at the Singapore Expo and so we went there.

Once we got into the expo hall, we went to the section that sold 707 water heaters. Initially we wanted another storage water heater because we were concerned that  there might be an installation problem if we chose the instant water heater. The promoter reassured us that, for our case, we can change to an instant water heater because we have a switch outside each bathroom that can control the individual water heater. However, we would still need to get a plumber to get the pipes changed/re-routed.

We figured that the cost of replacement for an instant water heater is cheaper in the long run. There are more choices for instant water heaters with relatively lower prices compared to storage water heaters. Another factor was that if one water heater fails, we would still have another one in the other bathroom to use.

We bought this 707 Instant Water Heater - Princeton - upon the strong recommendation of the promoter. This water heater came with temperature and water pressure control knobs and a rotatable shower Sliding Kit complemented with the unique Oracle-Slim Rain Shower Head. The promoter told us that he himself had one installed in his own home. Once you used the rain shower head, you will feel the difference. This heater was available in seven colours. We chose purple.

We had this Princeton water heater installed in the bathroom of our master bedroom. The plumber set the temperature and water pressure/flow to the highest. He advised us to use the tap to control the water flow and temperature. It would be easier especially for Sera since she might not be able to reach the control knobs on the water heater. 

True enough, the rain shower felt great. The temperature of the water that flowed out was more consistent, unlike our previous multi-point instant water heater.

When the weather turned hotter recently, we turned the temperature knob to the 2nd marking.

We bought the Champs Instant Water Heater - Lagoon for the bathroom in the kitchen for the occasional use of hot water. I will write a separate review for that.

[S$279.00](▼31%)[707]707 Instant Water Heater - Princeton (Available in Gold / Champange / Teal Green / Purple - 2 Years Warranty)

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Hitachi Refrigerator R-H350P4MS

Recently, our old refrigerator's handle fell apart. We didn't want to spend money to repair it. Our heads collided with the handle of the freezer many times whenever we got up after we took things in or out of the lower compartments of the refrigerator. The doors were also very difficult to open. We didn't realize that when we tried the display set before purchase as it was not switched on then. 

It was not easy for us to find a suitable refrigerator due to space constraints. We went to Gain City on one weekend and finally purchased the Hitachi Refrigerator R-H350P4MS 2 door refrigerator. It had 2 ticks on energy efficiency. We opted for the extended warranty offered by Gain City from the second to the fifth year of purchase. This extended warranty included parts and transport costs.

Hitachi Refrigerator R-H350P4MS (SLS)

This Hitachi Refrigerator R-H350P4MS has a vegetable crisper which we could use for storing fruits. We were glad that it was big enough for our use. There was another convertible compartment that we could use for dairy/meat or vegetables depending on which position we placed it inside the refrigerator. We placed this above the vegetable crisper to store vegetables.

This new refrigerator's doors did not have handles that stuck out like our old refrigerator, so we no longer have to worry about colliding with the freezer's handle. The doors were much easier to open so our kids , especially Sera, could open it without our assistance. 

Side view of refrigerator's doors

The new freezer compartment was smaller than our old freezer, so we could not stock up too much meat and other frozen items in the freezer. It came with a portable twist ice maker and tray. This could be an advantage or disadvantage depending on how you looked at it. It could be removed to put more food in the freezer. However, there was nothing to hold the twist ice maker inside the freezer itself. It had to be placed on top of the transparent ice tray that came with it. It was a bit cumbersome to take ice cubes out from the freezer as we had to take the twist ice maker out first, before we could take the ice cubes from the transparent ice tray. 

The total capacity of the fridge was 283L. This was smaller than our old fridge so it was a challenge to organize the whole fridge. 


Related post:

Fridge Organization (Amore Ocean Blog)

[S$699.00][Electrolux]Electrolux 2 Door Fridge FlexFresh 347L nett (ETB3502PE)

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