Small Spaces in Hot Weather: The Affordable Heat Pump by Air & Water

     Part of my job here at Retire In Style Blog is to share products that will help you be comfortable living in a small space.  I have told you about downsizing, products that you might need and how to make that small space beautiful.  In every case I have told about things that I know first hand.  I am not an expert unless you want to call "living" an education but I do know what I love.
     A couple of weeks ago I received an email from a company that sells home appliances.  The email started like this:

NewAir AC-10000H 

10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner 

and Heater with Remote Control

My name is Andreah, I work in the marketing department for an independent online appliance retailer called Air & Water, Inc.  We sell a variety of home appliances on our website Air&Water.com.  I heard about your blog through my mom, who is a regular reader.  She's always talking about your great travel ideas and looking in to day trips that are closer to where she lives.  It's great to see her so active and enjoying her retirement!

     She had me at the "I heard about your blog through my mom....".  When I read the rest of the letter, I felt as though I were talking to an old friend.  What the company wanted was for my husband and I to try out a new product they are marketing this summer.  I agreed to test it and then give you my review here on my blog.  The portable air conditioner and heater came in the mail last week.
     Air&Water is a company that sells everything from air conditioners to BBQ grills.  Their tag line is The Way Online Shopping Should Be.  When I clicked on their website I was immediately offer an chance to chat online with a representative.  I don't know about you but I like it when a company makes it that simple to get information on a product I want to buy.


About Us
     We live in Portland in the summer and Tucson in the winter.  Our heating and cooling needs are very unique.  Here in Portland the humidity is high and we may require heat part of the day and cooling at another time. 
     In Arizona we live in a park model with a TOTAL square footage of about 400 square feet.  It is very small.  We have a very old heat pump that is not working properly.  Replacing that unit would cost us somewhere around $4000.  We do not use either the heating or cooling daily there but when it gets cold or very hot we do need a little help so we can be comfortable. As a result we have been looking for a more affordable way to heat and cool our tiny space.


About the NewAir AC-10,000H.
     So the question we asked ourselves turned out to be "would we use something portable and carry it back and forth?"  After we opened the box, set it up the NewAir AC-10000H in our condo upstairs, we both knew the answer would be "yes".  It was easy to install, inconspicuous/sleek and very quiet for a portable AC unit.  Best of all it included a remote control. (Specs for it are on the webpage.)
     The NewAir AC-10000H can 1) cool, 2) heat, and 3) dehumidify.  We will make use of all three of these functions this summer.  Our condo here in Oregon is 1400 square feet but our upstair bedroom and office is a total of 350 square feet.  We will close unused rooms off upstairs when we are heating or cooling.  This unit is designed to heat or cool 325 square feet.  It also features a timer so we can set it for the heating/cooling to come on in the early evening before we go to bed.   Perfect!
     What I have discovered after trying both the AC and heating unit, the performance meshes with the information from the manufacturer.

From the Air Water Website:  The NewAir AC-10000H also offers 10,000 BTUs of cooling and easily covers areas up to 325 square feet, making it ideal for both primary or supplemental cooling of individual rooms or areas.

     The price is $469.00 but they are offering free shipping for a limited time. Today I see they are offering a price break of $110.  My husband and I thought the cost sounded a lot better than the $4000 for a new heat pump in Arizona.  
     I only tell you what I know.  I can't guarantee that you will love what I love.  Take a look at the information, guarantees and pictures.  You will have to decided for yourself.  I can only send you in the right direction.


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TV EARS...HOLY COW MARIE, THEY WORK!!!

Image via Wikipedia

note:  Here is a small disclaimer.  I do not get paid by any of these people.  I just tell you what I like!

Our New TV Ears  (We are the proud owner of TV Ears.  That is what this story is about.) 
     Can you hear me now?  If you live with someone that is deaf you have probably used the Verizon catch phrase. I used to think it was funny but as I grow older the fun has worn off.  Every volume knob is set to 10 (full blast) and old men carry on conversations with each other that would make a great comedy sketch.  And the gifts.....what can I say? 
     I can hear just fine (well sort of)  but my husband is just a mess. Our children love us and want us to have anything that will make our life better/easier.  Bless their little peeked heads, we do appreciate any attention we get.  (Can you see where this going?)
   When my husband's last birthday came around my daughter started talking about getting him a set of the TV Ears you see advertised.  I was less than enthusiastic I suppose.  I like the TV on full blast even though I do not have a hearing problem. :)  Low and behold, here came the TV Ears in the mail.  My husband was very skeptical so I explained that it was okay, I would use them too and we could both benefit from them.  I did manage to slip in the fact that he was MUCH worse off than me.  He didn't like it but I felt better.
     This weekend we plugged the TV Ears into the back of our cable box, charged the head set and began using them.  (note:  You will need an adapter if you do not have a cable box.)  HOLY COW MARIE!!!  Those things are wonderful.  You can have the TV on mute and the head set still works.  He can watch TV in bed and I can sleep. You can adjust the volume on the set and turn the sound down when the commercials are on.
    Why didn't we do this a long time ago???  Well actually we did.  We bought and returned other types of devices.  The difference here is the TV Ears are not cumbersome, they do not hurt your ears or give you a headache, the headset is wireless and they were affordable. I see that you can buy them on Amazon for $50.85 and get free shipping! Or you can go to the website for the device and they cost about the same after using a coupon.   WHAT A DEAL!!!!
    I give this device a complete thumbs up...try them out and see what you think.

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