B&Q Chandler FIRE Suite

Advantages: Cheap, attractive, easy to fit
Disadvantages: None, yet!

...As a few people may know, I am currently attempting to install a new kitchen, with hardly any assistance, and no experience. Oh yes- and hardly any money! I tried suggesting a camp fire in the back garden, but my other half was having none of it, even though I do most of the cooking! We had already decided that we wanted a built in oven with a ceramic/ halogen hob, but although I have used them, I have never actually had to buy this type of thing before, being quite content with a box of matches and a few logs! Upon the initial search, I found to my horror that I would be lucky to get a new halogen hob for under £200, so we started to look at alternatives. I did consider ebay, but the postage costs often outweigh bargain prices, and I didn't fancy cooking on a second hand hob. So back we trudged to B&Q ( it's only three minutes... Read review

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Advantages: Quiet (with mod), removable water tank, air direction control, cheap
Disadvantages: Water tank could do with being bigger (I'm being picky here!)

...I was looking for a relatively decent air con unit last Friday due ot the extereme heat. I was torn between the Focus 12000 BTU Hinari unit and the 14000 BTU unit I'd seen in a B&Q catalogue (NOT the split unit as seen on their website) and luckily I managed to test both of them so here is my review/comparison. Cooling:- The B&Q unit is rated at 14000 BTU's vs the Hinari unit which is rated at 12000 BTU's. From what I could feel in the store I'd say the B&Q unit does feel slightly cooler but not by a huge amount. In an average sized room I'd say you might get an extra 0.5 to 1 degree celsius off your room tempreture. For reference, the Hinari cooled a 9sqm office I was working in from 30c to 25.2c in around an hour and also drastically reduced the humidity. This made the office competely bearable again. Noise:- The Hinari unit... Read review

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Advantages: strong sucking
Disadvantages: multiple attachments that are problematic!

...I was advised to purchase this by a sales person in B&Q who informed me it was the better model on the market. In terms of cost comparision it was fairly evenly matched so we went for this model on his recommendation. - I will never trust a man again! Whilst this model may suit technically minded men who like things as complicated and as technical looking as possible - I'm afraid it doesn't suit me. Admittedly it does suck well. Very well. It is easy to carry as it has a shoulder strap, but is heavy to use as a conventional hand held vac. Has a very strong suction and compares well to my dyson in terns of power. (though my dyson is a bit old and the filters are somewhat clogged) There are a variety of attachments that come with it, it sucks, blows and inflates (handy for our daughter's ball pool among other things). But it has... Read review

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