I must admit my almost closed damper and modifying my fireplace are my âÂÂRealâ problems. 1. Related to damper, I keep it almost closed in my 14â ID 16âÂÂOD insulated filled pipes (2 X 30â sections) to try and hold more heat. 2. My fireplace was opened to both sides requiring the large pipe. I added a 14 or 16 gauge steel back to one side, stainless grates below and above the fire, a plate on the upper grate 7 X 2â tubes to slow the heat at the tubes. 3. The approx 30 year old project will expand and seep a little where the upper grate is bolted in vs welded (more bolts might help). âÂÂBurning hot fires and choking the draft is the real problemâÂÂ, but sealer yearly (in the few 1/6â buckles) has solved it until it flakes off. IâÂÂll have to open the damper more. Plus, ext air is ducked down into the hearth in front behind glass doors to allow overnight burning. Would you call it a 30-year-old liability or just open the damper more and keep sealing? IâÂÂll post pics if you are interest in seeing the project. loger http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af312/JOW_06/fireplace2insert.jpg?t=1290271118 http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af312/JOW_06/fireplace2insert.jpg?t=1290271321 http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af312/JOW_06/fireplacesinsertbacksidesignsofredhotheat.jpg?

It is not "overkill" to make an expensive purchase of a vacuum cleaner. What is "overkill" is purchasing an upright when you only have floors. There are alot of good quality canister vacuum cleaners out there to choose from. A cheap $30 vacuum cleaner may be all that you need, for the time being. There are other things to consider in a vacuum purchase like reliability, performance, features, ease of use. A $30 vacuum cleaner is not going to be the same as a $100 vacuum or a $150 vacuum. An example would be that many more expensive models would have better attachments than the ones for your brand of vacuum cleaner. When looking for a vacuum cleaner, do not look at the price. Look at how you can get the best vacuum cleaner that you will feel comfortable with using through the years.

Bobby~ Thanks for keeping me honest! I don't remember the exact model number of the Progressive I bought, but it was the orange one and had all the bells and whistles (does that help?). :) Integrated cord to the power head, 12A, quick release power head, dirt sensor, dual headlights (which I LOVED), small power head attachment, variable speed, bare floor mode etc. A partial laundry list of issues after 11 months: Intermittent connection in the handle power switch causing it to just not turn on unless it was darned good and ready or you'd flipped the switch a dozen times. The small power head had no suction, even after sending it back to the service center. The bag was folded in half in the compartment so it only ever filled halfway. The variable speed never seemed to vary much. It was either on very low or full throttle. No in between. I had to take the brushroll apart all the time to clear the dog hair and they didn't design in provisions for doing it easily (like Miele does). That said, I love my Miele. It's quieter than any vacuum has a right to be, sturdy, easy on my hardwood floors, gets under furniture I never thought possible to vacuum under, and has given me no issues in the two years I've had it. It's so quiet, I can vacuum the master bedroom and even under the bed my husband is sleeping in without waking him up. Plus as an engineer I appreciated all the quality and reliability testing Miele puts the vacuums through. ok, enough waxing poetic about a vacuum. :) Bri

The sealer I previously used did vacuum seal the bags. I had purchased it many years ago and threw it out when I got my new sealer. It worked on a completely different system because it had a "spout" that you'd put the bag into, then press down on the top of the sealer, and it would then seal the bag. I bought the new sealer in part because it is "hands free". I have the 20' long rolls as well as the bags. My confusion is that if I have one small piece of meat to seal, must I use the entire width of the bag in order to do a vacuum seal? Also, when I use the sealer, I've been using extra bag as well so that the food is able to lay on the counter before I seal. Am I doing something wrong or do you also need to use a large bag for a little bit of food? I really would rather not wash bags and reuse them. I would still need to vacuum seal any meats I put in the freezer so using the jars would only be a partial solution.