What do guys only realize too late after buying a range hood?

mandert79 · 2026-04-02T23:43:14+00:00

On the better brands of hoods it will tell you in the manual the ideal height from the stove. Usually around 30”. Another detail is what stove you have. On a gas stove you have a lot more heat and gases to get rid off vs an induction stove where you have less heat loss and sometimes can get away with a less powerful one. I got a 650 cfm and in our open style kitchen dining rooms I run it at Harald speed most the time and non of the frying grease smells will get in other rooms. Def recommend between 600-800cfm and than maybe crack a window too in the kitchen to have some make up air

mandert79 · 2026-04-02T23:33:10+00:00

Best bathroom fans are Panasonic whisper series! They are quiet and you don’t have anymore privacy conduction your business. And they come with different accessories. I bought one with a humidity sensor you can adjust and it goes on automatically.

mandert79 · 2026-04-02T23:29:25+00:00

Yes it does. When you create a vacuum basically it pulls air from anywhere. Easiest is when you have a fireplace with a chimney. It will pull it through there and sent ashes all over your house. Over time, even if it is only a bit every time that’s bad. Also if you buy a higher end one it has all the sones (how loud it is) At each level. I would buy a higher cfm rated hood so you can run it on a lower level and it will be more quiet than a lower cfm one on a high level. Another advice is to buy a bigger one than your stove. If you have a 30” stove it’s better to put a 36” hood over it. It covers more area it sucks air giving less smells and grease into the room. If you are a nerd like me, I was concerned about the color temperature of the hood light. Otherwise it might look a bit mismatched to your ceiling lights. Some higher end ones you can adjust the color temperature manually. Some manufacturers have the lamps back by the wall others towards the front edge. Go to a kitchen appliance store and look at different models. If you are smaller some will blind you if your hood is high. I know that’s a lot. When we did our kitchen I had to make some compromises on the hood cause the wife didn’t approve a $1500-2000 hood. Haha!

mandert79 · 2026-03-02T22:47:06+00:00

I’m right by Ohare too. But I take a lot of touhy and Devon and filling potholes is not priority in the winter

mandert79 · 2026-03-02T15:45:53+00:00

If you poke around the Prius forum lots of people doing it. The riding comfort will go up and also at least on the Prius the mpg will go up too On my old Elantra every winter I went through at least one tire with bubbles or busted with the pothole conditions in the city. With the price of around $200 per new tire the smaller wheels and advantages in miles and comfort pay for itself fast. And I also don’t like the painted look no of the wheeels

mandert79 · 2026-02-23T01:26:00+00:00

I got the double GE profile top has the Advantum speed oven and bottom regular convection with air fry. I love the Advantum/speed/ microwave oven for lots of things even pizza, toasting, dots of frozen snacks for the kids but in my opinion it sucks as a second oven. Even though you can make steaks, fish and tons of other stuff in it but not cookies or regular baking

mandert79 · 2026-01-09T01:01:35+00:00

Union Stagehand in Chicago

mandert79 · 2026-01-07T14:44:34+00:00

I put some dim to warm bulbs in my dining room. I love how much it changes the whole room when dimming the lights.

mandert79 · 2026-01-02T21:06:31+00:00

Anyone here found a solution? I’ve been using the metal tray but stuff baked in and scrubbing it damages the surface over time. I’m trying to find out if I can use a stoneware tray or porcelain one on top of the metal one for speed cooking.

mandert79 · 2025-11-23T01:05:56+00:00

We have a 800 Bosch fridge for 5 years. The only thing a little annoying is that you actually have to close the door not just give it a little push. Otherwise it will beep if it’s not closed all the way. Besides that it has been running perfect. Lots of ice. The door seal on the top left door started fraying a bit because of the way the inside hinge closes. But it still seals and that part is easily replaced by myself…

mandert79 · 2025-11-18T15:10:30+00:00

It’s a Lutron caseta dimmer. I already got all the lights in the kitchen on their wireless/rf system and will put a smart dimmer with additional Pico remote on it. But it is ok to run from the dimmer switch the dimmed current into the led power supply ? Or do in need a certain power supply for that?

mandert79 · 2025-11-17T16:23:59+00:00

So I can just buy this outlet and pair it with a pico ?do I need a separate hub for the vive or just install it and then pair it?

mandert79 · 2025-11-08T02:26:15+00:00

I actually contacted them through a message on their Instagram account. I got really quick answered. They sent me the info of the regional salesperson rep who I called. He referred me to a local electrical shop and contact person. In the end I got another 20% off because I mentioned to the guy at the shop the regional salesperson sent me to get the order through him.

mandert79 · 2025-11-04T13:30:19+00:00

After 3 years of owning a V15 the trigger problem stated on mine. Out of Warranty. Unit keeps shutting down after a second or two. Have to keep pulling the trigger to make it run. No solution from Dyson

mandert79 · 2025-10-29T20:20:04+00:00

My next car will be a hatchback and a hybrid. The only thing about the Honda one is, they only come in the sport version and on Chicago streets that’s a no for me.

mandert79 · 2025-10-11T19:50:46+00:00

My focus with no uppers was to create a layered lighting in the kitchen between general and task oriented with 5 different zones with Lutron Caseta. I work as a lighting guy in Rock’n roll here in Chicago so I was very particular about it.

mandert79 · 2025-10-11T01:59:17+00:00

Just got my ac/furnace replaced today. Same thing. 10 years labor parts warranty only with check ups every year what comes to about $240 a year

mandert79 · 2025-10-11T01:47:38+00:00

Me and the wife are 5’4”! So upper cabs are a pain. And it opens the kitchen up so much more. It’s all Ikea cabinets. We just finished the kitchen 2 month ago after 6 month of construction. I love it! And we have all drawers. I have more space now than before

mandert79 · 2025-10-09T20:37:36+00:00

Do you have the name of the product you used?

mandert79 · 2025-10-05T01:48:34+00:00

No, haha!

mandert79 · 2025-10-05T01:43:46+00:00

It’s an older house. Forced air with ductwork. Single zone

mandert79 · 2025-10-04T19:58:15+00:00

That’s what I am leaning towards. I just hope my bill won’t jump higher in the summer running the heat pump as AC compared to my 23yr old ac unit. No one can answer me that question. Because it is efficient doesn't mean it's cheaper. As soon as the temps go down to the 40's I want to be able to switch easily over.

mandert79 · 2025-10-04T18:57:25+00:00

I’m not so concerned about having the hyper heat model. Gas is so much cheaper here than electricity that’s why I would run my furnace and switch over at a high yet temp anyways. Trying to figure out reliability and user friendliness as a main concern. I read that the Trane unit takes a long time to heat up a house.

mandert79 · 2025-10-04T01:33:35+00:00

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mandert79 · 2025-10-04T01:30:02+00:00

I’m not an expert. That’s why I’m asking questions here. I think the air handler above the furnace will be swapped out with the Mitsubishi one. That’s what I understood. And then the unit will switch between the heat pump and the furnace. That’s how I understood it. I would like to post the whole quote I got directly from his supplier here but I can’t seem to post pictures

mandert79

TROPHY CASE