Saturday, August 31, 2013

BestAir E2R-6 Emerson HDC-2R Replacement Wick Filter

My Humidifier is a 13 year old Sears and still going strong! Been using these filters for years. They work great as long as you don't let them dry out but they can be re-activated by soaking them. Hard water can leave mineral deposits so it is best to use filtered water. Highly recommended, especially for the price!!

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Hoover Reconditioned WindTunnel Bagless Upright Vacuum

I purchased this item because most of the reviews were all good but that was a huge mistake! I did receive it fast but the windtunnel did not have all of the features that the picture and description showed. I called Amazon and they mailed me out another one right away but that too had the same feature missing. Both vacuum's I received had a black "bag less" sticker on it (right above the light), the sticker looked out of place so I peeled it back and noticed that there were holes in my vacuum, they were trying to cover up so I went to the site and saw there are supposed to be a red and green light to let you know if the vacuum is clean or dirty ( I think?). The 2nd and 3rd pictures show a close up of this feature..... that was not included in the TWO vacuums' I received. The description says "Some models may have cosmetic blemishes." They did not say that they remove any of the features they show to sell the vacuum!!

Friday, August 30, 2013

Rainbow E Series Canister Vacuum Cleaner Wet

I've owned this vacuum for over 12-15 years. My parents got it for me when I was in high school after we discovered I had dust allergies (in addition to asthma). I have toted it around everywhere I've lived in college and beyond--in various apartments, houses, etc--and it has held up *excellently.* Needless to say, I wasn't always very cautious with it (bang it around a little through all the moves, or when I'm cleaning and pulling the canister/base around) and it has withstood it all. I'm 30 now and married, and even though my husband gripes about how it's less 'convenient' than a regular vacuum, I LOVE it and will never use anything else because:

1--for a person with allergies, this vacuum is a god-send. I'm so used to it I almost gag every time I use another vacuum (at someone else's place) because other vacuums send out dust in the exhaust, and don't trap it immediately in water like this vacuum.

2--Even though my parents paid a lot for it, it has totally withstood the test of time and is made of very high-quality material. Not one thing has broken, rusted, chipped, worn, or anything in this last decade! That says a lot in this age of built-in-obsolescence!!

3--the wheels are great--they move 360 degrees and make it *very* easy to pull this thing around. The cord is also durable and long, so you can take it pretty far without having to find a new outlet.

4--I *love* that it's environmentally low-impact--no bags to purchase (ie, no packaging, no gas used to transport) that then fill up landfills! Just dump it all down the toilet.

5--the little accessories/different heads it comes with are great. I've been careful and haven't lost any of them, and they reach every nook and cranny.

I should also note that I've been very good with its upkeep--I wipe the rubber interior down every time with a towel (so it doesn't crack) and I *never* store it with a damp canister attached--that can also crack the rubber. I've also brushed the little motor part inside like you're supposed to so it doesn't get clogged.

My only wish is that I had the special parts to suck up water spills.

Overall, this thing, now that I think about it, is like a trusty best friend. A big investment, yes, but if you take care of it and keep up the maintenance, it might just last a lifetime!

Honeywell Enviracaire QuietCare

I paid 50% of the listed price because it had a persistent squeaky sound. Turned out the fan blade was rubbing the internal electrical wire. Once corrected, the unit worked flawlessly. On low the unit generates noise above my threshold for night time sleeping, so I run it during the day only. The noise is from the powerful clean air being expelled from the air purifier. Very strong fan unit. I can feel the filtered air five feet above ground. Great unit and purchase.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Oreck Commercial PKBB12DW Super Compact Canister Advanced Filtration Disposable Bags

  • Set of 12 disposable vacuum cleaner bags
  • For use with Oreck Commercial BB180, BB280, BB850, BB870, BB900, BB1000, and MV160 canister vacuum cleaners (sold separately)
  • Hypoallergenic to minimize allergic reactions
  • Triple-layered construction helps trap dust particles

Picture showed authentic Oreck Buster B Vac Bags. What was sent was a generic bag, not authentic. This is deceptive and although they fit, quality is definitely different. I wouldn't purchase from this merchant again!

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Holmes Arm and Hammer Air Purifier Booster Filter

(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)These are only the preliminary foam filters that collect the large particles, like dust, hair and other see-able contaminants. You need to use it in conjunction with the Holmes HAPF30DPDQ-U 2Pack Hepa-Type filters for Holmes® and Bionaire® Air Cleaners in order to collect the finer particles like allergens, dander and pollen. They will do nothing for cleaning or purifying the air by themselves. They can be washed and reused, but the Hepa-Type filters are absolutely necessary. Hepa-filters need to be replaced every several months depending on use. These filters are for the Holmes HAP716-U True-HEPA 3-Speed Tower Allergen Remover.

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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

WhiteWing Steamer

When I moved into this place the renter moving out told me, "You'll never get the kitchen and bathroom clean." I got out the bleach and went to town -no effect on these old tile counters. When I tried this vapour cleaner, I felt like I was making my own infommercial the results were so dramatic. Some workmen left marks on the vinyl floor last year that I couldn't even identify, let alone get up; adhesive was my best guess. The WhiteWing got them up like they were just pencil marks. I couldn't stop cleaning til the tank ran out (and house work isn't my strong suit!). Highly recommended! (Note: this is my first steam cleaner, so can't compare to other brands).

Aprilaire / Space-Gard 401 High Effciency Filtering Media 10 PK

Have to change these filters at least 3 times a year and buying them from local AC dealers is very expensive. This multi-pack is great value and is the genuine article.

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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

BISSELL Lift-Off Floors & More Pet

So, out of the box no manual, but very easy to put together in 2 quick steps. We were ok there.

I liked the initial look and feel of it. I LOVE the swivel head. I love how easy it is to store it away. I love that it can fold up neatly and be stored away in a closet, OR it can stay "opened" and stand neatly, perfectly in a corner, always waiting for use. I love that it is a handheld, PLUS a stick vac (that itself is part of the problem though...)

...As I was saying, this is a (weak) handvac on a stick. It has no power. No suck. No oomph.

Well, as long as what I need cleaned up can be done in about 30 seconds, this unit is fairly ok. The charge does not last. If I try to use it for more than literally a few minutes, you can hear it dying off. I will give it 5 minutes tops and that is being generous. And then guess what You have to charge it for all but a full day before you can use it again! Um, what?!

I had hopes of using it for light cleanups of the random pet hair, dust bunnies, etc nothing major and I never planned on it being my main vacuum, of course. I have hardwood floor, tile, and natural(glazed) stone floors, with a few area or throw rugs scattered about.

My main idea for using this was in my laundry area because there seems to be so much lint, hair (human & pet), and random little bits of who knows what from the kids throwing their dirty laundry in on the pile. The floor in the laundry area is lineoleum. There is a 4ft by 14 ft closet on the left, the hallway down the center, which has about a 3.5ft width and then the washer and dryer are on the right. The end of the hallway opens into the bathroom. So, I thought this would be great for this area because I really hate using my main vac and attachments etc to do this area. It is a pain.

Well, so much for my big idea. This vac does not hold a charge long enough to get the area done. Now, I don't need an hour, not a half hour even maybe a good 10 minutes to really do it thoroughly. But no, I can't get that with this vac. It starts off OK. But it quickly dies off and will suck up next to nothing.

I do have 3 long haired cats, but surprisingly they do not shed much at all, and they do get brushed often, so this helps. My short haired dog is who sheds the most actually, but it is still not alot. It's not like you look around and see blobs of hair everywhere. So, this shouldn't be a tough job, but this vac cannot handle it? AND it's marketed as a "Pet" vac?? Really?

I thought the roller brush feature would be nice for doing the low pile throw rugs quickly when I don't feel like dragging out the main vac. Again, it does OK, but you have to be fast and it will only grab the smallest and lightest particles.

I cannot recommend this product. Imagine a weakly powered handvac duct taped to a broom handle that is basically what you have here, except this one folds neatly for storage.

I really wish it did work better because I honestly love the swivel head. It can get into all areas and is sooo easy to maneuver. It just lacks any type of power and the charge is absolutely terrible. Using it as just a handvac is fair at best as well. I mean if the kids got sugar all over the counter, sure you can clean that up quickly, but you can't do much else and you will still have some leftover sugar to wipe up with a rag/sponge... Oh, and the rubber "Pet nozzle" hinders the vac from sliding on a smooth surface (like the countertop) it sticks, skips and pulls.

And you most definitely DO have to hold the button in the whole time you are using it as a handheld. There is no on/off button for the handheld, but as a stickvac it has on/off and roller brush on or off.

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InstaPure F2BCT3P-1ES Faucet Mount Water Filter System

I used this type of filter for years and was happy with it. My old one fell apart after more than 10years. This works just as well. It's easy to install and the water tastes great. Highly recommended.

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Monday, August 26, 2013

Austin Air Purifier Plus (Superblend)

Austin Air Plus and the Superblend running everyday for two years, three years and beyond in several different homes (we own 6 units)and they work. This unit is not whisper quiet but on low it will remind you of white noise piped in at your office and is not bad. Medium and High fan speeds will move the air and can clear a sudden problem. These units have been effective in negating carpets that have had too much cleaning with that dry powder,chem-dry type of carpet cleaner that never comes all the way out of the carpet and later on causes the "lung slime" problems. They offset the dust and pollen blowing in from the road and storms and seasonal build-ups, they stop the stink of the dog and the cat box, they eliminate that stinky feet smell from an old bedroom and catch the cloud of insecticide that the neighbor's pest control man hoses around the yard. Any wonder these units were at ground-zero? Heavy use of the unit may result in need for replacement filters which although they should last 5-years sometime only go 1 or 2-years before they start blowing a funky smell (my sign it's time to change). Replacement filters are expensive at $200 to $250, representing half the cost of new unit. The switches on a few units that had lots of back and forth switching have stopped working properly but can be sent in for warranty work. Steel case and casters is a plus for this heavyweight.

Vornado Evap3 Whole Room Evaporative Vortex Humidifier

Vornado makes the best humidifiers. The Evap3 is quiet and it puts out very much humidity. The older Vornado humidifiers were also great. Makes me wonder why all the models aren't still available? You will not be disappointed with the Evap3.

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Sunday, August 25, 2013

Hunter Total Air Sanitizer

  • Home air purification
  • Hunter's patented technology
  • Captures and kills up to 99.9% of germs, viruses, bacteria, mold and mildew
  • Sleek, elegant and upscale design

I had high hopes for this air filter but, alas, no go. The electric function that helps to kill germs seems to interfere with the on-off switch. I can turn it on, and sometimes I can turn it up, too. However, to turn it off I needed to unplug it. The on-off switch doesn't push in, it is just supposed to know you're touching it through some other kind of connection. Too bad it doesn't work.

I tried calling customer support but just got an electronic message and then was put on hold. After being on hold for 28 minutes I gave up and returned the device to where I bought it. Don't buy.

4.0 Gallon (3.2 Draw-down) Reverse Osmosis RO Water Storage Tank by PA-E

This tank is perfect replacement for my watts premier unit. The old one lated 10 years and finally developed an air leak in the diaphragm liner. The result of that was that the whole tank eventually filled with water (that is why the faucet kept releasing air for quite a while). When I replaced it with this tank it was really great to get a good 2.5 gallons of filtered water whenever I needed it. Saved me from buying a whole new setup. Easy to install in 5-10 min.

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Saturday, August 24, 2013

Air-O-Swiss U650 Digital Warm

After having an infant addition to our family, I began looking for a humidifier especially with the Winter season fast approaching. I was looking at function, maintenance parts and prices as well as build quality and design. I didn't like how the various humidifiers looked like too quirky, too plastic-looking, too generic.

Then this Air-O-Swiss U650 caught my eye. It had an elegant design and shiny white colour that would fit any contemporary home. It reminded me of our Rabbit Air purifier in both elegant design and price. If I were to add this to our home, it wouldn't be an eye sore.

FEATURES:

1. Digital Display. Easy to read display even from afar to spot check it's current setting.

2. Sensitive Touch Controls. No need to press oddly raised buttons. This one sits flush on the unit for a seamless and simple design.

3. Simple Amber Lighting. No multi-coloured tacky lighting. This reminded me of the old German car lighting that was easy to see and read. At night, you can dim the backlight for a non-annoying soft light.

4. Hygrometer. This is one of the reasons why I chose this unit. Unlike the cheap humidifiers that just keeps on spewing moisture into the air. This unit will alert you of the current humidity level in your room/home. From there you can make a sensible judgement if you still want to introduce more humidity by raising the desired level.

5. Auto Mode with an "Intelligent Temperature Compensation". Humidity levels change when the temperature changes. You can't just expect to keep on maintaining a certain level when it's not advantageous and healthy. By setting the unit to auto mode, it calculates the desired humidity level based on the current temperature. No need to second guess what level you should be at throughout the whole day.

6. Cool/Warm Mist. Both have it's pros and cons depending on the current condition and season. You'd want a warm mist on cooler days and a cool mist on colder days.

THOUGHTS:

Like any humidifier or product that involves water for that matter, you'll need to know how to best maintain the product to keep it functioning as expected and prolong the life of the unit. For this specific Air-O-Swiss humidifier, there are two parts to replace:

The Ion Silver Stick that eliminates bacteria in the water and is expected to be replaced yearly. Expensive, but at least just done annually.

Demineralization Cartridge that needs quarterly replacement depending on the usage of the unit. If you use tap water, this is important to prevent any white dust due to hardened minerals to form in the water. Upon first use, you will need to soak this cartridge in water for 24 hours. The work-around is to use distilled or reverse osmosis water. That way there are no minerals in the water and you won't need this cartridge at all. Of course the cost is now buying distilled water versus buying another part. Choose your poison. If you have a reverse osmosis filter for your home, then that is even better. You save on buying this part and you are helping keep the product in the best shape ever.

Although I'd love to have this unit be more compact and slim, I guess it's necessary to be this bulky to prevent frequent water refilling for at least a day or even days. Where I reside, it rains quite often so there is enough moisture in the air at times. Since the unit is able to read the humidity levels in the air, it won't operate unless needed. This in turn helps eliminate the water tank refills.

If you were to invest in a humidifier, skip the novelty of the others and the guessing game of humidity levels in your home. This will do the job. Quite elegantly, I must add.

MAF-1 Emerson MoistAIR Humidifier Wick Filter

I also received a BestAir brand, not the MoistAIR brand as advertised....

It's shorter than the Kenmore Brand I should be using, but it works well in our humidifyer. It has a wire-type exterior 'frame' for better reinforcement, and it costs much less than the Kenmore Brand. This, combined with the humidifyer treatment I found for $2 a bottle at Walmart makes a much less expensive way to keep our home humidity up. Keep in mind that you must use humidifyer treatment if your filter gums up or becomes yellow and hardens...that means you have hard water and the water cannot wick up the filster. The life of your filter will be dramatically less if you don't use a treatment.

Friday, August 23, 2013

14ALL Bionaire Cut-to-Fit Replacement Carbon Pre-Filter

This is the charcoal foam, large size, which had to be cut to fit my little old Biotech (Bionaire) air filter. It seemed way too big, but was easy to cut, since it's not very thick. And now I have plenty of "stock" for future replacements. Again, thanks for carrying these filters.

Neoair PLUS Air Purifier

On the surface, this Neoair Plus has a ok spec. It is $300 for a compact purifier that has a low annual filter replacement cost of ~$60, a low power consumption of 70 Watts, not too noisy at 46 dB, and serving up to 600 square feet with a fan speed of 200 CFM. Now what can be wrong with such a purifier? Well, the problem is that NeoAir Plus is far weaker than it appears. The 200 CFM (cubic feet per minute) fan speed is not very powerful comparing to its competitors. Most purifiers on the market participate in the AHAM (Association Home Appliance Manufacturers) certification to get three CADR values (Clean Air Delivery Rating). There are 3 CADR values for smoke, dust and pollen removal rates. Neoair did not get certified and only reports its fan speed (200 CFM). This is very troubling because a fan speed does not indicate the cleaning power of a purifier. For instance, your typical fan at home has a CFM fan speed, but it has a "ZERO" CADR since it cannot purify air. The CADR of Neoair Plus is probably 200 at its best (where CADR = CFM). Honeywell 50250 has a certified 250 CADR and is sold at $150. 3M Filtrete FAP03-RC has an averaged 290 CADR and is $200. Whirlpool AP450 has an averaged 315 CADR and is $250. All three are cheaper and more powerful than Neoair Plus.

What also concern me is some of the marketing and customer services of this young company. It is rather important to point out that when Neoair claims this unit can serve 600 square feet, the statement is overrated and misleading. The industrial guideline written by the AHAM is to use the smoke CADR and a 5 air change per hour to estimate the usage space. While Honeywell, 3M, and Whirlpool purifiers are more powerful, they are suggested for a smaller usage space of 375, 348, 500 square feet, respectively. This is because these companies follow the standard guideline. (Even through 3M filtrete has a higher pollen and dust CADRs than the Honeywell 50250, 3M has a lower smoke CADR and therefore a lower recommended floor space) Using the standard definition, this Neoair Plus should be used for a 300 sq ft, half of its advertised 600 sq ft. The fact that Neoair did not go to an independent organization to certify their CADR should raise some eyebrows. This misleading 600 sq ft advertising tactic sure seems like a way to prey on average customers. Please understand that, unlike CADR, there is no legal guideline for defining the recommended floor space. Thus, companies can deviate from the standard calculation with no legal consequence. In this case, NeoAir used a 2.5 air change per hour for its calculation -instead of 5. In addition, this company customer service is somewhat lacking. They do not seem to know their products well when I contact them.

Finally, even if you believe Neoair made a honest mistake, you have to wonder why you want to pay more for a weaker purifier. Let's just take Whirlpool AP450 as a comparison again. Whirlpool AP450 is rated as the number ONE purifier by Consumer Reports. Neoair Plus is $300 and Whirlpool AP450 is $250. Neoair Plus has a cleaning power of 200 CADR at best and Whirlpool has an averaged 315 CADR. Alternatively, you can get two Honeywell 50250 for the same price as Neoair Plus. So, here is another choice: one Neoair for ~200 CADR or two Honeywell for a total 500 CADR. I am simply wondering: Can someone honestly justify a purchase of Neoair Plus in light of all of these superior purifiers on the markets which also happens to have better support?

**For people who are interested here is the math. The recommended floor space is calculated based on a 8 feet ceiling height and a 5 air-change per hour condition. Let's uses Honeywell 50250 as an example. It has a 250 CADR which translates to a 250 cubic feet per minute cleaning speed or 15000 cu ft per hour. Now divides 15000 cu ft per hour by a 8 ft ceiling and by a 5 air change per hour will result a 375 floor space. A shortcut is to simply multiple the CADR value by "1.5". e.g.: 250CADR X 1.5 = 375 sq ft **

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Thursday, August 22, 2013

Honeywell F113C6009 Commercial-Grade Portable Media Air Cleaner

Contrary to Honeywell, this unit "pulses" air from the get-go. That would be with all new filters that came with the unit. From Honeywell's site concerning this unit model, it should only pulse when the filters require changing.

The unit makes quite a bit of noise on low speed, enough to compete with the TV and conversation if placed in the same room. We have it in an unused bedroom, not sure how good it will do there for cleaning air in the rooms we do use.

The image shows that the unit is brown, however we received the more pleasant white color.

I regret the purchase and will be purchasing a whole house filter unit that attaches to the central air unit's air handler.

All that being said, it appears to be cleaning air, so one star off for being excessively loud on low speed.

UPDATE 01/10/10: I became used to the sound of the unit fairly quick. It is still noticable, but not too annoying since considering it is doing a job. The unit does clean the air in a 20x20 area very good, no doubt about that. It appears the filters do not require any maintenance for 90 days, and then only light vacumming/blowing now and then before a yearly replacement. Also, this particular unit utilizes a "CPZ canister (that) reduces smoke and odors". I retract my initial review above and rate this a five star product.

Speedi-Grille TB-3HC 06 24-Inch x 24-Inch White

Works perfect, exactly as you would expect. The only ding I would give this product is that it is supposed to be designed to work with the Speedi-Grille AC-BTD 06 06-Inch Round Bow Tie Radial Volume Damper as a supposed 'field installable' accessory. Only thing wrong with that statement is you have to drill about a 1/4" or larger hole for the damper's rather flimsy plastic 'twist-it' on/off control. I have seen other drop-in drop ceiling type grills that have a hole already in place with just a little plastic or rubber plug popped in place which would be more more along the line of 'field installable'. I actually had to have the grill apart on a pair of saw horses and make several drillings with bigger and bigger bits until I got the hole big enough. Also, although the grill has slots for the damper to slide into, you have to drill/rivet or drill/screw the thing in place, which again is much easier done without the grill installed in the ceiling, which to my mind doesn't really make the accessory 'field installable', but rather must be pre-assembled prior to installing the unit into the ceiling.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Electrolux 79150 PlasmaWave Air Purifier HEPA Filter

I have used several of these. The shipping and price here are better than at the company store site. I have a cat and have to change the carbon filter more often but love this purifier.

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SPT SF-613 LED Evaporative Air Cooler

  • Evaporative air cooler, humidifier, fan, and air filter with ionizer
  • Uses water to cool the air; oscillating louvers for even distribution
  • LED panel; 3 air speeds; 1/2- to 7-1/2-hour timer; remote control included
  • Washable filter; double-layered filtration mesh water curtain; locking casters
  • Measures 11-1/2 by 14-1/2 by 31-3/4 inches; 1-year warranty.Product Dimensions: 15 x 32 x 12 inches ; 20 pounds.

This machine works & looks great . Also it arrived wiithin a few days. Once you put. water in it the machine goes for a long time. I'm really happy with it !!!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Austin Air Allergy Machine Jr. HM205

I would have given this air purifier 5-stars except for one small detail. Out of the two times that I've ordered the Austin Air Machines (one larger, full size unit at first, and then two of the smaller Junior sizes because I liked it so much), each time I had to arrange for a return and exchange immediately upon receipt because the motors "whined" (teeth clenching, nails on a blackboard type whine). Since these units are used in active living areas (i.e., family room) or where you sleep, it's important that the unit is as unobtrusive as possible. When it's working as designed, it does just that. In fact, it's almost a soothing sound when it's running correctly. Plus, I really like the fact that you can run the units 24/7 without fear of the motor burning out (important when you're in an allergy prone area like Florida). All in all, a wonderful purifier...really does the job well. I have two dogs and when you walk into my house now, it always smells fresh and my husband's allergies have also improved with our using these. I just wish they'd do a better job of quality controlling at the manufacturing site. To have to return 2 out of 3 units purchased is not a good ratio. On the plus side, they make it as easy as possible on you for the returns. It's only a matter of waiting longer for your working product to arrive. All in all, this product is good enough to hassle through a possible return/exchange.

GREEN GOBBLER PRO with Crystalex Technology

One cup of this opened a tough toilet clog that had not responded to a hand snake, a gel drain cleaner or a plunger. It worked in about an hour. I'm happy with the product's efficacy. The resealable plastic bottle now stores 2 more uses for the future, another plus.

Just be very careful not to take in a lungful of the fumes! This produced gas so fast and so strong, I inhaled some before I knew it. My throat feels raw and burned, I coughed for 15 minutes and had some very sobering thoughts about WWI/WWII battlefield tragedies (sorry to be melodramatic, but that's really what came to mind). Yes, the smell is bad, but worse, this stuff burns!

Before use, remove as much water as possible because it will foam, expand/overflow. Please use with good ventilation, stand well back, and move away at once. Consider safety glasses, available on Amazon for as low as $2.55 by Dewalt, with free Amazon Prime membership delivery (always good to have some of these around the house). Of course, keep this away from children and pets. Good luck, and use with great care!

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