Hi, Derek. Water hardness We've always thought our well water was hard, since installing even cheapo descalers on each of our shower heads made a noticeable difference. But the Bosch test strip only colored at the very end (unfortunately, I don't remember the precise reading). For now, we've opted not to use salt until we get an independent water test (which we need to do anyway just as a precaution because of the well). I can report back once we know for sure. Cleaning Ability In comparison with our previous 14 year old Bosch, this one does a fabulous job. For example, we'd made a lasagne-like dish last week that we re-heated over the weekend. The pan with the baked-on, blackened sauce came out of the DW "clean as a whistle." In the previous DW I would have still had to clean off the blackened bits by hand. I don't rinse plates -- though one of our Beagles seems to think that's his job! -- so we are not babying the DW. I had wondered how flatware in the third tray would clean. Stuck on cheese sauce and egg from breakfast, however, clean right off the fork tines. My only complaint is that glasses and mugs don't fit as well in the bottom rack as they did with our previous Bosch. Something about the tine angle and spacing, it seems. Since it's just the two of us, we end up with more dirty glasses and mugs than plates. But I'm learning how to get more and more in the DW over time, For example, to get our wine glasses to fit, I had to lower the middle rack to the lowest position. But that still left plenty of room in the lower rack: our 12 x 17 cooling racks fit on the outside edges and the KitchenAid bowl fits in with no trouble. The only weird event is that the Express wash used to take 30 minutes. Now it takes an hour. Gremlins?!

Well, I finally took the plunge and bought a Bosch 500 Plus Washer/Dryer today!!!!! I think I got a great!! I first want to let people know that now through the end of the year there are up to $125 rebate on all Bosch Washers. Mine has a $100 rebate. The 800 series has the $125 rebate. I bought them at Pacific Sales and I almost think the sales person might have made a mistake because out the door I paid under $2300 (including tax and free delivery, $2200 if you count the rebate. And that was for the ones in silver, it included the pedestals and the extended service plan (for four more years at $64 each). I verified the model numbers so she did order the right ones. I was going to wait to see them but once she told me the price I didnt hesitate. Ive done a lot of research, and it seems that there are no perfect brands anymore. I just hope I fall in the majority of Bosch owners and become very satisfied with my purchase decision. (At least I wont feel that they were over priced.)

Davidtay, I did look at the link and try hard to find stores that have these bulbs but I could not. I will call Cree today and the phone number they give for Cree Sales Residential. I just measured the room that needs recessed lights and without the two foyer areas and not counting the connecting dining room that has a half a wall high and a half a wall long separating the home office (which is the living room) my room is 17' 8" long X 12' 2" wide. My kitchen has 6 recessed light in there that are supposed to be 900 Lumen's and it is not bright enough for me unless I put the 7th light on the sink on and that room is 14' long X 10' wide. I think I may need more than 6 recessed lights? My kitchen lights have very pretty color (Halogen Reveal but I should have went with the GE Halogen bulbs as the radius of light is not that wide on my bulbs creating areas with no light. The ceilings are 8 feet in these rooms that I am putting the recessed lights in. Maybe 800 Lumen's from a CR6 is better use of lumen's than the 900 lumen's from the Halogen bulb in my kitchen? Maybe 2,700K LED is a whiter cleaner light than Incandescent bulbs that are too yellow to me? I like the 90 CRI of the CREE. Philip's has LED bulbs with higher lumen's and more of the 3,000L I want but the CRI is 82 and they are bulbs they go in a can while I seem to like the one piece look of the CREE. Thank you Davidtay again for always helping us.

I tested the chainsaw today and had a pleasant surprise, which I needed! I cut 10 logs without a problem. I also removed a pull chain switch replaced at my Work BenchâÂÂs light this past summer. The pull cycle fills normal but it stopped turning my florescent light off during the recent cold. Can you recommend a switch I can plug-in 1st or wire-in a box to flip the light on/off vs another Pull Chain Switch? I am cutting some 6-8â dia logs, over 16â long in half to stretch my wood. I have burned at least a cord of wood mainly due to cleaning up of small wood that was close (I packed in, causing 4-5, five gallons cans of ash). My goal now is to add short wood to beds of coals during the day in an unattended fire (opposite end of the house from my work area). Then add a good back stick at bedtime to hold some heat and coals. My bodyâÂÂs pains are challenging me (left shoulder and neck). Degenerative mild soft tissues were recently mentioned on two discs in the neck (from a Brain MRI related to concussions or Cat Scan related to sinus Surgery). Physical Therapy sessions (6) did not help what the therapist is calling a pinched nerve in my neck. A Specific MRI of the neck is being scheduled. IâÂÂll ask if the results showing are causing some neck popping also. My pains have basically taken my enjoyments vs reducing them until I find some alternatives (other than major surgeries).