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Bob Vila readers were busy in 2022, tackling DIY projects and finding ways to make their life simpler and their home more functional. In the process, they purchased a wide variety of products recommended by our experts. While some of these were budget-friendly picks, others represented a significant investment. Interested in learning more about some of the most expensive purchases made by our readers this year? We compiled a list that’s organized from the least expensive “pricey” purchase to the most expensive product that our readers decided to use in 2022.
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1. Wireless Outdoor Projector
This wireless projector—our top pick in the list of best outdoor projectors—offers a durable drop-proof and splash-proof design, making it ideal for outdoor movie parties. Beyond its rugged construction, the projector delivers top-quality images with autofocus and includes an adjustable stand for the perfect viewing angle. It also offers Wi-Fi connectivity and even comes with built-in Android streaming apps.
Get the BenQ GS50 1080p Wireless Projector at Amazon for $899.99.
2. Wine Cooler Refrigerator
If you’re in search of a new wine cooler or refrigerator, this fan-favorite high-capacity model may be just what you need. The cooler can hold up to 46 bottles of wine and offers a dual-zone thermostat to chill different varieties to their ideal temperatures. A stainless steel frame and two layers of tempered glass work to maintain optimal temperatures while preventing the glass from fogging up, and the bright LED light allows you to easily find your desired bottle.
Get the Kalamera Wine Cooler Refrigerator at Amazon for $929.
3. Wet Tile Saw
Bob Vila readers appreciated the value of this upgrade pick in our guide to the best tile saws. With its 1 ½-horsepower motor and 10-inch diamond blade, this wet tile saw makes it easy to cut through tile for small or large projects. Its generous capacity allows you to cut 18-inch tiles on a diagonal. Other key features include stainless steel rollers, a compact frame, and a 3 ⅛-inch maximum depth cut.
Get the DeWalt Wet Tile Saw at Amazon for $999.
4. Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System
With a tankless design and 800-gallon-per-day capacity, this reverse osmosis water system delivers purified water on demand without taking up a lot of space under the sink. The system reduces levels of fluoride, heavy metals, salts, and other contaminants with a 9-state filtration process. For additional options, including our favorite budget-friendly system, check out our list of the best reverse osmosis systems.
Get the Waterdrop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System at Amazon for $999.
5. Whole-House Fan
A whole-house fan can reduce energy consumption, improve indoor air quality, and increase overall comfort levels in the home. This popular pick is designed for installation in the attic and features a self-contained duct system to minimize vibrations and noise. With the fan’s barometric pressurized gravity dampers, you won’t need to worry about hot or cold air being lost between the attic and the rest of the house.
Get the QuietCool Original Classic Fan at Amazon for $999.
6. Composting Toilet
Composting toilets provide an eco-friendly, practical solution when traditional plumbing is not available. They use organic materials to break down waste so it can be safely disposed of, or even used for growing a garden. The top pick in our guide to the best composting toilets, this model has a large capacity, allowing for up to 6 weeks of use by two people. The toilet’s electric exhaust fan helps minimize odors.
Get the Nature’s Head Composting Toilet at Amazon for $1,030.
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7. Ice Maker
If your freezer doesn’t have a built-in ice maker or if you regularly host gatherings, an undercounter ice maker can provide you with sufficient ice to meet your needs. This model can produce up to 25 pounds of ice each day and can store 20 pounds of ice at a time. It has a reversible door so it can be hinged on the left or right, and it comes with a removable ice bin and scoop.
Get the EdgeStar Built-In Ice Maker at Amazon for $1,099.
8. Robot Lawn Mower
Take the sweat out of mowing the lawn with a robotic lawn mower. Simply set up the boundaries for the mower, measure your lawn with the app, and then let the robot take over the task of keeping your grass trimmed. You can set mowing schedules for the robot to follow and exclude any areas of your yard that you want it to stay away from. All these features and more earned this model the top spot in our list of the best robot lawn mowers.
Get the Worx Landroid Robotic Lawn Mower at Amazon for $1,199.99.
9. Mini Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump
This mini split ductless system can help heat or cool garages and other areas of a home where no central system is available. With 24,000 BTUs, it is suitable for use in rooms up to 15,000 square feet and offers multiple settings, a timer, and sleep mode. The system can even connect to Amazon Alexa to allow for the use of voice commands to adjust the settings.
Get the Senville Mini Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump at Amazon for $1,199.99.
10. Home Generator
Many Bob Vila readers followed our experts’ recommendations to help them pick the best home generator to make sure they were prepared for power outages caused by storms or other events. This dual-fuel generator runs on either propane or gasoline, features an electric start switch, and delivers 9,375 starting watts and 7,500 running watts (on gasoline) to help you keep your essentials up and running.
Get the Champion Power Equipment Dual-Fuel Portable Generator at Amazon for $1359.
11. Robot Vacuum and Mop Bundle
This bundle includes a robot vacuum and robot mop designed to streamline your cleaning tasks. Both the vacuum and mop can be programmed to know when and where to clean, allowing you to sit back and relax while they do the hard work. The vacuum offers a self-emptying feature with a bin that you’ll only need to empty about once every 2 months. With the integrated Wi-Fi, you can even control these devices with your Amazon Alexa. To learn more about our other top picks—along with some budget-friendly alternatives—check out our guide to the best robot vacuums.
Get the iRobot Roomba s9+ Robot Vacuum and Braava Jet Robot Mop Bundle at Amazon for $1,599.99.
12. Wood Stove Insert
We highlighted this model as the “best insert” in our list of the best wood stoves. If you don’t want a portable heating stove, this fireplace insert can heat spaces up to 1,200 square feet and burn logs up to 18 inches long. With the spring-loaded adjuster, installing this model into the existing space is easy and will provide a seamless finished look.
Get the Ashley Hearth Wood Stove Insert at Amazon for $1,599.99.
13. Portable Power Station
If you’ve been searching for a portable power station for your camping trips or just want to have something on hand in the event of an emergency, check out this solar generator that’s been popular with other Bob Vila readers. It even earned a mention in our selection of top generator brands. Charge the power station using a wall outlet or Jackery SolarSaga panels to generate clean solar energy and you’ll be able to power mini coolers, electric grills, fans, and more. Despite its high capacity, the generator operates quietly so you can focus on everything else you need to do.
Get the Jackery Solar Generator at Amazon for $1,649.
14. Aluminum Gazebo
Our readers who enjoy spending time in the outdoors loved this aluminum gazebo, the featured pick in our guide to the best gazebos. This sturdy model offers a durable, rustproof aluminum frame with a hard galvanized steel roof that can withstand heavy snowfalls. Polyester mosquito netting prevents unwanted guests from ruining your fun outside.
Get the Kozyard Hardtop Aluminum Gazebo at Amazon for $1,699.99.
15. Tankless Water Heater
Make your home more energy efficient with this natural-gas-powered Energy Star-certified tankless water heater. An 11 GPM maximum flow rate allows it to deliver hot water to as many as seven different faucets within the home at the same time. If you’re searching for an electric model or want something a bit less expensive, take a look at our list of the best tankless water heaters.
Get the Rinnai Condensing Tankless Hot Water Heater at Amazon for $1,784.33.
16. Variable-Speed Pool Pump
Premium features helped make this pick from our best pool pumps a popular pick for many readers. Among the highlights are the pump’s programmable digital controls, quiet operation, and variable speed settings between 1,750 and 3,450 revolutions per minute. These features give this model the potential to save users up to 80 percent on their pool operating costs.
Get the Hayward MaxFlo Variable-Speed Pool Pump at Amazon for $1,786.29.
17. Murphy Cube Cabinet Bed
If space is at a premium in your home but you still want to have a bed available when guests come to visit, a Murphy bed can be the perfect solution. Traditionally, Murphy beds pull down from the wall, but this unique model unfolds from a cabinet that, despite its compact size, is large enough to accommodate a foldable queen mattress (included), bedding, and pillows.
Get the Night & Day Furniture Murphy Cube Cabinet Bed at Amazon for $1,797.
18. Robotic Pool Cleaner
This robotic pool cleaner—the third robotic device to make this list—allows users to create customized cleaning cycles to keep their backyard pools spotless. The robot uses four-wheel-drive technology to clean a variety of pool surfaces, easily climbing walls and steps. The captured dirt and debris remain trapped in the filter, which can easily be emptied and rinsed out as needed.
Get the Polaris Sport Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon for $1,959.99.
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19. Dehumidifier
Keep humidity levels down and protect your house against mold, mildew, wood rot, odors, and other problems with a whole-home dehumidifier from our list of best dehumidifiers. This dehumidifier is designed for use in homes as large as 5,200 square feet and features corrosion-resistant aluminum coils. It comes with a hose that can be placed over a floor drain, eliminating the need to empty water trays or buckets.
Get the AprilAire Pro Whole Home Dehumidifier at Amazon for $2299.
20. Whole House Water Filtration System
Our readers were willing to splurge in their quest for clean and safe drinking water for their home. This whole house water filtration system is designed with activated carbon filters that allow it to remove 97 percent of chlorine from water. In addition to significantly reducing chlorine levels, the system also minimizes the presence of VOCs, herbicides, pesticides, and other contaminants in a home’s water. Our list of the best whole-house water filters features several other options, including top picks for well water or city water.
Get the Aquasana Whole House Water Filter System at Amazon for $4,164.
The prices listed here are accurate as of publication on Dec. 31, 2022.