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Overheated clothes dryers can cause fires
[Jan. 28, 2008] The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that in 1998, clothes dryers were associated with 15,600 fires, which resulted in 20 deaths and 370 injuries. Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.

Consumer Reports survey: Verizon FiOS a leading choice for Internet, televeision and telephone service
[Jan. 13, 2008] Consumers looking for Internet, television, and telephone service should consider Verizon FiOS. In Consumer Reports’ latest survey of several major telecom providers, featured in the February issue, Verizon FiOS, whose network is fiber-optic based, received superior scores for reliability and performance for its Internet, television, and telephone services.

Consumer Reports latest tests reveal that front-loader washers have improved vastly
[Jan. 12, 2008] Consumer Reports’ latest tests of washers reveal improvements in performance compared to the models tested last year — some of which underperformed due to the struggle by manufacturers to meet new energy standards. CR’s ratings of washers, featured in the February issue, include some budget-friendly options, including a top-loader by Estate (ETW4400T[Q]), $400, that cleaned nearly as well as the LG Tromm SteamWasher WM2688H [WM], $1,500, CR’s top-rated front-loader.

North Carolina's landlord-tenant statutes
[Dec. 5, 2007] Know your rights. Here are North Carolina's landlord-tenant statutes. Good for renters to bookmark in case you're ever in a dispute with your landlord.

Consumer Reports finds filter-based air purifiers are better
[Dec. 3, 2007] In its latest tests of air purifiers, Consumer Reports’ experts concluded that products that draw air through fabric filters are among the most effective at removing dust and smoke. And, unlike some other kinds of purifiers, they do not produce any irritating ozone.

Consumer Reports looks at Christmas lights: Incandescent vs. LED
[Nov. 29, 2007] Is it a bright idea to use LED lights for the holidays? We compared LED and incandescent bulbs in three sizes--mini, C7, and C9--determining how much it cost to light strings totaling 50 feet for 300 hours. We also exposed the bulbs to moisture, hot and cold temperatures, and UV light, and sent each type of bulb to an independent lab that measures brightness.

Consumer Reports rates HDTV reliability
[Nov. 28, 2007] For the first time ever, Consumer Reports has brand repair rates for flat-panel and rear-projection TVs. CR’s data reveals that flat-panel LCD and plasma TVs have been highly reliable, requiring few repairs during the first three years of use. The report, featured in CR’s December issue, reveals that on average, rear-projection TVs were much more repair prone than LCD and plasma sets.

Consumer Reports picks HDTVs for any budget
[Nov. 27, 2007] Consumers who have a high-definition TV on their shopping list this holiday season TV will be smiling all the way to the store. Thanks to continuing price cuts, they’ll be getting more TV for their money. The December issue of Consumer Reports covers HDTVs in all price ranges and sizes to help consumers during this holiday season.

Consumer Reports names their all-star appliances
[Nov. 27, 2007] Just in time for the holidays, Consumer Reports’ December issue provides consumers with a year’s worth of appliance testing models that blend performance, value and brand reliability. Along with the cream of the crop of kitchen appliances, Consumer Reports looks at the most common goofs when shopping for appliances and ways to avoid making those mistakes.

Take the chill out of buying a new refrigerator
[Nov. 24, 2007] Buying a refrigerator can be a chilling experience. When you think about it, it is a pretty big investment of time, money and effort. With so many brands and features to choose from, selecting the right appliance can be daunting. You can make it a more pleasant venture by getting educated about the variety of options before visiting your local appliance retailer.

Consumer Reports tip of the day: Buy the right vacuum
[Nov. 8, 2007] Lead hazards in consumer products aren’t limited to the millions of toys recalled so far this year, according to test results and a four-month investigation published in the December issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Consumer Reports lab tests detected lead at widely varying levels in samples of dishware, jewelry, glue stick caps, vinyl backpacks, children’s ceramic tea sets, and other toys and items not on any federal recall list.

Consumer Reports tests find lead in more products
[Nov. 3, 2007] Lead hazards in consumer products aren’t limited to the millions of toys recalled so far this year, according to test results and a four-month investigation published in the December issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Consumer Reports lab tests detected lead at widely varying levels in samples of dishware, jewelry, glue stick caps, vinyl backpacks, children’s ceramic tea sets, and other toys and items not on any federal recall list.

Consumer Reports' lawn mower winterizing checklist
[Nov. 2, 2007] Every maintenance checklist has its tipping point, where the complexity of the task starts to outweigh the likelihood of your ever completing the work. So it is with winterizing a lawn mower. In researching this topic, Consumer Reports confronted myriad steps and conditions, things like gapping the spark plug and cleaning the air filter (unless the filter is made of paper, in which case you need to replace it). All in all, a lot to think about for a supposedly routine procedure.

Consumer Reports' 10 easy ways to save hundreds on energy costs
[Oct. 25, 2007] You want to save money as well as do your part to combat global warming. But what's the best way to get started? This special section includes the results from our testing and advice from our experts on the products and programs that work to save energy and those that promise more than they deliver.