Sie sind auf Seite 1von 64
Si.¢ 133 Ce PTS): iam toa ( OCTOBER 2013 | CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG R aS LSS DETERGENTS — 4 PAGE 40 SEW= You Mone Slash your energy TEL Sneaky scams to skip Tag ert Ely) Ele aed a) = ae Deu a Sra ae Steer clear of dangerous drivers Get the at the You can save both time and money with the Consumer Reports Build & Buy car buying program. In fact, our subscribers have seen an average savings of $2,791 off MSRP. Plus, you'll know what you should pay before ever leaving your home or talking to a dealer — no need to spend your weekend driving between dealerships. Discover the benefits of the Build & Buy car buying program: —. Hi — \ = y ying prog 2 FREE subscriber benefit \ Guaranteed savings off MSRP” i CR Recommendation displayed on qualifying vehicles Co] Network of dealers dedicated to great service More savings & less pressure See how much you could save! www.ConsumerReports.org/carsavings1013 eERNSisunen at eter FEATURES oe LAB TESTS 16| Store brands to savor AL Welindwinesferkeup, mayo, 0c, and ore. ROME csicteyper ic ees a special section : Soave ice al v 21 storm survival guide ‘us Insurance myths that can cast you plenty 38| New sets with OLED technology give the best picture quality we've seen. 24| Generators Top picks can make blackouts more bearable. Ratings page 25 26| Chain saws Make quick work of storm cleanup. Ratings page 27 38| Plug-in device lets you stream Netflix and mi to your TV 39| ABrevillemachine shows impressive results. 28 Tips ro lower your energy bills 40) 30| Products from Cascade LEDs are dropping in price and worth and Finish help make a second look. dishes shine. Ratings pages 3233, Ratings page 41 Continued on next page OCTOBER 2012 CowsumERRePoRts.org 3 CONTENTS OCTOBER 2013 DEPARTMENTS 5|Letters 5| Ask our experts 6| Viewpoint Better pricing for cable TV. 6|From our president Improving auto safety 7\Up front + What’sina (car) name? + Pop goes the snack + Vitamin and supplement do'sand don'ss, # The right way to store summer clothes « Packages that need amakeover «# The safe way to getrid of expired drugs. + cuumentex Can you bake in paper? + Fake computer virus warnings. CARS 43| Sneak peeks for 2014 More fuel-efficient cars are coming. 46| Hits & misses ‘The redesigned Chevrolet impala was the surprise of 2013. 48| Stay safe on the roads As traffic deaths increase, here's how you can steer clear of danger. 53/SUVs Road tests of the three-row Acura MDX and Mercedes-Benz CL3S0 BlucTec Pus The Mitsubishi Outlander. Coe) 12| Health Facts about joint supplements, 14| Money ‘ree things your financial adviser won't tell you. 15| Safety alerts 61) About us 62| Index 63) Selling it 58| Auto Test Extra ‘The Chevrolet Cruze Turbo Diesel and Kia Cadenza, BUC} Di What's the score? 86 16 ce Green wision| [a | Cadenza Organic dishwasher detergent D savings this issue ‘uy aTroy Blt 7000 3047 portable generator for 900 instead ofa Yamaha EF&6QQDE andsave this much Usea top-rated LED bulb instead of anincandescent light and save this ‘much aver the Ife of the bulb. Geta SuhIMS 180 CE gas-powered chain saw for $230 and savethis much ‘ver an Echo CS-4008, abou Best products of the year: TVs, tablet Check out our iPad app Look for expanded Ratings, videos of road testsand lab tests, plus more photos and Interactivenavigaton, Now incluced with ‘your paid magazine subscription. Consumer Reports isthe worlds laygstindependent consumersreduct- ‘csingoganaatn mitorsf consumers about ther experiences ‘with rocuctsane services Were based ‘What we do Wea allof the products werate ‘What we dont do We dont accept paid advertising, we get our money manly trough Subserptionsana nations we cont accept freetestsamplestrom manufacturers. And ve invonkers, NY. ontallow ou name or andareanonprent —contentto be wed or any ‘organization promotional purposes How to reach us Witeto usa Consumer Report, 01 Truman ve. Yonkers NY 107024057 attn: Customer Service, *Tosendalettertotheesitor ote ConsumeReportsergletertceier + Fores ipsand story eas, go oconsomerRepertscxatis. + Email submissons for Seling to Selinger consamerar. ‘For subscription information, 10 ConsumerReprs rgimagazine ot call aco-s6e-5261 See page for more details Ratings Werate products ung these symbols: © ksclert © ver goo! O Ceod Oar @ Poor 8 Buy rosucts ith hisicon oer the bast Combination of perfomance ana price Recommended produet W¥ocels with ths | Gasignation perform wand standout For reasone Recommended car Thesetested wll are relabe, And performed adequately fcrshtested or included ina federal rover test ‘Don't Buy We label products with thisieon when ‘weyudge them tobe satetyrisks or tohavesercus performance problems 4 CONSUMER REPORTS OCTOSER 2015, ON Your MIND Who's covered? ‘An important consideration was leftoutof br Whor (August 2013): surance coverage When myptysican was nat available, tras scheduled ro see his certified physician assistant, lwas shocked fociscover that iscarewas considered “outof networks subject toa higher dedcible and paid aa lower percentage Myinsurance pan dd notstate that fran notcovereg atthe sare vel asa doctor “SuHortung Deki Editor's note Network coverage of non-M.0. practitioners may vary from practice to practice theres any doubt check withthe practice and/or your insurance company ist Ringing idea Regarding your advice to hang uptoavold scamsand auds ("These New Seams Target Seniors: August200), have found kmostefectvetojust nocanswermy phones. The lanalinenasan answering machine, and my cellhasvokceral Unsolicited cals wll not leavea messapein teirinsaiable quest or 2 human mark is very satisyingto se that Zerocn the message screen after the phone stops inging Paul Kate Parone, Turn the car off Regarding the Ford recall (Safety Alerts, August 200), people who smell gas orseeiton the ground shouldmct take ther vehicle to the LETTERS ealership—they should be towed. Such conditions could result ina fire at any time, jena short dive could become deacly. ‘Tom Hartshorn Martinsburg, WW Tough tissue Cone ceron that makes Puffs Pusthe top rater (Up Front August 201) in aur house is washabiltyifatssve'leftina pocket conwashay, Puffs come outa single ole Sheets while other brancs produce annoying Confetti, which the dryer can completely Maxine werson Kansas Cty, MO Clarification in‘Let’s Make a Deal (August 2013), we should have made clear that the patient who needed surgery was refered byher optometrist toan ophthalmologist colleague, nat to another optometrist. Es a il DRIVERS’ AID Blind-spot monitoring systems, onside mirrors, are useful safety features. Have you tested the new blind-spot warning and lane-departure systems that are available on new cars? Are they worth the cost? Gary Roodman Leeds, WA Usually blind-spot monitoring systems work ‘wei, iluminating awarning when a venice lurks in your side Bind spot, Some systems canalso sound analertifyou switch on the ‘umn signal when theres an agjacent vehicle Lane-departure systerns warn i you deviate atallfram your lane. They work well butare ‘often oversensitive, giving oo-frequent ‘warnings, especially on rural roads. Many years ago I read that grinding bbones is good for garbage disposers; le*hones the blades and scours the pipes: But a more recent article said that bones and eggshells are the worst things—other than fat—to put down a disposer. Which is ite Royall Whitaker Annapolis, MD Becausebone and eggshell areitemsthat are slow to decompose even when they're ground Lup, they will deposit in sections of piping that have law flow or velaciy, suchas traps or pipe sections with ittleorno pitch, ané potentially causea blockage, It seems more common with junk mail these days that the"unsub- scribe" function requires that you type in your e-mail address to confirm it-Is (OK todo this or is itjust a phishing scam? ‘And fitisn’ta good idea, how do you get rid of this type of mail? Paul Naw Nashvill, TW \We don't recommend that you type your e-maillinta an unsubscribe box. It may well be used asa way toconfirm that your address isvalid, and most legitimate mailers will automaticaly enter your e-mailadaress fon the unsubscribe page. Otherwise, just ignore the unk ma Inaddition to the explanation of how you test at ConsuMER REPORTS, could you also provide some information fon your policy regarding what and why you select what you do (i.e. types of products and which models to test)? ‘=Thomas David Brook, NY We select categories to test that are most relevant to consumers whe need unique, expert advice in making purchases, especially in dynamic markets where technology changes ang products vary in performance and price. Our model selection process is based an research and analysis to identify the most representative products that consumers are likely to find in stores ana online. We try to capture the newest products, features, and technology that are currently avaiable SEND Your QUESTIONS To GonsumerReprts orfaskovererts OCTORER2013 ConsumeRREPORTS.org 5 VIEWPOINT This page highlights efforts of Consumers Union, the policy and action arm of Consumer Reports, to improve the marketplace ERmeoaacs) Abetter cable TV bill ‘THE ISSUE To get yourfavorite channels, ‘you may have to pay fordozens oreven hundreds of others that you never watch. ‘OUR TAKE Consumers shouldhave more ‘options ané flexibility n paying for cable TV. “The average amount ofa typical monthly cable television bill rose by about S12 between 2008 and 2012. Prices shot up almost 5 percent in 2012 alone. There isa new bill in Congress that ‘would let consumers buy cable channels. individually, or “ala carte; so you could pick the channels you wantand possibly lower ‘your month bil. The Television Consumer Freedom Act, now in the Senate, would Web watch The Federal Trade Commision recently Updated thera orprotecingcnidens online privacy. The evsions tothe Clde's Onn rivacy Protection Act (COPPA eek to keep pace th technology asmorechlcren se mobeappsand socal tediastenter ages, Underte rules. tebsite mus get verified consent roma Chills parent before colecting personal information rom anyone under the age of En TheFTenasawebste devoted to fe online safety, covering everything frm parental rights under tne nw ulesto Eybetblling Coto anc consumer go and cick on bvacy entity the kids Online sates encourage cablecompaniesto unbundle their channels and offer la carte programming. It would ago eliminate the TV blackout rule ‘or sports events that ae held in publicly Financed stadiums. We believe this bill would help deliver greater choices for consumers ‘who have grown weary of cable price hikes. B CONSUMER VICTORY Money matters ‘The win Theres finalya Senate-confirmed director ofthe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, What's in itfor yourhe CFPBisan independent ‘watchdog that polices banks, lenders, ang other financial service providers and products and cracks down on ip-os such asshady loans and hidden credit-aré feos. ‘The CFPB was created in 2010as part of ‘aWall street reform law. But inan attempt tomuzzlethis watchdog, some senators refused toallowavoteaona director unless the bureaus authority was drastically weakenee. Richard Cordray. a former Ohio attomey general, was appointed interim Girector in 201, ana he helpes refund $425 million to 6 milion consumers hit by deceptive financial practices But the clock was ticking on Cordray's temporary term, and the CFPa itself was at Fisk. Consumers Union generated about 180,000 signatures, e-mails, and phone calls Insupport of Cordray In july, senators from both parties agreec toallowa vote with no changes to the bureau's powers. Come to our annual meeting Please join son Saturday, Oct. 19, atour national heaequarters,llTruman ve, Yonkers, NY Doors open at 9:45am. and themeeting begins at 0am. An expo 1 FROM OUR PRESIDENT. Safe travels My fistcar wasa used 1960 Ford Falcon, barely functional, butt dd the job. Auto safety that year was primitive. Seatbelts werent standard, and few Srwvers wha aic have them buckledtnem.one Eo reason: The dye ob waslousy.and the color rubbed off on clothing. ConsumeR Revonrs advised car owners tobuythe lightest colorbett available and to wear itfaihfly and we prodded regulators tomake seat belts standard equipment. In13960 we ise condemned “bayonet-shaped hood and fender ‘ormaments, brakes that filed, ané ower steering that ced ifthe ingle belt driving it broke, Tacay we continue fur commitment to auto safety, influencing automakers and regulators tomakeit apriority Moving forward. Our Ratings alone canhelp shape safety. we were fans of electronic stablity control from its carly daysin thelate 1990s, when we witnessed its unequivocal benefits on ur tes track. From 2008 on, only vehicles that hadit wauld get our top Pick’ label. By the 2010 model year, ESC was standard on almost 90 percent of ‘arsangon all SUVs. n part because of our relentess acvocacy, i's now ‘mandatary onall passenger vehicles. Moving backward. he rear line zone, invihich child or petis invisible tothe driver, can beaslong as 0 eet For years, we advocated for backup cameras to be standard on all new cars and supported legislation, passed in 2008, that requiree them. But this, Summer that rule was delayed for fourth time, Its odd that carmakers hhave problems with therule—they cite costand driver responsibilty because the cameras arealreacy in about haf of vehicles on the market, Not moving at all. In 2002 t took conlyane commuteina new BMW tosee that theiDrive control was problem. ust changing radi stations pulled the rivers attention avay from the roadfor too long. We called ita disaster. BMW simpitieg the system, butother companias keep bringing out = contralsthatare much toa complex. = ‘Ourexperience helps usidentity : what makes a vehicle unsafe and has earned the respect of automakers, regulators, and you, the consumer : Aad fad a select lab visit wil run from lam, to12:30 p.m For details, goto ConsumerReports.org/anruatmeeting sim cuest President 6 CONSUMER REPORTS ccToRER 20 What’s in a (car) name? HAVE YoU EVER driven a Ford Hep Cat ‘ora Chevrolet Panther? No? That's because ‘those monikers never made it to the show room floor. Hep Cat wasoneof5,00names considered for the 1955 Thunderbird; Panther was the code name for the 1967 Chevy's planned reintroduction of the Stingray name for the 2014 Corvette, last used in 1976, got us thinking about how car names are chosen—a job that is equal partsart and science Susan Pacheco, director of global ad- vanced product marketing for the Ford Motor Company, led us through For naming process. A team from the compa~ ny’smarketing, design, and communica~ tions departments comes up with, say, 150 suggestions, considering the images Match the suggested name to the inal choice: Lafayette Ford Edsel Panda Dodge Dart Pegasus Utopian Turtle 4. Pontiac Fiero Zipp Ford Mustang and feelings each evokes. Contenders are checked for inappropriate or negativernean ings. (Life Dunk, a Honda van sold in Asia, would not have worked in the U.S., for instance.) Extemal brand-naming compa niles are sometimes used, and focus groups may provide feedback on how likable a name is and whether it“fits” the car, ‘A winnowed list is submitted for legal and wademark clearance, (This stage can be tricky, as Ford has learned. The Mus tang was originally sold in West Germany as theT:5 becausean industrial equipment company held the rights to the Mustang ‘uademark.) Last, the name is approved by Ford’s CEO. Sometimes a car name isn'ta real word but is chosen for its sound and connota: Ford Edsel = Plymouth caracuda ae Plymouth Barracuda tion, such as Lexus, which, a Toyota rep told us, “combines word roats evoking im ages of luxury and technology.” Volkswa- gen’s Rouan, says a company rep, is “a play off of other multipurpose vehicle ‘names in the VW brand globally: Sharan Touran ... Routan." Jetta was named f¢ the jet stream, and Passat is the Germ word for ade wind. If a alphanumeric stew, a8 is the case with, BMW and Mercedes models, it still must be easy to pronounce, Anotherchallenge is tohavea name that works internationally. The Ford Focus and Fiesta are each known by a single name around the world, but the Fusion and Escape are Mondeo and Kuga in Europe and elsewhere “There's no limit to the places we can use {orinspiration, including other languages astronomy, and mythology,” Pacheco says. Astrology can come into play, too. The Ford. Taurus was named for the sign of the wives cof two company executives. Mark Dziewit, Chevrolet’s global prod- uct manager, says he maintains a data: base of about 750 names, narrowing the list to six to 10 for a new car. In the end, though, the quality of the caris what mat: tors," the product makes the name," Drie wit says, “not the other way around.” OCTOBER 2012 ConsumenReronts.org 7 UP FRONT a CHIP LIKE no sna taste bud has tasted) Popchips, one of a burgeoning breed of salty snack alternatives and pitched by Katy Perry and Bruno Mars. Popped snacks are ‘made of corn, rice, potato, chickpeas, or a mix of those, and most are subjected to heat and pressure until they pop. No fry ing, nobaking, “nowiping yourgreasy chip hand on your jeans.” the clear message: Popped snacks are more healthful But are they? Not really. Although all have less fat per serving than typical fried potato chips, some have more fat than do aisle has seen (or says the website for Pop goes the snack allofthem by taste. Butamongkettlechips, PopComers and Popchips are better than the rest, and Quaker is worse. The barbecue snacks re very similar, so buy by price. The hummus and multigrain snacks taste ‘mostly of thelr seasonings, The Ratings in cludescores for nutrition (based on calories, far, sodium, sugars, and other factors) as wwellas taste descriptions of each product. Bottom line, Popped snacks may sound good for you, but they're still a member of the snack aisle, Buy one whose raste appeals, and check prices, which range from 35 cents to $1 per serving, weren't different enough in quality forour tastersto rank baked potato chips and about the same number of calories. Olde Cape Cod multigrain has 420 milligrams of sodium, Numbers crunch snocserorcsioves fProducs | more than the amount in Fat | Sodium | Fiber typical cheese pufts, potato Calories! (g) | (mg) _| (¢) chips, or pretzels. (the cha. Sattfreerieecakes so fo <1 atrightpits thenutrition ofa Minipretzels wo |o a0 fat popped snack against that of Baked potatochips. | 20 = |2 | us| 2 other snack foods.) Hummus KatysBopenips—|1n0 | 4 ns | 2 popped snacks at least have Regulartortilachips 4017s slightly more fiber than most Cheesetrtilachips 140 |@ 210 | 1 othersinthecategory: grams Alrpepped popeom | 150 |9 | 200 | 2 persevving. ‘cheese putts 10 |10 |300 | <1 The tested popped snacks Fried potatochips |160 [10 [70 {1 “tion possum wees ee pe pind Sry abaz nce ees ea hae, SET TEU CES Guu OE Ue my ‘Three-quarters of Americans who take multivitamins andlor other dietary Supplements use one or more of the pis in ‘the regimen’to stay healthy’ according toa nationally representative survey of ,022US. adults conducted in May 2013 by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. But theres little evisence that supplements help prevent clseasein already healthy, well-fed people. The survey turnedup other behavior that was unhelpful at best and risky at worst. Among ourtincings ‘ cty-ine percent of respondents nave told their Goctor what they're taking. ain reasons lthers didnt: They hadn't noticed any problems since starting vitamins or Supplements, orjust cin’ think sharing was necessary, But patients should provides lst ‘ofall supplements at every visitas part of ‘their medical history says Pieter Cohen, MO. anintemistat Cambridge Health Aliancein Massachusetts witha special interest in supplements. There's no question that high doses of vitamins can hurt you" he says ‘Too much vitamin €, for example, can increase {the sk for prostate cancer. ‘just overa thied of those taking ‘multivitamins andlor other supplements along with prescription medications aid they checked with a pharmacist before taking at least one of those drug combinations. But combinations can be dangerous. The popular herbal supplement St. John’s wort, for ‘example, can make birth contro pills and heart ‘medications ess effective, research shows Help prevent potentialinteractions by asking your pharmacist toad the supplements you ake to your patient profile, says Sophia De ‘Monte, 8 Ph., a spokeswomanfor the American Pharmacists Assocation. ‘Forty eight percent of people with achild Under Bat home saié that their youngest child was taking multivitamins at least occasionally Of those, 73 percent said aneof the main reasons was to help kids‘stay healthy in seneral; and 38 percentsaid it was"to their det” But the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) believes that'supplemental \vamins are probably unnecessary for the healthy child whois more than year of age ands consuming healthy, varied diet” says Qbxclert Sevens Sant Spr Oro 13 5P Bg FJ z TTL onset aNDALry Popcorn Chips bakes) §— $077 120 25-105 ai opera Sigh say and nee. Dancer ay 0 as Srl om nets tec 066 HO 4s Meta Re Poros 0 uo 35m Ciniyge ao: casero Cae ee ‘ce Snacks | S067 0190 Segara maple mpressn, ansecue lnc Far ; = Potato Crisps S047 UO 25-280 ata caren Nave. fardirous a) uo 40 ln atow “Snacks @ 7130 45-30 ayo anc notable paprika avo. Sight corn favor, Tale ese ot facenneterovesto aber Potato Chis " O 066 LO 4 180 seasoning very ight heat, sight sate aus a os a Salsa Fresca fo eee ee een! ‘cumin gai favars Say. Herb Popped Chips oO ee = fatanseasoning gai, coin, tomato, cheese. uric Neville Golden, M.O., chief of adolescent ‘medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and a spokesman for the AAPA ‘multaitamnin containing tne recommendee daily allowanceisnot harmful but can be expensive ‘Fifty-five percent of American adults think ‘that supplement labels must wam about potential dangersand side effects. Wrong. The Food and Drug Administration doesnt require warnings on supplements, with one ‘exception: Those that contain iron must ‘warn about accidental overdosing and fatal poisoning in children. What's more, 47 percent of Americans think the FOA must review products before theyre sold tothe public, and 4S percent think that claims about safety or effecteness must be based ‘on sold scientficevidence, Bu federal law does not require that dietary supplements bbe proved safe to the FDAS satisfaction oF ‘that supplement companies show that ‘most label claims are accurate BY THE NUMBERS. 56% ©76% ‘of mentake ‘ofwomen take ‘multivitamins or ‘multivitamins or supplements supplements 31% @34% said muttivitamins sald mulvitamins wererecommended were recommended bya doctor. bya family member, friend, or co-worker. 26% @43% said supplements said supplements wererecammended were recommended byafamilymember, bya doctor. friend, or co-worker, TECH TIPS. The right way to store summer clothes Wash everything. Stains can lurk even inclothes that look lean, Leftto linger. some invisible stains especialy from white wine or clear sodas that contain cor syrup or sugar, may show up later as permanent brown spots. Amiong the best detergents on a rangeof stainsincluding sass, blood, and‘ring around the colar: Tide Uitra plus Bleach Vivid White, Wisk ‘Deep Clean (aCR Best Buy), and Kirkland Signature ultra Clean Pacs.Allarefor front-ioaders or high-efficiency toprloaders. For standard top-loaders, {uy Tide Plus Bleach Alternative Vivid white + Bright aleach is effective on white garments, bt dont use ton spandexit can break cown the fibers Pre-teatng grass, dir, and sunscreen stains is key, Follow clothing manufacturers laundering directions Let clothes breathe. Don't clothesin plastic. fevena li accumulates inside, can cause mildew. Use uags or boxes made of fabric or with breathable panels Keep shoes in shape. When storing shoes, gravtyis the enemy. Help retain ‘the shape of summer shoes by baling up acie-res tissue paper inthe toes. As with clothes, store shoes ina dry place ‘Avoid wrinkles. Roll clothes instead of falding them. Next spring, hang them inthe bathroom and let shower steam smooth any wrinkles, Be creative. You neecrit banish ‘summer clothes to anatticatthe stroke fof Labor Day. you nave empty space in adry, clean closet, useit. Fabric sweater organizers area quick, inexpensive way {oad shelf space toa coset Enh Sunlight isa great oxidizer. Te help faded whites look new again, wash them and hang them in the sun. ‘That may reverse yellowing. OcTORER 2012 CowsumERRevonrs.org 9 UP FRONT Packages that need a makeover SOME PACKAGES have been annoying forsolong that it seems as if manufactur ers are teasing us all. Why, in 2013, must consumers open a box of farina pretty ‘much as they have for decades, by push- {ng in acurout on the side ofthe box? How ‘many times have you opened bagoof chips only to have iesplitand spill the contents? Patrick Reynolds, editor of the trade publication Packaging World, blames eco- nomics. “These are mostly low-margin, commodity products that yield small prof its,” he says, "There isn'ta lot of motivation for companies to rip out equipment in their plants that’s boughtand paid forand invest in new machinery, no matter how horrible the packaging,” Frito-Lay, for instance, abandoned an experiment to outfit snack bags with a resealable zippered closure be- cause of cost, says Joe Angel, publisher of Packaging World, and besides, “they want people toeatall the chips all at once.” We've rounded up some familiar cul prits and contacted companies to find out Why they couldn't do better. Comet Cleanser Theiissue. The caraboard container and metal top deterioratein moisture, and powder kicks up through holes inthe nanclosablelig when youseritaown, ‘The company’s respons Thelimitations ofthe container are by design tomate recyclable. Gold Medal Flour ‘The issue. The four is tightly packed intoa delicate paper sack ‘hat'stricky tohandle without tearing ormakinga mess ‘The company's response. I's very lassicand the way its aways been customer-service rap sai ‘And flourisan openly traded commodity. We don't make much moneyon it BOSCO a CeO Uy Meticine is good. Once it has expired? Not so much, Hence the reason for National Take-Back Day on Oct. 25, 201, rom 10 a.m. 102pm.At designated sites—a pharmacy, police station or school, forinstance—you Can drop off unwanted, unused, orexpited medications. The programistreeand anonymous, and accepts most prescription drugs. (Tofind acollecton stenear you, go ‘todea govand click on Drug Disposal, then Got Drugs?) n three years of semiannual Collections, more than 400 tans of 10 CONSUMER REPORTS ocTORER 202 prescription meds have been collected and incinerated, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Why turn in old drugs? They may have lost effectiveness or directions for theirusemay have changed (for example, the Food and Drug Administration no longer Fecommends that kids under2 years old take cough orcoldmedicines).Andit’sjustabad idea tohave leftover painkillers hanging around—they could contribute toa family ‘member’ or friend's crug:abuse problem. Everything wedoisgeared toward protecting American families and ‘communities’ DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart says."By removing unwanted prescription drugs from theirhomes, the public helps prevent experimentation, Addiction, overdose, and even death? There are reasons to gotoa take-back site instead of tossing the medications yourse “Throwing drugs in the trash lets kies and pets getat them, and awastebasketisalikly placefor drug abusers to check after they've lookedin the medicine cabinet. Flushing drugs down a toilet? Generally aad idea, Some organizations cite human neath concems; otherscite evidence that flushed drugs can cause deformities in fish, such as reproductive abnormalities among Smallmouth bass. There's no definitive evidence to suggest adverse human health effects, but the FDA wants to minimize drug residues in the public water supply. Proposed rules by the DEA would expand cisposal options to include maik-back programs and receptacles at pharmacies Corlong-term-care facilities. But although the public comment period clased ast February, those rules have yatta become permanent. Ifyou miss atake-back day and want to cispose of ils on your own, follow these suggestions: ‘* Romoveall personal information and «rug names from the label ‘¢Take medications out of their original bottles and mix them in another container (like an empty margarine tub) with an undesirable substance, such as cooking ol, coffee grounds, or cat litter. Then seal the container and throw it inthe trash outside ‘*To see an FDA list of medications so potentially harmful to others that they Should beflushed ance expired. goto {ago clickon Drugs, andtype"fush crags Into the search window. Cream of Wheat ‘Theissue. The paperboard boxhas ‘spout you create by okinga finger through ‘a precut template. When ‘you pour, cereal tends to ‘et stuck inside the box, ‘and youcan'tresealthe ‘The company's response. Wearesure Your suggestion fora metal pour spout for ‘the Cream of Wheat cereals would bea reat success Infact, many of our consumers have requested this. Unfortunately we currently do not have the machinery to apply thistype of packaging” Kettle chip bag ‘The issue. You need astrong but delicate touch topullthebag open without causing ta spit apart and spilchips. ‘The company's response."It's always great to hear from a fan. Wewantyou to know that weare always looking to improve based on ‘feedback from our consumers: Then the company offered us coupons SCAM ALERT CLAIM CHECK Can you bake in paper? ‘The claim. Chinet Bakeware nonstick paperpans are’the frst disposable baking dishes that let you take your food from ven to tableto freezer to microwave’ the product's website says. The pans, along with plastic lds, come in square, rectangular. and oval shapes. invarious sizes. We paid $4.95 per pack, consisting of two or three pars. The check. At the risk of expanding ourwaistines, we cooked casserolesand brownies in Chinetandinsimiarsize ‘metal and aluminum pans. Bottom line. Chinet panned out. sa disposable yet tough baking dish that can migrate toa microwave oven, anditwas ‘more rigid than the disposable aluminum ans weused.Aborus You won't need ot holders when you pickup the heated dish, That said, because the bakeware is flexible, the lds may pop off, and the paperpan seems to extens baking time. Browniesina metal pan were done in 440 minutes; those in Chinet required 8. Beware of fake computer-virus warnings It’s bad enough dealing with real viruses, ‘worms, and other malware on your computer Now scammers are charging to remove ‘threats that aren't even there Tre Federal Trade Commission recently announced settlements wth two operations ‘that itaccusedof tricking peopleinto believing ‘theircomputers had viruses and then charging ‘upto $129%0 x the imaginary infection. The ‘outfits called people or used Google paid search tolure them to websites that aimed an association with reputable antivirus sofware ‘makers such as McAfee and Symantec and computer titans such as Dell and Microsoft. But there are other ways oucan be bamboozled. Some websites launch pop-up ‘windows saying that your computers Infected and offering to scant or remove the virus—fora fe. Even more insidiousare sites ‘that stealthily install antivirus software that ‘mimics the ral thing, creating fake scan results that show widespread infection, The ‘bogus programs aften have authentic sounding names. (Weve seen System Care ‘Antivirus and Antivieus Agent Pro) Such “ransomwvare” can disable many of your ‘machine functions or hide programsané datafiles, making t seem as though they've been deleted. Then t notifies you thatitcan repair the problems—again, forafe. What youcan do ‘Make sure you have acurent, legitimate antivirus program installed. (It stillmay not protect you completely. A staffer had his PC infected twice in the past year while online, though he has up-to-date antivirus software.) Back up personal files often to minimize the amount of information youl loseifyouhave toerase yourhard deve. you receive phone calls or e-mails warning that your computer ‘may beinfected, ignore them, no matter how legitimate they seem. Don clickon anyink nan unsolicited e-mailfroma stranger. If your computer becomesinfected with a rogue antivir program, dont pay anything, ‘ng matter how frustrating the symptoms, Insteag,discannect the computer trom the Interna so that the sofeware cant steal personal information. Then note the nameof the fake software (visible in the pop-up box) ‘and other tals. Using a separate computer, search forinfo on how to removeit There's lots ofavice on websites suchas Bacwarebustersorgandan the sites of legit Antivius sftware makers SSometech sites offer fee utilities, including ‘the RKillapplication from Bleepingcompute com, that temporarily disable ransomware sothat you can removeit using legitimate antivirus software, such as Malwarebytes ‘Anti-Malware Free matworebytes.or).You should be able to download the utilities toa US® thumb cre and run them on the affected ‘computer. those fixes seem overwhelming, ska computer-sawy fiend forhelp or obtain professional tech support, OCTOBER 2012 ConsumeRReronts.org 12 HEALTH The facts about joint supplements U.S. CONSUMERS spent $753 million in 2012 on supplements of glucosamine and chondreitin in an attempt to relieve pain and stiffness from arthritis, according to the Nutrition Business Journal. But the scientific jury is still out as to whether those products work. And on top of that, ‘our new tests af 16 widely sold joint sup” plements found that some contained less chondroitin than they said they did, and ‘two didn’t dissolve sufficiently Allof the tested products contain a com- bination of glucosamine sat (either hydro chloride or sulfate) and chondroitin sulfate, ingredients that occur naturally in and. around the cartilage that cushions the joints. Some research has suggested that the combination might reduce pain in certain people with osteoarthritis, the DiHow they stacked up Allof the products in the table below contained their Claimed levels of glucasamine hygrochlorie or sulfate (defined as atleast 90 percent of the labeled amount), land none had worrisome levels of contaminant metas. ‘The productsin tne top section alsomet their label claims for chondroitin and dissolved sufficiently.» Because they fulfled allo our quality criteria, we think it makes the ‘most ence to choose from among those nine products. (Within groups, products are listed in order of cost per day. degenerative joint disease that affects 2 million Americans. But the evidence far from conclusive. Inalarge, multicenter trial published in 2006, researchers found some evidence that glucosamine and chondroitin alleviated pain in patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis, the most common type. But subsequent studies have not con: firmed that finding. And treatment guide lines issued in May 2013 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons don't recommend glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, citing lack of efficacy Inside our tests We bought the supplements online or from stores in the New York area between ‘August and October 2012, We had outside Product a ic) ores Metall of our quality citer Kikland SgatreCivalSeegtn(cano]=™_ OBR _a 7 7 UCT stent» cpt 3 7 Wow ta stent ube aa 2 8 ‘TheVitamin Shoppe it Soins bet aa i on SciffioeFeeAdarcedTipeStength tabi coated) 30, 2 08 Nature's BountyExveStengt\Conpec soy! 3 0 atramax oan cape BO a on Joie ber Acs liqud Sar senngs ngesenetame 073 ations Cn e liqud Sa rungs sngesne tome 1 Contained less chondroitin sulfate than claimed. Spring Vay Tipe eng Vainan)» Uber 7 oF FinestNatualTipltengh Wagers) caplet 0 2 on vsTiplestength cet 0 2 086 ature Made Tg Fes Tile Srngth cot 2 ow NatualFacersGlicaaripe Cnn sunws pide 00 i oso Contained less chondroitin sulfate than claimed and did not dissolve sufficiently. 3G Everydayvalebtastength(WhueFeod) abe 7 os “Tigosamine va Suength cet 30 i on » Topas slag test est perce ofl amounts guanine a chonrkin must asa n ateravhin bee Ye etapa ete and cope dagen, xu dal ez eemended ‘onl ly equolent tothe amour used nce nal | 00 migamsguosmne sl 2981200 ria ‘onrotinsulte. Label ams rar the reduc s USP eid eS Carte company dams peda met ore forall USP qty stondorésorspciestions« Monfocre sgt pile dotnet two ures ond fuoplsonedly teeter stanfcerer suggests hes per dy nt inlone totso months adeno. ‘voplsper day theater Alot camein unpacks ets wen aoa pl cau 0, a acs of S40 er 12 CONSUMER REPORTS OCTOBER 2013 labs test samples representing three lots of each product. To meetour quality criteria a product had to contain, on average, at least 90 percent of its labeled amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin; pass our dissolution test, based on the test used by the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), a nongov- emmental standard-setting organization, ‘where applicable (it applies only to tablets and caplets); and fall within acceprable limits for four heavy-metal contaminants: arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. ‘hose limits are set by the Environmental Protection Agency, the USP, and Califor- nia's Proposition 65, Allof the products contained their labeled amount of glucosamine. And none con: tained worrisome amounts of lead orother heavy metals. But six products—CVS Triple Strength, Finest Natural Tiple Strength (Walgreens), [Natural Factors Glucosamine & Chondroitin sulfates, Spring Valley Triple Strength (Wal- ‘mart, Trigosamine Max Strength, and 365 Everyday Value Extra Strength (Whole Foods)—fell below their claimed levels of chondroitin, averaging only 79 0 8 percent of the labeled amount. 4 seventh product, Nature Made Triple Flex Triple Strength, averaged only 65 percent of its claimed chondroitin in ourtests, The 365 Everyday Value and Trigosamine pills also didn’t dissolve sufficiently, which suggests that their ingredients might not be fully avail able for absorption in the body. We think there are better choices than those two. What to consider Glucosamine and chondreitin have shown 2 good safety ecord in studiesof up tothree years, but they may interact with some drugs, particularly blood thinners, Socheck ‘with your doctor frst if you take warfarin (Coumadin and generic) or another blood- thinning drug. If you get the green light, pick from among the nine that met our quality criteria, listed in the table, At rec- ‘ommended daily doses, most provideabout 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine salt and 1,200 milligrams of chondroitin sulfate People who are allergic to shellfish should consider avoiding glicosamine derived from crustacean shells, a common source. Keep a daily pain diary to gauge whether thesupplementsare helping. Ifyou'veseen zno improvement after three months, it’s unlikely that you will, our experts say. DCLOse-UP. Other options to ease arthritis pain ‘There's no known cure for osteoarthritis, short of a knee or hip replacement for people with advanced cisease. And treatments to reduce symptoms— Including nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and injections of steroids—offer limited benefits and can cause side effects. So it makes sense to rely on nondrug ‘measures when you can. Here are some ofthe most effective ‘Weight loss. Every pound of excess weight you shed can take about 4pounds of pressure of the knees when walking, research suggests Physical activity. strength training helps build up the muscles that support the affected joint, Aerabic exercise, particularly ‘Weignt-bearing activities such as walking, canease stiffness by keeping joints exible and lubricated. But check with your dactor before starting any new workout regimen, ‘Mechanical aids. Acane, crutch, orwalker can takea load off painful knees, and insurance usually covers them if they're medically necessary Heat and cold. Aheating pad canease ‘ongoing stifness and soreness in joints, For acutepainand sweling, switch ta ie packs. ‘Acupuncture. Real acupuncture—the insertion af fine needles at specific points on ‘the body—provided modest benefits vera sham procedure for chan pain due to knee ‘osteoarthritis and other ailments, according toa review published in the Oct. 22,200, issue of Archives of internal Medicine Massage. The deep-tissue variety got high marks in a2010 survey of Consume RePonts online readers who tried it for ‘osteoarthritis, Half sai it helped alot 7 ConsumerReports’ The advice you need before you buy! Essential Guide Tells You: © Which Small SUV Is For You? The Best and Worst Fuel Economy Do’s and Don'ts At The Dealer Safest, Reliable Cars For Teens Seven Items You Shouldn’t Overlook When Buying a New Car PLUS: Exclusive Ratings of 285 vehicles and recommended models Available at bookstores or at OCTORER2013 CowsumERREPoRTs.org 13 MONEY Truths financial pros won't tell ‘He srcurrties and Exchange Com- mission did investors a favorin 2011 when it made financial advisers explain their compensation in plain English instead of industry jargon. Now when you request Form ADV Part 2, you can more easily see whether an adviser gets commissions from che investments he sells, charges a flat fee or a percentage, or is paid anther way. The form also mentions disciplinary actions, conflicts of interest, and other background information, But Form ADV Part 2 doesn't tell the whole story. Advisors won't necessarily volunteer everything about the scope of the services they provide or all that you'll pay to work with them. Those sins of omission—some inadvertent and some intentionalcan cost you. Here’s what might be left unsaid Tm more expensive than you think, Fee-only planners, the kind we generally recommend, often charge an investment ‘management fee equal to a percentage of yourassets. Annual fes for assets of $i: lion or less can range from 0.7 percent to ‘ore than ? percent, with 1 percent being average. But ie recommend that you ask. Even a seemingly small difference in that fee—say, 1.5 percent a year instead of 1 percent—can cost you substantially 1n20 years, a $500,000 nest egg growing at 8 percent would be worth $1,934,842 with a 1 percent fee but only $1,761,823 with a 1,5 percent fee. If a prospective adviser charges more than I percent, soek someone ese, Certified financial planners at the mutual-fund giant Vanguard charge 0.7 percent to man- age accounts of $1 million or less. On that {$500,000 balance, a 0.3 percent differ tence would save $111,435 in20 years. T might not have your interests at heart, Your adviser is required to tell you whar she charges for her services, but she ‘may not be required to compare the cost of her recommendations with alternatives Whether she works fora brokerage house, bank, or an insurance or mutual fund company, she may hawk her employer's propriecary financial products firstbecause they're more profitable to the company. If your adviser charges a commission— typical for professionals called broker dealers—she need only identify invest: ‘ments that are “suitable,” not necessarily the cheapest, She could recommend a ‘mutual fund that fits your portfolio and risk tolerance but isn’t the least expensive and—no coincidence~pays her well. In contrast, a registered investment adviser What you can do on your own Hf youre not clase to retiring, focus on saving enough and property allocating holdings. ‘Your etirement-plan spansor may offer online tools and personal services to help, Here are other aids Calculate your net worth with a download C0 from Quicken (quicken com) or Yodlee MoneyCenter (yaa com; search'net ‘worth’, orwitha spreadsheet downloaded from Google docs (o09lecom/gooale-d-s/ spreadsheets. ‘Assess your retirement readiness with 14 CONSUMER REPORTS acTOsER 2015 T. Rowe Price's Retirement Income Calculator (eoweprice.com/rie)or Analyze Now's Free Retirement Planner (analyzenow com), Oring an adviser ‘working fora flat orhouriyfeeat the website MyFinancial Advice Figure our Social Security payout atvarious ages at ssa gavest Closer to retirement, hirea protoadvise londrawing down retirement accounts and claiming Social Security benefits if youre marriea, civorced, or widawed is legally required to act asa fiduciary by putting your interests frst. A certified fi nancial planneris not bound by law but by similar professional standards, To avoid conflicts, ask the adviser for written confirmation that her relationship toyou is asa fiduciary. If she doesn, find someone else, If your adviser works for a brokerage, her recommendations no doubt will include at least some, if not all, mu: tal funds sold only by her company. Ask bout comparable funds and thelr costs, might recommend investments you don't need oF understand, Variable an nities, for instance, promise retirement income in exchange fora lump sum or pe- riodic premium payments. Their fees can ‘wim moze than 8 percent off retums and end up losing you money: Exchange-traded notes(ETNs) arearcane investments that are backed not by actual assets but by a promise from the issuer to pay an amount based on a benchmark scan arbitrarily delist their ETNs; ic'salso not so easy to redeem shares in an ETN, Even the purchase of tax-free prod- ucts such as municipal bonds might not make sense if your tax rate is fairly low. ‘sk about potential negative outcemes from any investment, Have the adviser back up his pitch with data, and take your time deciding. Or geta second opinion. At Garett Planning Network, for instance you can find advisers who will review investment plans of other advisers for a few hundred dollars. CE a ECS Lee) | ‘When blenders flunk ourtough durability test, i's usually because their motors bum ‘outor their gears fal. But the Calphalon XL ‘9 Speed 1832443 failed fora far more ‘troubling reason: Aknife-sharp fragment broke off from the sameplace on the blade assembly on three samples ofthis model Worse, the broken piece was small enough toh ina smoothie, shake, and other foods ‘and drinks, We've ratec the Calphalon XL ‘9 Speed a Dont Buy Safety Riskasa result. ‘Our durability test involves crushing. seven ice cubes 45 times to simulate long-term use. Of the roughly 50 full-sized blenders in ConsumeR RepoRrs' latest Ratings, the Calphalon isthe only one to have this problem. Though we're not aware of any injuries. ‘caused by a broken blade from this model, ‘which costs $130, we notified the Consumer Product Safety Commission of our findings. We algo contacted Calphalon, which issued this statement: “The safety of our consumers isourtop priority. We take this report seriously. While we received no previous reports ofthis issue, we will tharaughly investigate this matter. Meenas contatnce | Don't Buy: incalphain products | Safety risk andstana your‘ Calphalon products when used Speed directed” Bottom line. fyou already own the Calphalon XL Speed, wesuggest you stop usingitimmeciatay Contact the manufacturer at 800-609-7267and ask fora refund, Calphalon’ ‘website offers 2100 percent satisfaction guarantee. If you're shopping foranew blender, consider one of the ‘models on our recommended ist. The Ninja Professional Nj600, $100, 's durableand elivers excelent blending Remember that any blender must beused safely toavoid injury. Never put your hand insie, especialy if t's plugged in. And instead of washing the blender by hand, add soapy water and run the blender until the Container and blades ae clean, Then unplug itandrinse the container uncer the faucet. EFDA aims to limit arsenic in apple juice Takinga significant step co reduce ‘Americans exposure to arsenic, the Food and Drug Administration has proposed limiting ‘theamount of asenicin apple uice to level ‘comparable co the federal limit for pubic ‘inking water. Arsenic nits inorganic form isknown to cause bladder, ung, and skin cancerin humans, and hasalso been associated with heart disease ‘and diabetes. ‘TheeDAs move comes after Consumer REPORTS released a report in 'Novernber 201! based on our tests that revealed varying, and wortisome levels of arsenicin applejuice and ‘grape juice. Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, urged the FDA to set standards for juice. na blog post explaining ‘why the ageney was making its proposal FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael Taylor specifically cited Consumes ReroRrs' important story’ along with the agency's Increased testing of apple juice in 2001 ‘The FDA set its proposed ‘action level at 10parts per billion (ppb) of inorganic arsenic. The agencys tests found that inorganic arsenic was the main form of arsenicin apple juice, but its latest analysis of 94 samples indicated thatall of the samples containes less than 10 ppb, suggesting the proposed limit isfeasible for manufacturers to meet. Higher levels have shown up. An earlier FDAanalysis found inorganic arsenic levels of18 ppbin one apple juice sampleand a level of 43 ppb ina sample of apple juice concentrate that was rejacted from entering the US, market. Manufacturers are expected totes their products to ensure they conform, and the FOA also willcontinue ts routine ‘market sampling. the ‘agency finds apple juice Products exceeding the proposed limit, can take steps that include ecalls ‘and product seizures. ‘The FDA isconsidering whether further regulatory actions are needed for other juices, such as grape juice, which CConsuMeR REPORTS testing found had inorganic arsenic levels o 15 ppb in ane sample ‘and 20 ppb in another. Te agency is finalizing its analysis of150 juice samples, including pear and grape collected since December 20M, and tt plans to test mare samples, Unashi Rangan, Ph.., director of consumer safety at Consumer ReroRts, said,"We look forward tothe agency finalizing the guidance and using itas a tool for enforcement. We continue to press the government to ban deliberate uses of arsenical-based products in the environment” SAFETY ALERTS D RECALLS HOUSEHOLD probucTs Kenmore dehumidifiers Dehumidifiers ean averheat, smoke, melt, andcatch an fire, posing risks ‘of burnsand fire camage. Probuers 795,000 35-,50-,and70:pint dehumidifiers soldat Sears and kmart stores ‘anc onlin from 20030 2008 for $140 to $220. ‘Thisisareissuearan original recall from ‘August 202; Sears has received seven addtional reports ‘of shortingand fire, including a Severe burn wound and three fires resuitingin more than $300,000 ‘of property damage. \wiat To Bo Unplug the dehumidifier ‘and cal 855-400-4641 orgo to enmoredehumidifrrecal com to get a Bit card or retund checkin the amount ‘ofthe card amount depends on ‘capacity and year ofthe dehumidifien. soleil portable fan heaters Plastic housingcan inet deform, andcatch fieduring use pnopucrs 107,000 fanheaters with model number 11707 soldat Home Depot from September 208 ‘through May 203 for about $5. Heme Depot has had 464 reports of thefan meting but no injury or property damagereports WHAT TO bo Stop usingthefanand retumnitto Home Depot for a flefune. Viking buitt-in refrigerators with bottom freezers Doorscan detach. posing | q a iskof injury ! propuers 31,000Viting Serie eigerators Soldat appliance and specialty stores rom November2005 through ‘October 202 for 95.100 to $7700. Thisisanexpansion of anoriginal recall ne, — Viking has nad 39 new reports offaling doors, including 2 reports of injures invohing a fracture, bruses, strains, Ane cut, ana25,epors of minor property éamage war ro Do Contactviking immediately at 7546-036 (or fee homerepair Donat use thefridge'f the oar éoesrt appear tobe sealed property issagging, or doesnt open ‘ordlose normally SS © ‘OcTORER 2012 ConsumeRReronrs.org 15 pe) y oo TOMATO KETCHUP HOW DIFFERENT? After our experts found store-brand tastealkes for Heinz ketchup and Hellmanr’s mayo, we asked employees todoa blind tasting Store brands to savor Private-label foods often meet or beat the big brands [es comet pape tos ot tah bag, but do yu dare place a mame and favorte~Hein ethup, saycinth a stove rand Sure. Our expe {Whe judged of 5 sore ban onloas gota oc atr than the atonal ba nin, ocala, mised veges, and tno, we found at lest one sore band Sam's lab, Target, tadero's, Walmart, dd hole Fos thar was equlin quay ithe big name. vey soe rand jar of 16 CONSUMER REPORTS OCTOBER 2013 cashews was better chan the national brand, for example; and among frozen shrimp, every store brand was at least as good, To be sure that our results weren't an anomaly, we tested two samples of each brand. (Note that products that are equal in quality don't necessarily taste the same: They may have different seasonings ora different mix of ingredients.) When we pitted store brands against Heinz kerchup and Hellmann's mayon raise, we found at least one near twin for each: Market Pantry (Target) ketchup a Market Pantry, Great Value (Walmart), and Kirkland Signature (Costco) mayos Al are more than one-third cheaper t the name brand, Moreover, when we had about 50 staff ers who usually use Heinz or Hellmann's do. blind taste-off of their brand against the two Market Pantry brands, 45 percent of staffers preferred Market Pantry ketchup (13 percent had no preference) and 41 percent preferred Market Pantry ‘mayo (4 percent had no preference). Store brands account for about one of every four products in a supermarket and they're branching into niches that lack national-brand competition: balsamic vinegar, forinstance, orchocolate-covered raisins, Their popularity is understand! able, considering that they typically cost 45 co 30 percent less than name-brand counterparts, according to an industry expert. As the table below shows, some of thestore brands we tested were more than 30 percent cheaper. the name-brand pre- ‘ium is largely the result of advertising and promotional costs that are passed on toconsumers. Costco, Sam's Club, Target, or Wal- ‘mart were among the low-price winners in every category. Most of the Sam's Club products were 50 percent or even 60 percent cheaper than the name brands, but you'll need to buy warehouse size packages. However, store brands aren't always a bargain. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods usually contended for most-expensive store brand. In fact, five of the 10 tested Whole Foods products—cranberry juice, trail mix, ice cream, shrimp, and nuts— actually cost_more than the national brand, That's no surprise to Consumer Rerorts survey respondents, who have told us that Whole Foods has Some of the highest prices of any major chain. Rising commodity costs may ultimately lead to a narrowing of price gaps between store and name brands, says Neil Stern senior partner with Chicago-based retail experts McMfillanDoolictle. in che mean: time, take advantage of the lower prices. After all, if you're not satisfied with a store brand, most supermarket chains willetum yourmoney. Based on our tests, though, that shouldnt be necessary. Price comparison NAME. STORE Tranberryiuee S038 $0255050 Ketchup cs 002-005 Tralmix 03 018 -040 err ee waplesyrup 126 =8l- 125 Mayonnaise 008 00-008 ace ET cashews ae 038-075 sivedied ——g9o-038 DTrail mix fis Target, Costco, sam's Club, and Walmact "TAKE-AWAY The Planters is flavorful icf peanuts and somealmands. plus rasins and mild milechocolate pieces. The Whole Faods mix should attract lovers of dark chacolate, Iealso has raw almonds, toasted peanuts, white chocolate, chocolate-covered raisins, and dried cherries. Those as Goad as Planters tendto be flavorful with peanuts, almonds, tender raisins. and tasty candy-coated chacolate pieces. ams Club and Kirkland Signature (Costco) {arethe clea bargains—about half as expensive as Planters and Whole Foods. Par ounce, ‘most products have60 to 70 calories, 9t010 grams fat, and 25 1960 miligrams of sodium. Planters, which has no added sale has ust millgrams of sodium per serving ‘Also-rans Kmart Smart Sense Chocolate & Nut and Trader Joe's Rainbow's Ene ‘TAKE-AWAY Allof the syrups (medium ar darkamber cradeA) are very good and would be delicious over pancakes. But Maple Grove and Targe: are slightly thicker than others and have bigger, bolder, more complex flavors—caramel, vanila, and roasted notes, with ahint of coffee. Pure maple syrup is ‘expensive regardless of brand, solet price be your guide. Costco, Costing 36 percent less than the name brand, isa good valve. All ofthe syrups have200 calories, 50 grams of sugars per quarter ‘cup. and negligible sodium ‘Also-rans Whole Fo0ds 365 Everyday Organic, Great Valve (Walmart), Kirkland Signature (Costco), and Trader Joe's (Maple syrup = (6©= iis BRAND, Maple Grove Target OcToRER 2013 ConsumeRReronts.org 17 FEATURE STORE BRANDS TO SAVOR O Shredded mozzarella Cranberry juice cocktail ¢ Co «SARGEN ‘Ocean Spray Kmart TAKE-AWAY Ocean Spray has balanced sweet and tare flavors with some fresh notes; Kmart S has good cranberry flavor and fresh notes, and isa touch less Sargento Walmart and Sam's Club bitter—butit casts more ‘TAKE-AWAY The Sargenta is creamy and sight sweet, with fresh dairy notes. Sam's lub Walmartand Costcoare decent anc\almart cheeses also taste fresh. Sam's Clubs slightly firmer than Sargento, and and about 30 percent cheaper \Walmartis somewnat crumbly, When melted, even the also-rans are close to Sargent than Ocean Spray Itsharder in quality Sam's Cub and Costco are cheapest—less than hal the price of Sargento per serving tomakeacase forthe other Also-rans Whole Foods, Kirkland Signature (Costco), ane Trader oe’, also-rans, whichtaste watery, slighty bitter, orpruney ‘Nutritionally, most juices are similar, with 10 to 140 calories and 26 t035 grams of sugars per cup. Trader Joe's, whichis ‘sweetened with stevia, hasjust 40 calories and 10 grams.of sugars per cup. Also-rans Whole Foods 100% Juice Cranberry Cocktail, Great Value (Walmart), Kirkiane Signature (Costco), Mark Pantry (Target), and Trader Joe's Low Calorie Vanilla ice cream ae Tiggch Veni Breyers Walmart, Target, and Trader Joe's “TAKE-AWAY Breyers melts cleanly in the mouth and is moderately sweet, witha, T strong vanila-bean flavor, Walmart is clesestin taste and costs almost 30 percent less, Costco has a hast of problems: It's overly sweet, tastes slightly meicinal, {and is gummy, Mast ofthe products have 130 to 160 calories and 7to grams of fat perhalf-cup. Trader Joes a superpremium French vanilla, Sdenser and cartes ‘more nutritional baggage (260 calories, 16 grams fat, 23 grams sugars) Also-rans Whole Foods and Kirkland Signature (Costco) > 18 CONSUMER REPORTS CCTORER 2013 (Mayonnaise eo ‘TAKE-AWAY Hellmann wel blended, creamy slightly weet and salty, andeggy, with a hint of vinegar The beter store bands arecheaperbyat jeast25 percent and you’ be hard pressed totastea Giferenceina sandwich The alsoranshaveabig * picklelshaste br other drawacks ‘lso-rans Sams Club Bakers &chets and Trader oe’ ischeap.P Also-rans None. Tastee Choice tis BRAND, MAYONNAISEstiSe Hellmann's Whole Foods, Walmart, Costco, and Target costco, Traderjoe's, and Whole Foods ‘TAKE-AWAY Yous be unlikely to mistake frozen shrimp for fresh, though neither * pound, prices range ftom about $650 (Walmart) to S15 (Whole Foods). Tastee shrimp are soft and watery; Costco, Trader lo’, and Whole Foods shrimp have atirmer, chewier texture and aren't waterlogged. At $725, Costco offers the best mix (of price and quality.The products have 75 to 100 calories per 3-ounce serving and about ‘gram offat. Costco and Whale Foods have the least sodium, about 75 miligrams. me Sam's club, Target, and walmart OcTORER 2013 CowsumERRePoRTs.org 19 FEATURE STORE BRANDS TO SAVOR [Ketchup Mixed Heinz Sam's Club and Target ‘TAKE-AWAY Heinzhas a fullflavor that balances sweetness, saltiness, and sourness. There's ‘also ahint of onion povider. Targets remarkably similar, Sams Club tastes bit more cooked and {bit less spicy. Sam's Club and Target are about half the price of Heinz, Wed steer clear of Whole Foods (thin and dark, with harsh flavors) and Tracer Joe's {low tornato taste, with unbalanced flavors). Per tablespoon, most products have 5 t020 calories, about 160 milligrams of sodium, ‘and 4 grams of sugar. Sam's lub asa bit more sodium; Trader Joes, slightly less sugars. ‘Also-rans Great Value (Walmart), Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's Low Calor Target ‘TAKE-AWAY Birds Eye vegetables (camots. peas, corn, ané green beans) arecrisp, with fresh notes TraderJoe'sare even crisperanc fresher, asf they vebeen quickly blanched iniot water. And they're about 0 cents less per serving. ‘Thealso-ransjust tasted little lessfresh The products have about 50 calories per serving and20t070 miligrams of sodium. Aare fatiree, Also-rans Whole Foods, Sam's Club, an Great Value (Walmar®) “> Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Sam's Club, Walmart, Costco, Kmart, and Target » Emerald ae ‘TAKE-AWAY With nuts, freshness s key. Emerald fared worse than stare brands because some ofits cashews tasted slightly stale. he roast level varied slightly among products but not enough ‘to matter Let pricebe your guide. serving of nuts contains about 160 calories and Ia grams of fat walmart, Cstea, and Kmarthave the most sodium, about IS miligrams, Trade Joes theleast, 60. Also-rans None 20 CONSUMER REPORTS OCTOBER 2013 SPECIAL SECTION MMC NAR l deta ia otewet=>. qm Cai ney we What you can do to safeguard your home and family HERE'S NO TELLING whether the rest of this hurricane season will bring anything like Super storm Sandy, which flooded more than 150,000 homes, killed more than 190 people, and left about 8.5 million homes in 20 states without power. A rela tively minor storm can also cause major damage if it includes high winds, heavy -ee-snapping ice or snow Even a simple blackout can happen at any time and last for days. More than a half-million New Jersey residents were still without power two weeks after Sandy. And if you think most home-insurance policies cover disasters, think again: Flood. insurance is just one of the“extras, "assum: ingit’savailablein yourarea This special section lays aur the essen. tials you'll need to help protect your home and the people in i before disaster strikes It also includes a winners list of portable and stationary generators from our latest ts, along with gas and electric chain saws that can make after-storm cleanup faster and safer. Here's where to start: Protect people and property Cover windows properly. Experts used to recommend taping windows to Jimicbreakage toa few large pieces, rather than many smaller ones, But small and large pieces can be equally deadly. A safer bet: Keep windows shut and close binds, shades, and drapes. Longer-term, consider impact resistant windows or hurricane shurters(about $40 per square foot), which right also net you an insurance discount. Secure outdoor items, High winds can um lawn chairs, potted plants, trash cans, and ather outdoor items into deadly CU projectiles. Move whatever you can into a garage, a shed, ora basement. Park cars on high ground, Two feet of floodwater can carry a car away, What's more, driving in water just 8 inches deep can rin the engine if the water seeps in. through the air intake, Park ata high ele vation or on a hill—but not beneath trees. Protect your valuables. Move what you can to higherfloorsif you expect flood- ing. Also think ahead by documenting Disasters don’t always bring out the best in people: The National Insurance Crime Bureau screened more than 26,000 fraud complaints after Hurricane Katrina. Phony charities and contractor scams topped the list in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Generators: 14 winners start at $600 page 24 Chain saws: Six top picks for storm cleanup page26 OCTORER 2013 CowsumeRREPORTs.org 21 SPECIAL SECTION WEATHERING THE STORM and photographing items you'd include in. an insurance claim if lost or ruined, Stock up on essentials Build an emergency kit. t should have a whistle to attract help, dust ‘masks, duct tape, a wrench or pliers to tara off water if needed, flashlights and batter fes, and local maps. Plan on 1 gallon of ‘water per person per day for at least three days. Include moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanita: tion, Also consider changes of clothing and sleeping bags or blankets. Be prepared for injuries. 4 first-aid should be stocked with bandages in various sizes, sterile dressingsand gloves, hand sanitizer and antibiotic towelettes, a thermometer, pain medicines, ewee2ers, and scissors. Fuel up. Fillall of your vehicles’ tanks, because gas stations could lose power. Remember that most gas generators require roughly 12 020 gallons of gas per day. Also figure on atleast a gallon of gas for extensive chainsawing. Store all fuel away from the house. Have the right phones. Keep at least ‘one corded phone because cordless phones require AC power. Our post Sandy survey also found that cell phones were more rel- able than landline phones, though we lack data on differences for fiber and cable vs. colder copper-wire systems. Be sure cell phones are charged. And have an cutof- Based on the ad slogans, you'd think home insurers were everything from good neighbors tolifelong friends sworn tobe'on yourside" come hell orhigh water. Butof the more than 8,000 Consumer Rerokrs subscribers we Surveyed who endured Superstarm Sandy, Just 54 percent of those who filed claims were highly satistied with haw they were handiec ‘That'sjust anotch above the i percent who ‘old usthat after Hurricane Katrina Knowing what sand isrit—covered before the next big storm can help you make sure you arentt stuck forthe bulk of any repairs. Here are someof the mast common hhome-insurance myths. and steps that can help put you in good hands: Myth: A standard home-insurance policy inckides disaster coverage i Reality: Coverage fr flaods, hurricanes, land earthquakes usually costs extra, assuming you can gett. Flood damage was 22 CONSUMER REPORTS OCTOBER 2012 PR ECU Ree Protect your papers You'l want important documents handy, especially if your home's uninhabitable aftera storm. Store these in a waterproof bag in a locked file ora fireproof box. ‘And have extra copies and backup disks Ina safe-deposit box or with your lawyer. sBirthcertincates) «Mortgage Adoption papers St feahestate Social Securty cards) ners + Passports or Pe seen cards insurance Marriage Vehicle certificate Fegistrations ‘Witandivingwit antes + Powers) of #Autorinsurance attorney ears Heattrinsurance —#Lifeinsurance cars documents town contact you can call, because long: distance phone service can be more reliable than local service during and after storm. Get the right foods. Frozen food may last two days without power, but reftiger: ated items can spoil after 4 hours. Keep at least a three-day supply of nonperishable the most frequent problem cited by our Superstorm Sandy survey respondents, yet 30 percent lacked that coverage. And most ‘who had it didnt have enough ‘What to do: Ask to see avy plicy exclusions orlimitsin writing now. Then consider accing separate coverage fr some orall ofthe risks Your policy excludes before the next major storm. Premiumsaverage $600 per year for flood insurance alone, Expect a hefty ecuctiblefor say earthquakes na high-isk area such as San Diego, where the amount for 5317,000 house can come to $31700. [a Myth: ll get my home's current. market value fits destroyed. 1D Reality: Most homeowners who suffer catastrophe are underinsured, according to United Poieyholders,aSan Franoscononproft that has surveyed and assisted disaster survivors nationwide sine 1991. I’s upto you toboostcoverageasneeded tobe sure you get foods such as crackers, whole-grain cere- als, and canned foods. And don’t forget the manual can opener Check your fire extinguishers. You should have one with aminimum classifi- cation of “2-A:10-B:C” on each floor. Check the dial or pop-up pin for adequate pres- sure each month. Professionally repres- surize extinguishers older than six years, and replace any older than 12 years. Prepare for special needs. Tell your utility and local fire department before a storm if someone in your home uses an oxygen concentrator, ventilator, or medi cal bed; your power could be restored sooner. And keep a one-month supply of ‘medication during hurricane season. Tune in. A battery powered or hand cranked radio will keep you connected if your computer or the Internet is down [NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather radios are also handy for emergency information. Have some ready cash. Banks and ATMs could be out of service, assuming you can get co them, 3 Stay safe during the storm Find the safest place. Stay ina cen’ tral room without windows. Have kids? Ease the fear factor with books, a toy or ‘wo, and if you have power ora generator, some movies and video games, Avoid electrocution risks, Don’t use ‘what your home is eally worth, especially ‘when home prices are rising, because insurers compete on lower premium prices What to do: Ask your insurer for customized estimate of your homes any plug-in device if flooding or wetnessis nearby, Landline phones can also be a shock hazard in an electrical storm, If you must makea call during astorm, use acell ‘orcordless phone if possible—or usea land: line phone's speaker mode to reduce con- tact with the handset, Avoid baths and showers until thestorm passes, And watch, ‘out for dawned power lines and live wir Use cars safely. Obey emergency crews and follow designated routes. If your vehi- cle stalls in water, shutoff the ignition and. seek higher ground; the leading cause of Sandy-related deaths was drowning, Do some damage control afterward Doa mold check. Mold can startin as lite as 24 hours after a ood and will heep growing as long as relative humidity stays above $5 to 60 percent, Put soaked items outdoors and save what's ruined fr replacement cost. You can alsorun your ‘own check for $8at eccucoverage com. Then Consider checkingather insurers to see which offers the most coverage for thelowest ‘monthly premium. And consider buying an ‘extendec-coverage rider, which compensates forthe surges in material and labor costs that often follow a serious storm. Myth: can expect a quick and friendly payout lke the kind in the commercials. Reality: 2e prepared fora fight, especially with large claims. Fully20 percent of home. aims were stil pending for homeowners ‘we surveyee sx months after Sandy—with alms. $0 percent f them far $40,000 ‘ormore.Youllalso need plenty of, documentation, including details such as Cost, purchase dates, and serial numbers for appliances, furniture, and otheritems. What to do: Get the Know Your Stuff hhome-inventory app or software forsmart ‘Damage froma neighbor's tree isusually covered by your insurer, not your neighbor’. the insurance adjuster. Run a dehumidi fier, and clean affected areas with deter gent and water ora bleach solution. You'll reed a mask and protective gloves if you do that yourself. For serious mold, hirea pro. Inspect heating equipment, If any part of your furnace, boiler, or gas heater was submerged, have a pro check and recondi tion the equipment before you switch it back on. Internal damage could cause 2 fire, explosion, or shock hazard, Check your vehicle. Suspect flood dam: age? Don't try to start it until it has been professionally inspected. Saltwater is espe- cially corrosive, but even freshwater that's high enough to reach carpeting can dam: age computers and other electronics, ‘Try tomake only one claim. One larger claim is better than two small ones be cause multiple claims within the same year are ikelier to get you dropped ar reas: igned as high-risk. [phones or computers from the Insurance Information institute ati org/software We als suggest getting your own contractor estimates for repairs. Another option isa public adjuster, who usualy charges To percentof the payout but could getyou far ‘more. Find oneat napia com, the website of the National Association of Public Insurance ‘Agjusters. Stil having problems? Ty griping toyour states insurance commissioner—or threatening to. Half of complaints to insurance commissioners through june cof thisyear have elated to delayed, dene, ‘otherwise unsatisfactory settlements, ‘Myth: My neighbor's insurer pays it his tree fallson my house or car. Reality: Your neighbors policy pays for ‘camage to your home aniy ifthe tree was obviously rotted or dead before i fll ‘making ta neglected hazard. Otherwise, your homeowners policy covers your home and, Emergency sites: Where to go online Here's how to stay connected to late-breakingnews and other essential data. All apps listed are compatible with at east the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. Federal Emergency Management Agency (eadgou)Thesite has Storm-related tips. You ‘candownloada ree appwithtipsanda map of FEMA Disaster Recovery Center locations and shelters ‘American Red Cross ( D Inassists families ater storms ang, at safeandwellcommunityos.orgfeme, helps family members reconnect aftera storm. Hurricane by American Red Cross sone (of several of its free apps with tps specific tostormtype National Oceanic and Atmospheric ‘Administration (ooze go) Its weothergou ‘website hosts weather alerts searchable byZIP code. The $3 NOAA Weather Radar app can sendweather alerts viapush notifications directly to your device Federal Alliance for Safe Homes ((ash.org). ts $8 Flash Alerts app has GPS-guided weather warnings with notifications in English and Spanish, Gas Buddy (gosbudaycom) The site elped usersfing working stations after ‘Superstorm Sandy. ts ree Gas Buddy app lists stations by proximity and price ‘your auto policy covers your car, wether the tree was yours oryour neighbor’. Expect to {foot most orallof the billto remove the tree ifits yours and it simply blew over without hitting anything ‘What to do: Keep a watchful eye on your neighbor's trees. Senda friendly e-mailitany look sick ordamaged so that you can document the problem for later ifnecessary. Alsohave trees on your property inspected atleast yearly byan arborist. Myth: My landlord's poli itvma renter. Reality: No cce, A landlords insurance policycovers only the landlords building and personal ability, not yours. ‘What to do: Buy rentersinsuranceto protect yourpossessions and cover theextra expense of temporary housing if yourhome isuninhabitable, along ith potential injury ‘and other personab-iabilty costs. OcTORER 2012 ConsumeRReronrs.org 23 Generators 14 top picks make blackouts more bearable OWER-ZAPPING STORMS like Superstorm sandy have helped generators join hardivood floors and granite countertapson home ‘owners’ wish lists. Our tests of almost 30 generators include a 7,000-watt portable that can power most needs for just $600, But even this one can't match a brawnier stationary model if you want itall. Stationary generators install perma nently and can switch on automatically ‘when needed, that helps explain why s tionary sales are growing fastest. Kobler’s newly tested 14RESAL, $3,700, topped two others that deliver more than 11,000 watts—enough for the usual essentials plusa cential air conditioner and more. (Our tests also includea new Generac por- table generator that isn't affected by gaso line shortages, along with an ultra-quiet new Honda, But less noise and friendlier Re a ook ko Stationary generators routinely check ‘themselves and display any issues on their controlpanels. But what f there’ a problem while youre away?We looked at three from Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, and Generacthat let you check on them remately—ané can even e-mail ortextyou ora servicing dealer ifsomething goes awry, ss B Stratton InfoHub. Optional ‘on Briggs & Stratton, GE, and some other madle's this ade-on module monitors the {generator and alerts your cllphone i service 24 CONSUMER REPORTS OcTOSEE 2015 fueling can come at a hefty price. And one now Briggs & Stratton stationary generator could put appliances atriskwhen the lights gout. Here are the details: A propane portable falls short. Sealed canisters with a long shelf life make pro pane easier to store than gasoline. Gener: ac’SLPS800, $800, isoneof the ew portable generators that ran on it without a conver: sion kit (about $200). But each 20-pound tank yields relatively little run time, And while a wheel-style “Power Dial” puts key controls in one place, its starting proce dure was not intuitive Peace at a price. Inverter technology that varies engine speed with the load ‘made Honda's portable EUGS00iSITroughly haalf as noisy as other generators, Freedom from voltage spikes and dips that can over heat appliances and electronics also helped che Honda ace our power-quality tests. But isneeded.A smart-phone appalso lets you check the generator and schedule service from afat Allof that added convenience But you pay for it: $280 intially plus S13 ‘a month (510 monthly fora three-year deal). Generac MobileLink. Like infoHub, Generac’ $280 system uses cellular signals, ‘tosend data. But itfst goes toa website, StandbyStatus.com, which relays itto ‘aphone or computer You canalso check the ‘generator yourselfon the site. Service for ‘te first yar is fre, after that, you pay $12.50 at $4,500, it's pricier than the largest sta~ tionary models we tested. Better surge wattage for items that cycle on and off also put many portables above it in our power delivery tests Voltage for two plummeted. All of the stationary generators met their advertised power laims, including the ones for surge wattage, But voltage dropped nearly as much for the stationary $2,200 Briggs & ‘Stratton 30470 as it did for the $1,200 Gen’ erac XG7000E 5798 portable, How to choose stationary generators were also a hit with, subscribers we surveyed after Superstorm. Sandy, especially for fueling: Only 9 per- cent Who owned one complained about closed gas stations and long waits com- pared with neatly 70 percent of portable ‘owners. Here's what else to consider: Include a transfer switch, About $500 to $900 installed, it safely connects a gen- erator to your circuit panel (letting you power hard-wired appliances) and avoids the risk and hassle of extension cords, Plan ahead for fuel. Most portables use roughly 121020 gallons of gasoline day or four to eight 20-pound propane tanks. For stationary models, figure on 8 to 15 days fora 250-gallon propane tank. And be sure any gasolineis stored away from the house and preserved with a fuel stabilizer. Look for smart features, All but the portable Troy-Bilt 6000 and Briggs & Strat ton 30468 rum themselves off when en gine oil is low. A fuel shutoff on the gasoline models also makes iteasierto run the engine dry bef Try rolling it, Portables we tested weigh up to 350 pounds with fuel, but front heavy models make rolling easier using the handle; small wheels and poor weight balance made moving the low-priced Predator a wrestling match, amonth (or $100 per vearinadvance). Kohler Oncue. ALSqfor three vars, this isthe cheapest option. But itstheonly onethat requires a hard-wire Ethernet connection toarouterorswitchin your home. And it requires software (above) that works only ‘ona Windows PC. The good news: You can still gt text alerts by phone ar e-mal BY THE NUMBERS 27 models tested 309 gallons of fuel used 1,500 kilowatt-hours generated kxelent er good Oce Ratings narsny 9S All tested models In performance order, within types. ‘eRacammenied @ Por a emcee 2/2 fai 'E _tested model statonary =| ats sr a Ue oat cae raerercee oe2 EE i Aes at 8% 8. Biel PORTABLE re wheeled aun ongaslne nes ft Tey requ mana artng ‘Troy-Bilt XP7000 30477 $900 7000 270s A COC a Hntacuccosme =a 5500 7 MMMM QD Ore Diep asiaton207 mm 7000 0 EMM OD O++ + ent E4008 ss sim 28 § EMM CO 00-+- Predator 68530 2 «4x oo 7000 43 OM OS OSe es Generac 655005939 yoo 5500 22 MMM OBO See rertsarieos= Lt) 6400 220 EMM BOC eee amon 57 om 7300 59 EMM ODO opaiteow 00s 700408 at EMM OOF vomeielersias 70) 400 25 MMMM SOG Ose egg asmaton mm om 60 MMM OBO eee 2 Yamane? 5) 600) EMM BOO 13 Ridgid RO9OSTIZ 70 5700 1B — Oeoer 1 camin as wom 7390 m9 EMM BOG Ores 15 mona msn 9 UMM Oe Ger. 16 cewncicnnesrs = am 7am) 12 EMM OORT 2 can 500 + so 500 m5 MMM OB GOFF 18 All Power AP6:3560 4 0 5000 7185 ET eocetts 19 cenrmnscims =a Sapo 89 EM OS te 20 wigs aston miss sm _5500_ m9 eeeo B._SMALLSTATIONARY Tessa permanent and run on propane or natural gas. They stat automatic Tt wonerasesqe am 10007 he © © 50-6 2 comrac sr 30 2250 10007 Mt 268 TN © © OO ++: 2 GeeraccePoner S87 460069007 MA 296 FNM 5 BOOTH 4A Bigs Astatton 0445.3 2200 60007 MA 71: NM @ OO Or +s (C_LARGE STATIONARY These install and un lke smaller models but can handle more needs 1 ea 370 LOOT A 2 © CSOs 2 Generac sas 302 20007 Ah 760) NN 9 © 00+ 5 3 ceaone 3200 15007 WA 250 TMG OO OF+s 1 Thezwraevemenareioves vas.» Peitcesopton wie. Has faxes ees poral bt, shots. unseen. © Ranson dese. © Lace atner wah 7 ine vot win xs cape ‘wihropane 100092000 wats ahr st) Wah alon qu pane ak ins ty wns Neola, sadly Guide to the Ratings Overall sores based on power ceiver, power quay, untne noe andease of se Saesfor revs tested male may have change ue to changes in methodsogy Clakned outputs ‘nimum wattage forcontmus operston sper manufactures Weight with uals w= oe ‘eset pound th ue naturagat modelsare uted eernaly, Runtime raverage ve variosloads Gna lta gasoline or seid a 20-pound propane tank or a0-glon propane tank for ‘Totorary model. Power delivery wattage deve ond abi to moet surgeats demands over ‘avous lads, Power quality att) to delve powersecthivth consistent votage Nols at Bando eet rom the generator Ease of use tring, arspre for portabes, ow and ut shut andthe features Pic sapproumat tal 7 AY Toye Overview Generators that made our winners list produce smooth, steady power without losing voltage under load. We focus below on models with specific strengths, value, or both. ICR Best Buy These bens performance and value. Allare recommended. © Recommended These high-scoring models stand out for the reasons below. PORTABLE GENERATORS AY Troy-Bilt $900 CR Best Buy [AB Briggs & Stratton S900CR Best Buy [AS Predator Ss00 CR Best Buy [AB Generac:700CR Best Buy ‘Aland AB offer top performance ata reasonable price; choose the Toy-Ailt for its longer run time, the Briggs & Stratton for its smoother power. AS and AB are both top values; the Predator has electric star but proved especially hard to move and maneuver Also consider Aa you want the ultimateinquietness—and moneys no object STATIONARY GENERATORS 2 Generac‘, 250R Bost Buy 1 Kohler $2700 These run on propane or natural gas. 'B2 roughly matched the top-scoring Kohler among smaller models for roughly $1000 tess, CLald bast overall ana deers enough ‘wattage to powor an entire house EEEkonn Generators were involved in at least 755 carbon-monoxide deaths between 1999 and 200, with several more deaths after Superstorm Sandy. Power safely by running any generator ‘outside, a least 15 feet fromthe hhouse—never indoors or in a garage. Eee [ela GENERATORS. BUYING GUIDE je yoursmart phone to download the Redlaser or ShopSavuy app and scan the coce forthe vigeo, OcTORER 2013 CowsumERRePoRTs.org 25 Testers gauge how quickh model cuts through a nse, JOx1O-Inch oak bea, Chain saws F ALL CHAIN Saws cut quickly, safe ly, and easily, you could simply buy whar's left on the shelves after the next big storm, But our latest tests of 20 gas and electric saws found that some should clear driveway-blocking branches much more briskly than others, Weeks of slicing through dense oak beams also show that certain saws aze more likely to k back toward the operator—a major contributor to the roughly 30,000 chain- saw injuries each year. The details: Two gas saws are top values, Cas- powered saws cut quickest and work dur nga power outage. Speed and balance help ‘make Stihl's MS 180 CBE, $230, a CR Best, Buy and our top saw overall, Also good for less: Craftsman’s 34190, $150, which gives up some speed for a much lower price. Corded electric beats cordless. Elec tric saws spare you from fueling, pull- starting, and tuneups. The corded Worx 'WG303.1, $100, sawed as quickly as some gas models, Battery-powered saws add the mobility of a gas model. But Oregon's (€S2508 and Ryobi’'s RY40510 were the slow~ est we tested. And at $200 for the Ryobi and $400 for the Oregon, they're also pricey for their performance. Neither got through morethan eight cuts of our 10x10- inch beam before needing a recharge 26 CONSUMER REPORTS OCTOBER 2012 Some kick back. All of these saws have the narrow-tipped bar and less-aggressive chain teoth that most consumer medels use to help keep the saw from kicking up and back toward the operator while cutting ‘The gas Poulan Pro PP4SI8 and Remington RMGIIBR snapped back more than the oth ers when we rammed their tipsinto an oak beam to measure kickback, But like most wwe tested, both havea brake that stops the chain from spinning ifkickback occurs, Chain saws need some upkeep to cut as they shoul: keep the chain properly tensione: One that'stoo tight will wear quickly; it’s too loose, ican slip off. With the engine off orthe motor unplugged, acjustitafter every 10 to15 minutes of sawing by loosening thebar, placing dime between the bar and chain, then retightening the bar bafore Femoving the dime, j rhea AT tout snap bacewnen pulled but Sie easy mers! How to choose ‘The fastest gas models are best for exten- sive clearing or frequent cutting. But light-duty gas saws should handle most ‘asks, So should corded-elactric saws, pro Vided you're near an outlet or a generator. Here's what else to keep in mind: Look for safety features. Along with a chain brake, look for some form of vibra tion dampening if you're considering a gas saw; all we tested except the light duty gas Poulan P38IG have i. Get the right gear, Fssentials include Kevlar chaps, gloves, steel tipped boots, anda helmet with a face shield, You'llalso need hearing protection: Even most elec twic saws tested were oud enough to cause hearing damage over time. For corded electrics, check the manual tobe sure your extension cord is longand thick enough. Inspect before you buy. This spring, cour secret shoppers found several saws at three Home Depot stores that had been used and rerurned but were back on shelves, coated with cil and sawdust. We Iaterrechecked those lacations, along with some Lowe's and Sears stores, and found another welF-used saw at a Home Depot. Open the box to be sure the saw really is new, Refurbished saws sold at Home De pot should be labeled as such and dis- counted, according to store policy. Use it carefully, Start a gas model on the ground or another secure surface at least 10 feet from a fuel source. Hold all chain saws with roo hands while sawing Don’tlean into the cutar saw above shoul der level, And avoid cutting with the tip of the bar and chain to help minimize the chance of kickback Keep it sharp, clean, and olled. Have pro sharpen the chain about SO)if you don’twant to doit yoursef—youl see fine samust instead of chunks when iestime, (Oregon's PawerSharp barane-chain system, $60, its most sawsand sharpensthe teeth as they spin. Rfllthe barol reservoir when ‘needed; most saws today show the lavelat glance. And remove the chain cover, chain, and bar for cleaning ater each major us. Keep the engine up to snuff. Gas saws usualy require a mix of gas and ai consider buying premixed fuel without ethanol, which can harm small engines, according. toindustry experts. Price: about $5t058 a quart. Periodicaly bush sawdust off the alrfitr. and replace the spark plug annually, BY THE NUMBERS 20 models tested 500 pounds of sawdust created 55,000 square inches of red oak cut erWore Overview Chain saws that made our picks havea chain brake that stops the saw if kickback ‘occurs. They also resisted kickback in our tests and cut quickly with litle vibration. ‘Those below stand out from the pack. FIER Best Buy These combine value and [a2 Husqvarna 7 evens performance andare recommended. Ratings BSP Stulanende'n epsom All tested models In performance order, within types. Recommended @ Foor VOGSnss Se Ge See) si eemnanse BT Craftsman sIs0 CR Best Buy S __ simlar mote, a soa rr = typearecomparable é BBE ct Worxswocrsesteuy % wees mace 2 & § BZ slotterstnepertormance of a gas saw a ral heal & Ze _atarolatively ow price. Clisa corded saw i ry AVTh 4 Bath toot ree chain adjustment. 3 2 BE nesowie FOR HEAVIER-DUTY SAWING A. 6AS best or biger jos and frequent cutting on heavily wooded properties. fay semleroce ene SUMIMSIBOCREWsncee $30 16 VG 0 TAM © 6 OS @ © + PayingmoreforAlbuys faster, smoother ‘Husqvarna 435 440E m 6 4 1 / @06000° na win eoeete eo 35216 7 % M 05 cocoe: 7 eho 5.40018 20 8 0 20" eoeee: TUES EL ed Poulan Pro PP4BIS: 0 8 48 5 TM eoS0ee ‘You don't have to ‘Blue Max 6595 0 6 646 ORM e000 ee? watch horror movies: ‘Remington R518 ori eossoes tobe afraid of chain LUcT-OUT AS These ce 25 moi fright tommy work ae ne ‘gafisman 3090 6 2 HO ssose. someof that fear by Homete TSS 60 1 2 20 sesce- mounting the chan tnteekeCse 10 OM SOOO 8 = jae zteeme Poulan P3616 wo 6 3 30 ecoeer But both limit you to 4-inch branches, and ‘CORDED ELECTRIC Best for post storm cleanup and other light-duty work near an outlet. Jjustone is worth a second look, Black & Decker’ LP 1000, 55,2000 1 Wornworont 100 ban 10 CMM © GOO OS + * —icthebetterafthetwo. tsfasterthanthe 2 Wore WG3041 nr eeeoees s ‘$120 Worx WG307 and, at just? pounds, 2 Makita uC40308 2 6 5 20MM 08.8 o> + weighsabout2poundsless.Wanboth { Gtmanivrnen © 6 0 nM Coe 6+ + Malesissteroctatmeshoscer 5) GreenWorks 20032 0 6 6b (0 oe0ee «+ Buteven the Black & Deckers slow 6 Mameitevra22 1% 6 2 9) BM 0006S + compared witha reguarchain saw tstiny 7 Reming” =) OM Oe barolreservoir requires requent stops or D_ earremr.powenep msec usbuton sas tutes ietetyandhaeimidrintie, FNS Agen othe recessed chain 1 egpa sts 10D Ono © © SOO * © Bottomline. ConsiertheBlack& 2 pyabivansio m9 0 99 Fa OO + becker PIOODifchainsansgiveyou the wiles and yours strictly ight-duty. Guide to the Ratings verallcoris tasedoncittng speed, fey asec use, ang handing. ating speeds sped trough cunusaes a Winch-square oak beam. Safety nciudesesistance to kckback are burn risk from hot mufflers, and Stvinceune = Ee) nnetnersaws havea Dror hain sheath or covert prevent cuts rng canyng storage Ease of use Use yates ee % 'Spnimerorchoke access average numberof pulsta stars checking ardadagtuc andaieliter and Ee ee Spark plug acess for gassaws,andease operation, cain adjustment, and heching bar lfor ass esnips ante Handling eectshorsovtl ane verteslcutng we anafteedon fem batios Nolaeserthe Shopsawwyappancscan ule ET ‘cpsratorsear when cutting, scores lowe than Good mandate hearing protecon Preis approximate tail £2013 CoNsumenReronts.org 27 Bright ideas to save energy ORGET THE MEDIA ROOM and the whirlpool tub, Energy effi- ciency tops the list of home fea- tures that today’s savvy consum- ers want, And they're willing to pay for it—an extra $7,100 for a home that will reduce annual energy costs by $1,000, according to a recent report from the National Association of Home Builders. Buryou don't havetobuy anew house to reap the latest energy savings. Our expert tips could cut your energy bills in half. Simply screwing in one of our top LED lightbulbs will save you more than 125 in electricity bills over is life. We've also included some “energy sav ers” to skip, because the surge in energy efficiency has spawned a plethora of bo gus claims, questionable come-ons, and outright scams, Here's where to begin: Plug air leaks ‘Many homes have smallleaks inthe foundation, wals,celings, and rof that let ‘out as much heated airin the winter (and coolairin the summer) as an open window. ‘Someair-sealing tasksare DV-rendly, suchas plugging leaks around windows, doors, andelectrcal outs with caulk, expandable sealant, and weather stripping. Insulating and sealing ductwork, found in homes wit forcedair heating and cooling. isbest left tothe prs, but it could lower Your energy bills by about $400 a year. {And rebates can save yourmore on the cost of thejo, goto dsreuso org for details. Watch out for: Hard-saling window ‘manufacturers, Lastyearthe Federal Trade Commission ordered five companies to stop promising inflated, a0 to 50 percent savings ‘on utility bills with their replacement windows. Savings of 7t015 percent are ‘more realistic. Our tests have found that energy-efficient windows could take about 20 years to pay for themselves Give LEDs a look Thelatest thingin lightbulbs, LEDs improveon compact fluorescent bulbs in many ways, Including longer life, enhanced light quality, and better dimming, The downsides cost—about S18t0$35 ora 6o-watt replacement LED bulb vs. $1.25. t0$150forasimilar CFL. Even at those prices, LEDs wil ower Your electrical bills. And some ‘manufacturers predict that prices will drop to IO by next year and less than $5 na coupleof years, Plus, LEDs should only get Make technology work for you Call icthe wate Watchers Effect: Consumers who seehow much energy they're using and wnat its costing them end up consuming about percentiess than those who simply eta bill Almost 40 utility Companies have created or plan tocreatea’green button" on their website thatallows customers to easily view theirenergy-use ino, whether your utility participates, Wi-Fi enabled, programmable thermostats, including several ‘models that scored wellin, Consumen Reports tests also make energy use more transparent and convenient. That's on topof the Poe a better, thanks n part to the California Quality ED Lamp Specfication, a voluntary ‘measure designed to guarantee better color accuracy and drive innovation To quay for tity rebates in that state, a bulb needs Color Rendering index (CRI) ‘90, compared with Energy Stars requirement of 80 CRI Watch out for: Dim bulbs. Forall their promise, notall LEDs are upto snuff (Turn to page 30 tosee the winners and losers fromourlatest tests) TOpercent savings they delverby automatically adusting your homes temperature when youre away Crasleop. The Nest Learning ‘Thermostat, $250, programs itself bbased on your habits and. preferences. The Vnstar ColorTouch, 170, Honeywell Prestige, $250, and Ecobee, $300, were easy 0 use Watch out for: Utilities that promise big energy savings with ‘a smartmeter, Youll save only ifthe utlity also offers time-oF use rates, Which let youcontrol costs by running appliances during less expensive off-peak hours. Only about 2percent of US. households currently have that option, Cece Ly Consider alternative energy sources Moreconsumersarelocking beyondfosslfuels Watch aut for: Unbelievable offers. Get toheatané.cooltheirhome, takingacvantage abd fromat least three licensed and insured ofthe enewable-energy tax credits thatextend contractors. leasing, make sure youre through 2016. Geothermalheat pumpsarenow guaranteed arminimum amount of power ata installed in about 50,000 US. homes each year. fixed rate forthe term of the contact, SolarCity, Thosesystems usetheearths relatively constant the nations arest ul-service solar provider Get an energy audit temperature provide heating cooling, and fomisesa refund ithe system fal short. Home-pertormance contractors, Tatar gSUDOUorverage theyre Repulat compari wal ais cove any ome performance Ona, pricey tnstal though the Energy Department damage your property during instalation asthe a, waldo owe puts the payback period at a brisk StolOyears. as well as ongoing repairs and maintenance, os se ‘cameras te pinpoint airleaks assess your Solarsanotheratematve ven higher whi coldbesubstata Are be sue tat the nesting and cooing equipment. ana vptron cost S20 000 ormoreforphotovlae contrat ary Ist your options youmove eee roof panels—have created a market for solar before it expires, usually after 15 oF 20 years. ¥ a also detect safety acres, suchas lesang Yourentthesytemfoms powder __Leasesare say warsferabetonewowners. |_| aodetetsfety hazards such anopayathedmontyfethatssoppesedto ‘Thecompanymayletyoupaytohave the eee arcmen iste belower than your current electric bill. ‘system reinstalled on your new home. a usually cost $250 to $800, depending ‘on the sizeof your home. But state and utility rebates apply in New York, a forexample, utes offer tre audits Upgrade your appliances to most homeowners. ‘Swapping outa 15-year-old refrigerator for an energy-efficient. ‘What to watch for: Fiy-by-night ‘model could lower your annual electric bill by S60. A high- comceries—“hew andar isthe efficiency top- or front-loading clothes washer might save industry term—who charge a hefty ‘you another $130, What's more, a recent study by two leading Sateen nat. prema consumer advocacy groups found that most energy-saving upgrades, then disappear. Choose appliances outperform less-efficient models without costing ‘acontractor certified by che Building more at the store, when adjusted for inflation. Along with Performance institute. They're industry and government data, the study analyzed decades ter panera of Consumenr Repoars Ratings. Our latest tests bear that out. aieranyver to pemrentenseets. wee en ee appliances, Wi-Fi-enabled models offer certain conveniences, saichasthe ability to check the status of your laundry from POET scce eae caret: Get a hybrid Be ce erences eee if your electric water heater is near the end ofitslfe—13 years is average—switching to a hybrid heater could lower your water- heating bills by $350 a year. They ‘meld a standard electric water heater with a heat pump that captures warmth from the air Those we've tested could lower bills bby about 69 percent compared with anelectric heater. (You snould stick with gas if your heater uses that ‘relatively cheap fuel.) With the $300 federal tax credit youll get through the end ofthe year a hybrid heater can pay for itself in oughly Five years. But they're usually taller and ‘must be installed ina room that's atleast 12 feet with a7-oot Celing to capture enough heat from theair. And fthere ist floor drain nearby, youll need to add a condensate pump todivert water, ‘Watch out for: Tankless water heaters sold wth promises of big savings and endiess hot water. (Our tests found theyre expensive to buy and install and imitations on hot-water flow rates could bea m problem inlarge households Coe eee) COVER STORY Energy-saving bulbs Aroom-by-room guide to choosing the best LEDs and more HEY'VE HAD a good long run, 1Bayears, butcome january most screw-in incandescent lightbulbs will have been phased out be- cause they use too much energy. There's no need to hoard bulbs, Our tests found that new LEDs and CFLs are light years ahead of earlier versions. standard 60- and 40-watt bulbs are the last to be phased out, though remaining stock can be sold; 75° and 100-watt bulbs faded away in 2012 and this year. ‘Their replacements, compact fluorescent light bulbs and lightemitting diode bulbs, are bright, use 75 to 80 percent less energy, and can save you $60 to S125 dollars per bulb, compared with a traditional 60-wate incandescent, Because homes have about 50 bulbs, the savings can be significant. Butsois the investment. LEDsare expen- sive, up t0 $60 a bulb for some floodlights in our Ratings. Even at that price, these LEDs can still save you about $170 over its lifetime compared with a similar incan- descent, Increased competition is helping tolower prices. Manufacturers old usthat ‘more $10 LEDS are coming next year, and there are already several bulbs in our Rat {ngs for $20 or less. Starting at $1.25 per bulb, CFLs are a budget friendly choice. they're almost as energy efficient as LEDs but take at least 30 seconds to reach full brightness, don't last as long, and most aren't dimmable Halogen bulbs, a type of incandescent, remain an option but will cost you more than twice as much to power as LEDs and (CFLs and don’t last anyway nearas long. Family or living room 1000 TMM DOS OO Oe whit : 4 cetub 3h se = © 300 EMME to © © @ Bike C_75-WATT REPLACEMENTS GENERAL PURPOSE All have a CRI between 81 and 83. 1 lis Soe 3t CNL Lo Zone @ © @ @ wmv © 5 2 sana 9 5 LD ciate 1000 CMM LE 00100 © @ © @ mmely» 1 2 GETS i gen 55) FM Hist 8000 10 8 ©. Mwimicln + “A Geatvabe SH ENSALunteCL Ceo) 200 ENN “CL_-8000 0 @ © © mmidlon : DD_100-WATT REPLACEMENTS GENERAL PURPOSE cep whereas ave aCRetween 3nd, 1 Ute 08 at ite Lone) 1 cl 0m mo 09 6 Mwmyo =e 2 eee Psnow cr 245 MMMM GL 19000 OO -& MA wamyelon : 3 EcoSmart 100W Soft White CFL (Home Depot) Dp GL 10000280 OS @ NA warmyellow . . 4 crate OWS Unite Ohno) — 125 EMM Loom ML mmyen ee 5 sense <0 Hcl em 08 0 mami 8 6 SimiakDsdi MeN None: EMM in) 1000 @@ OM we + s+ 32 CONSUMER REPORTS acTosER 2015 Overview (CFLsand LEDs that make our recommended ist offer impressive performance after 3,000 hours of testing. ‘That's almost 3yearsif the bulbs areon for 3hoursa day. Most are Energy Star qualified and may be eligible for utility rebates. BIER Best Buy These bulbs offerthe best combination of price and performance. © Recommended All are top performers, BEST FOR LAMPS ‘AND CEILING FIXTURES AY SamsungLED, $30 AA2 Feit Electric =D, $35 ‘Ad Utlitech L£0,520€R Best Buy AT. Great Value CF, S125€R Best Buy BY THE NUMBERS 765 bulbs tested $63,000 spent buying and testing bulbs 2 Ikea LED, S14 CR Best Buy 1 Philips LED. $51 2 Feit Electric cr, 5235 ‘Among 60-watt replacements Al, A2, and AB are brighter and last longer than the CFLs, ‘At castsa warm yellow light. A2 and AB produce whitelignt. A7offes the warmest vellow light of the group, but as with allCFLs, Iteakesa moment to fully brighten. B2 replacesa 40-watt bulb, soitisnit as bright and casts lightin one direction; it works better ina icure in which the screw-in part ofthe bulbs facing up or horizontal, not own, Aland B2 are not Energy Star qualified. €1 replaces a75-watt bulb, soit’s ‘much brighter than the others here, DBs the brightest genaral purpose CFL we've tested ut CFs need time to fully brighten BEST FOR RECESSED AND TRACK LIGHTS E2 Feit Electric =D, SIBCR Best Buy EB Ecosmart LED, 25, These replace 65 watt incandescents. E2is brighter. €3fitsina G-ineh can and installation involves mare than just screwing it in, but colors appear more accurate under it ight. BEST FOR OUTDOOR LIGHTS. FL SamsungLeD, $55 1 TePLED, seo G2 Utlitech CFL, S7S0ER Best Buy lis the brightest of the75-watt replacements ‘Amnong 90-wattreplacernents, Glis claimed to last about 46 years when used 3 hours aday. 62,2 CL. isbrighter butreeds more than ‘minutes to fuly brighten and isnt cimmable So 7 ee 3 eee 3 & q 3 see z 3 7. 5 . o es é PIF IGI WIE = E__ 65-0 75-WATT REPLACEMENTS FLOOD/REFLECTOR Except where footnoted, most have a CRI between 80 and 84, 1 GE12W 650 BR3O LED 65389 2 $3700 CN ro 5000 7 @ © © MA wamyelow © © + © 2 Feit Electric 8230 Dimmable LED 2 16.00 CMM co 5000-2 @ © @ MA wanmyelow + + © = 3 RaimatGin ASNAKESNLEDOOMIEED 9) NN Ic) 5055] © @ MA mimycon + 5 4 syria 5¥ 80D ie 2200 CNN uD 50001005 @ @ © Mommy + ss 5 seen timaieim9 1200 NNN CL 600085 @ © OM mayen» : 6 vite Enteecerset Wie SNe) 500 EAM GL SOS © @ OM mamlon : Felt anus st wie ao 200 MMMM CL 8009 © © MK mmyclon ee $line nao FMM__ct_som_85 0 @ © M mmyion + + + F__60- TO 75-WATT PAR38 REPLACEMENTS FLOOD/REFLECTOR All have a CRI between 81 and 86. 1 Sansa EH 00 CNN Lc 0m OO Mw 2 serszawsis: = 6000 CNN Lc) 5000S © @ MM vite se 3 erin as varmiite £00 CNN Lc) 0000 910 © @ Hh MA wit . 4 sianalco inputs s« 200 CNM D soo 8S _O@ MM wie + + G_90-To1U0-WiTTpARSS REPLACEMENTS FLOOD/REFLECTOR Al havea beeen 52a 8. TEP T7W PARIS Flood LED 2 2 4000 FMM ED 50000 1010 @ MA NA white seis 2 ten sstunioaeason Coes): 750 CANIM GL 8 «DO @ Mh ML mmyeon + 3 lech LED2ONSOH WARE 9) EN Ic] nO OS O@ MM vite eee 4 cepapscrt2onsow a0 GMM GL 8554 1S MM mmmln © +e 5 Testa us oxoowEUSo2 000 NMED 400005) GO MM wie + He 6 asm it witePR8 908 re ep 700_ Gl_s0m__%65_ 9 @ MM wmyelon + aie soem iron. 2 Wr peti» war nse «sme hier Ban fener tees tres been 2S00Roes tenes ese SD Guide to the Ratings er terest bs. aha pl 0 86 Coverall score combines Ne brightness, and frequent on/o pacormance after 3,000 hours of use, and warrup time, bghtdstibution, ang efieney NAindicatesthat the attibutewa: notated. Claimed life's how ong the ‘manufacturer seth bulb wil at Brightness isthe average off bulb samples after ite testing for3,000 hous, andi2 500 hours for thee bulbs hat are footnoted None ofthe recommended bulbs failed during ietestrg, Warm-up ‘Sime shove lange bulb tock treacnnar ful rgntress. Frequent on/off performance reflects the averagenumber of 2minute-on ang Pminutett yes each bub survive. Light distribution measures how ela tested bulb ‘dupbcateste ight dstibubon ofan equivalent incandescent, Light ears the average measured color temperature o 1 bulb samples. Bulbs 700K area \yelow and closest to incandescent night color Bulbs 3000Kare white and {nar to halogen bulbs 500 to 100K are bight white; 5000 te 650K are bush white. Color Rendering Index (Ci) is average measure clorrenderng of 0 Bubs. Bulbs closer 0100 are better at accurately snowing the calor of objects a if wed underincandescer ight Prceisapproxmateretai per bulb, OcTORER 2012 CowsumeRReronrs.org 33 SPECIAL OFFER FOR CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE SUBSCRIBERS Get more Ratings and CR Best Buy recommendations with a subscription to our companion website. SSH el aes aS | 24/7 ACCESS TO: Latest product Ratings, Plus reliability info on thousands of products. [Consumer Reports Mobile.* Access to ConsumerReports.org on your mobile phone. (Build & Buy car-buying service. Experience the easy way to buy a car AND save money. ‘New! Car Repair Pricing. Find out how much that next car repair should cost. i Price & Shop. Buy electronics and appliances from reliable online stores. Now includes local shopping, too. Health info. Stay healthy with current drug, insurance, and health equipment Ratings. Subscribe today at www.ConsumerReports.org/cr/oct13 ConsumerReports.01 The Hot List Amonthly guide to the top products our testers recommend ‘These pages feature recommended models in many categories, updated every month. (Welll usually feature 10 products per category, though not as many if fewer models are recommended.) ‘Sono matter when you're buying appliances or electronics, you'll find good choices in every issue. GPS 3-TO S-INCH SCREEN Garmin Nuvi22501T, $150 oa Garmin Nuvi 2250, $130 63 4.3-INCH SCREEN Garmin Nuvi3430LMT, $400 82 Garmin Nuvi 3450, $330 30 Garmin Nuvi 3790T, $380 n 4.7-INCH SCREEN Garmin Nuvi3530LM7, $380 as Garmin Nuvi 3597LMTHO, $380 8 Garmin Nuvi 38501M, $380 3 TomTom GO 2535 M Live, $350 n Panasonic Viera TCPONTSO TVs 60-INCH AND LARGER Panasonic Viera TC P65VT50, $2,900 81 Panasonic Viera TC-P60GTS0, $1,800 7 Panasonic Viera T-P50ST5O, $1,700 7 Panasonic Viera TC-P6SVT60, $3,400 B Samsung PN64F8500, $2,400, B Samsung UN60F7500, $2500 n Panasonic Viera TC-P60ST60, $1500 n Apple MactockProinch with Retina dip MOLL Laptops 15-TO 16-INCH ‘Apple MacBook Pro S-inch with Retina display 78 MES6ALLIA, 52.200 ‘Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch with Retina display 6 MCS7SULIA, $1,900, Viaio CTIST-B1Ultrabook, $,500, ” ‘Acer Aspire R7-571-6858, $1,000 n ‘WINCH Lenovo TrinkPac x1 Carbon Touch Ultrabook, $1400 70 Viaio Crur-i, $400 69 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook, $1,200, 69 1BINCH Sony Vaio Pro SVPI3213CXS Ultrabook, $1,250 79 ‘Apple MacBook Air MD2SILUA, $1000 ” ‘Apple MacBook Air MO76OLLIA, $1100 B Toshiba Kirabook 13, $1,600 n INCH ‘Acer Aspire S7191-6447 Ulrabook, $1,050 ™ ‘Apple MacBook Air MOTIILLIA, $1,000 B Sony Vaio Pro SVPIIAIICX® LUltrabook, $1,150 B OcTORER 2013 CowsumERRePoRTs.org 35 THE HOT LIST 7 —— lag Maxima xt tcwmoicw ‘MHerto00AW Clothes washers FRONT-LOADERS Smart phones ToP-LOADERS See mNeeSa rm ae cewnsoretW S200 iz SaratungctyS4(ece) oo Grdsingarsca so) ___e1_ | Sarisung Wh405h WH 000 a aaa Ie eae ae ee TET CT > — prem aan Seatiteamr ssteeeen _ caer 2 erecta az and 64GB, $300) LG Optimus F3,$0 MOBILE Clothes dryers ‘Samsung DVSOFOABEVP a Samsung Galaxy 81508), $100, HTC One (268), 100 alzis ELECTRIC. ‘Apple iPhone 5 (16¢8), $150 (and similar 32GB, $250, 7 gna 43. $350) Samsung DVSOF9ABEVP, $1100 a VERIZON GE GFORABSEFMIC, $1400 81 Samsung Galaxy $4 (16G8),5200 79 Maytag Maxima XL MED8000AG, $1450 9 Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD, $200 apy | Kenmore Elite sors, $1350 79 ‘Motorola Droid Razr HD, $100 7 GAS ‘Motorola Droid Razr MSO 75 Samsung OVSOF9ABGVP, $,200 a ‘Apple iPhones (16GB), 200 (and simiar 3268, $300, 75 GEGFDR4S5GFMC, $1,500 81 and 6868, 5400) Maytag Maxima XL MGD80006, 51,550, 9 Prices node own yercommitment on rebates. Kenmore Elite $1073, $1450 79 36 CONSUMER REPORTS OCTOBER 2015 Reports ‘TWantennas 37 Google Chromecast 38 High-tech TV38 Food processors 39 Dishwasher detergents 40 Watch TV free With cable and satellite TVbilis gaing nowhere but up, many viewers are rediscovering Tvantennas. You can enjoy free ‘over the ait TY broadcasts in high definition sometimes with better picture quality than with cableTY. Plugan antenna nto theinput on ‘theTV,seanfor channels, and youre good to go. Cable channels such as CNN, Disney, ane ESPN aren’ avallabie over the air. but there’sa good chance youll be ableto get local stations from netwarks suchas ABC, CBS, For, NBC, 8S, and Telemundo. Along with the main netnark channels, you might aso pullin subchannels that have other programming, such as vintage TVshows, news, and weather, Some testers got ‘op antennas generally offerthe best 100.20, and a New York CityresidentnearTV 15254 channels, others got reception, especialy you're miles froma towers got morethan 40with afew model broaccasttransmitter.Butanindaorantenna No model di best fr everyone. Four users isan easier option, soweaskeda dozen New got noreception with any antenna, York-area residents to try out 10 models priced _Payingmore or anantennaworvtnecessaily from $10to$80, The models included classic get ou more channels. Among the best rabbitear antennas and new ones with sleek, performers waste RCA ANTI65O Amplified, Uitrafatesgns whicheanbeattached oa $50, Onemodelthat dt wel was even window, Ridden behindtheTV,andsometimes lower pied the sas RadioShack 5254, paintedtoblendinwith your décor Ale anarmpfled antenna You might need MOHU ests Gesignedtopullinvie (channels 28)and_fotryatew to see nich works bes amples Unt (ehannels 68) HDTVsgnae inyourhaus, obuytomaretaler Performance varied considerably.The _sithana-asde tu ly. aumberofchannelsanantennacanceceve TigcalTVsignasare gal, soyouneed depends onyourastancetrom Vtowe's,_aigaltunertandara onallVssince PERC SNN dea CEC OSINSg Why you might want an antenna ‘Arplifedancennas,whicncanbocst signal Converterboxtoreceve 4 The notion of ving bye-bye tocable Strength, mighipulln more-dstantstations, overhear broadcasts. bils fs appealing, but evenityou cant bear to give up "The Walking bead” ne ar-Anderson Cooper 3607" there are Digital antennas Still ood reasons to use an antenna. 1B You can keep cable service ona main SEG age ratte ra family TV, but stop paying fora set-top box ‘Antennas Direct CSMIXG forabedraom TV yau use masty towatch MOHU Leat late-night talk shows, 1D Youllbe ableto get broadcast programming if your cable company drops a channel during a dispute with a nenwork, 1a Ifyourcable service ges down, sy. ina storm, you can get network TVby antenna (assuming you have power, possibiyfeom a ‘generator, and stations are broadcasting). | When youre recording several programs ‘onyour DVR at the sametimeand cant watch something else lve from cable, switch tothe antenna input to eatch ‘Antennas Direct unenightly nes on your lacal network, cure MOHU Leaf Plus Amplified MOHU Leaf UltimateAmplifiees Radioshack 15254 RCA ANTI RCA ANTIESO Amplified Terk FOTIA Terk FOTV2 Winegard F-S000 Flatwave 2 ConsUMERREPORTS.org 37 LAB TESTS \WooW The fist big OLED sets, from Samsung lft) and LG, have curved screens and ots of Features, Dut ‘the high priees ae as stunning asthe picture quality DEIRST LOOK New OLED TVs deliver the best picture quality yet ANEW TV TECHNOLOGY that could push LCDILED and plasma TVs to the sidelines is emerging, and our first impressions suggest it’s a game-changer. (which stands for organic light: emitting diode) has all the pluses of plasma and LCD/LED technology. It com bines the deep blacks, strong contrast, and unlimited viewing angles of plasma TVs with the image brightness, ultra: thin design, and energy efficiency of LCD sets that use LED backlights. The re sult: the best all-around TV performance we've seen so far Two 55-inch TVs using OLED display Cera Looking to transform your "cum TV" into ‘a smart one? You can do ust that with ‘Google Chromecast,a $35 thumb- oltwtDc208 mt ENN bl Coecee eee EMM wk Oeeeee 4 esinatursone — 7 000000 aie TOR 1 ME «5 aoeece a oer aa stm} 4 eeosee 1 mites ao ct ; 0 coecce 9 Magimix 3200%1 (Williams-Sonoma) Do B 1 OB@000Bs 2, ua re > 3 Oe0e00: 11 Black & Decker FP16008, = 5 § C@8808 2 cana 8 Te osecca: Se Oi TTS ST STS a fines err nt 3 v ooegee 5 tniacedodonn 0 EMM 6 OO00CO ee Eee aera Eee eae es D cunt ESS SS I enegiores cece. 19 Kalorik HA 31535 oz 5 5 CB8seCe 2 bbe 08 ams» ecesae Gol oro ‘These min-processars are perfect for chopping, stating, and purseing small batches of food that ‘would be challenging ta handlein a larger bow. Think chopped almonds and herbs, and grated Parmesan cheese. But they don’ sce or shred, Not allchoppers are up to the task, however. Indeed, just two of the models we tested made our picks list, The Ninja Master Prep Professional QB1004, $60, performs very wal atall three tasks, and its partof a multipurpose system that includes our top-rated blender. ‘The -cup Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus DLC-2A, $40, combines very go06 value wth solid performance but slightly less effective at puresing. Note that some full sized food processors come with a mini-bowl attachment that functions as a chopper. Among them is our top-rated Brevile Sous Chef—one more reason to give this pricey processora look BER 2013 CoNsuMEAREFORts.org 39 LAB TESTS Dishwasher detergents Cascade and Finish top our tough tests ISHES THAT SPARKLE and ‘metal pans that shine: Dish- washer detergents have come a Jong way in reliably producing clean loads. In fact, tworthirds of the 35tablets, packs, powders, and gels in our latest tests were excellent at resisting the buildup of white film tharconsumers have complained about since phosphates were banned from dishwasher detergents for environmental reasons, Most of the detergents we tested aced cour hard-water performance test, which uses water with a hardness level well above that of most American homes ‘What separated the best from the rest was the ability to vanquish a baked-on mash. of pudding, peanut butter, and a dozen. other ingredients from dishes, flatware and glassware, Our pot-washing test uses quart pots encrusted with cooked-on ‘macaroni and cheese. Only one detergent excelled at removing that mess, the top. rated Cascade Complete ActionPacs. Here are the details: Finish takes three of four top spots. Tree ofits versions join Cascade Complete ActionPacs: Finish Powerball Tabs, Finish Golpacs, and Finish Quantum Powerball Capsules. Finish Powerball Tabs, 18 cents pet load, and Finish Gelpacs, 21 cents, are CR Best Buys, But not all Finish products cleaned equally; Finish Powder and Finish Gel were lackluster performers, Packs and tablets clean up. Single- dose decergents dominate the market and hhold most of the top spots in our Ratings as well, But they usually cost more to ase—up to an additional $17 a year. Our top-performing powder, Cascade Com plete Powder, cleaned almost as well as our top-scoring tablets and packs and cost just 21 cents per load, est for green cleaning. Seventh Gener ation had the two best green cleaners in our tests: Seventh Generation Powder and che Seventh Generation Natural Packs. (The packs are pricey ar 30 cents per load.) Both ‘were very good at cleaning dishes; the pow- dor edged out the packs in resisting food de posits but wasonly so-so at cleaning pots Washouts in our tests, BabyGanies was the worst performer in our tests for resisting white film (a residue of miner- als), The Laundress, which the company claims can be used in a dishwasher or a8 a dish liquid, was mediocre overall and, at ‘$1.37 per load, by far the most expensive. Green Mission from Whole Foods scored poorly at cleaning dishes and pots and at preventing food deposits, But it was excel- lent at resisting film buildup. DISHWASHER Oo Betencen test Usevoursmnartphaneto downoad the RedLasr or Shapsew app ane scen theodeforiea (Oj a Bs Cree ae ULT 4 ‘when you buy select Bosch dishwashers, ‘the manufacturer throws ina 100-day supply ‘of Finish Quantum Powerball Capsules, ‘emphasizing the point that to get the Cleanest dishes you need both a good dishwasher and a good detergent. Although Bosch dominates curlistof top dishwasher picks, Kenmore recently knocked it from the ‘op spot wth a winning combination of ‘leaning and quietness. The est dishwashersin ourtests excel ‘at cleaning, meet Energy Star requirements, ‘and come from reliable brands, Here are Some top models that offer good performance, value, orboth [Quiet and convenient Kenmore Elite 12793, $1,350. In addition ‘to top-notch performance, this machine offersanindustryfirst—a motorized spray ‘arm that reverses cirectionifacish or utensil blocks the armis rotation. Other pluses include a stainless-steel tub andan adjustable upper rack. Bosch SHX9BMOI9]UC, $1,500. This ‘energy-efficient modelis more expensive ‘than many weve tested but delivers top performance. taced our wash test and 40 CONSUMER REPORTS OcTOSE® 2015 was among the quietest mocels during the fil, wash, ane drain cycles, KitchenAid KDFE454CSS, $1,500. Another pricey choice this dishwasher delivers stellar Performance Itexcelled in our wash test and ‘was among the quietest mocels. I's alsoan energy and water mise. Save without sacrificing Bosch Ascenta SHX2ARTISIUC, $700, AACR Best Buy. This machine delivers top performance ata competitive price. It excelled atwashing and was very good at drying plastic items. itsalso among the quietest models in our testsand was especially energy-efficient Bosch 800 Series SHESBRS[2]UC, $900. ‘Very goad overall this modeloffers alot for the price. tid great in our wash testand was pretty quiet. Pluses include asoilsensorand astainless-stel tub, Bosch 300 Series DLXSHXS3TLSUC, $850. This dishwasher has plenty going fort, but other models were quieter. It did well in our wach test and was very energy- efficient. Other pluses include a'speee perfect’ cycle that uses more water and energy to finish sooner. Kenmore ite 2793 1 cascade Ratings All tested products In performance order. Ls oo (Cascade Complete ctinPacs Fish Powel Tas Frish clpacs Fish uartum Powerball Capsules Cascade wih Dawn ActonPas Cascade onplte Ponder (Cascade atu Actions ikland signature osaase acs Coto) ice Paks Waeeens) Seventh Generation Power Sunlight wth eno003 Complex Pone Fas Seventh Generation atl Packs le Powe (wageens) 18 Method Sart Dish Tablets cover 210 16 Palmolive cor cover Tables ‘UpRupoi Pads Tage) sn Ponder ‘Up Up Powe arg) cascade Complete et Smart Sense Ponder Kar) ‘Ala ip Aton Ds Packs Bloleen Pvc GraboreenPois Trader Joe's Ponder ‘Method smart sh Pus Packs Finish Power Ware 2 ita Hep Perfomance uobish Oza Lavender Finish ce ikiand Signature Ge! osc) ‘BabyGanies Ds Daze ‘The Laundess sh Detergent ‘Green ulsan organic swash Gl hole Fots) Bln Els ele elo l= fen ~ BEWRH ERE R KRONA SSeS $029 ous oa os oa oat os 10 2s 019 as a0 10 on 030 06 oe 7 00% 06 on on 08 03s 03 on on 06 ozo 026 08 006 02 1 oz @buclere Serato Scoo! oeetey Star ‘= Reconmented @ Por a _ ~— —_ el ~

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen