Tampa Bay,FL real estate listings and homes for sale, home buying, home selling information

7/4/2009 11:01 PM

The early days of the growing season were so promising—your yard was lush and green, with no bald spots or weeds to be seen. But now, with the dog days of summer upon us, your lawn is looking less and less like an inviting carpet to lounge and play on. If that sounds familiar, your yard might be suffering from some of the typical problems listed be...Read More

Buzzword: Power Factor

7/2/2009 11:01 PM

What it means. Power factor, a characteristic of alternating-current, or AC, circuits, is defined as the ratio of real power (what the end user consumes, measured in watts) to apparent power (what the utility company supplies, measured in volt-amperes). Power factor is expressed as a number between 0.0 and 1.0. The higher the number, the better the...Read More

Fourth of July Grilling: Find a great deal, then become a master griller

7/2/2009 12:50 PM

If the down economy is forcing you into a Fourth of July staycation or paycation, use your at-home time to master the art of grilling. Before you shop for a new grill, check our latest report on gas grills, which includes ratings of dozens of models (report and ratings available to subscribers), and our free buyer's guide. With Independence Day upo...Read More

Tip of the Day: Wear sunscreen whenever you do outdoor work

7/2/2009 9:28 AM

Sixty-nine percent of Americans said they use sunscreen at least occasionally, according to a nationally representative survey of 1,000 adults conducted in April by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Women who participated in the survey were more likely than men to use it frequently and said they used sunscreen more consistently during ...Read More

With Perfect Flame SLG2006 and SLG2007 grills, be wary of fire and burn hazards

7/2/2009 9:06 AM

If you own a Perfect Flame SLG2006 or SLG2007 gas grill (shown), be especially cautious whenever you use the grill. What appeared to be limited fire and burn hazards with some models might be much wider than anyone realized, according to this recent item from the Consumer Reports Safety blog. Last August, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission...Read More

By the Numbers: Unused TV sets piling up in American homes

7/1/2009 2:39 PM

99.1 million Number of unused television sets Americans have stashed away in their homes, according to the "Electronics Waste Management In the United States" report (PDF) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. With all those old TVs piling up, states and municipalities have required manufacturers to take on the recycling of electronics, acco...Read More

August 2009 Report on Dishwasher Detergents: Do greener cleaners get the job done?

7/1/2009 11:45 AM

Phosphates help dishwasher detergents clean better, but they also boost algae growth in freshwater, threatening fish and plant life. Bans on dishwasher detergents with all but trace amounts of phosphates, like the one in effect in Spokane, Washington, are designed to help the environment. But many of the eco-friendly dishwasher detergents we recent...Read More

August 2009 Showerhead Report: In test results, not all flows are a go

6/30/2009 5:59 PM

The recession has put a pinch on bathroom remodels, but you can still get an attractive makeover on a budget with these sub-$1,000 makeovers. (Some reports below are available to subscribers.) Our "Top Kitchen & Bath Values" special adds another trick: Switch out your old showerhead for a new, water-efficient model. (Find out whether you should tak...Read More

By the Numbers: White House touts new lighting-efficiency standards

6/30/2009 2:16 PM

$1 billion to $4 billion Annual savings U.S. consumers will reap from 2012 through 2042 as a result of new energy-efficiency rules for incandescent reflector lamps and general-service fluorescent lights introduced yesterday, according to the White House. The efficiency standards were announced just days after the U.S. House of Representatives passe...Read More

Consumer Reports' 2009 Kitchen Special: Leaner, greener kitchen remodels are on tap

6/29/2009 5:01 PM

Gone are the days when cash-out refinancing fueled kitchen renovations with glitzy granite countertops and state-of-the-art appliances. (This also seems to be the era of "phasing" projects.) As covered in our brand-new "Top Kitchen and Bath Values" report, part of the August 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, two-thirds of homeowners surveyed said the...Read More