You can be a water miser and still quench a thirsty lawn
Just when homeowners have become fed up it with high temperatures and scorched lawns, a report from the National Resources Defense Council (PDF) says that more than 1,100 counties — or more than one-third of those in the contiguous 48 states — will face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century. Of those, 400 counties in 14 states are of particular concern. The cause, says the NRDC, is global warming.
Whether or not you accept the concept of climate change, there’s no getting around the August-like weather many of us have experienced since late spring. But there’s much you can do to cut back on your overall water usage and still sprinkle your lawn sparingly from time to time. The Environmental Protection Agency says you can start saving by using only the water you need. That may seem obvious but how many of us leave the water running while we're brushing our teeth, shaving or washing dishes? Thought so. (Check the EPA's website for more tips.)
You can make more meaningful savings when replacing a washing machine or dishwasher. The latest models use much less water than older units with comparable capacities. Check out our free buying advice for washers and dishwashers as well as our Ratings (for subscribers) of front-load washers, top-load washers, and dishwashers. We also have reports on water-efficient yet high-performing toilets and showerheads.
Our tips for helping your lawn beat the heat also bear repeating here. They include raising your mower’s deck height. Taller grass shoots provide better shade for the soil beneath and require less water. Taller grass also has longer roots, which can absorb water deeper in the ground. Use sprinklers in the early morning when there’s less wind to blow the water and less sunlight to evaporate it.
—Ed Perratore
Voucher: £5 off at Tesco when you buy The Mail on Sunday
Save £5 at Tesco when you spend £40 or more in store! Buy The Mail on Sunday this weekend, July 25 and you can save £5 off your shopping at Tesco when you spend £40 or more in store! You will find a coupon inside your Mail on Sunday on July 25 which will give [...]
Cashback News: Quidco Statement about DGM administration
Quidco have now also addressed the issue causing havoc among all the major UK cashback sites this week, read what they had to say below. The purpose of this statement is to give you an update on DGM in a way that is as open and transparent as possible. Our aim is to add clarity [...]
With market stalled, improve the home you have now
Home sales and new home construction are down and foreclosures are up in many markets, the Wall Street Journal reports today. In times like these, instead of trading up, consider upgrading the home you have. The good news is that there are many spruce-ups that won’t break the bank or take lots of time. And some energy saving projects qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $1,500 to help defray the cost.
But where should you start? Here are twelve projects, featured in the June issue of our sister publication ShopSmart, that offer the most bang for your buck. (Download ShopSmart Smart Summer Upgrades)
For each project we tell you how to spot a problem and how to fix it and, when appropriate, suggest the equipment that performed best in our tests. Some projects are as simple as upgrading your outdoor lighting or improving your front door and entryway. For the more extensive and expensive projects, we offer typical payback percentages based on information from a poll of real-estate pros done by Remodeling magazine. For example, the typical payback for fixing your deck is 81 percent.
Inside the labs: Mower differences that matter
With some products, you indeed get what you pay for. But with mowers, price differences of $150 or more may have little to do with how the mower does its most basic job: Cutting grass.
Three self-propelled mowers, all made by Snapper, serve as a good example. We’ve already tested the Brute BTXPV22700E, $350, and John Deere JS46, $500 (Ratings available to subscribers.) And we’ve just purchased the Snapper NXT, $500, for testing.
The models in this trio are alike in several ways. They sport the same 22-inch cutting deck, as you can see in the photo of the Snapper (left) and Brute. Also common to all are the drive system, electric start, and one-lever height adjustment. In tests, the Deere scored a notch higher than the Brute for handling and ease of use.
How they differ is model specific. While all have Briggs & Stratton engines, only on the more costly Snapper and Deere will you find overhead-valve engines. These tend to be more efficient and can last longer if properly maintained. Ergonomics of the handle and drive controls vary. The Snapper’s handle sports an LED screen with buttons for six modes: Clock, total hours, trip hours, and timers for changing the oil and replacing the spark plug and air filter. Gimmick? Perhaps, but some of us could use such reminders.
Similarities are common among outdoor power equipment. MTD sells products under its own Cub Cadet, Yard Machines, Yard-Man, Troy-Bilt, and other brands—and also makes some products for Craftsman. Husqvarna products are found under that name as well as Craftsman.
If you want a mower with a few extras, fine, but a less expensive model can also get the job done.
—Ed Perratore
More on mowers: Don’t hit the stores before you’ve checked out our free buying advice for mowers and tractors. Subscribers can view our Ratings for push mowers, self-propelled mowers, and lawn tractors.
Next Steps
Free Screening: The A Team
Watch the new A Team movie before it comes out at the cinema thanks to ShowFilmFirst. Simply enter screening code 454454 and select your venue from the following options. The screening takes place Tuesday July 27th. Enjoy! THE A-TEAM follows the exciting and daring exploits of Hannibal Smith and his colorful team of former Special [...]
Voucher: 40% off your favourite supplements
Yes you read it right, there’s a whopping 40% off to be had on any orders you place at Holland and Barrett at the moment, this is great news for any one looking to stock up on your every day supplements and vitamins. The code has no minimum order value, should work on every item [...]
Pipe dreams: Heating equipment moves out of the ‘scary room’
The green movement has been driving development of more energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems and appliances. Proud of their investment, some homeowners are showing off their new equipment to stylish effect.
“In the New Dream Home, Majestic Boilers and Designer Pipes” The Wall Street Journal’s Gwendolyn Bounds details how sleek, state-of-the art equipment is becoming a focal point of some homes. “Say goodbye to the scary room … where boilers and water heaters work among the spiders,” she writes.
Many of the spruced-up systems and appliances mentioned in Bounds’ article have already been put through their paces in our tests. In some cases, the performance lived up to the design. Others, not so much.
- The futuristic-looking GeoSpring electric heat-pump water heater, which Bounds compares to the robotic maid Rosie from the Jetsons, produced energy savings of at least 50 percent compared with a standard GE 50-gallon electric water heater.
- A solar water heater provides the new centerpiece to a $70,000 “boiler room” located just off one California couple’s living room. Our current tests of solar water heaters (which cost from $2,200 to $7,500), show payback periods of 12 to 22 years.
- Makers of LG Electronics’ “Art Cool” split ductless air-conditioning units, which hang directly on interior walls, claim they can frame works of art. We found the more conventional Sanyo KS-1271 and LG LS122CE, both around $1,000, and the $1,200 Mitsubishi MS-A12WA to be quiet, efficient, and good at handling brownouts in our tests (Read the full report).
Some homeowners who have upgraded their equipment have taken advantage of a 30 percent federal tax credit, cash for appliances rebates and other government and utility company incentives to pay for at least part of the projects.
Bounds’ cautions that appliances that seem snazzy today can be a snooze later—at Sears, Ginger and Chile pepper washers and dryers have replaced Pacific blue and Sedona. Dirt Devil’s “elegant, sculptural” Kone cordless vacuum fizzled among consumers, and its propensity to spew particles earned it a Not acceptable rating from us.
If you’re looking for products that combine form and function, read our Energy
Saving & Green Living guide. You’ll also find discussios of
water heaters and air conditioning systems in our heating,
cooling & air forums.
Next Steps
- Air conditioner Buying Advice:
- Types of Air conditioners |
- Air conditioner Features |
- Air conditioner Brands
Free Screening: Scott Pilgrim vs the World
If you’d like to see this great new film before it is released in the cinemas you can thanks to Tell Ten. The free screening takes place on August 17th at 6.30pm at the following cinemas: Birmingham Broad Street, Cineworld Bolton, Cineworld Bradford, Cineworld Bristol, Cineworld Cambridge, Cineworld Cardiff, Cineworld Crawley, Cineworld Dundee, Cineworld Edinburgh, [...]
Toro recalls 38,000 snow blowers with carburetor leaks
Toro has recalled 38,000 snow blowers in the U.S. and Canada after getting 2,200 reports of carburetor leaks. The machines are a fire hazard, according to the recall notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, although no fires or injuries have been reported.
The CPSC says that exposure to ethanol in gasoline can cause the carburetor needle of the recalled models to become corroded. A corroded needle can stick in the open position and allow fuel to leak from the carburetor, posing a fire hazard. During our lawn mower tests, we posed the question: Is fuel with an increased level of ethanol a problem for small gas engines? It’s an issue we continue to watch.
The snow blower recall involves two models (38272 and 38282) of the Toro Power Clear 180 single stage blower sold at Toro dealers and Home Depot from November 2009 until this past May.
Fortunately, it’s not snowing outside so owners of the recalled snow blowers have time to contact Toro for a free repair. To find a dealer, call (877) 738-4440 or visit Toro’s website. Before you do, check the recall notice for the exact serial numbers.