Consumer Reports Best Buys for Your Home 2003

by The Editors of Consumer Reports

• ISBN13: 9780890439722
• ISBN10: 0890439729
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2003-02-01
• Publisher: Consumer Reports Books

Summary

The home-product market is more futuristic than ever, with "smart" kitchen and laundry appliances, sensors everywhere, home entertainment digital technology, and robots mowing our lawns. This guide can help consumers find practical, reliable products for every room of their home and get the most value for their money.

Author Biography

The Editors of Consumer Reports regularly report on products for the home. Their work is based on the testing and expertise of the Consumer Reports Technical Division, which has evaluated products for more than 60 years.

Table of Contents

All around the house
Using this book	7	(1)
How Consumer Reports tests products	8	(6)
PART ONE: FEATHERING YOUR NEST
Kitchen & Laundr
Breadmakers	14	(2)
Coffeeemakers	16	(1)
Dishwashers	17	(3)
Dryers	20	(2)
Freezers	22	(2)
Irons	24	(2)
Kitchen knives	26	(1)
Microwave ovens	27	(2)
Mixing appliances	29	(3)
Pots & pans	32	(2)
Ranges, cooktops & wall ovens	34	(4)
Refrigerators	38	(2)
Sewing machines	40	(2)
Toasting appliances	42	(2)
Washing machines	44	(6)
Home Entertainment
Setting up a home theater	50	(5)
Camcorders	55	(4)
CD players	59	(3)
CD player/recorders	62	(2)
DVD players	64	(3)
Digital video recorders	67	(3)
Home theater in a box	70	(1)
Minisystems	71	(3)
MP3 players	74	(2)
Receivers	76	(3)
Satellite TV	79	(3)
Speakers	82	(2)
TV sets	84	(4)
VCRs	88	(4)
Yard & Garden
Barbecue grills	92	(2)
Chain saws	94	(3)
Hedge trimmers	97	(2)
Lawn mowers and tractors	99	(4)
Power blowers	103	(1)
String trimmers	104	(3)
Home `Software'
Mattress sets	107	(4)
Oriental rugs	111	(5)
Sheets	116	(2)
Towels	118	(2)
Wall-to-wall carpeting	120	(3)
Keeping It Shipshape
Cordless drills	123	(2)
Circular saws	125	(2)
Garage-door openers	127	(1)
Smoke and CO alarms	128	(4)
Vacuum cleaners	132	(3)
Wet/dry vacuums	135	(2)
PART TWO: NUTS & BOLTS
Hassle-Free Remodeling
Getting started	137	(3)
Selecting materials and products	140	(1)
Choosing a contractor	141	(3)
Obtaining financing	144	(5)
Correcting mistakes	149	(1)
Wrapping up the project	149	(2)
Fresh Starts
Cabinetry	151	(3)
Countertops	154	(2)
Faucets	156	(2)
Floor varnish	158	(1)
Flooring, vinyl	159	(2)
Flooring, wood	161	(3)
Interior lighting	164	(1)
Paint	165	(3)
Roofing	168	(2)
Siding	170	(2)
Sinks	172	(1)
Toilets	173	(1)
Wallpaper	174	(2)
Windows	176	(3)
Heating, Cooling, Filtering
Air cleaners	179	(3)
Air conditioners	182	(2)
Central-air systems	184	(3)
Heating systems	187	(4)
Thermostats	191	(1)
Water filters	192	(5)
PART THREE: REFERENCE SECTION
Ratings	195	(2)
Air cleaners, room	197	(2)
Air cleaners, whole-house	199	(1)
Barbecue grills	200	(2)
Camcorders	202	(3)
Chain saws	205	(2)
Circular saws	207	(2)
Coffeemakers	209	(2)
Cooktops	211	(2)
Cookware	213	(3)
Countertops	216	(1)
Dishwashers	217	(3)
Drills, cordless	220	(4)
Dryers	224	(2)
DVD players	226	(3)
Flooring, wood	229	(1)
Home theater in a box	230	(2)
Irons	232	(2)
Kitchen knives	234	(2)
Lawn mowers, push	236	(2)
Lawn mowers, self-propelled	238	(3)
Lawn tractors	241	(2)
Microwave ovens	243	(5)
Minisystems	248	(3)
Power blowers	251	(2)
Ranges, electric	253	(2)
Ranges, gas	255	(2)
Receivers	257	(2)
Refrigerators	259	(3)
Smoke alarms	262	(2)
Speakers	264	(3)
String trimmers	267	(3)
Toasters	270	(2)
Toilets	272	(2)
TV sets	274	(5)
Vacuum cleaners	279	(5)
VCRs	284	(2)
VCR/DVD combos	286	(2)
Wall ovens	288	(1)
Washing machines	289	(3)
Water filters	292	(2)
Finding reliable brands	294	(8)
Index	302