The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Top 10 tips for saving energy and money

The cold of fall is beginning to grip most areas of the country and winter will be here soon. If you’re thinking about your energy bills that go up every winter, it’s time to take action.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the average household spends at least $2,200 on energy, and that at least half of that is for heating and cooling their home.

The Consumer Federation of America offers the following tips to help people reduce energy costs this winter and throughout the year:

What to look for in Columbus Day-Indigenous Peoples Day sales

Before Black Friday, Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day sales are occurring, and some of them are worth shopping.

However, the last couple of years, DealNews, a comparison shopping website, has seen a downturn in Columbus Day-Indigenous Peoples Day sales. In 2018, it listed only 22 Columbus-Indigenous-branded sales between October 1 and October 13. However, within that same time frame, DealNews listed 161 sales total. Aside from the Columbus-Indigenous branding, it saw many clearance, friends and family, fall, and harvest events, and even a "Rediscover America" sale.

These alternate names could be due to the controversy surrounding Columbus Day, according to DealNews. However, it's also possible that many retailers don't want to add another sale to their lineup so close to Black Friday.

DealNews offers these tips for Columbus Day-Indigenous Peoples Day sales:

Utility bars are being recalled by DeWALT due to injury hazard

DeWALT is recalling about 145,000 multi-functional utility bars.

The utility bar can break while being used for prying, posing an injury hazard to the user.

DeWALT has received at least 56 reports of the utility bars breaking, including four reports of injured users.

Mowing heads recalled by STIHL due to injury hazard

STIHL is recalling bout 73,000 polycut mowing heads.

The bolts connecting the plastic blades and holding the mowing head together can come loose and the mowing head can come apart, posing a risk of injury to the user or bystanders.

STIHL Inc. has received 28 reports of loose bolts or mowing heads coming apart, including two reports of injuries.

Table saws sold at Lowe’s are being recalled by Chang Type due to fire hazard

Chang Type Industrial Co. is recalling about 258,000 Porter-Cable 10” table saws in the United States and 990 were in Canada.

The motor can overheat, creating a fire hazard.

Chang Type has received 61 reports of the table saw motors overheating and causing fires. One consumer reported smoke damage to their home. No injuries have been reported.

Be careful using Angie’s List, consumer group warns

Angie’s List, an online rating service, has many shortcomings in addition to potential value to consumers, according to a Consumer Federation of America report.

Angie’s List, founded in 1995, was originally supported mainly by annual consumer subscriptions and prioritized service to these subscribers. Today, while consumers can join for free, Angie’s List gets almost all its revenue from advertising purchased by some of the local businesses that the online service lists and rates. Angie’s List recommends and gives preferential treatment to these advertisers and that can easily mislead consumers into thinking these businesses are the best ones and should be selected.

The report, “Angie’s List: An Evaluation of Its Usefulness for Consumers” shows that these profiled businesses are often not those rated the most highly by consumers and by a nonprofit rating group.

Brass fittings recalled by Interline Brands due to fire hazard

Interline Brands is recalling about 140,000 ProPlus brass flare swivel fittings.

The fittings can leak, posing a fire hazard.  

Interline has received two reports of the swivels leaking when installation.

This recall involves multiple sizes of ProPlus brass flare swivel fittings used as connectors for copper tubing. The brass, gold-colored fittings connect two male flare nuts opposite to each other. The swivels were used primarily for LP gas (propane) applications by professional installers.

Propane torches are being recalled by Harbor Freight Tools due to burn hazards

Harbor Freight Tools is recalling about 150,000 greenwood propane torches.

The trigger on the torches that engages the flame can fail to disengage when the trigger is no longer pressed, posing a burn hazard.

Harbor Freight has received two reports of the trigger failing, including one report of a burn injury.

Hammer drills recalled by Black & Decker due to possible injuries

Black & Decker is recalling about 641,000 Bostitch and Porter-Cable hammer drills and drill drivers in the United States and about 18,000 in Canada.

The side handle sold with the drill can slip or break, leading to a loss of control of the tool, posing an injury hazard.

Black & Decker has received 11 reports of side handles slipping or breaking and one report of a torn rotator cuff injury.

Emerson Tool Co. recalling wet/dry vacuums due to shock hazard

The Emerson Tool Co. is recalling about 208,000 RIDGID wet/dry vacuums in the United States and about 2,600 in Canada

The on/off switch can become dislodged and expose energized wiring, posing a shock hazard to consumers.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

This recall involves RIDGID NXT wet/dry vacuums, models HD06000, 6-gallon, and HD09000, 9-gallon. The orange and black wet/dry vacuum has four swivel casters, a carrying handle, a hose, and accessories. RIDGID is printed on the front of the vacuum. The model number can be found on a silver product identification label on the back of the vacuum’s powerhead assembly.