Ask our experts

Regarding your report on water filters, which carafes, if any, are BPA-free?
        —Mary Malhiot Bethesda, MD

Of the carafes rated in our report (Lab Tests, February 2012), only the ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher is claimed to be free of bisphenol A.

My dermatologist told me I'm at high risk for skin cancer. He advised us to take all compact fluorescent bulbs out of our house because he said they emit A and B radiation, which in, say, reading lamps that are close to people for long periods can be dangerous for someone like me. Is he right?
        —Dwight Rettie Morehead City, NC

Almost all fluorescent bulbs emit small amounts of A, B, and C ultraviolet radiation. Covered CFLs, with glass that encases the spiral tube, block most if not all radiation. Ask your doctor whether they would be better for you. Note that they might take slightly longer to brighten than spiral-tube bulbs.

I want to buy an LCD TV. I have a cable hookup wire but no cable or converter box. Can I get a picture without a box?
        —Rick Tello Castaic, CA

Yes, you should be able to get TV without the box. Assuming you are paying for service, you should get a limited number of channels, including HD channels, directly from the cable feed by connecting the coaxial cable to the "ant/cable" input of the TV. Go into the TV menu and under "set up" find the "channel programming" submenu. Select "auto-scan for digital cable channels" (not off-air antenna channels), and the TV will automatically detect the available channels.

How important is it to buy a dishwasher that can sanitize?
        —Jimmie Vaughn Lanesville, IN

You may want to sanitize if you're worried because your son has the flu and has used the family's utensils. A sanitize cycle raises the water temperature to about 170° F, which will kill germs. But there's usually no compelling reason to have that option, and once you touch the dishes and they're exposed to the air, they're no longer sanitized anyway.

When I bought my washer, the clerk said the warranty doesn't cover a power surge and insisted that I buy the extended warranty. Do I need a surge protector for a new washer or dryer?
        —Pat Peggy Cooper Gig Harbor, WA

Most warranties don't cover power surges, though some extended warranties do. (We don't think extended warranties are worth the money, though.) Surge protectors are a good idea, and if you can use one, make sure it is on a ground-fault circuit.

Is it more cost-effective to charge my electronic devices while driving my car or in my home?
        —Everett Peduzzi Westerly, RI

The difference is minimal, but the cost would probably be smaller for charging in a car. A laptop charger would be the worst case, taking as much as 25 watts, or half the power used by one car headlight.

A laptop and similar devices can't charge directly off the car's 12-volt system. You'll need an inverter to produce 120-volt AC power, or a special charger made for 12-volt systems. The more efficient a car's power system, the more it will be affected by additional power usage. (The Prius' engine shuts off whenever the car stops, so there's no "extra" power produced while waiting at a light.) Of course, you'd never want to run a car just to charge something.

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