Most of the grills we tested for our latest report on gas grills turned out juicy steaks and moist, tender chicken and fish. But not all the news is good. One grill, the medium-size Broil King Signet 90 986784LP was dangerous, and we judged it Not Acceptable.
The Signet 90, $650, is the first gas grill to receive that judgment from us since 1986. The firebox melted on two grills we tested. On a third grill, the firebox had started to crack and become deformed when the test ended. For more details on the Signet 90, read our safety alert and watch the video on this page.
The Broil King underscores the importance of considering safety when shopping for and using a grill. Plenty of grills in our Ratings (available to subscribers) combine safety with top-notch cooking and stylish looks. Read about them and get expert buying, maintenance, and cooking advice and tips in our June 2008 review of gas grills.
UPDATE: On April 30, 2008, Onward Manufacturing of Canada recalled three models of gas grills, including the Signet 90. Signet, Sovereign, and Sovereign XL grills whose model numbers start with 986, 987 or 988 and serial numbers start with X, Y, or Z are affected by the recall. The company’s action is expected to be followed shortly by an announcement from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. For more information on the recall, read this item on our Safety blog.
And on May 5, 2008, the CPSC issued a recall of 4,800 Signet, Sovereign, and Sovereign XL series gas grills made by Onward Manufacturing. Read about the recall on our Safety blog.
Written by larrylarr on May 8th, 2008 with no comments.
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Everyone marks the first warm days of spring differently. Some folks go for a long walk, many fire up the grill for the first of many meals they’ll prepare outdoors in the coming months, and some toss the ball around with their kids.
Many of you have also recently undertaken some spring cleaning, but I imagine that I’m in the minority of homeowners who spent the first mild spring evening this year crawling and toiling under a deck to clean out the mess there.
In years past, raking out leaves from beneath my 400-square-foot wood deck was invariably an hours-long ordeal. This time, however, it took only about 20 minutes, in part because the leaves were dry and easier to gather and also because I needed to complete the work before it got too dark.
When I was finished, my booty comprised a full bag of leaves, two stinging eyes, nine tennis balls and two Wiffle Balls—kids!—plus a balled-up woolly bear caterpillar. Oh, and enough dirt on my clothes and myself to merit instant banishment to the shower. (That’s me in the photo above.)
Why bother cleaning out under the deck? Leaves that collect there can harbor moisture and serve an inviting habitat for insects and fungi. They’re also a fire hazard. The chief reason I tackle this chore in spring is that the patio tiles and soil under the deck have lost most of winter’s chill. Even better, the ants, spiders, and assorted other cooties that might want at me have yet to emerge at my house.
At any time of the year, though, this underdeck cleanup would merit a spot on Dirty Jobs—presuming you could find someone to pay to do this work. And once I’ve tidied up, other deck-upkeep chores seem easy by comparison. These include an annual safety inspection; the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) offers a handy checklist (PDF download) for the part of the deck you walk on. The NADRA also promotes Deck Safety Month in May.
While you’re working on your deck, check your deck stain or treatment for wear. Look for our upcoming report on deck stains and treatments in the June 2008 issue of Consumer Reports (on sale and online in early May). We’re covering volatile organic compounds among a number of other topics and will have testing information on a range of decking materials, including some of the newest composites.
Once someone manufactures a 20-foot telescopic rake, I suppose we’ll have to test that out, too. I have just the place to put it through its paces.—Ed Perratore
Essential information: Here’s how to prepare your deck for a new stain and tips on finding the best deck stain or treatment.
Written by larrylarr on May 8th, 2008 with no comments.
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