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Need help deciding what to do with your old electronics? See below for help with TVs.
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Your TV isn't performing as well as you'd like or lacks features you want. For example,
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• The TV's visual and/or audio performance is lacking
• You want to watch TV with surround sound |
| Fix it: Check our Upgrade section for options |
| Your TV is broken or behaving erratically |
Fix it: Check our Repair section for advice on when it makes sense to consider repair |
| Your TV is working, but you no longer want it |
Fix it: Check our Donate or sell section for options |
| Your TV is broken, and you no longer want it |
Fix it: Check our Recycle section for options |
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Before you buy a new TV set, check whether your current one can be improved with a simple upgrade. Below you'll find help in making that decision:
| Your goal |
How you can upgrade |
Special TV requirements |
Where to find help* |
| You want to improve your TV's visual and audio performance |
Check your manual for advice or use a video calibration DVD |
Needs to be connected to DVD player |
Ovation Multimedia AVIA, Video Essentials disk , Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard DVD |
| Use a color-measurement tool: Spyder TV |
Needs to be connected to DVD player |
ColorVision |
| You want to improve your TV's sound |
Hook up powered speakers to your television |
TV needs audio output jacks (generally available on sets less than 5 years old, and greater than 20") |
For advice and ratings on powered speaker options, check ConsumerReports.org (available to subscribers) |
| You want to watch TV with surround sound |
Hook up a home theater in a box to your television |
TV needs component or S-video inputs connected to a DVD playerand/or Digital A/V Receiver (generally available on sets less than 5 years old, and greater than 27") |
For advice and ratings on home theater options, check ConsumerReports.org (available to subscribers) |
*These resources are provided for those who wish to learn more about upgrading or to perform the upgrade themselves. If that's not for you, consider hiring professional help (see the Repair section for resources).
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Taking some simple steps to keep your TV clean and well-maintained may delay any decisions you have to make about repairs or replacement. Below are some tips for keeping it behaving like new.
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• For sets of all sizes, keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat.
• Projection TV screens can scratch easily, so be careful when cleaning them. Some regular LCD TVs and computer monitors also have plastic coatings that may get scratched by overzealous cleaning.
• Many types of TV sets give off heat and have air vents. Be sure not to block the air flow.
• For plasma and CRT types, to avoid image "burn in", avoid displaying any stationary (still) images for a long time, as well as programs with stationary images, such as logos, or areas of constant use, such as news tickers, graphics, etc. You should also keep the overall brightness (contrast setting) low, use the zoom or stretch modes as needed so images use the full screen area (no dark bars on the sides). Finally, enable the "Image Shift" and "Screen Saver" features on the TV if it has them.
• With CRT rear-projection designs, you must align the three small CRTs, as needed, for best picture performance. Bumping the set can cause misalignment. (Newer microdisplay types including LCD, DLP, or LCOS rear-projection sets don't have misalignment issues.)
• For the set's safety as well as your own, make sure wall-mounted sets are properly mounted and any furniture you use to support a set is stable and can easily stand the weight.
• If you are connecting the TV's VHF/UHF input to a roof antenna, consider getting an in-line RF surge protector. It won't save your set from a direct or very close lightning strike, but it'll improve your TV's odds of surviving a more-distant one.
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Find a new home for your television. Generally, if your set is in working condition, someone else may be able to use it. Here are some resources:
Options for donating:
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• Check with thrift stores and charities. For some options, search Earth911, which offers a Zip-code searchable database, or the Electronic Industries Alliance, for local and national organizations that accept donated electronic items. (Before you pack up your TV, be sure to contact the organization or check its Web site to find out if it's currently accepting the type and condition of television you plan to give away.)
• Consider sites such as freecycle.org where your television will be listed online in your community, and possibly picked up for free by an interested neighbor.
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Options for selling:
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• If the TV isn't too old and is still in working condition (or repair is an option), another user might buy it through an ad in your local paper or an online service like Craig's list or an auction site like eBay.
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Consider the case for repairs. Depending on the type and age of your TV, it may be worth repairing, according to Consumer Reports' experts. Below you'll find advice on when to consider repair for both picture tubes, a common type of set, and rear-projection sets, which have typically been more repair prone than other types, and where to find help with repairs.
When to consider repair:
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• A 32-inch picture-tube TV may be worth repairing if it's less than four years old.
• A 36-inch picture-tube TV may be worth repairing if it's less than five years old.
• A CRT-based rear-projection TV may be worth repairing if it's less than six years old.
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Where to find help
Help for do-it-yourselfers. If you're the hands-on type, check your TV's manual for a troubleshooting section or search for help online. Some manufacturers' Web sites provide assistance, including user forums and downloadable owners' guides. You might also search the relevant user forums and newsgroups on sites such as Google and Yahoo for information from volunteer experts.
If your TV's warranty is up, consider factory or authorized service, but don't dismiss independents. According to Consumer Reports surveys, they satisfied our readers about the same. True, manufacturers train their authorized technicians on the latest equipment, keep them updated on repair issues, and hold them to performance standards, and such service may be your only choice for a product that's still under warranty. But independents can be good for off-warranty work, especially if the repair is relatively easy and doesn't involve proprietary parts from the manufacturer.
Consider certified repairers. Ask whether the repairer you're considering is certified by a trade group, such as the Professional Service Association, or the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians. Membership doesn't ensure integrity, but it does suggest that repairers are qualified.
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If you can't donate your old television, or if it's broken beyond repair, recycle it. Today there are numerous recycling options for old TV sets. However, not all the television equipment returned for recycling ends up at an appropriately managed facility. (To learn more about this issue, including why it's important to keep TVs out of landfills, visit our section on What you need to know). Here are some tips on choosing a responsible recycler.
To find a responsible TV recycler:
1. Consider a recycler that has signed this pledge. A coalition of environmental groups has recently established a voluntary program known as the Electronics Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship. The recyclers agree not to export hazardous electronic components to developing countries, not to dispose of equipment in municipal landfills or incinerators not equipped to handle it, and not to use prison labor, among other things. The program is relatively new, but the number of companies that have signed on is growing. For a searchable map of recyclers that have signed the pledge, click here.
2. Otherwise, find a recycler using the list of resources below, and ask them these questions.
The following questions and acceptable sample answers were adapted from the Basel Action Network (BAN), an environmental advocacy group.
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Q1. Which state or local electronics disposal laws do you comply with? [Acceptable answer would be that they comply with state and local electronics disposal laws; to find out about E-waste legislation in your area, contact your local waste management agency or visit the US Environmental Protection Agency's e-cycling map (scroll down to see state listings)].
Q2. Do you send any electronic waste overseas? If so, where? [Acceptable answer would be that they send it to developed countries including those in the European Union, and to facilities with environmental management systems in place.]
Q3. Where do you send your hazardous waste? [Acceptable answer would be that they send it to a facility that specializes in hazardous waste.]
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TV recycling resources:
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• Local community programs. Some municipalities offer recycling programs that accept electronic waste. To find out whether a program exists in your community, you can contact your local waste management agency, or consult the searchable map on the Electronic Industry Alliance Web site.
• Retailer programs. Some manufacturers have teamed up with retailers like Best Buy and Office Depot to sponsor free, limited-time, in-store collection events. In many cases these services are free, but some retailers may charge fees or accept only certain types or brands of equipment.
• Consider a private recycling firm. You can also take your electronic waste directly to a private recycling company. You can find lists of such companies on the Electronic Industries Alliance Web site (click on your state, then on find reuse and recycle options), as well as at Earth 911. Be sure to contact the recycler, or check for details on its Web site, to find out if it accepts the type of television you want to recycle.
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If you’re looking for a “greener” TV, here are several of the factors you may want to consider in addition to performance and cost before buying a new one.
COMPATIBILITY
Consider compatibility. Doing so will help extend the life of the TV and avoid premature disposal. To make it compatible with the latest broadband standards and set-top boxes, look for a TV that has a digital (ATSC) tuner and HDMI input.
RELIABILITY
Consider the manufacturer's (and technology's) reliability record. Every year, Consumer Reports surveys hundreds of thousands of consumers to find out which TV brands and types have been most trouble-free, and which ones have been more repair-prone. For the results, read our TV brand repair history report.
ENERGY
Consider energy efficiency. In general, the larger the screen size, the more power a TV consumes when it’s turned on in active mode. The type of TV can also make a difference: LCD televisions and monitors draw less power than CRT or plasma screens, assuming the same screen size.
Energy Star-qualified TVs are required to be 30 percent more efficient than non-qualified models. As of November 2008, the specification requires energy efficiency when televisions are on, as well as off or in “standby” mode.
TOXICS
Consider whether the manufacturer has reduced or eliminated toxics. Some televisions manufacturers are developing new product designs that reduce the use of toxics, partly in response to the European Union's Restriction of the use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) law. California has passed a similar, but less rigorous law that will become effective in January 2007 that bans the sale of electronics including televisions, computers, and computer monitors that contain certain heavy metals, including lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium. For more information on California's law, check the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. The state also passed a ban to take effect in 2008 on the use of some brominated flame retardants after the chemicals were found in fish from the San Francisco Bay.
RECYCLING
Consider whether a manufacturer supports recycling. To find out which companies have recycling programs and how they work, check our Market watch section. In states that have passed "Extended Producer Responsibility" (EPR) or "take-back" laws, such as Washington, all electronics manufacturers must provide systems to collect and recycle products, which include TVs, computers, laptop computers, and all types of computers monitors. Consumers Union, the parent organization of Consumer Reports, supports the concept of EPR.
RELATED LINKS
Consumer Reports TVs Decision Guide. Visit the complete guide (some content is available to subscribers only).
My green electronics. The Electronics Industry Alliance has developed criteria for “greener” electronics and offers an online searchable database that allows consumers to search by product at MyGreenElectronics.
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TVs are a serious solid-waste problem. An estimated 13.4 million TVs are thrown away in the U.S. each year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.
TVs contain toxic materials.
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• TV monitors with cathode ray tubes (CRTs), the technology used in non-flat screen TVs, contain four to eight pounds of lead on average. Liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors may also contain lead (though much less than CRTs) and older CRT models may contain cadmium. The EPA has identified electronic products as the largest single source of lead in municipal solid waste.
• Plastics used in the housing of many television sets contain flame retardants that are toxic and persist in the environment. Studies suggest they accumulate in household dust and in the food chain, and they have been detected in some fish.
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Not all TV sets returned for recycling end up at an appropriately managed facility. The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, an environmental advocacy group, has found that the majority of equipment is diverted to uncontrolled landfills or to unsafe recycling operations in developing countries. As a result, the local environment in these areas can become contaminated, and local residents, in an effort to reclaim valuable metal components, may be exposed to hazardous materials.
A coalition of environmental groups has recently established a voluntary program known as the Electronics Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship. The recyclers agree not to export hazardous electronic components to developing countries, not to dispose of equipment in municipal landfills or incinerators not equipped to handle it, and not to use prison labor, among other things. The program is new, but the number of companies that have signed on is growing. Click here to see a list of recyclers that signed the pledge. Check our recycling section for more recycling options.
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In the absence of a federal program, electronics recycling is currently a patchwork of manufacturer, retailer, and state and local government initiatives. Here's a look at some of the major state-based recycling programs:
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• In Maine, where electronic equipment is banned from landfills, municipalities deliver household televisions and computer monitors to consolidation facilities for recycling. Manufacturers are then billed for the cost of recycling based on the proportion of waste generated by their products. This approach may provide an incentive for manufacturers to design equipment that lasts longer or is more easily recycled, according to proponents. Municipalities may charge consumers a small fee to cover collection costs.
• In California, where electronic equipment is also banned from landfills, buyers of TVs (and computer monitors) pay a non-refundable fee of $6 to $10 at the point of sale, depending on the screen dimensions. That money is then funneled by the state into a program of approved collectors and recyclers. While that promotes recycling, it may not create an incentive for industry to design longer-lasting products, reuse old components, or make equipment easier to recycle, recycling proponents say.
• Maryland is going in a different direction with its five-year pilot program, which currently only applies to desktop and laptop computers and computer monitors, but could conceivably be expanded to include TV sets. All computer manufacturers doing business in Maryland must pay an initial annual $5,000 registration fee that counties and municipalities will use to facilitate recycling. If the manufacturer starts a take-back program, and maintains it accordingly, the fee for subsequent years is reduced to $500.
• In Washington state, electronics manufacturers will be required as of 2009 to pay for the collection, transportation, and recycling of computers, monitors, and TVs from consumers, small business, schools, governments, and charities in the state.
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To learn more about state-wide electronics recycling laws, visit the Electronics TakeBack Coalition Web site.
Some state and local governments have banned CRT TV and computer monitors from landfills. States with bans include California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Hampshire. To find out if a ban exists in your community, you can contact your local waste management agency.
Manufacturer recycling programs. Most major manufacturers now provide their own nationwide take-back programs for electronics, in addition to sponsoring various take-back events. In states that have passed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) or take-back laws, electronics manufacturers must provide systems to collect and recycle products, which include computers, laptop computers, all types of computers monitors and all televisions, at no additional cost to the consumer at point of sale or at end of life collection. Consumers Union, the parent organization of Consumer Reports, supports the concept of EPR.
CU has also published a white paper, "Electronic Waste: Finding Sustainable Solutions that Work Better for Consumers" that explores the growing problem of electronic waste. You can read a summary (PDF) or the complete paper (PDF).
Taking out toxics. Some television manufacturers are developing new product designs that reduce the use of toxics, partly in response to the European Union's Restriction of the use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) law. California has passed a similar, but less rigorous law that will become effective in January 2007 that bans the sale of electronics including computers, computer monitors and televisions that contain certain heavy metals, including lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium. For more information on California's law, visit the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. The state also passed a ban to take effect in 2008 on the use of some brominated flame retardants after the chemicals were found in fish from the San Francisco Bay.
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