Thanks to an alarming episode of "This Is Us" on January 25th, 2018, slow cookers are panicking and wondering if theirs could cause a home fire.  First, it's important to note that the fictional show takes place in the 1990s -- slow cooker technology has changed a lot since then. Second, the slow cooker was a used appliance that came with a warning about a tricky switch. Therefore, not all slow cookers are fire hazards. That said, there are plenty of old or unsafe slow cookers out there. When should you replace your slow cooker? Here are four things to look…

Can your crockpot/slow cooker really cause a fire like one did on Tuesday night’s episode of “This Is Us?” During Tuesday's episode, Jack Pearson turned off the power switch on his old slow cooker, but did not unplug it before retiring for the night. The cooker malfunctioned, the power light flickered, and then sparks and flames engulfed the kitchen, spreading throughout the Pearson home. If you watched the episode and have been rethinking using a slow cooker, you are not alone. But let's look at some facts about what happened on the show as well as the threat of slow…

What Is Radon And What Are The Risks Radon is a natuarlly occuring radioactive gas, a byproduct of uranium decay, that becomes dangerous when it builds up in your home. It escapes from soil into homes and buildings through cracks in solid floors, construction joints, wall cracks and cavities, gaps in suspended floors, gaps around service pipes, and even through the water supply. Because nearly all soils contain uranium, radon is everywhere (see interactive radon map of U.S.). You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in your home. Dangerously elevated levels…