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Tony Carrick

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Bob Vila •

Smart Plugs Offer an Affordable Way to Cut Your Energy Usage

By now we’re all aware of smart plugs’ ability to control lights with voice commands or a smart device, but did you know that smart plugs are also one of the easiest and most affordable ways to make your home more energy efficient? With a smart plug, you can set schedules to turn off lamps, coffee makers, gaming consoles, and other devices when they’re not in use, helping you cut your home’s energy costs. Many smart plugs also allow you to track energy use in your home so you can see which appli
Bob Vila •

Renters: How to Improve Energy Efficiency and Ask Your Landlord for Improvements

While renters may not have the same options for improving energy efficiency as those who own their homes, there are measures they can take to make their homes more energy efficient. From assessing a rental prior to signing the lease to installing insulated curtains to trading out existing light bulbs for LED options, there are still many ways to make a rental more energy efficient.

Renters can even lobby their landlords to invest in energy efficient upgrades, such as new windows or HVAC systems
Bob Vila •

The Best Moving Companies in San Francisco, California of 2023

Why It Made the Cut: Its end-to-end moving services, national presence, and liberal cancellation policy make United Van Lines a top moving option in the City by the Bay.

With its broad range of services and excellent reputation, United Van Lines (UVL) is a top moving company in the country, and California is no exception to that rule. The company has special packaging for fragile items, which can be beneficial for customers moving to or from an apartment or condo with stairs that increase the l
Bob Vila •

Another Weber Grill That’s Well Worth It: A Spirit II E-310 Review

One of the best-known names in outdoor cooking appliances, Weber is well regarded for its lineup of charcoal, gas, and portable grills, which are renowned for their top-notch performance and durability. I had the opportunity to put Weber’s formidable reputation to the test by running one of its most popular gas grills, the Spirit II E-310, through its paces on my back patio.

I used my experience researching dozens of grills, testing 33 of them and conducting more than 100 hours of hands-on test
Popular Mechanics •

Save Big During Prime Day With These Expert-Recommended Tool Deals

It's day two of Amazon Prime Day, and there's one day left of to get eye-popping deals on tools from some of the best hardware brands, including DeWalt, Milwaukee, Craftsman, and Black+Decker. Amazon is already running Prime Day deals with discounts as steep as 70 percent off on hand tools, power tools, and workshop accessories. If you're looking to expand your tool kit, Prime Day 2023 is a perfect time to shop.
Popular Mechanics •

The Best Rototillers for Turning Hard-Packed Dirt into Nutrient-Rich Soil

If you want to grow a thriving garden, then you have to till your soil before you plant. You can break up the earth with a shovel and a cultivator, which is a lot of work, or you can spare your back and purchase a rototiller, which uses rotating metal tines to cut into the ground, loosening the soil so vital nutrients can reach your plants’ roots.

Whether you’re setting up a new garden or preparing for new spring plantings, a rototiller will make the job faster and easier. There are large gas-p
Bob Vila •

It Pays to Make These 5 Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades in 2023

This is the first installment of Bob Vila’s Most Valuable Projects of 2023, a month-long series featuring high-ROI home improvements on energy efficiency, sustainable kitchens, rooftop solar, and emergency preparedness. Each week, we’re pulling from our vast library of informational content, vetted shopping guides, and connections to industry professionals to present primers on the top projects to take on this year.

Upgrading to a more efficient HVAC system, adding insulation, and installing be
Switchful •

Cove Home Security 2023 – Real reviews, expert ratings

When you purchase a Cove home security system, you’ll begin with the control panel and then build around it with a selection of equipment that includes window and door sensors, an indoor camera and an outdoor camera, two different kinds of doorbell cameras, a motion detector, and a glass break detector. There’s also a flood sensor and a smoke/carbon monoxide detector along with some less common equipment, including a security remote keyfob and a panic medical button.
Bob Vila •

9 Ways Natural Disasters Are Changing Your Local Building Codes

When Hurricane Ian ripped through Florida in September 2022, it caused between $41 billion to $70 billion in storm damage and 148 deaths. In 2018, California’s Camp Fire tore through the northern part of the state, resulting in $16.5 billion in damage and at least 85 deaths.

Natural disasters have become all-too-frequent occurrences, and while we cannot keep them from happening, we can at least learn from them. State, local, and federal governments and agencies are pushing for stricter codes th
Bob Vila •

How to Make Every Appliance in Your Home Last Longer and Run More Efficiently

Home appliances make our lives easier by washing our clothes, helping us cook meals, heating and cooling our homes, and providing us with our daily coffee fix. As much as we may rely on energy efficient appliances to help us fulfill everyday household needs, they need a little TLC in return every now and then to ensure they continue to run efficiently.

Ahead, find out some of the best ways to maintain the most used appliances in your home, so you can avoid costly repairs or replacements.

RELAT
Futurism •

CERO One eBike Review: Make Your Commute and Weekends More Fun

Commuting to work on two wheels is growing in popularity with more and more cities adopting bike lanes and greenways as part of their urban plans. In fact, from 2000 to 2019, the U.S. saw a 61 percent increase in the number of commuters biking to work.

Ebikes, which make it easier to go farther than ever on a bicycle, are no small part of that increase. I spent the past few weeks testing an ebike that’s part of the movement to get more people out of their cars and on bicycles — the CERO One.

T
Bob Vila •

The Best Flat-Top Grills of 2022

An ample rolled-steel cooking surface, two-heat-zone design, and foldable legs for surprising portability make this Cuisinart the best all-around flat-top grill we tested.

Assembling the Cuisinart was fairly easy given its size: We had it assembled in about 30 minutes (the seasoning process crucial to most rolled-steel models added about 45 minutes before the grill was up and running). The electric ignition is a nice plus, making the grill much easier to light than those that use cheaper piezo
Bob Vila •

When Peloton Slashed the Price of Its Exercise Bike, I Took the Plunge—Here’s How I Feel About It Now

After two years with one of the more affordable stationary bikes on the market, a price drop on the Peloton prompted me and my wife to take the plunge and upgrade. While our old stationary bike had served us well, the Peloton’s robust performance data, engaging group of instructors and cool leaderboard feature has taken our exercise bike experience to another level.

Our biggest barrier to entry with the Peloton was the price. The Peloton’s original price of $2,245 was way too high for us to jus
Bob Vila •

The Best Charcoal Grills of 2022

Weber invented the kettle charcoal grill some 70 years ago, and it continues to dominate the market with its line of kettle grills. While all of Weber’s kettle grills are indeed impressive, the Weber Premium sets itself apart with a larger cooking surface and well-designed ash management system.

Out of the box, the Weber Premium kettle grill was ready to go in about 30 minutes, a credit to its use of Bilt, a third-party app that provides step-by-step, 3D-animated assembly instructions for a var
U.S News & World Report •

SimpliSafe Review and System Prices

SimpliSafe is an affordable DIY option with numerous security system packages to choose from to fit various sized homes. Similar to other DIY security systems, SimpliSafe also lets you build your system from the ground up with its selection of sensors, security cameras, and detectors. At the core of the SimpliSafe system is its base station, which is a freestanding unit designed to sit on a desk or countertop. If a sensor detects activity, it sends a signal to the base station, which in turn alerts you or a monitoring service (for those who choose to subscribe to one). A separate control panel turns the system off and on.
Bob Vila •

How to Protect Your Windows From Hurricane Damage

Those who live in coastal regions in the Southern U.S. know all too well about the damage and destruction a hurricane can do. While there may be no foolproof way to make sure a home survives a hurricane completely untouched, there are measures you can take to prevent hurricane damage. For windows, in particular, one of the best ways to protect them is to cover them with durable sheeting or panels.

Homemade window storm covers can be made from plywood using common tools many DIYers will already
Futurism •

10 Best Ebikes of 2022 for Commuting and Fun

Since ebikes emerged onto the scene some 20 years ago, they’ve only grown in popularity as people look to abandon their cars for greener and healthier alternatives to commuting. Improvements to battery technology have made these power-assisted bikes lighter while improving their range. Batteries and motors have also become smaller, allowing them to fit into sleeker-looking bike frames, making ebike technology suitable not just for commuter bikes but road bikes and mountain bikes as well.

Ebikes
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