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Tony Carrick

Senior Content Writer

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What's next in home security?

Fierce competition in the home security market will continue to breed new technologies and services that will improve the security and automation in your home. From cutting-edge Wi-Fi sensing technology and smarter surveillance cameras to the emergence of Matter, a universal standard that makes it easier to build a smart home, the home security market is continuing to evolve to the betterment of homeowners everywhere. This article will delve into the exciting technologies you can expect to see in home security systems in 2023.
Bob Vila •

How AI-Equipped Appliances Can Make You a Better Homeowner

Artificial intelligence has arrived in our homes and it’s changing our relationships with our refrigerators, washing machines, and other appliances. These machines no longer sit idly by waiting for us to tell them what to do. By tracking patterns in how we use them, AI-equipped appliances are proactive, adjusting how they operate to better work with our household. With its innovative technologies, LG Electronics is leading the charge in AI appliances.
Bob Vila •

Why Now Is the Time to Invest in Rooftop Solar—and Where to Start

This is the third 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.

While solar panels have for years offered a way for homeowners to decrease thei...
Popular Mechanics •

Cleaning Up After Winter Storms is Easier With the Right Chainsaw

In recent years, the once-cavernous divide in power between electric and gas chainsaws has narrowed dramatically, to the point where you can expect similar performance from both options in all but the largest saws. As a result, most homeowners who need a chainsaw for only occasional branch or log breakdown should start by looking at electric saws.Electric chainsaws offer similar cutting speeds, are far easier to start, run more quietly, and don’t produce exhaust. They also produce less vibration...
Popular Mechanics •

Leaf Blowers are Versatile All Year, No Leaves Needed.

While leaf blowers may see the most use in the fall, these handy yard machines aren’t just for clearing autumn's glory off your lawn. I regularly use a leaf blower in spring and summer to blow grass clippings off my walkways and driveway after each mowing. A leaf blower is also my go to tool for cleaning debris off my garage floor. I even use one in the winter to clean powdery snow off cars and walkways.Handheld leaf blowers are ideal for small to moderate leaf clearing efforts and convenient fo...
SFGATE •

The best camping stoves for cooking like a pro outdoors

If you’re planning an upcoming car camping trip, then you’ll need one of the best camping stoves to cook your backwoods vittles. These portable cooking devices have two burners and fold up into a small metal box that’s about the size of a suitcase for easy transport. They’re powered by small one-pound propane canisters that are powerful enough to boil a large pot of water in as little as four minutes. Make sure you've also got a solid camp cookware set to go with it. We tested four of the top ca...
Bob Vila •

These LED Lanterns Are Bright Ideas for Camping Trips & Emergency Prep

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › If you don’t want to risk being left in the dark during a power outage, after a severe weather event, or while on an outdoor adventure, it’s smart to have an LED lantern at the ready. Even if you have a flashlight under your sink or in your car, it might be better to have a light that allows you to use both hands for cooking, changing a flat, or gathering essentials.


Choosing an LE...
Popular Mechanics •

For Perfectly Trimmed Bushes and Shrubs, You Need a Sharp Hedge Trimmer: Here’s How to Keep it That Way

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?Your hedge trimmer is an important tool if your lawn includes bushes, shrubs, and other landscaping features to tame and maintain. Here’s the thing, though: You can only get the kind of tight, manicured hedges that will impress the neighbors if you take care of your trimmer and keep it sharp. If you don’t, you may find that your landscaping will start to look a little rough thanks to...
Bob Vila •

We Tested the Best LED Lanterns, Our Favorite Lasts Up to 12 Hours on One Charge

If you don’t want to risk being left in the dark during a power outage, after a severe weather event, or while on an outdoor adventure, it’s smart to have an LED lantern at the ready. Even if you have a flashlight under your sink or in your car, it might be better to have a light that allows you to use both hands for cooking, changing a flat, or gathering essentials.


Still, choosing an LED lantern fit for such a variety of potential uses isn’t as simple as it sounds. To help you determine whi...
Popular Mechanics •

This Sun Joe Pressure Washer Blasted Away Six Months Worth of Dirt Off My Truck With Ease

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?If you do your own car detailing like I do, then you know how time consuming it is to wash a car by hand. That's why I was so excited to try out Sun Joe’s brand new SPX3000-QW2 pressure washer: I went in specifically looking hoping for a way to cut down my car washing time.This small electric pressure washer has all the makings of a car-washing machine, with features like a foam cann...
Popular Mechanics •

Our Favorite Power Station for Home Backup is $1,000 Off as We Enter the Thick of Hurricane Season

We’re in the midst of hurricane season, folks, and though none of the storms so far have technically been hurricanes, that’s about to change. Earlier this week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) updated its forecast, and the New York Times reported that we’re about to enter the busiest time for hurricanes making landfall.So if you’re prepping for potential power outages and looking for a reliable source of backup power, there’s one option we recommend among the dozens we...
Popular Mechanics •

I Switched to Solar Power for My RV. Here's How EcoFlow's Portable Solar Panels Won Me Over.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?When my wife and I decided to expand our horizons beyond campgrounds with full electrical hook-ups to experience dry camping, we didn’t want to go entirely without certain creature comforts, like lights, a coffee maker, and a working refrigerator. That said, camping is about communing with nature, so we didn’t like the idea of using a noisy, fume-spewing gas generator to meet our pow...
Popular Mechanics •

I've Tested a Lot of Cordless Drills But Never Used One With This Much Power and Precision

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?Flex has a reputation for manufacturing 24-volt cordless power tools that put out a tremendous amount of power, and its flagship cordless hammer drill is a great example of that. It reaches a maximum speed of 2,500 RPM, making it one of the fastest performing cordless drills out there. It also produces 1,400 inch-pounds of torque and gives you options for dialing that power down so y...
Popular Mechanics •

Our Favorite Mid-Sized Portable Power Station Is $800 Off on Amazon Right Now

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?Portable power stations are a foundational mobile power source that we love to review because they have so many different techy applications. I use them for things like charging various electronics, powering RVs and van conversions, and as an emergency backup when the lights go out.One power station that has emerged as a favorite during testing over the past year is the Bluetti Elite...
Popular Mechanics •

I Tested the Weber Smoque Pellet Smoker—and It Deserves a Spot on Your Patio. Here's Why.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?Weber has been making grills for nearly 75 years, but it's relatively new to pellet smokers. Following last year's debuted of the Searwood line, it released the Smoque earlier this year, a more affordable alternative. Having tested and owned many Weber products, I was excited to see just how well the brand performed in this niche space with its latest pellet smoker.The Smoque comes i...
Popular Mechanics •

I Spent Hours Testing Cordless Ratchets. Here's Why This Milwaukee Model Is the One to Buy.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?If you want to become a more skilled and efficient home mechanic, consider adding a cordless ratchet to your tool set. Unlike a manual ratchet that you work with your arm, cordless ratchets have a motor and battery which work to automatically turn the ratchet’s drive.These tools run off of 12- or 18-volt batteries and produce enough power to remove the most stubborn fasteners. They a...
Popular Mechanics •

The Best Grill Accessories Just in Time for Barbecue Season

Spring is finally here, and we're on the cusp of one of the most exciting times of the year—barbecue season. If you’re already thinking about getting your grill primed and ready for steaks, veggies, burgers, and hot dogs all season long, it might be time to take a look at overhauling your full outdoor cooking kit. The grill is the centerpiece, of course, but grill accessories can be just as important if you really want to throw down this barbecue season.We’re talking about everything from the es...
Popular Mechanics •

The Anker Solix F3800 Plus is One of The Biggest Power Stations We've Tested: Here's How It Ranks as a Backup Power Solution

In these days of extreme weather, power outages are becoming an all too frequent issue in many parts of the country, making backup power a home necessity. Historically speaking, Gas-powered portable generators have been the primary solution for folks who want an affordable way to keep the fridge cold, the lights on, and the TV running when the power goes out. Portable Power Stations have been in the mix for awhile, but only a scant few can store enough power to serve as backup power at home.That...
Popular Mechanics •

This Electric Husqvarna Chainsaw Is Powerful, Fast, User-Friendly, (Yes) Expensive, and Just the Best

The Husqvarna PowerAxe 350i is an example of how advancements in lithium-ion battery technology have redefined what an electric chainsaw is. It used to be that they were really only good for pruning limbs. If you wanted to cut anything thicker than a few inches, let alone bring down a tree or carve up fallen ones into firewood, you needed to invest in a gas chainsaw.That’s no longer the case. Cordless electric chainsaws like the PowerAxe lead the pack of a new line of powerful battery-powered ma...
Popular Mechanics •

I Worked in the Middle of Nowhere with the Bluetti Handsfree 2 Backpack Power Station

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?There’s working remotely, and then there’s working remotely, as in places where there’s no power source for potentially miles. Bluetti’s Handsfree 2 Backpack Power Station is designed for the latter.I’ve used and tested a variety of lightweight power stations, but none (until now) comes with a means of transport more convenient than a handle on the unit or a set of wheels. These desi...
Popular Mechanics •

DeWalt Has Some of the Best Drills in the Game. These Are My Favorites.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?The core of any home workshop is the cordless drill. Whether building a deck, mounting a TV, or installing shelving, you’ll need a good drill for the job. And few brands’ drills are more sought after by DIYers and professionals than DeWalt’s.The yellow and black brand’s stable of cordless drills includes a range of standard drill/drivers and hammer drills that are tiered to meet the...
Popular Mechanics •

These Rugged Work Gloves Will Stop a Chainsaw Blade In Its Tracks

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?A chainsaw is one of the most dangerous power tools in your shed, especially if you’re someone who regularly conducts chainsaw maintenance b, which is why equipping yourself with the proper protective gear is so important. Chainsaw gloves look similar to work gloves but are manufactured to stop a chainsaw blade in the event it comes into contact with your non-dominant hand while you...
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