Even if we all agree that smoke detectors are important, it can be confusing to determine how many you needed, where they should be placed and what types are right for your unique dwelling.

Note: Almost all residential homes have “smoke alarms” rather than “smoke detectors.” We’re using the two terms interchangeably here, as that best matches common usage.

How Many Smoke Detectors Do I Need?

The exact number and location of smoke alarms is determined by the number of floors in your home and the number of bedrooms. Your local building code may have more specific requirements. Smoke alarm manufacturer Kidde’s list of requirements in all 50 states is a great starting point.

While we can’t go into detail for each state and major city, the default guidelines fall under the International Residential Code (IRC), specifically IRC R314.3. Here are the primary points:

• Install at least one smoke alarm on each floor, including basements and habitable attics.
• Install one smoke alarm in each sleeping area, and one in any hallway a sleeping area opens into.
• Smoke alarms are not required in garages or non-habitable attics.

Note the IRC guidelines don’t address home size. If you have a particularly large bedroom, or a hallway more than 30 feet long, install a smoke detector on either side.

Remember, these guidelines give the minimum number of smoke detectors. If in doubt, install an extra. It’s a relatively small expense that might pay off massively down the road.

Where To Install Smoke Detectors

Choosing areas where smoke particles can be detected quickly, and avoid those that prevent smoke from accumulating or otherwise generate false alarms.

Smoke rises, so install the detector on the ceiling or as high up on the wall as possible. However, corners create an air buffer, making alarms less effective.

If mounting on a wall, the top of the detector must be between four and 12 inches from the ceiling. If mounting on the ceiling, it must be at least four inches from the wall. With pitched or cathedral ceilings, mount it at least four inches below the peak (measured vertically) and three feet away from the peak (measured horizontally).

Also, give some consideration to other items in the room. Installing a detector next to a ceiling fan, frequently opened window or air vent exposes it to an air current that may prevent it from functioning.

Likewise, don’t install a smoke alarm directly over your stove. Alarms should also be at least three feet from an opening to a bathroom with a shower or tub.

Alarms must be heard to be effective. When installing an alarm on a floor with no bedrooms, like an unfinished basement, place it near the stairs to allow sound to carry.

Choosing a Smoke Detector

Here are a few key factors to consider when selecting a smoke detector. There are also specialty alarms with bright strobe lights for those with hearing loss.

Sensor type

The two types are photoelectric and ionization. Photoelectric sensors are better at detecting smoldering fires, while ionization sensors are better at detecting flames. Have detectors of each type in your home, or go with a dual sensor detector that puts both in one unit.

Photoelectric models are less susceptible to false alerts, so they make good choices near kitchens and bathrooms. Per IRC R314.3.1, ionization alarms should be installed at least 20 feet from a cooking appliance, and photoelectric detectors at least six feet.

Shower steam, just like burnt toast, can trigger a false alarm. However, photoelectric alarms can be affected by altitude. If you live above 3,000 feet, use an ionization alarm.

If your home features natural gas, you’ll also need a carbon monoxide detector. A combo detector offers smoke and CO detection capability.

Power source

Smoke alarms are powered by a single battery or hardwired into your home’s electrical system. Hardwired alarms should have a battery back-up.

Modern battery-powered alarms often come with a 10-year battery, lasting the product’s lifespan. You should still test it regularly, however.

Connectivity

There are two types: connected and smart smoke alarms.

Connected smoke alarms employ wired or wireless connections. When one of them triggers, all the connected smoke detectors sound. Smart smoke alarms let you receive alerts and test the detector right from your smartphone.

Our Pick for Overall Best Smoke Detector

If you have the budget, Family Handyman recommends the Google Nest Protect Combination Smoke and CO Detector.

This dual-sensor hardwired detector features photoelectric and ionization systems and comes with Voice Alert, loudly announcing the potential danger. It’s a smart device so you’ll receive notifications if anything goes wrong, from power loss to a fire. There’s a battery-powered version available as well.

If the Nest is too much of a splurge, remember any smoke alarm is better than no smoke alarm. If you need to buy a simple model for now, do that and consider upgrading down the road.

It worked. And if I had trees, bushes and flowers to water, it would have been twice as useful. Plant watering is the main reason why more homeowners are looking into installing grey water systems.

“What a waste it is to flush toilets with such a precious resource as clean drinking water,” says Lauren Anderson, academy director at Earthship Biotecture in New Mexico.

Earthship’s headquarters, in the desert, only gets around seven inches of rain a year. But all the houses in that neighborhood have such sophisticated rain capture and grey water systems that residents grow their own produce and rarely need supplemental water from wells.

For those of us in standard houses, installing a grey water system can still make a big difference. Households can reuse around two-thirds of their indoor water on outdoor irrigation. Considering outdoor use makes up between 30% and 70% of our water bills, that can save money, plus upwards of 40,000 gallons of water a year.

What Is Grey Water?

Grey water is wastewater from showers, baths, washing machines and bathroom sinks. It should not be confused with black water, aka wastewater from the toilet. Some states consider water from kitchen sinks and dishwashers to be black water, while others don’t.

Regardless of where you live, kitchen water contains higher levels of grease and organic material than other sources of grey water.

What Can You Use Grey Water For?

Grey water is most commonly used for outdoor irrigation.

“Simple systems take unfiltered grey water and distribute it to larger plants, like trees and bushes,” says Laura Allen, the cofounder of Greywater Action. Her group teaches people how to design and install grey water irrigation systems.

Other types of systems filter the water so it can be distributed by a special drip irrigation system. More complex systems can filter the water to flush toilets.

Is Grey Water Dangerous?

No. With basic health and safety precautions, grey water is safe to use.

Because it could carry bacteria and viruses and chemicals left over from your laundry, you should never drink it, or allow anyone to touch it. Don’t use it on root vegetables, and don’t let it touch the edible portion of any food plant. It should also never be sprayed or allowed to pool up, run off the property or run too close to a waterway.

What Is a Grey Water System?

One that allows you to direct grey water to the landscape or toilet for reuse, back to a septic tank, or down the city water drain.

Some grey water systems rely on gravity to move the water outside. Others employ a small tank with a pump inside to push water uphill or across a flat landscape. Many systems use a natural mulch filter in the landscape to catch hair and debris before the water soaks into the soil. Others feature an external filter you must clean by hand.

“The system is a pass through,” says Remy Sabiani, owner of Water Wise Group. “You’re going to take a shower and pretty much at the same time you’re going to water your plants. You’re going to do a load of laundry, and pretty much at the same time you’re going to water your plants.”

The best way to save water with this system? “Figure out how much grey water your home produces,” says Allen. “Then, determine how much water your plants need so you can properly irrigate them.”

Can You DIY a Grey Water System?

Yes. If you have basic plumbing and landscaping skills, you can install a simple “laundry-to-landscape” type system. This taps into water directly from the washing machine and without altering the plumbing of your home. The materials cost around $300.

Some water agencies offer incentives to offset the cost for this system. Other systems warrant more plumbing skills, and some require a professional installer.

Also, you’ll need to research state, county and city regulations, because the legality of grey water systems varies. It often depends on the type of system, where it’s installed (home or business) and the volume of water that passes through it.

Also, keep in mind you’re typically not allowed to store grey water for more than 24 hours. You should avoid products high in salt or containing Boron. Organizations like Greywater Action provide info on what soaps are safe for your plants and how to install a grey water system.

Disinfect Plastic Baby Toys in the Dishwasher

Solid plastic baby toys without fabric, porous parts or holes that trap water can be sanitized in the dishwasher.

To kill most germs and bacteria, use a wash setting that’s at least 150 degrees. A sanitize or sani-rinse setting will get even hotter; Whirlpool claims that dishwashers “kill 99.999% of food soil bacteria.” But before you load all your baby’s plastic toys into the dishwasher, do a test run with the softest one, to ensure the high temperature doesn’t melt it.

You could also wash plastic baby toys by hand with an antibacterial dish soap, then submerge them in a solution of a one-quarter teaspoon household bleach and a one quart water. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sanitizing guidelines, “any remaining bleach will break down quickly as it dries and will not hurt your baby.”

You don’t even need to rinse them. Just let the items air dry on a clean dishtowel or paper towel before they go back into your baby’s hands — and mouth.

Some were completely dried out, so into the trash they went. The rest I dutifully drove to the recycling center. Was there an easier way?

Apparently, yes! The secret is kitty litter, according to a popular TikTok. But does it work? I decided to try it out on some paint the previous owner of my new home “helpfully” left behind.

First, let’s watch the video:

@junkinthetruckco

HOW TO GET RID OF PAINT HACK!!! #fyp #hack #hacksforlife #dadhack #junkremoval #EcoFriendly #disposal #painting #paintok #junktok #Hacks #coolhacks #tips

♬ Storytelling – Adriel

How It Works

The process looks simple enough, according to the TikTok.

Start with an unwanted paint can that’s partially full. Add a couple of scoops of kitty litter. Stir the mixture until the litter and paint are thoroughly incorporated. Wait for the paint to harden — it takes about 10 to 15 minutes, according to the video — and voilà! Now you can dispose of the can in the trash.

The Process

Before trying this TikTok, I did some research. I learned this only works on latex paint. Oil-based paints are considered hazardous waste and can never go in the trash. (We’ll talk about solutions for oil-based paints later.)

I grabbed two paint cans from the garage and pried them open. Unsurprisingly, neither was useable, so at least I didn’t waste good paint on this test. Learn how to store paint to make it last longer.

The paint cans were about a quarter full, so I scooped clumping kitty litter in one can until it was half full. (It looked to me like the TikToker used about a 1:1 ratio.) I did the same for the other can with plain, non-clumping litter. I grabbed a stick from the yard and started stirring. Both versions started absorbing the paint immediately. I set a timer for 15 minutes.

What Pros Say

Major paint brands Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore advise using kitty litter to absorb leftover latex paint before disposal. Dallas County in Texas, where I live, also recommends this method, So do county and state government websites around the country. You can find this method detailed on major retailer websites like Lowe’s as well.

The pros agree. Kitty litter absolutely speeds up the drying of latex-based paints before disposal.

How To Dispose of Paint: Alternative Methods

Instead of throwing away old paint, donate it. Check with local charities and churches to see if they need extra paint. Habitat for Humanity takes building materials and may accept paint. Consult your local ReStore website for more information.

Local trash collection usually takes dry latex paint cans and paint. If you’d rather not mess with kitty litter, just open the can and allow it to air dry. That should suffice. To make it go faster, put down newspapers or cardboard and pour the paint over the surface. Once it dries, just pick it up and throw in the trash.

Oil-based paints, solvents and other hazardous materials can’t be placed in the trash, but your local government likely has a drop-off site for them. Eleven states require paint manufacturers to spearhead paint recycling and collection, so the industry started PaintCare.org to give consumers information and locations for dropoff. Check their website to see if you live in a PaintCare state.

The Verdict

Did it work? Yes! Both the clumping and the regular kitty litter absorbed the paint, although my experiments didn’t harden as much as the TikTok versions. Not after 15 minutes, anyway.

After one hour, my clumping-litter paint can was nearly solid, while my non-clumping can had more of a pebbly texture. This may be operator error because I eyeballed the amount when adding. At any rate, this hack definitely works.

However, as the Airbnb business has gotten more and more popular with travelers, it has also gotten more popular with scammers. Airbnb scams can take many forms, from last-minute listing switches due to “plumbing problems,” to photos bearing no resemblance to the room when you arrive.

Fortunately, in November of 2019, Airbnb rolled out a security update and guest guarantee to verify guests and hosts and try to limit the possibility that their users could have a bad experience. But with over seven million listings on Airbnb worldwide, even if you think you know the signs you’re about to fall for a bad Airbnb listing, you can’t be too careful.

Before you leave for a vacation, it’s important to know we’ve outlined the most common indications of Airbnb scams below, and the actions you can take when you feel like something just isn’t right.

Pictures Look too Good to Be True

Sometimes it’s obvious that photos have been manipulated (think: Photoshopped, flipped, or digitally furnished, with edges that don’t match up or bizarre perspectives or shadows) and sometimes it’s not. Using fake photos is a classic Airbnb scam.

If the details of the listing—say, a reasonable price and a central location—seem too good to be true when combined with photos that look like they could be on the cover of Architectural Digest, it’s worth taking a minute to reverse-Google-image-search to make sure they’re not stock photos or stolen from somewhere else before renting a property on Airbnb.

To do so, go to images.google.com and click the camera icon on the right-hand side to upload one of the listing’s photos (or simply drag it into the search bar). If the photos can be found on any other website, they will show up, and you may have dodged a bullet—or scored a bargain!

The Reviews Are Bad (or Missing)

If a listing seems nice and has no reviews, don’t despair: new listings are not uncommon, and it takes time to build up a good hosting reputation on a site like Airbnb. So a review-less listing isn’t necessarily an Airbnb scam.

Clicking the price button at the top of the search results will tell you the average nightly price for properties in that location on the dates you’re searching for, so you can see if the price is right. You can also check to see if the host’s identity has been verified by Airbnb (click on their profile to find out). Scammers are unlikely to submit their real government IDs, email addresses, and phone numbers, so if someone’s been verified it’s a good sign. If you still have suspicions, it’s always worth Googling a host if you can.

However, if reviews are present, it’s always worth reading a page or three. Bad reviews or even just reviews that mention personal dealbreakers (such as being in a busy nightlife area) are important information to have.

The Reviews Are too Good

Conversely, there’s the situation where multiple good reviews appear in a row, all with similar wording or less-than-perfect English. While it could simply be international travelers leaving their multi-lingual thoughts, several identical glowing reviews could also be an indication of a classic Airbnb scam listing with fake reviews.

However, if the reviews are nothing but positive and the hosts’ profile has a Superhost badge, it’s a listing you can trust. To maintain Superhost status, hosts have to have had a minimum of 10 stays in the past year, a cancellation rate of less than 1 percent, consistently high ratings (over 4.8 out of 5 stars), and have a 90 percent response rate to new messages within 24 hours. Trust your intuition, and carry out the other action steps (such as checking the photos) to keep yourself safe.

Host Wants You to Communicate or Pay Outside of Airbnb

Airbnb themselves strongly advise that all communication and payments happen through their own website or app, as they can only protect transactions that occur within their system. This means you should never, ever, EVER pay in cash! Scammers might offer you a lower rate if you pay in cash or by bank transfer, or give them credit card details.

Another classic Airbnb scam involves them sending you links to “other listings” they have. Keep it within the Airbnb website. Just make sure you check the website URL!

The Website Looks Like Airbnb, but It Isn’t

Make sure that the website you’ve landed on is the real Airbnb website and not one of the very similar-looking fake websites out there that want to steal your vacation budget! Airbnb scams will truly put in the effort.

The URL should either be https://www.airbnb.com or one of the country-specific ones like https://it.airbnb.com (if you’re lucky enough to be searching in Italy). The easiest way to prevent this is to use the Airbnb app on your phone or tablet, where Airbnb blocks other links.

Airbnb Plus or Airbnb Luxe Listings Have Been Vetted

These listings are definitely more budget-blowing than budget-conscious, but if you can afford a private island vacay in French Polynesia or a penthouse stay in Manhattan, know that you can book in confidence. Both Plus and Luxe are thoroughly vetted by Airbnb according to a 100-point in-person inspection process, and with the average Plus price hovering around $250, it might not even be as much of a bank account breaker as you think.

The Listing Seemed Perfect… Until You Arrived

If you’re unlucky enough to book an Airbnb that turns out to be a complete dud, here’s what to do. Airbnb implemented a Guest Guarantee in December of 2019, which protects guests from last-minute Airbnb scams.

If your stay is less than stellar, Airbnb will rebook you to a new listing of the same or better value, or offer you a full refund if you notify them within 24 hours after check-in. Qualifying circumstances include an unresponsive host (or one who cancels on you during your trip), an unclean or unsafe space, an inaccurate listing description, or missing important amenities.

Over 2020, Airbnb added support team members and undertook a project to review and verify 100 percent of their listings worldwide. The aim was to better support guests and hosts with complaints and to minimize and hopefully eliminate scams.

There’s no doubt that Airbnb is safer now than it was a few years ago, but there are always people looking to take advantage of any gaps in a system to pull an Airbnb scam. The good news is, with a little information in hand you can go ahead and book your much-needed next vacation with confidence.

Best Overall Car Cover

When I bought a car cover, I didn’t want to mess around with anything but the best. So after some research, I bought a Platinum Shield cover from carcovers.com.

Once on the website, input your vehicle year, make and model to access the different car cover options. With just a few clicks, I viewed and chose from several covers tailored specifically for my vehicle.

I chose the Platinum Shield because it was the highest-rated for outdoor use and came with a full lifetime warranty. Five years later, I’m no closer to collecting on that warranty than when the cover was new.

Why Is Fabuloso Being Recalled?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall on Feb. 8. In a statement, the federal agency said the  products may contain Pseudomonas bacteria.

Typically found in soil and water, this bacteria puts people with weakened immune systems and other chronic health issues at risk for serious infection. People with healthy immune systems are usually not affected and unlikely to get sick, according to the agency’s statement.

The bacteria can be inhaled, enter through the eyes or through a break in the skin, like a cut or scratch.

According to a statement from the company, “A preservative was not added at the intended levels during manufacturing.” That can lead to the potential for bacteria growth in the products.

What Fabuloso Products Are Being Recalled?

The recall encompasses bottles manufactured between Dec. 14, 2022 and Jan. 23, 2023. The company says 80 percent of those bottles were never released for sale.

Nine types of Fabuloso cleaners are subject to the recall. Here are the individual products listed by the CPSC:

• Fabuloso Original Multi-Purpose Cleaner Refreshing Lemon Scent, 22 fl. oz.
• Fabuloso Original Multi-Purpose Cleaner Lavender Scent, 22 fl. oz.
• Fabuloso Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Lemon Scent, 33.8 fl. oz., 56 fl. oz., 128 fl. oz. and 169 fl. oz.
• Fabuloso Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Passion of Fruits Scent, 33.8 fl. oz., 56 fl. oz., 128 fl. oz. and 169 fl. oz.
• Fabuloso Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Lavender Scent, 56 fl. oz., 128 fl. oz. and 169 fl. oz.
• Fabuloso Multi-Purpose Cleaner Bleach Alternative 2X Concentrated Formula, Spring Fresh Scent, 56 fl. oz.
• Fabuloso Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Lavender Scent, 210 fl. oz.
• Fabuloso Professional All Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser, Lavender Scent, One Gallon.
• Fabuloso Professional All Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser, Ocean Scent, One Gallon.

What to Do if You Have Recalled Fabuloso?

If you purchased any of the recalled Fabuloso products, the CPSC advises you stop using it and dispose of it in its container.

Colgate-Palmolive is offering a refund to anyone who purchased the affected products. To claim it, fill out this form on the company’s web site. You’ll also need to submit photos of the UPS and manufacturing codes. Instructions for where to find that information on the Fabuloso container can be found on the company’s web site as well.

You can expect refunds within four to six weeks.

What Is Fabuloso?

Fabuloso is a popular all-purpose cleaner for walls, counters, toilets, cabinets, all kinds of floors and nearly any other hard surface in your home. Originally created in Venezuela in 1980, it’s been sold in other countries since 1983. Fabuloso debuted in the United States in 1996. By 2019, it was the most popular all-purpose cleaner sold in the U.S., even more than Pine-Sol.

It’s now illegal to sell certain popular laundry detergent brands in the Empire State. The ban went into effect at the end of 2022. The New York State Department of Conservation established a legal limit on how much 1,4-Dioxane, a potential carcinogen, can be present in detergent.

What Carcinogen Caused the Laundry Detergent Ban?

Simply put, 1,4-Dioxane is another thing in your home that could be making you sick. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified 1,4-Dioxane as a probable human carcinogen.

In recent years, 1,4-Dioxane has been detected in groundwater and drinking water supplies near chemical plants and waste sites. Because of manufacturing with ethoxylated ingredients, some household cleaning products also contain varying amounts of 1,4-Dioxane.

Under new state guidelines, any household cleaning or personal care products with more than two parts per million (PPM) of 1,4-Dioxane are banned. An even stricter limit of one ppm for 1,4-Dioxane in household cleaning and personal care products will take effect at the end of 2023.

What Popular Detergent Brands Contain 1,4-Dioxane?

According to a 2020 study conducted by chemical testing lab Bureau Veritas and commissioned by Ingredients Matter, 1,4-Dioxane was detected in many popular laundry detergents. Those ranged from conventional brands like Tide and All to plant-based brands like Mrs. Meyers.

Here’s the full list of brands that contained more than three PPM of 1,4-Dioxane, putting them all over New York’s legal limit:

• Arm & Hammer Clean Burst;
• Tide Original;
• Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear;
• Gain Original + Aroma Boost.

After an initial recall for 28,000 ZLINE 30- and 36-inch gas ranges in December, a recall for ZLINE 48-inch ranges was issued on January 26. Consumers are being asked to stop using the oven compartment until the recalled ranges are repaired. The range tops are unaffected and may be operated safely.

“The oven of the gas ranges can emit dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) while in use, posing a serious risk of injury or death from carbon monoxide poisoning,” the USCPSC statement says.

Which Ranges Were Recalled?

ZLINE has received 44 reports of carbon monoxide emissions from the gas ranges, according to the USCPSC, including three people who needed medical attention. The ranges were sold for $2,300 to $6,900, online and in retail locations, between February 2019 and December 2022 by the following vendors:

• Best Buy;
• Lowe’s;
• The Home Depot;
• The Range Hood Store;
• Build.com;
• Costco;
• Overstock;
• Wayfair.com.

The latest recalled model numbers are RG48, RGS-48, and RGB-48. ZLINE recalled model numbers RG30, RGS-30, RGB-30, RG36, RGS-36 and RGB-36 last month. The model number is printed on a label on the back or underneath the right side of the range top, visible when the oven door is open.

According to USCPSC, the impacted ZLINE ranges have the company logo printed on the bottom of the door. The doors are black matte; blue gloss; blue matte; DuraSnow; red gloss; red matte; and white matte. Multiple finishes include stainless steel, black stainless steel and DuraSnow, along with a cloudy steel finish.

The recalled ranges were manufactured in China, according to USCPSC.

How to Get Your Gas Range Repaired

Impacted customers can schedule free in-home repairs after contacting ZLINE support. ZLINE can be reached by phone at 888-359-4482, email at ZLINEKitchen@realtimeresults.net or online via this recall form.

More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are treated in emergency rooms for CO poisoning each year, and at least 420 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The situation in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, where I flipped a small home several years ago, is different. Nighttime temperatures can drop to -30 degrees in the winter. Builders take pains to insulate every foot of a home’s water line. But at those temperatures, even insulated pipes can freeze.

Some helpful neighbors suggested I let at least one faucet in the house drip at night. But is this a good idea? And does it actually work?

Yes, and yes. Read on to learn why.

Why Does Letting a Faucet Drip Prevent Pipes from Freezing?

Because moving water is less prone to freezing. That’s why flowing streams generally don’t freeze over in the winter, while lakes and ponds do.

Water is the only known non-metallic substance that expands as it freezes. Frozen water is a problem in your plumbing because it can separate copper, PVC and CPVC pipes at the joints and even rupture them altogether. PEX is flexible enough to resist bursting, which is why it’s gradually becoming the default material for residential water pipes.

Water pipes are always full, which is why you get instant water whenever you turn on a faucet. When all the faucets are closed and the water doesn’t move, it stagnates. And stagnant water is more likely to freeze than running water.

Dripping a faucet allows the water to flow just enough to prevent it from stagnating in your pipes. If any water does freeze, the open faucet gives it somewhere to go when it thaws, relieving pressure on the rest of the system.

Does Letting a Faucet Drip Prevent Pipes From Freezing?

Usually, but not always. Your chances of success in places like coastal California, where the temperature hardly ever drops below 25 degrees, are almost guaranteed.

During a frigid winter night in Colorado or Minnesota, however, a small drip may not do the trick. If it’s really cold, it may take a steady stream the width of a pencil to maintain enough flow to prevent freezing. That’s obviously wasteful, and there are better ways to protect your pipes.

First of all, water pipes in extreme climates should be indoors or underground where they can benefit from the ambient warmth. When pipes are buried they should be six inches below the frost line, which varies from region to region, and at least 12 inches below the surface according to the building code. Indoor pipes running along an exterior wall should be wrapped with pipe insulation.

Exposed pipes should be protected with heat cable because pipe insulation by itself won’t prevent freezing, However, if pipe insulation is all you have and temperatures aren’t too extreme, letting the faucet drip can definitely help.

How Much Water Should Drip To Keep Pipes from Freezing?

It doesn’t take much. One drip every few seconds is usually sufficient. If you get your water from a municipal system, a small drip like that shouldn’t cost any more than a few cents per night. But it’s still wasteful, so you might want to catch the water in a bucket so you can use it later.

It’s important to remember to let the cold water drip, not the hot water. The cold water line is the one most in danger of freezing.

The best way to protect all the pipes in the system is to drip the faucet farthest away from the water source. If you’re trying to protect pipes that run through the attic, basement or some other unprotected area, it doesn’t hurt to drip the faucet closest to those pipes as well. If you have a basement sink, dripping that one should take care of the whole house.

Anyone with outdoor water pipes should drain them before winter starts and leave them empty until spring. If you have outdoor spigots on the side of the house and can’t drain them because they’re connected to the main water supply, replace them with frost-free spigots. These have long tubes that reach inside the house to connect to pipes sheltered from the cold, and they drain automatically.

Stretch

Snow shoveling is physically demanding. Like any strenuous activity, you should stretch your muscles properly before you start.

Stretch your upper and lower body, including your back and core. Arm, shoulder and leg swings, along with back rotations, are important exercises before snow removal, according to Barclay Physical Therapy, which includes instructions on its websites.

You might drive past the same electrical lines daily without knowing the purpose of those colorful spheres. Are they bizarre pieces of public artwork or a scale model of the solar system? Perhaps they’re there to weigh down the power lines that might otherwise blow in the wind.

We learned more about these colorful markers and why they’re strung on power lines across the country. And it turns out, there’s a simple explanation.

What Are the Balls on Power Lines?

Known as marker balls, these indicate where power lines are so low-flying aircraft can avoid them. Also called aerial marker balls or visibility markers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires them on power lines that cross canyons, lakes and rivers, as well as those that surround airports.

But why are they different colors? The FAA found aviation orange, white and yellow offer the greatest visibility, but colors must be as conspicuous as possible against the background landscape. That means you might see other colors, depending on where you live.

So the next time your passenger asks, “Hey, what are the balls on power lines for?” you can answer that they’re saving lives.

What Are the Balls on Power Lines Made Of?

For maximum durability and color fastness, the balls on power lines are plastic. Plastic also doesn’t conduct heat or electricity, making it a good electrical insulator.

You might be surprised by their size. Much like a traffic light, these colorful markers are unexpectedly large — between 20 and 36 inches (about the circumference of a basketball). But you wouldn’t bounce anything this heavy. These weigh between 11 and 17 pounds each!

How Long Have Those Colorful Balls Been Hung on Power Lines?

Nearly 50 years.

In the early 1970s, then-Arkansas governor Winthrop Rockefeller was on an airplane with the head of the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics, Edward Holland. Just before the plane landed, Rockefeller noticed electrical wires close to the aircraft. He asked Holland to develop a way to make electrical wires more visible to pilots.

Holland enlisted an engineer named Jack Rutledge to create brightly colored balls that could be placed on electrical and telephone lines without slipping in the wind. By the 1980s, Rutledge’s company had become one of the world’s leading suppliers of visibility markers.

The invention has saved countless human lives in the decades since, but Canadian geese have also benefited. Before the markers came into common use, geese would often fly into or land on power lines. Marking the lines also helped many of our feathered friends.

Best Overall Pet-Safe Ice Melt

Just for Pets Snow & Ice Melter

Just For Pets Snow & Ice Melter is a steal at just $2/pound, and it comes in an easy-to-use jug. It’s one of the best pet-safe ice melt products because it doesn’t contain any chlorides (which cause skin irritation and can upset tummies when pets lick the product). Its rounded pellets are easy on paws, too.

The pellets provide twice the coverage of rock salt, and melt ice even in subzero temperatures.

Pros

• Inexpensive and easy to use
• Environmentally friendly
• Offers twice the coverage of rock salt
• Easy on paws
• Safe on concrete, asphalt, stone, brick, wood and grass
• 100% money-back guarantee

Cons

• May leave behind yellow stain
• Slower to work than other options

Shop Now

Most People Don’t Take Care of Their Christmas Tree Properly

Surprisingly, many people aren’t following standard Christmas tree safety rules. According to results from an October 2022 Travelers Insurance survey, nearly one out of 10 people have experienced a fire or safety-related issue with their Christmas tree in the past. The survey, which compiled answers from 1,144 Americans, also revealed a general lack of care for real Christmas trees—something that doesn’t seem too important but can lead to an electrical fire.

For instance, only 60% of people unplug their Christmas tree before going to bed or leaving their homes. On top of this, 32% of people purchase a Christmas tree more than a month before Dec. 25, and 40% report keeping their tree up two weeks after Christmas, for a total of six or more weeks.

This wouldn’t be as large of an issue with proper tree maintenance, but neglectful care can lead to trees becoming a fire hazard which increases the risk of electrical fires. When a tree becomes too dry, the pine is highly flammable, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Dryness is a real problem, leading to another recent survey finding: almost half (40%) of people water their Christmas tree just once per week.

The dryness, combined with Christmas light dangers, is a recipe for disaster. Per Travelers, 64% of people don’t use approved lights or avoid connecting multiple extension cords to light their trees. This same percentage also doesn’t check to ensure their lights aren’t damaged, and a whopping 67% fail to unplug their tree lights before going to bed or leaving their home.

Knowledge of Christmas tree safety is imperative when bringing a real tree into your home, and bad habits can seriously endanger you, your family and your home.

Tips for Taking Care of a Real Christmas Tree

Keep your Christmas tree from becoming a ticking time bomb by using these holiday fire safety tips:

• Before you take it home, make sure you’re choosing a fresh tree. Feel the needles. When they start falling off, it’s already becoming dry. Check that your tree is still healthy.
• Some decorations are holiday fire hazards. Be mindful of where you put festive candles. Don’t put them anywhere near your Christmas tree.
• Unplug your lights before you go to bed. If you’re leaving your house, don’t leave the lights on either.
• Water your tree regularly. Good Christmas tree care includes keeping the water reservoir full. That means you should water it at least once a day.
• Buy approved Christmas tree string lights. Avoid connecting multiple extension cords that increase fire risk.
• Keep your tree as far away from heat sources as possible. Your heater can dry out your tree faster. So can excessive sunlight from windows. Position your tree at least five feet away from heat sources.

What About Artificial Trees?

An artificial tree requires less maintenance and fewer safety precautions, though you should still be mindful of some Christmas light dangers. Artificial trees also come with their own problems, like how to store them properly.

Remember to take care of your Christmas tree, and have a happy (and safe!) holiday season.

I was thrilled!

Over the years I’ve had other bear encounters, usually while backpacking. But last month, while on a walk with my mom, I inadvertently came close to a large black bear in, of all places, a neighbor’s yard. I thought it would be scary to see one in town, but the bear was not at all interested in us. It actually felt uplifting to share space with such a large, wild creature.

Regardless, a yard is not a good place for a bear to be. If you’re worried about bears in your yard, here’s what to know.

What Homeowners Should Know About Bears

A bear’s sense of smell is seven times greater than a bloodhound’s, and that sometimes brings them to our yards for an easy snack.

“Being as strong and as smart as they are, this can cause a lot of problems,” says Nicolas Kilby of Think Wild. “However, most conflicts with bears can be easily avoided, as they usually result from improper storage of attractants like garbage, pet food and poultry.”

It’s important to never attract a bear. Once rewarded with easy access to food, it may come back for more.

“Each time this happens, he can become more tolerant of human presence — and this food-conditioning can lead to problematic behavior,” says Lynsey White, director of humane wildlife conflict resolution at the Humane Society of the United States. Besides being dangerous to humans, it often leads to the bear being killed.

Are bears dangerous?

Bears can be dangerous and unpredictable when provoked, but mostly they’re timid animals who rarely attack people. “Although the sight of a black bear can certainly be frightening, most bears run away as soon as they are spotted by a human, and usually even before that,” says White.

What type of bear might come to my yard?

Of the three types of bears in North America, most people are only likely to encounter black bears. They’re in 41 states, thriving everywhere from mountains to forests to deserts to even Florida suburbs. Because grizzly and polar bears are specific to only a couple of regions, this article will focus on black bears.

What do black bears eat?

Bears are opportunistic omnivores. They’ll eat anything that’s an easy meal.

In the wild, a black bear’s diet largely consists of fruits, berries, nuts and other plant matter. In your yard, they might eat garbage, fruit, bird seed, drippings from grills, pet food and chickens.

When am I most likely to find a bear in my yard?

You might see a bear anytime, but evenings and nights in the spring, late summer and fall are more common.

Bears don’t technically hibernate, but they do go into a state of light sleep called torpor. They prepare for this with a feeding frenzy in late summer and fall called hyperphagia, when they consume 20,000 or more calories a day.

Why are black bears beneficial?

Black bears are key contributors to a healthy ecosystem in lots of ways. They disperse seeds across vast distances, even better than birds; break up logs while grubbing, which helps with decomposition and returning nutrients to the soil; and open up forest canopies to allow more sun, allowing greater biological diversity on forest floors.

How To Keep Bears Out of Your Yard

It’s simple: Get rid of anything that might attract them. “No yard is absolutely bear-proof as bears are excellent climbers and swimmers,” White says. “Neither a fence nor a moat will keep them at bay.”

If bears are part of your community, here’s how to make your yard less attractive to them.

• Secure your garbage: This is by far the most effective step. Bring trash cans and recycling inside at night or use bear-resistant containers, like those certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.
• Manage your compost: Keep compost as odor-free as possible by turning it frequently and using lime and dry grass clippings to hasten decomposition. Never put meat, fish, oil, grease or dairy products into your compost. If you live in a bear-intensive area, consider skipping composting altogether.
• Rethink your bird feeders: Avoid putting them out from April 1 to November 30. If you do, hang them away from your house and at least 11 feet off of the ground with a thick cable. Switch to sunflower hearts instead of whole seeds and avoid mixes with millet.
• Keep doors and windows locked: Or, if you must lock them open, leave a gap too small for bears to enter.
• Predator-proof your coops: At night, keep chickens in bear-resistant coops. During the day, runs enclosed by electric fencing can protect chickens. “A well-trained guard dog or another guard animal can also be helpful,” says White.
• Protect your beehives and gardens: Electric fencing teaches bears to stay away from food sources, White says. She recommends attaching foil strips to the top wire (at least 24 inches off the ground) and smearing peanut butter or honey on the strips. This will encourage the bear to interact with the fence, giving him a quick jolt and teaching him to stay away.
• Pick fruit before it ripens: Think carefully before planting any new fruit trees. If you already have some, pluck the fruit just before it ripens. And immediately pick up fruit that has fallen to the ground.
• Feed pets indoors: Pet food attracts not only bears, but skunks, raccoons and mice. “The golden rule is to never feed pets outdoors, especially in bear country,” says White. “Doing so trains bears and other wildlife to come to people’s homes for food.”
• Clean your gill: Promptly clean up drippings, move the grill away from your house when not in use, and clean it regularly with ammonia or bleach.
• Never intentionally feed a bear: It encourages encounters and develops behavior that’s dangerous to you and the bear.

What To Do if a Bear Is in Your Yard

Stay calm, stay inside and leave it alone. Attacks by black bears on people are rare, and chances are it will wander away before long.

“If you see a black bear in your yard, don’t fear the worst,” says White. “A youngster may simply be passing through in search of a home of his own. Or an adult may be checking out an enticing smell or interesting sound. Usually, when he finds out there are people around, he’ll head for the hills, never to be seen again.”

You may also scare it away with loud noises. “While this can startle a bear and get it to run away, please make sure you are far away from the bear, or have easy access to a car or home,” says Kilby.

If you’re already outside and cannot safely get to your house:

• Stand and face the bear directly. Never run away from or approach him.
• Make yourself look as big as possible by spreading your arms or, better yet, a coat.
• Make as much noise as possible by yelling, banging pots and pans or other noise-making devices.
• If the bear approaches and you have bear spray, use it. Note: Statistically, bear spray is more effective than firearms. If you live near bears, it’s smart to buy a can of it and know how to safely and properly use it.
• In the rare case that a black bear does attack you, fight back (don’t play dead).
• After the bear leaves, remove whatever attracted him to the location.

Note: These directions are specific for black bears. Here’s what to do in a grizzly bear encounter.

Hurricanes Can’t Hit Before or After “Hurricane Season”

Hurricane season technically begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30. However, a hurricane can occur at any time, and you should always have a storm kit ready.

Most tropical cyclone activity occurs in mid-September, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

It turns out, though, that this isn’t a myth. It’s actually happened, although it’s rare.

“Any use of plumbing or water by a home’s occupants along the path of the lightning would be taking a lightning safety risk,” says Jeffrey Peters, the Severe Weather Program Coordinator for the National Weather Service (NWS) and a lightning safety expert.

But how can electricity from lightning get inside your house? And if showering is dangerous, what about washing dishes or your hands, or even going to the bathroom?

We asked some lightning experts what you should avoid. Any excuse to put off doing the dishes is fine by us!

Can Lightning Travel Through Water?

Yes, and this is why lifeguards always call you out of the pool at the first crack of thunder.

Pure water is not a good conductor of electricity, says Randy Adkins, a meteorologist in the forecasting department at AccuWeather. “But the water we all consume isn’t pure,” he says. “It contains dissolved minerals, and it is these minerals that serve as a conductor for electricity.”

The pipes in our homes also make indoor water use dangerous in a thunderstorm.

“Metal plumbing pipes transmit electricity, and water can transmit electricity, as most people know,” says Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, professor emerita of emergency medicine at the University of Illinois and managing director of the African Centres for Lightning and Electromagnetics Network.

Plus, Adkins says, “copper and steel pipes are excellent conductors of electricity, as are most metals, due to the physics and chemistry of these materials.”

If you remember your high school science, metals contain electrically charged particles called electrons that can move about easily. “When provided with an electrical voltage, they will readily move and carry an electrical current,” Adkins says. This process, called conduction, allows the electricity of the lightning to move through the metal as well as the water, Peters says.

How Does Lightning Get Inside Your House?

“Lightning’s path from the cloud to the ground is one of least resistance: When lightning strikes a house, it can travel toward the ground through the plumbing, wiring or phone lines,” Peters says.

Even if it hits somewhere nearby, it could still make its way inside. “Lightning that strikes outside, nearby one’s home, can pose a danger with the lightning traveling by way of conduction underground through the metal pipes and water into your home,” he says.

It’s hard to say how close a lightning strike needs to be to potentially endanger someone inside a house, though. Adkins cites cases where lightning has been observed to travel 60 to 100 feet, but that’s outside.

“For someone indoors, it is rare for a lightning strike that far away to cause harm, even though it can travel through electrical wiring and plumbing lines located outside of the home,” he says. He says lightning typically enters a house after striking the roof.

Adds Cooper: “There is no simple answer to this, as it depends on the strength of the lightning strike, the moisture of the ground and many other factors.”

If it gets inside, though, lightning can travel through the plumbing and the water indoors. And if you’re in contact with that water by showering, the lightning can travel through you as well.

Should I Avoid the Shower, Sink and Toilet?

Peters and Adkins say they’d advise against using water inside during a lightning storm, including showering, taking a bath, doing dishes or even washing your hands. These activities increase your risk of getting a jolt.

“The danger posed with the lightning’s electricity — the average lightning bolt carries 30,000 amps of current — and the quick occurrence of lightning, in less than a second, suggest it’s best to avoid using water inside your home during a thunderstorm,” says Peters.

“Since wiring is another path that lightning takes to the ground in homes, ice makers and dishwashers pose a lightning safety risk due to the wiring and plumbing.”

Electrical appliances are also a risk, because your home’s electrical system could be a conduit for the lightning.

“Corded phones are the greatest danger since the receiver is so close to one’s head,” Adkins says. “A cordless phone isn’t an issue, provided you are not right next to the base station. Cell phones, when used indoors, are fine as well. Using a computer is a potential hazard unless you are using a laptop while not plugged in.”

The sink full of dishes can wait, too. The standard guideline is 30 minutes after the storm passes, Adkins says. You’re probably safe going to the bathroom, though.

“Using the toilet is of some small risk, but it isn’t as high as being in the shower or washing your hands for the simple fact that you are not actually immersed in the water,” Adkins says. “And if you are, then things are going horribly wrong!”

How Do I Protect My Home From Lightning Strikes?

A new type of plastic plumbing called PEX may be somewhat safer than copper or steel pipes in theory, Adkins says. “But I cannot imagine this would make a significant difference in terms of overall risk,” he says.

A better choice for protection? “A house that has an installed lightning protection system — think lightning rods — stands a much better chance of having a lightning strike take a safer path to ground, as opposed to traveling through a house’s wiring or plumbing,” Adkins says.

Protect Yourself

According to Peters, exact numbers of people injured while using or being near plumbing are hard to come by.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one-third of all lightning injuries (300 to 400 Americans struck per year) occur indoors. Your total risk each year of being struck by lightning is more than one in a million, according to the NWS.

And though only 10% of lightning strikes are fatal, survivors are often seriously injured.

“Data collected by the NWS indicate there hasn’t been any lightning fatalities directly related to indoor plumbing in the last 15 years,” Peters says. “Although it’s reportedly rare to be killed by lightning inside your home when using water, some who are injured are forced to cope with life-long health issues including neurological problems and pain syndromes.”

Adkins says the risk of serious injury or death from showering during a lightning strike is lower than the risk of falling in the shower or slipping on the bathroom floor. Still, if you’re concerned about being struck by lightning while indoors, avoid water or showering during a thunderstorm — even if it’s rare to be affected.

With some baseboard to install and a roofing project pending, I picked up a set of the Kobalt Comfort Flex Stabilizer Knee Pads to try out, hoping to avoid hobbling around for days after each project.

What Are Kobalt Comfort Flex Stabilizer Knee Pads?

The Kobalt Comfort Flex Stabilizer Knee Pads feature a durable, clear plastic waterproof outer shell with a grippy and flat stabilizing front footprint. The knee sits cozily inside the black high-memory gel interior pad and stays in place with two easily adjustable rubber straps.

I immediately found a lot to like. The pads felt soft, flexible and appropriately sized. Plus, they’re waterproof.

How We Tested It

With my roofing project delayed a few weeks, I found plenty of use for these Kobalt knee pads. A windstorm tore off the top of one of our trees, which had to be broken down. I also rolled around on the garage floor changing the oil and rotating the tires on my pickup.

Performance

After both projects and the baseboard trim install, I can attest to the stability, gel comfort and waterproofness of these Kobalt Comfort Flex Stabilizer Knee Pads.

The straps held them securely in place while I changed my oil and cut my baseboard to the proper length. I don’t recommend wearing them with shorts. The non-slip rubber straps tend to pinch and pull leg hairs.

I appreciated the waterproofing while piecing up the treetop in our backyard after the rainstorm. This will also be true for any future plumbing projects. The 20-sq.-in. flat stabilizing footprint did just that, keeping me stable on one knee while running the chainsaw or shooting trim nails in the baseboard.

The biggest issue I had involved the placement of the strap’s bottom rivet on the knee pad. The lower attachment points are riveted through the durable exterior shell and the interior gel pad. When moving around for long stretches, the rigid plastic back of the rivet rubbed the skin under the knee. It became so uncomfortable I removed the pads for short periods.

If you have skinnier legs than me or wore lined pants, this wouldn’t be a problem. However, with my chubby frame and a standard pair of Levi’s, it was definitely something to note.

In my experience with the Kobalt Comfort Flex Stabilizer Knee Pads, the rubber straps — my initial area of concern — are showing some wear but still holding up well. I feel confident they will be sufficient for at least a handful of future projects, if not more.

Pros

• Incredibly stable;
• Securely held in place;
• Comfy soft gel interior pad;
• Waterproof.

Cons

• Poorly designed lower strap attachment points;
• Uncomfortable with shorts.

FAQ

Q: Can I get different sizes of the Kobalt Comfort Flex Stabilizer Knee Pads?

A: No. There is only one size available.

Q: Does Kobalt sell replacement leg straps?

A: Kobalt does not. There are, however, aftermarket straps available on Amazon that might work.

Final Verdict

If you’re a DIYer looking for a set of stable, comfortable and waterproof knee pads to have on hand, the Kobalt Comfort Flex Stabilizer Knee Pads are a great choice. They’re perfect for any small task around the home or yard and will keep you from feeling sore when the day is done. Your knees will thank you.

Where to Buy

The Kobalt Comfort Flex Stabilizer Knee Pads are available at Lowe’s.

Buy Now

That’s why it’s so critical to watch for and mitigate electrical hazards in your home, and to teach kids electrical safety from an early age. Kids account for 20 percent of all electrical injuries, with most happening at home. Toddlers and adolescents are at higher risk.

Short of living off the grid, which has its own dangers, there are things you can do to make your home electrically safer for kids. Before taking these on, turn off the power at the breaker/service panel and test it to be sure it is off before working on any circuits.

And be sure to call a licensed electrician to perform any work beyond your comfort or experience level.

Install Tamper-Resistant Receptacles

Electrical receptacles hold a certain fascination for kids. Every year about 2,400 kids are injured from sticking something in them.

Unlike plastic outlet plugs, tamper-resistant (TR) receptacles cannot be bypassed by a determined kid with a fork. Tamper-resistant receptacles have an interior shutter that only opens if an electrical plug is evenly inserted into the slots. Since 2008, the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires them in new residential construction.

What you can do:

• Check all receptacles for “TR” stamped on the face;
• If there’s no “TR,” replace the receptacles for about $1.50 each.

Test and Maintain Your Garage Door Auto-Reverse

Electric photo eyes and auto-reverse capability are required safety features on automatic garage door openers sold since the early 1990s. Before these requirements, crushing injuries and fatalities, often of children, were much more common.

What you can do:

• Test your garage door as recommended by your garage door manufacturer;
• Clean the electric eye sensors with a soft cloth and realign them, if necessary.

Call an electrician or garage door repair service if you see any loose or frayed wires, or if the door fails to reverse when tested.

Install Voice-Alert Smoke Alarms

More than half of young children who die in home fires every year are asleep when the fire occurs. Make sure you have smoke detectors that work.

Studies on the response time of children to smoke alarms show sleeping kids overwhelmingly respond to voice and hybrid voice-tone signals (85 to 89 percent) more than tone only (56 percent).

What you can do:

• Replace tone-only models with voice-alert or hybrid ones;
• Install smoke detectors in every bedroom, outside all sleeping areas and on every floor of your house;
• Test smoke alarms monthly and replace them every 10 years.

Install Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters

Arc faults due to frayed cords and damaged wiring are both common causes of residential fires.

If your house is more than 10 years old, you probably don’t have arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) protection on every circuit, which the NEC now requires for new construction. This includes bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, living rooms, dens, laundry rooms and more. It’s almost every room in your house, so check your local codes to make sure you get them all.

House fires kill 500 children every year, so updating your home’s AFCI protection is worth it.

What you can do:

• Swap out regular breakers for AFCI breakers, or …
• Install AFCI receptacles on the first outlet of each circuit.

Don’t Run Cords Under Rugs

Cords hidden under rugs and carpeting are dangerous. If they become damaged due to foot traffic or excessive heat, they can arc and start a fire before you can even figure out where that smell is coming from.

Electrical arcs cause shocks, too, and kids spend a lot of time crawling around and playing on the floor.

What you can do:

• Keep wires against walls, if possible;
• Use cord protectors;
• Bring power to a new outlet in a more convenient location;
• Install a new tamper-proof receptacle.

Cover Surge Protectors and Power Strips

The blinking lights, buttons and tentacle-like cords of surge protectors and power strips are catnip to crawlers and toddlers. If they manage to pull a plug partially out of the socket, it’s easy for their little fingers to slip onto the prongs before the electrical connection has been severed, causing a shock.

What you can do:

• Install surge protector covers on all power strips in your home;
• Hang them on the wall out of your child’s reach, if possible.

Install Receptacle Covers and Cord Shorteners

Biting into electrical cords and sticking objects into receptacles are leading causes of shock in young children. Little hands are grabby, and unattended cords and plugs offer an irresistible target.

You can’t get rid of every cord and plug in your home — we do need lamps, after all. Make dangling cords and plugs inaccessible to little teeth and fingers with receptacle covers with cord shorteners.

What you can do:

• Unplug the device and turn off the power;
• Install cover and shortener according to manufacturer directions;
• Wind excess cord around shortener, plug in the device and cover the outlet;
• Install cord protectors if the cord is still accessible.

Install Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters

The NEC requires ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection in bathrooms, kitchens and other places where water is present. GFCIs protect against electric shock by opening the circuit if it detects extra current that could be going to a person.

GFCIs have reduced electrocutions by 83 percent since they were first introduced in the early 1970s. So it’s really worth determining if your house is up to code. GFCIs, at around $20, are more expensive than regular receptacles, but the peace of mind will be worth it.

What you can do:

• Replace standard receptacles with GFCI-protected receptacles.

Don’t Plug in Phones in the Bathroom

Teens and phones are rarely separated, but teach your big kids to keep chargers out of the bathroom. The temptation to reach for the phone right out of the shower or while in the bath is too great, with sometimes devastating results.

Electrocution can occur even with GFCI protection.

What you can do:

• Cover all bathroom receptacles when children are young;
• Educate kids on bathroom electrical safety;
• Don’t charge your phone in your bathroom — kids mimic your behavior.

Store Electrical Appliances and Devices out of Reach

Kids pull themselves to stand at around nine to 12 months. If you’ve got an appliance with a dangling cord, it might appeal to a child looking for a boost.

Babies and toddlers can strangle on electrical cords. And if they pull an appliance, computer or TV on top of themselves, they can be killed or severely injured.

What you can do:

• Unplug and put away all non-critical appliances and electrical devices when not in use;
• Secure loose cords for permanent appliances behind cord protectors or furniture.

Educate Kids about Electrical Safety

No matter the age, kids must be taught to respect electricity and be aware of safety hazards.

• Never stick anything (forks, bobby pins, fingers) into an outlet;
• Run the other way and find an adult if you see a downed power line;
• Never touch electrical devices — including plugged-in phones and laptops — while swimming, bathing or still wet from either activity;
• Don’t yank cords out of the socket by the cord;
• Never put electrical cords, plugs or devices in your mouth.

Sabre Wedge Door Stop Security Alarm

The Sabre Wedge Door Stop Security Alarm alerts you to intruders with a 120-decibel (aka, loud) sound, and features a durable, non-stick pad that prevents the door from opening while the alarm is going off. It doesn’t require any wiring due to its battery-operated design (ideal for renters), but you’ll never have to worry about accidentally running out of battery power—the device offers a low-battery mode, so you can be sure to switch the batteries out in time.

Shop Now

The warning comes in the midst of record-breaking summer heat waves that fuel wildfires and intensify demand for electricity to run air conditioners. It applies year-round.

Report’s Generator-Linked Carbon Monoxide Findings

Using data collected from 2017 to 2019, the CPSC report states that “about 85 consumers die in the U.S. each year from CO poisoning caused by gasoline-powered portable generators.” It goes on to say about 81 percent of the deaths occurred in residential settings.

The study found that, among the households reporting fatalities, the three top reasons for generator use were weather-related power outages, power shutoffs and providing power to temporary locations like cabins and campgrounds. The report cites poor ventilation as an important contributing factor.

A single generator produces as much carbon monoxide as hundreds of cars, according to the report. Because CO is odorless and colorless, it’s possible to inhale a fatal dose and lose consciousness before exhibiting symptoms of poisoning, which include dizziness, nausea and weakness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms CO inhalation silently kills hundreds of people each year.

Using a Generator Safely

The top takeaway from the CPSC report: Ensure proper ventilation whenever you use a portable generator. Two basic rules apply:

• Never use a generator indoors, not even in a garage, outbuilding or tent.
• Always keep the generator at least 20 feet from the house and far from doors and windows.

It can be tempting to run a generator on a porch or an unused part of the house, especially when it’s raining. Don’t. Generac, a leading generator manufacturer, says it’s impossible to provide adequate ventilation in an enclosed space, even if you open all the windows and run a fan.

If you must run a generator during heavy rain, put it under the overhang of a shed or garage roof as far as possible from windows. You could also put it under a table, or build a makeshift roof with four posts and open sides — not a lean-to. Never cover a generator with a tarp or set it in an enclosed space.

The CPSC report provides additional safety instructions for generator use:

• Maintain the generator regularly to minimize emissions. Routine maintenance should include cleaning the air filter before each use, topping off the oil, frequently cleaning or replacing the spark plug and following all safety instructions in the owner’s manual.
• Purchase a generator with an automatic CO shutoff. Per the CPSC report, models conforming to the latest safety standards can prevent 87 to 100 percent of deaths from CO poisoning.
• Install battery-operated CO detectors or hardwired detectors with battery back-up on each level of your home and in all sleeping areas. Test the CO detectors monthly, replace batteries when needed and never ignore the alarm when it sounds.

Additional Generator Safety Tips

Operating a gas-powered machine to generate electricity is inherently hazardous, so you should read and understand all the safety precautions in your owner’s manual. In addition, follow these safety tips:

• Avoid gas spills. Don’t overfill the tank, and don’t add gas while the unit is running. The Red Cross recommends turning the unit off and letting it cool before adding gas.
• Don’t smoke or use lighters near a running generator.
• Don’t touch any part of the motor while the generator is running. The metal is hot enough to burn you.
• Plug appliances directly into the generator or use a heavy-duty outdoor extension cord rated for the total current draw of all appliances plugged into it.
• Don’t feed a generator directly into your electrical panel yourself. Leave that to an electrician, who will install a transfer switch that disconnects the panel from the grid while the generator runs.

Not only do you have to decide which trampoline is right for your family (there are numerous shapes, sizes, brands, price ranges and more), you also need to consider whether getting a trampoline is right for your family at all.

A trampoline isn’t a toy that encourages kids to stay active, according to Marc Rabinoff, a professor emeritus in the human performance and sport department at the Metropolitan State University of Denver. It’s a training device originally meant only for high-caliber athletes, and can be dangerous if not used safely.

The History of the Trampoline

A high-caliber athlete created the trampoline. George Nissen, a diver and gymnast, came up with the idea in 1930 after watching circus acrobats use safety nets to break landings.

Nissen wondered whether he could create something else for them to land on, something that would allow continued bouncing upon completion of the initial stunt.

The idea went through many iterations. After lots of trial and error, Nissen received a patent for his “tumbling device” in 1945. Before long, NASA and the U.S. military used trampolines as training tools for pilots and astronauts. It also grew in popularity among the general public around this time.

In 1962, the International Gymnastics Federation officially recognized trampolining as a sport. It debuted as an Olympic sport at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, with Nissen in the audience. Nissan died in 2010 at age 96.

Trampoline Safety

Despite his interest in trampolining, Nissen had safety concerns — not so much for the pros, but for people trying trampolines for fun. According to his alma mater, The University of Iowa, he urged people to avoid recreational use.

His concerns remain valid to this day. SafeHome.org’s Summer 2022 Summer Safety Guide reports home trampolines lead to more than 100,000 emergency room visits per year. Injuries range from a broken arm to life-altering and catastrophic paralysis.

“For all age groups, trampolines were a top-three cause (of ER visits) and the single biggest (product-related) cause for children 10 and younger,” the report states.

The report also indicates that most injuries are directly related to falls and/or botched moves, like somersaults and flips. This is especially common when more than one person is on the trampoline at a time.

In light of those statistics, the American Academy of Pediatrics discouraged home trampoline use since at least 2012, when it first published an official policy statement on trampoline safety. The report was recently reaffirmed and updated.

Basic Trampoline Safety Tips

Despite the safety concerns, some families buy trampolines anyway. Here are some things that can (and should) be done to make sure everyone on a trampoline stays as safe as possible.

1. Only allow one jumper at a time.
2. Place the trampoline on a level surface, away from concrete, rocks, trees, poles and any other surface or structure you wouldn’t want someone flying into.
3. Use an enclosure (i.e. a net that surrounds the trampoline).
4. Don’t allow flips, somersaults or other tricks, even by those with relevant athletic training in gymnastics, tumbling or acrobatics.
5. Always land with both feet on the trampoline mat, says Paul Hagan, co-founder/owner of MaxAir, a company that manufacturers trampolines for home, commercial and competitive use. One-legged landings can potentially cause injury.
6. Never allow kids to use the trampoline without adult supervision.
7. Recognize the risks, bearing in mind that a home trampoline is not the same as the trampolines you find at gymnastics training facilities.

Maintaining Your Trampoline

Another way to help people stay safe on a home trampoline is to make sure it is always in good repair. Fortunately, maintenance is straightforward.

Here are some things you can do to make sure your trampoline stays in good shape:

1. Keep it clean. MaxAir’s user’s guide suggests washing the mat with a soft brush and mild detergent and scrubbing the vinyl safety pads with 303 Multi Surface Cleaner.
2. If the mat rips or tears, fix it right away with a trampoline mat repair kit.
3. Regularly check that all parts are secure, the frame is stable and the springs are intact. Your trampoline’s instructional manual should tell you how to do these things.
4. Replace broken or rusty springs immediately. Amazon sells a variety, or you can get them directly from your trampoline manufacturer.
5. Consider covering the trampoline up in the wintertime, or any time of year you aren’t using it. Also, remove the bed and springs when the trampoline isn’t in use and store them indoors. The frame can stay outside.
6. Closely follow the manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines, which may vary from this list.

Choosing a Trampoline

Still up for owning a trampoline after learning the safety and maintenance requirements? There are a lot of choices out there, and you’ll need to spend some time looking before making a decision.

The main things you’ll need to consider are shape, size, springs vs. no springs and above-ground vs. in-ground.

• Shape: Home trampolines come in round, oval, rectangular, square or octagonal. Round is a typical choice for the average family, but rectangular ones offer superior bounce. All five shapes feature pros and cons. When deciding on shape, read the manufacturer’s specs to decide which is best for your situation.
• Size: You’ll determine size based on how much space you have and who intends to use it. Standard off-the-shelf round trampolines typically range from eight- to 15-feet. But in reality, depending on how much money you want to spend, the sky is the limit. MaxAir makes custom trampolines so you can get just about any size you want.
• Springs vs. no springs: Trampolines with springs typically have metal frames. Steel coils keep the mat attached to the frame. Trampolines without springs use flexible rods to form a platform for the mat. Are these safer? Because they don’t have metal and steel parts for kids to hit their heads on, manufacturers of springless trampolines tend to say yes. However, as with any trampoline, safety is ultimately dependent on whether users follow basic safety protocols.
• Above-ground or in-ground: This is a lot like the difference between an above-ground and in-ground pool. For an above-ground trampoline, you pretty much just buy it and set it up. For an in-ground (which Hagan says are becoming popular), you’ll first have to dig a hole in the ground, or hire someone to do it for you. The frame goes inside the hole and the jumping surface sits atop the hole.

Is It Hard To Set up a Trampoline?

A lot of homeowners set up their own trampoline, especially if it’s above ground. You’ll likely need a few tools; read the directions for your specific trampoline to determine exactly which ones.

Professional installation is another option. Some manufacturers offer the service for a fee, but you can hire independent installers to do the job as well. As with any service professional, make sure they have the proper credentials necessary to do the job.

How Much Does a Trampoline Cost?

You can get a 10-foot trampoline with an enclosure net for less than $300 on Amazon. You can also purchase a custom trampoline from a company like MaxAir for more than $30K. That’s a significant range, to say the least. Bottom line: Trampolines can be really expensive or quite budget-friendly.

Is It OK To Buy a Used Trampoline?

No, Rabinoff says. Even if you find what seems like a good one on Craigslist for $150, the money you’ll save isn’t worth the risk of buying one with an unknown backstory. “You don’t know the condition of a used trampoline,” he says.

Trampolines and Homeowner’s Insurance

Another cost associated with a trampoline involves your homeowner’s insurance.

“Owning a trampoline can increase your homeowner’s insurance rates because some insurers require a surcharge [to] cover your trampoline,” says Kara McGinley, a licensed property and casualty insurance expert at Policygenius. Some, she says, will cover trampolines as long as they’re netted.

Furthermore, some insurers refuse to cover trampolines at all because, she says, covers are an “attractive nuisance” that increase the risk of injury to guests. For these reasons, always check your policy before purchasing a trampoline.

McGinley says you should also think about increasing personal liability coverage, so you have some protection if a guest injures himself or herself on your trampoline.

Trampoline Health Benefits

Despite all the seemingly negative aspects of trampoline ownership, there is at least one positive — the health benefits. Hagan says jumping on a trampoline can increase your cardiovascular fitness, bone density and muscle strength.

Some people, he adds, might not realize how much of a workout it is. Ease into it, especially if you’re new to trampolines and/or exercise.

“Like other forms of physical activity, using a trampoline has risks,” says Chris Gagliardi, scientific education content manager with the American Council on Exercise. “Aside from following the manufacturer’s safety recommendations, it is a good idea to start low and slow and to gradually increase the intensity, speed, time, frequency, the height of jumps, and variety of jumps as you become more comfortable and learn more about how the trampoline makes you move.”

And if you have any reservations? Well, don’t feel bad about skipping the trampoline in favor of something safer. Your kids may protest, but there are lots of other options.

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like You Expect

Personally, I’m diligent about applying sunscreen. At least, I thought I was. But after succumbing to the dermatologist’s scalpel, I’ve learned I don’t reapply nearly as much as I should, and rarely have sunscreen available when I need more.

Because of this, I started a small collection of UV protective clothing. After noticing Dickies made a line of warm weather work wear, I ordered one of their sun shirts and gave it a try.

What Is The Dickies Temp-iQ Cooling Performance Long Sleeve Sun Shirt?

This Dickies Temp-iQ Cooling Performance Long Sleeve Sun Shirt, made of 60% polyester and 40% cotton, is built to withstand the abuse summer outdoor activities can bring. It features a built-up, raglan neckline, teamed with UPF 40+ sun protection to keep harmful rays at bay no matter the conditions.

The advanced Temp-iQ intelligent cooling fabric effectively controls your core body temperature while wicking away moisture, keeping you cool and dry. It features a comfortable hood and anchor thumb-holes to provide extra coverage for your head and hands. There’s also a appreciated chest pocket so you don’t misplace your carpenter’s pencil or ear plugs around the jobsite.

The Dickies Temp-iQ Long Sleeve Performance Sun Shirt comes in five colors and sizes from small to 4-XL.

How We Tested It

I ordered the Dickies sun shirt right before a ten-day heat wave in the middle of July. I had no specific outdoor projects in mind to test the shirt, but plenty of menial daily tasks to put it through the ringer.

Over the ten-day period, I wore the Dickies Temp-iQ Sun Shirt every time I worked outdoors — mowing the lawn, painting part of the garage, breaking down fallen limbs from a storm, splitting firewood, even removing a wasp nest. While testing the shirt, I was most interested in how well the Temp-iQ fabric protected me from the sun. I was equally interested in the shirt’s general fit, comfort, utility and cleaning instructions.

Performance Review

Initially the long-sleeved, hooded sun shirt felt warm. However, once I focused on the task at hand, my clothing became irrelevant. I quickly learned the Dickies Sun Shirt is comfortable and breathable, and the moisture wicking top notch. On two occasions I got stuck in a spontaneous rain shower only to be dry and cool minutes later.

I am also impressed by the strength of the Dickies Temp-iQ Sun Shirt. The durable fabric feels thicker and less flexible than other UV protectant shirts I’ve owned for fishing and other outdoor uses, but it’s just as comfortable. While breaking down the branch pile, I worried about the shirt tearing or snagging on pointed limb ends, pruning shears or bow saw teeth. It came through it unscathed.

The Dickies Temp-iQ Sun Shirt washing instructions are standard: machine wash on cold with like colors and tumble dry low. But something else caught my attention when reading the instructions — the UPF 40+ sun protection is only effective for 10 washes!

After doing some research, it seems the UV protection wears down slowly over time. Though your Dickies Temp-iQ Sun Shirt won’t have the full UPF 40+ protection after ten washes, it’s still better for mowing the lawn than that concert tee you picked up a few summers back.

The extra-large shirt fits well. It offers comfortable sleeves, thumb-holes, neckline and hood to accommodate a big man. I just wish the shirt was a few inches longer. Multiple times during my yard work, I picked up a stick or sprinted away after spraying a wasp nest and felt a burst of hot air straight up my back. By adding a few inches to the bottom, Dickies would have a slam-dunk product more enjoyable for the wearer.

Why You Should Buy This

If you play or work in the sun, or need extra sun protection, take care of yourself with the Dickies Temp-iQ Cooling Performance Long Sleeve Sun Shirt. It’s comfortable, durable, moisture wicking and easy to care for. No more farmers tan for your partner or children to tease you about!

Pros

• UPF 40+ sun protection;
• Breast pocket;
• Comfortable;
• Breathable;
• Great moisture wicking;
• Stout durability.

Cons

• UV protection washes out over time;
• Too short.

Where To Buy

The Dickies Temp-iQ Cooling Performance Long Sleeve Sun Shirt is available from Amazon or at Dickies.com.

Buy Now

“Poison hemlock is the famed plant that killed Socrates,” says Em Shipman, executive director of KidsGardening.org. “Treat this plant with respect and take careful steps to eradicate it.”

Many people seriously harmed by poison hemlock mistook it for an edible plant, like parsnip or parsley. But even if you aren’t out foraging, it’s important to learn how to identify it and teach children to recognize it, because it can be noxious in other ways.

What Is Hemlock?

Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) — AKA poison parsley, European hemlock, spotted hemlock, deadly hemlock, California or Nebraska fern and devil’s porridge — is a large, invasive, noxious weed. It’s not the same thing as hemlock trees, which are not poisonous.

In the 1800s poison hemlock jumped from Europe to the U.S. when people started importing it as an ornamental garden plant. Now it’s found in every state as well as southern Canada. Most often it grows along roadsides, the edges of fields and small waterways. Recently, its territory expanded into rangelands and more populated areas, causing greater concern.

Although it’s in the same plant family as carrots and dill, every part of it is poisonous. It’s a biennial plant, which means it has a two-year lifespan and flowers only in its second year. After flowering, it can produce more than 35,000 seeds, which are spread easily by water and animals. The seeds can stay viable for six years.

Is Hemlock Poisonous?

Absolutely, hence its name. Hemlock contains acutely toxic alkaloids including coniine, which is poisonous to all mammals and many other organisms.

Coniine, also found in dog parsley (Aethusa cynapium), has structural and chemical properties similar to nicotine. It targets the central nervous system.

Symptoms show up between 20 minutes and three hours after ingestion, and can include pupil dilation, dizziness, trembling and difficulty walking. That can be followed by a slowed heart rate and paralysis of muscles or the central nervous system, which can lead to death from respiratory failure.

Ingesting hemlock is the most dangerous type of exposure, but every part is poisonous, especially the seeds. Touching it can lead to severe skin irritation, and inhaling air near mowed hemlock can cause respiratory irritation. Even dead plant canes can be poisonous for up to three years.

It’s also poisonous and potentially deadly to pets and livestock. Their symptoms can be similar to humans, but also include nervous trembling, salivation, lack of coordination and a rapid or weak pulse.

If you suspect you’ve been exposed, call 911 or poison control (800-222-1222) immediately. With swift action, people can usually be successfully treated in a hospital.

What Does Poison Hemlock Look Like?

Poison hemlock is a tall, ferny-leafed plant, topped with three-to-six-inch umbrella-like clusters of small, white flowers. Its stalks are smooth and hollow, freckled with purple spots and streaks.

“The plants are usually low-growing in their first year but can reach six to 10 feet in their second year,” says Shipman. “Wild hemlock also produces abundant seeds and readily spreads, forming dense stands.”

Poison hemlock looks similar to wild carrot, AKA Queen Anne’s lace, but often grows taller. To tell them apart, look at the leaves and stalks.

Wild carrot has somewhat hairy green stems and leaves. Hemlock stems and leaves are smooth, even shiny-looking, and often have at least a little red or purple spotting on them. On wild carrots, each flower stem has one main flower cluster with a dark-purple flower in the center, whereas hemlock has branched stems with many flower clusters.

Hemlock can also have an unpleasant musty smell.

How To Get Rid of Poison Hemlock

“Keep a lookout for it so you can control small infestations before they spread,” says Shipman. “And practice extreme caution when dealing with poison hemlock.”

• Wear protective clothing. Whenever you’re going to handle poison hemlock, wear long sleeves, pants, socks, gloves and a mask.
• Mow it. If you can get to it before or just after it starts to flower, that will prevent seeds from forming.
• Mow again. Repeated mowing will remove new growth and deplete the roots’ energy reserves.
• Dig up and hand-pull seedlings as they sprout.
• Take frequent breaks to check for signs of exposure.
• Throw plants in the trash. Don’t put them in the compost, as the toxins in dead plants can persist for several years. And definitely don’t burn them; the fumes can cause serious injury if inhaled.
• Clean. Carefully wash your equipment, shoes, clothes and hands after mowing.
• Don’t use herbicides, which aren’t effective on large plants.

If you need more help identifying poison hemlock or figuring out the best ways to get rid of it, ask your local university cooperative extension. Your local agricultural extension office might also be willing to help you remove it.

The first time I saw a telescoping ladder, I was skeptical. But after I tried one out, it became a carry-along for maintenance runs and warranty calls.

I especially loved how easy it was to transport. When fully collapsed, it fit well in my truck cab or the trunk of the family sedan. Better yet, telescoping ladders can easily be carried through a home, navigating tight turns and stairways without fear of knocking over valuables or damaging walls.

What Is a Telescoping Ladder?

Telescoping ladders are difficult to describe, but easy to understand when you see one in action. They’re based on a series of metal tubes, each slightly smaller than the last, like an antique telescope that a pirate might use to peer across the ocean.

Users can extend a telescoping ladder to its full height or an intermediate one, depending on what the project requires. As each segment extends, a safety latch kicks in, ensuring that the ladder won’t collapse until the user manually retracts it.

When fully collapsed, a telescoping ladder is often no more than two or three feet tall, and can be lifted and carried under one arm. This makes transportation and storage a breeze. By contrast, a collapsed 16-foot extension ladder is eight feet long and takes up about three times as much storage space as a 16-foot telescoping one.

Also, a fully extended extension ladder still has overlap between the sections, while a telescoping ladder can extend to its full length.

Who Needs a Telescoping Ladder?

A telescoping ladder works for any project requiring an extension ladder. If you have a telescoping multi-position ladder, you can also substitute it for a stepladder. Telescoping ladders are particularly useful for DIYers in the following situations:

Tight on storage space

A typical telescoping ladder collapses down to about 36 inches tall and may weigh as little as 35 pounds. This makes it easy to store in the garage or even a closet. Many homeowners with panel access to an attic without a built-in ladder or stairs (AKA scuttle hole access) use a telescoping ladder.

Ladder must be easy to transport

The compact size makes a telescoping ladder the perfect choice to keep in a vehicle. Having a ladder always on hand is a huge asset, particularly for DIYers with rental properties, and those who frequently find themselves recruited to help family members with projects.

Ladder must be convenient to move around indoors

The compact size shines when carrying it through a home. If you’ve ever had to navigate tight spaces with a large extension ladder, you’ll immediately recognize the convenience of a telescoping model.

Nothing above 15 feet

Telescoping ladders can’t reach the heights of a similarly priced extension ladder. If you’re working at heights above 15 feet, go with the greater reach of an extension ladder.

Are Telescoping Ladders as Safe as Regular Ladders?

When used properly, telescoping ladders are every bit as safe as a standard straight or extension ladder.

The majority of ladder-related injuries happen users try to stretch beyond the safety zone, or set them up on unsteady ground or at an unsafe angle. Also be mindful of weight limitations. All ladders are rated to hold a maximum weight, which includes the user and any tools or materials they might be carrying. If you weigh 170 pounds and plan to carry a 60-pound bundle of three-tab shingles, don’t choose a ladder rated for 200 lbs.

Ladder manufacturer Werner releases a series of webinars on ladder safety every year in March to mark ladder safety month. These webinars are free and available online.

Important safety tip: Always wipe down the rails before collapsing and storing. DIY work often leads to spatters of paint, sawdust or drywall dust. All of this debris can gunk up the action of the rails and safety latches on telescoping ladder. Take the time to wipe down the rails as you prepare for storage and you can potentially add years to the lifespan of the ladder.

How Much Does a Telescoping Ladder Cost?

Telescoping ladders vary in price depending on their length and weight capacity. In general, a telescoping ladder costs between $150 and $500. Most DIYers can find a telescoping ladder in the $150 to $300 range. (Models that include multi-position or integrated platforms cost more.)

Note that a telescoping ladder costs more than a traditional extension ladder of a similar size. An XTend + Climb type 1 15-ft. aluminum telescoping ladder runs around $340, while a Werner type 1 16-ft. aluminum extension ladder costs $219.

Earlier that week, I broke my safety glasses climbing into my pickup. I’m not a fan of tinted safety glasses, so I began researching 100 percent UV protected options for my next pair. In my search I stumbled across Stoggles and decided to give them a try.

What Are Stoggles?

Stoggles are safety glasses molded with Polycarbonate frames and lenses. Polycarbonate is the same material used in bulletproof glass and windows. So, it’s not only strong, but more lightweight and shatter-resistant than acrylic plexiglass and glass itself.

The lenses feature blue-light blocking and 100 percent UV protectant technology, and can be ordered with prescriptions if needed.

All Stoggle’s eyewear is certified and approved by the American National Standards Institution, which makes them Occupational Safely and Health Administration (OSHA) approved as well. They’re sealed with an anti-fog coating, great for wearing with masks or respirators.

The glasses seemed durable and well-made with a classic look to them, similar to something your high school shop teacher might have worn.

How We Tested Them

The only way to test the Stoggles was to wear them in real-world situations. This backyard project proved ideal since it featured sawing, framing, routing, nailing, anchoring and grinding. I was confident these glasses would face every test possible over two weeks.

Performance Review

Performance

The Stoggles were impressive. They feel lightweight and comfortable, even when worn for prolonged days on the jobsite. They did indeed feel durable and well-made.

The side and top shields kept debris out of my eyes, especially during filthy jobs using the router and angle grinder. The all-out UV protection, blue-light blocking technology and safety certifications are welcome perks that offered great peace of mind.

Value

At $40 for a non-prescription pair, the Stoggles aren’t cheap compared to other safety glasses. That’s fine with me.

In my mind, safety glasses are like motorcycle helmets and other essential pieces of personal protective equipment — price is always the last factor to consider. Safety, comfort, THEN price. I’ll never wear a pair of cheap, ill-fitting, sub-par quality safety glasses just to save a few bucks. My eyes are too important, and so are yours.

Reliability and durability

The Stoggles look and feel durable, but I put the durability to the test in a real-life situation. A few times I was careless and tossed them, unprotected, onto the work bench or in my backpack. As I write this, I can honestly say The Stoggles are still free of scratches or scrapes, though I recognize I was “playing with fire.”

After two intense weeks in New Mexico, I’ve become fond of the Stoggles because of their comfort and durability. Since then, I’ve purchased a cheap, hard-sided, protective case to keep them from bouncing around my toolbox, and hopefully they’ll last for ages.

Why you should buy them

If you’re in the market for a comfortable, durable and safe pair of safety glasses with a pinch of classic styling, give the Stoggles a try. They’re available in lots of shapes, sizes and colors to fit any head and compliment any style.

Where to Buy Stoggles

Stoggles are available from the Stoggles store on Amazon.com.

Buy Now

Over the past few years, I noticed all the big paint manufactures came out with kitchen and bath or bathroom specific paints. The Benjamin Moore Aura Bath & Spa Paint intrigued me the most because of its low luster finish, a traditional no-no in a bathroom setting.  So I decided to give it a try.

What is Benjamin Moore Aura Bath & Spa Paint

Benjamin Moore Aura Bath & Spa is a low luster matte finish paint, specially formulated to repel moisture, stand up to humidity and resist mold and mildew. Aura Bath and Spa comes in thousands of colors and features Benjamin Moore’s own Color-Lock technology for richer and truer colors.

Aura Bath & Spa is more durable than traditional matte finish paints, which are susceptible to scuffs and stains. It also contains no volatile organic compounds, AKA zero VOC. That makes it ideal if you have children, or you’re concerned about potentially harmful off-gassing that takes place as some paints dry.

How We Put It To The Test

Our upstairs bathroom, its dazzle diminished a decade after a renovation, badly needed a refresh. So on an early spring morning I headed down to my local hardware store, picked up a gallon of Aura Bath & Spa paint and got to work.

Performance Review

I’ve been painting a lot lately, so I immediately noticed this paint was different. The Aura Bath & Spa paint has a denser, almost soupy, consistency and a distinctive smell — not toxic or bad, just different. So I checked the can to be sure it was zero-VOC as advertised. Finding the Benjamin Moore Green Promise logo plastered right on the front of the label, I knew it had to be.

After laying drop cloths and completing all appropriate masking and wall repair, I got to painting. Cutting-in was a breeze in this small, World War II era bathroom, though it took some time to make my way around the shower, window, subway tile and light fixtures.

While cutting-in I appreciated the thicker consistency of the Aura Bath & Spa. It brushed out nice and evenly, without any drips. Once I finished cutting in, I used a 1/2-in. nap roller for the first coat because of my uneven plaster walls. Again, when rolling the walls and ceiling, I valued the thicker viscosity of the paint. It went on silky-smooth and with no globs or drips.

Though the Aura Bath & Spa paint is paint-and-primer in one, to me there’s no substitute for the richness and consistency two coats gives a project. After wrapping up my first coat, which took about 40 minutes, I assumed I could go directly back to the ceiling and start my second coat, but I was wrong — it hadn’t dried yet. I wrapped up my brushes and roller and waited another 10 minutes, then 20. Nope, still damp to the touch.

At this point, I did what any sane person would do on their weekend. I ran a few errands and came back an hour later to find dry walls.

The second coat applied beautifully like the first. After clean-up and ample drying time, the bathroom walls looked fresh and bright. The matte finish did an exceptional job of hiding the surface imperfections, an attribute I would endorse for anyone with plaster walls in their bathrooms.

After we moved our soaps, shampoos, lotions and toothbrushes back in and replaced the switch and outlet covers, I was really happy with the Aura Bath & Spa paint. Benjamin Moore has long made high-quality, great-looking paints, and this is no different. But with quality comes cost, and the Aura Bath & Spa paint is not cheap — almost $90 a gallon, a possible dealbreaker for large bathrooms.

Why You Should Buy This

In the end, this project has made me a loyal advocate for Benjamin Moore’s Aura Bath & Spa paint.  Though more costly and time consuming due to its lengthy dry time, I found its durability, distinct bathroom formulation and alluring finished appearance far outweighed any negative characteristics. Try it for yourself and I’ll bet you’ll feel the same way.

Pros

• Durable;
• Minimized surface defects;
• Uncommon matte finish;
• Moisture and mildew resistant;
• Zero VOC.

Cons

• Lengthy dry time;
• Expensive.

Where to Buy Aura Bath & Spa Paint

Benjamin Moore Aura Bath & Spa paint is available at neighborhood Ace Hardware locations. Or order and pick up directly from benjaminmoore.com

Buy Now!

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that can leak from improperly ventilated engines and appliances in your home. In large amounts, it can be deadly to you and your family. Having a CO detector in your house can help you and your family avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

There are multiple types out there, from battery-operated to full-on smart detectors. But not all are created equal. As such, finding the best carbon monoxide detector for your home should be a top priority. We’ve rounded out some of the best options here.

What to Look for When Buying Carbon Monoxide Detectors

There’s a lot to take into account. Mark Dawson, the chief operating officer of Mister Sparkly, an electrical company, suggests choosing one that stores data about past CO levels.

“Carbon monoxide detectors with displays that include a history of your home’s CO concentration are extremely beneficial and make it easier to assess any potential issues or dangers that may arise,” Dawson says. Further, he recommends avoiding plug-in detectors, because gas can rise from the floor and compromise them.

Also think about what other features you need. Basic detectors warn you when your home’s CO levels become too high, but smart options may offer a more detailed analysis of your home’s environment and connect to your smart home ecosystem.

Some carbon monoxide detectors come with smoke alarms, too. These can have ionization sensors, which pick up on flames and fast-burning fires, as well as photoelectric sensors, which detecting smoky and smoldering fires. Dual-sensor detectors come with both types.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what kind of detector you need. Dawson recommends going with a device that’s hardwired and offers a backup battery. This way, you avoid changing out the batteries regularly.

Evaluation Criteria

To choose the best carbon monoxide detectors, we took into account best features, pricing, expert recommendations and user reviews.

What Is a Smart Smoke Detector?

Smart smoke detectors connect to your home’s wireless network, enabling you to receive alerts on your smartphone or computer in case of a house fire.

“The main benefit is being able to monitor your home remotely,” says Matthew Fix, president of Flow Fire Protection in Fort Collins, Colorado.

While remote monitoring brings a sense of security for those who travel a lot or own a vacation home, smart smoke detectors also make life safer and easier when you’re home. The alarms interconnect, so they can tell you where and what the dangers are. They’re also handy because they can be disabled from your phone, solving the age-old problem of scrambling for a stepladder every time you burn your bagels.

“We live in a crazy connected world,” Fix says. “Using this tech to potentially save lives and property is by far one of the best uses, for sure.”

Features to consider when buying a smart smoke detector include:

• Versatility, since many double as a carbon monoxide (CO) monitor.
• Price, which depending on features can range from $40 to more than $150.
• Ease of installation.
• Remote capabilities from your phone.
• Voice alerts, which can be more effective for children than a siren.
• Notifications of which room the fire (or a high CO level) is in.
• Power source, whether hardwired or battery-operated.
• Connection with other alarms, so if one goes off they all sound simultaneously, giving you the fastest chance at escape.
• Low-battery and malfunction alerts (automatic or manual).
• Automatic emergency contact notification if you don’t respond.
• Brand or compatibility with other smart home technology, as well as integration with smart home systems.
• Compatibility with existing hardwired models. If you’re replacing a hardwired model, typically all detectors in the chain should be the same make and model.
• Third-party certification, such as UL or ETL. “This ensures that the alarm has been tested to the voluntary safety standards,” says Thaddeus Harrington, public affairs specialist with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
• Fire sensing methods, whether by ionization, photoelectric or both. “Ionization-type alarms are good at sensing a fast-burning fire, while photoelectric are really good at slower smoldering types of fires,” says Fix. “It’s recommended to have both types in your house.”

Read on for our picks for the best smart smoke detectors.