Cameras & Doorbells
How to secure your security cameras from hacking: a short checklist
Most camera takeovers start with a default or reused password. The FTC, CISA and NIST agree on a short list of fixes that close the common doors.
Latest review / Cameras & Doorbells
Doorbell cameras and audio recording: what the Wiretap Act and state laws say
Recording video of your porch is one thing; recording what people say is another. Federal law and a few state statutes treat sound differently, and the rules are not uniform.
Read the full reviewWe go through cameras, locks, and alarms the way a renter or a first-time homeowner actually shops for them, on paperwork and owner reports rather than a test bench, then tell you plainly what to buy.
Renter-friendly
No monthly fee
DIY install
No Wi-Fi needed
Under $50
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Recalls & Standards
Space heater safety: clearance, cords and the warning signs to act on
Space heaters cause a small share of home fires and a large share of the deaths. The rules that matter are simple: three feet of clearance, a wall…
Alarm Systems
Home fire escape plan: two ways out, a meeting place and a practice schedule
You may have two minutes or less to get out once an alarm sounds. A written plan with two exits per room and a fixed meeting spot is…
Alarm Systems
Fire extinguishers for the home: classes, size, placement and when to leave
A home extinguisher is for the first seconds of a small fire, with an exit at your back. Here is how to pick the class and size, where…
Alarm Systems
Heat alarms versus smoke alarms for garages, attics and other tough spots
A heat alarm responds to high temperature rather than smoke. The U.S. Fire Administration and UL explain where that helps, where smoke alarms do not belong, and what…
Alarm Systems
Where to put smoke alarms: bedrooms, hallways, stairs, and where not to
Smoke alarms belong in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level. NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration also spell out spacing from kitchens, vents and…
Alarm Systems
How long a smoke alarm lasts: the 10-year rule and the date on the back
Smoke alarms do not last forever. NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration say to replace every alarm 10 years after its manufacture date, and sooner if it fails…
Recalls & Standards
Portable generator carbon monoxide safety: distance, placement and detectors
Portable generators produce carbon monoxide, and the rules for using them are specific: outdoors, at least 20 feet away, exhaust aimed away, alarms inside. This article collects the…
Alarm Systems
Plug-in carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup: where they fall short
A plug-in CO alarm is simple to install, but CPSC attaches conditions: battery backup, the UL 2034 standard, and sensible placement. Here is what the agencies say and…
Alarm Systems
Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms and who is most at risk
Carbon monoxide poisoning can look like the flu until it does not. This article lays out the symptom lists from the CDC, NFPA and CPSC, who faces the…