Alarm Systems
Smart smoke detectors: what smart adds, UL 217 and interconnect
Interconnect is the main thing a smart smoke alarm adds. Here is what UL 217 covers, what stays the same, and how to choose.
Latest review / Cameras & Doorbells
Battery security cameras in cold weather: what to expect this winter
Most battery cameras are rated to run well below freezing, but charging and battery life are a different story. Here is what Blink, Arlo and Ring say, and how to plan for…
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
Latest
Outdoor & Perimeter
Porch pirate bombs: legal risks and what actually reduces package theft
Booby-trapped decoy packages can expose you to liability and do not stop theft. Here is what legal sources say and which USPS tools help.
Alarm Systems
Window alarms and contact sensors: what they catch and what they miss
Window alarms split into contact sensors, which catch an opening, and shock sensors, which catch an attempt on the glass. Here is what each catches, with federal burglary…
Apartment & Renter Security
Door security bars for hinged doors: how they work and what renters should know
A door security bar is a floor-braced steel prop for the hinged door you are standing behind. This guide covers how it works, where doors actually fail, and…
Recalls & Standards
Replacement carbon monoxide detector: when to swap smoke and CO alarms
Smoke alarms expire 10 years after manufacture, and CO alarms follow the manufacturer. Here is how to read the chirp and when new batteries will not help.
Alarm Systems
Smoke carbon monoxide detector: combination or separate alarms?
A combination alarm fits in bedrooms and the hall outside them, but kitchens and furnace areas break the placement rules. Here is what CPSC, NFPA and a manufacturer…
Alarm Systems
Where to install carbon monoxide detectors in your home
Put a CO alarm outside each separate sleeping area and on every level. Past that, basements, garages and furnace distance depend on the manual and local rules, and…
Alarm Systems
Carbon monoxide detector chirping: what each beep pattern means
Four beeps in a group means carbon monoxide: get outside and call 911. A chirp on a timer is the alarm reporting on itself, and the interval plus…
Outdoor & Perimeter
How to secure a shed or detached garage
A backyard shed or detached garage is easiest to protect with boring hardware: a strong padlock on a hasp that cannot be pried off, light that comes on…
Locks, Doors & Safes
How to secure a sliding glass door
A sliding glass door is easier to get past than a hinged door for two reasons: the factory latch is light, and many doors can be lifted out…