Because there are so many variables—including your local climate, your home’s size and design, how the system is installed, and construction of the ductwork—Consumer Reports doesn’t test central air conditioning systems. Instead, we estimate the reliability of major brands on the market by asking our members about their experiences with the AC systems they purchased…
Certification: Make sure the heater you buy carries a safety certification label from an independent testing organization, such as the UL mark, the ETL label from Intertek, or certification from CSA International. Shutoff features: A smart sensor that automatically shuts off a heater when it overheats is a must. You’ll also want a tip-over switch…
Finding the best water bottles is a matter of personal taste, and everyone at WIRED has a strong opinion on what rules supreme. Reviewer Louryn Strampe is devoted to her sparkly hot-pink Owala FreeSip, but ask our tech director Martin Cizmar, and he’ll probably call it an “adult sippy cup.” He’s forever loyal to his…
Nothing will ever really replace a paperback or a hardcover book that you can touch, smell, or stack on your bookshelves or by your beside. But ebook readers (also called e-readers) are just so convenient—and they might just make you read more too. Rather than humping two or three books in a bag, an e-reader…
Swint talked with Consumer Reports in 2021 on his way to investigate a deadly pileup outside Fort Worth, Texas. He says that such crashes are usually due to sudden, weather-related changes. “It’s sometimes by fog, sometimes by sandstorm, sometimes by rain, but the primary contributor is icy and snowy conditions,” he says. In those situations,…
THIS MONTH’S PROMPT In six words, write a story about an insect revolution. Disclaimer: All #WiredSixWord submissions become the property of WIRED. Submissions will not be acknowledged or returned. Submissions and any other materials, including your name or social media handle, may be published, illustrated, edited, or otherwise used in any medium. Submissions must be…
Following the US presidential election, Swifties, the name for Taylor Swift’s fans, are fleeing X for Bluesky. X’s owner, billionaire Elon Musk, was one of Donald Trump’s biggest backers, funneling over $100 million into the Trump-supporting America PAC; stumping for the candidate on the campaign trail; and boosting Trump’s messaging on X. Musk also helped…
The recalled models: 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat sedans, 2007 Volkswagen Passat wagons, 2012-2014 Volkswagen Passat sedans, and 2017-2019 Volkswagen Beetle coupes and convertibles The automaker says it’s not aware of any warranty or field claims relating to this problem. The faulty airbags are made by Takata, the now-defunct company responsible for an ongoing recall campaign that…
Inflation has caused some of CR’s top-rated dishwashers to move out of reach in the $500-or-less range—but there are still a number of strong options. Dishwashers at this price tend to come with only basic features and usually have plastic tubs, which don’t resist stains as well as stainless steel tubs. Consumer Reports’ tests have…
Both device types trapped unused garlic in their mincing chambers and within their chamber holes. I could imagine my ancestors shaking their hands at such wantonness. But by the end of my evaluation, when I realized no fingers had been accidentally sliced by 8-inch chef’s knives and I’d produced a bowl of perfectly minced garlic…