Our tests use rising water levels to recreate a main system failure. Flow rates are measured based on a 10-foot vertical lift, with each pump hooked up to a 10-foot vertical discharge pipe. Testers determine the flow rate by weighing a collection barrel before and after our tests to calculate gallons per minute. For battery-powered…
The best patio umbrellas, coupled with the right weighted bases, can stand up to the wind and can be tilted and adjusted, so you can easily control the direction and angle of your shade when the sunlight moves. We weighed these factors heavily in our tests. While we didn’t assess the canopies, they can be…
This is what goes into our Overall Score. Road-test performance: This score is based on more than 50 tests and evaluations conducted at our 327-acre Auto Test Center by our experienced staff. Reliability survey results: Each year CR members report the problems they’ve had with hundreds of thousands of cars. Owner satisfaction survey results: They’re…
Summer might mean pool days and wet hair—but also vacations and nights out at beach bars. For those times, you want hair tools that work quickly for effortless styles that defy humidity. Some of our favorites, including Dyson’s pricey Airstrait and Airwrap, are currently on sale. Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just…
Depending on your state, a salvage vehicle might have special requirements before it can be titled. For example, New York requires a salvage vehicle that is recovered after a theft or rebuilt after sustaining damage to be inspected by the Department of Motor Vehicles before the DMV can issue a new title. Check the current…
When one of these systems is triggered, a siren goes off to scare away potential intruders and you get an alert on your smartphone so that you can call the police yourself. This is sometimes called “self-monitoring” in home security lingo. One thing to be aware of is that if you call 911 from out…
When users first found out about Adobe’s new terms of service (which were quietly updated in February), there was an uproar. Adobe told users it could access their content “through both automated and manual methods” and use “techniques such as machine learning in order to improve [Adobe’s] Services and Software.” Many understood the update as…
If your preferred dryer has a different finish than the one you see in our ratings, check the model numbers—they may indicate a similar machine that simply has a different look. Often, these machines perform the same, but their model numbers vary by a few letters that indicate a different finish or color. For example,…
Control is all I want in an electric scooter. OK, that’s a lie, I also want decent range, good power, and a reasonable weight. Being able to control speed, regenerative braking, and how turn signals work—if they’re even available—is not something you find on most escooters. And even if you can access those things, tweaking…
You can digitally search for tags, genres, and locations at the top, and I recommend you do so if you’re looking for something specific. It can be helpful if you are trying to buy something from your home town, for example. Screenshot courtesy of Wired As with anything collectible, you can find good deals (and…