Latest news with #JohnCarlsen
CNET
24-06-2025
- CNET
Leaks May Be Costing You Precious Cool Air During Summer Heat. This Device Can Help
During a heat wave like the one many of us are negotiating now, air conditioning can send your energy bills to the moon. Even blasting the central air or portable units doesn't always seem to cool as it should and that may be due to air leaks in your home. Windows are the most common culprits but air leaks can develop all over the home and the only way to stop them is to root them out. I use thermal camera to find leaks where cool air is escaping my home this summer causing the house to warm more and the AC to be less efficient. These same leaks cause heat to escape during winter, so the strategy has year-round applications for lowering energy costs. I used the HSFTools Finder S2 and conducted a DIY home energy audit to look for air leaks that were costing me precious dollars spent on energy. The HSFTools model costs $200 but there are well-rated versions for as cheap as $78 on Amazon. A rundown of the HSFTools Finder S2 The Finder S2 thermal camera's USB-C connection means it doesn't need a bulky battery pack, instead relying on your phone for power. John Carlsen/CNET I'll hold off on an in-depth review of the HSFTools Finder S2, as I have limited experience with thermal cameras, but I'll mention a few features that helped with my energy audit. First, this thermal imager connects to the USB-C port on Android smartphones but doesn't support iPhones. (Apple users should consider checking out the Topdon TC002C instead.) I love the option to launch the app automatically when plugging in the camera. However, the Finder S2 requires a lot of power -- draining my phone's battery by about 4% after 10 minutes. While this won't affect short inspections of smaller homes, you'll need to recharge your phone after extended use. (For better battery life, I suggest getting a standalone handheld model if you use a thermal camera often.) I played around with the Finder S2 to get comfortable with its features, mostly taking pictures of my cat. John Carlsen/CNET Even if you turn on the Finder S2's Super Resolution mode, the overall resolution maxes out at 512x384 pixels, which is lower than standard 480p quality. It's more than enough to see temperature differences around windows during an energy audit but you may need to play around with the settings if you plan to use it for creative work. Enabling the Digital Camera setting shows a view from your phone's camera on the screen with the option to save images -- but not videos -- from both cameras simultaneously. As for videos, I couldn't get the Finder S2 to work unless I rotated the image 90 degrees in the app. You can adjust the Finder S2's colors, measurement tools and sensitivity in the HSFTools app. John Carlsen/CNET I appreciate the wide selection of color palettes in the HSFTools app. My favorite color setting is "white hot" because of the high contrast image compared to other modes. The app's outstanding measurement tools tell you the temperature of the hottest and coldest objects on the screen or of a specific point you select. I love taking the guesswork out of home improvement. You can get the Finder S2 for about $250 -- although it's often available for $170 -- which is typical among smartphone thermal camera accessories like the Flir One Gen 3 and Seek Thermal Compact. While the price is good for a midrange infrared camera, remember that you might only use it a handful of times -- it's often better to pay for a professional home energy audit. (Don't forget to check if your area has a free energy audit program.) Still, the HSFTools Finder S2 was more than adequate for my DIY home energy audit. How I used a thermal camera in my home energy audit My energy audit uncovered an uninsulated ceiling corner that might explain why my home gets so hot in the summer -- time to tell the landlord. John Carlsen/CNET After familiarizing myself with the thermal imager, I took a structured approach to finding problem areas. I followed this thermal imaging inspection guide from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Read more: Stop Installing Your Thermostat Here. It's Costing You Money I started by turning off my HVAC system before shutting my windows and front door. InterNACHI's guide recommends testing on a day where the outdoor temperature difference is 15 to 20 F warmer (or cooler) than inside so I chose a rainy spring day for my audit. I was happy to see my window seals were in good condition. However, I discovered a small, drafty gap under my front door that I filled with foam backer rod from the hardware store. Fixing the air leak under my front door probably won't save much on my energy bills but it was an effortless DIY project. John Carlsen/CNET The actionable part of my home energy audit ends at doors and windows for now but there's plenty more for homeowners to look at. The Department of Energy suggests checking wherever you suspect air leaks or poor insulation, particularly fixtures, along the edges of rooms and between different building materials. While recaulking seals and replacing weatherstripping around windows are simple DIY projects, you'll need more money and time to upgrade insulation inside walls. You can check out Energy Star's Home Improvement Savings tool to see incentives, rebates and tax credits in your area. If you're a renter, consider telling your landlord about these resources.
CNET
20-06-2025
- CNET
Here's My Experience With 5 Cheap Gadgets I Bought From AliExpress
If you're shopping online, you may have noticed products from Temu and AliExpress often come up in your shopping search. These items are so cheap that you may wonder if it's really a steal or if you should stay away. I was in that boat as well. And I love a good YouTube video where the host tests cheap tech from low-cost retailers. So, curious as I am, I decided to try my hand at testing cheap home products from the popular discount marketplace, AliExpress. Now, when shopping for a new piece of home hardware, gaming gear or audio tech, cheap tech usually equates to low-quality performance. But as I've come to learn, that's not always the case. Rules for the experiment Products must cost less than $15. Devices need to be cheaper than a mainstream equivalent. Weird devices are more likely to make the list. I'm happy to report it was an authentic experience with a mix of good-ish products and some really bad ones. From best to worst, here's how my AliExpress order played out. Best: Tuya Zigbee smart USB adaptor switch It's the smallest plug in my smart home. John Carlsen/CNET USB chargers for lighting and small devices occupy far too much space in my smart plugs, so I always wondered if I could get a USB smart plug. I got the Tuya Zigbee Smart USB Adaptor Switch -- which includes three USB-A ports -- for a measly $5.02. Tuya devices like these are hidden gems for smart home enthusiasts, though they aren't always the easiest to work with. I'm glad it was easy to link to my SmartThings home automation system. It's not much more than an on/off switch, but I like the fact that I don't need a bulky USB multiport charger to run the few small USB devices on my nightstand. You can't control the ports independently -- and the power output is too low for charging most devices, but it's a good option for trickle-charging portable speakers or headphones. Plus, it can connect to practically any USB power supply, including empty ports on my computer. The Smart USB Adaptor Switch earns an A for value and functionality. As a Zigbee device, it's also less of a cybersecurity liability than any Wi-Fi device from AliExpress and Temu. Better: USB-powered ceiling fan A handy little ceiling fan. John Carlsen/CNET Ceiling fans have always been out of reach, since I live in an archaic apartment without them. This means relying on a fleet of air circulators in my bedroom and office. But what if renters could add a ceiling fan without the hassle of begging the property manager to install one? Enter the tiny ceiling fan I got for $14. I like the design of this fan, especially the 12-foot USB cord, which is long enough to reach a ceiling hook without much effort. The fan is surprisingly quiet and uses three power settings. Still, it's not particularly powerful, with the highest setting producing a light breeze from a few feet away. The speed and timer controls are easy to learn, which is great because the entire manual is written in Chinese. You can get the gist of the manual by using Google Lens to translate the text, but it's largely unnecessary. I give this product a B+ for being useful, albeit in niche settings where normal ceiling fans aren't practical. Good: Tuya Zigbee water sensor The water sensor worked OK but I'm not sure why it came with three reset pins. John Carlsen/CNET Unlike Tuya's smart USB switch, the Tuya Zigbee water sensor didn't properly connect to my SmartThings system on the first try. SmartThings classified it as a generic Zigbee device -- it couldn't see when the sensor detected water. This is a textbook example of Tuya's devices not always playing nicely with smart home hubs. So I rolled up my sleeves and dug into the SmartThings Edge Driver Builder, a developer tool for assigning drivers to smart home devices. After selecting my Tuya leak sensor from the list of devices in my smart home, I chose the Zigbee Water Leak Sensor driver and configured it as a water sensor. Like magic, the sensor started working. It's pretty responsive, and I like that it uses common AAA batteries. The extra effort might be worth the $4.59 I paid for the Tuya Zigbee Water Sensor, but I can't give it more than a C+ for someone who wants out-of-the-box smart home compatibility with SmartThings. I can't gauge whether it's great for other smart home platforms, but I suspect it's even better in Home Assistant. Now Playing: Testing Temu Tech So You Don't Have To 13:52 Worse: Smart Wi-Fi clock movement mechanism No hands on deck. John Carlsen/CNET I recently began transitioning most of the analog clocks in my home to tickless clock movements, which are less annoying than the ticking of a second hand when you're trying to fall asleep at 2 a.m. Let's try a smart Wi-Fi clock movement mechanism to set the time automatically like the digital clock on my Google Nest Hub. What followed was one of my most frustrating setup experiences in years. Out of the box, the clock I bought didn't come with any hands for seconds, minutes or hours. I spent far too long trying to fit some leftover hands from a previous DIY project, only to find that the clock didn't work. The included instructions, which came on a sheet of printer paper, were not helpful. They don't say that you need to remove the gray "locating needle" from the back of the clock before it will work. This pin locks the gears in place at Noon, likely to keep the clock aligned during shipping and when putting on the hands, which makes sense on a Wi-Fi clock that sets itself. It took two hours before I got it working. Plain-text passwords are visible to everyone. John Carlsen/CNET I'm even more disappointed with the Wi-Fi connection, which is not even close to secure. Anyone can open the clock's Wi-Fi connection to see your network's name and password. So glad I used my phone's hotspot for a temporary network. I give this product, which costs $14.01, a D- for working as advertised, even if it takes a while, and comes with a major Wi-Fi vulnerability. However, it's not the worst product by a long shot. Worst: Smart portable clothes dryer It's not supposed to be this droopy. John Carlsen/CNET I got the Beauty-Health Store smart portable clothes dryer for just $12.32. I won't waste your time: This is the most dangerous product from my AliExpress order. How do I know this? It quite literally melted about 2 hours into my very first drying session. The plastic in this product is not heat-resistant in any way. It didn't even dry a single shirt completely, so there's no reason to buy a cheap portable clothes dryer when laundromats can handle much larger drying loads for a fraction of the price. When I went online to see if other customers experienced this problem, I noticed the product page was no longer available. With my suspicions confirmed, I won't even delve into the features of this terrible product. Instead, I'll use it as an example to reinforce why buying generic electronics from AliExpress, Temu, Wish and other cheap retailers is risky. With certain categories of tech, you're gambling on your safety and privacy. As you can imagine, this device earns an F for being unsafe. Now, excuse me while I navigate the 90-day AliExpress return policy, which is one bright spot. Hopefully, it fares better than these last two products.
CNET
05-06-2025
- CNET
Find Air Leaks in Your Home and Save Big on AC This Summer. Here's How I Do It
Air conditioning can send your summer energy bills soaring, but there are smart ways to keep costs in check. Setting your thermostat to a steady, reasonable temperature helps -- but just as important is making sure all that hard-earned cool air isn't sneaking out through cracks, gaps, or poorly sealed windows and doors. It's not easy to maintain comfortable temperatures during extreme weather, but I developed a DIY ventilation system that brings in cool air at night and schedule smart blinds to block direct sunlight as much as possible. And never underestimate the power of fans. More recently, I found a new tool to find leaks where cool air is escaping causing the house to warm more and the AC to be less efficient: a thermal camera. I used the HSFTools Finder S2 thermal camera and conducted a DIY home energy audit to look for air leaks that were costing me precious dollars spent on energy.. These same leaks cause heat to escape during winter, so the strategy has year-round applications for lowering energy costs. A rundown of the HSFTools Finder S2 The Finder S2 thermal camera's USB-C connection means it doesn't need a bulky battery pack, instead relying on your phone for power. John Carlsen/CNET I'll hold off on an in-depth review of the HSFTools Finder S2, as I have limited experience with thermal cameras, but I'll mention a few features that helped with my energy audit. First, this thermal imager connects to the USB-C port on Android smartphones but doesn't support iPhones. (Apple users should consider checking out the Topdon TC002C instead.) I love the option to launch the app automatically when plugging in the camera. However, the Finder S2 requires a lot of power -- draining my phone's battery by about 4% after 10 minutes. While this won't affect short inspections of smaller homes, you'll need to recharge your phone after extended use. (For better battery life, I suggest getting a standalone handheld model if you use a thermal camera often.) I played around with the Finder S2 to get comfortable with its features, mostly taking pictures of my cat. John Carlsen/CNET Even if you turn on the Finder S2's Super Resolution mode, the overall resolution maxes out at 512x384 pixels, which is lower than standard 480p quality. It's more than enough to see temperature differences around windows during an energy audit but you may need to play around with the settings if you plan to use it for creative work. Enabling the Digital Camera setting shows a view from your phone's camera on the screen with the option to save images -- but not videos -- from both cameras simultaneously. As for videos, I couldn't get the Finder S2 to work unless I rotated the image 90 degrees in the app. You can adjust the Finder S2's colors, measurement tools and sensitivity in the HSFTools app. John Carlsen/CNET I appreciate the wide selection of color palettes in the HSFTools app. My favorite color setting is "white hot" because of the high contrast image compared to other modes. The app's outstanding measurement tools tell you the temperature of the hottest and coldest objects on the screen or of a specific point you select. I love taking the guesswork out of home improvement. You can get the Finder S2 for about $250 -- although it's often available for $170 -- which is typical among smartphone thermal camera accessories like the Flir One Gen 3 and Seek Thermal Compact. While the price is good for a midrange infrared camera, remember that you might only use it a handful of times -- it's often better to pay for a professional home energy audit. (Don't forget to check if your area has a free energy audit program.) Still, the HSFTools Finder S2 was more than adequate for my DIY home energy audit. How I used a thermal camera in my home energy audit My energy audit uncovered an uninsulated ceiling corner that might explain why my home gets so hot in the summer -- time to tell the landlord. John Carlsen/CNET After familiarizing myself with the thermal imager, I took a structured approach to finding problem areas. I followed this thermal imaging inspection guide from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Read more: Stop Installing Your Thermostat Here. It's Costing You Money I started by turning off my HVAC system before shutting my windows and front door. InterNACHI's guide recommends testing on a day where the outdoor temperature difference is 15 to 20 F warmer (or cooler) than inside so I chose a rainy spring day for my audit. I was happy to see my window seals were in good condition. However, I discovered a small, drafty gap under my front door that I filled with foam backer rod from the hardware store. Fixing the air leak under my front door probably won't save much on my energy bills but it was an effortless DIY project. John Carlsen/CNET The actionable part of my home energy audit ends at doors and windows for now but there's plenty more for homeowners to look at. The Department of Energy suggests checking wherever you suspect air leaks or poor insulation, particularly fixtures, along the edges of rooms and between different building materials. While recaulking seals and replacing weatherstripping around windows are simple DIY projects, you'll need more money and time to upgrade insulation inside walls. You can check out Energy Star's Home Improvement Savings tool to see incentives, rebates and tax credits in your area. If you're a renter, consider telling your landlord about these resources.
CNET
28-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
I Use This Smart Device to Find Air Leaks and Keep My Summer AC Bill From Soaring
Air conditioning is one of the biggest energy draws during summer, but there are ways to keep that electric bill from skyrocketing during warmer months. Keeping the thermostat set to a consistent temperature is one, but making sure that precious cool air isn't escaping your home is another. I've struggled to maintain comfortable temperatures during extreme weather. I implemented a DIY ventilation system that brings in cool air at night and I schedule smart blinds to block direct sunlight as much as possible. Plus, I have lots and lots of fans. Although these strategies have helped, I recently found a new tool to find efficiency opportunities: a thermal camera. I got my hands on the HSFTools Finder S2 thermal camera and conducted a DIY home energy audit to look for air leaks that might affect how I cool my home. These same leaks cause heat to escape during winter, so the strategy has year-round applications for lowering energy costs. A rundown of the HSFTools Finder S2 The Finder S2 thermal camera's USB-C connection means it doesn't need a bulky battery pack, instead relying on your phone for power. John Carlsen/CNET I'll hold off on an in-depth review of the HSFTools Finder S2, as I have limited experience with thermal cameras, but I'll mention a few features that helped with my energy audit. First, this thermal imager connects to the USB-C port on Android smartphones but doesn't support iPhones. (Apple users should consider checking out the Topdon TC002C instead.) I love the option to launch the app automatically when plugging in the camera. However, the Finder S2 requires a lot of power -- draining my phone's battery by about 4% after 10 minutes. While this won't affect short inspections of smaller homes, you'll need to recharge your phone after extended use. (For better battery life, I suggest getting a standalone handheld model if you use a thermal camera often.) I played around with the Finder S2 to get comfortable with its features, mostly taking pictures of my cat. John Carlsen/CNET Even if you turn on the Finder S2's Super Resolution mode, the overall resolution maxes out at 512x384 pixels, which is lower than standard 480p quality. It's more than enough to see temperature differences around windows during an energy audit but you may need to play around with the settings if you plan to use it for creative work. Enabling the Digital Camera setting shows a view from your phone's camera on the screen with the option to save images -- but not videos -- from both cameras simultaneously. As for videos, I couldn't get the Finder S2 to work unless I rotated the image 90 degrees in the app. You can adjust the Finder S2's colors, measurement tools and sensitivity in the HSFTools app. John Carlsen/CNET I appreciate the wide selection of color palettes in the HSFTools app. My favorite color setting is "white hot" because of the high contrast image compared to other modes. The app's outstanding measurement tools tell you the temperature of the hottest and coldest objects on the screen or of a specific point you select. I love taking the guesswork out of home improvement. You can get the Finder S2 for about $250 -- although it's often available for $170 -- which is typical among smartphone thermal camera accessories like the Flir One Gen 3 and Seek Thermal Compact. While the price is good for a midrange infrared camera, remember that you might only use it a handful of times -- it's often better to pay for a professional home energy audit. (Don't forget to check if your area has a free energy audit program.) Still, the HSFTools Finder S2 was more than adequate for my DIY home energy audit. How I used a thermal camera in my home energy audit My energy audit uncovered an uninsulated ceiling corner that might explain why my home gets so hot in the summer -- time to tell the landlord. John Carlsen/CNET After familiarizing myself with the thermal imager, I took a structured approach to finding problem areas. I followed this thermal imaging inspection guide from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Read more: Stop Installing Your Thermostat Here. It's Costing You Money I started by turning off my HVAC system before shutting my windows and front door. InterNACHI's guide recommends testing on a day where the outdoor temperature difference is 15 to 20 F warmer (or cooler) than inside so I chose a rainy spring day for my audit. I was happy to see my window seals were in good condition. However, I discovered a small, drafty gap under my front door that I filled with foam backer rod from the hardware store. Fixing the air leak under my front door probably won't save much on my energy bills but it was an effortless DIY project. John Carlsen/CNET The actionable part of my home energy audit ends at doors and windows for now but there's plenty more for homeowners to look at. The Department of Energy suggests checking wherever you suspect air leaks or poor insulation, particularly fixtures, along the edges of rooms and between different building materials. While recaulking seals and replacing weatherstripping around windows are simple DIY projects, you'll need more money and time to upgrade insulation inside walls. You can check out Energy Star's Home Improvement Savings tool to see incentives, rebates and tax credits in your area. If you're a renter, consider telling your landlord about these resources.
CNET
23-05-2025
- CNET
Air Leaks Allow Costly Energy to Escape. This Device Helped Me Find Them Ahead of Summer
My two-bedroom townhome struggles to maintain comfortable temperatures upstairs in extreme weather. Over the years, I've tried everything to manage the summer heat. Relocating my bed from the scorching master bedroom (now my home office) to a smaller bedroom helped me sleep better. My DIY ventilation system brings in cool air at night, while a portable air conditioner supplements the central AC system in the hottest weather. I even schedule smart blinds to block direct sunlight as much as possible. Plus fans, lots of fans. Although these strategies have made a difference, I've reached the limits of major changes I can make as a renter -- at least if I want lower energy bills. Now, I have a new tool to find efficiency opportunities: a thermal camera. I recently got my hands on a sample of the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 thermal camera so I conducted a DIY home energy audit to look for air leaks that might affect how I cool my home. A rundown of the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 The Finder S2 thermal camera's USB-C connection means it doesn't need a bulky battery pack, instead relying on your phone for power. John Carlsen/CNET I'll hold off on an in-depth review of the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 as I have limited experience with thermal cameras but I'll mention a few features that helped with my energy audit. First, this thermal imager connects to the USB-C port on Android smartphones but doesn't support iPhones. (Apple users should consider checking out the Topdon TC002C instead.) I love the option to launch the app automatically when plugging in the camera. Unfortunately, the Finder S2 requires a lot of power -- draining my phone's battery by about 4% after 10 minutes. While this won't affect short inspections of smaller homes, you'll need to recharge your phone after extended use. (For better battery life, I suggest getting a standalone handheld model if you use a thermal camera often.) I played around with the Finder S2 to get comfortable with its features, mostly taking pictures of my cat. John Carlsen/CNET Even if you turn on the Finder S2's Super Resolution mode, the overall resolution maxes out at 512 x 384, which is lower than standard 480p quality. It's more than enough to see temperature differences around windows during an energy audit but you may need to play around with the settings if you plan to use it for creative work. Enabling the Digital Camera setting shows a view from your phone's camera on the screen with the option to save images -- but not videos -- from both cameras simultaneously. As for videos, I couldn't get the Finder S2 to work unless I rotated the image 90° in the app. You can adjust the Finder S2's colors, measurement tools and sensitivity in the HSFTOOLS app. John Carlsen/CNET I appreciate the wide selection of color palettes in the HSFTOOLS app. My favorite color setting is "white hot" because of the high contrast image compared to other modes. The app's outstanding measurement tools tell you the temperature of the hottest and coldest objects on the screen or of a specific point you select. I love taking the guesswork out of home improvement. You can get the Finder S2 for about $250 -- although it's often available for $170 -- which is typical among smartphone thermal camera accessories like the FLIR One Gen 3 and Seek Thermal Compact. While the price is good for a mid-range infrared camera, remember that you might only use it a handful of times -- it's often better to pay for a professional home energy audit. (Don't forget to check if your area has a free energy audit program.) Still, the HSFTOOLS Finder S2 was more than adequate for my DIY home energy audit. How I used a thermal camera in my home energy audit My energy audit uncovered an uninsulated ceiling corner that might explain why my home gets so hot in the summer -- time to tell the landlord. John Carlsen/CNET After familiarizing myself with the thermal imager, I took a structured approach to finding problem areas. I followed this thermal imaging inspection guide from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). Read more: Stop Installing Your Thermostat Here. It's Costing You Money I started by turning off my HVAC system before shutting my windows and front door. InterNACHI's guide recommends testing on a day where the outdoor temperature difference is 15°F to 20°F warmer (or cooler) than inside so I chose a rainy spring day for my audit. I was happy to see my window seals were in good condition. However, I discovered a small, drafty gap under my front door that I filled with foam backer rod from the hardware store. Fixing the air leak under my front door probably won't save much on my energy bills but it was an effortless DIY project. John Carlsen/CNET The actionable part of my home energy audit ends at doors and windows for now but there's plenty more for homeowners to look at. The Department of Energy suggests checking wherever you suspect air leaks or poor insulation, particularly fixtures, along the edges of rooms and between different building materials. While recaulking seals and replacing weatherstripping around windows are simple DIY projects, you'll need more money and time to upgrade insulation inside walls. Fortunately, you can check out Energy Star's Home Improvement Savings tool to see incentives, rebates and tax credits in your area. If you're a renter, consider telling your landlord about these resources.
