Ring's new security camera flies around your house
Amazon's Ring finally launched the indoor flying camera it first showed off years ago. The Ring Drone Cam follows a preset path through the house, upstairs too, when an alarm or sensor goes off, then flies back to its dock. Ring also showed a rolling security robot meant for offices and warehouses. The drone is set to ship in late January if the FCC approves it, and Ring says it's built not to fly outside.
Any camera that moves through your home sees a lot more than one on a shelf. Before you add one, check where the video is stored, who in the house can view it, and turn on two-step login for the account.
Source: CNBC
Pixel phones get new features, plus a tracker tag
Google's November Pixel Drop started rolling out on Nov. 10. Newer Pixels get a voice typing cleanup that strips out the "ums," plus custom home-screen widgets, like a countdown that pulls in your flight details. Pixel Search, which looks through your photos, email, messages and settings, now reaches older Pixels too. Google's new Pixel Tag, an item tracker that uses the Find Hub network, goes on sale today. Updates arrive over a few weeks, so yours may not have them yet.
A tracker tag on your keys, a carry-on or the dog's collar can save a lot of searching during holiday travel. To grab the update sooner, open Settings, then System, then Software update.
Source: Google
A Peachtree City company is suing the EPA over refrigerant rules
Earlier this year the EPA gave makers of cold-storage and some other equipment more time to keep using older, high-impact HFC refrigerants. Alta Refrigeration, based in Peachtree City, wants a permanent pass and has sued the EPA in federal appeals court. On the other side, big HVAC manufacturer groups, a group of state attorneys general and an environmental group are suing because they say the EPA went too far. In short, the refrigerant rules are still being argued in court.
Court fights like this mostly affect new equipment, not the system already in your home. If yours is getting older, a check now lets you plan on your schedule instead of in an emergency. Refrigerant work is never DIY, so leave the lines alone. I can take a look with a $79 diagnostic.
Source: Inside Climate News
Australia warns it could run short of some refrigerants
A new report for the industry group Refrigerants Australia says some older refrigerants there could run critically low during their coming summer. The country has been using more than it imports and covering the gap with stored and recovered gas. The group's director warned that fixing air conditioning and refrigeration systems will get harder. That's Australia, not the U.S., but it shows why recovering and reusing refrigerant matters as supplies shrink.
The easiest way to avoid needing refrigerant is to keep the system healthy. Change your filters on schedule, keep leaves and debris clear of the outdoor unit, and book a yearly tune-up. I offer a $79 tune-up.
Source: Climate Control News
Heat pumps built for real cold are heating real buildings
As part of a Department of Energy challenge, several big manufacturers, including Lennox, Carrier, Trane, Rheem and LG, say their rooftop heat pumps for commercial buildings passed a cold-weather lab test. Test units are now heating stores and offices in New York and the Midwest, and they kept putting out solid heat on days near and below zero. The trials also turned up real-world snags, like a unit shipped with the wrong voltage and control-board fixes at startup. Carrier expects to start selling its units in 2027.
These are commercial rooftop units, but the same cold-weather tech keeps showing up in home heat pumps. If your heat pump struggles on our coldest mornings, it may just need a cleaning and a check, not a replacement. I can help with a $79 diagnostic.
Source: Technology.org
Safety reminder from me
Cold nights are when furnaces, water heaters and space heaters work hardest. If you smell gas, leave the house first and call your gas company from outside. Never open up gas lines, refrigerant lines or your electrical panel yourself. For anything electrical inside the panel, call a qualified electrician. For heating trouble, I can help with a $79 diagnostic or a $79 tune-up.
