Liam McCabe

Boston

Senior Writer at Wirecutter

Big home stuff writer @Wirecutter / Rarely here

Articles

Optimize Your AC

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Christine Cyr Clisset |Caira Blackwell |Rosie Guerin |Abigail Keel |Thom Dunn |Liam McCabe

Listen and follow The Wirecutter ShowApple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio | Other platformsWith record-breaking heat on the rise, and energy costs soaring, keeping your home cool without breaking the bank has become more important than ever. Staff writer Thom Dunn shares expert strategies to optimize your air conditioning, as well as practical ways to keep the heat out even if you don’t have AC.
I Got My Clothes Coated With Insect Shield Tick Killer

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Liam McCabe

When I go outside, I’m not as diligent as I ought to be about applying the right protective smears and sprays. What can I say — sometimes it’s hard to fight the urge to leave the house in a hurry and just live a little. I won’t mess around with ticks, though. Tick-borne diseases are on the rise, and I’ve had family members and friends who have been laid out or almost killed by some of these infections. My wife, daughter, and I have somehow avoided any bites (that we know of) up until this year.
This Robot Vacuum Has a Claw That Tries (and Mostly Fails) to Pick Up Your Socks

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Liam McCabe

It’s been almost 25 years since the first robot vacuum cleaners rolled into homes, smacked into dining room tables, and got tangled up on socks. But the days of endearingly dumb Roombas are a fading memory. New bots have improved rapidly in the past few years, and it almost seems like they’re on the cusp of a real Rosey the Robot housekeeper — at least for floors.
Your Next Appliances Might Use More Energy. Could They Work Better?

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Liam McCabe

This month, the Trump administration proposed several plans to roll back the federal government’s role in regulating and promoting the purchase of energy- and water-saving home appliances. First, Environmental Protection Agency officials reportedly planned to shut down Energy Star, a popular certification program for high-efficiency products that save more energy and water than required by law.
This Tiny Air Wedge Has the Power to Lift an Entire Fridge

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Liam McCabe

Look, I have no trouble moving heavy stuff, okay? But I can’t hoist a dresser straight off the ground and balance it on my fingertips while I also try to get it to sit level on my old crooked floors. Shortly after I finished failing to align a pair of new IKEA Vihals dressers, the TikTok algorithm started taunting me with clips of people using a simple tool, which looked like a mini blood-pressure cuff, to effortlessly prop up furniture and appliances.
How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost in 2024?

1 month ago | energysage.com | Liam McCabe

Based on hundreds of real-world quotes for heat pump installation through the EnergySage Marketplace, the median cost to install a new heat pump in 2023 was $16,025 afterincentives. That includes ducted heat pumps and ductless mini-splits. We’ve seen huge retrofits that cost as much as $66,000, and some tiny projects with no out of pocket costs (thanks to really generous incentives in one city). But the vast majority of heat pump installations cost between $7,120 and $36,000.
How Hard Is It to Install an EV Charger?

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Liam McCabe

There are dozens of EV chargers to choose from (and we recommend a handful of the best). But most people will need to hire an electrician to hook one up. Thankfully, it’s become pretty easy to find a qualified pro. EV charger installations have become a bread-and-butter part of the job for many electricians. They advertise this service on their websites, on their work trucks, and even on some sports talk-radio ad spots (at least where I live).
Most Energy Vampires Have Already Been Slain. Here’s How to Handle the Rest of Them.

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Liam McCabe

The good news: What used to be called energy vampires have been exposed to the light, staked through the heart, smothered in garlic — choose your favorite monster-slaying metaphor. Most of the lights, electronics, and appliances in your home are already pretty efficient and use much less energy than their predecessors from 10 or 20 years ago.
Changes To NEC4 Contracts - Dispute Management And Conflict Avoidance Clauses

2 months ago | mondaq.com | Cassandra Byrne |Jarleth Heneghan |Liam McCabe

WF William Fry More William Fry is a leading corporate law firm in Ireland, with over 350 legal and tax professionals and more than 500 staff. The firm's client-focused service combines technical excellence with commercial awareness and a practical, constructive approach to business issues. The firm advices leading domestic and international corporations, financial institutions and government organisations.
You Can Probably Install a Smart Light Switch on Your Own. Just Don’t Cut the Red Wire.

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Liam McCabe

I made no fewer than five mistakes trying to install a smart dimmer at home for this article, which had been pitched as a back-patting, you-can-do-this guide for DIY-curious homeowners. Swapping a standard light switch with a smart dimmer “is generally one of the easier electrical projects,” says John Finney, a retired industrial electrician and electrical engineer who runs a YouTube channel with advice on DIY electrical work.