Tyler Ramirez
Tyler Ramirez got his start in the home and garden industry, working with home improvement products and outdoor essentials. That work sparked his interest in how newer technology can make everyday jobs around the house easier.
At Home Stuff Reviews, Tyler covers tools, garden equipment, smart home devices and connected appliances. He's most interested in where new features meet real use: what a product promises, what it actually does, and whether the extra tech is worth paying for.
Tyler tests each product to find out what works, what falls short and which features genuinely matter. His goal is to help readers cut through a crowded, tech-heavy market and find products that are convenient and built to last.
Covers: Tools & Workshop, Lawn & Garden, Heating & Air
Recent guides by Tyler
Best ofTools & Workshop
Air Compressors for a Home Garage: 4 Top Picks for Tires, Nailers and MoreA small air compressor fills tires, powers nail guns and blows out dust. Our picks for the best air compressors for a home garage from Bostitch, California Air Tools, Ryobi and Milwaukee, with real test notes on noise, recovery and what each can run.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Countertop Compost Bins That Don't Smell: The Best 4A good kitchen compost bin holds a few days of scraps without smelling and cleans up easily. Our picks from OXO, Exaco, Package Free and Joseph Joseph, based on America's Test Kitchen's week-long testing.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Top Cordless Leaf Blowers With Real RuntimesBattery leaf blowers now rival gas for most yards, without the fumes and pull cords. Our picks for the best cordless leaf blowers from Ego, Greenworks, Ryobi and Makita, with real runtimes from CNN Underscored's testing.
Best ofTools & Workshop
Top Benchtop Drill Presses for a Home WorkshopA drill press makes straight, repeatable holes a hand drill can't. Our picks for the best drill presses for a home shop from Wen, Jet, Shop Fox and Ryobi, from an 8-inch starter to a 15-inch floor-worthy benchtop, with test notes.
Best ofTools & Workshop
Battery Chainsaws That Can Really Cut FirewoodBattery chainsaws can now buck firewood rounds without the pull cord and fumes. Our picks for the best electric chainsaws for firewood from Husqvarna, Stihl, Worx and DeWalt, with real cut times and cuts per charge from Outdoor Life's testing.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Best Electric Lawn Mowers for Small Yards, Corded and CordlessFor a small yard, an electric mower is quieter, lighter and easier than gas. Our picks from Ego, Toro, Greenworks, Wild Badger and Ryobi, with real runtimes from Bob Vila's testing.
Best ofTools & Workshop
Electric Pressure Washers for Home Use: 5 Highest-Rated ModelsElectric pressure washers are quieter, lighter and easier than gas for driveways, decks, siding and cars. Our picks for the best electric pressure washers from Greenworks, Westinghouse, Sun Joe, Craftsman, Ryobi and Ego, with test notes.
Best ofAppliances
Best Garbage Disposals for Septic SystemsCan you have a garbage disposal on a septic tank? Yes, with the right unit and habits. Our picks, including InSinkErator's Septic Guard, and what the EPA says about pumping more often.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Easy-Pulling Garden Carts for Seniors: 4 Top PicksCarts that do the heavy lifting: an electric wagon that drives itself, a convertible cart with no-flat tires and a big-wheeled utility cart. Our picks for the best garden carts for seniors, based on Bob Vila's hands-on hauling tests.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Hedge Trimmers That Handle Thick BranchesMost hedge trimmers jam on anything thicker than a pencil. These cordless models cut branches up to 1 to 1.25 inches. Our picks for the best hedge trimmers for thick branches from Milwaukee, Ego, Husqvarna, Ryobi and Craftsman, with test notes.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Best Leaf Vacuum Mulchers for Large YardsA leaf vacuum mulcher shrinks piles of leaves into a fraction of the bags. Our picks for big yards, from a walk-behind Billy Goat to gas handhelds from Stihl and Husqvarna, with test notes.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Top Loppers for Thick Branches up to 2 1/4 InchesLoppers that cut 1.5- to 2.25-inch branches without wrestling. Our picks for the best loppers for thick branches from Corona, Fiskars, Hickok and Felco, based on Outdoor Life's tests on saplings, fruit trees and overgrown shrubs.
Best ofTools & Workshop
Miter Saws for Trim Work: 5 Top Picks for Clean MitersCrisp miters on baseboard, casing and crown need a saw that cuts square and repeats. Our picks for the best miter saws for trim from Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee and Craftsman, based on Bob Vila's tests on trim, base molding and crown.
Best ofTools & Workshop
Highest-Rated Oscillating Multi-Tools for Grout, Drywall and TrimAn oscillating multi-tool makes flush cuts in door casing, cuts drywall, scrapes and sands. Our picks for the best oscillating multi-tools from Bosch, DeWalt, Dremel and Black+Decker, with test notes from an hour of cutting each.
Best ofTools & Workshop
Pole Saws for Tree Trimming: Top Battery, Gas and Manual PicksCut high limbs from the ground instead of a ladder. Our picks for the best battery, gas and manual pole saws from Stihl, Echo, Milwaukee, Husqvarna and Fiskars, with real cut times from Outdoor Life's testing.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Pruning Shears for Small or Arthritic Hands That Cut With Less SqueezeRatchet, geared and battery pruners that cut with far less squeeze. Our picks for the best pruning shears for arthritic hands from Fiskars, Gardener's Friend, Felco and Sun Joe, based on Tom's Guide's testing by a farmer through hundreds of cuts.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Raised Garden Beds for Vegetables: Best Metal, Wood and Self-Watering PicksCedar, galvanized steel or self-watering plastic: our picks for raised vegetable beds from Veikous, Sunnydaze, Best Choice Products, Keter and Zhongma, based on Bob Vila's tests with soil and plants.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Best Reel Mowers for Bermuda GrassBermuda looks its best cut low and often, which is exactly what a reel mower does well. Our picks from Earthwise, Fiskars, Great States and Scotts, based on Bob Vila's tests on Bermuda and centipede lawns.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Riding Lawn Mowers for 1 Acre: 4 Highest-Rated PicksAn acre takes well over an hour with a push mower and about half an hour on a rider. Our picks for the best riding mowers for 1-acre lots, from a John Deere lawn tractor to battery zero-turns from Ego and John Deere.
Best ofTools & Workshop
Best Shop Vacs for Car DetailingA shop vac pulls sand, pet hair and spilled coffee out of a car better than most household vacuums. Our picks from Ryobi, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Stanley and Ridgid, with test notes.
Best ofTools & Workshop
Rolling Tool Chests for a Home Garage: 5 Top PicksA rolling tool chest keeps sockets, wrenches and pliers organized and close at hand. Our picks for the best tool chests from Craftsman, Husky, Milwaukee and DeWalt, from a compact combo to a mobile workbench.
Best ofTools & Workshop
Best Track Saws for the MoneyA track saw cuts plywood sheets dead straight without a table saw. Our value picks from Makita, Kreg, Triton and Milwaukee, based on a woodworker's side-by-side test of 16 track saws.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Compost Tumblers Worth Buying: 2 Top PicksA compost tumbler keeps scraps off the ground, away from critters and easy to mix. Our two picks for the best compost tumbler, from FCMP and Good Ideas, and how to get finished compost in weeks instead of months.
Best ofTools & Workshop
Wet Tile Saws for DIY: 5 Highest-Rated PicksA wet tile saw makes clean cuts in ceramic, porcelain and stone without a cloud of dust. Our picks for the best wet tile saws from Ridgid, DeWalt, SKIL, Porter-Cable and QEP, based on Bob Vila's tests on ceramic, travertine, glass and porcelain.
Best ofTools & Workshop
Garage Workbenches Worth Building Around: 5 Top PicksA solid workbench is the center of a garage shop. Our picks for the best garage workbenches from Kobalt, Yukon, Husky, Ryobi and Worx, from a 2,000-pound-rated bench to a folding table, with test notes on stability and assembly.
Best ofLawn & Garden
Top Zero-Turn Mowers for 2 to 3 AcresOn 2 to 3 acres, a zero-turn can cut your mowing time in half. Our picks for the best zero-turn mowers from Toro, Ego, Husqvarna and Bobcat, gas and battery, with test notes on speed, comfort and slopes.
How-toAppliances
Garbage Disposal Humming but Not Spinning? Here's the FixA humming disposal is almost always jammed. Here's how to free it safely with a hex wrench, reset it, and know when the motor is done and it's time for a new one.
How-toTools & Workshop
How to Drain an Air Compressor Tank (and Why You Must)Every time a compressor runs, water collects in the tank and starts to rust it from the inside. Here's how to drain it safely in a couple of minutes, and how often.
How-toTools & Workshop
How to Remove Grout With an Oscillating ToolReplacing cracked or stained grout starts with getting the old stuff out. Here's how to do it quickly with an oscillating multi-tool without chipping your tile.
How-toLawn & Garden
How to Restring a String Trimmer (Bump Feed and Speed Feed)Out of line mid-edge? Here's how to reload a string trimmer head, from winding a classic bump-feed spool to the quick through-the-hole method, and how to stop the line from welding together.
How-toLawn & Garden
How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades (With and Without Removing Them)A dull blade tears grass instead of cutting it. Here's how to safely remove, sharpen and balance a rotary mower blade with a file or grinder, plus a quick touch-up you can do without taking it off.
How-toTools & Workshop
How to Winterize a Pressure WasherWater left in a pressure washer pump can freeze and crack it. Here's how to drain it, add pump protector and store it for winter, for electric and gas models.
How-toLawn & Garden
Lawn Mower Won't Start? A 10-Minute ChecklistMost mowers that won't start in spring have old gas, a dirty spark plug or a clogged air filter. Work through this checklist for gas, battery and riding mowers before you call for repair.
VersusTools & Workshop
Miter Saw vs Table Saw: Which Should a Beginner Buy First?A miter saw crosscuts boards to length and angle. A table saw rips boards and sheets to width. Here's how to decide which one your projects need first, and where a track saw fits in.
Buying guideTools & Workshop
What PSI Pressure Washer Do You Need? (Car, Deck, Concrete)Match pressure washer PSI and GPM to the job, from washing a car to blasting a stained driveway, plus which nozzle to use and why too much pressure can do damage.
- Buying guideLawn & Garden
How Much Soil Do You Need for a Raised Bed?The simple math for filling a raised garden bed, a chart for common bed sizes in cubic feet, bags and cubic yards, and when to buy bulk soil instead of bags.
Buying guideTools & Workshop
What Size Air Compressor Do You Need? (CFM by Tool)Match your compressor to your hungriest tool. A chart of typical air needs for nailers, impact wrenches, sanders and spray guns, plus how tank size and PSI fit in.
Buying guideLawn & Garden
What Size Riding Mower Do You Need? (Acres Chart)A simple chart that matches deck width to lot size, the quick math for how long mowing will take, and when a lawn tractor beats a zero-turn.
- How-toLawn & Garden
What to Put in the Bottom of a Raised Garden BedCardboard, hardware cloth, logs or nothing at all? What to line the bottom of a raised bed with depending on your weeds, pests and bed height, and why gravel is a bad idea.
Best ofAppliances
Battery Backup Sump Pumps Worth Buying Before the Next StormSump pumps fail when you need them most: in a storm, when the power's out. Our picks for the best battery backup sump pumps and combination systems from Wayne, Basement Watchdog and Zoeller.
Best ofTools & Workshop
Cordless Drills for Homeowners: The 4 We'd Buy in 2026Our picks for the best cordless drills for home repairs and DIY, from a compact 12V drill to a heavy-duty 18V, and what to look for before you buy.
Best ofAppliances
Electric Tankless Water Heaters Worth Buying in 2026Our picks for the best electric tankless water heaters for whole homes, small homes and single sinks, plus the electrical service you'll need before you buy.
Best ofAppliances
Garage Refrigerators Built for Hot and Cold ClimatesGarage-ready fridges are built for heat and cold that would stop a kitchen fridge. Our picks for the best garage refrigerators, what the 38°F to 110°F rating means, and what to do in a freezing garage.
Best ofKitchen & Cooking
Best Gas Grills Under $500 in 2026Good gas grills don't have to cost $1,000. Our picks under $500, from the Weber Spirit to a 4-burner Monument for big cookouts, plus what to skip.
Best ofAppliances
Home Backup Generators: Top Portable and Inverter PicksOur picks for the best home backup generators for keeping the fridge, lights and furnace running in an outage, from quiet inverters to 9,500-watt dual-fuel portables, plus how to size one safely.
Best ofKitchen & Cooking
Meat Grinders for Deer and Home Processing Worth the MoneyGrinding a whole deer takes a grinder that won't choke on sinew. Our picks for the best meat grinders for deer from LEM, Meat! Your Maker and STX, plus how to trim and grind venison.
Best ofKitchen & Cooking
Best Wireless Meat Thermometers for SmokingA good wireless probe lets you watch a 12-hour brisket from the couch. Our picks, from the eight-sensor Combustion to the budget ThermoPro TempSpike.
Best ofKitchen & Cooking
Outdoor Griddles, Including Blackstone Alternatives Worth a LookOur picks for the best outdoor flat-top griddles, from the $224 Blackstone 28-inch to the Weber Slate and Traeger Flatrock, and what you get for more money.
Best ofKitchen & Cooking
Best Pellet Grills Under $1,000 (2026)You don't need to spend $2,000 for great smoked ribs. Our picks for pellet grills under $1,000, from Pit Boss and Traeger to the Weber Searwood.
Best ofAppliances
Which Portable Power Station Can Run a Refrigerator? 5 Best PicksHow big a power station you need to keep a fridge running in an outage, with our picks from EcoFlow, Anker, Jackery, Bluetti and Generac and a simple sizing guide.
Best ofAppliances
Best Tankless Water Heaters for an RV or Camper (2026)Our picks for the best RV tankless water heaters, from premium Truma and Girard units that replace your tank heater to budget and portable options.
Best ofAppliances
Best Water Softeners for Well Water (2026)Well water is often hard and can carry iron. Our picks for the best water softeners for well water, how to size one, and when you need an iron filter too.
Best ofAppliances
Whole House Water Filters for City and Well Water: Top Picks for 2026City water and well water need different whole house filters. Our picks for the best whole house filters for each, what they remove, how fast they flow and what upkeep really costs.
VersusTools & Workshop
Drill vs Impact Driver: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need?A drill makes holes and drives screws with control. An impact driver sinks long screws with brute force. Here's how they differ and which one to buy first.
Buying guideAppliances
What 'Garage Ready' Means for a Fridge or FreezerGarage ready means a fridge or freezer is built and tested for garage heat and cold. Here's what the ratings mean, why regular models fail in garages, and what to buy.
How-toKitchen & Cooking
How to Clean a Pellet Grill (and How Often)A simple pellet grill cleaning schedule: what to do every cook, every few cooks and once or twice a year, plus how to prevent grease fires.
How-toTools & Workshop
How to Drill Into Brick or Concrete (Without Wrecking Your Bit)Step-by-step instructions for drilling into brick, block or concrete: the right drill and bit, how to drill cleanly, and which anchors to use.
How-toAppliances
How to Test a Sump Pump (and How Often)A 10-minute bucket test tells you whether your sump pump and backup will work in the next storm. Here's how to test both, what to listen for, and when to replace.
How-toAppliances
How to Test Your Well Water at Home (and When to Use a Lab)What to test for in well water, how home test kits work, how to take a proper sample, and when you need a certified lab instead.
VersusKitchen & Cooking
Pellet Grill vs Gas Grill: Which Should You Buy?Pellet grills make easy smoked barbecue. Gas grills are faster and better for weeknight grilling and searing. Here's how they compare on flavor, cost and upkeep.
VersusAppliances
Reverse Osmosis vs Water Softener: Which Do You Need?A water softener fixes hard water for the whole house. Reverse osmosis cleans drinking water at one tap. Here's how they differ and when you need both.
VersusAppliances
Tankless vs Tank Water Heater: An Honest Cost ComparisonTankless heaters save energy and last longer, but cost more upfront. Here's how the costs really compare, and which type makes sense for your home.
Buying guideAppliances
What Size Tankless Water Heater Do I Need? (With Examples)Size a tankless water heater in two steps: add up your flow and find your temperature rise. Includes simple formulas and examples for 1, 2 and 3 bathroom homes.
Buying guideTools & Workshop
What Voltage Cordless Drill Do You Need? 12V vs 18V vs 20V Explained12V, 18V or 20V max? Here's what drill voltage actually means, which one suits home projects, and why the battery platform matters more than the number.