Living & Home

Los Angeles – September 17, 2026 -- NOAA forecasters say there is a greater than 90% chance the current El Niño will become very strong during fall and winter 2026-27, with a 69% chance it could exceed every El Niño measured since 1950. The warning comes as Farmers Insurance urges homeowners and business owners to review coverage before severe weather hits.

El Niño forms when parts of the tropical Pacific Ocean warm well above normal, shifting the jet stream that steers U.S. storm patterns. A strong event can bring heavy rain, flooding, powerful storms, landslides and dangerous winter weather, though impacts vary by region and are not guaranteed everywhere. The pattern typically recurs every two to seven years and lasts up to 12 months; the most recent one ran from 2023 to 2024.

Strasburg, Colo. – September 16, 2026 -- Dry indoor air in Strasburg, Colorado can irritate eyes, noses, and throats and worsen asthma or allergy symptoms, according to HVAC expert Darrin Monks of U.S. Mechanical Company, featured in a new HelloNation article.

Colorado's elevation and cold winters strip moisture from indoor air

The article explains that Strasburg's high elevation, cold winters, and naturally low humidity create year-round challenges. Running heating systems during colder months further reduces indoor moisture, leaving homes feeling colder even when thermostats are set normally.

Beyond health, dry air increases static electricity and can damage wood floors, furniture, and musical instruments.

Ticonderoga – – September 16, 2026 -- Homeowners in Ticonderoga, New York, are increasingly asking whether heat pumps can reliably heat their homes through long, freezing winters, according to a new HelloNation article featuring Nate Charboneau of Champlain Valley Heating and Plumbing, LLC.

The article addresses lingering doubts rooted in older heat pump models, which often struggled once temperatures dropped well below freezing. Modern cold-climate systems, it explains, are built differently and designed specifically to hold up in northern regions with heavy snow, ice, and extended cold spells.

Heat pumps move warmth instead of burning fuel

Rather than generating heat by combustion, a heat pump transfers existing heat energy from outdoor air into the home, even when that air is cold. In warmer months, the same equipment reverses the process to provide cooling, making it a year-round system rather than a winter-only or summer-only solution.

Hoofddorp – September 12, 2026 -- EZVIZ has introduced a new lineup of AI-powered video doorbells, video intercoms, and gate openers designed for European homes, showcased in Hall 1.2 at IFA. The company's smart access portfolio won recognition at the Digital Trends Publisher Awards during the event.

The EP8 Ultra doorbell adds a built-in AI screen for shared entryways

The EP8 Ultra, launched shortly before IFA, features dual cameras that detect both visitors and packages -- a rarity among current models, according to EZVIZ. It also includes an interactive screen with AI characters for more personalized interactions and on-device facial recognition designed to reduce energy use, aimed at multi-family building entrances.

New York – September 16, 2026 -- Consumer365 has spotlighted NELL, a Japanese direct-to-consumer mattress brand, in its 2026 cooling mattress coverage following the company's first U.S. launch.

NELL packs four times the standard coil count into its mattresses

A king-size NELL mattress contains 4,704 individually wrapped pocket coils, compared to the 500 to 1,000 coils typically found in standard mattresses, according to the company. Each coil responds independently to pressure, with firmer support built into the middle and perimeter zones and more contouring at the shoulders and hips.

Thin layers of foam and cotton sit above the coils, allowing air to move around the springs and through the comfort layers to help release heat and moisture during the night.