John Carlsen

Most portable air conditioners have tradeoffs, the most common being sacrificing energy efficiency for better cooling performance. This isn't the case with the Frigidaire Gallery FGPC1244T1.

The Haier HPC12XCR is a lightweight, efficient portable air conditioner with cooling performance that makes it an excellent option for most rooms. It has several operation modes so you can match it to your comfort level, whether that means cooling, circulating air or dehumidifying a room.

The three-speed fan, dehumidifier and cooling modes make the Honeywell MN10CESBB a good portable AC unit, especially for a humid climate. While it's not the most energy-efficient model, it only costs around $90 to operate annually.

The Amico AP11000 is energy-efficient, quiet and low-maintenance. The auto-evaporation feature recycles the water the unit absorbs from the air, and its high EER results in a relatively low estimated annual cost; you can likely run this portable AC unit for less than $100 a year.

This Sunpentown portable AC unit is suitable to cool smaller areas of up to 350 square feet, and the modest annual cost makes it an affordable option for people just wanting to cool a small room or area in an apartment.

Review The NewAir AC-14100E is a powerful 14,000 BTU unit that can cool a 700-square-foot space in a short time.

Link Interactive's economical monitoring and a large selection of easy-to-install equipment help make it the best value among the home security monitoring services we reviewed.

AT&T recently ventured into the home security business with its AT&T Digital Life program.

Cox Communications has offered TV, phone and internet service for years, and it now provides home security and automation. Its internet-based security system, Cox Homelife, comes with 24/7 monitoring that's about average for a home security system. It also has reasonably good options for equipment.

The Craftsman CM1800 is an excellent pressure washer in terms of cleaning performance, and it is very easy to use. In many ways, it's a better machine than our top pick, the RYOBI RY14122, particularly regarding assembly and power cord management.

Review The RYOBI RY14122 is a top-class electric pressure washer that delivers great cleaning performance.

Review The Harbor Freight Portland 1750 PSI pressure washer is a capable electric tool for budget-conscious homeowners.

Review The AR Blue Clean AR383 is a clear example of what you get when you buy a good pressure washer.

Review The Karcher K 3 Follow Me is a compact electric pressure washer with great cleaning performance, but it was more difficult to use than most other models we tested.

Review The WORX Hydroshot WG629 is a pressure washer geared towards maximum portability...But does it also deliver top performance?

The Greenworks GPW1501 electric pressure washer is inexpensive and suited to most jobs.

Editor’s Note: This product has been removed from our side-by-side comparison because it has been discontinued.

The First Alert 2087F-BD home safe is a smart choice if you want to protect your valuables from fire damage. It is UL-certified as fire-resistant and can hold its own for an hour in temperatures up to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Paragon 7775 Deluxe Safe is well-suited to an office or a hunting cabin where you store firearms. Paragon backs this full-featured digital-locking safe with a 10-year warranty, which is outstanding in this industry – many safes only have one-year of warranty coverage.

The SentrySafe Security Safe X055 is a low-cost, 0.58-cubic-foot home safe made for storing small valuables such jewelry, money and collectibles. It's also certified by the California DOJ for firearm storage. This home safe has a digital locking mechanism with a keypad.

Barska’s AX11620 Compact Biometric Safe is small, versatile model that can be bolted down and hidden.

The Stack-On PDS-1500 Drawer Safe is a compact digital safe that protects small valuable items. It's affordable, costing around $40; in fact, it’s the least expensive safe we evaluated.

The Steelwater Standard Duty AMEGS592216 is a robust gun safe designed to protect as many as 16 long guns, although the manufacturer recommends storing only eight to 10. This sturdy home safe is made of 14-gauge steel and boasts a 5-inch-thick door, along with 10 1.5-inch solid steel locking bolts.

Review Trane makes high-performance central air conditioning units that can maintain a comfortable temperature in your home, no matter the weather.

Review Coleman has an assortment of efficient central air conditioners, as well as some less-efficient options for customers on a budget. The brand has a very competitive warranty and builds durable air conditioners.