07Nov

A review of Reliant’s home security system

Posted by Eric Berger at 1:04 PM

Note: This is a sponsored post in which I review a security system installed by Reliant.

Here’s a little secret: I have never been a big believer in home security systems. However, this has been a non-negotiable point with my wife, who turns out is a believer in home security systems. We had one installed in our first home, more than 15 years ago. It was a fairly basic system, and it seemed to make my wife happy. I paid the monthly bill and then forgot about it. Fortunately, we never needed the system to work during an emergency. Over time, I forgot the access code. My assessment of security systems never changed.

Uh-oh, it looks like we’re being invaded by Harry Potter characters.

Nearly a year ago, we moved into a new home, and because of Space City Weather’s relationship with Reliant, they invited me to test out their security system. (I paid for the installation, and received a discount for services because I am an electricity customer). As part of our Security by Reliant package, we had sensors installed on six doors, an interior camera, a doorbell camera, a motion detector, and sensors on the garage doors that allow them to be opened remotely. This was a nice package but far from “the works” I could have had installed. All of these features were non-intrusive in the sense that they blend into the house.

Reliant’s installer was friendly and helpful. Here we’re testing out the doorbell camera.

Now, I am sure that alarm systems have come a long way in the 15 years since I had one installed by another company. Nonetheless, I have been pleasantly surprised by the performance of the Security by Reliant system, and more importantly its ease of use. It is all pretty intuitive, and allowed me to turn my home into a sort-of “smart home” without investing thousands of dollars. I can do all of the important things through a single app, such as:

See who is at the front door
Let someone in the garage while I am away
Check out what’s going on inside my living room
Turn the alarm on or off
Adjust the thermostat

The Wi-Fi doorbell is especially nice, because it is easy to see who is there (whether we are home, or not) and to talk with him or her through the system.

My sister-in-law! Better pretend we’re not home 😉

I really just want three things from a security system: that it is reliable, that it provides a sense of security, and my wife is happy. (Ok, being honest, the last thing matters most). And the reality is that, at least after year one, Security by Reliant hits all three for me.

Reliant and I are teaming up to offer Space City Weather readers a special offer – if you sign up for Security by Reliant by calling 1-844-443-0180 and mentioning promo code “SCW”, you’ll receive your first 2 months FREE!

07Nov

Steamy and stormy, and then cold for awhile in Houston

Posted by Eric Berger at 6:51 AM

Three weeks ago, some unremarkable local weather site that shall go nameless made the following prediction: That Houston had had its last 90-degree day of 2018. And that prediction seemed pretty safe until Tuesday—when by early afternoon the high temperature had reached 88 degrees. Fortunately for that unnamed site, the high temperature stopped there, and didn’t tick a bit higher. (If it had reached 90 degrees, it would have set a record for the city’s latest 90-degree day in a calendar week by more than a week). Anyway, Tuesday sure was warm for early November. And we’ll have one more warm day today before a prolonged cool period begins. It’s also worth noting that the weekend now carries rain chances, whereas before it looked mostly dry.

Wednesday

A very weak cold front will push into the region today, and should serve as the impetus for some showers and thunderstorms. These are probably the kinds of storms where one or two relatively isolated areas in the Houston region pick up 2 inches of rain—and some hail is possible within the more intense storms—but most of the area sees no rain, or a few tenths of an inch. Skies will be mostly cloudy, and this should limit highs to the low- to mid-80s, rather than the upper 80s we saw on Tuesday. Lows should fall into the 60s tonight, except for the coast which will remain warmer.

Highs Wednesday will be sticky again for much of Houston. (National Weather Service)

Thursday

Highs will be more seasonable, in the mid-70s for the most part. Scattered showers will be possible throughout the day, but rain chances are probably only in the 30 to 50 percent range for most of the area, with the greater action coming during the overnight hours, with the approach and passage of a stronger cold front.

A few warm, wet days, then an extended period of cooler weather

Posted by Eric Berger at 7:09 AM

Good morning. We’ve kicked off our annual fundraiser for the year, and it will last for the next three weeks. We don’t want anyone to feel pressured to contribute anything, but readers often ask how they can help the site.

Main t-shirt design for 2018.

So once a year we sell t-shirts (as well as sweatshirts and umbrellas this year) and accept donations via Custom Ink. The money goes to support our operating expenses—zero server problems in 2018, yay!—and support the considerable time that Matt and I spend at this. Now, onto the forecast.

Tuesday

Fog has developed over the region, especially western Houston, but it should lift by around 9 or 10am this morning. After this we should see partly sunny skies and another fairly warm day for early November, with highs in the low- to mid-80s. Humidity will be abundant as well. Rain, for the most, part, should hold off but we may see a few scattered showers across the area. Expect a steamy November night, with most of the city not falling below 70 degrees.

Wednesday

Another warm day, with highs in the mid-80s, but as moisture levels pile up we’ll see better rain chances across the area. For the most part, this should be light to moderate rain, but we can’t rule out a few thunderstorms. I expect accumulations, at most, in the tenths of an inch. Nighttime temperatures will be slightly cooler, but still in the 60s inland, and low 70s along the coast.

A gray and warmer week before a clear and cool weekend

Posted by Eric Berger at 6:44 AM

After a pretty nice weekend—Sunday morning’s showers aside—our weather will turn warmer and more humid this week before a strong front arrives before next weekend. We’re not looking at anything too extreme, but we can definitely anticipate some showers and thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday.

Monday

The weak cold front that pushed into the offshore waters on Sunday is moving back onshore today, and we’ll feel that later this afternoon in the form of stronger southerly winds and rising humidity. Expect highs in the low 80s, with mostly cloudy skies. A word of warning if you’re traveling up into east Texas or Arkansas today, as that area faces the potential for some severe weather due to a separate frontal system. Rain chances should be near zero in the Houston metro area itself.

Severe storm outlook for Monday and Monday night. (NOAA)

Tuesday

Another warm day, with high temperatures in the low to mid-80s, depending upon the extent of afternoon sunshine in your area. Highs will probably be 8 to 10 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year, but the heat won’t last too long. Rain chances will be in the 10 to 20 percent range.