The Home Know-It-All

Improve Your Air Conditioner Efficiency

As the temperatures start to soar this summer, chances are you’ll be turning up the air conditioner for cooling relief. But if you want equally soothing relief on your cooling bills, now’s the time to make sure your AC is running efficiently. Plus, you’ll ensure your unit doesn’t break down during a heat wave. Try these tips today:

Call in the pros—a yearly tune-up helps ensure your HVAC unit is in tip-top shape, and a pro can diagnose and treat any problems that you might not be able to see before it’s too late. Be sure your service technician measures airflow, inspects the oil motors and belts, clears the drain, and checks refrigerant levels (low refrigerant levels means your unit has to work harder to operate). To make this a worthwhile investment, the key is to select a reliable technician. Check out Energy Star’s tips for hiring a heating and cooling contractor.

Give it a good cleaning to get rid of debris that can hinder air circulation. For example, trim back trees or shrubs at least two feet from the unit. Remove dirt and debris from the outside face using a vacuum with a soft brush attachment (be sure to shut off the unit’s electrical power first!). And if you’ve got gross gunk building up on the inside, remove the top part of the unit (the part with the fan attached), and spray from the inside out with a garden hose and steady water pressure. Reader’s Digest offers specific details, pictures, and diagrams on how you can give your unit a thorough, safe cleaning. Or read up on how to clean a window air conditioner.

Change the air filter every month (though during low-use months you can get away with changing it every three months as long as it’s not dirty). Dirty filters waste energy by making your AC work harder to keep you cool, while clean filters prevent dust buildup.

Inspect and seal ducts to prevent unnecessary air leaks. While you’re at it, check all hose connections for leaks. Approximately 20 percent of the air that passes through your duct system is lost because of leaks, holes, and poor duct connections. Learn more here.

Check indoors, because just as plants and other outdoor debris can hinder your unit’s efficiency, so can unsuspecting items inside. Vacuum registers and air vents regularly, keep furniture and drapes away from registers, close doors and windows when the air conditioning is on, and make sure the vent from your clothes dryer doesn’t blow on the outside AC unit.

Invest in an Energy Star-certified air conditioner if you’re in the market for a new one. Energy Star units are approximately 20 percent more efficient than conventional models and, just like any other Energy Star appliance, a certified air conditioner will save you money over the course of its lifetime. For maximum efficiency, install your unit on a side of your house that’s shaded. Learn more at the Energy Star website.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Hiring Reliable Pros

Certain household projects, such as tiling a backsplash, or creating built-in bookshelves are easily done yourself. But larger-scale projects—whether you’re building a home addition, installing a pond, or constructing a multilevel deck—may require professional know-how to ensure you meet local building codes and avoid expensive mistakes.

Whether you hire the services of an architect, interior designer, member of a design/build team, specialty contractor, or a general building contractor, picking reliable professionals is essential to the success of your project—and to your happiness with the project once it’s complete. (Read: It’s OK to be picky!)

To jumpstart your search, flip through your Yellow Pages or try these sites:

• American Society of Interior Designers
• American Institute of Architects
• National Association of Home Builders
• National Association of the Remodeling Industry

When you hire a general building contractor to manage all aspects of your project from start to finish (and work with other pros brought in), you’ll want to be especially meticulous:

Ask around. Seek multiple referrals from people you trust—friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors—so you have options to choose from.

Get familiar with them up front. It doesn’t hurt to call multiple contractors. Ask them how long they’ve been in business, inquire about their experiences with projects similar to yours, cost estimates, whether or not they do projects of your size, what kinds of insurance they carry, and if they’re licensed and registered in your state. And once you’ve narrowed down your list to a few contractors, meet with all of them in person. Benjamin Moore offers good questions to ask prospective contractors. To prep for the interview, check out these surefire signs for spotting a crooked contractor. And always ask for a list of references.

Check credentials. Put those references to good use—call previous clients to ask about their finished product and you’ll learn volumes about the quality of the contractor. Were they satisfied with the final result? Was it finished on time? Were there hidden costs? Were there any problems along the way? If you want visual proof, you can also visit a current job site and see how the contractor operates.

Obtain final bids based on your plans. When you narrow your list of prospective contractors, you’ll also want to obtain final estimates for your project from each one. Three weeks should be a sufficient amount of time for the contractors to prepare bids, which should contain specific lists that pinpoint vital project information such as materials, labor, other expenses, and the contractor’s fee. Carefully compare each bid against one another. And make sure they explain the bid in detail—especially if there are price variations—so you can make well-informed decisions. In general, it’s best to throw out the lowest bid—it might not be as thorough as the others or it might indicate the contractor is cutting corners.

Your work doesn’t end once you pick the best contractor. Next you’ll have to sign a written contract. So stay tuned: Soon, I’ll be posting about the elements of a good contract, as well as how to build a positive working relationship with your contractor.

Until Monday,
The Home Know-It-All

Gas Grill Buying Guide

Once the weather warms up, my mouth starts watering for all the tasty offerings we make on the grill—brats, burgers, chicken, fresh veggies, you name it. And I’m not alone. It turns out 81 percent of U.S. households own a barbecue grill, according to The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association.

Whether you’re looking to purchase your first grill or are thinking about upgrading, here are some considerations to keep in mind as you start shopping.

How much am I willing to spend? It’s a good idea to determine this figure upfront so you don’t get sucked into looking at grills that cost a couple grand when you can only spend a couple hundred—because trust me, once you see those monster grills outfitted with everything imaginable, it will be hard to settle on a grill in your price range. Fortunately, even if your budget is less than $500, you can still find a reliable grill that does the cooking you need it to do. You just won’t get all the extra features you’ll find on pricier models.

What will I use it for? If your cooking style leans toward occasional weekend meals, any number of backyard grills will do the trick. If you’re like me, however, and wouldn’t mind grilling at least once a day, it may be worth it to splurge on a grill with more size and power as well as better-quality materials. And if gourmet cooking is your style, your best bet is a top-of-the-line grill with features like multiple side burners, infrared heating, and more.

How well is the grill made? Many buying guides recommend shaking any grill you’re thinking about buying. Really. Well-built grills are solid and stable, with parts that are welded together. They’re probably heavy too because they’re made of quality materials like high-grade steel and heavy-gauge stainless-steel. Handle and hood construction is important as well—you should be able to grab the handle without getting burned, so it should be constructed of a heat-resistant material like stainless steel. Inside the grill, look for a stainless-steel, porcelain-enameled steel, or porcelain-enameled cooking grate, a system for dispersing heat from the burners, and an igniter that’s shielded inside a gas catcher.

What features does it offer? For cooking flexibility, your grill should have two or more burners with separate controls. Beyond the basics, consider what’s most important to you. Depending on the style of grill and its price, available features may include any number of the following (and other options not listed here too!):

• Built-in grease catcher
• Built-in thermometer
• Side prep surfaces
• Side shelves, condiment trays, towel bars, tool hangers, and other storage options
• Side burners
• Infrared burners
• Smoking drawers and boxes
• Sealed rotisserie

If you’re looking for more information before you hit the store, the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association offers a slew of resources on choosing the right grill, buying grill accessories, grill safety, and more. And many of the major grill manufacturers are great sources of information too—for instance, Weber offers a handy guide on shopping for gas grills (you can even download it and take it to the store with you).

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

DIY Backsplash Techniques

Want a quick and easy way to transform your kitchen in a weekend—and for less than $200? Install a mosaic tile backsplash in no time with these steps (and a little help from my parents, who tackled the project you see here).

Step One. Find your backsplash tiles. Search online and at home-improvement centers for the material, color, and style that’s right for your kitchen. The ones shown here were purchased on eBay for $6.95 a sheet, versus more than $20 elsewhere. So if you’re looking to stay under $200 with this project, be sure to explore your options before you make any purchases.

Although you don’t have to use small tiles like the ones my parents used, they’re a great option because they come in sheets (which means less design work for you), and you likely can get away with less tile-cutting than if you use larger ones. Regardless of what type of tile you purchase, be sure to buy more tile than you need in case you break or otherwise damage any of your tiles.

Step Two. Prepare for the project. This involves clearing the countertops, removing electrical outlet and light switch covers, and moving appliances that may be in the way. Also clean the walls where you plan to install the tile with warm water and allow them to dry.

Step Three. Following the manufacturer’s recommendations, apply adhesive to a section of the wall with the trowel and lay the tiles in it. Working in small areas ensures the adhesive won’t dry out before you’re finished laying tile. Depending on your backsplash design, you may need to push spacers into the adhesive between your tiles to keep them even. With small mosaic tiles like these, however, you can lay down entire sheets at a time—much easier than placing each of those tiny tiles individually! As you work, wipe up any excess adhesive that oozes up between the tiles.

DESIGN NOTE: If you have to cut tiles, like my parents did with the tiles around the outlet, score the tile with a tile cutter and use tile nippers or a saw to carefully cut each piece.

Step Four. Once all of the tiles are in place, wipe off any excess adhesive with a damp cloth and allow the tiles to set according to the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions.

Step Five. After the tile has set (you may want to wait a day or so), mix the grout. (For best results, mix the grout in small batches so it doesn’t dry out.) If you used spacers, remove them now. Spread the grout diagonally across the tiles with a rubber float, making sure to pack the grout between the tiles. When the grout becomes firm, wipe off the excess with a damp sponge, taking care to rinse the sponge frequently.

Step Six. After the grout dries, a haze will form on the tiles. Once this occurs, wipe the tiles down again and shine them with a clean cloth.

Step Seven. Your project is complete. Replace electric outlets, switches, and appliances and enjoy your new backsplash. See what a difference a backsplash makes—just check out the before and after of my parents’ kitchen!

DESIGN NOTE: Keep in mind that when you replace your electric outlets and switches now, you may need longer screws.

Want to learn more? Bone up on backsplash basics. And check out the step-by-step pointers offered by This Old House, Lowe’s, and Remodeling My Space too.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Vintage Bath Design

Every morning, as I get ready in my tiny bathroom, I plan out my ideal bath design. My dream bathroom is much larger, of course, but it’s also steeped in vintage style, complete with creamy cabinetry, charming built-in niches, subway-tile lined showers, and a decidedly romantic ambience.

Done right, a vintage-style bathroom brims with classic period charm and character yet stands up to the needs of a modern family. By itself, the term “vintage style” can have a range of influences, from a little Victorian to a bit of 1950s-retro. I’m going to focus on my favorite: 1920s-inspired vintage design.

How do you achieve realistic vintage design? First, do your homework: Read books and magazines to identify the look you’re going for, as well as what features you like. There are a lot of ways you can approach vintage style. For example, maybe you prefer a breezy, cottage-like look. Or maybe you like the sheer glamour associated with the Roaring ’20s. Reading a bunch of bath design magazines helped me discover my affinity for vintage design. And it also helped me determine that my dream bath will feature a pale blue-and-white color scheme—fitting for vintage baths, which tend to boast neutral and all-white color schemes.

These elements are common in vintage-style baths:

• Beaded board wainscoting (tip: look for ceramic tile panels that emulate traditional wainscoting, yet stand up to bathroom moisture)
• Subway tile
• Large claw-foot tubs
• Pedestal sinks
• Built-in storage
• Hexagonal-tile flooring
• Natural materials (if you opt for synthetic materials, make sure they look natural)
• Window moldings
• Chrome or brass fixtures

You can work with antique treasures or salvaged building materials (get the scoop on scouting for salvaged goods here. Or look for vintage-look goods at reproduction stores such as Restoration Hardware. And if your budget doesn’t allow for new fixtures, learn how to refinish the ones you’ve got.

Does your bathroom desperately need a makeover? See how this dull, dark bathroom underwent a vintage-style transformation and came out looking light, bright, and, most importantly, inviting. Or watch a video to see how one bathroom reclaimed its signature 1920s style for less than $500.

If you’re ready to plan your vintage bath—or if you want some great resources—check out Kohler’s design tips and this HGTV article.

And if your bathroom brims with vintage style, share your design tips here—I’m looking for ideas!

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All