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The Right AC Unit Will Help You Cool Off

Dave Odegard — 2010-08-31T09:06:00 00:00

When it's summer, you may not notice the blazing heat or suffocating humidity - which likely means you have an air conditioner. And a good one, at that! For those who don't own an air conditioning unit and survive through the hot months with fans, ice packs and sleeping with your head resting in the open refrigerator door, maybe you should think about biting the bullet and buying one.

That's exactly what Suzanne Naggy did. Naggy, 27, who recently moved to New York City, found herself needing to buy an air conditioner to help survive the Big Apple's notoriously steamy summers. "Everywhere else I've lived had already had them installed," she explains, adding that the refreshing blast of cool air was a necessity because "it's hot as hell." Naggy, a first-time air-conditioner buyer, had no real idea of what to buy and admits to only doing just a little research online. "I ended up buying one from a friend for $40," Naggy says, though it doesn't really work all that well in her apartment. "It doesn't cool the entire apartment; it just circulates the air."

Here's what an expert has to say about choosing the right AC unit to beat the heat and not make the same mistake as Naggy:

1. Calculate how many BTUs you need

Abby Buford, a member of the public relations team at Lowe's, warns that despite the temptation to just swing by the local hardware store and pick up whatever air conditioning unit is on sale, it actually takes a bit of planning and foresight to find the right air conditioner. She explains that the most important thing to consider when buying an air conditioner is to figure out the square footage of the room in which you plan to install the unit.

First, multiply the room's width by the room's length. Then use a chart from Energy Star to figure out the amount of British thermal units (BTUs) needed. Be sure to view the special notes about the number of windows, sunlight, and if the unit is to be used in a kitchen -- all of which affect the amount of BTUs needed. "BTUs are important because selecting the proper size is a critical component of the units performance," Buford explains.

2. Buy the unit with the listed amount of BTUs you need. No more, no less.

After determining the amount of BTUs you'll need, you can then pick out your air conditioner. The box should display its BTU output along with listing its other features, such as fan speeds, remotes, programs, etc. And just because a unit has larger BTU output than you need doesn't mean you'll reap the rewards of a cooler room. "An air conditioning unit that's too large will cycle on and off too frequently, using too much energy and causing unnecessary wear on the electrical components," says Buford. You'll also end up paying for a bigger unit not only at the store's cash register but also farther down the road, when you receive your first shockingly large electricity bill.

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3. Buy an energy efficient air conditioner. Even if it costs more, you'll save money in the long run.

"The amount of money is generally based on the size of the unit," explains Buford, explaining that the bigger the AC unit, the more it will cost. "And the size will also determine the amount of money spent on utilities." It's advised to stick with an air conditioner that has met government restrictions as an energy efficient appliance and has been labeled with the Energy Star logo. "The majority of units are Energy Star, which can cost slightly more than a non-Energy Star unit," says Buford. But you'll more than likely make up the difference in price with your electric bill.

4. Read the instructions and don't forget to keep up on maintenance.

Before you install the unit, Buford recommends thoroughly reading the installation guide, as well as checking to make sure the window can hold it and that nothing blocks the airflow. She also suggests that you check the unit's filter regularly -- "A dirty filter can decrease the efficiency of the AC unit."

Following these tips and advice will hopefully find you basking in the cool, refreshing chill of your new air conditioner and help you enjoy your summer while at home. Naggy will have to go through the whole process of buying an air conditioner again next summer to get one that suits her needs best, but she's optimistic. "At least next time I'll know what to do," she says.

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Interior Decorating for Men, Made Easy

Dave Odegard — 2010-06-23T11:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Design,How To

It's no secret that the apartment of a single guy isn't much to look at. Whether just out of college or several years into the real world, most guys don't even attempt to shake the dorm room look of plain white walls, movie posters, centerfold pullouts, and hand-me-down furniture.

According to interior designer Kibwe Daisy, owner of Kibwe Daisy Designs and creator of the website Design for Men, some guys fall into the old fashioned belief that interior design is for girls. "They don't understand the benefit of creating a space that reflects their personal style and an environment that is comfortable for them and their guests," says Daisy. Money plays a part, too." Many guys hold off on investing in furniture and making any adjustments to their apartments until they purchase a home," Daisy explains.

But, as Daisy tells it, interior design for men isn't as complicated as many think.

"Men actually have an advantage because the key to creating a masculine space is to keep it simple and say something about you," he says, though Daisy admitted that keeping things simple isn't exactly easy. "Make sure that everything that you buy has a purpose and a place in your home. And make sure to express a bit of your personality and hobbies in your space. For example, if you enjoy baseball, integrate some baseball memorabilia on shelving in the living room. But make sure you keep those items neat and organized."

What are some traps that men fall into when decorating their homes?

Well for starters, just tacking up posters without frames is a big mistake. Also, keeping the original plain white walls isn't exactly personal. Then there's the fact that most single men choose furniture that's comfortable or cheap as opposed to thinking scale, aesthetics or functionality. Men also seem to lack an appreciation for how accessories can help personalize their spaces. "While I love 'minimal,' Daisey says, "design properly displaying accessories can elevate an otherwise bland room." Finally, he warns that too many guys think overly sexual imagery is just what their décor needs -- "You may enjoy seeing naked women daily, but it tends to make women uncomfortable."

So men, ready to get started? It all begins with the proper mindset. "The first step is mental," Daisy explains. "It is time to graduate in how you live, along with the new duds for work. You deserve it!"

Then it's time to get inspired. Look through catalogs and design publications to get ideas. "Find pictures of spaces that you feel fits your style and try to emulate the design with your selections," Daisy says. "And do not be afraid to get rid of stuff-a clean slate is not a bad thing." When you're ready to shop, do your homework. "Research is key," explains Daisy, adding that you shouldn't "just go out on a mission to buy furniture," but rather look for foundation pieces, like a bed, sofa, coffee table, or storage systems.

After that it's time to accessorize. Collect artwork and other things that reflect where you've been. "That way your place starts to tell a story about you and where you've been," he says. Finally, maintain what you've accomplished and keep your spaces neat and uncluttered.

But be careful, Daisy warned, personalizing your space can be addictive -- "Once I started to experiment on my apartment with affordable solutions, I was hooked."

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Don't Think DIY Decorating Is Manly? Think Again

Dave Odegard — 2010-06-11T10:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Design,How To

When you hear the acronym DIY ("Do-It -Yourself" for those uninformed) it's more likely to be connected with a name like Martha (as in Stewart) than Marty. It's a fair statement that the world of home crafting has been dominated by the female gender. But that's changing. Just ask Chris Gardner, creator of Man Made, a DIY site that proclaims itself a source of "creativity and the handmade life for the postmodern male."

Gardner, who created Man Made with the folks behind the home improvement web community site Curbly, explains that he got into writing about hand-crafted projects out of necessity. "I began online writing about DIY with my first apartment," he says. "I hated it and I wanted to find ways to make it better."

Gardner explains that when he went looking for projects and help that were suited for his gender, he couldn't find any. "There weren't a lot of resources available to me as a male."

"I don't think my generation has too many gender stereotypes," Gardner said when asked why he feels there's no longer a gender barrier for DIY. He explains: "If someone would say that a home décor project isn't masculine, then I'd appeal to one's desire to have a positive impact on their life. It's your home, it's your space. Make it the best, most relaxing and inspiring space you can. Men and women in the United States are affected by what surrounds them, and what they consume. Those who do DIY projects are those who are willing to affect them back."

To get started, Gardner recommends finding something you need and learning how it's made, picking up the needed tools and materials as you go. He also suggests using the holidays as an opportunity to create things for people you love, as well as school and work projects to hone your creative skills. "Always be on the lookout for inspiration in literature, film, and music," he says. "And I know it's cliché, but do take risks. Always try a project a step bigger than you feel comfortable." And he added: "Always wear proper safety gear. Please."

Hey guys, want to get started with on some DIY ASAP? Here some projects Chris recommends:

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Renovate Your Rental? Think Twice!

Dave Odegard — 2010-06-02T13:34:00 00:00

Filed under: Design,Renting

Sometimes a rented apartment just doesn't feel like a home. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that as renter, you don't own the place where you live. There's a sense that plenty of others have slept where you sleep now and many more will after you move out -- so it's not your home.

One way to personalize your place is to change it with your own sense of style, which normally calls for some home improvements. But there's a fine line between what renovations one can and can't make in a rented space. Cause, you know, you're not the owner.

Bill Scroggie provides interior design and decorating service through his New York-based Studio Scroggie. Since most people in New York City can't afford to own their apartments, says Scroggie, he's had many clients who've wanted to personalize their space through renovations, despite not owning them. "For the most part, most people stick to minor cosmetic improvements such as painting, changing window treatments, or swapping out lighting fixtures," he says. "Or minor hardware changes -- such as knobs or pulls on cabinets."

While many tenants operate under the rule of thumb that it's OK, as long as their renovations are changed back when they move out, Scroggie suggests running them by your landlord anyway.

"I would always advise talking to the landlord if there is any question about what is allowed," he says. "Keep in mind that tastes differ and what you consider an improvement, the landlord might not." And sometimes they might even end up footing the bill.

"Landlords understand that apartments need to be maintained and kept up-to-date," Scroggie says. "When a renter has lived in an apartment for several years, landlords are often willing to make updates at their expense or at least are willing to provide some financial allowance for a renter to make updates."

But beware: If you decide to do renovations without telling your landlord, there may be consequences.

"Almost all leases have a clause titled 'Changes and Alterations to Apartment' which prohibits the tenant from making any changes and alterations to the apartment without the owner's consent," warns Dan Marrello, managing director of residential brokerage CitiHabitats' Upper East Side Office. "This includes painting, wallpaper, appliances, stoves, heating units, etc." So if your landlord didn't give you permission to knock down that wall, even if it was hindering the feng shui of the place, you're legally in the wrong. "An owner can file a claim against a tenant for breaching their lease and try to recoup the cost of bringing the apartment back to its original condition," Marrello says.

Lesson learned: Always seek your landlord's permission.

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Need a Quick, Low-Cost Move? Let the Bidding Begin!

Dave Odegard — 2010-05-07T11:27:00 00:00

Moving sucks. It's a fact of life, like water being wet. Pretty much everyone agrees that packing up everything you own in the world and having to get it all across a large (or short) distance is one of the most stressful things you can go through.

Add trying to find the best deal from a moving company on top of it and you'll be just about ready to call the whole thing off or least scream a little and pull out your own hair.

Just ask Linda Nardin, who recently put her second home in Craryville, N.Y. up for sale. She expected it to sit on the market for a while.

"The first couple to walk through the door ended up making an offer," she said. And while the successful sale of a house in this economy is always reason to celebrate, Nardin realized she had to get ready to move all the New York home's belongings to her home in Moneta, Va. -- almost 600 miles -- and fast. "I was suddenly in this scramble mode," she explained.

Luckily she had a secret weapon, uShip.

Founded in Austin, Texas in 2004, uShip is an online marketplace for people who need something moved. Users post listings of what they need to ship and the details (from where to where, when, etc.). Then transporters, ranging from independent truckers to a shipping companies, bid on the jobs.

From there it's just a matter of selecting the shipper based on their price and user profile. "It's a bit of a reverse-eBay type of business transaction," explained Nardin.

According to Dean Jutilla, uShip's Director of Marketing, it started when the company's founder, Matt Chasen was moving from Seattle to Texas for business school. When he went to pick up the nine-foot truck he'd reserved, Chasen was told that the rental company had run out and he was given one with 20-feet of cargo space instead. "So he was virtually driving an empty truck," said Jutilla.

At the same time Chasen's mother in Ohio was trying find a way to move a dresser. Jutilla says that Chasen spent the long drive thinking about both situations. "He wondered: 'How can we connect these two frustrations?' "

Nardin first discovered uShip last year when she made her initial move to Virginia and needed to get a pontoon boat down south. She called around to various transport companies and couldn't believe the price quotes. There was even the thought of letting someone on Craigslist keep the boat trailer if they would transport the boat down, but there was the issue of insurance. Then after some random searching online, Nardin found uShip.

"I had never heard of uShip and I know no one else who had heard of it," she said. After posting her listing, Nardin hired a trucker making a delivery in New England, and who would be driving back home to Pennsylvania with an empty truck. "I got this amazing deal," she said. And the fact that uShip had secure payment options gave her peace of mind. "You don't have to worry about having to give it them and then never seeing them again."

Jutilla says that the key to uShip's success is its bidding system -- "The reverse auction format is a kind of gem in the rough. It brings down the price for the customer." And like other auction sites, the user can see what other customers have said about the shipper.

"We aggregate on our site all the information that someone needs to make their decision. All the past customer reviews are included in the profile along with their ratings scores," says Jutilla. "You can look at someone's profile and quickly determine if they're someone you want to work with."

He adds: "Moving is stressful, the last thing you want is to be in a situation where a rogue mover takes advantage of you."

According to Jutilla, since its founding, uShip has done $140-million worth of transactions and has had about a million listings. For Nardin, uShip has become her favorite moving tip.

She recommends it to anyone who needs something shipped. "Everybody I've told about it cannot believe the prices," she said.

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What's That Smell, Bro? A Guy's Guide to Keep Your Place From Stinking

Dave Odegard — 2010-05-03T12:30:00 00:00

Filed under: How To

There's nothing quite like the cacophony of smells to be found in a single-man's apartment. In those years between living at home with their mothers and then their girlfriends or wives, it seems that most single men fail to learn (or implement) basic cleaning skills. Just take a whiff from the funk wafting from a grungy couch or the stink coming out of a cluttered closet, if you don't think it's true.

Thankfully, the sloppiest of bachelors can change his ways, according to Tom McNulty, the author of "Clean Like a Man" who also runs CleanLikeAMan.com -- even if it seems they're biologically incapable of noticing when things need to be cleaned.

"We're just kind of oblivious to the dust," admitted McNulty. "We use the wrong kind of cleaning tools and it doesn't get the job done properly. We get frustrated and let things slide."

So listen up guys, here are some of McNulty's tips to help you get rid of the smells in your apartment.

Ask a female friend to smell your place and help find the source of odors. "It's kind of like having a bomb-sniffing dog," said McNulty. "Female olfactory senses are stronger than the guys'."

Defunk your athletic shoes. Wash the shoes themselves or even better, the insoles "that's where all the odors come from," McNuly explained. Leaving a dryer sheet or two in each sneaker will also help prevent them from getting smelly.

Clean out your fridge regularly. "That's huge," said McNulty. "You have to toss out food that's post-peak on a regular basis." Already got a fridge that stinks even though you threw out that spoiled milk? Leave an open container of baking soda in it.

Clean out your drains. Sometimes drains in either your bathroom or kitchen can get plugged up with the stuff that doesn't have the most pleasant aroma. McNulty recommends a mix of 1/2 cup of baking soda with a 1/2 cup of vinegar, followed by flushing it out with hot water.

Put some baking soda in your hamper. Got a hamper of funky clothes that just won't quit? Leave a box of baking soda in it or sprinkle some on the clothes (your washing them anyway, right?). Another option: an old sock (a clean one, of course!) filled with cat litter and tied off at the end.

Take out the trash. Though it seems pretty obvious, this one is another biggie. McNulty also recommended rinsing out smelly trashcans with Pine-Sol, then leaving baking soda at on the bottom of the can with cat liter or coffee grounds in the liner (aka the trash bag).

Steam clean furniture and carpets. For those smells that won't quit haunting your favorite recliner or lush shag carpet, McNulty said you're going have to bite the bullet and pay to either have a steam-cleaning service come in or rent a steamer for yourself to neutralize the smell. Sprays like Febreze, while nice, are only short-term solutions. Once it's clean, leave a dryer sheet or two under each cushion to help prevent it from getting overly ripe again.

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Renters' Tools: Five Essentials for Every Apartment

Dave Odegard — 2010-04-26T12:30:00 00:00

Filed under: How To

No matter where they live, whether it's a state of the art luxury high rise or a humble walk-up, it seems that most apartment-dwellers have at least one thing in common: They don't own tools.

Maybe it's because most renters just pass on even the most trivial home improvement needs to a maintenance staff or lowly super. Or maybe they think you need to have a yard in suburbia before you own a toolbox. But whatever the reason, they're wrong.

Everyone should own at some basic hardware. Trust us, there's nothing more frustrating than when you just need a Phillips-head screwdriver and you don't own one. That's why we've compiled this helpful list of tools that you should own, no matter what your living situation.

Tape Measure

Or as it's described by Sean Wankel of Wankel's Hardware, a family-owned hardware store that's been supplying Manhattan's Upper East Side with nails and screws since 1896, "The all-important tape measure." Wankel has had a wide variety of people come in with creative improvised measurements, from the classic use of outstretched arms to showing the height by pointing out a spot on the leg. "You can use many things [to measure], but a tape measure makes it easy," he said. "You have a specific idea of exactly what you need."

Hammer

Quite possibly the simplest and most common-sense tool that someone should own. And yet, some don't. "You can hang pictures with some toothpicks and a brick," said Zak Rose, an independent furniture designer and builder working in Chicago, "but it is a lot easier to do with nails and a hammer."

Four-in-One screwdriver

This handy little device saves you the need of buying four different screwdrivers or sacrificing the space they take up. It comes with two bits with two varieties of screw heads on either side, allowing you to interchange them depending on the job. And it can even help with non-screwdriver needs. "It's actually a 'five-in-one' because it's also got a 5/16th nut-driver," said Wankel.

Cordless Drill

The most costly investment on the list, a cordless drill is also the most useful. "It's versatile," said Wankel. "It's really going to give you a lot of options for what you need to do in an apartment. Where if you have just a screwdriver and a hammer, you're going to be sort of limited in what you accomplish."

Pocketknife

Lovers of classic '80s television will recognize this last entry on the list from the series "MacGyver," in which pretty much every episode reaffirmed the many uses of a pocketknife. "I carry a small pocketknife with me when I am working," said Rose. "I have found it to be incredibly handy whether I have all my tools or none ... it seems to come in handy several times a day."

Hopefully with everything on this list you'll be able to tackle most any home improvement problem, but more than likely you'll eventually run into something that will require you to run down to a hardware store and pick something up. But that's OK. According to Rose it's how you put together a proper tool collection. "Buy the tool you need for the job at hand and soon you will have a full toolbox," the builder said.

Other tools you should think about eventually adding to your collection: Hex keys, hot-glue gun, lockjaw pliers, and razor knife with replaceable blades.

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