Know How Your Air Conditioning System Works

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Unique Bathroom Vanity

With the adverse effects of the global warming, the earth is getting hotter day by day. If you look at any places from any parts of the world, you can find that people are having lots of trouble due to the increase in the global temperature. It can also be seen that our atmosphere is becoming polluted for the increase in the number of motor vehicles. These motor vehicles emit harmful particles which causes severe damage to our health. The rise in the humidity level can also be a problem for the people of some regions of the world. In order to get rid of these problems, people are now depending on the air conditioning system for their home or office environment.

Before you install your air conditioning system to comfort your senses, you can have some knowledge on how this mechanical appliance works.

At first, it takes some polluted air inside the equipment from the room environment.

It then filters the polluted air through the built in filter. There the harmful particles will be separated from the air.

It then sends the air through the metallic plates. These metallic plates have the same temperature which you must have fixed when you have switched on this appliance. While the air passes through these plates, the heat gets exchanged between the air and the metal plates. Thus the air gets cooler after it crosses these metallic plates.

After that, the air passes through a high pressure pipe which reduces the volume of the air. Thus the water particles get partially removed from the air.

At last, the air conditioning system throws the air with the high capacity motor towards your room. In this way, you can reduce the humidity level from your room environment while you can achieve an ambience with lesser harmful elements and you can enjoy a cooler and soothing environment according to your personal preferences.

Get to know your a/c!

Thanks, Kyla for this post for UniqueVanities.com, your one-stop shop for single vanities no tops!

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Funky New Furniture Piece!

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Unique Bathroom Vanity

We know that remodeling a bathroom is a hard job. And often times, what’s harder still is picking out the items to go into your remodel. That’s why here at UniqueVanities.com, we add new items to our site as often as possible to give you as many choices as possible to help in your renovation. After all, the bathroom vanity is the central focal point of your bathroom—so we want you to love it! Today, we thought we’d feature a funky new modern furniture piece we added to our site. Measuring 48 inches, it’s a 48 bath vanity that offers not only storage space, but counter space as well. The furniture style of the cabinet paired with the vessel sink and single hole faucet work well to mesh the modern and the traditional styles that many people can’t decide between. We hope you like it as much as we do! And, as always, should you have any questions on any of our items—please don’t hesitate to call 866-526-1843!

48 Inch Single Vessel Sink Bathroom Vanity With Antique Brown Finish

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How Detailed Should Home Improvement Contracts Be?

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Unique Bathroom Vanity

In our last post, we highlighted the reasons a homeowner would want to end a home improvement contract. In this one, we thought we’d give you a few tips on making a contract so that, hopefully, you don’t have to end it! As with any contract, the more detailed it is, the better. You’ll want to make sure every possible scenario of the project and all its possible complexities are explained up front and in writing. It’s important to include a detailed scope of the work you want completed, materials that will be used, and allowances for materials not picked up beforehand (like the faucets and drains and counter that weren’t included when you purchased your double vanity no top.) It is also important to include a timeline that you can reasonably expect the various projects to be completed on and what happens if hidden damages occur (like termite or water damage or structural deficiencies.)  You’ll want to layout not only a detailed schedule of the projects to be handled, but also a payment schedule as well. You don’t work for free, so understand that your Contractor won’t continue to work without payment either. Finally, you should also take into consideration how your Contractor can expect to handle any extra work or a change in the work order, as well as any local laws that concern the project. Having a thorough document prepared and followed will not only make the job progress easier, but will also protect you and your investment should issues arise.

Take notes before you start to make sure every aspect is covered!

Text to appear underneath image: We thought we’d give a much needed “shout out” to the General Contractor that supplies us with all this useful information. Randy, YOU ROCK! For more information about renovations in the Dallas, TX area visit http://www.rsquaredrenovations.com/.

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Is It Possible To Get Out Of A Home Improvement Contract?

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Unique Bathroom Vanity

The simple answer here is: yes. Depending on the reason you are trying to get out of the contract makes the answer more difficult. If both parties agree to end the agreement, then it is only a matter of settling up the financial part of the project. However, if the Contractor is doing poor work but doesn’t think so, then it may lead to a legal battle. Don’t shy away from this battle though. If you have proof that the job isn’t being done properly, then essentially it’s your money and your home that you’ll be fighting for. Both things are good causes. We asked our on-staff General Contractor what the biggest reasons he’s seen to end a contract are. He listed poor work, majorly behind schedule, unforeseen health issues, running out of money, and surprisingly, divorce! If you’ve got a valid reason to end a home improvement contract, begin by speaking frankly with your Contractor. In the end he/she is just a regular person too, and (hopefully) will understand your reasoning, and be able to work out an amicable end to your contract.

Home Improvement Contracts

If you’re ready to continue your home remodel project and not end it, be sure to check out our site to find options in 72 inch bath vanities for the bathroom project of your renovation!

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How To Fix A Drafty Window Or Door

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Unique Bathroom Vanity

If you’re like me, you live in an older home. While windows are one of the items on my renovations list, they’re not the first. So as I was lounging on my couch the other day and noticed a slight draft coming from my window, I figured I’d ask our handy General Contractor for some tips on how to remedy that situation and the same problem I’ve noticed with the door. Drafts are usually caused by one of two problems. The first of which could be the caulking on the outside of the window frame. Caulk can be purchased at any Home Improvement store and is easily applied. The other option is the weather stripping on the window. This is usually the more common problem, as over time, the seal on weather stripping breaks down. Hence, a draft. Weather stripping can also be purchased at any local home store and is just as easy to apply. Additionally, it’s a good idea to check your windows and doors before the cold season hits, as these areas are a major source of heat loss for your home if they’re not properly maintained. (Read: Fix the draft=help with your heating bill!)

Seal it up!

Notice a draft while you were brushing your teeth at your 72 bathroom vanity? There’s nothing worse than stepping out of a hot shower into a cold bathroom—so check your windows there too!

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Keeping It Simple with Another 5 Star vanity!

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Unique Bathroom Vanity

Do you have a small bathroom you are trying to remodel? Are you looking for a simple vanity that won’t overpower the space, yet something that’s stylish enough to stand the ever-changing trends of the times? If you answered yes to these questions, this single bathroom vanity may be the choice for you. It’s another one of our popular sellers (and a 5 star rated one, at that) so we figured we’d feature it in this product spotlight. Here are some of the good things the clients had to say that purchased this item!

J. Kane said: “5 stars: all was good! Order process was great, delivery was easy and the vanity is fabulous!”

K. Leary said: “Excellent, personal customer service, fast shipping! Quality products, fair pricing.”

If this one is not up your alley, be sure to check our page for other options! We’ve got something for every style, size, and budget!

24 Inch Single sink Shaker Style Bathroom Vanity With Choice of Countertop

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Hire A Contractor Or Act As One Yourself?

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Unique Bathroom Vanity

Many people who are considering doing major home renovations often wonder if it’s a better idea to hire specialists for all the areas that need to be redone and oversee the project themselves. Alternately, they wonder if hiring a General Contractor is the better idea and/or worth the expense. There are pros and cons to each side of this dilemma. What it really comes down to is time and knowledge. If the homeowner has the time to stay home all day and the knowledge to float between specialists to make sure each project is being done correctly, then by all means, hiring a Contractor is an expense that could be cut. If the homeowner doesn’t have the time or experience, however, a General Contractor is the way to go. He/She is there to ensure a quality job is done in all aspects of the renovation and that the job is done on time. This takes much of the stress s off of the homeowner as there is only one person he/she needs to have reporting to him/her.  The cost of removing this stress? Usually you can expect to pay a contractor fee of 15 to 35%.

Is your renovations list long? Hire a Contractor!

If you’ve decided that you need a Contractor to oversee your home remodel, but don’t want to be completely left out of the project, ask him to leave a few tasks for you, like installing the unique vanity mirror you picked out!

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How to Set up a Patio for Solar Panels

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Unique Bathroom Vanity

Homeowners are creating ways to generate solar power in neighborhoods around the nation. Relieving some of the stress on the electric bill and the grid itself is a bonus, but still being able to enjoy the shady area under the patio cover is even better.

With a solar patio cover, the sun’s rays can be harnessed to run lights and other popular features used in the summer. Connecting the panels to the municipal grid system also helps offset the energy usage in your home as well. Programs are available to host a simple set up in most cities. A usual installation of a solar paneled grid of average size which is approximately 300 to 500 square feet will produce an energy flow of about 250-400 kwh. Not too shabby for a small patio size cover, with the space traditionally being unused most of the year. The solar patio cover won’t cure our issues with the energy crisis, but it can contribute to a reduction in the energy we use.

Living in cooperation with the planet and saving money can both be met in the installation of a patio cover. The cover can be installed professionally or if you know what you’re doing, installing it yourself is a great project to do on the weekends. Connecting the power to the grid and knowing how to connect all the electrical inverters might be a job for a professional.

However, once the solar panels are in place and the grid connection is made, you’re good to go. The advantage of the solar panel placement and use is that the photovoltaic systems are affordable, relatively speaking. They are lightweight and lie low to generate the power that can supply lighting or other features on the patio or connect it to the grid for savings on an all round supply of electricity. The savings are great, however the system will cost several thousands of dollars with installation charges.

To begin with, a smaller project that may energize you for the larger patio cover experiment is to attach an iPod deck to a solar paneled patio set to give you music while you work on your solar energy home.

With a few solar panels attached under the umbrella of a patio set allows for the wiring to be tacked down to the underside of the table. The iPod can be housed in a weatherproof case, where it is attached to the speakers.

Saving energy is becoming a necessity, not just a weekend experiment. No matter the amount of electricity you save by putting together an electricity producing element, it is more than your neighbor has probably accomplished. One house at a time can make a huge difference in our electricity usage!

About the author: E.F. blogs for the solar panels blog to help people learn how to save energy and money and was kind enough to submit this post for UniqueVanities.com! Thanks again!

Natural energy!

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Must Haves In Every Homeowner’s Toolkit

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Unique Bathroom Vanity

Here at UniqueVanities.com, we consider ourselves fairly handy. One question one of our “not-so-handy” employees recently asked was what she should keep in her toolkit. She has recently moved out on her own, and is trying to be handier around the house.  The tools we told her to include (and you should make sure you have on too) are:

  • Hammer
  • Phillips AND flat head screwdriver
  • Pliers AND side cut pliers
  • Flat/pry bar
  • Adjustable wrench
  • Battery and/or electric drill
  • Razor knife

So run out to your garage and check! Do you have all the components we listed? What are some you feel are must-haves that we didn’t include? Do tell!

Get the gear!

Need some guidance using those tools to install your 48 inch bath vanity? Call the toll free number on our site for design and installation help!

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HVAC Do’s and Don’ts

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Unique Bathroom Vanity

Our HVAC systems are extremely important to the overall comfort level of our homes. From the moment that HVAC is installed, it requires routine maintenance and balancing to ensure the proper performance levels are achieved. Although it’s easy want to be your own handyman sometimes, when it comes to your home heating, cooling and ventilation system, it’s important to be extremely careful. The following are HVAC do’s and don’ts that you should strictly follow.

The Don’ts

  • Don’t… Purchase a unit too large for your home. It just wastes energy and isn’t efficient.
  • Don’t… Install a heating or cooling unit on your own.  Enlist the help of a professional.
  • Don’t… Cover your condenser (outdoor A/C unit) in the winter to protect it from rain. This will cause more damage than good.
  • Don’t… Regularly turn your thermostat up or down to overcompensate for temperature imbalances. This could compromise your system and raise your utility bill.
  • Don’t… switch to a new type of system unless there is sufficient space for the new systems or an appropriate place to put it.

The Do’s

  • Do… Replace the air filter every three months. Pleated air filters are typically the best.
  • Do… Keep your condenser dry. It should never be covered, though, even when it rains.
  • Do… Have a regular maintenance program to extend equipment life and to ensure proper performance.
  • Do… Keep the return grille free and uncovered to ensure proper air flow.

There isn’t a perfect heating, ventilation and air conditioning system that exists, which makes it even more important for people to treat their HVAC system correctly if they want it work effectively and last longer. Not to mention, by following these HVAC do’s and don’ts, you will likely save money on heating and cooling costs as well as on repair and replacement costs. So, keep your house happy and healthy and follow these simple tips to keeping your HVAC in tip-top shape.

This article was written exclusively for Unique Vanities by Mitchell Mechanical, a leading Atlanta HVAC company focused on serving the heating and cooling needs of metro-Atlanta and North Georgia since 1992.  We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff and our customer first approach.  Our technicians receive the most up to date training available and we stay on the forefront of home comfort technology to best serve our customers’ needs.

DO take care of your HVAC unit!

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