Harmony Kitchen Cabinet Storage Solutions From KraftMaid

KraftMaid Kitchen Cabinets Cooking enthusiasts will delight in the Harmony Storage Solutions kitchen cabinet line from KraftMaid. Designed to make the most of the cooking zone of every kitchen, these modern cabinets were created with efficiency in mind. Instead of struggling with a jumble of cooking tools every time you start to prepare dinner you'll be able to quickly and easily locate everything you need.

You'll enjoy selecting the Harmony components that will convert your kitchen from its current state to a custom, organized food preparation center that helps eliminate the stress from meal preparation. You'll be able to choose from among the many different options for your custom kitchen countertops, including: roll-out trays, spice racks, tray dividers, microwave cabinets, and much more.

For your base cooking center, you'll be able to choose from a base mixer shelf designed to hold your stand mixer; a base cookware storage rollout that provides easy and organized access to even the largest stockpots; a base pot and pan organizer that allows you to see your favorite cookware at a glance; and a base combination of deep drawers.

Not only will you enjoy a multitude of choices that allow you to customize your cabinetry to match the way you use your kitchen, you'll also enjoy the confidence that comes with knowing you're installing high quality, long lasting KraftMaid Cabinetry in your home. With its reputation for quality cabinetry paired with style and functionality, you'll have no worries when selecting KraftArt cabinets for your remodeling or new construction project.

Kraftmaid Kitchen Cabinets

Kraftmaid Kitchen Cabinets Bring Style, Strength and Durability

If you dream of remodeling your kitchen then chances are you are in the market for new kitchen cabinets. Picking out new kitchen cabinets can be a lot of fun but it can also be the most expensive part of your remodeling project. Learning to find deals on cabinets can save you a lot of money and still net you the results you are looking for. Kraftmaid kitchen cabinets are some of the best known cabinets you can get from your hardware store and if you look for last year’s models and seconds you will find that you can get some great deals on your next kitchen cabinets.

Kraftmaid prides itself on its 14 step furniture finish that provides you with some of the finest cabinets available, offering you a semi custom cabinet that looks like it is custom once it is installed in your kitchen. Made from hardwood not particle board and constructed with dovetail construction the Kraftmaid kitchen cabinet are superior in strength and durability and built to last.

The kitchen cabinets by kraftmaid are finished with a durakraft finish that is unique to the Kraftmaid Company. One of the finest finishes available, their finishing process exceeds all the requirements of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association. They use a mix of clear resin and ultraviolet screen inhibitors which provide a custom finish that increases the color life and clarity during day to day use in your home.

Kraftmaid can be proud of their intelligent designs that give you more useable space where you need it. This includes things such as deeper drawers, adjustable shelves, roll out trays and rotating shelves that will keep your kitchen equipment and pantry items as organized as possible so you will always know where everything is and what you have on hand. Your kitchen cabinets by kraftmaid are designed to provide you the ultimate in organization and design to make your time in the kitchen more efficient.

Kraftmaid has been in the business of making cabinets for 40 years starting as a small local company and because word of their fine workmanship got around they have grown to become one of the largest and most recognized cabinet makers in the country. If you need cabinets Kraftmaid cabinets can be found at your local home design center or home and building center. You will not find better constructed and sturdy cabinets anywhere and they come with a lifetime warranty for as long as your cabinets are in your kitchen.

Brook FurnitureRental

Brook Furniture Rental was founded in 1979.when Robert W. Crawford, Jr., now an inducted member of the Chicago Area Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame,bought the assets of a small Chicago furniture rental company with annual revenue of about $500,000.

In 1990 Brook Furniture Rental purchased the westcoast operations of Bruener's Furniture Rental, a John Breuner Company. This acquisition gave Brook an immediate presence in multiple fast growing California markets. Also that year, Brook purchased various operations of competitors in Milwaukee and Chicago, further solidifying the Company's market presence in and around its home markets. Over the next three years, Brook Furniture Rental continued to purchase smaller furniture rental operations of companies in Southern California, integrating these companies into its existing California operations.

In 1999, Brook Furniture Rental entered the Dallas Fort Worth market with the opening of a new showroom and distribution facility.

In the year 2000, Brook Furniture Rental entered the Atlanta area with a showroom and distribution facility. Brook bought the Las Vegas operations of a competitor as well as the Washington, D.C. residential furniture rental business of ExecuStay by Marriott that same year.

In 2006, Brook Furniture Rental added a new distribution center and showroom in Lanham, Maryland. A second showroom in the greater Washington DC area, in Fairfax, Virginia. Brook also opened a new showroom in Rancho Cucamonga, California that same year.

Robert Crawford, III, formerly a marketing executive with Coca-Cola and earlier with Quaker Oats, joined Brook Furniture Rental in 2007 as executive vice president. Crawford, the son of Brook founder and CEO Robert Crawford, Jr., was immediately responsible for developing marketing and managing three of its seven regions.

In 2009, Robert Crawford, III became President of Brook Furniture Rental. Shortly thereafter, Brook announced plans to provide rental furniture service to Austin Texas and Houston, Texas.

Today, 2009, thirty years after its founding, Brook Furniture Rental has revenue exceeding $60 million. Brook is the second largest company
(and the largest privately held company) in the domestic rent-to-rent segment of the U.S. furniture rental industry

Brook Furniture Rental Showroom Locations

Northern California: Los Altos | Peninsula Sacramento | San Joaquin Valley San Francisco | Marin County Santa Clara | Silicon Valley Walnut Creek | East Bay Southern California: Beverly Hills | Los Angeles | Beach Cities Newport Beach | Orange County San Diego | San Diego County Sherman Oaks | San Fernando Valley Georgia: Atlanta Illinois: City of Chicago Elk Grove | Chicago Suburbs Texas: Dallas + Austin Houston Washington DC | Maryland: Fairfax, VA Lanham, MD (includes Washington DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia) Wisconsin: Milwaukee + Madison

Brook Furniture Clearance Center Locations
Atlanta, GA (Norcross) Chicago, IL (Elk Grove Village) Dallas, TX Los Angeles, CA (City of Industry) San Francisco, CA (Hayward) Washington DC (Lanham, MD)

Brook Furniture Rental Executives
Chairman and CEO - Robert W. Crawford, Jr. President - Robert Crawford, III CFO - John Paul CIO - Tom Murray

Brook Furniture

Home Staging On-Line Catalog

Our wide selection of high quality furnishings, coupled with our unique commitment to superior service, has made Brook Furniture Rental a valuable furniture rental partner to home staging professionals for nearly 30 years. Our company is focused on helping sell homes faster, and for higher prices.

Serving as the home stager's rental furniture resource, Brook Furniture Rental's knowledgeable sales professionals will help you select from our broad range of styles and accent pieces, in order to best compliment the features of a home. We understand the importance of rental furniture in the staging process, with just one chance to make a strong first impression in every room of the home. From assistance in our showrooms to on-site consultations, allow the team at Brook Furniture Rental to be your home staging furniture rental resource, too!

Benefits:

• Delivery within 48 hours
• Unique one-of-a kind items available
• Complimentary furniture consultation
• Flexible lease term

By entering the information at the right, you will be able to choose from our furniture rental inventory in your specific geography. Our furniture rental catalog includes monthly furniture rental rates by individual furniture items, so you can more easily develop a furniture rental solution for your home staging needs!

Commercial Fans

In 1889, D Richardson & Sons Manufactured the first of many air movements products to service Australian industry. After 100 years, the name may have changed but the company continues to build on the experience and commitment that has established us as a leading supplier of a wide range of quality industrial and commercial fans.
	Flakt Woods Fans is wholly owned subsidiary of ABB Australia, providing access to the international resources of Asea Brown Boveri's financial, technical and research network while maintaining a strong commitment to local manufacture.
Extensive local knowledge, accumulated through offices in most states of Australia, means we can analyze, design, manufacture and install standard or custom-built equipment for any fan application. With accreditation to AS3901 / ISO9001 Quality standard, our future lies in a strong commitment to quality and professionalism - before, during and after manufacture.

Commercial Dishwashers

According to some sources commercial dishwashers were the first versions of the machines which were introduced as soon as the technology was developed. The domestic versions were introduced later. The need for mechanical devices to clean dishes became necessary when there was shortage of manpower after the world war. Moreover, the standard of cleanliness in hospitals, hotels and other public places where large number of people were fed had to be improved due to stringent implementation of rules by the public health authorities. Later it was realized that dishwashers have not only made the cleaning process easier but have also enhanced the overall productivity. Use of dishwashers became more prevalent when the health consciousness spread through out, thanks to the world health organization and other agencies. In the present dishwashers are widely used in cruise ships, airline catering, trains, hospitals, hotels and educational institutions.

Dishwashers in the commercial sectors require special methods and features in conformity with the quantum of work and the quality that is expected in the process. The dishwashing includes rinsing, semi and finish wash cycles. As dishes of different shapes and types are subjected to cleaning multi-dimensional methodologies are to be adopted. Metal, plastic and glass pans are to be cleaned differently in tune with the texture of the items concerned. Intensity of wash will also vary depending on the degree of dirt or crust formed in the vessels. Glass dishwashers and bond machines are specialties required for large establishments. Technologies applied are different for commercial dishwashers from domestic machines. Thick crust, food leftovers, oily remnants are to be extracted and removed using special techniques. Not only pans and vessels but also storage jars irrespective of their sizes can be cleaned in the specially designed machines. Fully automatic machines have features to monitor the process of cleaning.

Modern commercial dishwashers are designed to conserve energy and water both being precious resources in the present scenario. In certain areas like hospitals and nursing homes dishwashers are designed to wash and sanitize the dishes. Heating system can increase the temperature up to 180 deg.F for sanitization. Some models of commercial dishwashers with energy star are 25 percent more energy efficient and 25 percent more water efficient than standard models. They are designed to consume less energy while idling in between washing cycles. Water consumption is also minimal during the final rinse. It is estimated that much of the energy consumed is utilized to heat water. By reducing the quantity of water consumed by the dishwasher, substantial saving of energy can also be achieved.

There are several types of dishwashers available in the market to meet the increasing demands from various categories of users. The under counter type is similar to domestic models but has capacity to wash 35 racks of dishes per hour. Smaller types of sink glass washers are also available which can be fitted to the sink. Such machines have special rotating brushes to clean the glasses. Modern machines designed for large establishments are capable to wash 400 racks of dishes per hour.

Internet is a good source to shop for commercial dishwashers. Some of the online dealers offer special web prices with free delivery and installation in UK. Leading manufactures of commercial dishwashers undertake regular preventive maintenance in the customers premises in order to avoid breakdowns and to enhance the durability of the machines. Apart from fool proof warranty for the products the manufacturers ensure exceptional cleanliness and reliability.

Portable Air Conditioner Units

Advantages of Portable Air Conditioning

Air conditioner is a great necessity in summer climate that is hot and humid. In these weather conditions, cool air from the air conditioner unit takes all the tiredness away from the body and helps in rejuvenating it. It is very important to keep the portable air conditioning units clean in order to maintain the effectiveness of cooling. Basically, portable air conditioner units can be transferred from one room to another without much manual labor.

This helps in ensuring that all the rooms of close vicinity can be cooled at once. This is an excellent way of managing the room temperature of a household or a single floor with various rooms. These units are portable and can be taken to any place; this mobile nature of portable cooling units is a plus point that is missing in wall mounted units such as window, split and cassette duct air conditioners.

These portable units are easy to maintain and clean that is the plus point of this cooling unit in comparison of wall mounted air conditioners that are serviced once in a year. In terms of spacing, these potable units do not take much space and can be adjusted in any room without much hassle.

In order to install portable air conditioning units, you do not need to make an extra provision such as cutting the wall in order to fix the air conditioner. Thus, they are more useful than the regular air conditioner units in terms of its use. Even in cost factor, these units are not higher than the usual cooling units and can be installed in any nook and corner without any difficulty.

Finally, if you are planning an air conditioner for your house or office, try portable cooling units that are more efficient than the usual air conditioners.

Home Improvements - Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen is probably the most commonly used room in the house. Many people entertain their closest friends and families in the kitchen. Is it any wonder, then, that the kitchen is the one room that most of us would like to redecorate? Fortunately, for a small amount of money we are able to refinish our cabinets, creating a huge impact on the beauty of our whole kitchen. Refinishing kitchen cabinets does, however, entail a lot of both work and safety precautions.

It seems that the majority of older item have been well built, whether they be cars, houses or kitchen cabinets. This feature, alone, proves the case for simply refinishing, or repainting the kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them in their entirety. All kitchen cabinets constructed out of wood or plywood can be refinished. Metal cabinets are a different story because even though you repaint them with special metal paint, they are still prone to chipping and peeling.

Before attempting to refinish your cabinets, you should remove all of the doors, drawer fronts and existing hardware. A thorough cleaning of all components is essential; any trace of residual grease will repel the new paint. A uniform coverage with no visible brush marks can be achieved with the use a spray gun painting system. All items to be refinished must first be covered with an oil based primer. Keeping in mind that we are refinishing kitchen cabinets, which automatically means that they will be exposed to excess wear and tear, an oil-based finishing paint, gloss or semi-gloss, should be applied in two coats for maximum protection.

Refinishing your cabinets is probably one of the least expensive ways to redecorate your kitchen. However, do not under any circumstances, forget to use total eye protection and any other safety precautions available.

Refinishing Cabinets

Cabinet Refinishing Refinish, Reface or Replace

A new kitchen or bathroom is possible with cabinet refinishing. Kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities can be dressed up, revitalizing an old kitchen or bathroom. Plus, depending on the condition of the wood cabinets, this task can be easy.

Cabinet refinishing is a great way to save money and still have a beautiful or unique kitchen. The cost can be minimal if your cabinets are in good shape. The do-it-yourself homeowner can save thousands compared to new cabinets, and all it requires is a plan, a little effort and persistence.

The steps can be applied equally well to bathroom vanities and any built in cabinetry, such as bookshelves.

Decorative Possibilities for Your Cabinets

Many decorative effects can be achieved during any cabinet refinishing project, especially with paint. A different color on the doors or a crackle finish is just a couple of examples.

The overall look and feel of your kitchen or bathrooms can be dramatically changed and improved by either revitalizing the current finish or refinishing with paint or stain.


* Painting Cabinets: Painted cabinets can add a new look and style to an otherwise dreary kitchen or bathroom. A tough scratch resistant finish is possible, resulting in an entirely new look that is easily maintained. All of this for a fraction of the cost of a new set of wood cabinets or vanities.
* Use Glazes for a Decorative Effect: Using a glaze over paint is a great way to highlight details and give the cabinets a unique look. A glaze can be used for an aged look to newly painted cabinetry.
* Apply a Crackle Finish to Cabinets: This is a popular way to create a new and different kind of look. Crackling can be a bold statement or a subtle change with the right choice of paint colors. Add some glazing and crackling can take on the look of very old cabinets.
* Antiquing Cabinets for a Unique Look: This involves distressing an existing finish or antiquing can be combined with new stain. Many unusual effects are possible.
* Revitalize Your Current Finish: If you like the current look of your kitchen or bathroom, the finish can be revitalized to look new again. Stained cabinets can be brought back to life with just a little elbow grease, the proper materials and some good tools. Refinishing kitchen cabinets is one of the most popular and cost effective refinishing projects for both the homeowner and professional painter.
* Restain Over the Existing Finish: Retaining over existing finishes is another possibility. This typically involves the use of a gel stain and can produce dramatic color changes, especially with light stained cabinets. Restaining cabinets is an excellent alternative to replacing or refacing. Restaining cabinets using gel stain over a preexisting wood finish is also an alternative to stripping and sanding down to new wood.

Refacing Cabinets

The next best alternative to refinishing is refacing. Although cabinet refacing is cheaper than all new cabinets, it is still considerably more expensive than cabinet refinishing.

Cabinet refacing involves the replacement of the door and drawer fronts (with new) plus installing a veneer of new wood over the existing cabinets. This is done with your existing countertops in place, no need to replace them if they are in good shape.

This type of work is done by a professional and is a difficult DIY job. Refacing is typically twice as expensive as hiring a pro to refinish your cabinets. But, it is still considerably cheaper than a full replacement of your cabinets.

Replacing Cabinets

The cost of replacing kitchen cabinets can be very high. Homeowners can easily spend several thousands of dollars on new cabinets. This type of work is a kitchen or bath remodel and involves the replacement of the countertops.

Since the amount of work is extensive, this is your most expensive option. If your cabinets and countertops are very bad shape, a full replacement is best.

Cabinet Refinishing Tips

Now that you are convinced that cabinet refinishing is better than replacing, a few tips and steps will be appropriate.

* If a new look is what you are after, look at magazines and the local home improvement center for ideas. A blueprint of ideas is needed before you start.
* Kitchen cabinet refinishing can be a large project that will take time and effort. Try to set up a temporary kitchen to minimize any interference with the refinishing process.
* Clean, clean and clean some more. This is very crucial for the best results. Kitchens and bathrooms are difficult areas to keep clean. All soap and chemical residues or grease must be completely removed.
* Take everything apart that you can. Remove all hinges and handles. Remove the doors and drawer fronts for easer sanding and application of the finish. Drawer fronts are often secured with a few screws to the drawer box. If your fronts cannot be removed, remove all items from the drawers and plan on refinishing with the fronts attached.
* Try to have all the materials purchased before starting. This way you won't run out in the middle of something. This includes choosing an interior wood stain color and having your samples handy for comparison.
* Think safety first. Properly dispose of rags and cleaning chemicals. And wear the appropriate eye and lung protection.
* Be patient. This is a big job that takes time to do right.


Cabinet refinishing is very affordable and a great do-it-yourself project that can involve many aspects of wood refinishing and repair. It will be a great day when you are finished. With a kitchen or bathroom that looks new, you will be the envy of everyone. With all the money saved by doing it yourself new projects can now become affordable.

Sun Setter Awnings - The Behind the Scenes Review

When it comes to retractable awnings for a deck or patio, there are really only two options for you. There's Sun Setter awnings and then there's everyone else.

And don't get me wrong, this isn't exactly a situation that I think is great, especially for a guy like me who runs a consumer information blog and tries to get the best deals for people. (Monopolies haven't exactly been kind to the average "man on the street," know what I mean?)

But as of right now, luckily for us I guess, even though Sunsetter has basically cornered the market on canopies and awnings for residential consumers, it's still very possible to get a great price on the product.

All you need to know is where to go, and you can actually get a couple hundred bucks off of a brand-new awning. But we'll get to that secret in the second. (Stay tuned!)

First, I just wanted to talk about some of the factors that you need to look for when you're doing some comparison shopping for your retractable awning.

I said at the beginning of this review that the name Sun Setter has basically become synonymous with retractable awnings. It's like how you ask for a Kleenex today when what you actually need or want is just any old tissue.

But when it comes to a structure that is going to be on your property for years, you don't want just any old...well...tissue, so to speak.

Sunsetter is fond of saying that their offerings will keep you up to 20 degrees cooler than if you didn't have one. I think that that's pretty much true, and I'll try and explain why their awnings tend to work better in this respect than many others that you might get from a local company or from another national supplier.

Almost all standard awnings are made from a fabric known as sunbrella. Now, this is not a bad fabric and all. In fact, it comes in variety of different colors and all kinds of different patterns and generally it works pretty well. The only problem with that is that it doesn't block the heat -- in fact, it just lets everything right through.

So even though you're sitting in the shade with a sunbrella awning or a canvas awning, you're still not all that much cooler, if you're cooler at all.

Take it from me, someone who was thrilled to buy a home with an enclosed porch. I envisioned many balmy summer afternoons lounging on the porch sipping some iced tea. But because the porch wasn't constructed using material that would block the heat, that place gets hot enough to roast a darn chicken. And I don't necessarily like feeling like that chicken in the middle of July or August.

Sunsetter, on the other hand, makes their awnings out of a material that only they use. I won't go into all the technical details about it, but it does have some special properties that really does help keep you much cooler than if you didn't have the awning at all, or if you had one of the lower quality awnings mentioned above.

Now let's get to the good stuff. I mentioned above that, as long as you know where to go, you can save a least a couple hundred bucks off of a Sunsetter awning. And I'll go you even one better, and tell you where you can get all kinds of other free stuff, like free DVDs and catalogs and what have you, plus that coupon for $200 off.

Go to this Sun Setter awnings page, where you can not only get all of that stuff mentioned above, but you can also watch some video reviews that will tell you even more about retractable awnings than I've been able to get into here.

For more background, you can also check out this Sun Setter awnings video on YouTube.

Sun Setter Awnings

SunSetter Awnings are the #1 best-selling retractable awnings in America. Whether you want push button motorized awnings, manually operated awnings, or a SunSetter Oasis Freestanding Awning , our retractable deck awnings and patio awnings offer you unsurpassed shade, protection and quality, all at exceptionally affordable, discounted awning prices. So much better than canvas awnings! You'll love our strong, waterproof awning fabric and our luxurious woven acrylic fabric, both with beautiful decorator awnings color choices. You can even make your deck or patio insect-free with a SunSetter Screen Room. We have Window Awnings, EasyShades, and a great selection of awning, deck, and patio accessories too. Click today for your FREE SunSetter Awning Idea Kit and DVD.

No other awning gives you all the features, benefits and value of a SunSetter home awning. A SunSetter Awning lets you outsmart the weather, save energy, and cut energy costs. It transforms your deck or patio into a beautiful semi-permanent "outdoor room", a shady retreat where you'll love to spend time. It keeps your family and patio furniture cool and protected from hot sun, passing showers, and harmful UV rays far better than a tippy umbrella or other shade device. It can be as much as 20 degrees cooler under your awning. Yet every SunSetter awning retracts back against your house easily when you want to enjoy the sun. Our electric powered motorized awnings open and close smoothly, quietly, and effortlessly in seconds at the touch of a button on our Remote Control. SunSetter Retractable awnings can be installed over any kind of siding, and even under low eaves and overhangs. Your awning can stay on your home all year long. No need to take it down in winter, just retract it. And if your entertaining area is further away from the house or near your pool, the SunSetter Freestanding Oasis is your perfect solution.

So don't settle for an ordinary awning, or a cheap knock-off. You don't have to compromise on beauty, features, protection, or simple, reliable operation. Compare our awnings with any others for durability, ease of use, convenience, ease of installation and cost. You just can't find a better made, higher quality awning, at a better value anywhere, especially with our great discount prices.

Unsurpassed quality at low, factory-direct awning prices!

Assembled in America from the finest materials, all SunSetter retractable deck and patio awnings come with a 5-Year Limited Warranty and a 90-Day Money-Back Home Trial. Best of all, our purchasing power and factory direct prices save you hundreds of dollars. Try one for yourself on your own home. We guarantee your satisfaction. Get our free Awning Idea Kit and DVD today.

Residential Air Conditioning

Residential Air Conditioner - 3 Types of Home Air Conditioners

Residential air conditioners are fast becoming common household items providing cool breeze during the hot summer months. In the United States of America alone, there are about 60 million home air conditioners that use fluorocarbons. Using these, we can have controlled temperature and humidity at our place. There are three types of residential air conditioners. They are the window room, ductless split and the ducted central residential air conditioner systems.

Most air conditioners uses Hydrochloroflurocarbon (HCFC) which is a major component of the refrigerators and has severe effect on the ozone layer hole becoming bigger. So the manufactures are trying to move towards another component i.e. Hydroflurocarbon 410A which is very energy efficient and reduces the emission of carbon dioxide gas.

The Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP) index is the measure of the release of Carbon dioxide in Kilograms which results in warming. The percentage of LCCP due to the warming effect of the air conditioner's refrigerant emission is just less than 5%.

The use of hydrocarbon in the residential air conditioning system is lesser and the arrangements must be made to reduce the risk due to fire which requires additional investment.

The international standards for air conditioners are that it should have refrigerant in air tight containers so that the release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere is reduced to a great extent. The refrigerant should be able to be recovered, recycled and reclaimed and should not become an atmospheric pollutant.

There should be professionally trained servicemen who know well about the working of the residential air conditioner and can handle any malfunctioning. They should be in accordance with the air conditioner standards and should have proper maintenance facilities.

The cost of a residential air conditioner would be in the range of $500 to $10000 and it depends on the different makes and models. It also depends on its seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) which is the ratio of the total cooling output of the air conditioner when it is in normal usage period and the total energy input in the same time.

Air Conditioner Window Units

Get the Air Conditioning Unit That's Right For You


What kind of air conditioning unit best suits your needs? There are several different ways to deliver cool air to the interior of your home, which will vary widely in price. Here's a look at the three main categories, and some tips to help you make up your mind.

Window units are the most popular way to cool down your living space. They can be installed in almost any single or double hung window. They come with accordion-like panels that help them fit your window securely. Some models can also fit into sliding windows. These units are the most affordable, and are also the best for use with almost any window and wall layout.

Through-the-wall units require that a hole be cut into the exterior walls. It's important that the hole is perfectly crafted to fit the unit. The benefit of this style is that it doesn't require any window space. It also permits an airtight, secure fit. Most window air conditioning units can actually be treated as through-the-wall units. However, they need a frame to support them on the exterior.

Portable air conditioners are freestanding units. These are self contained, and are the latest style. While some have stationary stands, most have wheels that make them easy to move from one room to another. These units are great for areas of the home that aren't in use all the time. However, this style is the most expensive of the various options.

So what kind should you get? Here are some things to keep in mind in order to help you make the right decision for your needs and your budget.

Durability: Will you be using the air conditioning unit for extended periods of time? Check the quality of the materials used, including the frame, the cover, and the base.

Location: Will the unit be used in a bedroom? Or is it intended to cool down the living room? The cooling capability of the unit will be affected by the location it's in. You need to purchase a unit that has the capability to cool down the necessary square footage. Also, if the room gets a lot of sunlight, a stronger unit should be considered.

Ease of use: User friendliness will make it easier for you to get used to the settings on an air conditioning unit. When you're already overheated, you don't want to have to work too hard to figure out the controls on your air conditioner.

When the temperature rises to the point where living indoors becomes unbearable there is a real need to cool things down so you can work, relax and sleep. A residential air conditioning system is the best way to handle the situation.

The Meaning of Central Air Conditioning Ratings

Large household appliances all come with yellow tags proclaiming "Energy Guide". Those labels were put there for a purpose, and the information they contain can make a lot of difference in the cost-effectiveness of your cooling system. This tag shows you the efficiency rate of that particular appliance and how it measures up to government standards. The rating is officially known as the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, more commonly referred to as its SEER. Central air units are subject to these same government guidelines, and central air conditioning ratings are also labeled with the yellow tags letting you know the important information it's imperative to know before purchasing any appliance.

When the SEER standard was first established, the government required a minimum efficiency rating of at least 10; in 2006, however, that was raised to 13 as the government strives to control the waste of energy. In order to achieve a rating of 15 to 17, air conditioners must have such special, energy-saving features as variable speed fan blowers and motors to lessen electrical usage and larger coils for more efficient heat transfer. For example, the York Stellar Ultra has 2 separate compressor units. Most of the time only one of these units will be in operation; the 2nd one doesn't kick in unless there is an increased demand for air conditioning.

Ecologists will tell you that the higher the efficiency rating of a central air conditioning unit, the better off you'll be. After all, high central air conditioning ratings mean less energy use and fewer greenhouse gases. That's great if you can afford these high-end air conditioners and depending on where you live. If you live in a climate where your central air runs frequently throughout the year, these high-end costs can be justified, because you'll easily save the price of the unit in utility cost savings. If you live in a northern region, however, where your air conditioner only runs a few days a year, the savings probably aren't going to justify the cost.

Other tips for increasing the efficiency of your central air are to keep the filters clean and to install a programmable thermostat. With high central air conditioning ratings and a little extra effort on your part, you can have the most cost-effective cooling system available.

Central Air Conditioner Ratings

A residential central air conditioner's rating is typically measured by its SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating). Commercial air conditioning efficiency is often measured by EER (Energy Efficiency Rating) rather than SEER. The "fleet efficiency" of a particular brand is the average efficiency of all of the models sold under that brand name.

Brands with the Highest Fleet Efficiency

Air Cooled Condensers (Brands with 60 or more models)

1. Lennox
2. United Refrigeration Inc.
3. Coleman Air Conditioning Products
4. Trane
5. American Standard, Inc.

Air Cooled Condensers (Brands with 59 or fewer models)

1. Evap-Cond
2. Koldwave
3. Goettl
4. American Best
5. Xenon

Notes on Air Conditioner Ratings

Models without a recorded SEER have been excluded.

The "fleet efficiency" or "air conditioner rating" of a particular brand indicates nothing about air conditioner quality or air conditioner durability. In addition, although the fleet efficiency of one brand might exceed that of another, this does not necessarily indicate that any particular model of air conditioner marketed under the first brand out-performs any particular model of air conditioner marketed under the second. To determine whether one model outperforms another, simple compare the SEER of the two models.

Central AC Quality

A major HVAC manufacturer surveyed its customers in 2002 and asked them about their priorities when purchasing heating and cooling equipment. The customers ranked their preferences in the following order:

1. Reliability
2. Durability
3. Efficiency
4. Warranty
5. Comfort

If you've visited the websites of any central air conditioner manufacturers, you've no doubt seen claims about quality, yet no one does systemmatic quality comparisons of air conditioners.

Why are there no Central Air Conditioner Ratings?

With the exception of Consumers Digest no national consumer organization regularly evaluates central air conditioners. There are at least two reasons for this:

1. Many HVAC professionals believe that the installation and maintenance of your furnace at least as important as its underlying components and construction
2. This article suggests a second reason: that the national consumer product testing organizations simply cannot afford to rigorously purchase, install and test central air conditioners. Whatever the reason, you will be hard-pressed to find detailed research into which central air conditioners are the most reliable and durable

Consumers Digest "Best Buys"

Each year Consumers Digest compares some of the major central air conditioner brands in their Annual Buying Guide and chooses a "Best Buy" based on several criteria. Here are some of the recent winners:

• Goodman CLQ was designated a "Best Buy" in the Economy category of the June 2005 issue.
• TRANE XL19i (premium category) and XB10 (economy category) air conditioners received a "Best Buy" designation in May/June 2003.
• Carrier WeatherMaker received a "Best Buy" designation in the May/June issue
• American Standard Allegiance 16 and Allegiance 14 air conditioners were rated a "Best Buy" in June 1998.

How Air Conditioner Components Affect Quality

Without quality ratings, how can you compare the reliability and durability of air conditioners sold by different manufacturers? Here are some of the components that affect the quality of central air conditioners.

The most expensive part of a central air conditioner is the compressor. The compressor increases the pressure on the Freon (or Puron), and releases heat. (The compressor is located outside in a typical split-system air conditioner.) Several manufacturers use scroll compressors instead of conventional compressors in their high end air conditioners. Scroll compressors involve less friction than a conventional compressor and this increases their reliability and typically makes for a quieter unit.

Another mechanism to protect the compressor is a "short-cycle" protector. Short-cycling occurs when the compressor is cycled on and off quickly (within a period of a few minutes) -- perhaps because of a loss or power, or an over-active thermostat. Because short-cycling can shorten the life of a compressor, a short-cycle protector enforces a five or six minute wait after power interruptions.

The casing itself helps to protect the components stored outdoors. Some manufacturers offer special panels, paints and even weather-resistant screws to provide better protection.

While not directly tied to durability, manufacturers are beginning to offer self-diagnostic tools which can assist HVAC contractors during service calls. Some of these tools can also store error codes for several days, or even contact a service contractor directly!

Central Air Conditioners - 5 Major Brands

The majority houses in this country are equipped with heating and cooling equipment, which obviously makes life nice: cooling, filtering, and dehumidifying the air our family breathes. Choosing the correct combination of equipment can be quite a task since you need to take into account factors like initial cost, energy efficiency rating and other factors before you buy one. Capacity of the unit is an important factor to consider, as you need equipment the is not too small or large for the home or office to be cooled or heated. A qualified contractor can make the necessary load calculations.

Another point to consider before buying HVAC equipment is the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings. It will tell you the efficiency of the air conditioning unit. Buy law, the latest models have a minimum 13 SEER rating.

There are many brands of a/c that are known for their high-quality available throughout the United States. Five of the top brands include Carrier, Bryant, Trane, Lennox, and Amana. All of these manufacturers offer excellent heating and cooling equipment through numerous and sometimes confusing options that will fit every budget.

The fact is that price is a major constraint while choosing a brand. But choosing a system purely on price could cost you more over the next decade of ownership. All of these brands are high quality and extremely reliable. The better known brands will of course cost more but they will always be around when you need service. The equipment with high efficiency ratings will also add to the front end cost, but they will save you in the long run.

It is safe to make the assumption that an old air conditioning unit should be upgraded it to a more efficient one. You may even qualify for tax credits. You should also consider a regular maintenance program for your air conditioning unit to keep it optimum efficiency and so you wont have to call for air conditioning repair any sooner than necessary.

Trane Air Conditioner

If you are looking for a quality air conditioner, then Trane air conditioning units are one of the leaders in their field. They manufacture units for residential and commercial use. James Trane is the founder of the company. He came to the United States from Norway in 1864. A plumber by trade, he opened his own store in 1885 in Wisconsin. From the very beginning, he was known for providing good service and quality.

At the beginning, the company was not involved in Trane air conditioning units. They kept the plumbing aspect of the business open until around 1915 when they concentrated on heating products such as low-pressure steam heating units. James' son Reuben who was a mechanical engineer was heavily involved in the progress of the company. During World War II, the company was involved with the US Navy in providing the technology to keep pace with the German war ships. The main component they assisted with was providing the navy ships with a heat exchanger, which proved to be a very important advancement in naval engineering.During the late fifty's, Trane air conditioning units hit the residential market. This was a major addition to their product line. During the sixties, the company expanded their operation around the world. The majority of their business focused on the large commercial and industrial units.

Every Trane air conditioning unit is manufactured with high quality parts just as its founder James Trane would have expected. Window air conditioners are almost a necessity in some parts of the world now. Many people could not live without them. This increased usage and dependence on these machines is very taxing to the electrical grid. Many of the larger cities have rolling blackouts during the hot summer months to conserve power. Air conditioners have a huge impact on the system.

Most major department stores and big box home centers sell Trane air conditioning units along with many other brands. When searching for a good unit, make sure you gather as much information as possible on the machines within your budget. A good warranty is a necessity.

Air Conditioning

When the temperature begins to climb outside, people seek the comfort of cool air in their house or office. Most systems are made up of individual components that are designed, engineered and balanced to work together in unison in an effort to provide a comfortable indoor environment.

There are many kinds of air conditioning units to fit every budget and need. Whether an individual or company requires a repair on an old unit or wants to install a new one, there are many cooling options for every situation.

Residential Air Conditioning Systems

• Central Air Conditioners - These units use the latest technology to keep an entire home cool through a central cooling system.

• Room Air Conditioners - This equipment provides cooling options for a single room or space through the use of a standalone unit.

• Building Cooling Systems - This equipment employs commercial and industrial buildings with cooling systems for offices, warehouses, and more.

• Lodging Air Conditioners - These units provide cooling options in hotels, motels, resorts, and other lodgings.

• Emergency and Temporary Cooling - There are portable air conditioning options on a rental and temporary basis.

• Marine Systems - This equipment provides air conditioning and cooling products for every commercial marine application, from cruise ships to oil tankers.

Preventative Maintenance

Many people might think of their air conditioning system as a simple unit that can be turned on or off in order to control temperature; however, a cooling system is a lot more than that. It doesn't just control the amount of cool air in a house or office. It has an impact on the air that is breathed, including the amount of moisture and mold in a room or house.

The system also has an effect on the amount of energy that is used and the amount of money that is spent each month. Air conditioning systems also have an influence on an individual or family's health through the air quality that is filtered through a house or office building.

An air conditioning system should be checked twice each year by a qualified technician to keep the unit working properly. An inspection typically includes:

1. Checking system functions and safety controls, and adjusting the operating sequence where appropriate.

2. Inspecting electrical components and connections, and repairing/replacing or tightening as required.

3. Ensuring proper airflow and changing dirty air filters.

4. Inspecting pumps and checking flow rates where appropriate.

5. Cleaning and lubricating motors as required.

6. Examining belts, and adjusting and aligning as required.

7. Inspecting, cleaning and balancing blowers as required.

How to Find a Quality Contractor

Most people don't give their air conditioning unit a second thought until something goes wrong and it needs to be serviced. Maybe it is blowing warm air, or won't come on at all. When this happens, you will need to find a quality contractor to fix the problem. A skilled contractor will:

• Comply with state and local codes and regulations, and carry the proper business and workers' compensation insurance
• Be prompt and courteous and provide fast and reliable service.
• Possess skill and knowledge to service the equipment, and if necessary, design and install the right system.
• Be educated with the most up-to-date developments in equipment, technology and design procedures to choose and install a system that is the most efficient and reliable.

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How to Build Cabinets, Doors and Drawers

A series of articles and free woodworking plans devoted to cabinetry. How to build cabinets, anchor them securely, build elegant cabinet doors, dovetailed drawers and much more.

Cabinets 101 - Basic Cabinet Building Principles
Cabinet design, whether for kitchen cabinets or utility cabinets for your garage, is based on some common principles. This article shows how to build some utility cabinets, but the design can be easily adapted to kitchen cabinetry. Build your own cabinets from these free woodworking plans.

Build a Bathroom Sink Cabinet
In this set of free cabinet plans, we take you step-by-step through building a bathroom sink cabinet, complete with a deep drawer and storage compartment under the sink. These free woodworking plans come complete with measured drawings and a bill of materials so you can build this woodworking project in your wood shop.

Make Cove Raised Panel Cabinet Doors with Your Table Saw
Adding new kitchen cabinet doors is probably the quickest and most dramatic way to update the look of your kitchen. And if you have a table saw, you can create beautiful cove raised panel cabinet doors very inexpensively. In this set of free woodworking plans, learn how to make raised panel cabinet doors with little more than your table saw.

European Slab-Style Cabinet Door Plans
The slab-style cabinet door is the most basic style of cabinet door. It can be made from plywood or melamine with the edges banded, or it can be made from solid wood. In this set of free woodworking plans, learn how to build slab-style cabinet doors using solid wood with tongue and groove joinery. They're versatile, inexpensive and can be finished in a number of ways.

The Basics of Dovetailed Drawer Making
One of the most fundamental skills of furniture or cabinet making is building dovetailed drawers. In these free woodworking plans, we discuss and go through the basics of building through dovetailed drawers. Follow along step-by-step through these free drawer plans.

How to Build Utility Shelves
In many utility rooms, garages or other locations, a utility shelf can be very useful. A properly built utility shelf is more than just a piece of wood attached to some brackets. In this set of free woodworking plans, learn how to build strong, sturdy utility shelves that will also look great.

How to Make Louvered Doors & Window Shutters
Louvered doors and window shutters are very attractive, and quite useful way of protecting windows, giving privacy to closets and dressing areas, acting as vents for HVAC units, and more. In this set of free woodworking plans, we show you a simple way to build louvers into doors or window shutters, including a router jig for consistent reproduction. Learn how to build louvers the easy way!

How to Apply Glaze on the Surface of Your Cabinet

Anybody can easily apply glaze on the kitchen cabinets even if you have never done any painting job in your lifetime. What it takes is your determination.

The steps for glazing your kitchen cabinet are outlined here.

Firstly, you can use oil-based glaze if the wood is light in color and your purpose is to make it look dark. The oil-based glaze does not dry quickly unlike the water-based, so all you need to do is take time to work on the effect of the glaze on the wood until you are satisfied with the glazing effect.

Again, you can achieve a color of your choice simply by mixing up oil-based glaze and another paint that is the color you want to work with. Without anybody knowing the color you started with, you may continue to mix until the right color effect is achieved. You may use a piece of light wood to test your colors. You may even begin to learn how to rub your glaze on the cabinet by still using those hidden parts of the cabinet.

To prepare your cabinet's surface before glaze is applied, you have to use a cleaning agent like denatured alcohol to clean all parts of the cabinet. The knobs, the handles and the hinges should be removed from the surface of the cabinet. You can make your job easier by getting a place to stand your drawers erect as you carry on with your work.

Then begin to rub the glaze into the surfaces and the corners of your cabinet and as you continue, clean up the glaze with a clean cloth to achieve the thickness of the color of the glaze that satisfies you. Have a paint thinner around the corner so that you can use it to clean off any mistakes provided you do this before the paint gets dry.

When you are glazing over the surface of a painted cabinet, use water-based paint and when you want to glaze the surface of a stained cabinet, use oil-based paint. Have that in your mind.

Know the three qualities of acrylic if you are making use of an acrylic glaze.

Finally, wipe off excess glaze that is more than required though some places when left with excess glaze gives you an attractive aged color.

Resurface Cabinets

5 Steps in Kitchen Cabinet Resurfacing

This way a typical job takes from 3-4 days to complete without the need to dismantle any cabinets, sinks, countertops or appliances...so you save money and avoid the mess and clutter of a major kitchen remodel. The cabinet refacing process can save you up to 50% or more of the cost of a complete kitchen remodel.

Kitchen cabinet resurfacing is the most economical way to remodel your kitchen. Kitchen cabinet resurfacing is the process of covering over existing kitchen cabinets with new wood veneer. Kitchen cabinet resurfacing allows you to turn an old, worn out looking kitchen into a room that can add immense value to your home.

Updating your kitchen can be easy without all of the problems associated with a major remodeling job. In just a few days you can have a kitchen to be proud of.

The following 5 steps should be taken before you begin the task of kitchen cabinet resurfacing:

1. Decide on Whether to Replace Cabinets or Resurface ThemFor most homeowners a kitchen update can just be a few simple procedures and just adding some hinges and hardware, as well as new cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Also they can resurface their existing cabinetry. In planning for your kitchen renovation, you need to see if your current cabinet framework is so damaged that it may be better to replace your cabinets completely. However if you only want to change the finish of your cabinets, than cabinet resurfacing might be a more cost-effective way to go. 2. Estimate Your Kitchen Cabinet Resurfacing CostsGet an idea from friends and relatives and find out about the work they may have had done. Make certain that your cabinet resurfacing specialist is licensed and reputable. Depending on the condition of the doors, style and size of cabinets the cost of cabinet resurfacing can run on average from about $3,500 to $10,000.

3. Get Quotes from Several Cabinet Resurfacing Companies Locate different cabinet makers or kitchen cabinet resurfacing companies in your area and invite them to your house for a cost estimate of what the kitchen cabinet resurfacing should cost. Go on the web and look through your local yellow pages. Many companies also have franchisers all over the country, Try to get cost estimates from at least three different companies.

4. Have Them Create a Design PlanWork together with them, get some ideas and have them set up a kitchen design plan or if possible get some kind of 3D picture of what your kitchen would look like after the resurfacing. Today many resurfacing companies offer this kind of computer generated kitchen plan. The right company will be sure to inspect the wood to see just what kinds of repairs may be needed. Make sure you are not just thinking about the optical changes like drawer fronts and doors or islands, but also if there is any need to change further hardware. Like drawer guides, tilt trays, hinges and cabinet shelf boards.

5. Compare Pricing on Cabinet Resurfacing Now just compare the cost estimates you have collected. Look and the quality of the work they are offering and the amount of time the work will require. Depending on the company you select, a professionally trained kitchen cabinet resurfacing specialist should be able to have the work completed in just a few days.