17 tips on keeping your cool with refrigeration
Ideas to keep your AC running better as well as what to do when it isn't.
- Rosie Romero Special To The Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: Why is it necessary to replace a furnace when you replace your air conditioner in a split HVAC system? Why not replace the blower motor instead? Or is it just "easier" to replace everything? Aren't we just creating junk sometimes when we don't need to replace things?
A: There are several reasons why both pieces of equipment in your heating and cooling system get switched out at the same time. The main one is that current air conditioners are much more energy-efficient than the ones produced 10 to 15 years ago. So you want to install a new air handler/furnace that has the same capacity and efficiency as your new air conditioning compressor. A mismatched system mixing old technology with new can decrease system performance and comfort. Replacing them both at once may also cost slightly less than replacing one part of your system one year and another part the next. If the AC needs replacing now, the air handler/furnace probably is getting ready to break down, too.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona homebuilding and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and -FM (97.1) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 1-888-767-4348.
- Rosie Romero Special To The Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: I'm having a 2,300-square-foot home built for me, but I don't know how "efficient" an air conditioner I should have installed. The builder will put in a 13 SEER-rated AC as part of the package, but will upgrade to a 14.5 SEER for $550 more or a 16 SEER for $3,000 more. What's your advice?
A: The efficiency of air conditioners is rated by what is called the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER, and of course, the higher the rating the more energy efficient an air conditioner will be. Many older HVAC systems have SEER ratings of 6 or less; the minimum allowed today is 13.
If you pay a $3,000 upcharge for a 16 SEER model, you might not recoup your investment with the resulting lower monthly payments for energy unless you live in the house for a very long time. In addition, remember that when those SEER ratings are done, they are measured by technicians in perfect "laboratory" conditions. In the real world, you may not have those conditions.
If you choose to buy a more costly AC, make sure the builder puts in rigid ductwork rather than flexible ductwork. Rigid ducts will be more durable and provide fewer air-flow restrictions. You also want them to install oversized air returns in the house in multiple locations. You might want to consult with an outside air-conditioning firm about the quality of the equipment that the builder will install.
Over the long run, you will be more comfortable in your home if it has a well-designed and -constructed ductwork system than you will be with a more costly piece of equipment.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and-FM (97.1) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 1-888-767-4348.
- Rosie Romero Special To The Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: Does misting the air outside around the condenser of an air conditioner while it is running make it any more efficient?
A: We generally don't recommend doing this because of the likelihood that the coils might freeze is high, even in times of extreme summer heat. Of course, once a year - or after a major dust storm - you should clean your coils to keep them working efficiently. When dust coats the outdoor parts of the condenser, the refrigerant in your system will not remove as much heat.
First, be sure to turn off the power source; then thoroughly hose down the condenser. But remember constant water or misting will do more damage than good.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and-FM (97.1) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 1-888-767-4348.
- Rosie Romero Special To The Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: I use an expensive filter for my air conditioner intake because it is washable. I have been using the same one for about a year. Is that OK?
A: We strongly recommend sticking to the 1-inch pleated paper filters that cost about $4 each and that have to be changed more frequently. The type that you are describing is somewhat heavier and can be very restrictive about airflow into your heating and air-conditioning system. It can end up making your AC work much harder. We often compare it to making an athlete run a marathon while breathing through only a straw. Your unit needs to be able to "breathe" in and out of your home in order to work correctly and efficiently. Sometimes it is also difficult to properly clean those washable filters.
An Arizona homebuilding and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning "Rosie on the House" radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and -FM (97.1) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 1-888-767-4348. For more tips, visit rosieonthehouse.com
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: For various reasons, I haven’t turned on my air conditioner in three years. Can I simply start it up right now and use it again after all that time? Or do you have to turn it on every year to be sure it’s still OK?
A: Yes, you can turn it on and probably it will run properly. But we advise homeowners that they should have a tuneup done every year on their AC units when they start them up to ensure that they won’t have problems. An air-conditioning technician can check the moving parts and make sure that your refrigerant levels are correct. During the tuneup, a technician may find small problems that can be fixed early before a big breakdown occurs. But even so, in theory your AC should operate just fine.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona homebuilding and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning “Rosie on the House” radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and -FM (97.1) in Tucson; and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 1-888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: I have two 18-year-old air conditioning units on my home. They’re both operating well, but I’m getting ready to replace them because my summer AC bills are going through the roof. Can I do one AC at a time in order to spread out the cost to fit my budget?
A: It’s possible to do that, provided that you replace the air handler unit as well as the condenser unit because they need to match up to operate properly. But once you have that new air conditioner you’re going to be so excited next summer about how much smaller, quieter and more efficient your new equipment is that you will wish you had done both systems. By doing both HVAC sections at once, you also avoid some of the fuss and upheaval that take place during installation.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home-building and -remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and -FM (97.1) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Each year, thousands of Arizona residents email or call Rosie Romero’s radio show with questions about everything from preventing fires in their chimneys to getting rid of tree roots invading their sewer system. His goal is to provide answers that suit the specific lifestyle wherever someone lives in Arizona.
Q: My two-story, 1,300 square-foot townhome has air-conditioning problems and probably the whole system needs replacing. My current unit is about 20 years old and occasionally it makes screechy, metal-on-metal noises. I’ve never bought an air conditioner before, so what do I do? Should I buy a new unit or a used one? What should I watch out for?
A: It’s unlikely that you will be able to find a good supply of decent used air conditioners on the market. You’ll probably have to install a new system. One thing to keep in mind is that many air conditioning contractors will try to sell you a larger size system. But bigger is not always better. You probably don’t want to go smaller than the system you now have, but today’s air conditioners are much more efficient, and you won’t have to install a larger unit.
An oversized AC stops and starts more often; that costs more kilowatt hours and could lead to mechanical breakdowns. Oversized air conditioners do not run long enough to dehumidify the air. A smaller unit will run longer and perform more efficiently.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: I have a 5-year-old electrically powered air conditioner on my roof as well as having an electrically powered, forced-air furnace. Lately, the blower motor for this system seems to kick on and off 24 hours a day every five minutes. I have the fan set on “auto.” So what’s causing this?
A: It could be that you have wiring that is shorting out or you could have a bad fan control. You need an HVAC contractor to find and correct the problem.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona homebuilding and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: I was told about a sealant that can be injected into air conditioners. Is that true? I have a small Freon leak in my AC so I’d like to know if a sealant will fix the leakage. I’ve been replacing about a pound of Freon every year.
A: Freon is a refrigerant that is no longer used in manufacturing air conditioners. Although you can still replace the refrigerant when it leaks out of an older unit, federal regulations say AC repair workers have to try to find the leak and fix it first. During these repairs, a dye is often injected into the coils though the process might not work that well. Eventually, you’ll probably find it might be more economical to buy a new air conditioner.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to
An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: I have a 5-ton, 6-year-old air conditioner compressor located right outside my master bedroom window. When it runs, it’s really loud. Can I move it about 10 to 15 feet away from the window? Right now itIt’s in a shady spot, but the new location would be a lot sunnier. Would that affect its performance?
A: It would probably cost about $1,500 to $2,000 to move it, partly because you have to pump it down to remove the refrigerant and move the copper lines. The amount of shade that the unit gets will not affect its cooling power. Newer air conditioners are getting quieter to operate all the time, so it may be time to consider a newer, quieter and more efficient unit.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to
An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: I have a 4-year-old, high-quality air conditioner, and it’s almost impossible to cool down my home to 74 degrees. It seems to take forever. What could be wrong?
A: You probably should have a company other than the one that installed your original unit come out to verify that everything was sized correctly for the square footage of your home. In most situations, we find that air-conditioning units are oversized. But in your case, it could be that your unit is too small.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: The master bedroom in my 8-year-old house gets very hot in the evenings during the summer because the late afternoon sun tends to hit that part of the house the most. So I’ve closed some HVAC registers in the rest of the house in hopes of having more cool air from the air conditioner blow into that bedroom. Is that a good idea or won’t it work?
A: We don’t recommend doing that because it could create pressure problems for your heating and air-conditioning system. Instead, close all the registers in the house by about 60 percent so that they’re blowing about 40 percent of their capacity.
After a couple of days you can then go into the bedroom that gets hotter and open the vents completely. That should help you cool off the bedroom.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero
- Updated
Q: I have a four-car garage where I’d like to provide a cooling system because I use part of it as a woodworking area. Would it work if I installed one of those mini-split air conditioner units?
A: You can do that, but you’ll have to clean the filter out every day after using it for woodworking. That’s because mini-split systems don’t pick up the dust and purify the air in the way that conventional air conditioners do. People who have a lot of problems with allergies might also have more difficulty with mini-splits than with a regular air conditioning system.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: Our heat pump went out a couple of months ago; the compressor broke down. It’s going to cost us $5,000 to $6,000 to replace the whole unit. However, we’ve been able to keep our 1,700 square-foot, all-electric house bearable this winter by using an infrared space heater. Its heat, along with heat generated by cooking and showering, seems to be enough to make it comfortable. So I’ve been wondering could we just put a mini-split air-conditioning unit in a couple of rooms to provide cooling, rather than one big heat pump?
A: Mini-splits are a wonderful alternative, and they can be installed room by room without connecting them to your ductwork. But the fact is that putting in three individual mini-splits would cost you much, much more money than replacing your old heat pump. The best way to use a mini-split is to provide extra cooling in a room that isn’t getting much benefit from your standard HVAC system.
Q: I’m doing a bathroom renovation and wondered if I could remove the old fiberglass panels for my present shower and replace the whole thing with a drop-in shower stall? Or should I remove the panels and refinish the walls with tile and grout?
A: If you’re concerned about saving money on your bath remodel, tub and shower liners are an effective and low-cost alternative. A shower liner can actually be dropped in on top of your old shower pan. The finished product will be just as durable as a tile shower.
Q: Can you plant a tree in the soil on top of a septic system?
A: Yes, you can do that provided that you don’t have a really old septic system. Contrary to popular opinion, the roots of trees don’t go straight down into the ground so they’re unlikely to bother a septic system that is two or three feet deep in your yard. The roots tend to grow laterally, but not deeply. They stay close to the soil’s surface in order to get adequate oxygen and water. You also want to make sure that you choose a moderately sized tree and not a really large, tall one.
Q: I just replaced the hot water heater in my house and did the job myself. Now we’re getting hot and cold flashes of water coming out of faucets throughout the house. What did I do wrong?
A: It sounds as if the on-off valve on top of the tank is not working properly. You probably have installed a gate valve instead of an angle ball valve. But you can easily replace that valve after you turn off the water heater.
Q: We have a sunken family room that was built about 4 inches lower than the rest of the house. For various reasons, we’d like to bring it up to the level of the other floors. Can you give us some advice on doing this job?
A: Homeowners often ask me if they can put new floor joists down and build a new wooden floor. That may work, but adding all that wood is very conducive to attracting termites. The right way to do the job is by pouring in high-slump fresh concrete to fill the area to the level of the rest of your flooring. It could be somewhat uncomfortable to do this as your house will feel like a cold sauna for about a week. You’ll have to open all the windows to let the moisture escape while the concrete is curing.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: I had a new air conditioning system installed recently, partly because we had way too much dust in our house all the time. The AC people told me that I had only one intake for the HVAC system, and I needed two of them. But after they added another one, the dust got even worse in the house than it was before. So what do I do now?
A: You need to have a pressure test done on your entire HVAC system to see what’s wrong. It’s possible that you have a leak somewhere in your duct system that is taking in dust from the attic and then blowing it into the rest of the house. Ask the people who did your AC installation to do the test. They may tell you that you have to pay for it. That’s OK; just tell them that you will pay, but that if they find a leak, they need to fix it because they should have done it when installing the new system. If they can’t find the leak, they can still blow something called Aeroseal into your ducts that can seal small, hard-to-find leaks from the inside out.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: It always seems much more humid inside my air-conditioned house than it is outside. The humidity inside is about 35 percent while outside it can be 15 percent. Is that OK, and why does it happen?
A: That humidity level is ideal. Your house is usually more humid because it’s all sealed up in the summer, and moisture produced in cooking or running the shower stays locked up inside. Your humidity level in summer could actually reach about 40 percent. If it gets higher than that — perhaps 45 to 55 percent — it’s actually possible that you have too big an air conditioning unit and it isn’t coming on and running long enough. In that case, you need to lower the thermostat a couple of degrees. You’re better off with an under-sized air conditioning unit that runs a little bit longer.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Q: I had a new air conditioner installed at my house about three years ago. After I had a number of problems in the beginning with the coil, the company finally replaced that. But now when the air conditioner starts up, there’s a loud boom and a lot of vibration in the system. What could be wrong with it?
A: This kind of problem can sometimes be fixed by installing a new jump starter on your compressor. But it’s also probable that the compressor itself is breaking down and needs to be replaced. Hopefully, this type of problem is covered by the warranty for your AC. However, if you had a lot of problems with the original installer, you might want to call another company to look at your system.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to
. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- Rosie Romero Special To The Arizona Daily Star
Q: Why is it necessary to replace a furnace when you replace your air conditioner in a split HVAC system? Why not replace the blower motor instead? Or is it just "easier" to replace everything? Aren't we just creating junk sometimes when we don't need to replace things?
A: There are several reasons why both pieces of equipment in your heating and cooling system get switched out at the same time. The main one is that current air conditioners are much more energy-efficient than the ones produced 10 to 15 years ago. So you want to install a new air handler/furnace that has the same capacity and efficiency as your new air conditioning compressor. A mismatched system mixing old technology with new can decrease system performance and comfort. Replacing them both at once may also cost slightly less than replacing one part of your system one year and another part the next. If the AC needs replacing now, the air handler/furnace probably is getting ready to break down, too.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona homebuilding and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and -FM (97.1) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 1-888-767-4348.
- Rosie Romero Special To The Arizona Daily Star
Q: I'm having a 2,300-square-foot home built for me, but I don't know how "efficient" an air conditioner I should have installed. The builder will put in a 13 SEER-rated AC as part of the package, but will upgrade to a 14.5 SEER for $550 more or a 16 SEER for $3,000 more. What's your advice?
A: The efficiency of air conditioners is rated by what is called the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER, and of course, the higher the rating the more energy efficient an air conditioner will be. Many older HVAC systems have SEER ratings of 6 or less; the minimum allowed today is 13.
If you pay a $3,000 upcharge for a 16 SEER model, you might not recoup your investment with the resulting lower monthly payments for energy unless you live in the house for a very long time. In addition, remember that when those SEER ratings are done, they are measured by technicians in perfect "laboratory" conditions. In the real world, you may not have those conditions.
If you choose to buy a more costly AC, make sure the builder puts in rigid ductwork rather than flexible ductwork. Rigid ducts will be more durable and provide fewer air-flow restrictions. You also want them to install oversized air returns in the house in multiple locations. You might want to consult with an outside air-conditioning firm about the quality of the equipment that the builder will install.
Over the long run, you will be more comfortable in your home if it has a well-designed and -constructed ductwork system than you will be with a more costly piece of equipment.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and-FM (97.1) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 1-888-767-4348.
- Rosie Romero Special To The Arizona Daily Star
Q: Does misting the air outside around the condenser of an air conditioner while it is running make it any more efficient?
A: We generally don't recommend doing this because of the likelihood that the coils might freeze is high, even in times of extreme summer heat. Of course, once a year - or after a major dust storm - you should clean your coils to keep them working efficiently. When dust coats the outdoor parts of the condenser, the refrigerant in your system will not remove as much heat.
First, be sure to turn off the power source; then thoroughly hose down the condenser. But remember constant water or misting will do more damage than good.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and-FM (97.1) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 1-888-767-4348.
- Rosie Romero Special To The Arizona Daily Star
Q: I use an expensive filter for my air conditioner intake because it is washable. I have been using the same one for about a year. Is that OK?
A: We strongly recommend sticking to the 1-inch pleated paper filters that cost about $4 each and that have to be changed more frequently. The type that you are describing is somewhat heavier and can be very restrictive about airflow into your heating and air-conditioning system. It can end up making your AC work much harder. We often compare it to making an athlete run a marathon while breathing through only a straw. Your unit needs to be able to "breathe" in and out of your home in order to work correctly and efficiently. Sometimes it is also difficult to properly clean those washable filters.
An Arizona homebuilding and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning "Rosie on the House" radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and -FM (97.1) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 1-888-767-4348. For more tips, visit rosieonthehouse.com
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Q: For various reasons, I haven’t turned on my air conditioner in three years. Can I simply start it up right now and use it again after all that time? Or do you have to turn it on every year to be sure it’s still OK?
A: Yes, you can turn it on and probably it will run properly. But we advise homeowners that they should have a tuneup done every year on their AC units when they start them up to ensure that they won’t have problems. An air-conditioning technician can check the moving parts and make sure that your refrigerant levels are correct. During the tuneup, a technician may find small problems that can be fixed early before a big breakdown occurs. But even so, in theory your AC should operate just fine.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona homebuilding and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning “Rosie on the House” radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and -FM (97.1) in Tucson; and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 1-888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Q: I have two 18-year-old air conditioning units on my home. They’re both operating well, but I’m getting ready to replace them because my summer AC bills are going through the roof. Can I do one AC at a time in order to spread out the cost to fit my budget?
A: It’s possible to do that, provided that you replace the air handler unit as well as the condenser unit because they need to match up to operate properly. But once you have that new air conditioner you’re going to be so excited next summer about how much smaller, quieter and more efficient your new equipment is that you will wish you had done both systems. By doing both HVAC sections at once, you also avoid some of the fuss and upheaval that take place during installation.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home-building and -remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and -FM (97.1) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Each year, thousands of Arizona residents email or call Rosie Romero’s radio show with questions about everything from preventing fires in their chimneys to getting rid of tree roots invading their sewer system. His goal is to provide answers that suit the specific lifestyle wherever someone lives in Arizona.
Q: My two-story, 1,300 square-foot townhome has air-conditioning problems and probably the whole system needs replacing. My current unit is about 20 years old and occasionally it makes screechy, metal-on-metal noises. I’ve never bought an air conditioner before, so what do I do? Should I buy a new unit or a used one? What should I watch out for?
A: It’s unlikely that you will be able to find a good supply of decent used air conditioners on the market. You’ll probably have to install a new system. One thing to keep in mind is that many air conditioning contractors will try to sell you a larger size system. But bigger is not always better. You probably don’t want to go smaller than the system you now have, but today’s air conditioners are much more efficient, and you won’t have to install a larger unit.
An oversized AC stops and starts more often; that costs more kilowatt hours and could lead to mechanical breakdowns. Oversized air conditioners do not run long enough to dehumidify the air. A smaller unit will run longer and perform more efficiently.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Q: I have a 5-year-old electrically powered air conditioner on my roof as well as having an electrically powered, forced-air furnace. Lately, the blower motor for this system seems to kick on and off 24 hours a day every five minutes. I have the fan set on “auto.” So what’s causing this?
A: It could be that you have wiring that is shorting out or you could have a bad fan control. You need an HVAC contractor to find and correct the problem.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona homebuilding and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Q: I was told about a sealant that can be injected into air conditioners. Is that true? I have a small Freon leak in my AC so I’d like to know if a sealant will fix the leakage. I’ve been replacing about a pound of Freon every year.
A: Freon is a refrigerant that is no longer used in manufacturing air conditioners. Although you can still replace the refrigerant when it leaks out of an older unit, federal regulations say AC repair workers have to try to find the leak and fix it first. During these repairs, a dye is often injected into the coils though the process might not work that well. Eventually, you’ll probably find it might be more economical to buy a new air conditioner.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to
An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Q: I have a 5-ton, 6-year-old air conditioner compressor located right outside my master bedroom window. When it runs, it’s really loud. Can I move it about 10 to 15 feet away from the window? Right now itIt’s in a shady spot, but the new location would be a lot sunnier. Would that affect its performance?
A: It would probably cost about $1,500 to $2,000 to move it, partly because you have to pump it down to remove the refrigerant and move the copper lines. The amount of shade that the unit gets will not affect its cooling power. Newer air conditioners are getting quieter to operate all the time, so it may be time to consider a newer, quieter and more efficient unit.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to
An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Q: I have a 4-year-old, high-quality air conditioner, and it’s almost impossible to cool down my home to 74 degrees. It seems to take forever. What could be wrong?
A: You probably should have a company other than the one that installed your original unit come out to verify that everything was sized correctly for the square footage of your home. In most situations, we find that air-conditioning units are oversized. But in your case, it could be that your unit is too small.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Q: The master bedroom in my 8-year-old house gets very hot in the evenings during the summer because the late afternoon sun tends to hit that part of the house the most. So I’ve closed some HVAC registers in the rest of the house in hopes of having more cool air from the air conditioner blow into that bedroom. Is that a good idea or won’t it work?
A: We don’t recommend doing that because it could create pressure problems for your heating and air-conditioning system. Instead, close all the registers in the house by about 60 percent so that they’re blowing about 40 percent of their capacity.
After a couple of days you can then go into the bedroom that gets hotter and open the vents completely. That should help you cool off the bedroom.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero
Q: I have a four-car garage where I’d like to provide a cooling system because I use part of it as a woodworking area. Would it work if I installed one of those mini-split air conditioner units?
A: You can do that, but you’ll have to clean the filter out every day after using it for woodworking. That’s because mini-split systems don’t pick up the dust and purify the air in the way that conventional air conditioners do. People who have a lot of problems with allergies might also have more difficulty with mini-splits than with a regular air conditioning system.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Q: Our heat pump went out a couple of months ago; the compressor broke down. It’s going to cost us $5,000 to $6,000 to replace the whole unit. However, we’ve been able to keep our 1,700 square-foot, all-electric house bearable this winter by using an infrared space heater. Its heat, along with heat generated by cooking and showering, seems to be enough to make it comfortable. So I’ve been wondering could we just put a mini-split air-conditioning unit in a couple of rooms to provide cooling, rather than one big heat pump?
A: Mini-splits are a wonderful alternative, and they can be installed room by room without connecting them to your ductwork. But the fact is that putting in three individual mini-splits would cost you much, much more money than replacing your old heat pump. The best way to use a mini-split is to provide extra cooling in a room that isn’t getting much benefit from your standard HVAC system.
Q: I’m doing a bathroom renovation and wondered if I could remove the old fiberglass panels for my present shower and replace the whole thing with a drop-in shower stall? Or should I remove the panels and refinish the walls with tile and grout?
A: If you’re concerned about saving money on your bath remodel, tub and shower liners are an effective and low-cost alternative. A shower liner can actually be dropped in on top of your old shower pan. The finished product will be just as durable as a tile shower.
Q: Can you plant a tree in the soil on top of a septic system?
A: Yes, you can do that provided that you don’t have a really old septic system. Contrary to popular opinion, the roots of trees don’t go straight down into the ground so they’re unlikely to bother a septic system that is two or three feet deep in your yard. The roots tend to grow laterally, but not deeply. They stay close to the soil’s surface in order to get adequate oxygen and water. You also want to make sure that you choose a moderately sized tree and not a really large, tall one.
Q: I just replaced the hot water heater in my house and did the job myself. Now we’re getting hot and cold flashes of water coming out of faucets throughout the house. What did I do wrong?
A: It sounds as if the on-off valve on top of the tank is not working properly. You probably have installed a gate valve instead of an angle ball valve. But you can easily replace that valve after you turn off the water heater.
Q: We have a sunken family room that was built about 4 inches lower than the rest of the house. For various reasons, we’d like to bring it up to the level of the other floors. Can you give us some advice on doing this job?
A: Homeowners often ask me if they can put new floor joists down and build a new wooden floor. That may work, but adding all that wood is very conducive to attracting termites. The right way to do the job is by pouring in high-slump fresh concrete to fill the area to the level of the rest of your flooring. It could be somewhat uncomfortable to do this as your house will feel like a cold sauna for about a week. You’ll have to open all the windows to let the moisture escape while the concrete is curing.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Q: I had a new air conditioning system installed recently, partly because we had way too much dust in our house all the time. The AC people told me that I had only one intake for the HVAC system, and I needed two of them. But after they added another one, the dust got even worse in the house than it was before. So what do I do now?
A: You need to have a pressure test done on your entire HVAC system to see what’s wrong. It’s possible that you have a leak somewhere in your duct system that is taking in dust from the attic and then blowing it into the rest of the house. Ask the people who did your AC installation to do the test. They may tell you that you have to pay for it. That’s OK; just tell them that you will pay, but that if they find a leak, they need to fix it because they should have done it when installing the new system. If they can’t find the leak, they can still blow something called Aeroseal into your ducts that can seal small, hard-to-find leaks from the inside out.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Q: It always seems much more humid inside my air-conditioned house than it is outside. The humidity inside is about 35 percent while outside it can be 15 percent. Is that OK, and why does it happen?
A: That humidity level is ideal. Your house is usually more humid because it’s all sealed up in the summer, and moisture produced in cooking or running the shower stays locked up inside. Your humidity level in summer could actually reach about 40 percent. If it gets higher than that — perhaps 45 to 55 percent — it’s actually possible that you have too big an air conditioning unit and it isn’t coming on and running long enough. In that case, you need to lower the thermostat a couple of degrees. You’re better off with an under-sized air conditioning unit that runs a little bit longer.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
- By Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Q: I had a new air conditioner installed at my house about three years ago. After I had a number of problems in the beginning with the coil, the company finally replaced that. But now when the air conditioner starts up, there’s a loud boom and a lot of vibration in the system. What could be wrong with it?
A: This kind of problem can sometimes be fixed by installing a new jump starter on your compressor. But it’s also probable that the compressor itself is breaking down and needs to be replaced. Hopefully, this type of problem is covered by the warranty for your AC. However, if you had a lot of problems with the original installer, you might want to call another company to look at your system.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to
. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
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