Each year, thousands of Arizona residents email or call Rosie Romeros radio show with questions about everything from preventing fires in their chimneys to getting rid of tree roots invading their sewer systems. His goal is to provide answers that suit the specific lifestyle wherever someone lives in Arizona. Here are questions about home maintenance and improvement from the Southern Arizona area.

Q: I have two 18-year-old air conditioning units on my home. Theyre both operating well, but Im 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: Its 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 youre 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.

Q: The root ball of a pine tree in my yard is beginning to invade the water company meter box in front of my house. The water company says that I have to take care of this problem. Do I have to cut down the entire tree?

A: You dont have to remove the tree. An arborist can cut back the roots and then can install a barrier to stop the roots from invading that part of your yard again. Youll probably need a barrier that will go about 3 feet down into the ground. Workers can probably simply dig a trench and slide in the plastic root deflector to keep roots from heading toward the meter box.

Q: Id like to replace my older gas water heater with a new tankless model? Is that feasible to do?

A: Tankless water heaters keep growing in popularity and their performance has really improved over the years. At one time, you would get a flash of cold water, then a flash of hot, then a flash of cold again when they started up. You still have to run the water a little before hot water arrives at the point of demand. A tankless unit will have high-powered burners that can be fueled by gas or electricity. These units are usually considerably smaller than traditional water heaters and will take up less room in a garage or a closet.

But if you go tankless, you need to have a water softener installed as well if you dont already have one. Thats because our very hard Arizona water can damage tankless heaters. And tankless models are more expensive than traditional water heaters. The installation can also be more complicated in terms of gas and electric lines.

Q: Three months ago, we planted a young red push pistache tree in our yard. It replaced a mesquite that was infested with mistletoe and was slowly dying. I used to water this new tree every day; now I water it every other day. But Id like some advice on how much watering I really have to do. It doesnt seem to have grown very much at this point.

A: You probably didnt need to do all that watering to begin with, and now that cooler weather is here and the tree will soon lose most of its leaves, you should only water it every seven to 10 days. When you do that, you want to give it 7-10 gallons at a time.

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You needn't replace both ACs at same time

Updated: 01/02/2015 11:31 PM Created: 01/02/2015 10:35 PM WHEC.com By: Amanda Ciavarri - @whec_aciavarri

The New Year means new rules for some businesses in New York and you might be surprised to hear this rule wasn't already in place.

Starting this year, restaurants and commercial buildings will have to install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors. The law was prompted in part by an incident inside a Long Island restaurant last year where one person was killed and dozens more were hospitalized from CO poisoning.

Carbon monoxide leaks are a public safety concern; it's called the silent killer. You're required to have a CO detector in your home, but until now restaurants and bars were not required to have them.

Gates Fire Captain Gary Finlayson says, "It is a deadly gas, odorless and basically non-detectable without a CO detector."

Jines on Park Avenue has been serving up meals for decades and a few years ago owner Pete Gines put in a CO detector. Not because he had to, but because he felt it was the right thing to do.

"It's a safety issue," says Gines. "Anytime there is a safety issue, we want to be able to protect the customers and staff members. Staff members are here for 6, 8, 10 hours a day. They are here for a prolonged period time and the customers are in for an hour, hour and a half."

Captain Finlayson says prolonged exposure to CO can cause headache, dizziness, and -- if exposed long enough -- loss of consciousness and even death. That's why they keep monitors on the trucks. Hundreds die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning. Last year, a manager died of carbon monoxide poisoning and two dozen other people were treated at the hospital following a leak at a seafood restaurant on Long Island. Investigators found a leak in the hot water heater.

"It is very important to be cautious and those establishments should probably have them," says Captain Finlayson. "They are using much larger appliances whether it is heating systems or cooking equipment. They are putting out larger volumes and heating bigger areas. They could have malfunctions."

Gines says they always keep a close eye on the equipment in the restaurant. He is glad the state now requires bars and restaurants to put the safety of the customers and employees first.

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New law requires restaurants to install CO monitors

Solar water heater install
Short video clips of the installation of a active open loop solar water heating system.

By: Ryan Dugger

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Solar water heater install - Video

Created: 01/01/2015 9:16 AM WHEC.com By: Associated Press

Restaurants and commercial buildings statewide will be required starting next June to install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors. The two laws signed this week apply to New York City and the rest of the state. Sponsors say they are intended to extend the requirement for the detectors already in place for apartments and one- and two-family homes. They noted that a carbon monoxide leak from a malfunctioning water heater pipe recently killed a Long Island restaurant manager and sickened nearly 30 people. The colorless, odorless gas comes from incomplete combustion. Milder symptoms from inhaling it include dizziness, headaches and confusion.

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NY to require carbon monoxide detectors in restaurants

An early morning residential alarm call on Tuesday has prompted Cosumnes Community Service District (CSD) fire officials to send out a word of caution about carbon monoxide.

The Cosumnes Fire Department was dispatched to a home in Galt due to an activated residential alarm. Upon arrival, the fire department found a vacant home with an alarm sounding and no signs of fire.

Once the homeowner returned, access was made to the house to investigate the cause of the alarm. It was determined that the alarm was activated by the carbon monoxide detector in the home, which was monitored by an alarm company. The alarm company alerted the fire department. Crews used gas detectors to determine if there was a leak. The investigation revealed elevated levels of CO and immediately began ventilation of the home.

The homeowner stated that recent work had been performed on the gas water heater due to a pilot light issue. Gas was shut off to the residence until the gas company could confirm the actual cause of the elevated carbon monoxide levels.

In this case, the homeowner was fortunate to be out of the house at the time of the incident and to have a working and monitored carbon monoxide detector in the home.

With weather changes, home heating becomes a priority, often with gas appliances. During the winter months, doors and windows are often closed, limiting fresh air ventilation. Be sure to have working carbon monoxide alarms installed in your home where you have gas-powered appliances, such as water heaters, furnaces and stoves.

Here are some other tips for CO alarms:

CO alarms should be installed outside each sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. It is best to use interconnected alarms. When one sounds, all CO alarms in the home sound.

Follow the instructions on the package to properly install the CO alarm.

Test CO alarms at least once a month.

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Morning alarm prompts carbon monoxide safety reminder

Electricity to Under counter water heater

Objective 2: inexpensive, reliable solution that doesn't require much space and is simple to wire, simple to program and handles job with no chance for error.

1) Buy plastic box with 3/4 Knockout. 2) Use 3/4" male adapter so all 3 wires enter box from same knock-out. 3) Attach timer with self-tapping screws. 4) Remove timer from box to connect terminal ends to timer 5) In this illustration, I trimmed the ground wires shorter and re-applied wire nut so all wires could fit into box before putting cover over box. 6) Attach box next to water heater. Make box accessible so times can be changed. Timer must be re-set to current time after power outage.

2) Read label on dishwasher: Typical dishwasher consumes 6-11 amp at max draw.

3) Label circuit breaker that connects to dishwasher. Check other loads (lights, TV, etc) that are connected to same breaker. Add up total wattage of all items on breaker. Divide wattage by 120Volt to find total amp draw on breaker. Add 6-11 amps drawn by dishwasher to find total load.

4) Can you safely add another 12.2 amp water heater to the circuit?

Electrical capacity calculation: 1) 15 amp breaker with 14 gauge wire is recommended at 80% rated load = 12 amp load. 2) 20 amp breakerwith 12 gauge wire is recommended at 80% rated load = 16 amp load.

3) Combined load for dishwasher and water heater is 18.5-22.3 Amps. If you have 15 amp breaker or 20 amp breaker, then d ishwasher and water heater should not be turned ON at same time.

2) NO NC terminals mean water heater and dishwasher can never be ON at same time.

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How to install point of use water heater - Water Heater Timers

Review 1 for Water Heater Installation

PostedOctober 22, 2014

Overall rating

1.0 out of 5.0

Customer service

1.0 out of 5.0

No, I do not recommend this product.

The Water Heater installed was deffective and did not work properly. I had to go through the warranty process to get it replaced. They questioned me and made very clear that If they came I would have to pay for all expenses if they thought I had broken the unit myself. Finally they came and went to HpmeDepot to get a new unit, but the HomeDepot manager at the store did not know the process did not approve the exchange. The warranty people came back and installed the broken unit again (!) and told me that I had to deal with HD, that they were not going to do it. I contacted again HD and many long calls had to happen until finally someone seemed to take care of my problem. However, they told me that they would contact me the following day to schedule a visit and it took another three days and me calling repeteadly to get it fixed. After many calls, lots of frustration and wasted time, and with the broken unit in my house for two weeks, they replaced the unit. Horrible service.

Response from Home DepotByRobert G,Customer Care,October 27, 2014

We'd like to apologize for the troubles that you experienced during your recent water heater installation. We will continue to work to improve our installation services so that this type of service doesn't continue. Thank you for your feedback.

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Home Depot - Water Heater Installation customer reviews ...

Benefits of ESP reflective insulation now available to DIY market

New Oxford, Pa Environmentally Safe Products (ESP) Low-E, manufacturer of ESP Low-E patented reflective insulation, announced today that it has launched ESP Low-E Simple Solution Rolls (SSR). These smaller, conveniently packaged quantities of ESP Low-E will be available only through hardware stores and independent dealers.

Simple Solution Rolls (SSR) were created to serve the needs of DIY homeowners, car enthusiasts, campers and other end users. Some of its many household uses include: Attic insulation Pipe wrap Water heater jacket Car heat and sound insulation Garage door insulation RV roof, door and window insulation Air conditioner wrap and dozens of others.

Simple Solution Rolls (SSR) come in lengths of 25 and 50, and widths of 16, 24 and 48, as well as custom-designed garage door, pipe and water heater wrap applications. ESP has also established an SSR Starter Kit, which offers a manageable initial inventory that creates a low barrier for retailers who want to offer this versatile new product.

For 25 years, commercial and residential builders across the U.S. have installed ESP Low-E Reflective Insulation a superior product proven to drive down energy costs in attics, under concrete basement floors, as a house wrap and more.

Now, with Low-E Simple Solution Rolls (SSR), hardware stores and dealers can offer consumers the industrys leading reflective insulation. ESP Low-E is non-toxic, Class 1, Class A fire rated and easy to install. It stops 97% of radiant heat and is manufactured entirely in the U.S.

ESP Low-E is created by heat-bonding a pure aluminum facing to one or both sides of closed cell non-toxic polyethylene foam. This differs from other reflective insulation products that use Mylar instead of aluminum and bubble-wrap material instead of foam. As a result, LOW-E is highly resistant to heat, sound and moisture transfer.

Builders have relied on ESP Low-E for 25 years because it boosts efficiency in the homes they construct, said Cory Groft, President and CEO of ESP Low-E. We thought our anniversary was the perfect time to deliver these benefits directly to individual homeowners.

Dealers and retailers who are interested in adding ESP Low-E Simple Solution Rolls to their stores can call (800) 289-5693, or visit http://www.low-e.com.

Environmentally Safe Products Inc., located in New Oxford, Pa, has been a producer of high-quality building insulation products for residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural building industries for 25 years.

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Reflective Insulation stops 97% of radiant heat.

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) -

One man is dead after a fire was started at his home by a space heater and a blanket. The fire broke out at the house in the 200 block of Vernelle Avenue on Wednesday night.

It took 13 minutes for firefighters to get the blaze under control. They believe George Murphy III was trying to get out through a door in the back of the house when he died.

George's mother, Susie, got the frantic call from her neighbor while she was at choir practice.

"He was hollering, 'Come on home, Ms. Murphy. Come on,' and I said, 'What you want?' He said, 'Your house is on fire,'" she recalled.

Her son was home alone. Susie says the left side of his body was paralyzed as the result of a stroke he had in 2010.

"He couldn't get out and the patio door was locked," she said.

Despite neighbors best efforts, they could not get him out.

"We tried our best just to bust the windows and help him, but the fire was so big, it was just too late," said a neighbor.

In addition to losing her son just one week before Christmas, Susie is left without a home or place to stay.

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Space heater sparks house fire that kills 1

WACO, Texas (PRWEB) December 11, 2014

December 21 marks the official start of winter and heavy storms have already blanketed much of the U.S. Before more storms hit and even colder days arrive, Aire Serv has tips to keep houses warm and the utility bill affordable. Heating costs rise during the winter months but these tips can help reduce the amount of money spent on heating the home.

Adjust the Temperature To decrease the cost of heating a home, lower the thermostat setting when not in the home. The typical thermostat setting during the winter months is 78 degrees. Lower the temperature to 72 degrees when at work or leaving the home for more that a few hours.

Maintain the Heating System One way to reduce the amount of energy spent during the winter months is to make sure the heating system isnt costing more money than it should to run. Have a certified HVAC technician check over the heating system before the cold weather sets in. A proper furnace tune-up will make sure the system is ready to go for winter.

Keep Vents and Registers Open Blocked or closed vents and registers make furnaces work harder than they should. Blocked vents do not allow for proper airflow. The furnace will continue to run but the rooms will not heat up. Always unblock and open all vents and registers before running the furnace.

Check the Thermostat Before starting the furnace, check to make sure the thermostat is in proper working order. To reduce the electric bill, install a programmable thermostat to control the temperature of the home from a mobile device.

Turn Down the Water Heater Temperature According to energy.gov, water heaters can account for up to 25 percent of the energy consumed in the home. By turning the temperature of the water heater down to 120 degrees, homeowners can reduce the amount of energy it takes to run the water heater.

For more tips about energy savings, visit aireserv.com. To learn more about furnace inspection, click here.

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Five Need-to-Know Winter Energy Savings Tips