Broadcasting on KTAR: Click the segment links below to listen to the archive or click the iTunes icon to the right to download this hour's Podcast.
Rosie is in-studio & Romey joins us from the NAU Campus, where the Arizona Tree Council is holding their annual tree climbing competition.
*Sedona recently won an international award. as the #1 City in the World for "Giving the Best First Impression" It's not hard to see why!
*Rosie sends a musical tribute to Jennifer this weekend.
*We discuss the housing industry and it looks like it's a good time to buy a home. Costs will start increasing soon. Banks are lending, rates are good and Rosie thinks it's time to move!
*It's the last week to win our Arizona Photo Contest.....email your AZ Wildflower pics here!
Romey has some fun interviewing a few competitive climbers at the Arizona Tree Council's Annual Competition; Dan Stevens from Living Tree Service, Andy Young with Tree Amigos and Jesse Huffman, owner of Arborvision Tree Service.
*Skills, "What part of the tree are you, "Tree Climbing Hero's & fun/silly questions!
*Learn about the different events involved and how tree climbing competitions work.
We update you on happenings all across Arizona!
Caller:
Recommendation - It actually needs to be locked open when you add gas to a fireplace. She can convert to a gas log fireplace that looks natural, but she has electric and that's it. If there's no gas used, she doesn't need to lock open the flu and just set it up and be done with it.
Rosie teases one of our topics for the day....Trends in Tiny Homes.
Caller:
Recommendation - He needs to check out Pella's Impervia Fiberglass Line. They look like wood and have a textured look, plus they're perfect for the AZ summer heat. He can have Freelite install the windows or Pella will do it.
*John Jay from Harper's Nursery & Landscaping Company joins us by phone to talk about the "The Great Pumpkin" event this weekend.
(Did you know Phoenix was almost named "Pumpkinville?" It's true!)
Broadcasting on KTAR & KNST, KAFF & KGVY: Click the segment links below to listen to the archive or click the iTunes icon to the right to download this hour's Podcast.
Romey & John Eisenhower with Integrity Tree Service talk trees and take questions about your landscape.
*John shares information about the Arizona Tree Council and the 5 different climbing events in their Annual Tree Climbing Event.
*How does an arborist know where to climb...what limbs will hold your weight and how to safely ascend a tree.
*There are beginner climbers all the way up to "master climbers" with decades of experience.
Tree of The Week: The Ponderosa Pine - Arizona has the largest single stand of ponderosa pines in the world. They're very hearty and tough, but beautiful too.
Romey sits down with Arizona Community Tree Council President, Bonnie Irvine.
*Bonnie & her Husband own Arizona Big Tree Mover's. It's just another aspect of being an arborist.
Trying to get rid of critters in your yard? Find Bonide Products at Treeland Nurseries in Mesa, Summer Winds in Phoenix and Watters Garden Center in Prescott.
Caller:
Recommendation - It is a little past the prime time and we're about to enter the summer heat. It's possible to plant them now, but the foliage needs to cover the trunk of the tree and protect it from the sun. Otherwise, it might not survive.
*Memorial Day Weekend is one of the times you should be fertilizing citrus trees.
*John shares tips on successfully planting different citrus varieties.
Letters From a Listener:
Recommendation - This is a common problem and not much you can do. Fast growing trees end up leaving a lot of litter, so it's a trade-off on shade versus litter. There's also tree law and trees can be deemed "a tree nuisance" and land you in court.
*More information on the Tree Climbing Events and This Week's Tree of the Week, the Ponderosa Pine.
*Bark Beetles are threatening large areas of Arizona forests.
Caller:
Recommendation - Leave them! The branches protect the sensitive trunk from burning and help add nutrients as it grows. As the canopy grows and shades the trunk, those branches can be taken out.
*Romey & John discuss more information about citrus and fruit harvests from this year. Canning tips and how to capitalize on a large fruit harvest. Jams vs. Jelly.
Romey likes the Squeezo Strainer for eating his fruit. John loves freezing fruit, especially for summer.
Caller:
Recommendation - She can trim some now, just don't get too aggressive. Trim it back enough for clearance and leave the rest.
If you're in the Phoenix area and have questions or need work done on your trees, call John at Integrity Tree Service.
Broadcasting on KTAR & KNST, KAFF & KGVY: Click the segment links below to listen to the archive or click the iTunes icon to the right to download this hour's Podcast.
We're talking Air Conditioning with Andrew, owner of Intelligent Design Air Conditioning and Heating from Tucson and Jeff with Reeis in Phoenix.
Here's a great place to start....Rosie's Consumer Guide on Choosing an Air Conditioning Contractor.
Romey checks in from Flagstaff and also gives a testimonial about the great service Andrew provides in Southern Arizona.
Rosie shares a trick question to ask Air Conditioning Contractor's..."If the contractor simply looks at the size of your existing unit and quotes an estimate for that same unit without testing for a proper size" Over-sized AC units are far too common in AZ and Andrew talks about how this leads to inefficient systems that waste homeowner's money.
Rosie's article in the Arizona Republic talks about the "tiny home" movement and the guys discuss how the AC units would work in these homes.
Caller:
Recommendation - Jeff explains why they don't like it and Rosie gives a breakdown on pricing when homeowner's use attic fans. (10% of heat gain comes through the ceiling making the attic fan a waste of money.)
Sign up for the Sanderson Ford Staycation Here!!!
*Thanks to our sponsors Coyote Oaties Cookies and The Red Feather Lodge.
Caller:
Recommendation - We'll continue with this in the next segment.
Callers:
Recommendation - Jeff tackles it first...Average life of an AC unit is 10-15 years. He would NOT put a hundred bucks at that old of a unit. But, he does NOT need to spend $18k. That seems way too high to all of our experts. Andrew recommends a specific Lennox Product and breaks down his best options.
Recommendation - Both of those options could work. He'll need to verify that his existing system can handle the extra work load and that the ducting is efficient enough. The mini split can be wired to only cool or to cool and heat. He'll just need to have 220 power for both. Evaporation Cooling Systems are a great option too.
(NOTE: NEVER PUT RETURN AIR DUCTS IN A GARAGE!!! Your AC system will suck carbon monoxide into your home from your cars exhaust. )
Broadcasting on KTAR & KNST, KAFF & KGVY: Click the segment links below to listen to the archive or click the iTunes icon to the right to download this hour's Podcast.
Recommendation - There are 2 different types of installs. The package unit uses a metal duct coming out the side. The other sits the unit right on the opening into the home. It eliminates the sheet metal heating and making your ac unit work harder. Verify that the H.O.A. doesn't have rules against the visibility of the unit on pitched roofs.
Common Sources of Hot & Cold Spots in Your Home:
(To verify your home is efficient, you must have a whole home energy audit. Don't spend a dime before you have a whole home energy audit.)
Click here for videos on Intelligent Design's website that explain energy audits and other basic AC concepts.
What's a fair price to pay for a pre-season AC checkup? Jeff thinks $80-$120 and if companies are offering a "free checkup" they're usually there to look for something wrong. This is a red flag. Avoid it and go with a Rosie-Certified Contractor.
Callers:
Recommendation - His ducting is in the attic and he's absorbing heat into the duct work and it takes a few minutes to cool the ducting down before it can blow cool air in the home. He can insulate the duct or replace it with flex duct work.
Recommendation - After investigating, it sounds like bad advice. Leaving a fan on costs money and the metal filters make it harder for air to flow, costing her money.
Terry provoked a lot of questions and we discuss her problem further. These are common problems and Rosie investigates more to try and help.
Rosie talks about "Super Cooling" and the benefits of using this method with "time of day" plans from the utility companies. Save big money!
Callers:
Recommendation - Both Andrew & Jeff prefer flex duct over sheet metal. The sheet metal costs a lot more. Proper installation is key and with flex duct, creating 90 degree angles creates the equivalent of adding 100 feet of duct. Make big looping turns to eliminate this problem.
Recommendation - We answer Jerad's question in the next segment....
Recommendation -All types of insulation can reach the energy efficiency he's looking for without the added cost. One of the benefits of roof-line insulation is keeping the air ducts cool. After doors & windows, this is the leading cause of inefficient cooling systems. You can't install roof-line insulation with a vented attic. Banker Insulation can do this for homeowner's!
Recommendation - He won't know until he's lived through the summer heat. "Comfort Issues" almost always start with the ducting. If the company didn't do a heat load calculation, it could be another problem than the size of the AC unit.
If you have questions or want to make sure you're AC system is ready for the summer, call Andrew with Intelligent Design Air Conditioning and Heating in Tucson or Jeff with Reeis in Phoenix!