Steps For Selecting An HVAC Contractor Print

John Eisenhower and Stephen Price discuss the Tree Of The Month:  The Carob Tree!  Not top of mind for landscapes but worth looking into.  Evergreen, good shade and the carob pods are edible.  Used as cocoa power.

The Carob Tree connection to St. John The Baptist.

John's tips for fertilizing palms.  Good palm fertilizer will unlock unique micronutrients for growth.  And a tip using fertilizer spikes.

Discussion of the various palo verde trees in bloom different times of the year.

Discussion of Ironwood trees.  Especially one that is an Arizona Champion Tree (near Morristown, AZ)

Trees attracting birds with evening sunsets.

CALLER:  Has a 60 year old (allepo) pine tree in rough shape.  How to restore it.

CALLER:  Planted a young red push pistache tree.  Needs help with a watering schedule.  

John explains attention given to the root ball and using a soil probe for watering.

CALLER: (not aired)  Has small holes around the trunk of his carob tree.  Suggestion what's causing it?   Likely certain birds!  John explains.

Slow growing trees are preferred in landscapes.  They can be managed better and less litter.

CALLER:  Has a 3 year old chilean mesquite tree.  Rapidly growing branches on the low trunk of the tree.  Usually prunes them for look.  Is the tree harmed by doing this or let a few grow out?

Jeff Carmichael of REEis Air Conditioning discusses the hardest working appliance in the summer time.  Your air conditioning system.

Air conditioners remove heat and moisture from your space.

Any short cuts or mistakes with a new system install can decrease the life expectancy and efficiency of the unit. 

Rosie explains the results of oversizing units and poorly designed duct work over 30 years decreased efficiency.  90% of the home duct work is poorly designed.  But some improvement to the ducts can dramatically increase efficiency.

What every technician should be doing for a complete analysis of any comfort system.

CALLER:  10 year old home, 1500 square feet.  Some of the rooms were not getting cool enough.  After a service call, found they had a 5 ton unit.  (Way oversized!)  One room is too warm.  Has to nearly freeze the rest of the home to make that room bearable.

Important to know larger is not better.  In this case, a smaller unit is a solution.  They explain.

Sanderson Ford

Discussion of supply chain disruptions and challenges in the air conditioning industry.  Getting a complete maintenance/inspection and estimates of your system even if you don't need a new unit right away.

Discussion of return air.  Most single returns are undersized.  Reducing cooling, efficiency and air quality.  

The importance of seer rating.

Jeff's things you need to write down for a successful A/C install:  Perform a Manuel J Calculation for correct unit size, duct work inspection, any air quality issues and the comfort in the home.

Build a relationship with an A/C company!

Transistion of ownership in the service industry. 

Private equity firms buying up family owned A/C businesses.  The concerns with the business model of heavy handed, commission sales based companies that can cost you money in the long run.

Focus with companies on the leading edge of building science.  

REEis is hiring.  Plus training too!

Lumber shortages are increasing the price of new build homes.  Rosie explains the other reasons beside the supply chain issue.

CALLER:  The air conditioner shuts off before it reaches its set temperature.  Then restarts and off randomly.  PLUS:  A comment about his success with Super Cooling.

Rosie explains the benefit of time of day use (on and off peak hours using enery) keeping utilities from building new generating plants.

SAHBA Home Show is back!!  (May21-23 2021)  The Tucson Convention Center updated their mechanical systems providing a cleaner enviroment.

TEXT:  A listener's driveway has sunk 3-4 inches.  Suggestion on how to repair it.

TEXT:  Some A/C companies are using a tactic to replace a unit that has R-22 refrigerant (freon) because its no longer available.  We clear up the confusion.

Most Asked Question Of The Week about home warranties.  We explain how they work, why we don't recommend them and a better way using a homeowner's insurance add-on that can save you money and let you choose who does the repair.

Weekly To Do:  #Better Water!  George Cathey of Isleys's Home Service discusses home water softening and better tasting drinking water.  Some of the gimmicks that don't work, myth about too much salt and looking for the Water Quality Association seal of approval.

Tips to avoid causing a fire during the height of fire season.  And leaving baby wildlife alone.

Takeaways from today's show!