Q: I have two 18-year-old air conditioning units on my home. Theyβre both operating well, but Iβm 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: Itβs 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 youβre 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.
