Each year, thousands of Arizona residents email or call Rosie Romeroβs 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: A plumber told me that the federal rules for water heaters will change soon, and I should probably buy a new water heater to replace my old one, which is not that old. He claims that the new water heater standards mean that I canβt get a genuine 50 gallon water heater any more. Is that true and if so what are the new rules all about?
A: There are new energy-saving standards going into effect in mid-April that will probably drive up the cost of water heaters. But most homeowners wonβt be immediately affected by them. To begin with, if you currently have a fairly new water heater, you donβt have to remove it and replace it now if itβs still operating properly. Whatever older water heaters are in stores and warehouses now can also be purchased and installed until they are all gone.
But eventually, you may have to replace your water heater with one of the new ones. Water heaters that meet the new standards will also be more energy efficient β something that can save a homeowner some money. One problem with the new standards is that the new water heaters will most likely be bigger because of increased insulation in the tanks. That means there is a chance they wonβt fit in the space you have now for your old water heater. In some cases, homeowners might have to move the bigger water heater to another location.
Q: Iβm horribly allergic to Bermuda grass; so how can I get rid of the Bermuda growing in my yard?
A: Typically, people are only allergic to plants when theyβre going to seed. Of course, your Bermuda may have very deep roots, so it may be hard to get rid of.
However, there are a number of tactics you can try. See what will work best for you. You can kill Bermuda by using a systemic herbicide, but thatβs only effective when itβs growing at a fast rate in the spring. So get it going and then spray it with the herbicide.
You can also stop watering it; then it will die out, but if it rains, some of it will come back.
You can also put a plastic tarp over the top of it and let that grass cook to death under the plastic.
Q: My stepfather passed away while he was in the middle of building a house. One thing that was not finished yet is some tile flooring. The tiles are now sitting there. Should we install them or not? Weβre hoping to sell the house soon.
A: Probably you need to consult with a Realtor about this problem. Itβs possible that the buyer might want to install some other type of flooring. But then again, the home might be easier to sell with the tiles in place.
Q: I have a Santa Rita prickly pear β the kind that turns red. But the cactus pads keep getting little white spots that get bigger and bigger and then seem to turn into a fungus. What should I do about this problem?
A: Those spots are usually caused by a little insect called the cochineal bug or mealybug. Itβs best to spray these spots off the cactus pads with a water hose. If the bugs seem to be taking over, you can scrub these areas with insecticidal soap using a long handled brush.
