As heat amps up, make sure AC meets your home needs
You may wish to invest in a new unit if your central-air system is more than about 15 years old because the money will likely be earned back through lower energy bills, said Maria Vargas, a spokeswoman for Energy Star. RON MEDVESCEK / ARIZONA DAILY STAR 2006

Q: I would like to save money whenever I can on my energy bills. Can I turn off the circuit breaker on my electric panel that controls my air conditioner during the winter and save on electricity? I heat my home with a gas-powered furnace in colder months.

A:Β Turning off power to your HVAC system won’t work because your heating system needs electricity to run the motor for a fan that blows warmth into your house. In a sense, the circuit breaker that powers your AC also powers your gas-powered furnace.

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) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.

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