Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Cedar Falls Blog’ Category

Is a Water Softener Worth It?

Monday, December 10th, 2018

water-softenerWith stories in the news about poor water quality in certain areas, it’s easy to be overly concerned about the health of yours. This is why it’s so important to invest in Waterloo, IA water treatment services, such as water testing, to make sure your drinking and bathing water is safe and healthy for use.

There’s one particular water quality problem though that’s not harmful for your health but rather for your quality of life. It doesn’t typically gain too much attention since in the grand scheme of things it’s not a “huge” problem, but the long-term effects to your plumbing system and anything you wash can actually be quite detrimental. We’re talking about hard water.

Continue Reading

Avoid Overloading Your Electrical Panel with Holiday Lights

Monday, November 26th, 2018

Family Celebrating Christmas At Home Viewed From OutsideThe holiday season is upon us. If you’re like many homeowners in the area, you may be decorating your home, inside and out. Quite often, this includes putting holiday lights up and around your home.

One of the most common calls received by our professional electricians in Cedar Falls, IA this time of year is in regards to certain outlets throughout the home not working—this may include your bathroom outlets, garage, or outdoor outlets. And the most common reason for this problem is that outdoor holiday lights have tripped a GFCI outlet or circuit breaker within your home.

Continue Reading

Holiday Meals and Your Kitchen Sink: What You Should Know

Monday, November 12th, 2018

Pouring water in the kitchenThe holidays will be here before we know it, and if you celebrate, and plan on hosting guests or family in your home this season, then the following advice about protecting your plumbing is for you.

When we can, our team is happy to help each of our customers avoid any major catastrophes with their living space. In particular, we mean their plumbing. While there is, of course, no convenient time to deal with a plumbing problem, the holidays have got to be one of the worst times of the year to do so. Fortunately, if something does happen, all you need to do is call our team for thorough, professional drain cleaning in Evansdale, IA. In the meantime though, we’d like to help you potentially avoid holiday plumbing disasters.

Continue Reading

Watch for These Furnace Problems This Winter

Monday, October 29th, 2018

White smoke comes out of a house's chimney on a winter day.The more you rely on your furnace this winter, the more stress it is going to undergo. That’s just a fact. But this does increase the odds of problems cropping up over time, especially if you skipped maintenance this year! Maintenance allows our technicians to fully inspect, clean, and adjust your heating system to make sure it performs as efficiently and safely as possible throughout the winter and the years to come.

Maintenance is also our chance to spot repair needs, and alert you to these needs so you can get them on your schedule sooner rather than later. Naturally, if you skip this annual furnace service in Hudson, IA, you can find yourself with a broken down system or increased wear and tear you weren’t expecting. So, what if you’ve already started using your heater, despite skipping maintenance?

Well for one, it’s not too late to schedule it now, so give us a call! In the meantime, read on for some signs to look out for that indicates you may have a problem.

Continue Reading

4 Benefits to Owning a Fireplace in Your Home

Tuesday, October 9th, 2018

 

New models of fireplaces are easy to install. Most will slide into your existing fireplace, leaving you with no excuse to not update your outdated, dirty fireplace into a new, cozy and romantic one.

If you’re still unconvinced, here are a few more benefits on owning a fireplace.fireplace in cedar falls

1. A Cozy Ambience

This one’s an easy benefit. Who doesn’t like to get cozy? A fireplace doesn’t just provide a physical warmth. It provides an emotional one, too. Similarly to candlelight setting a romantic mood, we invite you to lounge in front of your fireplace without getting a warm, tingly feeling and relaxing with your family.

Continue Reading

How to Prevent Pipe Freeze This Winter

Monday, October 1st, 2018

Icicles hanging from a brown pipe. Frozen water and metal surface, winter time concept. selective focus shallow depth of field photoWe still have about a month to go before our temperature lows dip below freezing, but as anyone who has lived here for even just a year knows, our weather is unpredictable. So if you’re thinking of waiting on any winter preparation this year for your home, we urge you to reconsider. Especially when it comes to your plumbing in Hudson, IA!

Plumbing systems and subsequent frozen pipes aren’t something many homeowners give a lot of thought to as winter approaches, particularly if they’ve never had to deal with it. But it certainly happens to enough homeowners to warrant some preparation on your part. Remember, even just a few days in a row of below 30° weather can result in frozen and burst pipes in your home. But you can prevent it!

Continue Reading

Your September Maintenance Checklist

Tuesday, September 18th, 2018

We aren’t excited to say goodbye to warm weather, but September is here!  That means it’s time to get your home ready for winter, while the weather still permits. You don’t have to do it all alone; we’re here to help! Below you’ll find our list of must-dos this fall, and all the items that we can help you check off your list.fall home maintenance

1. Check for leaky faucets

Get a jump start on preventing freezing pipes by inspecting for leaks in the fall. You’ll save a large sum of money by repairing leaks now than you would have to shell out if you have a burst pipe in January.

Checking for leaks is something the Dalton team can help you with. In fact, a plumbing inspection is included with our Complete Home Comfort Membership.

2. Inspect your window seals

A drafty window or door can cause stress on your heating system and make all the difference between a warm and cozy home and a chilly one. Make sure there is a tight seal around doors and windows. If you notice some cracks, call the company who installed them to see if they are still under warranty. If not, consider caulking the seals or having a professional window company do it for you.

Continue Reading

Is Your Home Protected from Power Surges?

Monday, September 17th, 2018

beautiful home with mountain view in backgroundMany, if not most, homeowners assume that power surges come from stormy weather, and that alone. But this is not actually the case. Power surges come from the appliances in your home, and in recent years, as we have become increasingly reliant on electronic devices and high efficiency appliances, we’ve increased our own risk of power surges. And they post a more serious threat than many realize, to appliances, electronics, and homes in general.

You probably think you’re just fine depending on the small, portable surge protectors you can et at any hardware or office supply store (these are referred to as power strips). Hey, you can plug your stereo, television, lighting, and more into it—convenient, right? Well unfortunately, power strips are not enough to provide the level of protection needed for you home. Rather, you need a whole house surge protection system installed by a professional electrician in Cedar Falls, IA.

Continue Reading

Are Ceiling Fans Worth the Investment?

Monday, September 3rd, 2018

ceiling fanYou might have heard at some point that ceiling fans do very little to actually lower the temperature of the air in the room in which they’re running. So leaving the ceiling fan on all day when you’re not home won’t actually help the room feel that much better when you do come back.

Therefore, is using a ceiling fan pointless? Absolutely not! But it’s important to know that there are correct ways to use this appliance, just as there are wasteful ways. If by the end of this post you decide that ceiling fans are worth the investment for your home, be sure to contact a professional electrician in Waterloo, IA, such as any of the members of our team!

Continue Reading

Common Summer Household Issues: How Your Dalton Membership Can Help

Tuesday, August 14th, 2018

Have you been gearing up to have a summer BBQ, only to realize your A/C was out and your guests were left sweltering on your lawn? Or, have you been dealing with various plumbing issues because your home has been using so much more water during the summer months? You’re not alone!

There are common plumbing, heating and cooling, and electrical issues that come up during summer that will catch you in the most inconvenient time. Luckily, the team at Dalton has the list of common concerns to watch out for, and how to prevent them from happening in your home.

Plumbing Pains

Dalton Complete Home Comfort Memberships provide maintenance for your plumbing. They will help you identify small issues before they become massive problems. Use your membership to avoid the common, summer plumbing issues below.

  1. Backed up sewer line

During summer rain and thunderstorms, your sewer can easily back up from the excess water. If your home is susceptible to rising water, consider installing a drain plug in each drain to prevent backed up water from rising during the storms.

Continue Reading