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

A Booming Furnace Is a Bad Sign

Monday, February 13th, 2023

Furnaces can make a lot of different noises. Some of it, like the gentle whooshing of air coming from your air vents, are good noises. These noises help signal to you that the system is working properly and it’s not going to leave you in the cold. However, there are plenty of sounds that signal that the system is in dire need of support, from maintenance to vital repairs.

This blog has two purposes. One is to help answer some of the questions you might have about your booming furnace and to alleviate the stressful situation you’re in. The second purpose is to inform any of our readers on the potential hazards that come with a booming furnace, and why this sound should never be ignored. Once you’ve been clearly informed on this kind of problem, we urge you to contact our team for furnace repair in Waterloo, IA so that your home’s heating can go back to normal.

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Does Your Water Need Treatment?

Monday, January 30th, 2023

Have you ever stayed in a part of the country, in an apartment or some kind of private living space, and you just couldn’t go near the tapwater? Some tapwater can be inundated with all kinds of bacteria that’s native to the area if it comes from a private pump, while others can have minerals in it if it’s not correctly softened. Basically, depending on where you live, your water could be undrinkable or even unusable without treatment.

But the more you look at what could be contaminating your water, the more anxious you might get. There are a lot of horror stories out there about contaminated water and homeowners being left on their own to deal with some serious issues with bacteria, viruses, and minerals. Well, this blog post is to help alleviate some of that anxiety and point you in the right direction when you need water treatment systems in Cedar Falls, IA.

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Old Wiring Needs to Be Replaced

Monday, January 16th, 2023

Have you ever heard of the term “knob and tube wiring?” It’s a dreaded term that home inspectors avoid like the plague and it’s something that can be the difference between a solid home purchase and a money pit.

As technology advances so does our understanding of how electrical systems work. Electricity hasn’t always been around, but when human beings started figuring out how to wire their homes for electrical power, they did so in ways that we would not deem safe today. Knob and tube wiring is an old and outdated method for wiring a home and it’s one that we’d argue needs to be replaced no matter how old or aesthetically pleasing your home might be.

And for some of the reasons we’re about to mention, this kind of electrical work should only be done by a licensed electrician in Cedar Falls, IA.

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Don’t Let a Broken Furnace Give You Wintertime Blues

Monday, December 5th, 2022
cute dog under the warm grey blanket

Of all the appliance repair needs you may have in your home throughout the course of a year, few are more concerning than that of a broken down or malfunctioning furnace in the middle of winter. When you live where we do, a fully effective and efficient heater is essential. To accomplish this, it’s first important that you schedule routine maintenance, once a year, for your furnace. If you haven’t done so already, now’s the time to schedule this service!

Next, you’ll want to ensure that any Janesville, IA furnace repair needs that come up during maintenance are addressed right away. Otherwise, you could find yourself facing one of the two common furnace complaints calls we get—that the system either won’t start or that the furnace won’t stop running.

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Drain Cleaning: Don’t Rely on Store-Bought Solutions

Monday, November 21st, 2022
water drain in stainless sink

When you’re searching for a solution for clogged drains in your home, the simplest answer is to buy a jug of chemical drain cleaner from the store down the street. After all, these are marketed towards homeowners and renters looking to quickly clear up a drain that has slowed or stopped, particularly a bathroom drain that could be stopped up with hair or soap scum. But any professional plumber with experience in drain cleaning in Evansdale, IA is going to advise against this.

Chemical drain cleaning solutions are simply not the best solution for your clogged drains. In fact, they’re not a solution at all! We think some other products and services are a much better fit, but why?

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Is a Ductless Heater Right For Your Home?

Monday, November 7th, 2022
ductless-air-handler

If you are shopping for a new heating system this time of the year, chances are that you’re in a bit of a rush to find one. We really want to discourage you from rushing into this decision though, since doing so could leave you with a system that isn’t well matched to your specific home or needs. Choosing the right heater can seem like an overwhelming task, but we are here to help! It’s important that you consult with a professional as it’s the only way you can make an informed decision about what’s best for your needs. And a ductless heating system, otherwise known as a ductless mini-split, might be the answer!

Ductless systems are great for keeping homes not only warm in the wintertime but also cool in the summer. They operate on heat pump technology and serve as more efficient heaters than electric furnaces. Read on to learn more and to get help deciding if this would be the right choice for your household.

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22 FOR 22 IN 22

Tuesday, November 1st, 2022

Did you know that on average, 22 veterans take their life each day due to mental health challenges?

That is why, as a Veteran-owned company, Dalton is saying THANK YOU this Veteran’s Day. Central and Eastern Iowa have the highest concentration of Veterans in the State, so we are giving back by donating $22,000 worth of improvements to 22 local Veteran Service Organizations in 2022.

Dalton will evaluate each of the 22 organization’s electrical, plumbing, and HVAC needs, then choose 3 winners to receive their needed upgrade.

Please join us in supporting those who fought for our freedom.

An additional incentive for VSOs – 22% of any work they choose to do with Dalton from Nov. 11th and December 31st will be donated directly to Iowa Veterans Mental Health- 11% in Daltons’ Name and 11% in the VSO’s name.

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This Halloween, Follow These Electrical Safety Tips

Monday, October 24th, 2022
orange-shimmery-lights

Are you one of those homeowners who love to decorate their home for the holidays, including Halloween? It’s such a fun and festive time of year, and we don’t blame you! But if you do decorate with lighting both inside and outside your home, we want to ensure you’re doing so as safely as possible.

Sure, Halloween is spooky, but it doesn’t have to be dangerous! Read on as we uncover some of our top electrical safety tips… and Happy Halloween!

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How Does a Maintenance Plan Benefit You?

Monday, October 10th, 2022
Repairman in uniform and clipboard greeting a housewife at the front door.

Right now is the best time to arrange for Cedar Falls, IA HVAC maintenance for your heating system if you haven’t done so already. Maintenance is the number one way to ensure that your heater will work as efficiently and effectively as you need it to for as long as you need it to. And having your heater tune-up close to when it will need to be used the most is a good strategy.

HVAC maintenance is often part of a larger maintenance plan for a home.  Our maintenance program is just that—a whole-home check that ensures all your systems are clean, and working safely and effectively. We’ll get to that below, but in the meantime, read on to discover what’s so great about HVAC maintenance!

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Why You Should Always Hire a Pro for Your Plumbing Services

Monday, September 26th, 2022
Plumber unclogging a tub drain with an electric auger.

Most homeowners are likely used to dealing with minor household problems and tasks on their own, and that can easily extend to certain plumbing issues. We’ve all at one time or another had to unclog a toilet with a little “elbow grease” and a plunger, or had to fish a clog or two out of a sink. This can lead many homeowners, especially those on a budget, to attempt bigger plumbing repairs.

However, in most cases, this can be a big mistake. Formal plumbing problems require proper licensing and training, like our professional Waterloo, IA plumbers receive, in order to perform plumbing repairs and services the right way. Even seemingly simple problems like a stubborn clog can benefit from the attention of a professional. In fact, your efforts to save a little money could actually end up costing you more, or at least can become a pretty big headache. Here’s why:

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