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

When Is It Time to Replace My Sump Pump?

Monday, October 2nd, 2023

This is an excellent question, but it’s easy to be fooled by it.

Shouldn’t you just replace your sump pump when it’s broken? This is likely how a lot of our customers are responding to it and it makes sense. If your sump pump were like any other appliance, a television or a washing machine, you’d just replace it when it breaks down. But it’s not just like any other appliance, it’s special and requires different care.

Your sump pump is a preventative appliance, meaning it’s designed to prevent catastrophes from happening (like a basement flood). This means that if it’s not working, you need to know that it’s not working, otherwise you risk losing a lot.

Not only should you schedule sump pump service in Cedar Rapids, IA when it’s needed, but you should also be maintaining the system and ensuring that it’s ready to be replaced ahead of the next torrential downpour.

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5 Reasons Not to Ignore Winter AC Repairs

Monday, September 25th, 2023

The terms “winter” and “AC” don’t look like they belong in a sentence together, right? Who wants their air conditioner blasting cool air during the coldest months of the year? Certainly not us.

But that’s not really what we’re talking about today. As much as we don’t want to think about air conditioning during the wintertime, it’s still in your home and it’s practically a member of the family. For how much we use AC on a regular yearly basis, it’s essential to keep it in good shape even in the months you’re not using it.

So, if your air conditioner encountered a serious issue during the summer, it’s likely that you’ll still need AC repairs in Cedar Rapids, IA. And the good news is that these repairs can be done during the wintertime when schedules are open and air conditioning techs can take their time.

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Maintenance Season PSA

Monday, September 18th, 2023

It’s hard to believe that fall is already here. Sometimes it feels like just yesterday that we entered the summer months, but with September here in full swing, we need to start talking about fall.

From an HVAC perspective, fall is an interesting season. Temperatures are milder, which means that we can finally take a break from running the air conditioner or heating system all day. But this also means that we’ve got a window of time to get our technology repaired and maintained by professionals.

Yep, it’s the season of maintenance! AC maintenance in Cedar Rapids, IA is a great idea for homeowners who otherwise have functioning air conditioners but would like to remain proactive. Maintenance can keep things efficient, extend the lifespan of your air conditioner, and do more to make you feel much better about the future.

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When Not to Use Flexible Pipes

Monday, September 11th, 2023

We’ve all seen the aisle at the hardware store, full of different plumbing materials. There are rigid copper pipes, PVC pipes, PEX pipes, and the list continues–but there’s one thing to be mentioned that is not like the others, and that’s flexible plumbing lines. These are the wire mesh pipes that can bend and form different shapes in your Cedar Rapids plumbing.

Flexible plumbing lines are usually what you’ll see under your sink or connecting your toilet to the water line. They’re perfect for these situations because they can bend into the exact configuration that might fit your bathroom toilet or kitchen sink, without needing to break apart your wall, floor, or other more sensitive and expensive parts of your house.

But don’t be fooled by the convenience and affordability of flexible plumbing lines, they’re not intended to be used for everything.

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Why Go With Copper Plumbing?

Monday, September 4th, 2023

There are all sorts of different plumbing materials available today, from PVC to copper. But in the history of plumbing appliances, they’ve been constructed of hundreds of different types of materials. Human history is a bit of a “trial and error” experience, with people using different materials for their plumbing systems, only to find out later that they’re not very good at the job.

For instance, lead is a perfect example of what should not be used as a plumbing material. Water that flows through lead pipes can pick up some of the runoff and cause lead poisoning in anyone who drinks from that water source. Many other plumbing materials like galvanized steel and copper don’t have this problem, but there are still some preferences today towards materials like copper.

So, let’s talk about plumbing in Cedar Rapids, IA and why copper is the gold-standard material to use.

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Which Water Heater Should I Purchase?

Monday, August 28th, 2023

Water heaters come in all shapes and sizes, which is primarily why it’s in your best interest to know the difference! We’re used to seeing pictures of water heater tanks, but would it surprise you to learn that nearly half of all the water heaters in existence today don’t even use tanks? These are called on-demand water heaters and they’re extremely popular.

But these kinds of water heater upgrades aren’t for every customer or every home. This blog post is going to talk about several distinct types of water heaters and how water heater service in Cedar Rapids, IA might differ depending on which on you choose. The more informed you are about the technology and the services we offer, the more likely you’ll be to make a smart choice when your financial future depends on it.

So, let’s get into it. Keep reading to learn about the water heater system that might be absolutely perfect for your home!

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3 Smart Moves for Your Home HVAC System

Monday, August 21st, 2023

With record-breaking heatwaves and other unusual weather events, it can be hard to focus on anything else. Sometimes just turning on the weather report can cause us to do things that otherwise we wouldn’t do. It’s a pain, but it’s a necessary part of being a responsible homeowner.

However, an important aspect of the HVAC industry is prevention. More specifically, we’re experts at providing homeowners with solutions that can help them mitigate weather in the future, not just weather events right now.

For example, we know it’s going to get cold this winter, and winter is only a few months away. While your AC does need support now, you’re going to want to focus on other aspects of your HVAC in Cedar Rapids, IA. Then, when the record-breaking cold temperatures hit, you’ll be more than ready for them.

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Why Is It Hotter Upstairs Than Downstairs?

Monday, August 14th, 2023

Well, this is an interesting question, but one that would be irresponsible to just answer in a simple few words. While it might sound like your air conditioner is encountering problems that require AC repair in Cedar Rapids, IA, that might not necessarily be the case.

For instance, the laws of thermodynamics dictate that heat rises, no matter what. So, on a hot day, your upstairs rooms are just more likely to get hotter than the downstairs ones. But if your home is well insulated and your AC is in good shape, that might not necessarily be the case.

Sound confusing? Don’t worry, we’ll cover this naturally occurring phenomenon and more down below. Just be sure to call our team if you think the problem stems from the fact that your air conditioner is running incorrectly.

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An AC Upgrade Might Be in Your Future

Monday, August 7th, 2023

Air conditioning is all over the news these days. It’s not by accident either, there are record-breaking heatwaves happening all over the country–and we’re still barely in August.

This means that you’re likely getting inundated with advertisements about central air conditioners, heat pumps, ductless systems, and more. But why can’t you just rely on your old window air conditioner?

Well, you can, but it’s not going to be as reliable as a more robust system. Window AC units are not as powerful, efficient, or as convenient as central air conditioners.

In fact, central air conditioners are almost better in every single way, and window units are only better in very specific situations (like small apartments and tiny homes).

We’d like to talk about all of the ways a central AC upgrade in Cedar Rapids, IA is going to be a great decision, and when it might not be.

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Big Tips: Saving Money During a Heatwave

Monday, July 31st, 2023

You’ve probably seen the news over the past few days or weeks. Half of the country is encountering record-breaking heat and, in some cases, extreme weather warning. This is causing some serious strain on the power grid as everyone begins running their air conditioners throughout the days and nights.

There’s no escaping this heat if you live where we do. Air conditioning in Cedar Rapids, IA is necessary at this point, and while we’ve just made it to August, there’s likely a lot more heat to come.

So, how can you get through a heatwave and record-breaking temperatures without breaking the bank? We’ll go over some tested tips and best practices that can help you tremendously over the next few weeks–and some of these tips are free!

Just be sure to call a team of professionals if you encounter any problems, from blown-out compressors to ice forming on your coil. We can be the technicians to help you.

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