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

How Do I Read My Electrical Panel?

Monday, July 3rd, 2023

This is a great question and one that we get from many different customers. Some electrical panels are poorly labeled and homeowners are practically searching in the dark for the right switch for a circuit. Other homeowners might have strange numbers or symbols on their electrical panel that can correspond to different types of industry jargon.

As your local electrical experts, we’d like to do a deep dive on reading your electrical panel. The more you know about how it operates and how it should be correctly labeled, the better off you’ll be when something goes wrong or when you’re diagnosing a problem.

Remember, knowing this kind of information does not replace professional electrical panel service in Cedar Rapids, IA. In fact, customers can seriously injure themselves or ruin electrical components of their home if they’re not careful. This guide is meant to inform you so you can better know when a pro is needed, or if you just need to flip a switch.

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5 Common DIY AC Repair Mistakes

Monday, June 26th, 2023

We’d like to start this blog post with a handy PSA: Air conditioning repair should never be done DIY. It’s not like other repairs where you can try your hand at a few fixes yourself. An AC is complex and usually covered by a dealer’s or manufacturer’s warranty that can be immediately voided if you’re not careful.

That being said, we’d like to talk about the other main reason why we advise homeowners to steer clear of DIY AC repair in Cedar Rapids, IA. We’re talking about mistakes.

It’s incredibly easy to mess something up, break something, or even forget something when you try to fix your AC yourself. And since these systems are large, expensive, and extremely complicated, that chance is very likely and can lead to some unintended results.

From broken parts to a completely botched unit, we’re going to highlight some of the most common mistakes we see when customers try to fix their AC units themselves.

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Will a Geothermal System Help Me Save Money?

Monday, June 19th, 2023

Yes, it absolutely will. But not in the ways you would expect.

Geothermal HVAC systems are becoming more and more popular these days. With the advent of heat pump technology and legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, the spotlight is beginning to fall on the most eco-friendly comfort systems we have available. And geothermal systems belong squarely in that category.

Geothermal heating and cooling in Cedar Rapids, IA isn’t as complicated as one might think. It uses the consistent temperature underground as a heat source to keep your home comfortable all year long. It uses heat pumps which are extremely efficient and refrigerant lines that go deep underneath your home to draw out the mild heat that keeps temperatures comfy.

A geothermal system will cost more to install upfront, but it will save you money for years to come in a lot of interesting ways.

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Water Efficiency in the Bathroom, Kitchen, and Outdoors

Monday, June 5th, 2023

Plumbing is one of those topics that affects our lives in more ways than we think. Since the dawn of the 21st century, we’ve depended on plumbing appliances to help us get rid of wastewater, clean our clothes and homes, and even to wash dishes. This means that customers need to be more vigilant than ever about their home efficiency and how it relates to their plumbing.

For instance, old our outdated plumbing appliances can use a lot more water than they’re supposed to. An old washing machine will use 2-3 times more water than a new, high-efficiency one, which means you end up paying more over time. It’s upgrades like these, and more help from our team, that can help you improve your water efficiency in the bathroom and kitchen.

So, let’s talk about a few tried and tested solutions that can reduce your home’s waste while keeping you more comfortable.

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3 Great Ways to Save Water

Monday, May 29th, 2023

It can be easy to think that we have access to an unlimited supply of water. After all, over 70% of the surface of our planet is covered in water, so it’s not like we’re in need of it, right?

Well, that water is salt water, which makes it hard to filter. And even so, freshwater must be pumped or piped to your home either with the use of an electrical device or the help of your local municipality. This means that it’s not free, and the water that gets used by your home has a cost.

Water is relatively cheap where we live, but things like plumbing leaks in Cedar Rapids and broken appliances can cause our bills to go up. And, wasting water can also be bad for the environment, as we’re seeing more record-breaking droughts and periods without rain. The more you can do with a smaller amount of water, the better off you’ll be!

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3 Big Bonuses From Air Filtration

Monday, May 22nd, 2023

It’s allergy season! We don’t mean to sound excited about that, but in truth when you take the “allergies” out of springtime, it truly is one of the most beautiful and fun seasons of the year. The flowers are blooming and look brilliant, while the sun is starting to peek its head out later and later with every day. There’s just so much time for fun activities, and the weather is even getting better.

However, once you put the allergies back into the springtime, it can be a nightmare for some people. That’s why we’re the go-to indoor air quality service provider that can help eliminate things like allergens and biological contaminants in your home.

With the help of an air filter and a UV air purifier in Cedar Rapids, IA, you can take control of your home during this season and feel comfortable again.

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Match Your AC With a New Thermostat

Monday, May 15th, 2023

Replacing your old thermostat isn’t really a requirement when you get a new AC installed. It’s usually a case of “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” But we’re not talking about broken thermostats, we’re talking about old ones.

Old thermostats, from analog to digital ones, just don’t have the capabilities that newer thermostats do. Even thermostats with Wi-Fi capacity, or programmable systems will go a long way towards improving many aspects of your home.

Instead of giving you a sales pitch on how wonderful these systems are, we’d like to discuss the topic of Wi-Fi thermostats in Cedar Rapids with a more realistic approach. We want to explain that you’ll get more out of your HVAC technology, your life, and you’ll feel a lot better when you have a thermostat that works hard for you.

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Get Rid of that Knob and Tube Wiring!

Monday, May 8th, 2023

When it comes to the structure and general format of our homes, electrification is quite recent. We know, it might be impossible to imagine the world without our handy devices and our television sets, but back in the day, there was no electricity to be used!

People used to light their homes with oil lamps, walls and windows were drafty, and life was just a lot different. The invention of the “board game” and sing-along songs was due to the fact that people didn’t have as many fun devices or the internet to help with enjoying spare time.

However, at the turn of the 20th century, homes in America became electrified in rapid succession. This old form of wiring, known as knob and tube wiring, was the only way to set up a home for electricity. Unfortunately, this type of wiring is now considered a hazard and should be removed from your home by a licensed electrician in Cedar Rapids, IA.

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What Do I Do About a Hot Upstairs?

Monday, May 1st, 2023

If there’s one universal law we deal with on a regular basis, it’s that heat rises. No matter where you are or what you’re doing, the heat you create or encounter in your life will always drift to the upper area of your home. It’s really that consistent.

However, homes are a little different. For one, we treat them to be cooler or warmer than the outside depending on our comfort preferences. Your air conditioner, for instance, is designed to cool all of the space in your home so that the air feels good, even the upstairs air.

So, if there’s an issue with a hot upstairs in your home, then you might have a problem with your air conditioning in Cedar Rapids, IA. Keep reading or call our team to schedule an appointment and figure out what’s going on.

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3 Electrical Things You Shouldn’t Do on Your Own

Monday, April 10th, 2023

DIY projects are great but there’s a bit of a misconception going around. Some people think that electrical repairs fit into the same category as painting or other home improvement projects, but that can be a dangerous way of thinking.

Electrical work is in a different category of a lot of home projects, particularly because of how dangerous it can be and also because of how important the final product is. You don’t want that new thousand-dollar phone or TV being shorted out or destroyed due to faulty wiring, right?

In that case, you should definitely call an electrician in Cedar Falls, IA. Only a licensed electrician will be able to handle the job that you have in mind, for as little a price as possible. And, don’t forget the fact that an electrician can handle this kind of work quickly so there’s less time spent patching your wall or trying to flip light switches to test things out.

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