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

Inexpensive Peace of Mind: Everything That Comes With Your A/C Tune-Up

Friday, May 11th, 2018

There are so many things to maintain in your home that it can feel like a full-time job! Don’t worry, the team at Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric, and Fireplaces is here to help. Our expert technicians are standing by to take care of any issue in your home, including your air conditioner tune-up in Cedar Falls.

At Dalton, we want our customers’ hard-earned dollars to work for them. That’s why every service we offer is completely comprehensive, so you can get the most bang for your buck. Here are just a few things that come with your air conditioner tune-up.

What Comes with Your Air Conditioner Tune-Up?

Lubricate Moving Parts. Ensuring all pieces of your unit are properly lubricated will prevent wear. Even better, it will prevent your system from overheating, the typical cause of a mid-season breakdown.
Test Refrigerant Levels. Another common cause of overheating stems from a unit running low on coolant levels. Low levels can also indicate there is a leak, which requires maintenance as quickly as possible.
Test Starting Capabilities. We suggest having your air conditioner tuned-up before the heat of summer sets in. That way, the Dalton technician can ensure your unit is starting correctly and running efficiently.
Tighten Electrical Connections. As with lubricating parts, tightening electrical components will help your system run smoothly. Additionally, it will prevent safety concerns — like electrical fires — when promptly taken care of.
Check & Replace Air Filters. Air filters should be regularly replaced to ensure your unit is functioning properly and not spreading dust throughout your home.
Remove Dust & Debris. Your A/C technician will help keep your unit clean, including the condenser coils, evaporator, and other key components. We will remove all built-up debris to prevent overheating and decreased efficiency.
Clean Dryer Vent. Cleaning your dryer vents is a quick and easy way to prevent fires in your home.
Examine Safety Components & Proper Venting. During your tune-up, our technicians will inspect the electrical components, wiring, plugs to ensure your cooling system is free of frayed wires, loose electrical connections or any other safety concerns.
Apply Protective Coatings. At Dalton, we take safety very seriously. We elevate the standard of fire prevention by applying non-conductive coatings to the electrical components.
Calibrate Thermostat. Thermostats can lose their calibration season to season. Dalton technicians will readjust the settings, as needed, to make sure your unit is cooling your home to the correct temperature.
Measure for Proper Volts & Amps. We will test the volts and amps of your air conditioner to determine the amount of energy your unit consumes. If the compressor is operating normally, the unit should consume what is called the Rated Load Amps or RLA.
Check Blower Speed. Another key way to test your unit for functionality is to check the blower speed. If the speed is low, it could mean there is a bad blower resistor, or there is a problem with overheating or ventilation.

Peace of Mind All Summer Long

Are you ready to schedule your air conditioner tune-up? Or, do you want to take peace of mind to another level with a Complete Home Comfort Membership? Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric, and Fireplaces is just one call away! Book your service now by calling (319) 266-3513.

Posted in AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Cedar Falls Blog, Our Maintenance Plan, Residential HVAC, Waterloo Air | Comments Off on Inexpensive Peace of Mind: Everything That Comes With Your A/C Tune-Up

Having the Ideal Setting, Will Save You Money

Friday, June 19th, 2015

Ideal Thermostat Settings for Every Season

Correctly setting your thermostat each season can help you to reduce your energy costs and help to preserve the natural resources of the planet too.

Even adjusting the thermostat a few degrees can result in you saving hundreds of dollars each season in your heating and cooling bills. Here are some recommendations for the ideal settings for your thermostat for any season.

Thermostat Settings for Winter

During the cold winter months, the tendency in the home is to raise the thermostat as high as possible to heat all the rooms in the house.

The first hiring that you need is to call a local plumbing repair company and have them install a programmable thermostat if you do not have one already.

They can help you with the setting and programming if you are not familiar with this process. Set the thermostat at 68 degrees during the day. That will keep the chill out of the air. During the night when you are under your blankets, the thermostat should be a few degrees cooler. If it feels too cold, add another blanket on the bed.

Thermostat Settings for Summer

The summer months bring extreme heat, and your cooling system will be working overtime to keep the house cool. Set the thermostat in the day to no lower than 78 degrees. To help reduce the strain on the cooling system, keep curtains and blinds closed during the day where direct sunlight can get in the home.

Turn on ceiling fans instead to circulate the air around the rooms and give the impression on the skin that the moving air is actually cooler than it is. During the night, when the humidity drops, you can raise the temperature a few degrees and turn on a fan instead to save energy.

Thermostat Settings for Spring/Fall

In the spring and fall, chances are your system will only run on extreme cold or hot days. Keep the thermostat on during these months, and adjust the settings accordingly.

If it is a unseasonably cold day, set the heat at 68 degrees. On warm and muggy days, raise the thermostat cool setting to 78 degrees.

The system will not be running for days on end during these seasons, so accompanied by a fan should keep the indoor temperature quite comfortable for you, especially when you are about to go to bed for the evening.

Trying to figure out the best thermostat setting for your Waterloo home? Call Dalton Plumbing, Heating & Cooling at (319) 266-3513, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Thermostat Settings, Waterloo Air | Comments Off on Having the Ideal Setting, Will Save You Money

Feel the Fresh Clean Air

Friday, June 5th, 2015

Signs Your Air Duct Needs Maintenance

5 Signs Your Air Duct Needs Cleaning or Repair

Anyone who is a homeowner knows that home utilities can fall into disarray as time goes on. When it comes to air conditioning and ventilation, there are some signs that should tell one that the air ducts need some cleaning.

Mold and Dust Buildup

A major sign that the air duct in the household needs a cleaning is because of the presence of mold and mildew.

Over time lots of mold, mildew, fungus and other unhealthy substances can start to build up in the air ducts.

None of this is healthy for any home at all, so the problem to this would be to start spraying around and cleaning them. This will cut down on repair costs.

Mold is not the only problem, as dust buildup can also be problematic. If dust is blowing out of the air ducts on a constant basis, then it is also time to clean or repair it. Needless to say, some simple household products and cleaning can correct this problem with little cost.

Problems with People Breathing

In relation to mold and bust buildup, this problem can occur when occupants or visitors to the home find themselves having trouble breathing, or worsening any present respiratory problems.

Mold and dust buildup in the air ducts mean that someone will inevitably end up breathing that in, with or without being fully aware of it. This here would be even more reason to start cleaning up the ducts or getting them repaired altogether.

Reduction in Air Flow

A change in the quality and quantity of air blowing out of the air ducts should be another cause for concern when it comes to ventilation.

This can also relate to mold and dust, in that these substances can start to block airways and reduce the amount of air flow that blows out of the ducts.

As with the other problems some cleaning products and a scrub down could solve this mess quickly.

Pests can even be a serious problem and be a cause of bad air flow. Insects or rodents like mice or even rats can get caught up in the vents and nest there, which can also constrict air flow.

With this problem a simple cleaning may not be enough but resorting to hiring an exterminator or a professional duct cleaner to fix the problem may be necessary.

Not feeling the fresh, clean air in your Waterloo home? Call Dalton Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling at (319) 266-3513, and feel good again in your home.

Posted in Air Duct Cleaning, Cedar Falls Blog, Waterloo Air | Comments Off on Feel the Fresh Clean Air

Beat the Summer Heat this Year

Friday, May 22nd, 2015

10 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Home for the Summer Heat

As the warm weather of summer approaches, there are many things you can do to keep the home cooler and cut down on excessive utility costs. Here are ten simple ways to prepare your home for the summer heat.

1. Dark Curtains

Invest in some darker curtains, they will help to keep the direct sunlight from penetrating and heating up the interior of each room.

2. Sun Reflecting Blinds

Blinds that reflect the sunlight and keep the rooms dark can help to cool the home and reduce your air conditioning cots. These blinds can reduce the sunlight entering rooms with direct sunlight exposure.

3. HVAC Tune UP

Call your local HVAC repair company and schedule an inspection and maintenance immediately. Your cooling system will be running much harder, and if it is tuned up, will run more effectively this summer.

4. Replace Cooling Air Filter

Run down to the hardware store and purchase a few HVAC air filters, and replace one immediately. The cleaner the filer, the easier for the system to operate this summer.

5. Cleaning Near the Foundation

Remove any weeds, shrubbery, or plants growing too close to the house foundation. These attract a variety of insects who will then try to find easy access to the home to escape the heat.

6. Seal Exterior Holes

Patch any holes or cracks along the perimeter of your home. Rodents will try to escape other predators and the heat, looking for safe refuge in your garage or attic.

7. Wash the Screens

While the daytime will be hot, many times the evening will be very comfortable. Clean the window screens so that when you do open the windows you are not confronted with nasty filth.

8. Clean Out the Garage

If your garage is full of clutter from this winter, now is the time to start cleaning so you can get your vehicle out of the heat and inside the cool garage.

9. Patch Any Screens

With the windows open many nights, you want to repair any holes in the screens now so insects are not gaining access to the home each time you open the windows.

10. Cleaning the Outside Fan

During the winter, the outside HVAC fan can accumulate, branches, twigs, and even the occasional rodent nest. Have your local HVAC professional open the unit and carefully clear out any debris.

Don’t let your A/C suck the fun out of summer. Call Dalton Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling at (319) 266-3513 for greener HVAC services in the Waterloo area!

Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Energy Efficiency, Waterloo Air | Comments Off on Beat the Summer Heat this Year