Cedar Falls, IA Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning Blog | Dalton Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc.

How Long Does a Heat Pump Last in Iowa?

May 16th, 2022

If you’ve been considering a new air conditioner lately, and you believe you might need a heating system too, then a heat pump installation may be just what your Vinton area home needs. Heat pump systems are versatile and energy-efficient, which we will get into more below.

One of the common questions get about heat pumps though, is how long should they last? Given that these are year-round systems, do they last less time than a traditional central air conditioner? Not necessarily!

When properly maintained–this means getting a professional tune-up every 6 months–your heat pump should have a useful service life of 10-15 years. Read on to learn more about these systems, and when you’re ready to schedule installation, go ahead and give our team a call!

What Type of Water Heater Is Right for My Home?

May 9th, 2022

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When you start exploring the different types of water heaters that are on the market, the options can seem overwhelming. There are heat pump water heaters, electric-powered or gas-powered water heaters, solar water heaters, and even tankless water heaters.

When considering what type to get, it’s easier to start with just two options in mind–a tank or tankless system. Storage tank model water heaters are what you’re most likely used to seeing in the average home, and may even be what you currently have. They come in different sizes based on capacity, and constantly store water which they heat up using elements inside the system. Tankless systems, however, are “on-demand” systems. We’ll explain what that means below. Read on to learn more!

Signs That Your Home Has Hard Water

May 9th, 2022

If you’ve never heard the term “hard water” before, then you may wonder why it even matters if your home has it. The thing is, it’s not necessarily harmful to you or your household. But, it is potentially harmful to your plumbing system and your quality of life as result.

Hard water is water that has a high level of minerals in it–namely magnesium, calcium, and sometimes iron too. These minerals are harmless to ingest, but cause sediment buildup that can be bad for your drains. But how do you know if your home has hard water? Read on for some telltale signs.

4 Common Causes for AC Repair

May 2nd, 2022

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Summer is not quite here yet, but soon enough temperatures will warm, and you’ll want to ensure that your air conditioning system is in good shape. Of course, this means paying close attention to any indicators of a problem and calling in a professional right away to service your system.

But, what if you are not familiar with the kinds of issues that an air conditioner might face? Well, you’re in luck. We’ve listed 4 of the most common AC repair issues; read on and learn about the issues your air conditioner could face–and schedule a tune-up with us so we can inspect and clean your system to help you avoid unexpected repair needs!

Making the Choice Between Central Air Conditioning and Going Ductless

April 25th, 2022

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As temperatures start warming up, air conditioning talk is happening more and more. If you are in the market for a new cooling system, now is a great time to make that investment. It’s never wise to rush into a purchase of this nature, since doing so could leave you with an inefficient or improperly matched AC system for your home.

There are many factors to consider when replacing an old air conditioner. Do you also need to replace your furnace or boiler? Are you looking for ways to increase efficiency throughout the year rather than just in the summertime? Then a ductless system may be a great choice. If your heating needs aren’t urgent though, and you’ve always had a central air conditioner, you might want to stay the route.

Read on to learn the benefits of each and to get our viewpoint on which type of AC is best!

The Benefits of Whole-House Generator Installation

April 25th, 2022

Many homeowners are familiar with portable generators–and at their core, there is nothing wrong with these systems, when used as they should be. Portable generator systems are a great solution for many scenarios. For example, if your family is going on a campout and you want to power up an electric grill, or hey let’s say you’re “glamping” and you want to hook up a TV… whatever the case, a portable generator is a great system.

However, the thing you need to know about portable generators is while they’re good in many cases, the one scenario where a portable system is not a good option is to power your entire home during a widespread power outage. For this, you’ll definitely want a whole-house automatic standby generator.

A whole-home system enables you to power up all the important components of your home, from the water heater and refrigerator to the air conditioner, and even your electronic devices and, if you need it, medical equipment. Read on as we uncover some of the leading benefits of having a whole-home generator installed.

5 Mobile Home Cooling Hacks

April 18th, 2022

When you have a mobile home, you may think your only option to cool off is a few box fans strategically placed around the property–especially if you live in an HOA that doesn’t allow the installation of a central AC outdoor unit. The good news is, this isn’t the case! There are cooling options out there for you, you just need to know who to talk to!

For you, it’s the team here at Dalton. We provide professional and reliable mobile home cooling services in Cedar Rapids and beyond. The installation of one of these systems will increase your home comfort, improve your indoor air quality, and, if you’re currently relying on fans or a window AC unit, can even lower your utility bills.

We’ll talk about this and more below, as we discuss some ideas of how to stay cool this summer in your mobile home.

“When Should I Replace My AC Unit?”

April 11th, 2022

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This is one of the most common questions we receive as HVAC professionals–when is it time to replace your AC unit? You may think that as long as it’s running and blowing out some cold air then it’s still good for a while. Maybe you’ll wait until it simply can’t function anymore.

But, this is not a great plan. The thing is, an AC system that is nearing the end of its life won’t work efficiently, and may not even be operating as safely as it could be. Read on to learn more!

How to Use Your Air Conditioner As Efficiently As Possible

April 11th, 2022

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There are not many things that an HVAC professional will tell you that you can do on your own when it comes to servicing your air conditioner or heater. The fact of the matter is that for bigger repairs and large-scale maintenance, you only want a professional doing it, for many reasons–not the least of which is for your safety. There are components of your air conditioner, like refrigerant, that can be hazardous.

That said, there are some small things you can do to both help maintain your air conditioner and help it run more efficiently, draining less power and costing you less to run. For example, keeping the parts clean that you’re able to, like the air filter and the exterior of the outside unit. We’ll talk about this more below, in addition to some other tips to boost your air conditioning efficiency this year!

What’s Included in a Maintenance Club?

April 4th, 2022

For many homeowners, maintenance may seem like “just an extra service to pay for,” until you join a membership club like ours. Professional maintenance pays you back over the years, by improving efficiency, reducing repair needs, and extending the lifespan of your home comfort systems overall. And joining a membership club will provide you with even more benefits (especially if you join ours!)

The Dalton Complete Home Comfort Membership Plan is just one monthly fee and covers all your home’s systems; HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fireplace, and indoor air quality. Plus membership affords you a number of advantages. Read on to learn more!