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

Signs that You Need Rewiring in Your Home

March 28th, 2022

At Dalton, we’re more than simply an HVAC company. We have licensed and experienced plumbers, electricians, and fireplace experts on staff as well, to ensure that we are able to serve your whole home. That said, one of the most important jobs we perform for our customers is ensuring their homes are safe as possible, and a big part of this is checking their electrical loads.

This is especially important if you have an older home, which can have outdated wiring and problems that can lead to not only power outages, but safety hazards too. But, how do you know if your home, or rather your electrical system, is at risk of problems? Age alone isn’t always the best indicator, particularly if the previous homeowner made electrical upgrades. Read on as we uncover some of the top warning signs that your home might indeed need electrical rewiring, and give us a call if you notice any of these indicators!

Should I Consider Ductless Air Conditioning?

March 28th, 2022

With temperatures dipping back down after seemingly warming up, it can seem a little early to talk about air conditioning installation. But if you’re in need of a new cooling system, there’s no denying that springtime is here, and soon enough those warmer temps will be here to stay until next fall.

Plus, the great thing about a ductless air conditioning system is that it functions as both an air conditioner and a heater, which we’ll get into more below. Ductless systems are great for climates that have winters that are relatively “mild” and summers that are hot. This makes them a great option for many homeowners in our service areas. Read on to learn more!

“How Can I Lower My Electricity Bill?”

March 21st, 2022

One of the most common questions our professional electricians get is, “How can I pay less for electricity?” Let’s face it, powering our homes is one of the expensive parts of homeownership. This is especially true in the last decade or so, with the addition of devices and entertainment systems. If your home is anything like the average American home, this is true for you too.

The good news is, there are many ways to improve energy efficiency in your home, and therefore lower your electricity bills.

Dalton’s Ductwork 101 Guide

March 14th, 2022

If you’re like many other homeowners in our area, there’s a good chance you don’t give your ductwork very much thought. We get it, but we also don’t want you to take your ductwork for granted. Your HVAC air ducts are responsible for safely and efficiently delivering air into your home from your furnace and air conditioner, and if your ducts are dirty, have pinhole leaks, or have loose joints, it can have a serious impact on your comfort as well as HVAC efficiency.

Ductwork does, in fact, sustain damage and accumulate dirt over time. This can happen with age, or it can happen because of poor initial design and installation. Whatever the cause, it can have a huge impact on how well your HVAC system actually performs, resulting in hot or cold spots, strange noises, and higher than average utility bills.

Plumbing Considerations for Your Bathroom Remodel

March 14th, 2022

Springtime is just around the corner, and with temperatures warming up, many homeowners are considering remodeling projects in their living spaces. Chances are that if you’ve come across this blog post, you’re one of these homeowners! Remodeling your bathroom is very popular, and can be a very fun, project. But a mistake that homeowners make far too often is trying to do this project completely on their own, with no help from a professionally trained plumber.

Trying to tackle a bathroom remodel on your own could possibly damage your plumbing system, or you could accidentally do part of the installation wrong because of improper measurements. But when a qualified professional, you’ll have a team who is happy to share with you some of the most important considerations to make when planning a bathroom remodel.

Reach out to our team when you’re ready, and in the meantime, consider these factors before jumping in.

What Do I Do If My Pipe Bursts?

March 7th, 2022

If you’ve lived in the Cedar Rapids area for even just a year, then you might already know that burst pipes are a definite risk with our winters. When temperatures dip to below freezing, the threat level of burst pipes rises.

Fortunately, our team has seen a lot of burst pipe issues, and not only can we tell you what causes it and what to do about it, but how to prevent the problem from occurring at all, if possible. Read on to learn more!

How Often Should I Have My HVAC System Tuned-Up?

February 28th, 2022

An HVAC “tune-up” or maintenance ensures that your heating and cooling systems perform as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible. During maintenance, our technicians thoroughly clean, inspect, and adjust any components that need it–making sure everything is working as flawlessly as possible.

This increases the lifespan of the system, helps it perform more efficiently, and reduces repair needs by up to 85%!

Just like any other big piece of electrical equipment, including your car, even your heating and cooling systems will suffer from natural wear and tear throughout the years. You might have a minor issue, like a worn-down motor bearing, that our techs can locate and fix during your tune-up… but if you had skipped that tune-up and that problem was missed, it could lead to the motor overheating and your system completely breaking down.

If you have a standard furnace or central air conditioning system, you should have your unit tuned up annually. For your cooling system, it’s best to get this done in the spring, and for your heating system, it’s best to do it in the fall. And if you have a year-round heat pump, you should have professional maintenance done twice a year.

Read on to learn the answers to some of our most common HVAC maintenance questions.

Is an Electric Ignition Better Than a Pilot Light in a Gas Furnace?

February 28th, 2022

Have you had the same furnace in your home for many years? If so, then you’re probably used to furnaces having pilot lights. If you’re planning on having a new furnace installed soon, however, it probably isn’t going to use a pilot light at all! Instead, it’s likely going to have an electronic ignition system that ignites the burners. In fact, it’s pretty rare today that manufacturers still make furnaces with pilot lights at all.

Why? We explore this below… read on!

Can I Do My Own Drain Cleaning?

February 21st, 2022

When it comes to making home improvements, there are many, many things that you can do on your own, or at least with minimal help from a handyman.

Perhaps you think that drain cleaning is one of those things. After all, you can just grab a bottle of chemical drain cleaning solution from the store and call it a day, right?

Well, not quite–and we’ll talk about that more below.

But the truth is, if you want to not only relieve your clogged drain but prevent your plumbing system from having the same problem again soon, then you want to have professional plumbing done. Read on as we uncover signs of a clogged drain, the common things that cause it, and why you shouldn’t use chemicals to unclog your drain.

How to Ensure Your Furnace Lasts Through the Rest of Winter

February 14th, 2022

Winter is definitely still plugging along, and we will all need our furnaces for several weeks still. So, what kind of shape is yours in? Is it ready to get you through the rest of winter? If you had it professionally maintained this past fall, and took care of any pending repair needs at this time, then you can probably say with confidence that yes, your furnace is going to make it through just fine.

But what if you skipped maintenance, have an aging furnace, or simply don’t know the signs that you might need repairs on your furnace?

Well, that’s what we are here for! We want to help you ensure that your furnace will, indeed, last through the rest of the heating season. One of the best ways to do this is by staying on top of repair needs, even though you might stop using your furnace as much in a few weeks. Read on as we uncover the signs that it’s time for you to call for this service.