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

What Tonnage Is Your New AC?

August 15th, 2022

For anyone who isn’t entrenched in the HVAC industry, there are a number of terms and quite a bit of jargon that may not make much sense. There is some jargon you don’t need to know–but others that are helpful to have a basic understanding of. Tonnage is one of the latter.

Tonnage is an essential part of new air conditioning installation and AC replacement. You can always trust the Dalton technicians to successfully and reliably install your air conditioner, no matter what type of air conditioner you choose to have installed. But understanding a bit more about tonnage and how it applies to your new air conditioner can help you understand why it’s so important that you only trust the pros to service this system. Read on to learn more!

How to Choose the Right Ceiling Fan

August 15th, 2022

Ceiling fans have an important purpose in the modern home. No, they cannot lower the temperature in a room. But, they can help circulate the air more effectively. This means that they can help your home efficiency since you can adjust your thermostat by a couple of degrees so you and your family will feel cooler.

Plus, the direction of your ceiling fan’s blades can be reversed using the small switch at the center of your fan, in order to push heat down in the wintertime and help your heating system keep you warmer. So ceiling fans have advantages no matter what time of the year it is!

But how do you choose the right fan or fans for your specific home? Read on as we share some pointers!

4 Common Plumbing Issues in Older Homes

August 8th, 2022

Buying a “new” home is very exciting. But what if the home that’s “new” to you was actually built decades ago? While we don’t think it’s haunted or anything, there is still a very good chance you could be dealing with some structural repairs when you move in. It may impact your home’s wiring, HVAC efficiency, and plumbing.

Plumbing is especially important here. The material that was previously used for plumbing pipes corrodes faster than what is used today, which can pose a problem.

Fortunately, you have our team on your side, ready to help. We’re here for any and all of your plumbing needs. Read on as we uncover some of the common plumbing problems owners of older homes run into.

Why Does My AC Run Constantly?

August 1st, 2022

Do you have a “runaway air conditioner”? Okay, this isn’t an official term or anything, but when your air conditioner just keeps running and running without ever shutting off, you might think of it that way. What could possibly be going on? It’s not that hot, is it?

The fact is, the run time of your air conditioner might have nothing to do with the temperature at all. There are actually several reasons this might be happening, and unfortunately, it’s wasting a lot of the energy that you’re still paying to use. The compressor within your air conditioner draws on a large amount of electrical power to operate, so this becomes even costlier if it’s always running.

When you need a trusted professional for your AC service in Cedar Rapids, IA, you needn’t look any further than Dalton! In the meantime, read on to see what could be behind this “runaway air conditioner” problem.

Signs That Your Tankless Water Heater Needs Repair

August 1st, 2022

If you’ve chosen to have a tankless water heater installed on your property, it’s probably due to their high energy efficiency and effectiveness at providing you with hot water throughout your home. Tankless systems are much more capable than their storage tank counterparts of handling periods when you’re away, as they aren’t as susceptible to heat loss and water waste.

Tankless water heaters in Cedar Falls help numerous homeowners throughout the country save a lot of energy, which equates to lower utility bills. However, tankless water heaters are not immune to repair needs. When these needs crop up, you want a team on your side to get the system back to its full functionality. We are that team.

Of course, it also helps to know some of the signs that you do in fact need repairs. Read on to learn more!

What to Do After a Burst Pipe

July 25th, 2022

We’re in the fortunate position that it’s currently summertime, and you don’t have to deal with a burst pipe right now. Why’s this? Because it’s a problem that happens when your pipes freeze, which can occur when temperatures outside dip below 30°F. Before you click off this blog post though, this is still a good thing to keep in mind for later! Because not only can we help you fix a burst or frozen pipe, we can help you prevent this problem from occurring altogether.

Read on as we uncover not only what to do when you have a burst (or frozen) pipe, but how to prevent this and other plumbing problems in the future.

4 Common Electrical Issues For Old Homes

July 18th, 2022

The electrical system of your home is likely something you take a bit for granted. Flip on a switch and the lights come on… plug in the toaster and it works! Plug in your phone’s charger and you’re all set…

But what if none of those things worked? Or what if something was wrong that was risking your home’s safety as well as electrical efficiency? If you have an older home, this is a very real possibility!

Read on as we uncover the 4 common electrical issues for older homes: flickering lights, tripping circuit breakers, an outdated electrical panel, or outdated outlets.

When It’s Time for AC Replacement, Consider a Heat Pump

July 18th, 2022

Floor-mounted heat pump unit installed in a cozy room with wicker furniture and a laundry basket.

We’re in the midst of summer, and if you’re reading this blog post now, then chances are that you’re in a bit of a hurry to get a new air conditioner! This isn’t, however, a purchase you want to rush into. Doing so could leave you with an inefficient system, or an air conditioner that isn’t correctly matched for your specific home and needs. It may not even be sized correctly, which causes a whole host of other problems.

Plus, you may find that you would benefit from a whole different type of air conditioner altogether–the heat pump system! This is actually a 2-in-1 HVAC system that not only cools your home but also efficiently heats your home. When you’re ready to learn more about air conditioning in Cedar Falls, IA, don’t look any further than our team. Read on to learn more about these highly efficient and effective HVAC systems. If you’re on the fence, it may help to explore why now is a good time to consider a heat pump for AC replacement—especially if you want year-round comfort from a single system.

How Much Does an AC Installation Cost?

July 11th, 2022

piggy-bank-in-foreground-with-person-budgeting-in-background

Buying a new air conditioner is a huge investment. We get it! We do applaud you for looking into this purchase now rather than waiting for temperatures to warm up. This gives you time to truly explore your options, looking at not only the initial cost of your system, but how much it will likely cost you to operate from month to month, the type of system you want, and how efficient of equipment you want.

These are all factors we’ll go into when we help you with your purchase and installation–because you should only ever trust a pro for this job. Trained and experienced HVAC professionals, like the members of our team, will be able to adequately match and size the right air conditioner to your specific home, for your specific needs. Read on as we uncover the factors that go into your AC installation cost.

Is a Water Softener Really Worth It?

July 4th, 2022

Water softeners are a type of water treatment system that aren’t needed for every home, but they are beneficial for many! Hard water is an issue that’s pretty common throughout neighborhoods in our area. There’s nothing particularly unhealthy about hard water when it comes to you and your family ingesting it. It can, however, definitely impact your quality of life in subtle but annoying and possibly even expensive ways.

For homes with this problem, a water softener is absolutely worth it, so long as it’s a whole-house water softener, professionally installed by an experienced team such as ours. Read on to learn more about these systems!