Why Should Your New Heater Be Professionally Installed?

February 4th, 2019

technician-looking-over-gas-furnaceWe get it, if you’re looking for a new heater this time of the year, it’s an emergent situation. It means your current heating system broke down when you need it the most and you’re scrambling to find a new one. But we urge you, as much as this is needed, not to rush your decision on Waterloo heating systems!

There are so many factors to consider when making this kind of purchase. You’ll want to compare fuel types, AFUE and HSPF ratings, and more. Most importantly, though, your heater should be professionally installed so that it is sized correctly. We’ll get into how important this is below.

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Can a Ceiling Fan Make Your Heater More Efficient?

January 21st, 2019

ceiling fan on grey beamed ceilingThe short answer to this is “yes.” But let us explain…

When it comes to Waterloo, IA heating, we understand you want a system that is cost-effective and powerful. This means finding the most efficient heating system on the market that’s within your budget and is perfectly matched to your home, and having that system professionally installed. Installation is literally just the beginning, though.

There are a number of steps you can take that cost you little to nothing that will boost the efficiency of your heater even more—installing weatherstripping on drafty windows and doors, closing your curtains to provide extra insulation to keep the heat in, and, that’s right, using your ceiling fan. Read on!

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4 Benefits of a Whole-Home Humidifier

January 8th, 2019

Dry air in your home isn’t just uncomfortable, it can cause issues for your health and quality of items in your home. Rather than suffer through the winter months with itchy skin and warped wood floors, we suggest installing a whole-home humidifier. Here are just a few of our favorite benefits that a system will give you and your home.hardwood floors protected from whole-home humidifier

Preserve Your Floors and Home

Are you proud of your home’s original hardwood floors? We love the look and feel of hardwood, but it requires more TLC than other types of flooring, especially when it comes to your home’s humidity. With air that’s too dry, your flooring and furniture will shrink, warp and crack. Even worse, paper keepsakes like photos and books become brittle and crack.

Whole-home humidifiers maintain your home’s humidity to a safe and comfortable level between 30 to 50%. Within this safe range, the wood, paper, electronics, and drywall in your home are better protected and better preserved.

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Are You Protecting Your Appliances and Electrical Equipment Correctly?

January 7th, 2019

Two electricians working on electrical panelHomeowners throughout the U.S. have become more and more dependent on electronic devices and high efficiency appliances. Combined with inclement weather of any kind—such as thunderstorms—the risk of power surges increase. They pose a serious threat, more serious than you may realize, to your electronic equipment and appliances.

Perhaps you believe you can get by with the small, portable surge protectors you can buy at any hardware or office supply store. These are referred to as power strips, and they are very convenient, allowing you to bypass any problems with limited outlets and plug in everything from your TV and stereo to your computer and all computer accessories. Unfortunately, though, power strips do not offer your appliances the comprehensive protection they need. For safeguarding of this caliber, we recommend you consider the installation of a whole-house surge protection system.

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Is Your Fireplace in Disrepair? Here’s What to Do

December 24th, 2018

Burning natural gas fireplace surround by stoneWhen the humidity and heat of summer and fall finally begins to fade and temperatures drop, many homeowners in our area begin to look forward to using their fireplaces. Chances are, you’ve already been using yours for a few weeks at the least. But is your fireplace in good shape? If it’s not working as you think it should or you see signs of deterioration, it may be time to call in the pros for fireplace repair in Waterloo, IA.

Our team is here to help you learn how to handle a problematic fireplace, or rather, one that is in disrepair. Problems with your fireplace usually mean problems with your chimney, too, which can end up being a dangerous combination. So when you call us for service, what can you expect?

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Signs You Need a Furnace Tune-up

December 11th, 2018

Imagine your hosting friends and family over the holidays, and you wake up to a freezing home. Fortunately, Dalton offers emergency services. That being said, you could have prevented the headache — and freezing toes — if you had your furnace tuned-up.

Warm And Cozy, Popcorn, Coffee, Fireplace, Cozy, Warm

How can you tell if your furnace needs a tune-up or some repair work? The short answer is that you should have your furnace maintained every year. During your tune-up, your technician will tighten loose connections, oil and lubricate all parts and pieces and make sure your furnace is running the way it should.

If you were late to the tune-up party, here are a few signs that your furnace is overdue for maintenance.

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Is a Water Softener Worth It?

December 10th, 2018

water-softenerWith stories in the news about poor water quality in certain areas, it’s easy to be overly concerned about the health of yours. This is why it’s so important to invest in Waterloo, IA water treatment services, such as water testing, to make sure your drinking and bathing water is safe and healthy for use.

There’s one particular water quality problem though that’s not harmful for your health but rather for your quality of life. It doesn’t typically gain too much attention since in the grand scheme of things it’s not a “huge” problem, but the long-term effects to your plumbing system and anything you wash can actually be quite detrimental. We’re talking about hard water.

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Avoid Overloading Your Electrical Panel with Holiday Lights

November 26th, 2018

Family Celebrating Christmas At Home Viewed From OutsideThe holiday season is upon us. If you’re like many homeowners in the area, you may be decorating your home, inside and out. Quite often, this includes putting holiday lights up and around your home.

One of the most common calls received by our professional electricians in Cedar Falls, IA this time of year is in regards to certain outlets throughout the home not working—this may include your bathroom outlets, garage, or outdoor outlets. And the most common reason for this problem is that outdoor holiday lights have tripped a GFCI outlet or circuit breaker within your home.

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Holiday Meals and Your Kitchen Sink: What You Should Know

November 12th, 2018

Pouring water in the kitchenThe holidays will be here before we know it, and if you celebrate, and plan on hosting guests or family in your home this season, then the following advice about protecting your plumbing is for you.

When we can, our team is happy to help each of our customers avoid any major catastrophes with their living space. In particular, we mean their plumbing. While there is, of course, no convenient time to deal with a plumbing problem, the holidays have got to be one of the worst times of the year to do so. Fortunately, if something does happen, all you need to do is call our team for thorough, professional drain cleaning in Evansdale, IA. In the meantime though, we’d like to help you potentially avoid holiday plumbing disasters.

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Watch for These Furnace Problems This Winter

October 29th, 2018

White smoke comes out of a house's chimney on a winter day.The more you rely on your furnace this winter, the more stress it is going to undergo. That’s just a fact. But this does increase the odds of problems cropping up over time, especially if you skipped maintenance this year! Maintenance allows our technicians to fully inspect, clean, and adjust your heating system to make sure it performs as efficiently and safely as possible throughout the winter and the years to come.

Maintenance is also our chance to spot repair needs, and alert you to these needs so you can get them on your schedule sooner rather than later. Naturally, if you skip this annual furnace service in Hudson, IA, you can find yourself with a broken down system or increased wear and tear you weren’t expecting. So, what if you’ve already started using your heater, despite skipping maintenance?

Well for one, it’s not too late to schedule it now, so give us a call! In the meantime, read on for some signs to look out for that indicates you may have a problem.

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