Is Surge Protection Really Necessary?

June 11th, 2018

electrical outlet with plug in itIn short, yes! If you disagree, we urge you to reconsider. Homeowners throughout our area have beyond have become more and more dependent on electronic devices and high-efficiency appliances in even the last couple of decades. When you couple this with inclement weather of any kind (although surge protection is not just “storm protection”) the risk of power surges increase. Power surges present a more serious threat than you likely even realize—to your appliances, electronics, and home overall.

Perhaps you believe you can just get by with a small, portable surge protector that you can get at any hardware or office supply store. These are referred to as power strips and sure, you can plug in your television, stereo, computer, lighting, and more. This is convenient, no question. But it’s not enough to offer the level of protection needed for your home and to prevent the most severe of Waverly, IA electrical repair needs.

Continue Reading

Improve Your Home’s Landscaping with This Electrical Addition

May 28th, 2018

outdoor lighting for homeWhen you think about the landscaping of your home, what comes to mind? If you’re like the average homeowner, the types of flowers and trees you’ll plant, and whether you’ll go with grass, or some type of wood chip or rock ground foundation is probably also a consideration.

But, what about your lighting?

Outdoor lighting is not something many people think about too much when moving into a new home or planning to redo their landscaping in an existing home, but it should be! There are a number of ways in which outdoor lighting, professionally installed by a Waterloo, IA electrician, can improve your home’s landscaping, making it both visually appealing and functional.

Continue Reading

It’s Never Too Late for a Generator Installation

May 14th, 2018

generator being installed by two techniciansTemperatures have only just begun to warm up, but as a diligent homeowners, you’ve probably already begun thinking about your air conditioner—getting it serviced if need be, or upgrading to a new, more efficient system. This is a very important part of summer preparation, but certainly not the only home system you should be thinking about.

Coping with power outages is a very real threat in our area. They may not be frequent, but when long term blackouts do occur, you need to have some way to keep your HVAC system running as well as other important home components. This is where Cedar Falls, IA generator installation comes in.

Continue Reading

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

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.

Continue Reading

Are You Making Any of These Home Security Mistakes?

April 30th, 2018

exterior of a homeIs your home as safe and secure as possible? Sure, you keep the front door locked, you have a basic security system, and maybe you even have a dog whose bark you hope will scare burglars away quick enough that they discover the dog really just wants to lick them to death.

These are all great first steps (though we really don’t recommend relying on the family dog), however to truly protect your home, it’s vital that you have an effective whole-home security system professionally installed by trained and experienced Cedar Falls, IA electricians. This will give you protection as well as a peace of mind whether you are away from home or your family is soundly sleeping.

In addition to this installation, there are a number of things you can do around the house to limit your risks of being burglarized even more. We’ve shared some of the biggest home security mistakes below, to help provide some guidance on how to do just that.

Continue Reading

As the Weather Warms, Don’t Neglect Your Heater!

April 16th, 2018

Young woman shivering during the winter seasonSpring is officially upon us, and even though recent weeks have shown us the last of winter temperatures, soon enough the weather will warm. When that happens, you want to make sure that your air conditioner is well prepared by scheduling maintenance and any repairs you might need, too. However, that doesn’t mean you should forget about your heating system just yet!

In fact, if you have any needs for furnace repair in Waverly, IA, it should be at the top of your mind. After all, neglecting your heater when it needs work done can be detrimental to the system, leaving you in a lurch next fall. Additionally, there are safety concerns when talking about a gas-powered heating system.

Continue Reading

Dalton’s Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

April 4th, 2018

home-maintenanceWe know that during the winter it’s easy to hibernate instead of doing routine chores around your home. However, now that the coldest days of winter are behind us, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work on your home maintenance.

 

Don’t worry! You don’t have to comb the internet to find out which tasks need to be done this time of year, because the Dalton team is here to help. We have the expertise to assist you in sprucing up your home and getting it ready for summer. Take a look at the items we have on our helpful spring home maintenance checklist.

Call Dalton for your Preseason A/C Tune Up!

Any time is better than never, but we think spring is the ideal season to get your A/C tune-up. A preseason tune-up will cut cooling costs, lower the risk of future breakdowns and need for repair, and keep your system running longer.

Get a Chimney Checkup.

We suggest having your fireplace inspected and cleaned at least once each year, especially if you use it on a regular basis. Your Dalton technician will ensure the unit is properly clearing exhaust and waste. After, they will prepare your unit for summer, ensuring your cooled air stays indoors.

Stop the Beeping and Replace the Batteries in your Smoke and CO Detectors.

Even when your detectors aren’t indicating they are low, we suggest switching the batteries out every year. The batteries in these devices can make a life-or-death difference for your family, so it is absolutely worth the time spent replacing them.

Keep it Healthy, Pure, and Clear by Replacing your Water Filters.

To ensure clean drinking water for your family, we suggest changing your filter every three to six months. If you notice the water flow slowing down or altering to a darker color, consider replacing it early and get your water tested by a certified Dalton technician.

 

For help with any of your spring tasks, speak to the team at Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces! We are standing by to help you prepare for summer and keep your home’s systems in tip-top shape. You can reach us at (319) 266-3513.

Continue Reading

“Help! My Pipes Froze, What Do I Do?”

April 2nd, 2018

Icicles hanging from a brown pipe. Frozen water and metal surface, winter time concept. selective focus shallow depth of field photoOverall, our winter was relatively mild this year, with the coldest of temperatures lasting just a few days at a time. Still though, we did have freezing temperatures, and with freezing weather comes frozen pipes.

Hopefully, you did what you could to prevent this problem from affecting your household. For example, one preventive step you might have taken was to open any outdoor faucets used for sprinklers and hoses, and turned off all water flow to these points. After all, the pipes located outside are, understandably, the ones most susceptible to freezing, and leaving the faucets opened helps water to drain from them.

Continue Reading

Qualities to look for in an HVAC Contractor

March 19th, 2018

HVAC contractor working on ac unitIt’s easy to boast about what makes a company unique, but it’s more important to actually live up to those qualities.

When you are on the lookout for a Waterloo, IA HVAC contractor to install a new system, repair your existing one, or even help you with your indoor air quality issues, you need a company and professional you can rely on. But what qualities should you be on the lookout for?

Continue Reading

Take Care of Your Heating Repair Needs Before the Weather Warms

March 5th, 2018

A man uses a flashlight to help him see the hot water heater in a dark closetIt may still officially be the season for snow, but spring will be here soon enough and we all know how quickly the temperatures can increase once that happens. Once things start warming up, you’ll be using your heater less and less. Therefore, if you have any Waterloo, IA heating repair needs you’ll probably be tempted to put them off until next year if they don’t seem that severe.

Unfortunately, one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is neglecting their end-of-season heater needs. Ignoring your heater when work needs to be done can be harmful to the system itself, for one. Also, if you have a gas-powered heater then ignoring it can be a safety hazard.

Continue Reading