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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Buying a new air conditioner is a big investment. Looking into it before warmer weather arrives gives you more time to compare your options, not just the upfront price, but also what the system may cost to operate month to month, the type of system you want, and the efficiency level that makes sense for your home. For a deeper look, check out this guide on air conditioner installation costs.
The average cost to install central air conditioning ranges from around $5,000 to $12,000, so it helps to plan ahead.
When you’re looking at system sizing, it’s important to think about the cooling capacity and cooling power your home needs. The right AC unit size depends on the square footage of your space, and the size of your home can directly affect the final installation price since larger homes typically need larger systems.
There are several types of cooling systems to consider. Window units can be a practical option for smaller spaces, while central systems and central air units are usually better suited for whole-home cooling. You can also look at air source heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps, which provide both heating and cooling and are known for strong efficiency.
If you’re considering a ductless system, a pre-installation evaluation should include a review of your existing ducts and refrigerant lines. Some modifications may be needed to support a new AC system. It’s also helpful to check for air leaks and evaluate how well your home holds heat so your new HVAC system can be sized properly and run efficiently.
A pre-installation evaluation can cost between $250 and $2,000, depending on the size of the home and the complexity of the energy audit.
During installation, adding a new AC unit or doing an AC replacement may also require electrical work, such as installing a dedicated circuit to support the new system. Financing options like a home equity loan or home equity line can help manage the average cost of a new AC system. Financing options for new AC installation may include home equity loans, HELOCs, personal loans, and cash-out refinances.
Choosing a high-efficiency system with a higher SEER rating can lower your energy bills over time, even if the upfront cost is higher. Regular maintenance and professional installation also matter if you want to avoid costly repairs and help your system run the way it should. Investing in yearly maintenance can help extend the life of your AC unit.
For this kind of work, it’s best to have a trained professional handle the installation. An experienced HVAC technician can match and size the right AC system for your home and your needs. A properly installed system is more likely to run efficiently and deliver consistent results throughout your home. Below, we’ll walk through the factors that affect AC installation cost.
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!
Something that many Cedar Rapids area homeowners fail to realize is how the quality of their indoor air can actually be worse than the outdoor air. At least, this is the case without the right indoor air quality products and services in place. The right air filtration, purification, and even humidity balance can help improve the overall comfort of your living space, and therefore improve your quality of life! Contaminants in the air can cause a number of problems, both in comfort and for your family’s health. For more strategies on maintaining a healthier home, check out these tips to improve your home’s indoor air quality.
At this point, you might be wondering if you really need anything more than the standard air filter that comes with your HVAC systems during manufacturing and installation. The answer is probably yes! The thing is, the purpose of this air filter isn’t to improve your indoor air quality. Rather, its purpose is to protect the interior components of your HVAC system from dust, dirt, and other debris that can get inside and damage its components.
Read on to learn about more powerful options that are designed to improve your overall indoor air quality.
