Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

It’s Maintenance Season in Cedar Rapids

Monday, March 18th, 2024

Don’t you just love how we get to experience all four seasons fully in Cedar Rapids? It’s easy to get used to, but there are many places in this country (let alone internationally) that only experience two or three seasons throughout the year. We get four amazing seasons that bring us snow, sunshine, rain, growth, and more.

But those seasonal changes mean we need to be even more prepared for the temperature swings we can expect from them. AC maintenance in Cedar Rapids, IA is your first line of defense against temperature changes and storms that might come sooner rather than later.

The following guide is going to give you the best benefits of scheduling maintenance this spring. And if done correctly, you can be proud that your AC system is in the best shape possible to keep you cool this summer when things finally get hot.

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Maintenance Season PSA

Monday, September 18th, 2023

It’s hard to believe that fall is already here. Sometimes it feels like just yesterday that we entered the summer months, but with September here in full swing, we need to start talking about fall.

From an HVAC perspective, fall is an interesting season. Temperatures are milder, which means that we can finally take a break from running the air conditioner or heating system all day. But this also means that we’ve got a window of time to get our technology repaired and maintained by professionals.

Yep, it’s the season of maintenance! AC maintenance in Cedar Rapids, IA is a great idea for homeowners who otherwise have functioning air conditioners but would like to remain proactive. Maintenance can keep things efficient, extend the lifespan of your air conditioner, and do more to make you feel much better about the future.

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Big Tips: Saving Money During a Heatwave

Monday, July 31st, 2023

You’ve probably seen the news over the past few days or weeks. Half of the country is encountering record-breaking heat and, in some cases, extreme weather warning. This is causing some serious strain on the power grid as everyone begins running their air conditioners throughout the days and nights.

There’s no escaping this heat if you live where we do. Air conditioning in Cedar Rapids, IA is necessary at this point, and while we’ve just made it to August, there’s likely a lot more heat to come.

So, how can you get through a heatwave and record-breaking temperatures without breaking the bank? We’ll go over some tested tips and best practices that can help you tremendously over the next few weeks–and some of these tips are free!

Just be sure to call a team of professionals if you encounter any problems, from blown-out compressors to ice forming on your coil. We can be the technicians to help you.

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Maximize Energy Efficiency With Ductless AC

Monday, March 6th, 2023

You’ve probably heard that ductless air conditioning in Cedar Rapids, IA is more energy efficient than some other methods of cooling, but how? Even homeowners who are broadly familiar with AC technology might get a little confused by the idea that these little mini split systems can compete with the big, centralized air conditioning units of just 5-10 years ago.

We’re going to take a deep dive into the technological advancements that these systems espouse. Due to some really nifty changes in how we approach cooling, a ductless mini split system is going to be more energy efficient than other cooling systems, but only in specific situations.

After this blog post, you should be able to determine whether a ductless air conditioning system is right for your home. Or, perhaps you’ll feel confident knowing that your central AC unit was the right call for your house.

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Dalton’s Guide to Winterize Your HVAC System

Friday, November 11th, 2022
Ice on an outdoor air conditioner unit.

Winter is fast approaching, but is your HVAC system ready for it? Winterization helps you protect yourself against high energy bills and protect your physical HVAC unit from ice and melting snow.

It’s time for HVAC maintenance in Cedar Rapids, IA before winterizing your home. Tune up your unit, protect it, and use these winterization tips to protect it until it’s ready to use when spring rolls around.

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Why Does My AC Run Constantly?

Monday, August 1st, 2022
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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.

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

Monday, July 18th, 2022
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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.

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How Long Should I Run My AC During the Summer?

Monday, June 20th, 2022
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There’s a common belief among homeowners that air conditioners have their limits. They do, just maybe not in the way that you think.

For instance, most air conditioners can not reach over 20°F below whatever the temperature is outside. So, if we were to experience a 100°F day, setting the thermostat to 70°F won’t do anything except cause the compressor to keep running, and do so inefficiently.

Another limit is that even with careful, routine maintenance, all air conditioners will eventually wear down to the point that they’re no longer usable. The useful service life of the average cooling system is 10-15 years.

A common question we get, in regards to air conditioning limitations, is “how long should I run my AC during the summer?” The short answer to this is, “as long as you want to!” Here’s the thing…. you can keep your thermostat set to “cool” mode 24/7 during the summer if you want to. This only becomes inefficient and leads to faster wear and tear if you fail to have your system professionally maintained and/or you don’t use your thermostat correctly. Read on to learn more!

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Why Is My Air Conditioner Freezing Up?

Monday, June 6th, 2022
ice-on-coil-of-ac-unit

Air conditioners cool down indoor environments. This is an irrefutable fact. What’s less well known, however, is how an air conditioner actually does this. It will depend on the type of system–for example, an evaporative cooler uses a much different process than a central air conditioner–but for the sake of this blog post, we’re going to make the assumption that you have a refrigerant-based air conditioner like a central air conditioner or heat pump system.

This being the case, you might, at some point, notice ice development on your air conditioner. We hope this is never the case because it’s actually bad news for the system. That’s right, an air conditioner cools, but ice is never part of the process. So then, if you do see ice forming on your air conditioner, why is it a problem? And, what causes the problem? These are questions we’re going to answer below. Read on!

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3 Important Questions to Ask Your AC Technician

Monday, May 30th, 2022
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Whether you’re having a new air conditioner installed or you need a repair for your existing cooling system, it’s never a “set it and forget it” kind of deal. In order to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible, your air conditioner needs to be properly maintained, throughout the years. This means that you need an experienced professional to inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it.

How often should this service be done? For a typical air conditioner, this service is needed once a year. It’s a biannual service, though, for year-round heat pump systems.

When you have an AC technician over, to install, repair, or maintain your system, it’s a perfect time to ask them some questions in order to gauge how to best care for your air conditioner to keep it operational for as long as possible. Read on as we uncover what some of these questions could be, and provide you with some brief answers for now.

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