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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.

Tags: Cedar Rapids, ductless air conditioning
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Dalton’s Guide to Winterize Your HVAC System

Friday, November 11th, 2022

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.

Tags: Cedar Rapids, HVAC Maintenance, Winterize
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Why Does My AC Run Constantly?

Monday, 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.

Tags: AC service, Cedar Rapids
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When It’s Time for AC Replacement, Consider a Heat Pump

Monday, July 18th, 2022

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.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Cedar Falls, Heat Pump Benefits, Iowa
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How Long Should I Run My AC During the Summer?

Monday, June 20th, 2022

standard-wall-clock-with-white-background

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!

Tags: AC System Service, Cedar Rapids, Marion
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Why Is My Air Conditioner Freezing Up?

Monday, June 6th, 2022

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!

Tags: AC Repair, Cedar Falls
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3 Important Questions to Ask Your AC Technician

Monday, May 30th, 2022

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.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Hiawatha
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Common AC Repairs to Be Aware Of as the Weather Warms

Monday, May 23rd, 2022

woman-trying-to-cool-off-in-home-sitting-in-front-of-fan

Do you know if your air conditioner is in good enough shape to handle the warmer temperatures coming our way? Before you say “mine is fine,” let us ask you a follow-up question… have you scheduled spring maintenance for your system yet?

Maintenance allows our technicians to fully inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it, helping your system operate as effectively and efficiently as possible, for as long as possible. So, if you answered “no” to our follow-up question, now is the time!

Maintenance has a ton of benefits, not the least of which is helping you avoid up to 85% of the repairs your air conditioner might ever need! But regardless of whether you’ve had maintenance done recently or not, it’s still wise to be aware of the signs that you need AC repair. Read on as we cover some of those signs.

Tags: AC Repair, Cedar Falls
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How to Use Your Air Conditioner As Efficiently As Possible

Monday, April 11th, 2022

woman-using-smartphone-to-adjust-thermostat

There are not many things that an HVAC professional will tell you that you can do on your own when it comes to servicing your air conditioner or heater. The fact of the matter is that for bigger repairs and large-scale maintenance, you only want a professional doing it, for many reasons–not the least of which is for your safety. There are components of your air conditioner, like refrigerant, that can be hazardous.

That said, there are some small things you can do to both help maintain your air conditioner and help it run more efficiently, draining less power and costing you less to run. For example, keeping the parts clean that you’re able to, like the air filter and the exterior of the outside unit. We’ll talk about this more below, in addition to some other tips to boost your air conditioning efficiency this year!

Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, Waterloo
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“When Should I Replace My AC Unit?”

Monday, April 11th, 2022

air-conditioner-with-flowers-resting-on-it

This is one of the most common questions we receive as HVAC professionals–when is it time to replace your AC unit? You may think that as long as it’s running and blowing out some cold air then it’s still good for a while. Maybe you’ll wait until it simply can’t function anymore.

But, this is not a great plan. The thing is, an AC system that is nearing the end of its life won’t work efficiently, and may not even be operating as safely as it could be. Read on to learn more!

Tags: AC Repair, Cedar Rapids
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Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc. Blog