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

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
Posted in Air Conditioning, Cedar Falls Blog | Comments Off on Common AC Repairs to Be Aware Of as the Weather Warms

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
Posted in Air Conditioning, Cedar Falls Blog | Comments Off on How to Use Your Air Conditioner As Efficiently As Possible

“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
Posted in Air Conditioning, Cedar Rapids Blog | Comments Off on “When Should I Replace My AC Unit?”

Should I Consider Ductless Air Conditioning?

Monday, March 28th, 2022

With temperatures dipping back down after seemingly warming up, it can seem a little early to talk about air conditioning installation. But if you’re in need of a new cooling system, there’s no denying that springtime is here, and soon enough those warmer temps will be here to stay until next fall.

Plus, the great thing about a ductless air conditioning system is that it functions as both an air conditioner and a heater, which we’ll get into more below. Ductless systems are great for climates that have winters that are relatively “mild” and summers that are hot. This makes them a great option for many homeowners in our service areas. Read on to learn more!

Tags: Cedar Rapids, Ductless AC Installation
Posted in Air Conditioning, Cedar Rapids Blog | Comments Off on Should I Consider Ductless Air Conditioning?

AC Leaks: A Common Problem

Monday, August 16th, 2021

Sometimes, we get a phone call from a homeowner who is worried that they have a major plumbing leak in their home–only to discover that the issue is actually a leaking air conditioner. AC systems can leak water, but not because your plumbing system is malfunctioning. Instead, it’s the result of condensation building up within the system, and spilling out due to there being a problem with the drainage system.

Depending on where in your home the air conditioner’s indoor unit is, the results of a leak can become a huge problem, causing property damage and more. So, what should you do if your air conditioner springs a leak? And is it possible to prevent this from happening in the future? Read on as we uncover the answers to these questions.

Tags: Air Conditioning Services, Waterloo
Posted in Air Conditioning, Cedar Falls Blog | Comments Off on AC Leaks: A Common Problem

Tips for Keeping Your Home Cooler

Monday, August 2nd, 2021

It’s no secret that we’re dealing with an especially warm summer this year. If you’ve been outside at all, you already know that temperatures are stifling. This means your air conditioner is going under a lot of stress to do its job, right? If you had maintenance done this past spring, you don’t likely have much to worry about. Maintenance helps your air conditioner work as effectively and efficiently as possible, for as long as possible–especially if you keep up on any repair recommendations we make during this service.

Having a great air conditioner installed is also a good step in keeping your home cool. This means working with a professional to ensure your home is properly matched with the right air conditioner and a correctly sized air conditioner as well. Too big of an AC can be just as detrimental to your comfort and the system itself as too small of one.

So when you’ve got professional installation and professional maintenance under your belt, there’s nothing more you can do, right? Wrong! There are plenty of additional steps you can take to make sure your household stays cool this summer–potentially even cooler than you thought possible. Read on to learn more!

Tags: Air Conditioning, Waterloo
Posted in Air Conditioning, Cedar Falls Blog | Comments Off on Tips for Keeping Your Home Cooler

Can AC Maintenance Be Too Late?

Monday, July 5th, 2021

There is only one scenario where it would be too late for you to schedule air conditioning maintenance and that is if the air conditioner has completely broken down, to the point that it is beyond repair.

Maybe your 15+-year-old system had a compressor failure. Or maybe you let a refrigerant leak go on too long and the system has died as a result.

Chances are, this actually isn’t the case for you. But if you skip maintenance consecutively each year, this could be your story. And consecutively is the magic word, here. Consistency with maintenance is much more important than the time of year you actually have maintenance done. Yes, we do generally recommend this service in the spring, before temperatures rise and you actually need the system on an hourly basis. This lets you get your tune-up on our schedule right away and lowers your risk of facing AC trouble when you need your system the most.

However, if you at the very least commit to getting air conditioner maintenance done once a year, it’s never too late. Here’s why this is so important:

Tags: AC Maintenance, Cedar Falls
Posted in Air Conditioning, Cedar Falls Blog | Comments Off on Can AC Maintenance Be Too Late?

Unique Ductless Needs to Be Aware Of

Monday, June 21st, 2021

woman-sitting-on-couch-using-remote-to-turn-on-ductless-air-handler

When it comes time for you to replace your outdated air conditioner, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the options available to you. After all, there are many! You might find it easier to go with the same cooling system you’ve always had–but what if this isn’t the most efficient way to go about it? In other words, what if it’s cheaper for you to go with another option?

It might very well be time for you to consider going ductless for your cooling (and heating) needs. Ductless HVAC systems are made up of a single outdoor unit, which is connected to up to four indoor air handlers. Each air handler can be controlled independently, making for a highly efficient and powerful option for homeowners looking for year-round comfort.

If not properly installed or serviced, however, you might run into a few repair needs that are unique to ductless systems.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Ductless, Waterloo
Posted in AC Installation, Air Conditioning, Cedar Falls Blog | Comments Off on Unique Ductless Needs to Be Aware Of

What Can Go Wrong with your Air Conditioner’s Capacitors?

Monday, June 7th, 2021

two-technicians-working-on-air-conditioner

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a magic wand for your air conditioner–if no matter what was wrong you could wave that wand and have the issue immediately fixed? Unfortunately, this isn’t reality. Your air conditioner is a complex electronic appliance with various wires, switches, capacitors, and more. And when something goes wrong, it requires a qualified and experienced team to get the system back up and running.

Fortunately, that’s what we are here for! Whatever the issue is, our team can resolve it. In most cases, air conditioning system problems can be attributed to one of two things–lack of maintenance or natural wear and tear. Either one of these can lead to problems with your air conditioner’s capacitors, which are vital to the performance of your AC. Never heard of them? Read on to learn more!

Tags: Air Conditioning Services, Waterloo
Posted in Air Conditioning, Cedar Falls Blog | Comments Off on What Can Go Wrong with your Air Conditioner’s Capacitors?

Are You Using Your Cooling System Efficiently?

Monday, April 27th, 2020

Any air conditioning system in our area is going to get a workout during the summer. Fortunately, air conditioners are built with efficiency in mind.

However, what if you aren’t using your cooling system as efficiently as possible? There are Waterloo air conditioning services that will help with this, like routine AC maintenance, but even with maintenance, there are a number of ways an AC system could lose efficiency and start raising your utility bills.

Read on as we uncover some of the top tips for using your cooling system as efficiently as possible.

Tags: Air Conditioning Services, Waterloo
Posted in Air Conditioning, Cedar Falls Blog | Comments Off on Are You Using Your Cooling System Efficiently?

Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc. Blog