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

Forgot About The Air Filter Again?

Friday, December 12th, 2014

Air Filter Replacement

Changing your air filter is a chore that many of us tend to forget about. It is a simple task that we over look and take for granted. Though air filters are a small part of the home they pay a major role. Switching air filter’s in a timely manner can help to maintain a safe and comfortable environment while saving you money.

When you change your air filter in a timely manner you are helping to keep your home safe and free from particles that can cause an allergic reaction or trigger asthma. Failure to change your air filter will result in various particles being circulated back into your home. This can become dangerous for you and your family. Dust, pollen, and other particles can trigger an asthma attack, allergic reaction, or cause other repertory issues to develop. Keep your family safe by changing your air filter in a timely manner.

In addition to helping keep your family safe, changing your air filter in a timely manner can help maintain the comfort level in your home. An air filter that is not changed in a timely manner can cause your HVAC system to accumulate dirt and become clogged. When this occurs, your HVAC system can stop working properly. A malfunctioning HVAC system will not be able to provide an ample amount of heat during the cold months or cool air during the hot months. Don’t put your family’s comfort at stake, make sure that you change your air filter in a timely manner is order to make sure your HVAC continues to provide heat and cool air when needed.

Finally, changing your home’s air filter in a timely manner can help to save you money. Failing to change your air filter, will more than likely lead to an HVAC system that is clogged with accumulated dust and other particles. This clog will can cause your system to work harder in order to provide your family with needed heat or cool air. A system that works harder than usual means that more electrical current will be used to power these particular efforts. More electrical use by your HVAC system will lead to a hike in your utility bill. Also, you HVAC system can become damaged due to being overworked or clogged resulting in repair costs. Don’t let this happen to you, be sure to change your air filters in a timely manner in order to help save money.

Does your Cedar Falls home need urgent air filter replacement? Dial (319) 266-3513 now to contact Dalton Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling Inc. top notch services.

Posted in Air Filter Replacement, Cedar Falls Blog, Cedar Falls HVAC | Comments Off on Forgot About The Air Filter Again?

Must Know Home-Owning Information

Friday, December 5th, 2014

Maintaining a Garbage Disposal

The garbage disposal helps to reduce the trash being thrown away and keep it from the landfill. When operating perfectly, the garbage disposal chops and churns the food particles into liquid, allowing them to flow easily down the pipes with water. The problem is that many foods that should not be in the disposal get trapped in the pipes and begin to solidify. They start to smell soon after and can cause a terrible odor in the kitchen area.

Why Does the Disposal Smell So Bad?

When foods that are recommended enter the disposal, they are chopped into such small pieces they easily flow right out of the home. It is those items that should not be chopped that do not break down small enough, becoming easily trapped to the inner walls of the pipes. There, the food particles simply begin to rot each day, emitting that terrible odor into your home.

What Can a Plumber Do to Fix The Smell?

Your local plumbing professional will open the pipes and scrub clean the interior surface of the pipes with an organic cleaning solution. This solution will remove any rotting food that is causing the smell, and the coating will also act like a barrier for future particles to simply slide right off. The food that is liquified by the garbage disposal will now flow right down the pipes like they were intended to. It is important to have your local plumber do a cleaning at least once a year to keep the pipes clear. This will get rid of that odor coming from the pipes in your kitchen.

What Shouldn’t I Put into my Disposal?

Obviously, bones of any sort should never be placed in the disposal because they can damage the blades and get stuck in pipes where another food particles will be attracted to. Never put oils or grease in your garbage disposal, they will eventually solidify overnight and cause the pipes to clog. Egg shells are very dangerous to the blades of the disposal, the membranes easily attach themselves to the metal and make it hard for the blades to properly chop other foods. Read the owners manual of your garbage disposal, many fruit and vegetable skins are also not recommended in the disposal. Rice and macaroni will continue to expand in the disposal, so throw them in the trash and not down the drain.

If your home is in need of garbage disposal services, call Dalton Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling Inc. at (319) 266-3513 for the best services in the Cedar Falls area.

Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Cedar Falls Plumber, Garbage Disposal | Comments Off on Must Know Home-Owning Information

Save Money With A Thermostat Today!

Friday, November 28th, 2014

Benefits of a Thermostat Upgrade

Wi-Fi thermostats are quite popular and easy to use. They can control your home or business temperatures from anywhere. This product can make your life easy and uncomplicated. Initially, there is additional costs to get it going but the money you save on energy will more than pay for that initial cost.

Wi-Fi Thermostats can be Controlled Anywhere

What makes this product so useful is that it can literally be controlled anywhere in the world. For example, if you want your home to be warm and inviting before you get home from a cold and windy day outside, simply set the setting for your home from your office or other location and your home will welcome you with warm and comfortable temperatures. It is important to note that you can use your cellphone, tablet or laptop to control the settings of your wi-fi thermostat.

Improves Efficiency and are Easy to Use

Keep in mind, a wi-fi thermostat also gives you updates and alerts about the maintenance of your thermostat. For instance, if the air filter needs to be changed, it will tell you so. The wi-fi thermostat makes your heating and cooling systems work more efficiently and productively.

Wi-Fi Systems are Precise, Energy Efficient and Look Great!
It’s a known fact that a wi-fi system is more precise. The variations and swing are much less compared to regular thermostats. You will also enjoy the savings that come with wi-fi thermostats. It is definitely user friendly. Most people are able to save 20 percent more than with a traditional thermostat. Most importantly, wi-fi thermostats have a unique, contemporary and trendy look, which adds to the beauty of your home. Some may not know it but you can change its display so that it matches the interior of your home.

Alerts also come with the Wi-Fi Thermostat

Most importantly, you can receive alerts to your email or smart phone concerning the variations of your home’s temperatures. For example, if you home is getting too hot or too cold, your applications on the Wi-Fi can easily take care of that.

To conclude, Wi-Fi thermostats are loaded with benefits! Talk with your heating and cooling contractor or check out your local hardware store!

Is the varying temperature in your Cedar Falls home making you consider a thermostat installation? Call Dalton Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling Inc. today at (319) 266-3513 for top quality installation services.

Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Cedar Falls HVAC, Thermostat Installation | Comments Off on Save Money With A Thermostat Today!

Top Drain Hygiene Hacks For Your Home

Friday, November 21st, 2014

Drain Clog Prevention

One of the most common and annoying problems that many people have with their plumbing systems is clogged drains. Clogged drains happen all the time, and many people wonder why it keeps happening to them. The answer is simple: Drains clog because of what you put down them. Unfortunately, many people consider sink, drains and toilets as some kind of liquified waste and garbage disposal systems. Part of the solution to preventing clogged drains lies in educating people about the limitations of their plumbing systems, however, the best solution is always calling professional Drain Cleaning services.

Generally, plumbing drain systems are designed to carry certain waste materials combined with a limited amount of paper and other minimal bi-products with a larger amount of water. It is the force of the water alone that pushes debris out of the drain and eventually into the main sewer line. Eventually, the debris in a drain or sewer line can build up to the point where the water can no longer move them, resulting in a clogged drain line.

How Can I Prevent Drain Clogs
One of the best ways to prevent drain clogs is to pay attention. During the coarse of your everyday activities, you should pay attention to what is going down your drains and toilets. Make sure that nothing goes down your toilet except waste and a reasonable amount of toilet paper. Also, make sure that you have a good strainer on all of your sinks. The strainers will catch unwanted debris such as food waste and hair. These things will clog up your drain real quick.

While it is a good practice to take every precaution you can to keep your drains free and clear, you will need the help of a professional plumber to ensure that your plumbing system is running at its best.

Professional Drain Maintenance

Regular and routine drain maintenance is essential in keeping your plumbing system functioning at its best. A professional plumber has the knowledge, skill and equipment to provide a wide variety of drain maintenance services that will keep your home’s plumbing operating perfectly.

Professional plumbers will come to your home with equipment that is specifically designed to clear out your drains. Professional plumbers s plumbing “snakes” of all sizes to clear out each and every drain in your house. They will use specialized hydro-jetting equipment to completely clear out your main sewer line; leaving it aw clean as it was when it was new. Only a professional plumber can ensure that your drains are as clean as they should be.

Are you looking for Drain Cleaning services in the Cedar Falls area? Look no further than Dalton Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling Inc. , call us today at (319) 266-3513.

Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Cedar Falls Plumber, Drain Cleaning | Comments Off on Top Drain Hygiene Hacks For Your Home

The One Home Tip You Must Never Forget

Friday, November 14th, 2014

Heating & Cooling Systems’ Air Quality

Indoor air quality is one of the most important things going in your building. Your workers need to have quality air to breathe, but you also need to have a clean building to work in. When you are trying to make your building a clean place to work, you must consider several options that make this possible.

What Does An Air Handler Do For You?

An air handler is a large air filter that helps to clean the air in your building. It is a large unit that sits in front of your heating and air units. Your air handler can be set to any air quality you like, and it can help you control the air quality in the building all during the day.

Why Do You Need This?

The air quality in your building impacts your workers more than anything else. Low air quality in your building will cause people in your building to get sick more often, productivity will go down and you will spend an incredible amount of money on paid sick days. If your workers are being paid an hourly wage, you are going to hurt their monthly paycheck.

Also, clean air in your building can help to make your building a better place to work. People who work in research and development need to have clean rooms where they can develop new products. A hospital needs to have sterile air to protect the patients, and operating rooms need to have air that is perfectly clean.

Installing These Items

When you want to have these items installed in your space, you need to make sure that you install the right type of device. We can measure the size of your building to make sure we offer you the right unit. We can also provide you with a number of different filters that will help to control the quality of the air.

When you take notice of the air quality in your building, you will find that your workers do not get sick, your development wing has a nice place to work and your business is a better place to be.

Concerned about the air quality inside your Cedar Falls home? Take action and call Dalton Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling Inc. today at (319) 266-3513.

Posted in Air Quality, Cedar Falls Blog, Cedar Falls HVAC | Comments Off on The One Home Tip You Must Never Forget

Must Know Home Owning Tip!

Friday, November 7th, 2014

Saving Money With Preventive Plumbing Maintenance

When it comes to you home, you want to make sure everything is up to par and working properly. By routinely checking things around your home, you could actually be saving money. Instead of waiting until the last minute to repair things around your home, stay on top of everything and repair them before the repairs become too costly. When it comes to plumbing maintenance, this is a must as water damage to your home can cost you hundreds, and maybe even thousands, of dollars to fix.

Preventative plumbing maintenance can not only save you money, but it can also improve the efficiency of your pipes and faucets. This in turn lowers the amount of water consumption. Another way to save on water consumption is to replace you old shower heads, which can save you up to 8 gallons of water per minute. If you notice a leaky faucet in your home, you want to look into getting this fixed right away. A leaky faucet can waste up to 3,000 gallons a year if left alone. It’s also a good idea to check on your water heater every once in a while to make sure the temperature isn’t too high as this could be costly. If you notice that your water meter has drastically changed, this could be an indication that you have an undetected leak somewhere in your house.
Another way for homeowners to save money is by checking the plumbing of your home throughout the different seasons. For the spring and fall, make sure your gutters, downspouts, and yard drains are free of debris and aren’t blocked. As the weather gets colder, you’ll want to disconnect your hose and store it away for the winter. Keeping your hose connected will cause the hose to freeze and connecting pipes can also freeze and break.

If you notice standing water after a heavy summer downpour, this can be the result of broken or leaky pipes. This is never a good sign as standing water is a breeding ground for insects and germs, making it unsafe for everyone in your home, especially kids and pets. You’ll need to hire a professional plumber to help take care of this problem and get the area professionally cleaned before making use of this area once again.

There are many things homeowners can do to prevent plumbing damage to your home. By catching things right away, homeowners can save money and prevent further damage in their home.

Looking to save money in the long run? Call Dalton Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling Inc. today at (319) 266-3513 for plumbing maintenance services in the Cedar Falls area.

Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Cedar Falls Plumber, Plumbing Maintenance | Comments Off on Must Know Home Owning Tip!

Handling the Dangers of a Leak In Your Home

Friday, October 24th, 2014

Precautions For Water Leaks

The time to take precautions when you discover a leak in the home is sooner than later. Each day that you allow the water leak to continue you run the risk of doing more damage inside the home. Leaks in the ceiling or walls are an indication the problem is so severe that the pooling water has compromised the integrity of those materials and leaked into the home. Water will continue to damage surrounding areas until you find the source of the leak and make the repair today.

How Do I Stop the Leak from Getting Worse?

If you can not locate the exact source of the leak, it is important to shut of the water to that areas as soon as possible. If the leak is around a bathroom appliance, you can shut off individual water shut offs that control the flow of water to the sinks or toilet. If the leak is in the ceiling or walls, you may have to shut off the main water supply until you can get the problem addressed.

Why is it Important to Fix a Leak Issue?

The water will simply continue to leak until it is fixed. if the ceiling has a water spot and is leaking, chances are the water has been traveling the ceiling beams and pooling up inside the insulation. Once the insulation becomes saturated, the water will continue traveling downward. It can be a real challenge to find a leak in the ceiling, and the longer you do not fix it the more damage will eventually occur.

What are the Advantages to Calling a Professional Plumber?

Your local plumbing professional has made these types of repairs hundreds of time this year already. They have the experience to be able to follow the trail back to the source and make the necessary repair before the damage worsens. Once they have located the source of the leak, they will do an inspection of the surrounding area to determine if the issue is minor or an indication of a much bigger problem. Your plumber will then consult with you on a course of action to make the repair and restore the flow of water through the house.

If you have a leak in the home, your best course of action is to allow a professional plumber to find the source and make the repair today. This will ensure your property and your home are protected from further damage.

Is there a pesky leak troubling you? Call Dalton Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc. today at (319) 266-3513 for quick and effective plumbing services in the Cedar Falls area.

Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Cedar Falls Plumber, Water Leak | Comments Off on Handling the Dangers of a Leak In Your Home

It's Getting Chilly Out There!

Friday, October 17th, 2014

How Often Should I Have Furnace Tune-Up Services?

Fall is here and with it cooler temperatures. This is the time to regularly change your furnace filter and have your furnace checked out. Because you will be using your heating system more often and a great deal of air will be flowing through your ducts and into your home, it is important to ensure that your furnace is in good shape.

Winter Months Require Frequent Furnace Filter Changes

During winter months it is important to change your furnace filter regularly to keep the air in your home safe and healthy. Because you and your family will be staying inside more, it is important to inspect your air filter once a month and change them every two to three months.

Damage Can Occur From Clogged Furnace Filters

Air filters collect small particles of pet dander, pollen, dust throughout the day and before long they can become clogged. When filters become clogged, it causes the blower to work harder, which in turn, increases your energy bill. If the blower overheats, it can burn out. Keep in mind, that when air flow is reduced, it takes longer to heat your home.

Inadequate Heating Systems: Can Lead to Carbon Monoxide Exposure
One of the most effective things you can do to prevent a build up of dust and dander is to change your furnace filter regularly. Most importantly, your furnace should be checked once a year. Inadequate heating systems can lead to carbon monoxide exposure. It is the heat exchanger that should be inspected thoroughly once a year. The heat exchanger acts as a barrier between your home and the gases and fumes produced by your furnace.

Annual Furnace Inspections Keep your Heating Systems in Good Repair

It is important to note that in addition to safety, an annual furnace inspection is an effective way to protect the investment you have in your heating system. There are several reasons way furnaces fail such as humidity, improper installation, dirty filters and improper venting.

To conclude, furnaces need regular care and maintenance in order to keep them in good repair. Besides the above mentioned steps, always keep the area around your furnace clean and unobstructed, and most importantly, leave the furnace work to HVAC experts.

Serving your Cedar Falls community everyday. Give Dalton Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc. a call at (319) 266-3513 for guaranteed quality furnace inspection services!

Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Cedar Falls HVAC, Furnace Tune-Up | Comments Off on It's Getting Chilly Out There!

Upgrade Your Kitchen Today!

Friday, October 10th, 2014

Why Do I Need a Plumber to Remodel My Kitchen?

Whether a homeowner is currently aware of it or not, they may be able to greatly benefit from having their kitchen remodeled. Enhancing any areas of one’s home can bring a lot of benefits, but a kitchen has an exceptional amount of effects on the atmosphere of a home. Since the kitchen of most homes is one of the most utilized areas, enhancing and upgrading it will have a great amount of positive impacts on the atmosphere in the property. However, hiring a professional plumber is always the best way of going about it.

A kitchen remodeling company will usually be required to work alongside a professional plumbing company. This is because a great amount of the kitchen is encompassed by several sets of drains and pipelines. A home’s plumbing system is connected to the home by several different components, all of which are composed within a centralized unit. When one area of a home’s plumbing system fails, the entire home will most likely become affected in some way. This is because all of the pipelines within the plumbing system are connected to one another.

Why does a plumbing company need to work alongside a kitchen remodeling company? The answer is quite simple, yet perfectly fine to question. A homeowner may think that they are spending more on services than they would be if they were to hire one single company to take care of their remodeling needs. However, this may not be possible. Most kitchen remodeling companies will solely specialize in moving amenities, cabinetry, appliances, and wall fixtures from one place to another, as per request of the homeowner. Their handling of the plumbing system is not recommended because most remodeling companies are not versed well enough on the mechanics of the majority of a home’s pipes and drains. A plumbing company assures the homeowner that their pipelines are placed in areas where they will provide them with the greatest efficiency and usability. If pipelines are placed in awkward positions, then a malfunctioning of the plumbing system is very likely to occur. Why not contact your local plumbing company prior to beginning a kitchen remodeling job? You may even qualify for special discounts!

Are you looking to turn your Cedar Falls kitchen into an exquisite space for culinary creations? Call Dalton Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc. at (319) 266-3513 for the plumbing help you need to make this dream come true.

Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Cedar Falls Plumber, Kitchen Remodeling | Comments Off on Upgrade Your Kitchen Today!

Top 7 Heat Pump User Tips

Friday, October 3rd, 2014

7 Heat Pump Tips For New Users

To understand how to use a heat pump, you must first understand what a heat pump is. A heat pump transfers heat from one fluid to another. The first fluid must be at a lower temperature while the second fluid must be at a higher temperature. This process actually defies the natural heat flow which usually starts with a higher temperature and transfers to a lower temperature. Because of this unnatural process, the heat pump is similar to a water pump.

How does a heat pump work?

It has a closed circuit where a specific refrigerated fluid flows through it. Depending on the temperature and pressure, this refrigerated fluid can be either a liquid or a gas. A heat pump is the best and most efficient way to heat your home. It will give you three times more heat than the amount of energy it used to transfer it. Sick of those sky rocket heating bills? Then, the heat pump is just the thing for you.

You might think of a heat pump and think that of course, it has something to do with heat, which is true. What you might not know, is that it can also function as a central air conditioner. The heat pump doubles as both heat and air! It does this by taking the heat from the inside of your house and transferring it outside.There are three different types of heat pumps including air-to-air, geothermal, and water source. They all take the heat either from the air, water, or ground from the outside of your house and then transfer it inside or the opposite, from inside to outside, depending on whether you are using the heat pump to heat up or cool down your home.Even though the air-to-air and the water source heat pumps already decrease energy use by a lot, the geothermal heat pump decreases it even more by 30%-60%. It also decreases humidity. Another great benefit of using a geothermal heat pump is that they are extremely durable and you can always rely on them. Fortunately, geothermal heat pumps are supported in many different kinds of homes.

Heat Pump Tips:

1. Do not control your heat pump’s thermostat manually because this will make the electric heating system come on.
2. Install a programmable thermostat with different functions for your heat pump. You can have a professional do this or even do it yourself.
3. If you are currently suffering from high electric bills, consider a heat pump and find the best one that is suited for you.
4. Remember that a heat pump is to be used to cool or heat a home so do not rule it out just because you live in an extreme climate, hot or cold, and think that a heat pump is not for you.
5. The environmental choice of a heat pump is the geothermal one.
6. One of the great things about a heat pump is that it is very efficient being that instead of burning fuel to create heat, all it does is transfer it.
7. Using a heat pump can reduce your electric bill by 50%.Buy a heat pump today and you will love the benefits!

Want to install a heat pump in your Cedar Falls home? Call Dalton Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc. at (319) 266-3513 today for quick and reliable services.

Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Cedar Falls HVAC, Heat Pump | Comments Off on Top 7 Heat Pump User Tips