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

Top 5 Tips for Indoor Lighting

Monday, July 3rd, 2023

Where would our homes be without lights? Seriously, since the stone age, we’ve been able to do more every single day thanks to the ability to use light and see during the night when the sun isn’t out anymore. Our homes are as cozy and comfortable because we can see them using lighting systems that are affordable, simple, and easy to operate.

Instead of approaching lighting like the miracle that it feels like, let’s talk about some of the nitty gritty. After all, some of our customers might have a broken light or some lighting fixtures that need to be upgraded. This can be frustrating, and you could have people telling you to avoid calling a professional for this kind of work.

Today, we’d like to give you some tips on lighting and general electrical repair in Cedar Falls, IA. We’d like to show you why we’re the qualified team of experts to call, and how our experience can lead you to having a more comfortable and safe home.

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How Do I Read My Electrical Panel?

Monday, July 3rd, 2023

This is a great question and one that we get from many different customers. Some electrical panels are poorly labeled and homeowners are practically searching in the dark for the right switch for a circuit. Other homeowners might have strange numbers or symbols on their electrical panel that can correspond to different types of industry jargon.

As your local electrical experts, we’d like to do a deep dive on reading your electrical panel. The more you know about how it operates and how it should be correctly labeled, the better off you’ll be when something goes wrong or when you’re diagnosing a problem.

Remember, knowing this kind of information does not replace professional electrical panel service in Cedar Rapids, IA. In fact, customers can seriously injure themselves or ruin electrical components of their home if they’re not careful. This guide is meant to inform you so you can better know when a pro is needed, or if you just need to flip a switch.

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Dalton’s Guide to Generator Safety

Monday, June 12th, 2023

Generators are a tricky subject. Everyone knows what they do and why they’re important, but it’s all theoretical until you open the system and actually take a look.

Don’t actually do that, though; opening your generator can ruin the warranty, be dangerous, and cause parts to malfunction. You’ll need to trust an expert and your own research to figure out just how this system works.

Why is it so important to learn how your generator works? Because the process requires the burning of fuel (like natural gas or gasoline) in order for electricity to be produced.

Just like a car, this process can be dangerous if done incorrectly. For instance, running a generator in your garage is a terribly dangerous idea and we’ll explain why down below.

For now, just make sure you have our number on hand in case you need generator services in Mount Vernon, IA. And keep reading to learn about our generator safety tips.

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Get Rid of that Knob and Tube Wiring!

Monday, May 8th, 2023

When it comes to the structure and general format of our homes, electrification is quite recent. We know, it might be impossible to imagine the world without our handy devices and our television sets, but back in the day, there was no electricity to be used!

People used to light their homes with oil lamps, walls and windows were drafty, and life was just a lot different. The invention of the “board game” and sing-along songs was due to the fact that people didn’t have as many fun devices or the internet to help with enjoying spare time.

However, at the turn of the 20th century, homes in America became electrified in rapid succession. This old form of wiring, known as knob and tube wiring, was the only way to set up a home for electricity. Unfortunately, this type of wiring is now considered a hazard and should be removed from your home by a licensed electrician in Cedar Rapids, IA.

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3 Common Electrical Panel Problems

Monday, February 6th, 2023

For a time, electrical panels were the new and improved version of a fuse box. Those old systems aren’t really used anymore and you should first make sure that your home has an electrical panel before looking into repairs. But for most of us, that’s already a reality.

Your electrical panel is the box that has all of the labeled circuits of your home in one location. It serves as a centralized hub, a place where you can always check to see if a certain electrical circuit is on or off, or you can even see how many circuits there are in terms of your power load. If all of the power of your house is going to one outlet, then you can identify which labeled part that is in your electrical panel for an upgrade.

But sometimes you’ll notice bad things, like corrosion or a broken switch, and those are signs that your electrical panel in Cedar Rapids, IA needs repairs.

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“How Can I Lower My Electricity Bill?”

Monday, March 21st, 2022

One of the most common questions our professional electricians get is, “How can I pay less for electricity?” Let’s face it, powering our homes is one of the expensive parts of homeownership. This is especially true in the last decade or so, with the addition of devices and entertainment systems. If your home is anything like the average American home, this is true for you too.

The good news is, there are many ways to improve energy efficiency in your home, and therefore lower your electricity bills.

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Is Your Home Asking for an Electrical Panel Upgrade?

Monday, January 3rd, 2022
electrician-hands-working-on-wiring

Your home’s electrical system simply could not function without this very important component–the electrical panel. Of course, you might still have a fuse box instead, so your electrical system may still be functioning–but not as safely as possible (more on that below!)

The electrical panel serves as the “central station” for all the voltage coming through your wiring that gets separated into different circuits. Breaker switches in the panel help protect the electrical system from electric shorts in your home.

The thing is, no electrical panel will last forever–this is especially true with the increasing demands that homeowners put on their electric systems these days. The panels wear down as electrical demands in a house grow, and it’s not a great combination. Read on as we uncover some signs that your home is basically asking for an electrical panel upgrade:

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4 Signs That You Need an Electrical Panel Replacement

Monday, March 29th, 2021

hand-holding-sparking-plugThe electrical panel of your home, also known as the circuit breaker panel, is tasked with keeping your household’s entire electrical system running as safely and smoothly as possible. Chances are, you don’t think about your electrical panel that much, unless you have a serious electrical problem like a blackout or electrical fire—we sincerely hope this isn’t the case for you.

The fact of the matter is, however, is that today’s homes have far more electrical demands made of them than homes of the past, and yesterday’s electrical panels aren’t cut out for that much demand. Aging panels require care and attention to ensure that they’re operating as they should, but also so they aren’t threatening home safety. How do you know if your electrical panel is ready to call it quits and your home is asking for an upgrade? Here are 4 signs!

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How to Install Great Outdoor Lighting

Monday, March 30th, 2020

outdoor-light-among-flowersAs the snow melts and springtime temperatures start warming up, many homeowners start thinking about the outdoors—including projects they want to complete outdoors. Oftentimes this includes upgrading their outdoor landscaping and lighting. Whether you’d like more lighting in order to entertain or even just to enjoy eating dinner outside with your family, there’s never a bad reason to desire great outdoor lighting.

But to truly get great outdoor lighting, you want to make sure you work with professional Waterloo electricians, which will help you avoid a number of potential problems, such as what we’ve outlined below.

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Why Whole-House Surge Protection Matters

Monday, August 5th, 2019

power-strip-serving-as-surge-protectionHomes today have more precision electrical equipment in them than ever before. In fact, you probably have multiple devices connected to your home’s power supply at any time, right? And there are likely many power charging stations handling your portable devices. Are you adequately protecting them?

This is important for you to know. A voltage spike can cause irreparable damage to electrical equipment, devices, and appliances, and power strips strategically placed around your home are not enough protection. Keep reading to learn more, and when you’re looking for electricians in Waterloo, IA, look no further than our team!

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