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

What You Need to Know about Frozen Pipes!

Monday, November 28th, 2022
frozen-pipe

Temperatures are already getting quite chilly, and that means it’s time to winterize your home! You may have already taken some steps towards this, like ensuring that your heater is maintained and ready for the season. But what about your pipes? After all, temperatures can and will drop below 30°F this winter.

This means that the unthinkable could very well happen. That’s right, you can find yourself dealing with frozen pipes. While we have the resources you need to find a professional we’re happy to help you by sharing some tips on how to defend against frozen pipes before they even occur.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Cedar Rapids Blog, Plumbing | Comments Off on What You Need to Know about Frozen Pipes!

Drain Cleaning: Don’t Rely on Store-Bought Solutions

Monday, November 21st, 2022
water drain in stainless sink

When you’re searching for a solution for clogged drains in your home, the simplest answer is to buy a jug of chemical drain cleaner from the store down the street. After all, these are marketed towards homeowners and renters looking to quickly clear up a drain that has slowed or stopped, particularly a bathroom drain that could be stopped up with hair or soap scum. But any professional plumber with experience in drain cleaning in Evansdale, IA is going to advise against this.

Chemical drain cleaning solutions are simply not the best solution for your clogged drains. In fact, they’re not a solution at all! We think some other products and services are a much better fit, but why?

Continue Reading

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Plumbing | Comments Off on Drain Cleaning: Don’t Rely on Store-Bought Solutions

What Can Cause a Burst Pipe?

Monday, October 17th, 2022
burst-copper-pipe

Homeowners often have understandable questions about their plumbing, especially when they hear scary phrases like “burst pipes.” We have a bit of good news though. There is really only one thing that can cause a pipe to burst, and it’s completely preventable. What’s that?

Frozen pipes!

When the temperatures dip below freezing for too long, it can cause the water flowing through your pipes or resting in your pipes to freeze. As the ice thaws, it creates a negative pressure inside the pipes, and this leads to them bursting. We are here to provide quality repairs when this does happen, but as you read on, you’ll see tips we’ve provided to help you avoid this problem.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Cedar Rapids Blog, Plumbing | Comments Off on What Can Cause a Burst Pipe?

Why You Should Always Hire a Pro for Your Plumbing Services

Monday, September 26th, 2022
Plumber unclogging a tub drain with an electric auger.

Most homeowners are likely used to dealing with minor household problems and tasks on their own, and that can easily extend to certain plumbing issues. We’ve all at one time or another had to unclog a toilet with a little “elbow grease” and a plunger, or had to fish a clog or two out of a sink. This can lead many homeowners, especially those on a budget, to attempt bigger plumbing repairs.

However, in most cases, this can be a big mistake. Formal plumbing problems require proper licensing and training, like our professional Waterloo, IA plumbers receive, in order to perform plumbing repairs and services the right way. Even seemingly simple problems like a stubborn clog can benefit from the attention of a professional. In fact, your efforts to save a little money could actually end up costing you more, or at least can become a pretty big headache. Here’s why:

Continue Reading

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Plumbing | Comments Off on Why You Should Always Hire a Pro for Your Plumbing Services

4 Common Plumbing Issues in Older Homes

Monday, August 8th, 2022
family-standing-in-front-of-older-home

Buying a “new” home is very exciting. But what if the home that’s “new” to you was actually built decades ago? While we don’t think it’s haunted or anything, there is still a very good chance you could be dealing with some structural repairs when you move in. It may impact your home’s wiring, HVAC efficiency, and plumbing.

Plumbing is especially important here. The material that was previously used for plumbing pipes corrodes faster than what is used today, which can pose a problem.

Fortunately, you have our team on your side, ready to help. We’re here for any and all of your plumbing needs. Read on as we uncover some of the common plumbing problems owners of older homes run into.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Cedar Rapids Blog, Plumbing | Comments Off on 4 Common Plumbing Issues in Older Homes

Plumbing Considerations for Your Bathroom Remodel

Monday, March 14th, 2022
hands-working-on-shower-head

Springtime is just around the corner, and with temperatures warming up, many homeowners are considering remodeling projects in their living spaces. Chances are that if you’ve come across this blog post, you’re one of these homeowners! Remodeling your bathroom is very popular, and can be a very fun, project. But a mistake that homeowners make far too often is trying to do this project completely on their own, with no help from a professionally trained plumber.

Trying to tackle a bathroom remodel on your own could possibly damage your plumbing system, or you could accidentally do part of the installation wrong because of improper measurements. But when a qualified professional, you’ll have a team who is happy to share with you some of the most important considerations to make when planning a bathroom remodel.

Reach out to our team when you’re ready, and in the meantime, consider these factors before jumping in.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Plumbing | Comments Off on Plumbing Considerations for Your Bathroom Remodel

How to Prevent Frozen and Burst Pipes This Year

Monday, October 25th, 2021
frozen-and-burst-pipe

If you’ve lived in Idaho for even just a year, then you know we’ve had some pretty cold winters! And when winter comes along, you’re likely pretty consumed with staying warm in your home. 

But, are you ensuring that all areas of your home are staying warm? Specifically, have you given much thought to your plumbing system? 

When temperatures dip below freezing, the water in your pipes–especially exposed pipes–is likely to freeze as well, without proper precautions. The problem isn’t so much the freezing, but what happens as the pipes thaw… it creates a negative pressure that eventually leads to the pipes bursting. 

The good news is, this damage can be prevented! Read on to learn how to avoid your pipes falling victim to cold weather this year. 

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Cedar Rapids Blog, Plumbing | Comments Off on How to Prevent Frozen and Burst Pipes This Year

Why Store-Bought Drain Cleaning Solutions Are No Solution

Monday, April 12th, 2021

sink-drain-with-water-rushing-downWhen you have a clog in a sink within your home, your first instinct is very likely to reach for a plunger… or that bottle of store-bought drain cleaning solution you keep on hand.

A plunger is always a good start. If the clog is superficial enough, you may very well be able to relieve your drain pipe with the plunger and a little bit of “elbow grease. The latter option though—the store-bought drain cleaning solution, is no solution at all.

We’ll dive into the “why” behind this a bit more below, but for now, we’ll just say that store-bought drain cleaners have a lot of caustic chemicals in them, meaning they eat through the clog, then keep on going to eat through the lining of your plumbing pipes over time. Read on as we uncover some more reasons this is no solution.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Plumbing | Comments Off on Why Store-Bought Drain Cleaning Solutions Are No Solution

How to Choose the Right Plumber for Your Home

Monday, March 1st, 2021

woman-looking-under-sink-at-leaking-pipeOur professional plumbers have been in the trade for a long time, and we have seen what can happen when you have the wrong home services “professional” in your home, whether it be for your HVAC, electrical, or plumbing needs.

Plumbing, especially, can be quite complex, and even something as seemingly simple as unclogging a drain can bring up unexpected surprises that you’ll only want a trained professional to manage (trust us). Still, we understand the temptation to hire a general handyperson, or to even take the offer to help from a friendly neighbor.

We can’t stress, though, how important it is that you choose a licensed and insured plumbing contractor when you need any kind of work on your pipes or plumbing appliances. You may think you’re saving money but in the long run, hiring the wrong person for the job can cost you more.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Plumbing | Comments Off on How to Choose the Right Plumber for Your Home

Can Drain Clogs Be Prevented?

Monday, September 28th, 2020

sink-drain-with-water-running-downThink you don’t have to worry about drain clogs? Figure that when one happens you can just reach for a bottle of store-bought liquid drain cleaner? Think again!

Unfortunately, these harsh chemical “solutions” are anything but a solution for clogged drains. Sure, they may temporarily relieve a clog like a build-up of hair or soap scum. But in the long run, they’re going to do more damage to your pipes than they are good. This is because of the caustic ingredients they’re made up of.

When you do have a drain clog, the best thing you can do is call on our team for professional drain cleaning, which we will elaborate on below. In the meantime, read on to learn how to prevent drain clogs to begin with.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Cedar Falls Blog, Plumbing | Comments Off on Can Drain Clogs Be Prevented?