Cedar Falls, IA Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning Blog | Dalton Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc.

Why Does My Water Heater Smell Like Eggs?

September 12th, 2022

When it comes to caring for the appliances and systems in your home, one of the most important ones to think about is your water heater. After all, this is a system you rely on each and every day, and you really don’t want it to fail on you out of the blue. Of course, problems are a lot less likely if you have your water heater regularly maintained each year by qualified and experienced plumbers, such as the professionals on the Dalton team.

That said, whether you’ve been keeping up on maintenance or not, it’s a good idea to know about some of the warning signs that you might have a problem with your water heater. One of these signs is the smell of rotten eggs coming from the system. This smell is the result of a gas called hydrogen sulfide, and it can be hazardous if not addressed right away. Therefore, it’s important that you give us a call if you notice the odor. In the meantime, read on to learn how hydrogen sulfide can make its way into your water heater, and how to get rid of it.

Is It Ever Too Late for AC Maintenance?

September 12th, 2022

If you’ve followed our blog for very long, you’ve probably seen us mention maintenance once or twice. Okay, maybe more than that.

The thing is, maintenance is absolutely vital to keeping your heating and cooling systems in great shape. Tune-ups help your air conditioner and furnace work as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible. We typically recommend air conditioning maintenance be done in the fall since this is right before you need the system the most.

Seeing as it is now late summer and temperatures are going to start cooling down soon, is it too late to schedule air conditioner maintenance? NO, actually!

We do suggest that our customers have air conditioner maintenance done before summer begins. The truth is that it doesn’t matter when you have it done as long as you’re having it professionally tuned up at least once a year–twice a year if you’re using a heat pump system. Consistency matters the most here. Read on to learn why you should make this service a priority in your household.

How Has Inflation Impacted the HVAC Industry?

September 5th, 2022

“Inflation” is a word we’ve all become far too familiar with this past year. You probably know what it means–higher prices on things like gas, groceries, utilities, etc. Did you know, however, that it can also impact the cost of your HVAC equipment if you’re having a system installed or replaced soon?

When high inflation occurs, you might be wondering if you should hold off on replacing an older air conditioner, or if you should rush out and get one now. With no guarantee of when this inflation period will end, our advice is to consider an upgrade now–but don’t rush into it.

Rushing into a purchase of this scope can leave you with a system that is inefficient, ineffective, and/or just not properly matched for your home’s specific comfort needs. You should work with a qualified professional such as the folks on our team when you’re considering an upgrade.

And inflation or not, it’s good to know the signs that it is, in fact, time for an upgrade. This includes:

5 Ways to Keep Your Mobile Home Cool

August 29th, 2022

When you are a mobile homeowner, you might imagine that your only choice when it comes to keeping your living space cool and comfortable is to use strategically placed fans. This is especially true if you are part of a Homeowners Association that won’t allow you to have a central air conditioner installed. Fortunately, you actually do have options, and our team is here to help you go through them.

We provide trustworthy and professional mobile home cooling services throughout the greater Cedar Rapids area, and we look forward to helping you keep your mobile home as cool and comfortable as possible. We also can help improve your indoor air quality, and help with your plumbing and electrical needs too!

As for how to make sure you’re doing everything you can to cool off your mobile home, read on!

Tips to Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality

August 22nd, 2022

Do you know how clean the air inside your home is? Did you know the quality of the air inside your living space can actually be worse than the quality of the air outside? At least, this is the case if you don’t have the right indoor air quality systems and solutions in place.

Homeowners often have an understanding that their HVAC systems have air filters in them. The problem is that these air filters aren’t designed for comprehensive indoor air quality problems. Rather, they are designed to protect the HVAC systems themselves from dirt, dust, and other debris that can harm their interior components.

For true indoor air quality maintenance and improvement, you want to look at other, stronger, solutions. Read on to learn what they are!

What Tonnage Is Your New AC?

August 15th, 2022

For anyone who isn’t entrenched in the HVAC industry, there are a number of terms and quite a bit of jargon that may not make much sense. There is some jargon you don’t need to know–but others that are helpful to have a basic understanding of. Tonnage is one of the latter.

Tonnage is an essential part of new air conditioning installation and AC replacement. You can always trust the Dalton technicians to successfully and reliably install your air conditioner, no matter what type of air conditioner you choose to have installed. But understanding a bit more about tonnage and how it applies to your new air conditioner can help you understand why it’s so important that you only trust the pros to service this system. Read on to learn more!

How to Choose the Right Ceiling Fan

August 15th, 2022

Ceiling fans have an important purpose in the modern home. No, they cannot lower the temperature in a room. But, they can help circulate the air more effectively. This means that they can help your home efficiency since you can adjust your thermostat by a couple of degrees so you and your family will feel cooler.

Plus, the direction of your ceiling fan’s blades can be reversed using the small switch at the center of your fan, in order to push heat down in the wintertime and help your heating system keep you warmer. So ceiling fans have advantages no matter what time of the year it is!

But how do you choose the right fan or fans for your specific home? Read on as we share some pointers!

4 Common Plumbing Issues in Older Homes

August 8th, 2022

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.

Why Does My AC Run Constantly?

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.

Signs That Your Tankless Water Heater Needs Repair

August 1st, 2022

If you’ve chosen to have a tankless water heater installed on your property, it’s probably due to their high energy efficiency and effectiveness at providing you with hot water throughout your home. Tankless systems are much more capable than their storage tank counterparts of handling periods when you’re away, as they aren’t as susceptible to heat loss and water waste.

Tankless water heaters in Cedar Falls help numerous homeowners throughout the country save a lot of energy, which equates to lower utility bills. However, tankless water heaters are not immune to repair needs. When these needs crop up, you want a team on your side to get the system back to its full functionality. We are that team.

Of course, it also helps to know some of the signs that you do in fact need repairs. Read on to learn more!