Plumbing Considerations for Your Bathroom Remodel

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.

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What Do I Do If My Pipe Bursts?

March 7th, 2022
burst-pipe

If you’ve lived in the Cedar Rapids area for even just a year, then you might already know that burst pipes are a definite risk with our winters. When temperatures dip to below freezing, the threat level of burst pipes rises.

Fortunately, our team has seen a lot of burst pipe issues, and not only can we tell you what causes it and what to do about it, but how to prevent the problem from occurring at all, if possible. Read on to learn more!

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How Often Should I Have My HVAC System Tuned-Up?

February 28th, 2022
Person writing in an open planner or notebook, representing scheduling for AC maintenance.

An HVAC “tune-up” or maintenance ensures that your heating and cooling systems perform as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible. During maintenance, our technicians thoroughly clean, inspect, and adjust any components that need it–making sure everything is working as flawlessly as possible. To learn more about the best schedule for this service, check out how often you should have your HVAC system tuned up.

This increases the lifespan of the system, helps it perform more efficiently, and reduces repair needs by up to 85%!

Just like any other big piece of electrical equipment, including your car, even your heating and cooling systems will suffer from natural wear and tear throughout the years. You might have a minor issue, like a worn-down motor bearing, that our techs can locate and fix during your tune-up… but if you had skipped that tune-up and that problem was missed, it could lead to the motor overheating and your system completely breaking down.

If you have a standard furnace or central air conditioning system, you should have your unit tuned up annually. For your cooling system, it’s best to get this done in the spring, and for your heating system, it’s best to do it in the fall. And if you have a year-round heat pump, you should have professional maintenance done twice a year.

Read on to learn the answers to some of our most common HVAC maintenance questions.

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Is an Electric Ignition Better Than a Pilot Light in a Gas Furnace?

February 28th, 2022
jets-of-a-gas-furnace

Have you had the same furnace in your home for many years? If so, then you’re probably used to furnaces having pilot lights. If you’re planning on having a new furnace installed soon, however, it probably isn’t going to use a pilot light at all! Instead, it’s likely going to have an electronic ignition system that ignites the burners. In fact, it’s pretty rare today that manufacturers still make furnaces with pilot lights at all.

Why? We explore this below… read on!

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Can I Do My Own Drain Cleaning?

February 21st, 2022
drain

When it comes to making home improvements, there are many, many things that you can do on your own, or at least with minimal help from a handyman.

Perhaps you think that drain cleaning is one of those things. After all, you can just grab a bottle of chemical drain cleaning solution from the store and call it a day, right?

Well, not quite–and we’ll talk about that more below.

But the truth is, if you want to not only relieve your clogged drain but prevent your plumbing system from having the same problem again soon, then you want to have professional plumbing done. Read on as we uncover signs of a clogged drain, the common things that cause it, and why you shouldn’t use chemicals to unclog your drain.

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How to Ensure Your Furnace Lasts Through the Rest of Winter

February 14th, 2022
Woman in cozy sweater enjoying a hot drink by the window, warm indoors suggesting furnace installation.

Winter is definitely still plugging along, and we will all need our furnaces for several weeks still. So, what kind of shape is yours in? Is it ready to get you through the rest of winter? If you had it professionally maintained this past fall, and took care of any pending repair needs at this time, then you can probably say with confidence that yes, your furnace is going to make it through just fine.

But what if you skipped maintenance, have an aging furnace, or simply don’t know the signs that you might need repairs on your furnace? Use our guide to furnace issues to better understand the red flags and get ahead of potential breakdowns.

Well, that’s what we are here for! We want to help you ensure that your furnace will, indeed, last through the rest of the heating season. One of the best ways to do this is by staying on top of repair needs, even though you might stop using your furnace as much in a few weeks. Read on as we uncover the signs that it’s time for you to call for this service.

When should you consider replacing your furnace instead of repairing it?

  • If your furnace is over 15‑20 years old and technology improvements mean newer models are much more efficient.
  • When repair costs exceed about half the cost of a new unit.
  • If you frequently need repairs for major components (heat exchanger, blower motor, etc.).
  • When your utility bills are rising sharply despite regular maintenance.
  • If your existing furnace can’t maintain comfortable temperatures even after tune‑ups and repairs.

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What Are the Benefits of an Air Purifier?

February 14th, 2022
woman-looking-comfortable-on-her-couch

Did you know that your indoor air quality can actually be worse than the quality of the air outdoors? At least, this is the case if you don’t have the right indoor air quality products and services in place!

When folks hear “indoor air quality” they tend to think of their air conditioners and heaters–in other words, the temperature of their home. But air quality is about so much more than just temperature. It considers the humidity levels of the home, if there are contaminants present, and even how easily viruses can be transmitted.

The right mix of indoor air quality solutions, expertly installed by our team of professionals, will help ensure your home is as comfortable and as healthy as possible for the years to come. One such option is an air purifier, and there are many different types! The benefits of using an air purifier include cleaner, more breathable air, and reducing the risk of virus transmission.

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How Long Does a Furnace Last in Iowa?

February 7th, 2022
technician-working-on-furnace

Everybody knows that it gets considerably colder in most of Iowa during the winter than it does in other parts of the country. Take Southern California, for instance, or central Arizona. They truly have no concept of what “cold” really is.

Therefore, furnaces must last a lot longer there, right? You probably have to replace yours a lot sooner than your Aunt in Phoenix has to upgrade hers. Well, it might please you to know, that this isn’t necessarily true.

When we talk about “how long a furnace lasts,” we are referring to its useful service life. A furnace might operate for decades, but whether it actually keeps you as warm as you expect, as affordably as you’d expect, is a whole different story. No matter where you live, routine professional maintenance will give a furnace about 10-15 years of useful service life.

Read on as we tell you more about furnaces, and when you’re ready for your next heating installation, please don’t hesitate to give our team a call!

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Signs You May Need Fireplace Repair

January 17th, 2022
woman-and-child-by-fireplace-reading

Now is the time of year that homeowners all throughout Cedar Falls and beyond are starting to use their fireplaces on a more regular basis. This means that you want to make sure yours is in good shape! And while there might be a little rustic charm to an older fireplace, if your fireplace is literally falling apart due to old age combined with wear and tear, then something needs to be done about it.

Fortunately, to resolve this you don’t need to do much more than contact our team for quality and reliable fireplace repair! But, how do you know this service is even necessary? Read on to find out!

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Furnace Symptoms You Don’t Want to Ignore

January 17th, 2022
Red marker checking off boxes on a checklist, symbolizing steps in a heater replacement process.

The last thing we want any of our customers to do is sit around worried that their heating system is going to break down at any given moment. However, unless that system has never had professional maintenance done, this is unlikely to happen. It’s also a great idea for homeowners to know the signs of a system that’s in disrepair.

What are those signs? We’re here to share them!

First off, we want to mention maintenance again–we really cannot understate the importance of this service. Whether it’s a gas-powered furnace or an electric heater, professional tune-ups are the single most important thing folks can do to keep their systems working as efficiently, and effectively, as possible, for as long as possible. Maintenance can also help prevent up to 85% of the repair needs a system may ever need in its lifespan! If repairs are becoming frequent, it’s worth evaluating which home heating system is right for you and whether your current unit is past its prime.

This doesn’t mean that well-maintained heaters will never need repairs, of course–there is that other 15% after all. These repair needs usually crop up due to natural wear and tear, and in rare cases due to manufacturer defects. Read on to learn what the signs are of a furnace in disrepair!

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