Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Cedar Falls’

Panel Vs. Fuse Box: What’s the Difference?

Monday, February 26th, 2024

An electrician would easily know the answer (or answers) to this question, but it’s not exactly obvious to every homeowner. Some homes have fuse boxes, and others have electrical panels, and understanding the differences between these two systems can seem like a nightmare without a trustworthy source of information.

Well, we’re happy to be your electrical authority for questions like these, and we’ll simply answer your questions down below or over the phone if you’d prefer. Yes, there are some significant differences between a fuse box and an electrical panel, and your home is more likely to function better if you have one of these systems over the other.

Which system is better? Why are we even comparing these types of systems? The answers will be clear down below. Just make sure you call our electricians in Cedar Falls for help with your electrical panel or fuse box.

The Electrical Core of Your House

The fuse box or electrical circuit breaker of your house is the “core.” What we mean by that is every electrical appliance in your home must draw its power from this place which comes from outside of your home. Unless you have solar panels or some other kind of generator creating an inflow of electricity, the panel or fuse box likely receives electricity from your municipality or the power plant.

You just won’t find a home without this kind of thing. Even garages and sheds can have their own circuit breaker boxes or fuse boxes to direct the electrical flow somewhere in the building. They’re a requirement for modern-day living and you need to have one of these in your home. So what’s the difference?

The Invention of the Fuse Box

When electrical appliances were first invented, houses needed a way to limit the amount of electricity that came through the wires and into your devices. Too much electricity could start a fire or short circuit appliances, which was not a good idea. So, fuse boxes were invented to direct the flow of electricity from one central place in your home through a fuse.

If there was too much electricity going through the fuse, it would melt down or blow, which is where the term blown fuse comes from. This was a simple and smart way to monitor your home electricity. But these soon become outdated.

Electrical Panels

Electrical panels, or circuit breakers, do everything that a fuse box does without the need for a blown fuse to stop electricity from flowing. It has its own electrical switch which detects an overloaded circuit and automatically disconnects the power, stopping the chance of a broken device or fire hazard. These units can be easily reset without the need for additional fuses like an old fuse box would.

Additionally, you can just flip the circuit back manually on your panel to get power back on to wherever it was shut down. Electrical panels are just a safer, more modernized version of the fuse box which uses less materials and can monitor a much greater flow of electricity.

After this blog post, we hope we made it clear that your old fuse box could use a major upgrade to a circuit breaker panel.

At Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc., your comfort is our promise! To set up an appointment in the Cedar Falls area, give us a call at the number above, email customerservice@daltonphc.com or schedule an appointment online.

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Is a Ductless Heat Pump the Best Option?

Monday, February 12th, 2024

Many homeowners are face to face with a conundrum this season. 2024 is indeed a great year to start investing in heat pump technology, but the estimates of ductless heat pump installations when compared to conventional furnaces or boilers can be hard to understand.

For instance, you might see a ductless mini split system quoted at several thousand dollars more to set up than a conventional heating system, even if they’re both providing you with heat. This might seem like a dealbreaker and might shake your faith in heat pump technology, but we promise that there’s a silver lining to all of this. These quotes and estimates, even if they’re accurate, don’t show the full picture of what ductless HVAC in Cedar Falls is and how it might save you money elsewhere.

So, to answer the main question of this blog post–yes, a ductless heat pump is the best option for a lot of our customers. But in order to figure out why, we’ll need to sink our teeth into some data.

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Don’t Panic: A Guide on Buying a Replacement Heater

Monday, January 15th, 2024

Your heater is starting to sputter out of control and we still have a few months of cold weather left. That can be a scary predicament and a lot of homeowners would feel the stress and pressure in this particular instance. We get it.

We want to start by saying one important thing–don’t panic. Panic can cause customers to purchase systems and services cheaply and without enough research, causing them to require an early replacement eventually or to be unhappy with their new heating system. We get that you need heat and there’s no time to wait, but you don’t need to buy a system that won’t keep you happy.

In other words, we’d like to talk about how a heater replacement in Cedar Falls can be an opportunity to improve your home, your comfort, and your budget in the future. But the first step is to calm down and keep reading our post for a guide on buying a replacement system.

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3 Awesome Reasons to Choose Our Team This Winter

Monday, December 4th, 2023

So, your heating system has finally decided to call it quits after almost a decade of dutiful service. You’ve probably called for help numerous times this year and it’s finally becoming financially unfeasible to keep fixing this machine. Now, with such a large purchase on the horizon, things are getting financially tight and you’re probably looking for reasons to invest in a professional team.

After all, an amateur or family friend installing a system you purchase would probably be a lot cheaper, right? And that doesn’t sound so bad. But in truth, you’ll likely end up paying more and dealing with some serious consequences if you purchase amateur installation or service.

On the other end of the spectrum, our services like installation and replacement might seem more expensive in comparison, but they’re well worth the cost. Let’s talk about three distinct reasons why you’ll want to choose our team for heating in Waterloo, IA.

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3 Money-Saving HVAC Tips

Monday, September 25th, 2023

You can never have enough money in your bank account, right? Sure, people come from all walks of life, but we’d be hard-pressed to find a reader of our blog who wouldn’t smile at the thought of an extra zero or two at the end of their bank statement.

Well, we can’t help you with your stock investments or your savings account, but we can help your HVAC equipment last longer and run more efficiently so you spend less on your energy bill every month. And contrary to popular opinion, some of these tips are completely free and can be done right at home on your own.

Interested? Then keep reading! We’re going to cover the top 3 money-saving HVAC tips that can keep you with plenty of savings to spare. And don’t forget to use some of that savings to call for heat pump service in Cedar Falls, IA if you run into trouble!

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Why Your New Lights Require Professional Installation

Monday, September 11th, 2023

Lights don’t necessarily sound like the most intense electrical project you could take on, right? They’re just a matter of having an electrical connection that switches on and off, and it’s not like there haven’t been homeowners that have installed their own lighting. But with most other electrical cases, lighting installations are deceptively complicated.

They might seem simple from the get-go, but as you try to install your own lighting, you’ll quickly realize that you’ve set yourself up for a nightmare. Not only can this be dangerous for your personal health (electrocutions really hurt), but you could also end up with holes in your wall and wires going to nowhere that make any future electrical services in Cedar Falls, IA even worse.

When you go with a professional, as we’ll describe below, things can often be cleaner, simpler, faster, and overall just better in almost every way.

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When Do You Need AC Service?

Monday, July 17th, 2023

The answer might seem simple when you ask us. You need AC service any time your air conditioner exhibits any strange noises or problems that require fixing. While this sounds easy enough, it’s actually a lot more complicated than that.

For instance, what exactly is a problem? Is that little squeaking noise in an otherwise perfectly fine air conditioner an issue? Or what constitutes a bad noise when compared to good noises, like the sound of air coming from your air vents? These are all good questions, and ones that make this process a lot harder for homeowners than many people initially think.

Even a customer who might have an otherwise working air conditioner could see a terribly high energy bill every month–which constitutes a definite need for AC service in Cedar Falls, IA. These things require a bit more thought, which is what we’re going to cover today.

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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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3 Essential Plumbing Upgrades

Wednesday, April 26th, 2023

It’s time to start living in the 21st century! Seriously, you’d be surprised at some of the amazing plumbing upgrades that people have access to nowadays.

Some of them, like water filtration systems in Cedar Falls, IA, are going to be easily installed and set up by a professional. Others, like a bidet or a high-efficiency toilet, are going to save you money but also change the way you live your life.

In truth, a plumbing upgrade can be for more than just convenience. It can help shift your lifestyle to one that’s more sustainable, enjoyable, and efficient.

Today, let’s look at three great plumbing upgrades for your home and we’ll examine how they work. For each and every one of these, it can be helpful to have a plumbing professional on hand for any repairs, installations, or even the regular maintenance of these systems. Our team is always here to help you when you need it!

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3 Electrical Things You Shouldn’t Do on Your Own

Monday, April 10th, 2023

DIY projects are great but there’s a bit of a misconception going around. Some people think that electrical repairs fit into the same category as painting or other home improvement projects, but that can be a dangerous way of thinking.

Electrical work is in a different category of a lot of home projects, particularly because of how dangerous it can be and also because of how important the final product is. You don’t want that new thousand-dollar phone or TV being shorted out or destroyed due to faulty wiring, right?

In that case, you should definitely call an electrician in Cedar Falls, IA. Only a licensed electrician will be able to handle the job that you have in mind, for as little a price as possible. And, don’t forget the fact that an electrician can handle this kind of work quickly so there’s less time spent patching your wall or trying to flip light switches to test things out.

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