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

Is Your Home Asking for an Electrical Panel Upgrade?

January 3rd, 2022 | Written By | Reviewed By William Pierce
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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The Danger of a Cracked Heat Exchanger

December 20th, 2021 | Written By | Reviewed By William Pierce
furnace-burners

If you’re like many homeowners in our area, you are likely using a gas-powered furnace in your living space. This is, after all, the most commonly found heating system in homes throughout the country, and the Cedar Falls area is no exception.

Furnace use is cost-efficient, and using a furnace is a fantastic option for many homeowners. However, while they are not inherently dangerous, when you use an appliance with natural gas in your home, there is always the slightest risk of toxic gas leaks or combustion problems. The main concern in preventing this when it comes to your gas heater is protecting the heat exchanger.

A cracked heat exchanger should always be taken seriously. If you suspect you might have a cracked heat exchanger or if you have an older furnace that hasn’t had maintenance in the last year, then please give us a call right away! Otherwise, read on to learn more about this component and the harm of a damaged one.

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How to Boost Furnace Efficiency

December 6th, 2021 | Written By | Reviewed By William Pierce
House and dollar symbol balancing on a seesaw, representing heat pump maintenance cost efficiency.

One of the greatest things about modern furnaces is that they are highly efficient! Homeowners across the country are choosing gas-powered furnaces as their main source of heat during the winter, and Cedar Falls residents are no exception. Today’s furnaces can have as high as a 95% AFUE rating, heating your home at a fraction of the cost and energy consumption as furnaces of the past.

That said, you could still use your furnace inefficiently, however unintentional that might be. If you’re going to invest the money in a high-efficiency furnace, then you deserve to get the most out of it for your money, right? Keep an eye out for winter furnace issues that may quietly affect performance and read on as we share some tips on how you can use your furnace even more efficiently than you already may be. Read on as we share some tips on how you can use your furnace even more efficiently than you already may be.

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Safety Tips to Consider with Your Electric Furnace Installation

October 11th, 2021 | Written By | Reviewed By William Pierce
checklist-with-red-marker

For many homeowners, the decision to purchase an electric furnace over a gas-powered system comes down to safety. It’s not that gas furnaces are inherently unsafe. However, there’s always going to be a slight risk when gas lines are involved, at least if that gas furnace isn’t very well maintained over the years.

Still, though, let’s address this assumption that electric furnaces are safer. It’s true, they do not post any threat of toxic gas leaks the way a natural gas furnace may. However, electric furnaces are large, powerful, pieces of electrical equipment and have the potential to create problems. Fortunately, problems with electric furnaces are relatively easy to avoid! Read on to learn how.

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What Qualities Should You Look for in an HVAC Contractor?

July 19th, 2021 | Written By | Reviewed By William Pierce
two-technicians-working-on-outdoor-ac-unit

When you live in a climate like ours, it goes without saying that your household needs an efficient and effective air conditioning system to improve comfort, and even your family’s health. And you need that AC system to work flawlessly, every day, every season, right?

Well, if you truly want all this, then it’s essential that you invest in professional air conditioning services with a team you can rely on. This kind of partnership isn’t one you just want to rush into–doing so could leave you with an AC system that’s not properly sized for your home, or could be incorrectly installed, preventing it from working as powerfully and efficiently as it’s meant to.

Whether you’re having a new cooling system installed, or maintaining or repairing an older system, you can count on our team. But how do you know that for sure? What should (or shouldn’t) you look for when shopping around for a quality HVAC contractor? Read on to find out!

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Can AC Maintenance Be Too Late?

July 5th, 2021 | Written By | Reviewed By William Pierce
white-question-mark-on-blue-background

There is only one scenario where it would be too late for you to schedule air conditioning maintenance and that is if the air conditioner has completely broken down, to the point that it is beyond repair.

Maybe your 15+-year-old system had a compressor failure. Or maybe you let a refrigerant leak go on too long and the system has died as a result.

Chances are, this actually isn’t the case for you. But if you skip maintenance consecutively each year, this could be your story. And consecutively is the magic word, here. Consistency with maintenance is much more important than the time of year you actually have maintenance done. Yes, we do generally recommend this service in the spring, before temperatures rise and you actually need the system on an hourly basis. This lets you get your tune-up on our schedule right away and lowers your risk of facing AC trouble when you need your system the most.

However, if you at the very least commit to getting air conditioner maintenance done once a year, it’s never too late. Here’s why this is so important:

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Do You Need to Upgrade Your Electrical Panel Before the Holiday Season?

October 12th, 2020 | Written By | Reviewed By William Pierce

outdoor-string-lightsToday’s homes have increasingly more electrical demands than those of the past. With more devices, appliances, and smart home components coming onto the market, homeowners are finding themselves purchasing extension cords and power strips to accommodate. The problem is, this isn’t necessarily safe, nor is it very healthy for an electrical system, which can become overwhelmed.

An overwhelmed electrical system means an increased risk for electrical fires, damaging power surges, failed appliances, and even electrocution. This is something to think about, especially as we progress into this time of the year. What are we referring to? The holiday season, which is really just around the corner. The holidays will look different this year, but if lighting up your home with decorations is in your plan, then you may need an electrical panel upgrade! Read on to learn the signs that this is the case.

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Have You Discovered The Benefits of Home Automation?

August 17th, 2020 | Written By | Reviewed By William Pierce

animated-diagram-of-smart-home-componentsAre you utilizing a smart thermostat to control your HVAC systems? How “plugged-in” is your home entertainment system? How about your lighting or security systems?

We’re alluding to the benefits of an increasingly popular service here–home automation installation. if your home isn’t yet a “smart home” allow us to be the first to fill you in on the numerous advantages of making it one. While we might not yet see something like The Jetsons cartoon or a Disney movie, technology has taken significant strides in the last couple of decades to get us there.

Read on as we uncover the benefits of home automation and how you can make your home smarter.

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Do You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade?

October 28th, 2019 | Written By | Reviewed By William Pierce

electricians-working-on-electrical-panelAlso referred to as the circuit breaker panel of your home, the electrical panel is the central hub of your entire electrical system—where the incoming electricity is routed to the different circuits. The breakers are designed to shut off circuits in case of voltage overload. If you have an older circuit breaker panel, you should ensure you aren’t overdue for having it replaced.

If you suspect or wonder if it is time for you to upgrade your electrical panel, the best thing you can do is call in a professional electrician in Cedar Falls. In the meantime, we’ve provided some questions below for you to ask yourself when determining whether or not your electrical system could use this type of upgrade.

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End-Of-Season AC Repairs to Be Aware Of

September 2nd, 2019 | Written By | Reviewed By William Pierce

outdoor-ac-unitThe official end of summer is near, with many of us still using our air conditioners on a regular basis. The last thing you need right now is a sudden air conditioner breakdown and a repair call when temperatures are still fluctuating. Of course, if you had maintenance done—one of the most important AC services in Cedar Falls—then it’s less likely this will occur.

But if you do notice signs that your air conditioner is in disrepair, it’s best to take care of those repairs now, rather than waiting until next year when you need your cooling system again.

The fortunate part of all of this is as long as you know what to look for, most AC system repair problems give out signs and symptoms well before they force the air conditioner to break down. While you should never attempt to formally diagnose (or repair) a problem by yourself—they contain potentially harmful components, such as chemical refrigerant—you can fairly easily spot the signs that you need air conditioning repair, and take the appropriate steps from there. These signs include the following:

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