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

Common AC Repairs to Be Aware Of as the Weather Warms

Monday, May 23rd, 2022

woman-trying-to-cool-off-in-home-sitting-in-front-of-fan

Do you know if your air conditioner is in good enough shape to handle the warmer temperatures coming our way? Before you say “mine is fine,” let us ask you a follow-up question… have you scheduled spring maintenance for your system yet?

Maintenance allows our technicians to fully inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it, helping your system operate as effectively and efficiently as possible, for as long as possible. So, if you answered “no” to our follow-up question, now is the time!

Maintenance has a ton of benefits, not the least of which is helping you avoid up to 85% of the repairs your air conditioner might ever need! But regardless of whether you’ve had maintenance done recently or not, it’s still wise to be aware of the signs that you need AC repair. Read on as we cover some of those signs.

Tags: AC Repair, Cedar Falls
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Signs That Your Home Has Hard Water

Monday, May 9th, 2022

If you’ve never heard the term “hard water” before, then you may wonder why it even matters if your home has it. The thing is, it’s not necessarily harmful to you or your household. But, it is potentially harmful to your plumbing system and your quality of life as result.

Hard water is water that has a high level of minerals in it–namely magnesium, calcium, and sometimes iron too. These minerals are harmless to ingest, but cause sediment buildup that can be bad for your drains. But how do you know if your home has hard water? Read on for some telltale signs.

Tags: Cedar Falls, Hard Water Signs, Water Softener, Water Treatment
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The Benefits of Whole-House Generator Installation

Monday, April 25th, 2022

Many homeowners are familiar with portable generators–and at their core, there is nothing wrong with these systems, when used as they should be. Portable generator systems are a great solution for many scenarios. For example, if your family is going on a campout and you want to power up an electric grill, or hey let’s say you’re “glamping” and you want to hook up a TV… whatever the case, a portable generator is a great system.

However, the thing you need to know about portable generators is while they’re good in many cases, the one scenario where a portable system is not a good option is to power your entire home during a widespread power outage. For this, you’ll definitely want a whole-house automatic standby generator.

A whole-home system enables you to power up all the important components of your home, from the water heater and refrigerator to the air conditioner, and even your electronic devices and, if you need it, medical equipment. Read on as we uncover some of the leading benefits of having a whole-home generator installed.

Tags: Cedar Falls, Electrical Services
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Plumbing Considerations for Your Bathroom Remodel

Monday, March 14th, 2022

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.

Tags: Cedar Falls, Plumbing Service, Waterloo
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Is an Electric Ignition Better Than a Pilot Light in a Gas Furnace?

Monday, February 28th, 2022

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!

Tags: Cedar Falls, Heating
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How to Ensure Your Furnace Lasts Through the Rest of Winter

Monday, February 14th, 2022

Woman relaxing with a warm drink in a cozy room, enjoying heat from recent 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 if you’re unsure about its condition, check how AFUE ratings impact efficiency and what that means for your heating system.

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.

What steps should you take when planning furnace installation or replacement service?

When planning furnace installation or replacement service, choose a properly sized, high-efficiency unit that matches your home’s layout and ductwork. Schedule the service before peak season, ensure old equipment is safely removed, and follow up with regular maintenance to extend the life of your new system.

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.

Furnace Repair vs. Replacement: What’s Best Mid-Winter?

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.

Tags: Cedar Falls, heating repairs
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Signs You May Need Fireplace Repair

Monday, January 17th, 2022

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!

Tags: Cedar Falls, fireplace repair
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Is Your Home Asking for an Electrical Panel Upgrade?

Monday, January 3rd, 2022

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:

Tags: Cedar Falls, Electrician
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The Danger of a Cracked Heat Exchanger

Monday, December 20th, 2021

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.

Tags: Cedar Falls, Furnace Repair
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How to Boost Furnace Efficiency

Monday, December 6th, 2021

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.

Tags: Cedar Falls, furnace services
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