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

Staying Warm in an Emergency: 5 Tips

Monday, December 25th, 2023

If winters weren’t as cold and brutal as they are in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, then we probably wouldn’t have much of a business. The truth is that our winters are unpredictable, snowy, rainy, and above all else–cold. So a heating system is practically a necessity if you’re going to make it through the winter season comfortably and with your sanity still in check.

However, as most of our readers are probably aware, things can rarely go as planned. The holiday season is rife with emergency heater problems, system shutdowns, and even safety concerns with gas leaks. Some days, you might need to shut your heating system down while you wait for a trained professional to inspect it and fix it. What can you do on those days?

Well, as your expert team for heating in Cedar Rapids, we have a few tips that can keep you warm and comfortable while waiting for your heat to come back on.

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Can Heat Pumps Work for the Winter?

Monday, December 11th, 2023

We get a lot of questions when it comes to comparing heat pumps to furnaces or boilers. Our winters can get absolutely frigid, so it’s important to know if the heating system you intend on buying will actually handle the temperature changes or not.

Furnaces can always handle those temperature dips, and even when your house is cased in a thick layer of snow, you can count on a gas furnace to keep you warm without too much trouble. But a heat pump? How can you say the same thing for a heat pump in Cedar Rapids, IA?

Well, the truth might actually surprise you. Furnaces are getting some stiff competition from heat pump systems and ductless units, so we’d like to start off by saying that–yes, heat pumps can work throughout the whole winter. And the results of this kind of system might surprise you.

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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 Tips for Winter Efficiency

Monday, November 20th, 2023

What if we told you that your heating system could run just as effectively but with a slight reduction on your monthly heating bills? Wouldn’t that sound like something “too good to be true?”

Well, it’s the focus of today’s blog and something that we think a lot more homeowners should be aware of. Yes, your heating system is working just fine today, but it could work with better efficiency which means it would use up less fuel or electricity as it ran. This is a huge part of your home’s performance because that money saved on your heating bill could go into your savings or pay for something else around your house that desperately needs it.

To make things easy for our readers, we’re going to split this blog into three distinct tips for better winter efficiency. And, if you need a little extra help along the way, feel free to stop reading and call our team for heating in Cedar Rapids.

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Calculating Your Heating Efficiency

Monday, October 23rd, 2023

People are a lot smarter these days when it comes to using energy for heating in the fall and winter. With helpful apps that can keep track of our comfort preferences, to notation software and smart homes that operate automatically, a homeowner has never been more empowered to take control of their home efficiency and reach new heights.

But all of this calculation has to start somewhere. It’s not very helpful if you make up how much energy or fuel you think a furnace or heat pump consumes. There are specific rating systems like AFUE, SEER2, and HSPF that can help you fully understand just how much energy you’re using, and how to curb it and save money.

Yes, this blog is going to be all about heating in Cedar Rapids, IA, but more importantly how you can calculate your home’s efficiency using some basic arithmetic.

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It’s Time to Get Your Furnace Checked

Monday, October 9th, 2023

A furnace isn’t just a tool you use during the fall, winter, and spring–it’s an appliance that we depend on to live our lives. Temperatures are likely to soon dip below freezing, and at that point, it’s going to be practically impossible to live your life at home without a fully functioning furnace system. Don’t worry, we’re not trying to scare anyone, but heating is an important part of daily living.

That’s why services like furnace maintenance and furnace repair are so vital. If you call early, our team can pinpoint any problems before the cold temperatures reach us, and early enough for you to save a bit of money as well.

So today we’d like to give a PSA for homeowners out there to invest in their furnace repairs. But we’d also like to give a few reasons why early furnace repairs in Waterloo, IA are going to save you money in the long run.

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Is a Bigger Furnace Really Better?

Monday, January 30th, 2023

Furnaces come in all shapes and sizes, but that’s for a very good reason. A furnace that is too large or too small will obviously cause problems, but many homeowners are in the dark as to what those problems might be. For instance, there’s a classic misconception that having a larger furnace is always better since you can’t go wrong with more heat in your home, right?

Well, you can, but not for the reason you would expect. No, your home won’t get swelteringly hot, and it’s not particularly unsafe, but it will lead to tremendously higher heating bills and a system that breaks down early on in its lifespan. This is what we call “short cycling” and it’s something that your furnace can be the victim of if you’re not careful.

So, let’s talk about why a furnace installation in Cedar Rapids, IA should be a specific size that fits your home.

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Dalton’s Guide to Mobile Home Heating

Monday, December 19th, 2022

It’s no secret that owning a mobile home is different in many ways from owning a multi-story house. In this crazy economy, they’re becoming more convenient as an option for homeowners who would like to own property, but can’t afford some of the very high prices for houses. They also tend to economize space very well, since you can have multiple bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and a lot of space for a lower cost and without sifting through older houses that might not have those kinds of rooms.

Overall, if you’re happy with your manufactured home, then that’s what really matters. However, heating that home is what we’re going to talk about today. Mobile home heating in Cedar Rapids, IA is a specific topic that requires a bit of attention since it can be different from traditional home heating.

From choosing specific systems to some best practices that can help you stay energy efficient and happy this holiday season.

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Dalton’s Guide to Radiant Heating

Monday, November 21st, 2022
radiant-heating-tubes

Winter is really just right around the corner in Cedar Rapids and with it comes cooler temperatures and an increased emphasis on heating. We all need reliable heaters to get us through the cold months of winter, but for whatever reason, more traditional boilers and forced-air furnaces may not be right for you.

If you’re ready to replace an old heater or simply install a new one, you might consider a radiant heating system. The installation cost tends to be higher than more traditional heating systems, but there are substantial benefits that go along with it.

What is radiant heating? We’ve spelled out a few quick answers below.

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

Monday, 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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