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

Electrical Fire Safety Tips for Homeowners

Monday, February 27th, 2023

Every home in the 21st century needs electricity. Even those tiny, off-the-grid homes, usually have some kind of generator that gives them the power to charge a phone or keep the lights on. Electricity is what makes our homes modern, they give us access to appliances and heating, automatic dishwashing and laundry, and much more.

However, an electrical system can be dangerous when it’s not installed or maintained properly. You’ve all seen these kinds of disasters in movies and television shows, where an exposed wire meets water or another exposed wire. There’s a reason why surge protectors and grounded outlets are so important, and we’re going to cover that topic today. It’s possible to keep your home safe from electrical fires and hazards, it just takes professional help. So, let’s discuss how an electrician in Marion, IA can help you with keeping your home safe.

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Dalton’s HVAC Guide for Winter

Monday, September 26th, 2022
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If there is any one piece of advice we would give to homeowners in the Cedar Rapids area about prepping their HVAC system for winter, it’s this: schedule heating maintenance ASAP! Maintenance allows our professionals to comprehensively inspect, clean, and adjust all the components in your HVAC system that need it. This ultimately helps your heater operate more safely. It also helps your heating system perform as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible.

Read on to learn more about the benefits of heating maintenance!

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4 Common Electrical Issues For Old Homes

Monday, July 18th, 2022
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The electrical system of your home is likely something you take a bit for granted. Flip on a switch and the lights come on… plug in the toaster and it works! Plug in your phone’s charger and you’re all set…

But what if none of those things worked? Or what if something was wrong that was risking your home’s safety as well as electrical efficiency? If you have an older home, this is a very real possibility!

Read on as we uncover the 4 common electrical issues for older homes: flickering lights, tripping circuit breakers, an outdated electrical panel, or outdated outlets.

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How Long Should I Run My AC During the Summer?

Monday, June 20th, 2022
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There’s a common belief among homeowners that air conditioners have their limits. They do, just maybe not in the way that you think.

For instance, most air conditioners can not reach over 20°F below whatever the temperature is outside. So, if we were to experience a 100°F day, setting the thermostat to 70°F won’t do anything except cause the compressor to keep running, and do so inefficiently.

Another limit is that even with careful, routine maintenance, all air conditioners will eventually wear down to the point that they’re no longer usable. The useful service life of the average cooling system is 10-15 years.

A common question we get, in regards to air conditioning limitations, is “how long should I run my AC during the summer?” The short answer to this is, “as long as you want to!” Here’s the thing…. you can keep your thermostat set to “cool” mode 24/7 during the summer if you want to. This only becomes inefficient and leads to faster wear and tear if you fail to have your system professionally maintained and/or you don’t use your thermostat correctly. Read on to learn more!

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