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

When Should You Call a Professional Plumber?

Monday, April 29th, 2019

woman-wiping-up-water-from-burst-pipe-with-spongeThere are certain home improvement jobs that you can do on your own, but we don’t necessarily encourage DIY-plumbing repairs, unless it’s just a “quick fix” until you can get a professional plumber in to take a look.

The fact is, plumbing jobs aren’t easy. They require licensed professionals to handle most jobs more difficult than replacing a washer in a faucet or tightening a connection. When you need professional plumbing in Cedar Falls, IA, we’re the team to turn to. You should call one of our professional plumbers when you want:

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How to Prevent Pipe Freeze This Winter

Monday, October 1st, 2018
Frozen metal pipe with long icicles, indicating risk of burst pipe in freezing temperatures.

We still have about a month to go before our temperature lows dip below freezing, but as anyone who has lived here for even just a year knows, our weather is unpredictable. So if you’re thinking of waiting on any winter preparation this year for your home, we urge you to reconsider. Especially when it comes to your plumbing in Hudson, IA!

Plumbing systems and subsequent frozen pipes aren’t something many homeowners give a lot of thought to as winter approaches, particularly if they’ve never had to deal with it. But it certainly happens to enough homeowners to warrant some preparation on your part. Remember, even just a few days in a row of below 30° weather can result in frozen and burst pipes in Hudson. But you can prevent it!

What steps can you take to prevent a burst water pipe in your home?

To avoid a burst water pipe, insulate exposed pipes, especially in unheated areas like basements and crawlspaces. Keep cabinet doors open to let warm air reach pipes, drain outdoor spigots, disconnect hoses, and maintain consistent indoor heat. These steps help prevent freezing that leads to pipe bursts.

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Water Heater Repairs: Are You Having Tankless Troubles?

Monday, August 6th, 2018

Technician using a wrench to perform water heater repair on connected flexible pipes.When our customers are looking to have a new water heater installed, we often recommend considering the tankless water heater. There are a number of advantages to using this style of water heater, like lower energy bills, longer equipment life, and an unlimited supply of hot water. If you’re considering a system upgrade, you might also benefit from learning how seasonal savings can enhance home comfort.

Another benefit of a tankless water heater is that it typically encounters fewer repairs on average that the conventional storage tank water heater. This is because they don’t deal with the stress of continual energy usage to keep the water inside the tank heated. It does less work, and therefore a tankless water heater doesn’t wear out as quickly.

However, that doesn’t mean that they are completely immune to problems. And when a problem does occur, you will want someone who specializes in professional plumbing in Hudson, IA. That’s what we’re here for! In the meantime, though, ready on to learn more about these systems.

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3 Causes of Clogged Toilets

Monday, April 11th, 2016

Toilets are the single most important plumbing appliance in your home, for obvious reasons. When they get clogged up, they can bring your household screeching to a halt, and while the simplest issues (i.e., clogs caused by human waste and toilet paper) can usually be covered by the use of a plunger and some good old-fashioned elbow grease, other causes require a professional plumber’s attention. Here in Waverly, IA, you have a reliable service on call to help, but we’ve found you can avoid a clogged toilet simply by monitoring what you flush down it during the day. Here are 3 causes of clogged toilets that should watch out for.

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How Does UV Water Disinfection Work?

Monday, April 4th, 2016

If you think back to high school science class, you can likely recall the basics of UV (or ultraviolet light), which lies beyond our ability to see, but which can affect us nonetheless. In sunlight, it causes our skin to tan or burn. In smaller amounts, such as those present in a UV light bulb, it can interact with the detergent in our laundry to make white clothes glow in the dark. (It’s how you get that effect at amusement parks or rock concerts). But UV light can serve a far more important role than momentary amusement. When applied properly, it can help make the water in your Hudson, IA home a whole lot cleaner and safer. All you need is a UV water disinfection system in your home.

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Time to Get Your Air Conditioner Ready For Spring

Monday, February 15th, 2016

It’s still winter here in Cedar Falls, IA and that means our heaters are currently keeping our homes warm and cozy. But the thaw will be here before you know it and soon enough, temperatures will be high enough to demand your air conditioner. Now is the time to prep your air conditioner for regular service. It gives you plenty of flexibility to adjust things according to your schedule, and in case there are any surprises, you have plenty of time to deal with them before you have need of your system. Here’s a few tips to help you out.

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Be Careful What Your Pour Down the Drain This Winter

Monday, February 1st, 2016

Your kitchen sink is the sight of a lot of food activity, and with the Super Bowl on its way, you might be using it a lot to prepare food for your guests. Whatever your food-based plans are, however, they would benefit from a little care and foresight as far as what you pour down your drain. The wrong foods or liquids can damage your garbage disposal or clog up your pipes, forcing you to call a plumber when you should be enjoying the game. If you watch what you pour down the drain this winter, you can avoid an awful lot of hassle. Here’s a quick list of some foods you should dispose of in other ways.

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Never Attempt Plumbing Repairs Yourself

Monday, December 7th, 2015

Here in Cedar Falls, IA, we pride ourselves as being pretty self-sufficient, and homeowners may be accustomed to handling little repairs around the house themselves. With plumbing, however, this can be a big mistake. No matter how small or seeming inconsequential the issue, it always pays to have a professional take care of them problem instead of attempting plumbing repairs yourself. Why? We’ve laid out a few very good reasons below.

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Watch Out for Garbage Disposal Problems This Holiday Season

Monday, November 30th, 2015

The holidays have arrived here in Cedar Fall, IA, and that means your kitchen sink is going to be seeing a lot more use. Holiday meals for visiting family members, cookies and other delicious treats from the oven, even the odd turkey sandwich put together from leftovers: Christmas and the holidays mean food, and with that food comes increased use of your kitchen sink and garbage disposal. You don’t want yours experiencing any kind of a problem during the holidays, which is why we strongly recommend  you keep an eye on your garbage disposal for problems this holiday season. It lets you get a jump on the issue before interfering with a big meal or a visit from your gusts. Here’s a quick rundown of common signs of garbage disposal problems.

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How Does a Sump Pump Help My Home?

Monday, November 16th, 2015

Sump pumps are designed to help protect your home against the dangers of flood waters, which can be quite severe here in Cedar Falls, IA. It’s not 100% necessary, at least not the same way a water heater might be, and homeowners would be perfectly justified in asking whether or not they really need one installed in their homes. Like any form of insurance, it’s optional, though you are definitely taking a chance if you choose not to have one installed. It might help to understand exactly how a sump pump helps your home, and what benefits it brings that justifies the cost of installation.

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