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

3 Tips for Better Heating

Monday, February 27th, 2023

We’re almost at the end of winter, which means we’re trying our hardest to give our heating systems one final push before they can hibernate for the warmer months. This means that anything you can do to improve your heating is going to be a good idea. Go ahead and change the air filter, set your thermostat to a mild temperature, and ride out the rest of the winter in good shape.

But what if we told you there were some methods that could improve your heating next year and the year after that? These tips are not just for the immediate future, but they could heavily impact your heating in the next few years. Let’s focus on some great tips that homeowners might not be aware of so they can help avoid heating repair in Waterloo, IA unless it’s absolutely necessary. And in some cases, it will be!

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A Booming Furnace Is a Bad Sign

Monday, February 13th, 2023

Furnaces can make a lot of different noises. Some of it, like the gentle whooshing of air coming from your air vents, are good noises. These noises help signal to you that the system is working properly and it’s not going to leave you in the cold. However, there are plenty of sounds that signal that the system is in dire need of support, from maintenance to vital repairs.

This blog has two purposes. One is to help answer some of the questions you might have about your booming furnace and to alleviate the stressful situation you’re in. The second purpose is to inform any of our readers on the potential hazards that come with a booming furnace, and why this sound should never be ignored. Once you’ve been clearly informed on this kind of problem, we urge you to contact our team for furnace repair in Waterloo, IA so that your home’s heating can go back to normal.

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What Tonnage Is Your New AC?

Monday, August 15th, 2022
two-outside-ac-units

For anyone who isn’t entrenched in the HVAC industry, there are a number of terms and quite a bit of jargon that may not make much sense. There is some jargon you don’t need to know–but others that are helpful to have a basic understanding of. Tonnage is one of the latter.

Tonnage is an essential part of new air conditioning installation and AC replacement. You can always trust the Dalton technicians to successfully and reliably install your air conditioner, no matter what type of air conditioner you choose to have installed. But understanding a bit more about tonnage and how it applies to your new air conditioner can help you understand why it’s so important that you only trust the pros to service this system. Read on to learn more!

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The Best (and Worst) Ways to Treat Your Plumbing System

Monday, June 20th, 2022
lady-getting-glass-of-water-in-kitchen-sink-for-child-sitting-on-counter

We don’t mean to say that the most underappreciated system in your home is the plumbing, but let’s face it, it probably is.

It’s one of those modern conveniences we rely on each and every day without ever really thinking about it. But in not thinking about it, we could be making big mistakes that have dastardly consequences later on. Read on as we uncover some of the best and some of the worst ways to treat your plumbing system. And don’t hesitate to reach out when your system needs some professional help!

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How to Use Your Air Conditioner As Efficiently As Possible

Monday, April 11th, 2022
woman-using-smartphone-to-adjust-thermostat

There are not many things that an HVAC professional will tell you that you can do on your own when it comes to servicing your air conditioner or heater. The fact of the matter is that for bigger repairs and large-scale maintenance, you only want a professional doing it, for many reasons–not the least of which is for your safety. There are components of your air conditioner, like refrigerant, that can be hazardous.

That said, there are some small things you can do to both help maintain your air conditioner and help it run more efficiently, draining less power and costing you less to run. For example, keeping the parts clean that you’re able to, like the air filter and the exterior of the outside unit. We’ll talk about this more below, in addition to some other tips to boost your air conditioning efficiency this year!

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Signs that You Need Rewiring in Your Home

Monday, March 28th, 2022
hands-working-on-electrical-wiring

At Dalton, we’re more than simply an HVAC company. We have licensed and experienced plumbers, electricians, and fireplace experts on staff as well, to ensure that we are able to serve your whole home. That said, one of the most important jobs we perform for our customers is ensuring their homes are safe as possible, and a big part of this is checking their electrical loads.

This is especially important if you have an older home, which can have outdated wiring and problems that can lead to not only power outages, but safety hazards too. But, how do you know if your home, or rather your electrical system, is at risk of problems? Age alone isn’t always the best indicator, particularly if the previous homeowner made electrical upgrades. Read on as we uncover some of the top warning signs that your home might indeed need electrical rewiring, and give us a call if you notice any of these indicators!

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Plumbing Considerations for Your Bathroom Remodel

Monday, March 14th, 2022
hands-working-on-shower-head

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.

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Higher Natural Gas Market Prices Expected in the Cedar Falls Area

Monday, November 15th, 2021
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Cedar Falls Utilities recently alerted customers that natural gas market prices are expected to increase, impacting utility bills during the upcoming heating season. These prices have more than doubled from this same time last year, which has increased the cost for utilities throughout the country to purchase natural gas that is provided to customers.

The good news is that Cedar Falls Utilities has agreements in place that shield customers as much as possible from price volatility, working with their gas supplier to stabilize daily and monthly gas prices.

But what does this all mean for you, our customers? You certainly aren’t going to go without using your heater over the coming months, right?

Read on as we uncover some ways you can use your gas-powered heating system, and water heater, more efficiently and potentially mitigate too much of a financial loss from these rising utility costs.

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Is It Time for a Water Heater Upgrade?

Monday, November 8th, 2021
hot-water-coming-out-of-faucet

Taking a nice, cold shower after a heavy workout or at the end of a long, hot day is nice. But getting assaulted by icy water hitting you when you were expecting a hot shower is not so nice.

This is clearly a sign that something is amiss, and it’s likely a problem with your water heater. In some cases, repairs will do, but eventually, you’re going to need a water heater replacement.

There are other signs that this might be the case in addition to a surprising cold shower. We’ve uncovered some of these signs below. If you notice any of them, please don’t hesitate to give us a call to talk about your water heater options.

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One Furnace Hazard You Want to be Sure to Avoid

Monday, October 25th, 2021
technician-working-on-furnace

Perhaps you read the title of this blog post and are now wondering, “Wait, is my furnace hazardous?”

The answer is, “No, not inherently.”

The problem is that many homeowners invest in a gas-powered furnace, but not the maintenance and care that goes into safely operating it. Or they’re not aware that a gas-powered furnace can start experiencing problems with age that may lead to potentially hazardous consequences. One consequence in particular that we’re going to talk about today is a cracked heat exchanger.

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