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

Why Fall Is No Time to Forget Your Air Conditioner

Monday, September 27th, 2021
two-technicians-working-on-outside-ac-unit

The official end of summer is upon us, and very soon it will be time to start thinking about your heating system–in fact, it’s not too early to schedule heating maintenance if you haven’t done so already!

But you’re probably still using your air conditioner pretty consistently in the meantime, and the last thing you need right now is a huge repair need or a sudden breakdown!

We have good news! Most AC repair needs show symptoms or signs well before the system breaks down. So, if you do notice any of the signs we’re about to share, it’d be wise to give us a call ASAP. This way you can rely on your system not only for the rest of whatever hot weather comes our way, but also when temperatures warm up again next spring.

Remember, it’s important that you not try to diagnose, and especially not try to do your own repairs on, an air conditioner problem. However, you can definitely pay attention to see if you notice any of the following symptoms or anything that we didn’t mention below but seems out of character for your AC system, such as strange noises.

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Why It’s Never Too Early to Think about Your Heating System

Monday, September 13th, 2021
technician-working-on-furnace

While temperatures have been on the warmer side lately, there’s no denying that the official end of summer is right around the corner. And in our part of the country, fall and winter mean cooler temperatures! You’re probably looking forward to it after the summer we had–but you won’t be singing praises that long if you have a broken down heating system.

That’s why it’s important to schedule heating maintenance for your system as early as possible. Actually, the timing of your heating maintenance doesn’t matter as much as frequency–you should have this service professionally done once a year–but having maintenance done before you need your heating system the most is the best way to set it up for success and have a peace of mind that you can stay comfortable throughout the rest of the year and into 2022. Read on to learn about the great benefits of routine, professional heating maintenance.

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AC Leaks: A Common Problem

Monday, August 16th, 2021

Sometimes, we get a phone call from a homeowner who is worried that they have a major plumbing leak in their home–only to discover that the issue is actually a leaking air conditioner. AC systems can leak water, but not because your plumbing system is malfunctioning. Instead, it’s the result of condensation building up within the system, and spilling out due to there being a problem with the drainage system.

Depending on where in your home the air conditioner’s indoor unit is, the results of a leak can become a huge problem, causing property damage and more. So, what should you do if your air conditioner springs a leak? And is it possible to prevent this from happening in the future? Read on as we uncover the answers to these questions.

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Tips for Keeping Your Home Cooler

Monday, August 2nd, 2021
checklist-with-red-marker

It’s no secret that we’re dealing with an especially warm summer this year. If you’ve been outside at all, you already know that temperatures are stifling. This means your air conditioner is going under a lot of stress to do its job, right? If you had maintenance done this past spring, you don’t likely have much to worry about. Maintenance helps your air conditioner work as effectively and efficiently as possible, for as long as possible–especially if you keep up on any repair recommendations we make during this service.

Having a great air conditioner installed is also a good step in keeping your home cool. This means working with a professional to ensure your home is properly matched with the right air conditioner and a correctly sized air conditioner as well. Too big of an AC can be just as detrimental to your comfort and the system itself as too small of one.

So when you’ve got professional installation and professional maintenance under your belt, there’s nothing more you can do, right? Wrong! There are plenty of additional steps you can take to make sure your household stays cool this summer–potentially even cooler than you thought possible. Read on to learn more!

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Unique Ductless Needs to Be Aware Of

Monday, June 21st, 2021
woman-sitting-on-couch-using-remote-to-turn-on-ductless-air-handler

When it comes time for you to replace your outdated air conditioner, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the options available to you. After all, there are many! You might find it easier to go with the same cooling system you’ve always had–but what if this isn’t the most efficient way to go about it? In other words, what if it’s cheaper for you to go with another option?

It might very well be time for you to consider going ductless for your cooling (and heating) needs. Ductless HVAC systems are made up of a single outdoor unit, which is connected to up to four indoor air handlers. Each air handler can be controlled independently, making for a highly efficient and powerful option for homeowners looking for year-round comfort.

If not properly installed or serviced, however, you might run into a few repair needs that are unique to ductless systems.

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What Can Go Wrong with your Air Conditioner’s Capacitors?

Monday, June 7th, 2021
two-technicians-working-on-air-conditioner

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a magic wand for your air conditioner–if no matter what was wrong you could wave that wand and have the issue immediately fixed? Unfortunately, this isn’t reality. Your air conditioner is a complex electronic appliance with various wires, switches, capacitors, and more. And when something goes wrong, it requires a qualified and experienced team to get the system back up and running.

Fortunately, that’s what we are here for! Whatever the issue is, our team can resolve it. In most cases, air conditioning system problems can be attributed to one of two things–lack of maintenance or natural wear and tear. Either one of these can lead to problems with your air conditioner’s capacitors, which are vital to the performance of your AC. Never heard of them? Read on to learn more!

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The Truth about Your AC Compressor

Monday, May 24th, 2021

compressorThere are a number of different problems that can afflict your air conditioner as the years go by. This is especially true if you don’t keep up on your annual maintenance appointments—or biannual if you have a heat pump system. Given how hard and how long your air conditioner has to work, you could find yourself facing issues such as a refrigerant leak, failed capacitors, and damaged ductwork. Fortunately, most of these repairs are relatively simple fixes for our HVAC professionals.

There’s one air conditioner problem, however, that’s especially unpleasant to face—and that is a broken down or damaged compressor. The compressor is considered the “heart” of your air conditioner, and when it breaks down you aren’t just faced with a repair need—the truth is, you may need to replace your air conditioner altogether. Why is this? Read on!

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Why Store-Bought Drain Cleaning Solutions Are No Solution

Monday, April 12th, 2021

sink-drain-with-water-rushing-downWhen you have a clog in a sink within your home, your first instinct is very likely to reach for a plunger… or that bottle of store-bought drain cleaning solution you keep on hand.

A plunger is always a good start. If the clog is superficial enough, you may very well be able to relieve your drain pipe with the plunger and a little bit of “elbow grease. The latter option though—the store-bought drain cleaning solution, is no solution at all.

We’ll dive into the “why” behind this a bit more below, but for now, we’ll just say that store-bought drain cleaners have a lot of caustic chemicals in them, meaning they eat through the clog, then keep on going to eat through the lining of your plumbing pipes over time. Read on as we uncover some more reasons this is no solution.

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Will Your Heater Make It Through the Rest of Winter?

Monday, February 15th, 2021

woman-in-parka-huddled-on-couch-drinking-of-of-mugWintertime temps are still here for a while—in fact if you believe in Groundhog Day predictions, it’s here for about four more weeks, at least! This means your heating system has some time before you shut if off for the season. So if you have repair needs, you should definitely take care of them sooner rather than later.

We understand how tempting it is to put off end-of-season heating repair needs. After all, can’t you just wait until you need the system again next fall?

You could, but if it’s a problem also impacting your air conditioner, you’ll find yourself in trouble later this spring. And if it’s a big enough problem, you might have a completely broken down heater by the time you go to turn it on next fall.

But how do you know you even have heater repair needs? Read on as we uncover some of the most common warning signs, and if you discover any of them, give us a call.

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Tips to Keep You Warm This Winter

Monday, December 7th, 2020

woman-hugging-pillow-looking-coldWinter is right around the corner, and we want to help you be prepared! Hopefully you’ve already taken a step toward winter prep by having your heater tuned-up. If you have a furnace, this means scheduling an annual maintenance session. If you have a year-round heat pump system, this means having maintenance done twice a year.

But what if you’ve had maintenance done and you just don’t feel like your heater is keeping you warm as it should? Well, it may be that you need a heater upgrade. We’re happy to talk to you about your options! Another possibility is that you simply aren’t using your heating system as efficiently as you could be. Read on as we share some heating efficiency-boosting tips.

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