Guides · Iowa City, Iowa
Straight answers, written down.
The questions Iowa City homeowners actually ask us, answered the way we answer them on the phone: plainly, honestly, and without a sales pitch hiding in paragraph three. Sorted by topic, with more landing in each as we write them.
01 · Troubleshooting & how-to
What to check before you call anyone. The five-minute fixes and the honest signs it's beyond DIY. View the category →
AC not cooling? Check these five things before you call
The five-minute checklist that solves a surprising number of no-cooling calls for free.
Read the guide → Troubleshooting & how-toFurnace won't start? The first three things to check
Thermostat, switch, filter. Then the safety rule that matters more than any checklist.
Read the guide →Why is my air conditioner leaking water?
On the writing list. Have this exact question right now? Call and ask - the answer is free before it's an article.
Coming soonWhy does my air conditioner freeze up?
On the writing list. Have this exact question right now? Call and ask - the answer is free before it's an article.
Coming soonWhy does my air conditioner smell?
On the writing list. Have this exact question right now? Call and ask - the answer is free before it's an article.
Coming soon02 · Costs & pricing
What jobs really cost and why, minus the fee-schedule games. No numbers we can't stand behind. View the category →
What decides the cost of a new furnace in Iowa City
Why nobody honest quotes a furnace over the phone, and the five things that actually move the number.
Read the guide → Costs & pricingWhat replacing a whole HVAC system involves (and what moves the price)
Furnace and AC together: when pairing them makes sense and what actually drives the number.
Read the guide → Costs & pricingGeothermal costs in plain English: the dig, the loop, the payback
Why geothermal costs more up front, where the money goes, and when the math works.
Read the guide →How much does duct cleaning cost? The honest factors
On the writing list. Have this exact question right now? Call and ask - the answer is free before it's an article.
Coming soonWhat a heat pump costs, in plain English
On the writing list. Have this exact question right now? Call and ask - the answer is free before it's an article.
Coming soon03 · Repair or replace
The decision math for aging equipment, the same way we run it in our own basements. View the category →
Repair or replace: the honest furnace math
Age decides most of it. The simple framework we use in our own houses.
Read the guide →How long do furnaces last?
On the writing list. Have this exact question right now? Call and ask - the answer is free before it's an article.
Coming soon04 · Maintenance & care
Filters, tune-ups, and the small habits that keep a system out of trouble. View the category →
What actually happens during an HVAC tune-up
The checklist, the timing, and the written report. No mystery, no upsell theater.
Read the guide → Maintenance & careHow often to change your furnace filter (really)
The honest answer is a habit, not a number. Here's the habit, and why it matters here.
Read the guide → Maintenance & careHow to clean a dryer vent (and when to call)
The homeowner steps, the safety line, and the signs the run needs a pro.
Read the guide →How to clean AC coils (and what to leave to a pro)
On the writing list. Have this exact question right now? Call and ask - the answer is free before it's an article.
Coming soonIs duct cleaning a waste of money?
On the writing list. Have this exact question right now? Call and ask - the answer is free before it's an article.
Coming soon05 · HVAC basics
Plain-English explainers for the jargon the trade throws at you. View the category →
What is HVAC? A plain-English explainer
The acronym, the parts of a home system, and what a contractor actually does.
Read the guide → HVAC basicsWhat is a heat pump, and does one fit an Iowa City home?
How one system heats and cools by moving heat, and where it fits an Iowa City house.
Read the guide →How does a heat pump work?
On the writing list. Have this exact question right now? Call and ask - the answer is free before it's an article.
Coming soon06 · Local rules & permits
What Iowa City requires, who handles it, and why the paperwork protects you. View the category →
02 · Or just ask
Reading is free. So is asking.
If your question isn't up there yet, call or send the form - a real person answers either way, and your question probably becomes the next guide.
Prefer the phone? (319) 344-2252