Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Installing a New AC in 2021

Monday, July 12th, 2021

Air conditioning is important, and now that vaccination rates are steadily improving, it’s vital that you make sure your home is as comfortable as it should be. While installing a new air conditioner last year might have proven incredibly difficult, this year it might be easier. There are just a few things you should know before you jump into one of the most expensive purchases for your home.

For instance, many homeowners have the exact same idea as you. So many homes have ACs that were falling apart and in dire need of air conditioning repair in McLean, VA to the point where homeowners are deciding to start from scratch and replace the whole system.

This means that the price of an AC installation has risen and there are some serious delays on components. Let’s talk about how you can get ahead of this problem by calling our team.

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3 Reasons to Invest in a New Thermostat

Monday, June 28th, 2021

We all know the advantages of prompt AC repair, or air conditioning tune-ups in Ashburn, VA. These can be fairly obvious, because we physically see a professional take care of the problem, or provide the maintenance, and they end up making a big difference. However, it’s the small adjustments that work behind the scenes that can sometimes play an important role as well.

Take your thermostat for example. Thermostats are sometimes referred to as the brain of an HVAC system, because they do all the calculating, programming, and direct the system to heat and cool depending on the climate. With that in mind, what if we told you that a thermostat upgrade could be the perfect way to achieve maximum comfort and energy efficiency in your home?

Nope, we’re not joking. Keep reading as we talk about some of the advantages that come with a smart or Wi-Fi thermostat upgrade.

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Is It Time to Invest in a Heat Pump?

Tuesday, June 1st, 2021

You’ve probably heard the word “heat pump” a few times throughout the past few years. You’ve done some online searches, you’ve talked to friends and neighbors, and at this point you’re interested. The only problem is, your home is a bit unique. You’ve got an old home that doesn’t have ductwork, or you’ve got a unique situation where electricity actually costs more for you than it does for your friends. Your home might even deal with different temperatures than your friends, family, or neighbors. So, what do you do in your specific case?

The good news is that our team can provide expert consultation when it comes to air conditioning service in Mclean, VA. We won’t shy away from telling you the truth as far as your home’s ability to efficiently use heat pump technology goes. But let’s talk about some reasons why a heat pump might be great for your home.

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Don’t Risk Your AC’s Warranty

Monday, May 17th, 2021

It’s cooling season, which means that it’s finally time to take our air conditioners out of hibernation and get them working again. At this point, it might be pretty clear that your AC isn’t working as well as it was last year. Perhaps it’s making some strange noise, producing a foul odor, or it’s just bobbing around in its casing a little too much to the point where you know it needs to be fixed. Don’t worry, we can help!

For homeowners who think they can provide the necessary fixes for their air conditioning in Great Falls, VA, we’d like to you reconsider this. No, we’re not going to boast about how much better we are at providing fast and reliable AC repairs (although we are some of the best technicians in the area). Instead, we’d like to tell you about how any DIY repairs could actually void your warranty and cost you a lot of money down the line.

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Best Practices for Cooler Temps

Monday, May 3rd, 2021

We know you probably don’t want to hear this, but there are things you can do right now as a homeowner that can lead to cooler temperatures in the summer. We get it, many people just want to call a hotline, have a professional do the work, and not really think about their thermostat or the air conditioning. A lot of homeowners assume that if they’re thinking about temperatures or AC systems, then they’ve already lost the battle against the heat. That’s not entirely true, though.

There exists a world where you can be a vigilant homeowner and proper advocate for your HVAC system while also enjoying your summer. Today, we’re going to talk about some best practices that can lead to optimal AC performance and a happier home. These include techniques like changing out the air filter and scheduling an air conditioning tune-up in Alexandria, VA.

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Is Your Refrigerant Leaking?

Monday, April 19th, 2021

No, this isn’t the same as your kid asking you if your “refrigerator is running?” and subsequently following up with “well, why don’t you catch it!” Refrigerant leaks are a real problem, and as funny as they might sound, they’re not a laughing matter when you encounter one in your own home. They can cause energy bills to skyrocket, they can cause a whole system breakdown, and even lead to decreased cooling power to the point where your home is as hot and humid as it was before you invested in an air conditioner. Refrigerant leaks need to be dealt with by professionals.

Today, we’ll be focusing on everything there is to know about refrigerant leaks. We’ll talk about how they spring up, what needs to be done about them, and how they factor into the need for air conditioning repair in Arlington, VA. Don’t worry, our team is here if you need us!

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Top AC Concerns in Our Climate

Monday, October 19th, 2020

You’re probably tired of people all around the country telling you how your air conditioning should work. How the heck would they know what the climate is like here in Alexandria? Our HVAC needs are a little specific, and our climate is different from that of New York up north, or Florida down south, so it’s important to remember that we need better advice.

HVAC in Alexandria, VA is different because of two factors. For starters, we see more extensive seasons here than you would in Georgia or Florida. And the second point is that we deal with a lot of humidity, which changes things as the seasons go on. Humidity and changes in temperatures can make our air conditioners work extra hard and have trouble keeping up with our lifestyles.

So, keep reading as we get into some climate-specific tips for you at home.

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Short-Cycling: What It Means and How to Avoid It

Thursday, October 15th, 2020

If you’ve never heard the term “short-cycling” before, we don’t blame you. While it’s a well-known term that we use in the HVAC industry, it’s not exactly widespread in our everyday lexicon. So, if you’re just finding this blog post to get the lowdown on what short-cycling is, we’ll answer all your questions.

However, just figuring out what we mean by “short-cycling” is only half of the equation. The other half is figuring out whether or not you need air conditioning repair in Arlington, VA because of a short-cycling AC that’s starting to struggle.

Regardless of whether or not you’re just becoming more learned on HVAC terms, or you’re in serious need of some AC repair or replacement services, we’ve got your back. Keep reading as we get into the details about short-cycling and what this kind of problem means for you.

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Help Your Ducts and AC Work Together

Monday, September 21st, 2020

You wouldn’t believe how many homeowners we meet who think their ducts and air conditioners function completely separately. Too many people believe that if their air conditioner is brand new, no matter the shape of their ductwork, they’ll get the cooling they need throughout the summer. This is a completely untenable position.

Your ducts and your air conditioner are kind of like your veins and your heart. Together, they make the circulatory system that’s responsible for transporting blood throughout your body. On their own, they’re just organs and they can hardly function like that. Your air conditioner is the heart of cooling in regards to HVAC in Arlington, VA. Your ductwork is the network of veins that transports the cooled air throughout your home. When you are without one of these two components, your comfort an efficiency both suffer.

Let’s talk about how your ducts or air conditioner are doing.

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Is It Too Late for AC Maintenance? Absolutely Not!

Monday, September 7th, 2020

AC maintenance is just one of those things that’s really easy to forget about. Like a bill every now and then or your car’s oil change, we forget things all the time. We’re not here to shame you for that. Far from it! We’re here to say that we understand that mentality. It’s hard to remember everything without constantly being worried or stressed out.

Luckily, AC maintenance in Washington, DC doesn’t have to be at a specific point of the year. While sure, it’s better during the springtime, there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t get it during the fall if you forgot about it then.

Have you been reeling because you forgot to schedule AC maintenance this year? No problem! Keep reading to find out why it’s so important that you call us and schedule it now more than ever.

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