Washington, DC Air Conditioning & Heating Blog | Polar Bear Air Conditioning

Now Is the Time to Switch to a Gas Boiler

November 1st, 2021

Boilers are some of the oldest and most reliable heating systems in the world. The ancient Romans used to use boiling water to heat their homes via steam and lead pipes, so there’s a very good precedent for having a boiler heat your home. In a hundred years, we’ll probably still have powerful boiler systems because they’re just that effective.

However, the type of boiler you have in your home is going to change things quite a bit. Oil boilers, for instance, are going out of style and many HVAC professionals are refusing to install them. Meanwhile, gas boilers are becoming increasingly popular and our team provides all the necessary installation services you might need.

Today, we’re going to talk about oil to as boiler conversions. We’ll discuss why it’s a popular option, and how to contact our team for any boiler services in Washington, DC that you might need.

Air Purifiers Eliminate Foul Odors

October 18th, 2021

We use the word “system” on this blog a lot, and in this situation, it can’t be more applicable. Your home functions as a system. What we mean by this, is that all of the components of your HVAC technology and the air in your home interact in multiple different ways. Your home’s comfort isn’t just a binary of hot or cold, clean or dirty, everything mixes together in a complex system that requires high-tech solutions and professional attention.

Air purifiers in Alexandria, VA can do more than just clean your air of biological contaminants that wish to do you harm. They also make the air more breathable, less stuffy, and provide you with odor elimination that other HVAC devices can’t do.

An air purifier is a perfect addition to this complex system of indoor air, and today we’d like to talk about one other thing an air purifier can do.

Here’s Why Your AC Is Short-Cycling

October 4th, 2021

We’re coming up on one of the last blog posts this year that we’ll be writing about air conditioning. It’s true, the summer quickly came to a close and now we’re almost a quarter of the way through October! This means that heating season is upon us and we’ll be shifting topics to people in need of heater help.

But wait! There’s one last subject we’d like to discuss before we jump into the heating season. We’ve been a little quiet about short-cycling air conditioners this year, and if yours started to short-cycle at the end of the cooling season, then this blog post is for you.

We need to talk about what this phenomenon is, why it happens, and what causes it. The more informed you are about your short-cycling air conditioner, regardless of the season, the more likely you are to call for professional air conditioning repair in Arlington, VA when things are uncomfortable.

When Should I Replace My AC?

September 20th, 2021

That’s a very good question. The truth is that the answer depends heavily on your specific situation, the condition of your air conditioner, and your unique comfort needs. All of these things can be figured out with just a little bit of leg-work and the help of a trained professional.

Today, we’re going to focus primarily on some qualities that will cause you to think about replacement as a viable option for your cooling system. If any of the following can be applicable to your situation, then replacement might be a more cost-effective solution than simply calling for repairs. Things like an aging air conditioner, frequent repair needs, and constantly rising energy bills can be a sign that your AC has met the end of its lifespan and you’re better off saving money in the future with a new unit.

Well, let’s get into it!

3 Noises You Never Want Your AC to Make

September 6th, 2021

How is your air conditioner doing? Is it causing you to cover your ears multiple times a day because of a noisy problem? Or is it running silently in the background while you enjoy time with your friends and family. Most houses lie somewhere in between.

Your home could be dealing with a particular problem that you’re detecting through sound, and today we’d like to talk about some of these sounds. Noises coming from your air conditioner are never good, but some are much worse than others. That’s why our team is available for AC repair in Arlington, VA to help you alleviate the problem and get your home back to normal.

Keep reading as we decrypt these puzzling noises coming from your AC. If you detect one of these loud or uncomfortable noises, you should shut your system off and seek help immediately.

How an Air Conditioner Actually Cools the Air

August 23rd, 2021

A lot of us wish air conditioners just functioned magically. You plug them into your home’s electrical system, and maybe a fairy turns that electricity into ice cubes that then cool the air off in your home. Or perhaps there’s a creature living inside that outside box, and the creature eats heat and drinks electricity but gives off cooling power. Wouldn’t that be something?

Unfortunately, the reality is a bit more boring but simpler to understand. If you thought that your air conditioner functioned like some complex experimental device then you would be mistaken. Air conditioning in McLean, VA is actually a fairly simple process that involves the evaporation and condensation of refrigerant.

Want to know a bit more? We don’t blame you! Keep reading as we get into the juicy details about air conditioning and how it works behind the scenes.

3 Tips to Remember About AC Repair

August 9th, 2021

Air conditioning repair can be a stressful experience. While a professional might be able to take care of you, you’ll be stuck contemplating just how much it’s going to cost and whether or not there was anything you could’ve done to prevent it. It’s stressful, it’s draining, and it can sour anyone’s experience with the HVAC industry.

Firstly, we’d like to mention that we’re not the kind of company to just fix your AC and charge you an exorbitant price. We’ll always tell you how much something will cost before we charge you, so you know you’re making a good decision. Plus, we won’t shame any homeowners for not taking care of their systems. It’s been a difficult year and you’ve had a lot on your plate, so we understand that things fall into disrepair every once in a while.

Stick around and read further if you’d like to hear a few tips about air conditioning repair in Alexandria, VA.

3 Electrical Problems That Occur in ACs

July 26th, 2021

We think it’s important for homeowners to shift their perspectives a little bit. Instead of thinking about your air conditioner like some kind of separate machine from the rest of your household devices, think of the entire home as an ecosystem. Your air conditioning in Leesburg, VA depends not just on the airflow of your house, but also on the electrical system. Without proper electrical input, your air conditioner will be unable to function properly.

That’s why we see things like SEER ratings for air conditioners—these systems rely on efficient energy consumption in order to compress refrigerant and provide cool temperatures. We want to focus today on the boundary between your HVAC system and the electrical system that feeds into it. If you’re noticing tripping circuits, an AC that’s constantly shutting down, or other electrical issues, then you’re in the right place. All you need to do is keep reading and call us when you need help.

Installing a New AC in 2021

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.

3 Reasons to Invest in a New Thermostat

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.