3 Noises That Indicate Air Conditioning Problems

May 9th, 2014

Air conditioning technology has not reached the stage of artificial intelligence programs that can perfectly detect operating problems, diagnose them, and then alert homeowners to what needs repairs. But ACs do have something like an early-warning system: strange noises. When you hear any sound different from the hum of the fans and the compressor, pay attention close to it. It is likely a fault that requires the work of an HAVC expert to fix. If you ignore the warning noises, the trouble will grow worse and possible cause the air conditioner to break down. A great way to prevent your air conditioner from falling into disrepair is to enroll in our maintenance program.

Here are three common noises that signal you need to call for air conditioning repair in Washington, DC. For fast local service, call Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. We will do the work right the first time.

3 air conditioning warning sounds

  • Hissing: This is almost certainly the sound of refrigerant escaping from a leak. Loss of refrigerant will cause the system to start losing the ability to absorb heat from inside your house. This will not only lower your comfort, but it can cause ice to develop over the coils and even damage to the compressor that can turn catastrophic. Technicians will locate the leaks and seal them, then recharge the refrigerant to its original level.
  • Groaning/grinding: Best described as “mechanical failure noises,” the sort you associate with a failing car engine. The problem is often in the motors of the air conditioner, which run the blower fans and the compressor. Loss of any of these will impair or shut down the air conditioner. If repairs reach the problem in time, they can rescue the motors. Often, the motor will need replacement.
  • Clicking: If you hear this sound when the compressor or the fans start, and the unit stutters to get going, you have a system that is “hard starting” because of electrical trouble. The most common reason for this is failing capacitors: the components that transmit voltage to the motors. Repairs will replace the capacitors or else install a hard-starting kit that will overcome the problem.

Never ignore unusual air conditioning sounds: any stress on the AC system means it is wasting energy and putting additional stress on other components. Tackle the repair when it’s isolated and less extensive, and before you need to worry about the air conditioning shutting down during one of the hottest days of the summer.

Call Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. to have your Washington, DC air conditioning repair job finished fast and effectively by highly trained professionals.

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Air Conditioning Basics: The Compressor

May 2nd, 2014

Understanding the basic components of a central air conditioner will help you know why you must schedule maintenance for your system every year. The refrigerant, the evaporator and condenser coils, the blower fan, the capacitors, and the motors are all essential parts of AC operation that must remain in good condition year-round in order for the system to work efficiently and effectively. But perhaps no other component in an air conditioner is as important as the compressor: it’s not only the heart of how an air conditioner runs, it’s the part that needs to stay in the best shape or else the whole system will fail. When a compressor dies, it often means the air conditioner must be replaced.

We’ll take a closer look at the compressor to see how it works—and how it might fail.

For the repairs and maintenance on your air conditioning in Arlington, VA that will keep the compressor healthy, call Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. today.

Compressor basics

The compressor isn’t the figurative heart of an AC. It’s the literal heart: it pumps refrigerant through the system in order to move heat from the indoors to the outdoors.

The compressor is a large pump that operates similar to a piston motor. It is located in the outdoor cabinet of a central air conditioner and only comes on when the thermostat calls for cooling. When that happens, the compressor (powered by its own motor) squeezes down on the liquid refrigerant inside it. This turns the refrigerant into a hot, high-pressure gas. The refrigerant exits the compressor to move to the nearest area of low pressure, the condenser coil. After the refrigerant completes its full trip through the air conditioner—releasing its heat to the outside, then absorbing heat from the inside—it returns to the compressor where the process begins again.

Like piston motors, compressors can wear down due to dirt and lack of lubrication. This will eventually cause the compressor to become “tight” and eventually “seized,” stopping all motion. Repair technicians can often repair the compressor to get its piston moving once more.

Eventually, an aging compressor will wear down to the point that it will burn-out completely: it will no longer be able to create the proper pressure for the refrigerant. This usually coincides with the end of the life service of the air conditioner itself.

Repairs and maintenance

Although a compressor will fail eventually, you can help it achieve the longest life possible with regular maintenance from a technician. Along with annual visits, make sure you call for repairs when you notice any odd behavior, such as the compressor failing to turn on, or stuttering at start-up and then turning off prematurely. A compressor that fails early in an air conditioner’s lifespan can mean the end of the system and the need to install a new one—the most expensive repair of all!

Since 2001, Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. has helped people stay cool through the summer with repairs for their air conditioning in Arlington, VA. Call us today to sign up for our maintenance program.

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3 Benefits to Air Conditioning Maintenance

April 30th, 2014

When it comes to air conditioning, Alexandria VA residents can’t afford to take chances. Our summers get hot and muggy, and without a reliable A/C unit, your home could resemble a sauna when the temperatures start to climb. In addition to taking practical steps like keeping outside doors closed and wearing lightweight clothes to stay cool, you should schedule an air conditioning maintenance session before the summer starts in order to keep your system running as smoothly as possible. Air conditioning maintenance is a sort of tune-up session: cleaning up dirt and dust on interior components, recharging refrigerant, and checking for any little issues that may turn into big ones if they’re not addressed. What are the benefits? Here are 3 that you should consider before calling a service professional.

  • Increased efficiency. Low refrigerant levels result in reduced cooling capacity. Dirt and dust increased friction on moving parts. These and countless other issues all conspire to rob your air conditioner of efficiency, costing you additional money in higher monthly cooling bills. Regular maintenance sessions can take care of all of that, helping your A/C perform at its best.
  • Longer life. Regular maintenance sessions help reduce wear and tear on your air conditioner, which in turn will extend its lifetime well past its warranty. This works best when you schedule at least one or two sessions a year, instead of just one every now and again.
  • Reduced repair bills. A big part of a maintenance session is catching potential issues before they get too large. It may involve an additional repair session, but replacing one faulty component is infinitely preferable (and less expensive) than waiting for it to fail and damage several additional components in the process.

The benefits to air conditioner maintenance work best if you hire a high quality technician to perform it. And when it comes to air conditioner, Alexandria VA has a top-notch service in Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc.

We handle air conditioning maintenance services with quality and care, and we think you’ll be very happy with the results. Pick up the phone and give us a call today!

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Problems with the Condensate Drain in an Air Conditioner

April 21st, 2014

If you listen to the indoor cabinet of your air conditioning system while it is operating this spring and summer, you will occasionally hear the sound of water dripping and then draining away. This happens because of the condensation of water vapor along the indoor coil during the evaporation stage. The moisture from the coil drips down into a shallow pan, and then a pump moves the water through a condensate drain and away from the air conditioner. This prevents the excess water moisture from overflowing out of the pan and entering your house where it can cause damage and raise humidity levels, or possibly harm the operation of other parts of your HVAC system. (If you have a furnace positioned below your AC, leaking can cause potentially harmful corrosion across the heater.) If you notice water leaking out of your air conditioner, or if you see water damage around the cabinet, call for repairs right away.

For fast and accurate work on air conditioning systems in Northern Virginia, contact the team at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc.

What might go wrong with the condensate drain

The leading cause of leaking from the condensate pan is trouble that occurs with the drain or the drain line. There are two principle issues that can afflict the drain and lead to water leakage:

  • Organic clogging: Humid climates encourage the growth of a number of organisms that can clog or close off the condensate drain. These include mold, fungus, algae, and even small plants and weeds. (There’s also a small chance of non-organic debris, such as rocks and grit, entering the drain.) Even a slow drain will cause leaking to occur quickly because of how shallow the condensate pan is. To repair this, a technician will need to remove the pan from the unit, disconnect the drain, inspect it and the pipeline to find and remove the contamination using special wet/dry vacuum equipment.
  • Drain or drain line breaks: The drain might break off from the pan entirely, which will cause the water condensation to leak directly out of the pan. A break along the connection between the drain and the line will also start leaking. Usually, this problem will require a technician to completely replace the drain and/or line.

Water leaking from an AC is something you should stop as soon as you notice it—especially if you have a furnace beneath it. Although leaking will rarely harm the air conditioner itself, it will lead to damage to your house and discomfort from humidity. Don’t try to tamper with the drain line on your own. Call the Northern Virginia air conditioning specialists at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc., and we’ll solve your troubles.

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Problems Air Conditioning Maintenance Addresses

April 11th, 2014

Here in Washington DC, air conditioning maintenance is more than just a luxury. Considering the amount of heat and humidity we get in an average summer, your A/C unit needs to function at peak capacity in order to keep your home comfortable. A regular maintenance session from a trained professional can be a key part of making that happen. Air conditioning maintenance addresses a lot of little issues such as dirty components and loose fittings, while checking for any potential problems that might pop up down the road.

  • High costs. Dirt and dust on the interior of your air conditioner will increase friction and clog air flow. That forces the air conditioner to work harder to do its job, which not only increases wear and tear but raises your monthly bills in the bargain. Air conditioning maintenance improves your system’s efficiency, helping you save money on cooling costs this summer.
  • Too little cooling. When refrigerant levels aren’t at a certain point, your air conditioner can’t do its job like it’s supposed to. Frost will form of the evaporator coils and the cooling capacity will be reduced. Not only will that force the air conditioner to work harder, but you won’t feel the cool air as much as you should: reducing overall comfort levels and making your home a less pleasant place to be.
  • Problems to come. Big problems usually start out as small issues, which can come in any one of a variety of forms. A maintenance visit is a chance for an expert to spot them when they’re still manageable and schedule a repair session to deal with them properly. This can save you a great deal of money as well as reducing the risk of a breakdown.

The experts at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc., know all about the problems air conditioning maintenance addresses, and for customers in Washington DC, maintenance services don’t come any more thorough and professional than ours. Pick up the phone and give us a call today to schedule an appointment!

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What Happens During AC Maintenance?

April 4th, 2014

Here in Alexandria VA, air conditioning maintenance should take place at least once a year, after the snows of winter have left but before air conditioning season begins in earnest. This is an important step in keeping your air conditioner functioning and reducing the risk of a serious repair issue in the bargain. A tune-up lets the technician clean dirty components, recharge refrigerant levels and look for any potential issues that require a more in-depth repair session. On a more specific level, what happens during AC maintenance? We’ve outlined the basic steps below.

  • The technician arrives and shuts off power to the air conditioner, then opens it and examines the components.
  • The technician cleans the condenser coils and the evaporator coils, which are key to the air conditioner working as it should. (The condenser coils are on the outdoor part of the unit, so they tend to get a little dirtier.)
  • The technician checks the refrigerant levels, which needs to be at set amount determined by the precise nature of your air conditioner.
  • The technician checks the drain pans and lines to make sure they aren’t clogged or misaligned.
  • The technician checks all of the components, including the fan, fan motor, tubing, compressor and electronic components to see if any of them are damaged.
  • The technician adds oil to lubricate any moving parts that require it.
  • The technician turns on the air conditioner and lets it run, then looks for any unusual stains, odors, noises and leaks. He or she will also check the system pressure and the coolness of the air being generated, as well as examining the ducts for any leaks.
  • The technician shuts off the air conditioner and closes up the system. If any serious repairs are needed, he or she can then schedule it with you.

If you know what happens during AC maintenance, the next step is to contact a representative who can perform the operation with courtesy and care. In Alexandria VA, air conditioning maintenance can be performed by Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. Give us a call today and let us show you what we can do!

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Is a Heat Pump Sufficient Year Round?

March 28th, 2014

Here in Arlington, VA, heat pumps are a viable alternative to forced-air furnaces and similar traditional forms of heating. They work as both a heater and an air conditioner year round, sending refrigerant gas through a series of coils that first heat the surrounding air and then cool it. In cooling mode, the heat pump asborbs heat from your home and transfers it outside, and in heating mode, it absorbs heat from the outside and transfers it into your home. They’re an effective and cost-friendly way to keep your home comfortable no matter what the season, but is a heat pump sufficient year round? Further south, they usually are. Here, however, they sometimes need a little help.

A heat pump’s big advantage is its efficiency. It doesn’t actually create heat or cold temperatures, it merely facilitates a heat exchange with the refrigerant running through its system. That means it uses much less energy than some other forms of heating and air conditioning, keeping your monthly costs down while providing an all-in-one option for conditioning the air in your home. There’s just one catch: that efficiency drops off considerably when temperatures approach freezing levels. Here in Virginia, we don’t get as many cold days as they do in, say, New England, but we certainly have our share of snow and ice in the winter, and a heat pump may not be sufficient during those periods.

The good news is that most heat pumps have electric resistance coils that kick on when the temperature outside gets too cold. They provide that extra bit of help the heat pump needs. You can also choose to combine your heat pump system with a back up furnace to use on very cold days.

If you’re wondering whether a heat pump is sufficient year round for your Arlington, VA home, and need some expert advice, then give us a call here at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. We’re ready to help so don’t be afraid to contact us today!

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Some Common Misunderstandings about Heat Pumps

March 20th, 2014

Heat pumps are an increasingly popular choice for home comfort today, principally because they offer a two-in-one deal: heating and cooling. However, some customers feel reluctant to consider a heat pump for their Northern Virginia heating and cooling, and instead gravitate toward older systems like furnaces and air conditioners. This reticence comes from common misunderstandings about heat pumps that we would like to address.

Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. has seen firsthand how effective heat pumps are at providing families with comfort and savings. Although a heat pump isn’t the ideal choice for every home, you should still consider one when it’s time for your new heating and cooling installation.

Here are some of the myths about heat pumps:

Myth: Heat pumps are just a heater and air conditioner packaged together

Because heat pumps can provide both heating and cooling, people often think that they are two separate units put together in the same container. Actually, a heat pump is one mechanism that uses the same process—heat exchange—to perform its two functions. Essentially, a heat pump is an air conditioner that can change the direction it moves heat: while in AC mode, it moves heat from inside a home and puts it outside; in heating mode, it moves heat from outside and puts it inside.

Myth: Heat pumps are essentially useless in cold weather

During heating mode, the action of heat exchange moves heat from the outside to the inside. This makes it easy to imagine that during cold weather, the heat pump won’t work as a heater: where is it getting warmth from the outdoor air? However, as long as there is molecular motion in the air, there is heat available for heat exchange. Heat pumps can lose efficiency when the temperature drops below freezing, but they are far from useless; and in milder cold weather they are very effective. Most heat pumps have a back up heat system to make sure your home is warm no matter the weather.

Myth: Heat pumps won’t pay off their installation costs

First, as far as air conditioning goes, heat pumps are the same efficiency as a standalone air conditioner of comparable size. Second, heat pumps are a very efficient way to heat your home. Especially when compared to electric furnaces, heat pumps are extremely energy-efficient. Most heat pumps will pay back their installation costs in three years.

Our trained technicians at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. have brought quality cooling and heating to Northern Virginia since 2001. You can trust us to find the heat pump that will keep you and your family comfortable all year long.

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What Qualifies a Boiler for the ENERGY STAR Label?

March 12th, 2014

When shopping for a heating system for your home, one of the main criteria you should use to help you select a unit is efficiency. The more efficient a furnace or boiler, the more you can expect to save on your energy bills. You will also help with energy conservation and protecting the environment.

One of the easiest ways to tell that a heater is energy-efficient is to look for the ENERGY STAR label. (And yes, it is trademarked in ALL CAPS; we’re not yelling at you.) In this post we’ll explain what the ENERGY STAR label means and how a boiler in Washington, DC can qualify for one.

To find great installation on an efficient ENERGY STAR boiler, contact Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. We’ve kept the nation’s capital warm since 2001.

The ENERGY STAR label and boilers

In 1992, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy instituted the ENERGY STAR standard for products created in the U.S.A. Appliances, ranging from HVAC systems to computer peripherals, that use on average 20–30% less energy than the federal requirement earn the ENERGY STAR label to show they go beyond the minimum in an effort to conserve energy and save consumer dollars.

According to the ENERGY STAR website, for a boiler to qualify for the label it must have an AFUE rating of 85% or greater. This means that the boiler burns at least 85% of the fuel available to it and converts it into heat. So for every 100 units of fuel, the boiler must generate 85 BTUs of heating, wasting only 15% of its fuel. Features of ENERGY STAR boilers that help them reach this level include: electronic ignition, which means no standing pilot light drains extra power; advanced combustion technology that draws more energy from the fuel supply; and sealed combustion that reduces drafts.

Some boilers are even more efficient

Keep in mind that 85% is the minimum to receive the ENERGY STAR labels. There are models with even greater efficiency. When you are searching for a boiler in Washington, D.C. to keep you warm through the winters and other cold days of the year, look first for the ENERGY STAR label, but also check on the AFUE rating and consult with an installation professional to make sure you are getting the right boiler for your needs.

Trust to Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. when it comes to putting a new boiler in your home. We offer a wide range of services for boilers and other heating systems.

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Air Duct Problems and Furnace Repair

March 2nd, 2014

Furnace repair is sometimes not a simple process. Your home contains numerous elements that can help or hinder proper heating, but a good technician can usually deal with any component in the process that isn’t functioning as it should.  Take for example, the duct system that carries heated air from your furnace to the various rooms of your house. Air duct problems and furnace repair go hand in hand: when issues crop up in your air ducts, they invariably affect the way your furnace functions.

Air ducts carry the heated air form your furnace, which means they can affect your air en route if there are problems. The most obvious is a breach in the duct system which allows the heated air to escape and/or cooler air to enter into the ducts. Both conditions have the same effect: lowering the temperature of the heated air and forcing your furnace to work harder to compensate.

Similar issues can arise if the ducts become dented or build-up inside them reduces the air flow. Furnaces depend on a regular flow of air to raise the temperature in your house. When a blockage in the ducts reduces the flow, the furnace must again work harder: raising monthly costs and increasing the chances of a more serious breakdown in the future.

In addition, the environment around the ducts can cause problems. Say, for example, that a stretch of ducts lies in the crawlspace next to an outside wall. The cold surrounding air will cool the sides of the ducts, which will in turn cool the air inside. You can alleviate this problem by adding more insulation to the crawlspace, or by insulating the ducts directly.

Reliable heating repair services like Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. can help with these issues. Call us today to set up an appointment!

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