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

How Smart Thermostats Save You Money on Air Conditioning

Monday, May 1st, 2023
smart-thermostat-on-wall

Is your favorite thing in the world paying extra for your heating and cooling costs? The answer to that is, unequivocally, a huge no. Nobody wants to pay more than they’re supposed to just to control the temperature in their home, but without a smart thermostat, that’s exactly what you’re doing.

Installing a smart thermostat in Arlington, VA means putting more control in your hands, but then something amazing happens–you let the thermostat regulate the temperature once it knows what you like, and you save money while saving time. Let’s explain.

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What to Expect During HVAC Installation in Summer

Monday, April 17th, 2023
Air-conditioner-technician-inspecting-outdoor-ac-cabinet

Your HVAC installation is in the dead center of the busy season, so what does that do to your timeline? What about your comfort and scheduling? It’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into, so let’s take a look at everything you need to know.

HVAC installation in McLean, VA is usually done best in the off-season, such as fall or winter. While it’s easy to think, “I don’t need this right now, I’ll wait until later,” it ends up biting you in the back. This is what you need to know about how summertime HVAC installation works.

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Does Air Conditioner Installation Take a Long Time?

Monday, April 3rd, 2023
technician-working-on-outdoor-AC-cabinet

Installing a new air conditioner comes with some nuance to it. There’s a lot of factors that come into play, and while we can’t give you a definitive answer through a blog post, there is a lot we can tell you so you can accurately judge your own home and installation situation.

Depending on how intricate your air conditioning installation is, the time frame may change. We’ll tell you right now that the ideal situation is one full day, spanning anywhere from four to eight hours. But before you can expect that, let’s talk about some of the roadblocks you might run into.

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How Does a Ductless Mini Split AC Work?

Monday, March 20th, 2023
ductless-mini-split-controller-by-remote

Ductless mini splits are the big thing in air conditioning, and for good reason. They save money, take up less space, and reduce the number of parts (ducts) that need to be serviced and maintained. But how do they work?

It’s all about zoning. Ductless air conditioning in Washington DC allows you to use multiple units across different rooms in your home and control them to fine-tune each room individually, so your bedroom can be 72° while your living room is 76°.

Let’s take a little bit of a deeper dive into how they work so you can understand how they may benefit your family and home.

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Can I Use a Humidifier at the Same Time as an Air Conditioner?

Monday, February 20th, 2023
humidifier-on-countertop

Let’s cut straight to the chase: yes, you can use these at the same time, but you don’t have to. As a matter of fact, your air conditioner acts as a dehumidifier (in some capacity; we’ll explain).

So to answer your question of “can I use humidifier with an air conditioner?” it’s a big yes, but you shouldn’t.

Let’s talk about the role that humidity plays in your home comfort and safety, and why you might not want to run both of these at the same time.

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What Repairs Do Ductless Mini Splits Need?

Monday, February 6th, 2023
ductless-mini-split-working-on-the-wall

Ductless mini split systems are the go-to for air conditioning in most situations. They offer zone control, lower heating and cooling costs, and depending on how you use them, they can last for ages.

But they’re not invincible. Every HVAC system is susceptible to damage and repairs, and ductless mini splits are no different.

It’s important to know what can go wrong with your mini split leading to air conditioning repair in Arlington, VA before you even pick up the phone. Let’s run over some repairs that you might run into.

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Benefits of Ductless Mini Split Heating Systems

Monday, January 23rd, 2023
ductless-mini-split-system-mounted-on-wall

Central air conditioning is a great option for a lot of homes and use cases, but it’s not for everyone. More often than ever, homeowners are looking to ductless mini split heating systems. We can help find you a DC mini split that does the trick.

Before you jump in with both feet, it’s important to know what you stand to gain if you’re making the switch from central AC. Let’s discuss the benefits you enjoy when you make the switch to ductless mini splits.

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3 Common Heat Pump Repairs

Monday, September 5th, 2022

Do heat pumps and central air conditioners have the same problems? Well, yes and no. It’s possible for a heat pump to run into issues that are similar and sometimes even the same as central air conditioner issues. But that’s only sometimes.

The other half of the time a heat pump can run into issues that are wholly unique to heat pumps systems, hence why only experienced HVAC technicians should work on your next heat pump repair in Washington, DC. If they’ve only treated repairs in central air conditioning systems, then they might miss a thing or two when trying to fix this kind of technology.

To expand upon this, we’d like to talk about 3 common heat pump repairs that either only occur in heat pump systems, or that are just more common in these types of units. Then we’ll leave it to you to contact a pro to have your system repaired properly.

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What’s the Most Efficient Air Conditioner?

Monday, August 22nd, 2022

With climate change causing our energy grid to change in both price and power, more homeowners than ever are looking to professional HVAC technicians to ask about efficiency. If you’re on the market for a new air conditioning installation in Alexandria, VA, then the good news is that there are some extremely powerful and energy-efficient models available right now. The bad news is that it’s not as cut and dry as you might think. One system might be more efficient for your neighbor while being the worst choice for your home.

The truth is that different systems work for different situations. The best strategy for proper efficiency in your home is figuring out which air conditioning unit will work the best for your unique comfort needs and home. While we can size air conditioners differently for different amounts of space, the technology within the AC can change depending on the type of system you invest in, like a central AC or a ductless heat pump.

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It’s Finally Time to Invest in AC

Monday, August 8th, 2022

Have you grown jealous of the friends and family that have cool and comfortable homes, while yours is still a little too hot in the summer? Nothing personal, air conditioning just feels better when it’s hot out, and there’s no shame in having different preferences for your home and budget. If you like a warmer home, or you’re just not that into air conditioning technology, then we wouldn’t pressure you into investing in it.

However, if you’ve always wanted an AC installation in Washington, DC but you never took the plunge because they either looked too expensive or seemed like a huge monthly investment, then we’re here to talk about those issues.

In actuality, air conditioners aren’t as expensive, bulky, and energy-intensive as you might think. They consume less energy than a heating system would, and pretty much every home in our area at least has a heating system for the winter.

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