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

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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4 Ways You’re Neglecting Your AC

Monday, August 24th, 2020

Imagine your air conditioner as the hero of a superhero story. When temperatures rise and things become muggy and uncomfortable, your AC always comes to save the day. It cools you off and makes you feel comfortable no matter what the temperature is outside. These systems really are like heroes to us when we need them!

If your air conditioner is the hero of this story, then the villain is most-definitely neglect. Neglect is the easiest way to hurt your air conditioner and cause it to have a shorter than average life expectancy. Your AC’s cooling power will diminish and it will start running up energy bills as well. Looking to avoid expensive air conditioning repair in Alexandria, VA? Then keep reading.

Here are four ways how you can stop neglecting your superhero air conditioner today.

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Repair or Replacement: The Ultimate Question

Monday, July 27th, 2020

Repairing your air conditioner is a lot faster and cheaper than a whole system replacement. It’s why so many homeowners opt to have their older air conditioners repaired when they really should be replaced. We understand why, people think their technology can last forever. If homeowners can fix up an old 1969 Ford Mustang and make it run like it did in the old days, why can’t they do the same thing to their air conditioner?

Fixing up cars might be a fun hobby, but dumping money into an air conditioner that’s not going to impress anyone is just irresponsible. We’re going to try and help you avoid that today.

Let’s talk about the difference between investing in air conditioner repair services in Arlington, VA vs replacement services. When should you have your system replaced or repaired? Keep reading as we give the answers you need.

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