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

Old Home Guide: How to Heat an Old Home in the 21st Century

Monday, March 18th, 2024
a-victorian-home-in-the-snow

In our area, there are many homes old enough to be considered historic. But even the average home is not new. According to recent US census data, the average home in Virginia is 38 years old. Construction methods have changed a lot, and older homes have different needs from those built in the last 20 years or so. 

How does the age of your home affect your ability to keep it warm? What can you do to heat your old home more effectively and efficiently? We’ve got some information about your options, and the benefits and drawbacks of each.

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Top Furnace Problems in the DC Area

Monday, March 4th, 2024
the-capitol-building-in-washington-dc-in-winter

In Washington, DC and the surrounding area, unlike some parts of the US, we have very distinct seasons. Our summers are hot, and our winters are cold. They’re not short winters, either—in fact, we need to use our heat at least during the night throughout much of the spring and fall. This means our heating systems get a lot of use. 

When furnaces run a lot of the time for several months, certain issues are more likely to crop up. Knowing what to expect can help you to catch a problem early and get prompt repairs before the situation gets any worse. So what are the furnace problems you’re most likely to encounter in the DC area? Here are some of the ones we see all the time.

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Furnace Efficiency Ratings: What the Numbers Mean

Monday, February 19th, 2024
person-calculating-money-saved-by-making-more-efficient-choices-in-their-home

When it comes to heating your home, you probably have two main concerns. First, you want your home to actually be warm—consistently, evenly warm. And second, you don’t want it to cost you an arm and a leg each month when your utility bill arrives. How can you keep those bills down? By having an efficient heating system.

But it can be hard to tell what the most efficient heating system would be. Furnaces do have efficiency ratings, but what do those numbers mean? We can explain so you’ll be able to make the right choice for your home. 

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4 Benefits of Having a Heat Pump Over a Furnace

Monday, December 25th, 2023

You’ve had a furnace for ages, but it’s no longer the best contender on the block for your home heating. Now that heat pumps are here to stay and boast incredible heating efficiency, it’s time to consider them for your next home heating solution. We have a few good reasons as to why you should.

As installers of both furnaces and heat pumps in Great Falls, VA, we’ve seen the benefits play out for our customers. If you can make the switch, here’s a handful of good reasons to do it.

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This Sensor in Your Furnace Might Be Causing Trouble

Monday, December 11th, 2023

Your furnace has a lot of working parts that need to run together in tandem, but some are more important than others. In fact, this one sensor is so important to your furnace’s operation that it could be stopping it dead in its tracks.

This isn’t a common part of furnace service in Arlington, VA that homeowners know about, so that’s why we’re talking about it today. It’s called your flame sensor, and it has a big role it plays: keeping you and your family safe, and keeping your furnace in check.

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If This Is Happening to Your Boiler, it’s an Emergency

Monday, November 27th, 2023

Your boiler works silently in the background, so while it’s out of sight and out of mind, you don’t really think about what to do or what would happen if it suddenly broke down. It’s leading to a breakdown, but you can be proactive and prevent that from happening–find out if your boiler faces this issue and needs boiler repair in Washington DC or not.

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3 Heating Problems You Never Want to Run Into

Monday, November 13th, 2023

Winters are for cozy blankets and warm cups of cocoa, not sudden heating system meltdowns. In this guide, we’ll uncover three heating problems that can turn winter bliss into a chilly nightmare. We’ll talk about the main heating problems you’ll encounter that have you calling for heating repair in Washington DC and why you definitely don’t want to run into them.

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This Is the Last Boiler Problem You Expected

Monday, October 2nd, 2023

Your boiler’s always there for you, rarely runs into issues, and keeps you warm like no other heating system does. It’s why it may come as a surprise that a rather odd problem can pop up that requires boiler repair in Alexandria, VA.

It’s limescale buildup–an issue we all know about, but one that doesn’t run through our minds when the boiler stops working. We’re more likely to assume it’s a broken pipe or another issue entirely, but this unlikely problem can cause quite a ruckus.

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Furnaces vs. Heat Pumps: Which is Right for You?

Monday, July 24th, 2023

You’re ready to get rid of that old heater and install a solution for the next 10-15 years. You’re not limited to using the same type of heater you had before, though, and that’s what many homeowners don’t realize.

Furnaces remain to be one of the most common types of home heating systems, but they’re not your only option. When it comes to heating installation, you can opt for a heat pump instead. But what are heat pumps, and are they actually an upgrade? Let’s talk about that.

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What You Can Expect During Boiler Maintenance

Monday, July 10th, 2023

Your boiler keeps you warm through the harshest winters, but it only does that because you maintain it properly. But do you know what happens during boiler maintenance in Arlington?

It’s important for you to know so you can keep your home HVAC in check. Today, we’ll run you through what to expect from boiler maintenance.

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