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

Does My Heat Pump Have a Refrigerant Leak?

February 12th, 2018

If it does, then you are smart to act fast. Because of the way heat pumps operate in both heating and cooling modes, it is vital they have the proper refrigerant charge for the job. Remember, refrigerant is not something your heat pump consumes in its operation, like the gasoline in a car. Instead, it is something the system recycles over and over again—more like the oil in a car.

If your heat pump is low on refrigerant, it may mean that your technician did not properly charge it—which means that you probably didn’t have it serviced by a member of our outstanding team! The other possibility is a leak. Regardless of the reason for your heat pump’s low refrigerant charge, it is a problem that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Continuing to run your heat pump in Capitol Hill when it is low on refrigerant can lead to some very serious problems.

3 Benefits of the Ductless Mini Split

January 29th, 2018

If you’ve been following our blog, then you’ve probably noticed that we talk about a lot of different HVAC systems. Why? Because there are so many to cover! If variety is the spice of life, then the HVAC industry is quite spicy indeed. Of course, there is a fine line between having plenty of options to choose from, and having an overwhelming amount of options to choose from. That is why we want to help homeowners better understand the many different heaters and ACs available.

One option worth considering is the ductless mini split—and you’ll note that we didn’t say “heating” or “air conditioning” option specifically. More on that below. While there is no single HVAC system that will perfectly suit every homeowner’s preferences or the demands of every home, the ductless mini split is certainly an option that many find most appealing. Read on, and remember to schedule your HVAC services in Arlington with the pros on our staff.

Why Humidify Your Home?

January 22nd, 2018

During the summer season, our weather can get extremely hot and humid. The idea of adding humidity to a home during any time of the year seems like an odd decision. In truth, adding the right amount of humidity to the air in a house is a great way to protect indoor air quality and alleviate a number of physical symptoms for people and materials.

Today, we’ll look at a few of the issues that may arise in a house with low humidity. We’ll also help you understand why you should skip the standalone humidifiers and opt instead for a whole-house humidifier in Georgetown. If you have any questions, call a member of our team. We have the expertise to determine if you could benefit from a whole-house humidifier.

Take Advantage of the Heat Pump’s Efficiency

January 15th, 2018

When you live in the Washington, DC area, you are going to have to contend with very cold winter weather. There is no way that you are going to be able to live comfortably in your home throughout the winter season if you do not have a great heater installed in your residence. Of course, you don’t just want an effective performance from your home heating system. You also want the most efficient performance possible from your heater.

If you are thinking about replacing a heater, or if you need a new one installed in your brand new home, then consider using a heat pump in Washington, DC. The heat pump works in a unique way, and it offers outstanding energy efficiency as a result. Read on to learn more about how heat pumps work and the benefits that they offer. Just remember that no HVAC system will truly excel in its operation if it is not expertly installed and serviced by skilled, trained professionals.

Choosing Your HVAC Company

January 1st, 2018

Whether you are heating your home during the coldest night of the winter season, or you want to cool your house down on a blisteringly hot summer day, you need to know that your HVAC systems are going to be there for you when you need them the most. That means that you need to work with an HVAC company that you know you can trust to use the best equipment available and to do the job right the first time, every time, no matter what that job may be.

We have a few tips for you today to help you choose your HVAC company in Washington, DC. Sure, we could just tell you to call our number to schedule service—after all, we certainly meet all of this important criteria. Instead, though, we encourage you to do your own research using the tips below. Why? Because we’re fairly confident that doing so will just reinforce that we’re the pros that you want handling all of your HVAC services!

3 Common Heating Repairs

December 26th, 2017

With the winter weather wearing you down, you need to know that you have a comfortable environment waiting for you back home. That means having a heater that is capable of heating your house in an effective and dependable manner. But the truth is that no heating system is ever going to be 100% reliable. If and when your heater needs repairs, contact a member of our team right away.

Ideally, you’ll have your heater repaired before it really suffers any major damages or breaks down entirely. Not every repair need is going to be something major, but all repairs do need to be handled promptly. Here are a few of the more common issues that homeowners encounter. Let us know if you require heating repair in Washington, DC.

Why Schedule Professional Heater Repairs?

December 18th, 2017

It’s freezing out, and you’re excited to get indoors, shuffle out of your winter gear, and relax in comfort. Only one problem: turns out the house isn’t actually comfortable at all! Whatever is wrong with your heater, whether it is making strange sounds or it is short-cycling on you, you need to hire a trained professional to handle your heater repair in Washington, DC. Working with our team guarantees that this will be the case, as we employ some of the finest technicians in the industry.

There are various reasons why it is vital to schedule your heater repairs with trained technicians. We are going to use today’s post to explore a few of them. We also want to remind you that scheduling prompt heater repair is always in your best interest. The sooner that you get our technicians over to your home in order to fix your heater, the better off the system is likely to be. Call us at the first sign of trouble.

Is My Heater Worth Repairing?

December 4th, 2017

Temperatures are really starting to drop, and they are not going to be warming up again for some time to come. With the icy grip of winter wrapped around us once more, we need to know that our home heating systems are going to be there for us when we really need them. Unfortunately, while routine maintenance is going to keep your heater running as effectively and reliably as possible, there is no way to make your heater 100% dependable.

If you start to notice that your heater just is not keeping up this winter, you should definitely call us to schedule professional heater repair in Washington, DC as quickly as possible. This will help to reduce any risk of serious damage to the system, as well as any extended discomfort for you and your family. However, it may also be that your heater is not really worth repairing anymore. When should you start to think about a heating replacement?

Tips for More Efficient Heating

November 28th, 2017

When the coldest weather of the year really settles in on us, will your home heating system be ready to face the challenge that lies ahead? Obviously, you need your heater to function as effectively as possible if you want to make it through the winter season comfortably. If you ask us, though, effective heating really is not enough. You should also be able to heat your home efficiently, so that you are not wasting energy and seeing that waste manifest itself in high energy costs.

The Washington, DC heating professionals on our team have some very simple suggestions to help you achieve greater heating efficiency. And don’t worry, we are not just going to try and sell you a new, high-efficiency system. Sure, investing in new equipment is a great way to boost overall energy efficiency. It is also an expense that most homeowners cannot just accommodate at the drop of a hat, particularly when their existing systems are not at the end of their lifespans.

Radiant vs. Forced Air: The Great Heating Debate

November 20th, 2017

When the time comes to install or replace a heating system, be it your very first time doing so or whether you’ve got a couple of heaters under your belt already, you need to take the time to choose your new system wisely. You don’t want to install your first system only to find that it’s not really the right fit, nor must you replace your heater with a very similar system just because that’s what you’ve always used.

Before you even start to decide on exactly which system you will use to heat your home, you are going to have to narrow it down. Generally, you first decide if you are going to use a forced air or a radiant heating system. These systems both have their pros and cons, and they differ greatly in heating methodology. Let’s take a look at each option to help you decide if a radiant heating system in Washington DC is right for you.