Is a Rumbling Sound a Sign for Boiler Repair in Alexandria, VA?

January 6th, 2014

Boilers operate with little noise, which is one of the reasons homeowners still find them attractive options for winter heating. Using the mostly silent action of circulating heated water through a house to cast iron radiators or baseboard radiators, boilers go about their business of keeping people warm through the cold months without distracting sounds.

When a boiler does start to make loud noises, it’s usually a warning sign that the system requires repairs. Among these cautionary sounds is the noise of rumbling from the tank. There are a number of different reasons for this to occur, which we’ll go over here. All of these problems require trained technicians to fix, so make sure you call up a company with experience, like Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc., to handle your boiler repair in Alexandria, VA.

Why your boiler might be rumbling

  • Mixing of hot and cold water: The water tank of a boiler should stay at an even temperature, with cold water gradually enterinh from the bottom of the tank at a steady rate. If the mixing valve on the tank breaks, however, too much cold water will start to enter and begin to mix with the hot water, which will create that rumbling noise and force the boiler to work harder, leading to repairs.
  • Excess sediment in the tank: Depending on your water supply, it is possible for sediment to enter the water tank. It will sink to the bottom and begin to build up until it starts to reduce the available water volume. When this happens, the water will begin to overheat, leading to a dangerous spike in water pressure and subsequent leaks throughout the system. A technician can flush the tank to eliminate this problem. (You should have the system flushed once a year, no matter what, during regular maintenance.)
  • Scale from hard water: Hard water—water with high levels of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals—can have a damaging effect on your boiler. The high temperature in the boiler will cause limescale to form from the minerals in hard water, and this will begin to build up on the inside of the tank. Scale is an insulator, so too much of it will trap extra heat inside the tank, leading to overheating and the numerous problems it brings. Repairs can de-scale the tank to make it safe again.

Regular maintenance can help

Always call for repairs as soon as you hear any unusual sound from your boiler; don’t wait for the problem to grow worse. However, you can avoid issues in the future by scheduling regular maintenance for your boiler with a trusted contractor. Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. offers a maintenance program that will take care of your heating system so you won’t have to worry as much about boiler repair in Alexandria, VA in the future.

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The Ball in Times Square

December 30th, 2013

New Year’s is a time for parties, fun and great traditions, some of which go back more than a century. Among them is the famous “dropping of the ball” in Times Square, an event which is broadcast to millions of people every New Year’s Eve. With 2014 nearly upon us, we thought we’d take the opportunity to look at the history of this popular New Year’s Eve festivity.

The idea began in 1907 at what was then the New York Times building at One Times Square. The newspaper’s owner, Adolph Ochs, had been celebrating the New Year with fireworks since 1903. He wanted make the event even more remarkable, and added the ball in December of 1907 to welcome in the New Year. The first ball was designed by Artkraft Strauss, who made it out of iron, wood, and light bulbs. It took six men to hoist the ball up the building’s flag pole; once midnight struck, the tremendous ball was carefully lowered, and all were allowed to marvel at it.

Since then, the ball has undergone many changes in materials and design, and even the New York Times has moved to another building. But the tradition remains and the ball has dropped over One Times Square ever since. Today, the ball is electronically controlled, and uses LED lamps for its construction: designed by Waterford Crystal and weighing in at over 1,200 pounds.

A number of television broadcasts have helped carry the event over the years, but by far the most famous is “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” which first ran in 1972. The show was created and hosted by Dick Clark, who became a staple of the event as much as the ball itself. Clark hosted the show every New Year’s Eve from 1972 until his death in 2012. Since then, it has been hosted by Ryan Seacrest, who shared hosting duties with Clark starting in 2005.

Whether you’re watching the ball drop on TV or have some other New Year’s Eve plan in mind, we here at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. wish you nothing but the best for 2014. Have a safe and happy New Year!

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Happy Holidays!

December 23rd, 2013

Holiday greetings from Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc.! We hope you are having safe and pleasant season, enjoying your favorite traditions for this time of year. We wish you the very best, and we thank you for your business this year.

In honor of the season, here are some fun facts about one of everyone’s favorite holiday movies: It’s a Wonderful Life.

For years, one of the enduring December traditions in the United States was watching the movie It’s a Wonderful Life playing almost nonstop on numerous television stations. No matter the time of the day, you could turn on the TV set, flip through channels, and discover It’s a Wonderful Life playing. Whenever you needed him, you could find Jimmy Stewart shouting, “Hello, Bedford Falls!”

But now… It’s a Wonderful Life only appears on broadcast television a few times during December, and most families instead choose to watch the movie on video. What happened?

The reason goes back to the film’s initial wide release in January 1947. (That’s right, it opened after the holiday season. It was not even promoted as a holiday film.) It’s a Wonderful Life was a box-office disappointment at the time, and its studio, RKO Radio Pictures, lost more than half a million on it. The movie’s production company, Liberty Films, was sold to Paramount to avoid bank foreclosure. (A bit ironic, considering the movie’s plot.) In 1955, the National Telefilm Associates (NTA) took over the rights to It’s a Wonderful Life, which included the television syndication rights.

However, NTA failed to properly renew the copyright in 1974 because of a clerical error, which allowed the film’s images to enter into the public domain. Although the movie’s plot was still under copyright protection because it was adapted from a published story called “The Greatest Gift,” television stations across the world could now broadcast it with only minimal royalty payments.

In 1993, Republic Pictures, which now owned the NTA library, tried to enforce their claim to the copyright of the film, as they possessed the rights to “The Greatest Gift.” Republic Pictures succeeded, and licensed exclusive television rights to NBC. Suddenly, It’s a Wonderful Life vanished from local television stations, and NBC made the movie’s broadcasts—usually twice during December—into major events. As of 1998, Paramount again has the rights to It’s a Wonderful Life… 43 years after they lost them.

It’s still easy to make It’s a Wonderful Life a part of whatever traditions you observe during the holidays, whether through home video or television broadcasts. Despite its lackluster initial reception in 1947, Frank Capra’s film is now an inseparable part of December in the United States.

Have a great holiday week!

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Signs Your Boiler Needs Repairs

December 18th, 2013

Boilers are an old and reliable form of heating technology that continues to be popular today.  They tend to be more efficient than gas heaters and don’t suffer from problems like drafts or cold spots. But like any piece of equipment, they still need repairs from time to time. The sooner you can spot signs your boiler needs repairs, the sooner you can call in a qualified Alexandria VA boiler technician to help, and the more quickly your heating system can get back up to strength.

Odd noises are the most obvious sign of a boiler in need of assistance. Kettling – a build-up of sediment in the heat exchange – can lead to rumbling noises, while low water pressure and similar problems can create bubbling or whistling noises in the system. Keep in mind that sound may travel through the system far from its source, and sounds in one part may actually indicate a problem in another part.

Leaks sometimes spring up in boiler systems, and can sometimes be spotted by puddles or moisture nearby. Keep in mind that not every leak creates puddles, however. Hot water and small leaks may combine to evaporate the leaking water, making it tougher to spot.

Problems with the thermocouple may prevent the heater from turning on, while faulty valves and build up may create low water pressure that prevents certain parts of the house from being heated properly. Any situation where a radiator doesn’t appear to work, where the heating isn’t being applied at all. And of course, any situation where the heater fails to turn on entirely is a sign that you need to call in a repair service.

Luckily, in Alexandria VA, boiler systems can be repaired by the experts at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc.  Our trained experts know how to spot signs your boiler needs repairs and correct it with speed and efficiency. Pick up the phone and give us a call today!

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My Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit: What Repairs Are Needed?

December 10th, 2013

Pilot lights are a necessary component of many gas furnaces. Although some furnaces today use electrical igniters to start up the gas jets along the burner, the pilot light is still the standard method for most models. As long as the pilot light is burning, the gas jets responsible for creating the heat inside your furnace will be able to come on whenever your thermostat requires heat.

A pilot light can occasionally go out because of a strong draft, in which case you should have no trouble relighting it. But if the pilot light will not stay lit, going out repeatedly, then your furnace will need an expert eye to see what’s wrong and offer solutions to repair it. Without a pilot light burning, you won’t have the heat you need to get through the winter.

When it’s time for furnace repair in Washington, DC, contact Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc., where we’ve made a commitment since 2001 to deliver quality heating services.

Repairs for a fluttering and failing pilot light

The most common repair that technicians do to restore a pilot light is to clean off the burner unit. The pilot light requires oxygen to ignite, and if grime and dirt have coated the burner unit, it will prevent the pilot from activating. The technician will remove the burner unit to have it properly cleaned.

The trouble may come from the gas line itself. There might be blockage along the pipe, damage to a gas valve, or a safety control feature that has malfunctioned so that is activating at the wrong time. Technicians can usually handle gas flow issues… and you should never attempt to do repairs to a gas line on your own.

Some newer furnaces have electronic control systems which can malfunction and affect the pilot light. These are complex systems, and require a skilled technician to look over their circuit boards and find what is necessary to repair to restore the pilot light.

The trained technicians at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. are ready to assist you with your furnace repair in Washington, DC so you’ll stay warm and safe through the winter. Call us today!

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What Causes a Boiler to Leak?

December 2nd, 2013

Boilers remain a key component in many homes, using hot water and a system of pipes to safely warm every corner of the house. They’re fairly easy to maintain, though  they still experience difficulties just like any other heating system. What causes a boiler to leak? The sources vary, but the effects can be spotted without too much difficulty.

The most common source of boiler leaks comes at the seals and fittings between pipes, which are often vulnerable to fissures. Corrosion can sometimes take place in the central system, particularly if it hasn’t been serviced or maintained in a while, but often it occurs at points where the seals or connections have had a chance to deteriorate.  Hard water often adds to these tendencies, since the minerals contained within the water will slowly damage your pipes over time.

“Over time” is a key phrase here, because a leak will rarely show up right away. The fissures and corrosion that result in leaks appear slowly over months or even years, and become apparent only after they’ve progressed very far indeed. In many cases, the leak is small enough to escape casual notice, since the hot water simply evaporates rather than creating a puddle. The best way to notice such a leak is to check the boiler’s water pressure. If the pressure has dropped for no apparent reason, you’re probably looking at a leak somewhere in your heating system.

Regardless of whether the signs are subtle or overt, there’s  no question about what to do. Shut off the boiler and contact a Washington DC boiler repair professional immediately. He or she can determine what causes a boiler to leak, then instigate repairs with courtesy and professionalism.  Our technicians can arrive at your home, inspect the heater for problems and discuss your repair options with you before moving to correct the issue. Pick up the phone and give us a call today. You’ll be glad you did!

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The History of Thanksgiving

November 25th, 2013

Thanksgiving is upon us: a time to get together with relatives, eat some great food, watch a little football or the parade, and stop to appreciate the good things we have in life. Beyond all that, however, there’s a fascinating history to the holiday and its traditions.

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 in the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. Records are spotty at the time, but indicate that the harvest was particularly good that year due to help from the local Native Americans. The meal was probably much different than the one we’re used to, with venison and fish more likely than turkey, but the general principle was unchanged.

It wasn’t a few centuries later, however, that Thanksgiving became an annual tradition. George Washington called for a “national day of Thanksgiving” in 1789, and again in 1795, but they were both “one shot” declarations, rather than a call for an annual tradition. Individual cities and states picked up the ball, but it wasn’t until 1863 that Thanksgiving became a national once-a-year event. President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November to be a Thanksgiving “to heal the wounds of the nation and restore it.”

From there, it remained a tradition until Franklin Roosevelt signed a law in December of 1941 making it a federal holiday. The law also changed the date from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday in November, making it a little earlier in some cases (which Roosevelt hoped would give the country an economic boost).

Wherever you celebrate the holiday and whoever you choose to celebrate it with, we wish you nothing but happiness and joy this Thanksgiving.  

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Your Furnace is Only as Good as Your Ductwork

November 18th, 2013

It’s an easy phrase, “your furnace is only as good as your ductwork,” and most homeowners won’t quite know what it means. Your ductwork is often out of sight, and as long as it continues to channel air to various parts of your home, it’s easy to focus on other things. But ductwork does affect furnace performance, since smooth airflow is key to heating your home efficiently. Here in Arlington VA furnace repair must address issues with ducts almost as often as they do the furnace itself.

Problems can start with the installation of the ductwork itself. You want the interior of the ducts to be as smooth as possible, without any grooves or pockets to trap moving air. Ducts that “bunch” or “gather” in places will slow the air flow down, decreasing efficiency in the process.

Leaks and fissures can pull air from the system too, forcing your heater to work harder to do its job. And if your ducts aren’t insulated, then they will lose heat on cold days, especially if they pass through unconditioned areas of your home.

A good technician can help address all of that, first by providing regular maintenance to your heating system. That clears up the dust and dirt, helping to keep it out of your ducts. He can also add insulation to your ducts and look into any areas where they might have bunched up or sprung a leak (both of which depend in part to the kind of material used for your ducts. In Arlington VA, furnace issues of all varieties (including ductwork) can be addressed by the professionals at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc.. Your furnace is only as good as your ductwork; give us a call today and let us take care of both!

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What Size Boiler Do I Need?

November 12th, 2013

Heating installation in Alexandria VA can be a tricky process. You need to size your boiler properly in order to heat your home with proper efficiency. If the boiler is too small, it won’t do the job. If it’s too large, it will operate inefficiently: cycling on and off too often and using up tons of unnecessary energy in the process. Considering how cold our Virginia winters get, neither option is acceptable.  “What size boiler do I need?” You ask. A trained technician can answer that (after examining your home), but a few of the basics can be found below.

Boiler “size” is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs), which gauge how much heat the boiler generates. How many BTUs you need to heat your home depends on the size of your home, not only the square feet but the cubic feet, as tall ceilings will make a big difference in how much heat you need.

That isn’t the only factor involved in the equation, however. Your walls, roof and windows enter into it as well. In simple terms, it’s important to gauge how insulated your home is, both in terms of the insulation in your home and attic, and such factors as double glazed windows and the lack of cracks around the door. A technician will also take sunlight exposure into account: A room that gets a great deal of sunlight may be quite a bit warmer than one without. All of that can “move the bar” up or down, resulting in a smaller or larger boiler as appropriate.

Whenever the final decision, it’s important to consult with an expert to help answer the question “what size boiler do I need?” Not only can a trained technician perform exact measurements, but he or she can sit down with you to discuss you options and plan for an installation that meets your schedule. For these and other matters related to heating installation in Alexandria, VA, contact the experts at Polar Bear to help. We’ll help you determine the right size boiler for your home, then conduct the installation with professionalism and pride. Give us a call today!

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Why Does my Furnace Pilot Light Keep Going Out?

November 5th, 2013

Does the pilot light keep going out on the furnace in your Washington DC area home? Here are a few possible reasons your pilot light could go out and what to do about them. If none of these suggestions work, call Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. for help.

Down Drafts Causing Pilot Light to Go Out

If your furnace vents through a chimney, always check first for the potential of a down draft causing the light to go out. This could happen if the light tends to go out on windy days. The chimney design could also be causing the problem. Check to see if it is high enough, and that it has a proper chimney cap installed at the top.

Clogged or Dirty Pilot Valve

Once you’ve made sure that there are no down drafts, have a professional check the pilot light gas valve to make sure that it isn’t clogged in any way. They will also check to see if it is adjusted properly. One of our technicians can answer any further questions about how to operate the pilot valve and controls.

Not Enough Gas Pressure

Your technician also check gas pressure while the furnace is on to see if the pressure has dropped. If it has dropped, this could easily cause the pilot light to go out.

Always call a professional HVAC contractor you can trust to handle repairs for any type of gas heating system in your home. Call the furnace experts at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. of Washington DC any time you need a furnace repair or tune-up.

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