Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning Repair’

3 Warning Signs that It’s Time for AC Repairs

Tuesday, May 17th, 2016

Nobody wants to entertain the notion that their air conditioning system is in serious trouble. If you ignore any warning signs that your system is struggling, you are only doing yourself a major disservice.

The longer that you wait to have any air conditioning issues resolved by a trained professional, regardless of how “minor” you may believe the issue, the greater the likelihood of your system suffering real and costly damages. Read on to learn what a few of these warning signs look like, and then remember to call us for outstanding AC repairs.

Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, Alexandria
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on 3 Warning Signs that It’s Time for AC Repairs

How to Spot a Refrigerant Leak This Summer

Monday, March 28th, 2016

When in the midst of the hottest weather of the year, the last thing that you want is to discover that your air conditioning system is not functioning precisely as it ought to. However, you must remember that no air conditioning system is guaranteed to operate at peak performance levels at all times. Your air conditioner is a mechanical system, and the occasional operational problem is inevitable. It is always best to have any such problems resolved as soon as possible, of course, which is why it is so important that you learn to recognize early warning signs of AC trouble, such as when you have a refrigerant leak in your system.

Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, Georgetown
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on How to Spot a Refrigerant Leak This Summer

How a Malfunctioning Thermostat Will Harm Your Air Conditioning This Summer

Monday, May 4th, 2015

The thermostat that hangs on the wall of your home is one of the key parts of how you cool down your household during the summer. But it’s also easy to take it for granted and not notice when it starts to malfunction. Problems with your air conditioner may sometimes stem from the thermostat, but you won’t be able to tell unless you have a professional look over the system. (This is one of the reasons that you must always call on trained HVAC technicians when you need air conditioning repairs; 50% of repair work involves diagnosing the source of the problem.)

Tags: Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Repair, Washington DC
Posted in Thermostats | Comments Off on How a Malfunctioning Thermostat Will Harm Your Air Conditioning This Summer

Signs You Need to Call for Commercial Air Conditioning Repairs before Summer

Monday, April 27th, 2015

Keeping your business in Arlington, VA cooled down through the often hot and humid summers takes a great deal of work from an air conditioning system. During the spring when your AC first starts to work on a regular basis, take the time to look for any signs that might indicate the system is experiencing malfunctions. If you catch these problems early, you’ll have time to arrange for repair work and lower the risk of the system experiencing a catastrophic breakdown during one of the hotter days of the summer—and that is certainly nothing you want to risk with your business!

Tags: Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Repair, Washington DC
Posted in Commercial HVAC | Comments Off on Signs You Need to Call for Commercial Air Conditioning Repairs before Summer

How Dirty Coils Lead to Air Conditioning Repair

Monday, September 22nd, 2014

Many people are surprised to learn that an air conditioner does not actually create cool air. Rather, it moves the heat from the air in your home back to the outdoors. Your air conditioning system contains two coils that help this to happen—the evaporator coil and the condenser coil. As refrigerant moves to these components, it undergoes phase conversions that allow heat to absorb or dissipate. But these coils, and the rest of your AC system, require cleaning and maintenance to prevent the need for air conditioning repair later on.

Dirty coils are problematic because these parts are so important to the refrigeration cycle. Refrigerant changes from a liquid to a gas at the indoor evaporator coil, absorbing heat as a fan blows the warm air from your home over the coil. The fan then distributes cool air through the ducts. Refrigerant becomes highly pressurized and heated at the compressor outdoors and then moves to the condenser coil, where it condenses into a liquid, giving off heat into the outside air. Refrigerant continues to cycle through both parts of the system, repeating the process over again.

The coils are especially susceptible to dust because fans suck in air to blow over both the indoor and outdoor coils. If a coil is dirty, it means the refrigeration process cannot occur as efficiently as it should. Dirty coils impair their ability to participate in heat exchange, which means that other parts will have to work harder to make up for the deficiency. And as other parts run for longer periods of time, they may begin to wear out, so you’ll have to call for air conditioning repair sooner than is usually necessary. You’ll probably notice reduced cooling capacity when you have dirty coils, or you may even feel warm air from the vents.

Maintenance technicians clean the coils during any maintenance visit as well as other pertinent tasks that help to restore efficiency and keep problems at bay.

Schedule maintenance to prevent the need for air conditioning repair in Washington, D.C. Call Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. for maintenance or repairs today!

Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, Washington D.C.
Posted in Air Conditioning Repair | Comments Off on How Dirty Coils Lead to Air Conditioning Repair

Air Conditioning Repair Question: Is My Compressor Damaged?

Monday, August 4th, 2014

The compressor is one of the most important components of your air conditioning system, but it’s also one of the parts that is most likely to fail when your air conditioner runs into problems. If you believe your compressor is faulty, you may hesitate to call an AC technician for fear of costly repairs. However, it is better to get the problem fixed with professional air conditioning repair soon than to risk irreparable damage.

The compressor is responsible for compressing, or adding pressure to, the refrigerant in its gaseous state. Refrigerant must continuously change from a gas to a liquid and back again in order to absorb and release heat from your home, so the compressor allows this process to begin before it changes to a liquid at the condenser.

Compressor problems may be caused by a number of different issues. In general, the best way to keep your compressor free of damage is by calling a maintenance technician at least once a year to inspect your system. But there are many reasons the compressor fails, and the effects may be sudden.

One of the reasons a compressor may become damaged is if there is a refrigerant leak. The components of your system are designed and sized to hold only a certain level of refrigerant. The compressor in particular suffers when refrigerant levels drop due to leaks or incorrect installation, and it may fail if not enough refrigerant can pass through.

Overheating is another common cause of compressor damage. Overheating may result from electrical damage. In general, however, if any component of your AC is damaged, your compressor has to run longer and work harder to compensate, which could cause it to wear out. Of course, a compressor will also become damaged over time, and may simply fail because it is too old to function.

So how can you tell if the air conditioning problem you’re having is compressor damage or not? This is something you should leave up to the experts. While banging noises, hard starting, and a system that won’t turn on are all good indicators of damage, these can point to other problems as well, and you may only need a small repair.

For air conditioning repair in Arlington, trust the trained and certified technicians at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. Give us a call today!

Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, Arlington
Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Repair | Comments Off on Air Conditioning Repair Question: Is My Compressor Damaged?

3 Noises That Indicate Air Conditioning Problems

Friday, May 9th, 2014

Air conditioning technology has not reached the stage of artificial intelligence programs that can perfectly detect operating problems, diagnose them, and then alert homeowners to what needs repairs. But ACs do have something like an early-warning system: strange noises. When you hear any sound different from the hum of the fans and the compressor, pay attention close to it. It is likely a fault that requires the work of an HAVC expert to fix. If you ignore the warning noises, the trouble will grow worse and possible cause the air conditioner to break down. A great way to prevent your air conditioner from falling into disrepair is to enroll in our maintenance program.

Here are three common noises that signal you need to call for air conditioning repair in Washington, DC. For fast local service, call Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. We will do the work right the first time.

3 air conditioning warning sounds

Hissing: This is almost certainly the sound of refrigerant escaping from a leak. Loss of refrigerant will cause the system to start losing the ability to absorb heat from inside your house. This will not only lower your comfort, but it can cause ice to develop over the coils and even damage to the compressor that can turn catastrophic. Technicians will locate the leaks and seal them, then recharge the refrigerant to its original level.
Groaning/grinding: Best described as “mechanical failure noises,” the sort you associate with a failing car engine. The problem is often in the motors of the air conditioner, which run the blower fans and the compressor. Loss of any of these will impair or shut down the air conditioner. If repairs reach the problem in time, they can rescue the motors. Often, the motor will need replacement.
Clicking: If you hear this sound when the compressor or the fans start, and the unit stutters to get going, you have a system that is “hard starting” because of electrical trouble. The most common reason for this is failing capacitors: the components that transmit voltage to the motors. Repairs will replace the capacitors or else install a hard-starting kit that will overcome the problem.

Never ignore unusual air conditioning sounds: any stress on the AC system means it is wasting energy and putting additional stress on other components. Tackle the repair when it’s isolated and less extensive, and before you need to worry about the air conditioning shutting down during one of the hottest days of the summer.

Call Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. to have your Washington, DC air conditioning repair job finished fast and effectively by highly trained professionals.

Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, Washington DC
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on 3 Noises That Indicate Air Conditioning Problems

Consequences of Delaying Air Conditioning Repair in Northern Virginia

Wednesday, August 21st, 2013

Air conditioning repair in Northern Virginia often needs to be sooner rather than later. With our hot, humid summers, even a few hours with an air conditioning system can feel like an eternity. At the same time, however, people often delay consultation with an air conditioning service technician. As long as the AC unit is running, the reasoning goes, why incur the cost of an expensive repair bill? That may help your pocketbook in the short run, but there can be significant consequences to delaying air conditioning repair in the long run.

The possibility of greater damage serves as the most obvious consequence, as does the higher costs involved. As parts wear out or maintenance issues arise, they can create a cascading effect that resulting in more significant damage as time does one. For instance, a loose connection can cause a leak in the refrigerant levels, a relatively straightforward issue to correct. If left unattended, however, your air conditioning system must work harder to cool the air sufficiently. That extra struggle could damage the motors and other components; ice could form on the evaporator coils; and the chances for a serious malfunction go up. That comes on top of the higher monthly energy bills that come with reduced efficiency.

Scheduling a service call early in that process can save a great deal of money. A service tech can isolate and seal the leak, recharge the refrigerant, and return the unit to peak efficiency.. Every month you delay means higher electric bills, as your system has to work harder to keep your home cool.

As with so many things in life, it’s easier to treat a smaller problem than wait for it to become a large one. The trained technicians at Polar Bear can take care of your Northern Virginia air conditioning repair service. We can help save you money by doing the job right the first time, every time. Schedule an appointment today!

Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, Northern Virginia
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Consequences of Delaying Air Conditioning Repair in Northern Virginia

Does a Faulty Thermostat Call for Professional Air Conditioning Repair in Northern Virginia?

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

The thermostat allows you to control your air conditioning system, setting the temperature to a comfortable level and monitoring your system’s overall effectiveness. Older thermostats were simple devices that used mercury switches. Newer digital thermostats often come with an array of bells and whistles, such as remote settings allowing you to turn on the air conditioner even when you aren’t at home. When the thermostat experiences problems, it can cause big issues with your AC system, which can spell trouble in the hot, humid summers of Northern Virginia. That is why it is so important to call for repair if you think your thermostat is malfunctioning.

You can spot a problematic thermostat by listening for rapid cycling (the AC unit turning on and off quickly), by uncomfortable temperatures in the household despite the listing on the thermostat, and by the simple fact that the air conditioning unit will not turn on. Many of these issues can be caused by other AC problems, however. It takes a professional technician to pinpoint the precise cause and implement the proper solution (which may or may not involve the thermostat).

Furthermore, most thermostats are connected to the house’s electrical system, which requires an expert to successfully approach. Professional technicians can also advise you on possible upgrades to your thermostat that match your particular situation. And in some cases, the issue may be caused by a thermostat that sits too close to a breezeway or a warm area hit by sunlight: necessitating a move to a new location. Such an operation requires a service technician to place, mount and install the thermostat properly.

If your thermostat is causing problems and you need to consider a new one, call the professional air conditioning service techs at Polar Bear. We pride ourselves on customer satisfaction and will go the extra mile to do the job right for you. We offer air conditioning repair services throughout Northern Virginia. We can repair or replace your thermostat quickly and professionally. Contact us today to set up an appointment.

Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, Northern Virginia
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Does a Faulty Thermostat Call for Professional Air Conditioning Repair in Northern Virginia?

Air Conditioning Repair in Arlington, VA: Why You Need a Professional Technician

Monday, August 5th, 2013

It may be tempting to attempt air conditioning repair yourself instead of calling in a professional. This is especially true in Arlington, VA, where hot summers make waiting for a service technician uncomfortable and inconvenient. However, the prudent homeowner will always eschew do-it-yourself projects in favor of a skilled professional technician. The reasons for doing so may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Speed: Professionals know what to look for when an air conditioning unit malfunctions. They can usually spot the problem quickly and implement a solution with a strong understanding of the right steps. A person without any training may find themselves lost in the air conditioning system’s technical specifications, wasting time and energy without knowing what exactly needs to be done.
Accuracy: Without the experience and know-how of a professional technician, a do-it-yourselfer may exacerbate the problem instead of solving it. For example, if ice forms on the condenser coil and a layman simply attempts to get it off, he may end up damaging the coil without solving the original problem at all. A specialist can address the cause, not just the symptoms, and make sure the issue gets properly resolved.
Expertise: Many people undertake do-it-yourself projects as a way of saving money. But time and effort can add up, as can the cost of doing the job without the proper know-how. Certified professionals can ensure that the problem doesn’t recur. They can also provide routine maintenance service, helping you spot smaller problems before they turn into bigger ones. Not only does that save money in unnecessary repair costs, but it can extend the life of your air conditioning system.

Everyone wants to save money where they can. But when you weigh all the options, using a certified expert will spare you excessive costs and a lot of wasted time. If you need a professional technician for air conditioning repair in Arlington, VA, call Polar Bear Air Conditioning to set up an appointment. We pride ourselves on customer satisfaction, and are dedicated to doing the job right the first time, every time.

Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, Arlington
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Air Conditioning Repair in Arlington, VA: Why You Need a Professional Technician

Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. Blog