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

What Happens to Your Energy Bills When Your Ductwork Leaks

Monday, January 22nd, 2024

How would you like to spend an extra four figures a year on your heating and cooling costs? No? We didn’t think so. Your ductwork can cause you to spend more than you plan on cooling costs, which is why you need duct repair in Arlington, VA.

That’s the reality of how much money you could be losing if you have leaky ductwork without a plan in place to get it fixed. The money you lose in heating and cooling inefficiencies is always worse than the money you’ll spend on a repair call.

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How Leaky Ducts Affect Your AC Experience

Monday, August 13th, 2018

ductsThere are a lot of problems that are going to be evident in their development insomuch as how they affect your air conditioner. You may have an AC that doesn’t start up at all no matter how warm it gets in your house, for example. Or maybe your air conditioner sounds like a jet engine once it gets going. But it’s important to remember that not all problems, and not even all serious problems, are always going to be so obvious.

Point in case: leaky ductwork. Now, there are plenty of problems that you may notice which will point toward leaky ductwork—more on those below—but that doesn’t mean that they’ll be immediately evident. And, even when they become evident, it may not be so clear that the cause of the problem is, in fact, leaky air ducts.  We’re here to help you understand the problems caused by duct leaks, and why they necessitate professional HVAC services in Ashburn, VA.

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Signs of Trouble with Your Ductwork

Monday, October 2nd, 2017

sealing-ductworkDo you use a central air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump to heat and/or cool your home? If so, then you really need to know for certain that the air ducts that this system uses are in fine working condition. If not, then you are going to wind up dealing with a number of different problems when trying to maintain comfortable temperatures throughout your living space.

Fortunately for you, the professionals on our staff are here to help. Not only can we resolve the problems that you may encounter with your air ducts, but we also have some great tips to help you recognize that there are such problems in your home. Only then can you take the necessary steps to resolve those problems in a prompt and effective manner. 

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Forced Air Heating FAQ: Is My Ductwork Leaking?

Monday, December 19th, 2016

While we are big proponents of using boilers to heat homes, there are still a lot of homeowners that prefer the prompt heating made possible by forced-air systems like furnaces. There is nothing wrong with using a forced-air heating system, obviously. Just keep in mind the fact that there are a few potential problems that you may encounter with such systems that you would not with a boiler.

Leaky ductwork is a leading cause of energy inefficiency in many homes throughout the country. If your home is getting warm enough, you may not realize that your air ducts are leaking at all. You will, however, be suffering the effects nonetheless. Here are a few signs that your ductwork in Arlington, VA may be compromised. 

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Is Your Ductwork Operating Properly?

Monday, March 21st, 2016

When you think of HVAC system failures, you probably think of mechanical issues, refrigerant leaks, and other problems that affect your heating and air conditioning units directly. However, you cannot overlook the negative impact that your ductwork can have on your comfort, your budget, and your equipment itself if that ductwork is not in fine working condition. We strongly urge you to contact a member of our staff if and when you need any ductwork services in Washington, D.C. We excel in all manner of air duct services, and we’ll make sure that you are able to deliver conditioned air throughout your home effectively and reliably.

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When You Need Ductwork, You Need to Call Us

Monday, October 19th, 2015

We live in an area where there are a lot of older homes, many of which were not outfitted with ductwork upon construction, let alone planned in a manner conducive to the installation of ductwork. Modern comfort expectations dictate that we are able to successfully heat and cool our properties, though, and ductwork remains the most common means by which to distribute heated and cooled air throughout such properties. With that in mind, we suggest that you schedule any and all ductwork services in Arlington, VA with us. In doing so, you ensure that the job is done right. Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. is the company to call for quality ductwork throughout the area. 

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How to Tell You Need Ductwork Repair

Monday, July 21st, 2014

Ductwork can be easily forgotten because it isn’t very visible, but problems do develop with it. Common ductwork problems can include leaks, holes, cracks, broken seals, pests, debris, and dust and dirt build-up. Clearly, a lot can happen with your air ducts, but just as other parts of your air conditioner will give an indication of developing problems, so, too, does your ductwork in Washington, DC. Here are some of the more common signs our Polar Bear technicians see when it comes to ductwork repair needs:

  • Issues with airflow – decreased air flow can mean a few things, but if all other possibilities are ruled out (such as low refrigerant or fan problems), it may be time to take a look at your ductwork and see what’s happening. Cracks, holes, broken seals, disconnections and obstructions can all constrict the air flow in your system and ultimately affect your indoor air quality.
  • Abnormal sounds – rattling, whistling and humming can all indicate that there are loose components or other issues with your ductwork; scratching and scampering sounds can be indicative of pests. All should be inspected to find the root cause.
  • Higher utility bills – have you noticed a sharp increase in your monthly energy bill but haven’t changed how you’ve been operating your AC? Faulty ductwork can account for up to 30% of air loss, which is a large amount of air to compensate for.
  • Hot and cold spots – inconsistent temperature can be an indication that air is not delivering evenly throughout your home because of issues with the ductwork.
  • Increased humidity – cracks, holes and disconnections can allow humidity and moisture into the ductwork, which then gets delivered into your home.
  • Increased dust – are you seeing more dust in your home than usual? It could be coming directly from the vent work.

Don’t Do Ductwork Repairs Yourself

Ductwork repair is complex and requires the use of certain tools you may not have or may not be familiar with. Instead of trying to repair the ductwork in your Washington DC home yourself, call an expert: Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. We’ve been fabricating, installing and repairing ductwork in the Washington DC area for almost 15 years.

Don’t let your ductwork compromise the operation of your air conditioning system – call Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc., today.

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Your Furnace is Only as Good as Your Ductwork

Monday, 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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How Ducts Can Affect Air Conditioning Efficiency in Alexandria, VA

Monday, April 1st, 2013

Central air conditioning system are very popular. Many homeowners fail to realize, however, just how important the condition of their air ducts is to the operation of their air conditioning system. Just because your air ducts are tucked away behind your walls and in other inaccessible areas does not meant that you can afford to ignore them. In fact, your Alexandria, VA air conditioning system can be seriously compromised by problems with your air ducts. Consider this information from Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating about how air ducts can affect your air conditioning efficiency in Alexandria, VA.

One of the most obvious ways that air ducts can affect the efficiency with which your air conditioning system operates is if they are damaged. Improperly installed, torn or otherwise compromised air ducts will allow conditioned air to leak out of the system before it arrives at its destination. This causes a few different problems. First of all, if this air keeps escaping then your air conditioning system is going to need to consume more energy in order to replace that which has been lost. This is a big problem in and of itself, but there is another way in which this can wind up costing you money. Forcing your air conditioner to operate with this extra strain on it can lead to damages within your system.

Dirty air ducts are another problem than can affect the efficiency of your air conditioning system. While it may take a pretty serious buildup of dirt and debris to really inhibit airflow in your air ducts, there are your filters to think about.  If there is a lot of dust and other pollutants circulating through your ductwork then the filters can restrict airflow, reducing efficiency. Also, the pollutants can make their way into your HVAC equipment and lead to complications therein.

For more information about the importance of the condition of your ductwork, call Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating. We are happy to help you better understand how ducts can affect air conditioning efficiency in Alexandria, VA. Call today to learn more.

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