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

Is Your Furnace Too Noisy?

Monday, December 17th, 2018

If you find yourself wondering if your furnace is too noisy, the answer is probably “Yes.” Your furnace is not inherently noisy. In fact, the only noise you should hear coming from your furnace is the gentle whooshing of air through the vents once it is turned on. So, if you do hear any odd noises, you don’t want to take it with a grain of salt.

We never recommend attempting to diagnose the problem yourself. It is always better to contact an HVAC professional. They have both the experience and the equipment necessary to pinpoint the exact source of the issue and to come up with a plan to resolve it. Our friendly technicians at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating are here to help you if you need furnace repair in Arlington, VA.

Below, we have listed some of the sounds you definitely don’t want to hear your furnace making:

Tags: Arlington VA, Furnace, Furnace Repair
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Is Your Furnace Showing Signs of Distress?

Monday, March 12th, 2018

We could all use some warm, sunny weather right about now, but chances are that you’re going to be running your heater for a while longer. It may be late in the season, but don’t let that convince you that you can afford to ignore any signs of trouble your home heating system may be exhibiting. Trust us when we tell you that your heater can break down just as easily at the end of the season as during any other time.

So how do you deal with heating problems before facing as serious a situation as a complete breakdown? Well, you can learn to recognize the signs that you need furnace repairs in McLean, VA, for starters. No furnace is ever going to be 100% reliable, though scheduling routine heating maintenance will certainly help it to get as close to that ideal as possible. We’re happy to tune-up your furnace for you, of course. But eventually, we’ll need to repair your system. Call us when you see these warning signs.

Tags: Furnace, Furnace Repair, heat, heater, Heating, Mclean
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Your Furnace Should Not Be Too Noisy

Monday, January 2nd, 2017

We know that it can be tempting to ignore signs of trouble with your heater, so long as it seems to be heating your home effectively. We have to recommend that you don’t do this, however, because we also know how lousy the results can be. If your furnace is making strange new sounds, you need to have the situation assessed by a trained professional.

Just call our number to ensure that this is the case. We know gas and electric furnaces inside and out. When you work with us, you can count on getting a great performance from your furnace in Alexandria, VA.

Tags: Alexandria, Furnace Repair
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What Can Make a Furnace Smell Like Burning?

Monday, February 8th, 2016

You turn on your heater, looking forward to settling in for the night and relaxing in a warm, cozy home after a long day at work. Before you know it, though, your house smells like burning! You don’t seem smoke, and you haven’t started making dinner yet, so what could it be? In fact, it could be your heater itself that is causing your house to smell like burning, and this in turn could signify a serious problem with your heater. Don’t panic, but definitely contact a professional heating technician right away. If you use a furnace in Alexandria to heat your home, and you smell burning when you turn it on, you could be dealing with one of the one of the following problems.

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Is My Furnace in Need of Repair?

Monday, January 11th, 2016

Furnaces are reliable heating system, but there is really no such thing as a 10o% reliable heater, furnace or otherwise. At some point, you are going to find that your furnace is incapable of operating in peak condition. You may even encounter a complete breakdown of the system. Whatever the issue, it is always best to schedule professional furnace repairs in Georgetown as soon as possible. This can help to minimize the risk of serious damages to your system.

Tags: Furnace Repair, Georgetown
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Furnace Repair FAQ: Why Doesn’t My Home Get Enough Heat?

Monday, September 29th, 2014

If your home seems uncomfortably cold no matter how high you set the thermostat, chances are something isn’t right with your heating system. There are a number of possible causes for heat loss in your home, but the most common is the furnace. Read on for a breakdown of possible problems with your furnace, and what to do about them.

Power/Ignition Issues

If no heat seems to be coming through the vents, your furnace may be having trouble igniting. The first thing to check is the pilot light. If the pilot light is lit, the problem is elsewhere. If the pilot light is out, it is recommended that you call a professional to re-light it for you. If the pilot light is on, but your furnace is not igniting, the gas valve may be closed. It is also possible that not enough gas is getting through the gas line and into the furnace. Due to the exact nature of determining the right amount of gas to flow into the furnace, it is best to call a professional to diagnose and fix the problem for you.

Delivery Issues

If your furnace is on but not delivering enough heat, the problem may be in the ducts. Check to make sure that heat is coming out of all the vents evenly across rooms. If one room is much colder or does not have heat coming out of it, it is very likely that you have a break in your ducts. Check your air filter as well, which should be located where the return air duct meets the furnace. The furnace repair may be as simple as cleaning or replacing your filter.

If you have checked all of these factors and your home still isn’t getting enough heat, it is time to call a professional.

Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. is the team to contact should you require any repairs for your furnace in the Alexandria, VA area. Call us today.

Tags: Alexandria, Furnace Repair
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Air Duct Problems and Furnace Repair

Sunday, March 2nd, 2014

Furnace repair is sometimes not a simple process. Your home contains numerous elements that can help or hinder proper heating, but a good technician can usually deal with any component in the process that isn’t functioning as it should. Take for example, the duct system that carries heated air from your furnace to the various rooms of your house. Air duct problems and furnace repair go hand in hand: when issues crop up in your air ducts, they invariably affect the way your furnace functions.

Air ducts carry the heated air form your furnace, which means they can affect your air en route if there are problems. The most obvious is a breach in the duct system which allows the heated air to escape and/or cooler air to enter into the ducts. Both conditions have the same effect: lowering the temperature of the heated air and forcing your furnace to work harder to compensate.

Similar issues can arise if the ducts become dented or build-up inside them reduces the air flow. Furnaces depend on a regular flow of air to raise the temperature in your house. When a blockage in the ducts reduces the flow, the furnace must again work harder: raising monthly costs and increasing the chances of a more serious breakdown in the future.

In addition, the environment around the ducts can cause problems. Say, for example, that a stretch of ducts lies in the crawlspace next to an outside wall. The cold surrounding air will cool the sides of the ducts, which will in turn cool the air inside. You can alleviate this problem by adding more insulation to the crawlspace, or by insulating the ducts directly.

Reliable heating repair services like Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. can help with these issues. Call us today to set up an appointment!

Tags: Arlington, Furnace Repair, Heating
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Repair or Replace Your Existing Heating System

Tuesday, January 21st, 2014

Heating systems are designed to be run for many years, but sooner or later, you need to face the reality that a new system is necessary. You will have to decide whether you should repair or replace your existing heating system. It’s typically a case by case situation and you’ll need to decide for yourself it it’s worth it to repair a given system or simply install a new one. If you need any help with furnace repair in Arlington, VA, give Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. a call.

That decision usually boils down to money, and how much you’ve spent on your existing heating system. If repair bills keep piling up and/or you’re dealing with a major cost to a given repair, you might prefer to consider a new system rather than sending good money after bad. Similarly, a furnace that has suffered from overall wear and tear might be due for a replacement, even if you don’t have any specific repairs. An inefficient heater with a lot of worn parts will use a lot more energy than it should to keep your home comfortable. As the months go by, those extra costs will add up until a newer, more efficient heater is really the only viable option.

Those issues can be compounded by the age of the system. In and of itself, an old heater doesn’t necessarily merit any replacement. If it’s functioning properly and you’ve kept it well maintained over the years, it can last well beyond its normal expiration date. On the other hand, if your heater is more than ten years old and you have to repair it a lot, or if it’s using more energy from month to month than it should, then its advanced age may be the final factor in deciding to install a new unit.

When asking whether to repair or replace your existing heating system, you can count on the experts at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. for advice. We handle furnace repair in Arlington, VA and we can help determine if your old unit is worth save or if a new one might be best. Give us a call to set up a consultation today. You’ll be glad that you did!

Tags: Arlington, Furnace Repair, Heating
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Washington DC Furnace Tip: What to Do if Your Furnace Breaks Down

Monday, February 25th, 2013

Don’t leave your Washington DC home without heat this year. If you have a problem, call for emergency repair service from Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating to get your furnace back up and running. We are also available to discuss furnace replacement options with homeowners, in order to help them understand the cost-benefits to a new, energy-efficient unit. For more information, call us today.

If your furnace breaks down, call a pro. Furnaces are complex machines designed to be handled by trained technicians. Attempting to repair it yourself can be dangerous and may only increase the damage. Here are some common problems that can cause a furnace to break down:

No power- Your furnace requires electricity to function. The system may have blown a fuse or tripped a circuit.
Thermostat malfunction- Ensure that your thermostat is properly tuned to a warm temperature, but if it’s not responsive, it can sometimes indicate a problem with your thermostat calibration.
Motor problem- The motor that powers your blower components may have worn out, or needs to be reset.
Pilot light out- If your furnace is not igniting, your pilot light might be out. It is the small flame that allows the gas to ignite. You may have automatic electric ignition instead of a pilot, however, which requires its own diagnosis.
Thermocouple fault- The thermocouple is an electronic device that senses the heat around your pilot light. If it senses that the air is too cold, it determines that your pilot is shut off and shuts off the supply valve. This is a safety measure, designed to protect you.

Whatever the reason for furnace breakdown, call in a heating professional. You should also make sure to enroll in maintenance plan for your new or repaired furnace. Not only will it give you the peace of mind of professional care, but it may also save you significant money on repairs in Washington DC. Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating is available for emergency and routine furnace repair services. Call us today!

Tags: Furnace Repair, Heating, Heating Repair, Washington DC
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Washington DC Furnace Repair Question: Why Is My Furnace So Noisy?

Monday, January 21st, 2013

If you have a furnace in Washington DC, you’re likely enjoying the comfortable and efficient heat that it delivers to your home. During its normal operation, your furnace will make sounds as it moves the warm air throughout your home. However, if you start to notice new and strange noises coming from your furnace, you should probably call a professional heating contractor. Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating provides fast and reliable furnace repair in Washington DC. We thought it would be beneficial to our customers if we put together some of the most common furnaces noises and what they mean.

Common Furnace Noises You Should Watch For in Washington DC

Here are some of the most common furnaces noises in Washington DC that indicate there is a problem with your furnace.

Rattling – This is one of the most important noises to watch out for because it can indicate that your heat exchanger is cracked. The heat exchanger in your furnace does two things: first, it heats up the air that gets pushed into your home. Second, it exhausts the dangerous combustion gases produced by burning fuel. If there is a crack in your heat exchanger, carbon monoxide might be entering your air supply.
Short cycling – If you notice that your furnace turns on and off frequently, it could be short cycling. This is not only highly inefficient, it also causes lots of wear and tear on your furnace. This usually indicates that your furnace is too big for your home.
Rumbling – This can sometimes because by the ducts in your rafters expanding to allow the new heated air through. But it can also be caused by a dirty burner or an improperly adjusted pilot light. You should probably have a heating technician come out and inspect your furnace.
Squealing – If your furnace is making a high-pitched whine or squeal, this is almost always caused by the fan belt, the fan shaft or the fan’s bearings. To fix this, you’ll likely need to have a heating professional replace the belt and lubricate the bearings.

If you need any kind of furnace repairs in Washington DC, call Polar Bear today. We have highly trained heating technicians that can handle any kind of furnace repair.

Tags: Furnace Repair, Heating, Heating Repair, Washington DC
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