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

Old Home Guide: How to Heat an Old Home in the 21st Century

Monday, March 18th, 2024
a-victorian-home-in-the-snow

In our area, there are many homes old enough to be considered historic. But even the average home is not new. According to recent US census data, the average home in Virginia is 38 years old. Construction methods have changed a lot, and older homes have different needs from those built in the last 20 years or so. 

How does the age of your home affect your ability to keep it warm? What can you do to heat your old home more effectively and efficiently? We’ve got some information about your options, and the benefits and drawbacks of each.

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5 Heating Concerns to Be Aware of

Monday, November 30th, 2020

It’s heating season, which means comfortable temperatures for homeowners with reliable heaters, and sleepless nights for those that don’t. Heaters always bring with them a certain amount of concerns that just aren’t there during the cooling season with air conditioners. For example, there are no air conditioners that run on natural gas, so safety isn’t really an issue that ever comes up when working out a problem. For heaters like furnaces, safety always needs to be on your mind.

That being said, HVAC in Arlington, VA doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, we’d argue that with the right professionals and a checklist that can keep you informed, you can sleep more comfortably during the winter than you do during the summer!

Let us go into specifics about some major heating concerns you should be aware of, and call us if you want some prompt solutions.

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Why Choose Us for HVAC Service?

Monday, November 2nd, 2020

While we enjoy talking about our technical expertise in the field of HVAC, we get this question too much to ignore it. If you’ve landed on this page, you’re definitely on the lookout for professional HVAC services—so let’s not beat around the bush. Why would you choose us?

Well, HVAC service in Washington, DC can be a complicated endeavor. There are lots of teams of professionals out there, each with their own selling points and prices, but what makes anyone choose the crew at Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating over others?

Don’t worry, that question wasn’t rhetorical. There are some serious bonuses and perks to choosing our team, that we’ll fill you in on down below. Just keep reading and remember that we’re a local, family-owned company in the area that’s just trying to look out for the HVAC services people need.

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Top AC Concerns in Our Climate

Monday, October 19th, 2020

You’re probably tired of people all around the country telling you how your air conditioning should work. How the heck would they know what the climate is like here in Alexandria? Our HVAC needs are a little specific, and our climate is different from that of New York up north, or Florida down south, so it’s important to remember that we need better advice.

HVAC in Alexandria, VA is different because of two factors. For starters, we see more extensive seasons here than you would in Georgia or Florida. And the second point is that we deal with a lot of humidity, which changes things as the seasons go on. Humidity and changes in temperatures can make our air conditioners work extra hard and have trouble keeping up with our lifestyles.

So, keep reading as we get into some climate-specific tips for you at home.

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Help Your Ducts and AC Work Together

Monday, September 21st, 2020

You wouldn’t believe how many homeowners we meet who think their ducts and air conditioners function completely separately. Too many people believe that if their air conditioner is brand new, no matter the shape of their ductwork, they’ll get the cooling they need throughout the summer. This is a completely untenable position.

Your ducts and your air conditioner are kind of like your veins and your heart. Together, they make the circulatory system that’s responsible for transporting blood throughout your body. On their own, they’re just organs and they can hardly function like that. Your air conditioner is the heart of cooling in regards to HVAC in Arlington, VA. Your ductwork is the network of veins that transports the cooled air throughout your home. When you are without one of these two components, your comfort an efficiency both suffer.

Let’s talk about how your ducts or air conditioner are doing.

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UV Light Purifier: How It Works

Monday, August 10th, 2020

Air purification isn’t a simple measurement. There’s a lot of air in your home and it could be thoroughly contaminated with germs. While lighting some candles and scrubbing surfaces might help a little bit, we’ve always been at a loss as to how we could safely and effectively clean our indoor air. That is—until the UV light purifier was developed.

This handy piece of equipment eradicates germs that enter your home. Since they’re mounted in your ductwork, these germicidal lights treat all the incoming air that goes through your HVAC system. As far as an air purifier in Washington, DC goes, these have to be some of the most effective ones.

Want to know exactly how they work? Well, we’d love to tell you! Keep reading as we get into the specifics of such a high-tech indoor air quality solution.

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Your New AC Needs to be the Perfect Size!

Monday, May 4th, 2020

relaxing-manSummer is just around the corner, and that means that before you know it, you’ll be licking an ice cream cone, getting your tan on, and finally perfecting that canon ball! But, before you do any of that, it is important to make sure that you’ve got an air conditioner fully equipped to keep you and your family comfortable all season long.

We understand that it might be your first instinct to buy the biggest, most powerful air conditioner. But we are here to tell you that this isn’t such a great idea. You see, when it comes to your air conditioner, size really does matter, and below, we are going to explain why. All you have to do is keep reading to find out more and remember to call us for your AC services in Washington, DC.

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How Do UV Germicidal Lights Work?

Monday, March 9th, 2020

Your indoor air quality is incredibly important to your overall wellbeing, health, and comfort, so of course, you want to make sure yours is the best it can be! Surely, you’ve heard about air filtration systems and air purifiers, but do you know about UV germicidal lights?

UV germicidal lights are great for eliminating germs and bacteria from your ductwork system so that they do not enter your living space. In fact, there are plenty of reasons to consider installing one of these systems in your home, and below, we’ve explained why. All you have to do is keep reading to find out more, and of course, remember to call our team when you need a reputable HVAC company in Alexandria. 

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Beware These Late Season AC Repairs!

Monday, September 9th, 2019

AC-outdoor-unitUnfortunately, the end of summer is nearing, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have plenty of things to look forward to! We’ve got apples for picking, pumpkins for carving, and plenty of leaves to jump in!

Yes, fall is definitely coming, but that does not mean you can quit on your air conditioner just yet. You see, there are a number of late-season repairs that we think you should be aware of (because trust us, you definitely don’t want to wait until next spring to deal with them!) So, what are you waiting for? Keep reading below to find out more!

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Is Your Heater in Trouble Already?

Monday, November 5th, 2018

dog-under-blanketWhen it is cold outside and your heater is not functioning properly, it can be difficult to find the silver lining to that cloud. This is especially true when winter is just getting going and your heater is not working the way it should be. The truth is this is sort of for the best, though. It’s not getting any warmer any time soon, so you may as well find out now that your heater is not in the great shape necessary to get you through the winter season.

When your heater exhibits any signs of trouble, even early in the season, it is time for prompt HVAC services in Alexandria, VA. The last thing you want to do is to continue running your heater despite the fact that it is not in great working condition. Doing so will only make matters worse, putting your comfort and even your safety (!) in jeopardy. Here are some signs it’s time to call in the pros.

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