How Cool Can an AC Make My House?

July 11th, 2022
ice-caps

You know your air conditioning system has limits. It can’t make your house as cold as the inside of the freezer in your refrigerator, after all. But when you look at the thermostat for your home, you might wonder if the AC could potentially go lower than the lowest setting on the thermostat. Most thermostats have a temperature setting low of 60–63°F, which is colder than most people want their homes to be. But theoretically, how cool can your central air conditioner make your home?

This is much more than a theoretical question! Understanding the limits on your AC’s cooling can help you know why air conditioning system sizing is so important and how air conditioners operate.

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Why We Recommend Regular Duct Cleaning

June 27th, 2022
duct-cleaning-before-after

People often think that duct cleaning isn’t something they need to have done regularly for their home—if it needs to be done at all. Because ducts remain mostly out of sight, it’s hard to tell just how dirty they can get, and this is why so many homeowners don’t even think about scheduling duct cleaning in Fairfax, VA.

But duct cleaning is an immensely beneficial service. You probably don’t need it done every year, but we recommend a schedule of every three to five years. If you’ve lived in your current home for five years or more, then we strongly recommend you call us up soon to have the job done. We provide thorough duct cleaning that will provide multiple benefits to your home. We’ve listed the reasons we recommend regular duct cleaning below.

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Congratulations to the HVAC 101 Graduating Class June 9, 2022!

June 17th, 2022

Front Row Left to right: Denis Cerna (Rockville location), Anthony Arevalo (Gaithersburg location), Luis Bermudez (Gaithersburg location), Eric Rindfleisch (Sterling location)

Back Row Left to right: Nicholas Hayden (Annapolis location), Adam Terrazas (Fairfax location), Peter Campos (Fairfax location)

Congratulations to our newest B&B Institute of Advanced Heat Pump Technology Graduates from HVAC 101 on June 8, 2022! Onwards and upwards, we are so proud of your achievements!

Special Note From Their Instructor

It is with great honor and pleasure to announce this year’s B&B Institute HVAC 101 graduates.  Please give them all a big hand for their diligent work and study. I am so proud of all my students and their accomplishments over this last year. I am sure when they complete all of their upcoming studies at the B&B Institute of Advanced Heat Pump Technology that they will be some of the best HVAC Technicians in this Industry!  Congratulations to all, keep up the great work!

Harold Villavicencio

Vice-President/General Manager

B&B Institute Instructor

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The Trouble With AC Refrigerant Leaks

June 13th, 2022
air-conditioner-evaporator-coil

If you take good care of your home’s central air conditioner and regularly schedule maintenance for it, it should work with few problems for most of its service life. Repair problems can still crop up, however, and one we advise you to look out for is leaking refrigerant. This is a common issue with AC systems and also one of the most damaging. 

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AC Short-Cycling: What It Is, Why It’s Bad

May 16th, 2022
AC-grill

An air conditioning system can run into several different types of malfunctions over its service life. One of the more common is called short-cycling, which is both a symptom and an underlying problem. If an AC begins to turn on and off rapidly over a short period of time (four times or more during an hour), then it’s short-cycling. If you notice this occurring with your air conditioner, please don’t shrug it off or hope it gets better. This is a major malfunction that can warn of several significant underlying problems that require professional air conditioning service in Damascus, MD.

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Why Is My AC Leaking Water?

May 2nd, 2022
water-droplets

If you know the basics of how central air conditioning systems work, then you understand that an AC doesn’t use water to cool the air. The AC in your house cools down the air using refrigerant, which absorbs heat along the indoor evaporator coil, then releases that heat outside through the outdoor condenser coil. 

However, water is a part of the way your AC works, and it isn’t surprising to discover water leaking from the indoor unit. It’s not something you want to see happen, however! We’ll explain how water leaks can occur in an air conditioner so you’ll know when to call our technicians for air conditioning service in Clarksburg, MD.

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The Basics You Need to Know About AC Efficiency Ratings

April 18th, 2022
energy-star

This may be the spring when you have your old, inefficient, and unreliable air conditioning system sent to the recycling yard and a new one put in its place. We encourage making this change, and our technicians are the trustworthy experts who can see you get the best new system with the best possible installation.

One important consideration when you’re looking for a new AC is its efficiency ratings. These ratings give you an idea of how well an air conditioning system converts electrical power into cooling power. The efficiency of air conditioners is continually advancing, so even making the switch to a mid-efficiency AC will likely improve over your current one. Below we’re going to go over the basics of these efficiency ratings: what they mean and how to use them.

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Early Signs of Trouble with Your Air Conditioner

April 4th, 2022
air-conditioner-with-dirty-coils

Owning an air conditioner is a great way to keep your home cool during the warmer months. Nevertheless, this only remains true as long as the unit stays in good working order. While most air conditioning units are fully functional upon arrival, without the proper maintenance they become less functional over time. Therefore, learning the early signs of trouble with your air conditioner can be one of the best ways to protect your unit for the long term. With that in mind, the following is an overview of the early signs of trouble with your air conditioner.

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It’s Time to Start Thinking About an AC Tune-Up

March 21st, 2022
tulips-in-spring

With the warmer seasons right around the corner, taking time to complete your spring-cleaning tasks is vital. Indeed, spring cleaning is beneficial because it can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, as well as the risk of injury and more. Moreover, it is essential to clean around your home and clean and maintain your appliances as well.

With all this spring cleaning in mind, the following is a list of the benefits of getting your air conditioner tuned up this spring.

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Is It Worth Repairing That Old Furnace?

March 7th, 2022
furnace-testing

One of the most challenging aspects of being a homeowner is deciding when to repair appliances and equipment and when they need to be replaced. Indeed, while no one wants to deal with a piece of multifunctional equipment, replacing equipment prematurely can be a waste of money. For instance, furnaces are a necessary part of any functional home. However, since they can last for decades, it can be difficult to determine when to repair them and when it’s time to replace them. With that in mind, here is a closer look at how to tell if an older furnace is worth replacing.

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