Arctic Sun has been providing Ashburn, Gainesville, and the surrounding areas with expert heating and AC services for over 23 years. From AC Repair to Air Conditioner Installation, we do it all.

The short answer is no! We never recommend covering an outdoor unit. There are many different covers out there for purchase if you want to avoid leaves and debris inside the AC unit but the second the unit is turned on, you risk severe damage. If someone were to accidentally turn the system on while the cover is in place, not only could it cause the outdoor fan to fail, but could even cause AC compressor damage. With regular maintenance your air conditioner should operate perfectly fine without a cover. For more information on winter AC prep in Gainesville, borrow our technician's ear on your next tune-up.

You'd be amazed how many HVAC problems are caused by someone forgetting to change their air filter. At the same time, giving advice on this is hard without knowing your individual home/situation. This answer can be different depending on a lot of variables like, how many people live in the home? Is your home near construction? Do you have pets in the home? All of these, and more, can play in to how often your filter should be changed. Our standard answer to this question is, if you use a 1-inch disposable filter, replace it monthly. Even most 90-day filters do not last a true 90 days so we suggest changing those out every two months. If you would like a personalized air quality recommendation, just ask our HVAC technician on your next maintenance visit.

In the Gainesville and Ashburn area we recommend having your HVAC equipment serviced every Spring and every Fall. This ensures your furnace and AC system are ready to ran through the wringer.

Heating and cooling your home is the biggest contributor to most electric bills. Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep the prices down. These include:

• Keeping doors and windows closed
• Making sure your filters are clean
• Sealing leaks in your ducts and outer openings
• Making sure your coils are clean
• Making sure the blower motor is clean
• Setting your thermostat at a reasonable temperature
• Making sure that your systems refrigerant is properly charged
• Scheduling annual furnace and AC maintenance

Proper system maintenance can reduce electric bills. If you think you need an HVAC tune-up in Ashburn or Bristow, give us a call.