Rio Washingtonian Center: Harvey Hottel, Inc. recently completed the replacement of a 1000 ton cooling tower on the roof of the parking garage at the Rio Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, MD.
Rockville Cooling Tower: Harvey Hottel, Inc. based in Gaithersburg, Md. one of the Washington DC area's largest HVAC companies just finished the installation of a new cooling tower...
Winchester Welcome Center: Environmentally friendly Geothermal Heating and Cooling system on the brand new Winchester Safety Rest Area & Welcome Center off Route 81 in Winchester, Virginia.

Featured Services

LEED Certified Green Building Designs: Eventually, green buildings and construction plans will be the industry standard. The team at Harvey W. Hottel refuses to skip a beat. We are the Premier LEED Certified Green Building contractor...
Tailored Maintenance Solutions: We recognize that everyone's requirements are not the same so beyond our standard service agreements we offer agreements "tailored specifically to your needs and requirements".

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We are a proud member and support the following Associations and Business Groups:

Associations & Affiliations

Geoexchange Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium: www.geoexchange.org
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association: www.igshpa.okstate.edu/index.htm
Radiant Panel Association: www.radiantpanelassociation.org
Association of Energy Engineers: www.aeecenter.org
Air Conditioning Contractors of America: www.acca.org
Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.: www.abc.org
Better Business Bureau: www.dc-easternpa.bbb.org
Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce: www.ggchamber.org
Salvation Army — Montgomery County, MD: www.montgomery.salarmydc.org
Virginia Department of Transportation: www.virginiadot.org

Suppliers & Manufacturers

Trane Commercial and Residential Air Solutions: www.trane.com
Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems: www.bryant.com
FHP Manufacturing: www.fhp-mfg.com
Water Furnace Geothermal Comfort Systems: www.waterfurnace.com
Tekmar Control Systems: www.tekmarcontrols.com
Lennox: www.lennox.com
Honeywell: www.honeywell.com
KMC Controls: www.kmccontrols.com
ECR Technologies: www.earthlinked.com
Earthlinked Technologies (ECR): www.earthlinked.com
HI Solutions: hisolutions.net

Home Builders

Horizon Builders: www.horizonbuildersinc.net

Local Government and School System

Fairfax County Public Schools: www.fcps.edu
Prince William County Historical Preservation: www.pwconserve.org
City of Gaithersburg, MD: www.gaithersburgmd.gov
City of Falls Church VA: www.fallschurchva.gov
Prince Georges County
Montgomery College: www.montgomerycollege.edu
Maryland Environmental Service: www.menv.com

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What to Do If Your Air Conditioning “Freezes”

Whether you live in Laurel, Maryland, McLean, Virginia or someplace in between, one thing is certain: Summer in the Washington, DC-Maryland-Northern Virginia-area can reach scorching highs. Oddly enough, while the temperature is rising, it's actually possible for your air conditioning unit to literally freeze in the summer heat. How is this possible? We've found several common problems can cause air conditioner freeze-ups:

Insufficient Air Flow: Anything that restricts air flow will cause the temperature of the system's evaporator coil to drop below freezing. Humidity in the air will collect on the coil causing ice to build-up and diminish the system's cooling capacity. Dirty air filters; collapsed, obstructed and undersized ducts; damaged blower motors; dirt build-up on the evaporator coil — all can seriously impede air flow.
Problems with the System's Refrigeration. Refrigerant leaks or low levels of refrigerant can cause pressure drops in the air conditioner's evaporator coil, which will allow moisture in the air to freeze and accumulate on the coil.
Outdoor Temperature: Most outdoor air conditioning units do not function well in temperatures below 60 degrees F. If night-time temperatures are too low, the system will not operate properly and freeze-ups can occur.

The buildup of ice and frost is a sure sign that your air conditioner is not operating properly. If you notice a decline in your system's cooling capacity, ice build-up should be the first thing you suspect. Air conditioner freeze-ups should be addressed immediately; continued ice accumulation can cause permanent damage to your unit.

The first thing you should do once you notice your air conditioner is frozen is to turn it off and let it defrost completely. Once it has defrosted, check the airflow. Clean or replace dirty filters or remove any visible dirt or obstructions; in some cases, this could be all that is needed.

More serious airflow and refrigeration problems require professional intervention. Schedule a service call with Harvey W. Hottell, Inc. We have all the tools necessary to troubleshoot serious air flow problems and repair refrigerant leaks.

If your icing problem is due to drops in the outdoor air temperature, be sure to turn your air conditioner off when the mercury takes a drop. You should also consider installing a special ambient temperature control that will allow the unit to run properly in cooler temperatures. For more information or to schedule a maintenance visit, contact us today.

Serving Maryland and Northern Virginia including: Montgomery County, MD. Fairfax County, VA. Silver Spring, MD. Vienna, VA. Wheaton, MD. Fairfax, VA. Rockville, MD. Chantilly, VA. Great Falls, VA. Bowie, MD. Herndon, VA. Glenn Burnie, MD. Sterling, VA. Reston, VA. Falls Church, VA. Centreville, VA. Laurel, MD. Chevy Chase, MD. Kensington, MD. Columbia, MD. McLean, VA. Bethesda, MD. Arlington, VA. Silver Spring, MD. Reston, VA. Gaithersburg, MD. Alexandria, VA. Germantown, MD.