Special Lennox Heating & Cooling Offers from Abel Onsite!

Save on heating and air conditioning services and installations with these specials from Minneapolis HVAC experts, Abel Onsite!

Like money? Then save it this year with these deals from Lennox:

• Receive up to $1,200 when you purchase a qualifying Lennox Home Comfort System that includes:
• Air conditioner or heat pump
• Gas or oil furnace
• Thermostat
• Choice of air cleaner or other indoor air quality system
• Receive a $200 rebate when you buy four solar modules
• Receive up to $500 in federal tax credits
• Get up to $1,900 in savings on high efficiency products!

To learn more about these and other great deals, visit www.AbelOnsite.com today!

The 3 Types of Solar Heating for Your Home

Are you looking for a way to lower your energy costs that is both efficient and environmentally friendly? With the rising cost of gas or electric heat, you may be looking for an effective alternative. Fortunately, there are several choices available, one of which is the use of solar energy.

Today there are 3 types of thermal solar collectors-low temperature, medium, temperature and high temperature. And while the names may not be all that original and the concept of solar heating is not brand new, there is still much to be gained by opting to use solar energy. The use of solar energy works on the principal that what is gotten out of a solar collector is the difference between what went into the collector and what the collector lost to its outside environment. What is left is used for heating.

Low Temperature Solar Collectors

A low temperature solar collector typically loses nothing to the outside air as it works below the outside air temperature. An example of is a solar swimming pool which is heated by hanging a black plastic mat out in the sun, run pool water through it and Viola! Your pool water is warmed. In this scenario, the black plastic will receive approximately 95% of the solar energy and the efficiency drops significantly. This principle can applied to heating the water in your home, by having metal panels that are filled with water built or installed to the outside structure of your home. The water travels through these panels to your home's plumbing system. You can even have built water filtration added to the system so you can enjoy cleaner, healthier water as well.

Medium Temperature Solar Collectors

This is actually the most commonly recommended form of solar energy for residential use. It works by trapping the sun's energy in an insulated box, typically located on the roof of a building. As outside temperature rise the collectors retain the energy in boxes made of aluminum, copper, foil and low iron tempered glass. Traditionally, as the sun hits the shingles in a non-solar heated home the heat passes through, get absorbed or is reflected. The solar boxes, however, collect this heat and store it as energy to be released as needed into your home. In fact, sometime, there is so much energy collected, that your meters will actually turn backwards meaning that you are creating far more energy than you are actually using.

High Temperature Solar Collectors

Ironically, the high temperature solar collector is not seen as the most efficient as it requires thicker insulation, more cover sheets, or forcing more air from the collector. In fact, of the 3 types of solar collectors it only has a collector efficiency rate of 50% as compared to the 75% of the medium and low.

It should also be noted that studies show that solar energy materials will pay for themselves in 2-3 years and have a life expectancy of 20-30 years.

For additional information on the topic of heating and air visit Abel Onsite.

Article independently authored by Janet M. Slagell. The content herein may or may not frelect the views and opinions of Abel Onsite. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Geothermal FAQ's - Could a System be Right for You?

As our population grows and the earth's resources are strained like never before, many people have questions about geothermal systems but are not sure about some very fundamental concerns. Hopefully, this brief article can open your eyes to the potential of geothermal system.

How does geothermal work?

The basic principle is that a geothermal heat pump extracts heat from the earth during the winter and pipes into your home. This processed is reversed during the summer. The heat pump pulls the heat from your house and pumps it into the earth. This process is similar to your refrigerator. If you reach behind it you will feel a lot of heat. This heat has been removed from inside the refrigerator and pumped to the outside air.

The heart of a geothermal unit is the system of pipes buried underground to facilitate this heat exchange.

Are there benefits to using geothermal energy?

Yes. Geothermal energy is clean. There is no need for fossil fuels - which reduces our dependence on foreign oil. It is also a renewable resource like solar or wind.

Plus, it is a very cool conversation piece for visitors!

Am I in an area where geothermal can be used?

Unless you live in a very odd environment like the arctic, then you are almost certainly in area where a geothermal heat pump can be unitized productively. That said, there may be local consideration that prevent the installation. An installer would have to evaluate your specific site.

How long does a geothermal system last?

Geothermal heat pumps are very durable. Since the system does not have elaborate complicated parts and is based on a simple principle, your system should last many, many decades.

Would my geothermal system be loud?

Fortunately geothermal systems are very quiet unlike a standard HVAC system.

Will I save money using geothermal?

Yes! It is not uncommon to have heating bills cut by 20% - 50%. However, you will need to remain in your home for several years to recoup the installation costs in annual savings. If you plan on moving soon, a geothermal unit is probably does not make sense from an economic prospective. In general, it will take five to ten years to recoup the installation cost.

There is much more to a geothermal system but these answers should help you get started thinking about whether a system is right for you. The environment might just say "Thank You!"

For additional information on the topic of geothermal heat pumps visit Abel Onsite at http://www.AbelOnsite.com

What is the Best Type of Furnace For Your Home?

From geothermal heating to gas furnaces and electric heaters to wood burning stoves there are many different ways people choose to heat their home. Of course, this warmth does not come cheap. Whether you use natural gas, electric heat or an alternate heat source, heating bills in the winter typically supersede the cost of keeping cool.

So, how can you determine what the best form of heating is? Here are a few considerations to help you before you make a final decision.


Source- If you are building a new home the heating options are more varied as you can go with whatever method will be best for you. However, for existing homes, it may necessary to stay with the type of heat already in use and just change the size and efficiency of the model. For new homes, many homeowners are choosing to use alternative heating methods such as solar heating, absorption heating or geothermal heat pumps.
Cost- Typically fuel is measured in physical units such as gallons or watts with the most common measurement being the Btu (British thermal unit). A Btu is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water 1o F. Currently, the most inexpensive forms of heating are (from lowest to highest)-seasoned firewood, propane, natural gas and electric heating.
Environmental concerns- In this "Going green" society, many are choosing to use firewood, propane, natural gas or solar heating as it is far more earth-friendly than electric heat since it does not require coal to be burned in order to be used.
Efficiency and Size- A furnace that is too big for a space will cycle off and on more than necessary using more heat and energy and adding higher costs to the bill. When you are deciding on a furnace, be sure to know the dimensions of the space to be heated so that you can select a heat source that will keep the space warm without straining the system and costing you too much money. To ensure the best possible furnace, be sure to look for an Energy Star certified heater.
Talk to a certified HVAC technician or a contractor who is a member of the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) group. They will be able to tell you what type of heating unit and fuel will be best for you home. You may also want to talk to friends and neighbors to get their insight.
If you are still uncertain what type of fuel and furnace will be best and whether or not the investment will actually pay off, use this formula to determine the Return on Investment (ROI): Take your first year savings (or potential savings) and divide them by the cost of installation. The answer will give you an idea of how long it will take you to pay back your savings with your new furnace.

For further information on furnaces for you home, please visit www.abelonsite.com today.

Article independently authored by Janet M Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Abel Onsite Heating and Cooling.

Install Radiant Floor Heating for Increased Comfort & Cost Savings

One of life's little nasty surprises is stepping out of the shower onto a chilly floor. Fortunately, you don't have to tolerate this discomfort any longer. With a radiant floor system, you can enjoy toasty warm floors - and many other advantages as well.

Radiant floor heating is a method of keeping a room or house warm by installing the heating elements under your flooring. The systems can be either electric or hydronic. Hydronic systems have been around for many years but are quite involved to install and, generally, not a good do-it-yourself project. They require lots of tubing, water heaters, pumps and other devices. On the whole, hyrdonic systems are best for heating very large areas.

For areas ranging from 300 square feet up to about 3,000 square feet, the low voltage radiant heat system works well. It is composed of 12" wide mesh installed on the sub-floor with the final floor covering installed on top of the mesh. Installation is made easy as the mesh can be nailed through without harming it. Spaces under 300 square feet can be heated with a line voltage system. Such systems are commonly used in kitchens and bathrooms. Rather than mesh, the system utilizes heating cables that are laid out on the sub-floor with the final flooring installed on top. Both of these systems can be installed under carpet, wood, tile, stone or marble. Once installed, both systems should be maintenance free as there are no moving parts or filters to change.

Radiant systems have two major advantages over forced air that make them appealing. The first advantage is cost savings as a result of greater efficiency. With a standard furnace, the air is heated remotely and then pushed to its final location The energy required to push the air adds dollars to your utility bill but does not nothing to heat your house. Further, some of the heat in the warmed air will be lost during transit through your duct work. With a radiant system, a much greater percentage of the expended energy is used to warm the room since heat is being generated where it is needed. This is much more efficient and easier on your utility bill. In fact, many people have reported savings of more than 30%.

The second advantage over a forced air system is comfort. Since the heat is emitted uniformly across the entire floor, cool spots are eliminated. With forced air, the heat enters the room at one or two locations and must then diffuse into the remaining portions of the room. As result, some parts of the room will be warmer than others. In a radiant system, the heat is dispersed evenly providing a more constant and uniform temperature.

The cost to install a radiant system can vary significantly depending on your specific situation. However, $4 to $10 per foot installed is typical with a standard bathroom being under $1,000. On any job, economy of scale will work in your favor meaning that the cost per square foot will go down as the area to be heated goes up.

No matter what your job size, you should solicit at least two estimates from contractors and ask for references. As in any trade, contractor quality can vary greatly so ask lots of questions before hiring somebody. Hopefully, you can now make a more informed decision and be able to retire your fuzzy, bunny slippers. With a radiant floor system, you just won't need them anymore.

For more information and guidance about radiant heat flooring, visit http://www.abelonsite.com. Abel Onsite, located outside Minneapolis, MN, specializes in solar heating, geothermal, HVAC and air conditioning systems.

Posted by WebDrafter.com, Inc. with permission.
Article independently authored by Eric Parish. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Abel Onsite.