Five Reasons to Install a Solar Array

With all the talk of alternative energy on the news lately, you might begin to wonder how you can be a part of it. There are many ways to become involved from hybrid cars to geothermal heat and cooling. One of the best ways, however, is solar. In fact, here are five excellent reasons for installing solar panels on your home.

1) Save Money - Electricity rates have been going up for quite some time now and they are not expected to reverse this trend. In fact, some experts believe that electricity rates could skyrocket over the next few years. With solar, you insulate yourself from these problems. Once you install a complete system you never have to pay an electric bill again. That is a great feeling. Even if you install a system that only supports a portion of your needs, you are cutting down your electric bill each month.

2) Power Outages Don't Happen - If you have ever lived through a multi-day power outage you know how very inconvenient this is to put it mildly. With a complete solar array, you will always have power even if you neighbors don't (depending on how you have your array configured). You cut your dependency to the power company. In fact, this can feel liberating which might be yet another reason for solar!

3) Increase Your Home's Value - Solar is a very desirable item in the real estate market. Of course, if you intend to move very soon installing a solar system does not make sense. However, if you are going to spend many years in your home and ultimately desire to sell, it can increase your selling price. A 1998 study by ICF Consulting found that a solar system that saves $1,000 per year on electric bills increases the home's value by $20,000.

4) Protect the Environment - Solar power is renewable and does depend on fossil fuels. For this reason, solar is a clean technology. By investing in a solar array you are helping to make the earth a cleaner place.

5) Technology is Cool - This isn't an oft cited benefit but it is a reality. A solar array is a great conversation starter as people have a interest in it. Plus, if you have children or grandchildren it is a great live science experiment. Teaching about the various aspects of the system can lead into many interesting and educational conversations. By talking to people and your children you are helping to spread the word about solar power and helping the earth and others in the process!

Of course, solar power is a complicated subject with many aspects to consider. Take the first step and call an installer to see what if would take to install a small, starter solar system. Your pocketbook and the earth will be glad you did!

For additional information on the topic of solar power visit Abel Onsite. Article independently authored by Eric Parish. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Abel Onsite. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Controlling Your Home's Humidity Level

While the South is well known for its high humidity -especially during the summer-it s not the only region of the U.S. where people have to deal with high humidity levels. For instance, when people in Colorado refer to the "dry cold" of the winter's mountain air they are talking about the humidity just as Miami's muggy, sticky heat is a result of humidity. Since humidity is no respecter of regions, it is often necessary to take control of the humidity level within your home.

The EPA recommends that the indoor humidity level be no more than 30-50% relativity humidity. This relative humidity is the amount of water vapor the air contains compared to the maximum amount it can hold at any given temperature. Consequently, if your indoor humidity level is too high, it should be controlled in one of two ways: by lowering the humidity level with a properly sized air conditioning system or by having a humidifier (or in some cases a dehumidifier) installed.

To effectively keep your home's humidity level comfortable by using an air conditioner, it is of utmost importance to have an AC unit that is the proper size for the amount of space to be maintained. If it is too big it will turn on and off too often and result in there being too much moisture in the air. Of course, during the winter months, when heaters are in use, the same rule applies. If your heater is too big, it will dry out the air so rather than having cold "clammy" air, it is dry and can often make breathing difficult.

How to Tell If You Need a Dehumidifier

If you are not sure whether or not you need a home dehumidifier, there are several signs that you can judge by:

• Wet stains on walls and ceilings
• Stuffy feeling in a room
• Rotting wood
• Condensation on windows
• Musty smells
• Allergies due to the air in your home being too moist which will encourage the growth of bacteria and mold

Additional Ways to Control Your Home's Humidity Levels

If you already have a dehumidifier but your home's air still has too much humidity for your liking, or are perhaps trying to put off the inevitable, there are several steps you can take to reduce the humidity level in your home. These include:

• Improving the drainage around your home's foundation by making sure that gutter downspouts put water away from the foundation; keeping gutters and downspouts clean and open; making sure that the soil slopes away from your home so that water does not pool around your home and by not overwatering plants near the foundation.
• Making sure that your clothes dryer is properly vented; not only will this improve the humidity level, but your clothes will drive faster.
• Using vent fans in the bathroom and kitchen to remove humidity where it starts.
• Repairing leaking faucets, this will save on your water bill and lower humidity!

For additional information on the topic of humidity and dehumidifiers visit Abel Onsite. Article independently authored by Janet M. Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Abel Onsite. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

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.

How to Save on Your Utility Bills

With these tight economic times, everybody is looking for ways to save money. Your utility bills are an area where you can realize substantial savings with a little thought and effort.

The first area is with your lights in general. Switching all of them to compact fluorescent lamps (CFL's) can add up to significant savings over time. CFLs us up to 75% less energy than a typical incandescent bulb and can last up to ten times longer. The draw back is the up front cost which can be many times the cost of an incandescent. With CFLs you must be prepared to recoup your cost over a few years.

Next, is your water heater. By wrapping it with a hot water heater jacket you can reduce the amount of heat that escapes to the outside air. The jackets are inexpensive at less than $20. The energy savings you realize will depend on the type and size of water heater you have.

Also, you might consider installing an on-demand water heater. These devices only heat as much water as is needed at a particular moment. If hot water is not needed, none is heated. This contrasts to the standard water heater which keeps water at the desired temperature constantly regardless if it is needed at the moment or not. This means the heater must reheat the water over and over as it cools. Imagine how much wasted energy there is while you are work or on vacation! Again, an on-demand system is one in which you will realize savings over time since there is an upfront cost to install it.

The final area where large savings can be realized is with heating and cooling your home. The average home consumes most of its energy maintaining a comfortable temperature - upwards of 40%, in fact. By installing a programmable thermostat you can save up to 30% on your utility bills. These thermostats can be programmed to different temperatures depending on your schedule. For instance, if you leave for work at a certain time, the thermostat can be set to a lower temperature during the winter while you are gone. Instead of maintaining the house at 72 degrees it might maintain it at 60 degrees. Further, it an be set to warm the house back up to 72 degrees thirty minutes or an hour before you arrive home at the end of the day. In this fashion, you are never in an uncomfortable cold house and you save money!

Finally, you might want to consider replacing your air conditioner and furnace if you have old systems. New systems are so much more energy efficient that, coupled with rebates and government incentives, you can start saving a tremendous amount on your utility bills can recoup the install cost in about three years. The difference in energy usage for a new versus and old system can be quite astounding. Call your local HVAC installer to learn more about the specifics.

Hopefully, this article has given you some actionable ideas to help make things a little easier on your wallet!

For additional information on the topic of heating and cooling systems Abel Onsite.

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

What Are the 3 Types of Dehumidifiers?

Hot and sultry, muggy and sticky, there's nothing worse in the summer time than the heaviness of the humidity. In fact, for some states it's so bad, that you are drenched in moisture just to take a walk to mailbox at the end of your short driveway. And, when that humidity makes its way indoors, the days and nights can seem virtually unbearable. Fortunately, there is a solution. Invented by Willis Haviland Carrier in 1902, dehumidifiers soon became the ideal way to cool one's home. Over the years the dehumidifier as evolved and today there are 3 main types of dehumidifiers.

All humidifiers work on the same basic principles, though each one varies somewhat based on the type. Like an air conditioner, the dehumidifier uses refrigerant. However, it does not cool the air...it actually warms it slightly which decreases the humidity thus making the room more comfortable. This is done by a fan, hot and cold condenser coils and a water reservoir.

The heat pump dehumidifier is used to pull out water form a building by using a heat pump which works much like an air conditioner pump. A fan is used to move the air across a frigid coil causing the moisture to condense. Then the droplets are collected in a bucket inside the unit. The air is then warmed by a second coil and then released back into the room at a comfortable temperature. The heat pump dehumidifier is considered the best one available.

In large industries, especially those in warmer climates, the most common type is a chemical absorbent dehumidifier. This type uses a chemical drying agent that works with a heat exchange wheel to absorb the water molecules from the air. The process pulls the damp air outside through the vents.

The third type of unit is the dehumidifying ventilator. These work with a sensor controller and an exhaust fan. These are less effective in climates where the humidity is especially high because the ventilators draw outside air into the house. Rather, the dehumidifying ventilator works great in basements but you must pay close attention to how it is working as it can depressurize a room and can cause gas spills...just be sure that if you have a gas furnace that it is properly vented and you will fine.

If you already have a dehumidifier, but it does not seen to be working correctly, there are a few things you can do. First you will want to make sure that it is the right size unit for the space it is cooling; then after you have turned the unit off, check the following:

• Remove the cover clean the condenser and the evaporator coils.
• Lubricate the fan motor bearings, if the motor has oil ports.
• Make sure the humidistat is working properly by testing it with a volt-ohm. Rotate the humidistat's knob as far as it will turn in either direction. If it reads 0 throughout the process then it is time to replace the unit.

For additional information on the topic of heating and air conditioning visit http://www.abelonsite.com.

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

Pumbing, Heating and Cooling Systems / How Can You Make the Most of Your Home Comfort Systems?

Just as you would not expect your car to run smoothly without having frequent oil changes, tune ups or making sure that there is gas in the tank, you need to make sure that your heating, cooling and plumbing systems are in working order. As Anthony Shaker of UNICCO in Newton, Massachusetts says, "...A solid program of preventative maintenance is absolutely paramount. The better something is maintained the more likely you're going to get the appropriate life-cycle from the equipment."

Heating

• Before the weather actually turn cold, take a few minutes to see if any warm air blows through the vents when the system is turned on.

• Be sure to change the air filters, dirty filter prevent the furnace from working properly and will also result in poor indoor air quality.

• If you have natural gas for your heating system, check t see that the pilot is lit. The flame should be blue, if it is yellow or orange you will need to contact a HVAC professional as this can be the sign of a problem.

• Make sure that there is nothing blocking the vents or filters so that the heat can get into the areas in which it is needed.

Central Air

• If properly maintained, an air conditioning system can least as long as 15 years, so taking the few minutes necessary to check your AC system can ultimately save you time and money.

• Have your duct work checked and cleaned at least once every 3-4 years so that not only will the system work better, but your air will be cleaner.

• Clean off the outside air compressor with water, this is easily done using your garden hose.

• Keep all things away from the compressor so that it has a free flow of air

• Change the filter every 4-6 weeks, or as recommended by your user's manual.

Plumbing

Like your heating and air systems, you will also want to maintain that your plumbing system is in the best working order possible. Here are a few ways suggested by Service Magic that you can do this.

• Shut off the main water valve and drain the system by opening faucets at the highest and lowest points of the house, if you will be gone for several days. In addition, keep the heat on and set no lower than 55 degrees-especially if it is during the winter months.

• During the winter, your water heater works harder. Flush it out and remove sediment buildup, to prevent corrosion, and increase the life span. Drain several gallons from the faucet near the bottom of the tank through a hose directed into a nearby drain.

• In the event frozen pipes, water pressure builds and can cause cracks - regardless if whether the pipe is made of plastic, copper or steel. Even a tiny crack can unleash more than 250 gallons of water in a single day.

• Be sure to clear leaves and debris from downspouts to ensure easy drainage when water freezes and thaws.

Visit http://www.abelonsite.com for information on heating and air conditioning today.


Article independently authored by Janet Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Abel On Site.