Make-up of Rhinoflex Tubing

Rhinoflex Pre-Insulated PEX pipe consists of three parts. The inner layer is PEX-a quality tubing with an oxygen barrier. The PEX is surrounded by a layer of high thermal-efficiency flexible urethane foam insulation. The outer layer is covered with a corrugated polyethylene outer jacket that combines strength with flexibility.

Pre-insulated PEX Tubing can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Fittings for PEX-Aluminum-PEX Tubing

Since the aluminum layer of PEX-Al-PEX tubing makes it thicker than standard PEX tubing, PEX-Aluminum-PEX Tubing is not compatible with HydroPEX Fittings, ProPEX Fittings, or Sharkbite Fittings. You will need to use either the PEX-Al-PEX Compression Fittings or MultiPress (MLC) Fittings with this type of tubing.

PEX Tubing for PEX Plumbing and Radiant Heat can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Replacing a toilet flush ell

If a flush ell leaks, the first step to replacing it is to carefully undo the nuts with a pipe wrench. Then, clean the threads thoroughly and wrap them with Teflon sealant tape before tightening the nuts in place on the new tubular flush ell. When tightening the nuts, be sure to hold on to the ell firmly to avoid cracking it.

Tubular plumbing supplies and flush ells can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Adjustability for Hoffman Air Valves

The Hoffman 1A Adjustable Angle Air Valve features 6 settings. Ports 1 and 2 are the "slow" settings, meant for radiation located nearest the boiler or areas that overheat. Ports 3 and 4 are the "medium" settings, meant for normal venting of radiation under normal conditions. Ports 5 and 6 are the "fast" settings, meant for radiation located farthest from the boiler or areas that are hard to heat.

Hoffman Air Valves and other heating supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Low voltage vs line voltage thermostats

Most thermostats come either low voltage, (24v, where the wire is very thin like doorbell wire) or line voltage (110v or 240v, where the wire is much thicker). Most line voltage thermostats are on very old systems or elecrtic baseboards. Looking at the wires is the fastest way to know which kind of thermostat your system needs.

Honeywell Thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Safe heating for your home

The QMark HBB Liquid Filled Electric Basboards are a safe model of baseboard if you have pets or children. The sheathed electric heating element is totally immersed in a heat-transfer liquid and sealed in a heater-length copper tube. The large diameter reservoir maximizes the volume of heat storage fluid to prolong the thermal constant of the entire heater. Gentle heat keeps radiating even after the thermostat turns off because of the hydronic element's heat retention qualities.

Baseboard heaters and QMark heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Securing copper fittings

Most copper fittings can be attached by melting solder (a tin and antimony mixture) and using the molten metal to permanently secure the two pieces of copper to each other. Other fittings include threads, which can be screwed onto each other as long as the two pieces have a common thread size.

Copper tubing, copper fittings and solder can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Setting up your Amtrol Expansion Tank

Amtrol Fill-Trol Expansion Tanks are typically set up using an air scoop and air vent. The product image for these units shows how these parts fit above the expansion tank. Neither the air scoop nor the air vent come with the Fill-Trol Expansion Tank and must be purchased separately.

Expansion Tanks including Extrol Tanks and Amtrol Tanks can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Water temperature for 007 pumps

Taco's 007 circulator pumps can operate with water up to 240 degrees Farenheit. Some Taco Pumps include a built-in IFC (Integral Flow Check). This IFC prevents gravity flow and eliminates the need for a separate, in-line check valve.

Pumps & Flanges, and Taco Pumps such as the 007-F5-7IFC can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Sizing of Multi/Pak 80 Baseboards

The height of the baseboards are measured from the bottom plate to the top and the depth is the amount that your baseboard will stick out from the wall. The face plate of a Multi/Pak Baseboard (the piece in front that faces your room) measures 5 and a quarter inches from top to bottom.

Baseboard heaters including Slant Fin Baseboard Heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Energy Efficient Options to Save Money

Installing a programmable thermostat will lower your energy bills each month, putting money back into your pockets. Lux Programmable Thermostats are especially cost efficient, starting at only $29.99. For maximum energy (and money) savings, you can set your thermostat to a lower temperature while you are at work and sleeping than for hours you will be awake and in your home. You can even set these thermostats to come on at a different time during weekends when hours at home are typically different than those during the work week.

Programmable thermostats including Lux Programmable Thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

pH of Water Through PEX

AquaPEX Tubing has been tested to handle water with pH ranging from 5 (slightly acidic) all the way to 10 (basic). Pure water is a 7 on the pH scale, but your water can range in pH due to a variety of reasons. No water coming from public sources should have a pH lower than 5 or higher than 10.

PEX Tubing for PEX Plumbing can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Fitting your Air Separator in small spaces

Vortech Air Separators measure 7-1/2" from top to bottom. Air separators remove the air from your hydronic heating system, removing any gurgling noises and allowing your system to run smoothly and reliably for years to come.

Air Separators and Air Eliminators can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Re-doing a fitting

If you are using the HydroPEX Cinch-Clamp Ratchet Tool, it is easy to remove a fitting you no longer want. Whether the fitting was put in an incorrect place or improperly secured, just attach the HydroPEX Clamp Removal Tool to a socket wrench and remove the stainless steel clamp from around your PEX Tubing. To reinstall the fitting somewhere else, you will need a new (unused) stainless steel clamp but are able to use the same fitting that you have just removed.

PEX Tubing, PEX Tools, and PEX Fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Voltage of Radiant Thermostats

Wirsbo Radiant Heat Thermostats use 24 volt power. Most radiant heat systems use low voltage (24 volt), but if you need your thermostat to run on line voltage, you will need a Honeywell Thermostat or a Lux Thermostat in line voltage.

Thermostats and Radiant Heat supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Tubing for QuikTrak

Wirsbo hePEX 5/16" Tubing is the tubing to use when installing QuikTrak Panels. The 5/16" tubing fits into the panels and is used for radiant heat applications where you cannot raise the floor more than a half inch.

hePEX Tubing and Quick Track Panels can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Voltage of circulator pumps

The Taco Cast Iron Circulator Pumps come standard at 110 volt power. If you need a heat pump to work with 220 volt, these can be special ordered. The Taco 007-F5 is a good example of a standard 110 volt circulator pump.

Heating Pumps and Flanges can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Sizing a Copper Fitting Reducer

Copper Fitting Reducers are sized with the first number connecting to a copper fitting and the second number connecting to an actual copper pipe. For example, the 3/4" x 1/2" FTGxC Reducer connects to a 3/4" copper fitting and a 1/2" copper pipe.

Copper Fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

When to pressure test your radiant system

When installing radiant heat under a slab, you should pressure test your system before, during and after the slab is poured. Pressure test before you pour the slab to find and fix any defects before the work is done. Pressure test during the pour so that if there is something wrong, you can fix it before the pour is complete. And pressure test after you complete the pour just to be sure that everything is still working properly before you begin using the radiant heat system to heat your home.

Pressure test kits, radiant heat manifolds and other radiant heat supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Connecting a ProPEX Manifold

Wirsbo ProPEX Manifolds can only be connected using a Wirsbo Expander Tool. The connections on the end of the manifold are too large for PEX pipe to fit over without first being expanded. To do so, insert the head of the Wirsbo Expander Tool into your PEX Tubing (with ProPEX ring slid over the edge of the tubing) and squeeze the handles together 5-10 times. This will make the tubing expand, allowing the tubing to slide over the manifold. The tubing will then shrink back to it's original size, creating a secure fitting over the manifold.

PEX Tubing, PEX Tools, and PEX Manifolds can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Tubing compatible with SharkBite Fittings

SharkBite Fittings work with a variety of materials including PEX pipe, CPVC, and copper pipe. However, due to differences in the OD between these pipes and PEX-Aluminum-PEX, SharkBite Fittings are NOT compatible with PEX-Al-PEX tubing.

PEX Tubing and SharkBite fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Where is the sealant placed in a QuikTrak install?

When installing radiant heat using the QuikTrak system, you will first lay out all of your QuikTrak panels. Then, apply QuikTrak sealant in all of the grooves where the tubing will go. Carefully lay out the tubing and push it down into the grooves. The sealant will act to adhere the tubing to the panel, keeping it in place.

Quick Track Panels, and other Radiant Heat Supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com