Flexibility with a bend support

Not only does a PEX bend support help to keep your PEX tubing free from kinks, but it also greatly increases the bending radius. Without a bend support, Viega PEX Tubing has a bending radius of eight times the outside diameter (for a one inch roll of PEX, OD= 1.125" and bending radius would be 9"). With a bend support, the tubing has a bending radius of five times the outside diameter (one the same one inch roll of PEX, bending radius would be 5.625"). A lower bending radius is good because it means that you can fit that PEX into tighter spaces and move around corners with ease.

PEX Tubing and PEX Bend Supports can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Accessory for T-KJr Tankless Water Heaters

The remote for the Takagi T-KJr2 Tankless Water Heater allows you to monitor both incoming and outgoing water temperatures, and to change the output settings to a different desired temperature from the factory-set temperature. Also, if something ever goes wrong with your T-KJr, the remote will display the error code so that you will know exactly what has malfunctioned and find out, quickly and efficiently, how to get it fixed.

Takagi Tankless Water Heaters and Tankless Heater Accessories can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Clean air is healthy air

The air we breathe is filled with contaminants that can make us sick such as gases, bacteria, mold, and viruses. An air cleaner will help to get rid of anything unwanted in your air and help to keep your family healthy.

Air cleaners and other HVAC products can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Steam Angle Convector Valves

Steam angle convector valves are made of heavy duty bronze with a screwed bonnet, rising stem and composition disc. Each valve is tested twice for air under water, both in the open and closed position.

Radiator valves and other parts for baseboard heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Pipe sizing for a sump pump

When installing a sump pump, the discharge pipe should be the same size as the pump discharge for optimal performance. Using undersized pipe may dramatically reduce the flow and therefore waste energy and money.

Sump pumps and other plumbing pumps can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Kraus Waterfall Faucets

In the last 5 years Kraus has been a leading manufacturer of high end bathroom fixtures. Kraus offers the most exquisite collection of waterfall faucets. This collection includes Kraus waterfall faucets for vessel sinks, under-mount sinks, and even bathtubs. Each faucet is uniquely designed to resemble a waterfall and creates a stylish and serene environment in any bathroom. For many years, Kraus products have only been available in high-end retail stores and would often have a hefty price tag of up to $1000. This all changed when SupplyHouse began selling the Kraus brand. Now, you can turn an ordinary bathroom into a spa-like paradise without spending a lot of money.

Kraus Bathroom Faucets and Kraus Sinks can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

PEX used with Wirsbo Expander Tools

The Wirsbo Expander Tool can only be used with PEX-a quality tubing. PEX can be made using three distinct processes, creating PEX-a, PEX-b, and PEX-c quality. PEX-a is the highest quality PEX available, the PEX that is most uniform in nature and the PEX that is able to keep a memory of its shape and return to that shape after expansion. When using the Wirsbo Expander Tool, you will stretch the PEX tubing out to the point where PEX-b or PEX-c would not come back, and thus would not create a secure connection. PEX-a's superior quality allows it to be expanded to fit over the fittings and within seconds return to its shape forming snugly around the newly inserted fitting.

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

Radiant Heat Efficiency

For every 3 degrees that you can lower the water temperature in your heating system, that system becomes 1% more efficient. This might not seem like much until you look at the average running temperatures of different systems. Baseboard heaters typically run at 180°F while radiant heat runs at 120°F. That is a difference of 60°, or a 20% reduction in your heating costs. Radiant heat will typically be between 15 and 33% more efficient than other heating methods.

Radiant heat supplies and other heating supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Installation tips for Taco Venturi Tees

1)Venturi Fittings should be installed on the return side. Where the bypass requires additional flow, place the Venturi Fitting on the supply side. For maximum flow through the bypass, use two Venturi Fittings (one on the return side and one on the supply side).
2) Make sure that the arrows on the Taco Venturi Fittings are pointing in the proper direction for return or supply installation.
3) The Venturi fitting should always be installed with the Venturi marking between the by-pass supply and return lines.

Taco Tees and Venturi Fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Not too close to the edge

When installing a new kitchen sink, you should make sure that it is not too close to the edge of your counter top. To be safe, at least one and a half inches should remain between the edge and the beginning of your new sink.

Kitchen Sinks including Kohler kitchen sinks and Elkay kitchen sinks can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Expanding PEX Tubing

An expander head for the Wirsbo Expander Tool is meant to be inserted into PEX Tubing to allow it to stretch out in order to allow a fitting inside. A 1" PEX fitting will not fit into a 1" PEX Tube unless the tube is expanded using a Wirsbo Expander Tool.

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

Increase the life of your pump

A differential pressure by-pass valve is a valve that opens and closes automatically in response to the motorized valves or thermostatic radiator valves in your system opening and closing. The valve then dissipates the head pressure produced by a heating circulating pump, lengthening the life of your pump and decreasing the noise produced by the system.


Differential pressure valves, radiant heat controls, and other radiant heat supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Faucet not quite here yet

If you are waiting on a faucet (or fixture, or anything else) but your tubing is placed, you can insert a PEX EP Plug while you wait. This allows you to turn the water on and make sure everything works while you wait for that last part to arrive.

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

Why use an air scoop?

Air scoops are designed to assure that hydronic heating and cooling systems run silently by removing all of the air from the system. Since air is lighter than water, it travels along the top of pipes and an air scoop is able to swiftly scoops up any bubbles of air that might rise up, leaving only the water to flow though.

Taco air scoops, air eliminators and other heating supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How many BTU's do I need? What is a BTU?

BTU stands for British Thermal Units and is used to describe heat output. One BTU is enough heat to raise one pound of water by one degree. To determine how many BTU's you will need, you need to know the heat load that your system requires and the amount of water that you will need heated.

Boilers such as Weil Mclain Boilers and Weil Mclain CGI Boilers can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Securing your loops

When you uncoil a roll of PEX Tubing, it will have a tendency to keep it's roll shape and want to coil back if given the chance. This is problematic when you are trying to lay out loops for radiant heat or a radiant heat installation. To make sure that your tubing goes, and stays, exactly where you want it, you can use a tube talon to secure it down to wood. These tube talons include a nail to secure the PEX pipe into the wood.

PEX tube talons and PEX Tubing for radiant floor heat can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Air vent capacity

The venting capacity of a Jacobus JD Angle Air Valve is equal to that of 27 ordinary air valves. You can use this high powered valve when a large amount of air needs to be vented (such as on radiators with particularly long branches and on very large radiators).

Maid-O-Mist Air Valves and Jacobus Air Valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What are the maximum temperature and pressure ratings for SharkBite?

SharkBite fittings are certified to 200 PSI and 200° F (which is 93° C).

SharkBite Fittings and other PEX Fittings for PEX Plumbing and Radiant Heat can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Why are Viega tools different colors?

Viega PEX Press tools come with different colored handles so that you can quickly tell exactly which tool is which. All of the sizes have a different color- 3/8" is green, 1/2" is yellow, 3/4" is blue, and 1" is orange. If you're looking to make a 1" connection, simply grab the tool with the orange handle and you're ready to go.

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

How to replace a condensate removal pump

First, turn the AC/heater system off at the thermostat. Disconnect the power cord of the pump and remove the nuts connecting the AC/heater safety shutoff wires to the float switch. (This is a low voltage circuit - typically between 12 and 24 volts.) Next, remove the flexible 3/8" discharge tube from the barbed nipple. Remove the four cover screws at the corners of the pump and lift up the pump cover to slide the water reservoir away from the the PVC drain pipe. Next, you will need to clean the drain pipe and lines with bleach and water before setting the new pump in place. Reconnect the drain and discharge lines, the safety shutoff switch wires, and the power to the pump. Finally, turn on the AC/heater at the thermostat, fill the pump basin with water and test.

Condensate removal pumps, air conditioners, and other HVAC products can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What is the difference between the TK-RB01 and the TK-RB02?

Takagi makes two models of recess boxes, the TK-RB01 and the TK-RB02. The TK-RB02 is made for outdoor applications while the TK-RB01 is made for indoor applications. Use a TK-RB01 with any indoor Takagi Tankless Water Heater such as the TK-4 for natural gas.

Takagi heaters and Takagi tankless heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com