Chill Out: No More Mini-Split Worrying

If a homeowner does not have central air conditioning, a good alternative would be to install a mini-split air conditioner in each room. When installing multiple mini-split units, many wonder whether the outdoor unit / condenser will be powerful enough to support the indoor units. The answer is: most likely yes. I know this is not the "definitely yes" answer you may be looking for, but please allow me to explain! Let's say you have two (2) 11,500 BTU single zone mini-split air conditioners installed in two separate rooms. However, your outdoor unit only supports 22,500 BTU. Don't worry about being short 500 BTU. What will happen is the one condenser will still work to power both indoor units, but at varying levels. It will power one unit at full blast, at 11,500 BTU, while it powers the other unit at 11,000. When the temperature of the first room is cool enough, the outdoor unit will shift more energy towards cooling the second room. It will modulate accordingly to provide for steady cooling in both rooms. Rest assured: both rooms will be cooled.

You can find a large selection of LG, Panasonic mini-splits at www.supplyhouse.com!

87.5 is the Magic Number

A common question many homeowners ask when considering radiant floor heating is exactly how warm the floors should get. The maximum temperature that a floor will reach before it becomes uncomfortable is 87.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Any higher than this, then the floors will seem hot to the touch. Any lower, and they might not be generating enough heat. Fortunately, this desired temperature can be reached no matter what sized PEX tubing you choose.

You can find Radiant Heat supplies and PEX for Radiant Heating at www.supplyhouse.com.

Cast Iron vs. Stainless Steel & Bronze

A circulator pump is necessary to circulate water in a hydronic system. Cast iron circulator pumps are typically cheaper than stainless steel or bronze pumps, but can only be used in a closed system. This is because the oxygen in an open system will corrode the cast iron components of the pump. If you are working with an open system, it is suggested that you go with the more durable, though more expensive, stainless steel or bronze pumps.

You can find Taco circulator pumps at www.supplyhouse.com.

Get A Bigger Grease Trap

The rule of thumb you should follow when deciding what size grease trap you should purchase is this: it is always better to have a bigger grease trap than one that cannot handle the amount of grease going down the sink. So if you are ever unsure, always remember that over-sized is better than under-sized when it comes to trapping grease!

To shop a large selection of grease traps, go to www.supplyhouse.com.

Get Rid Of That Old Pool Pump

A typical pool pump uses 500 watts to 2,000 watts. If your pool pump is more than 7 or 8 years old, it is probably time to find yourself a new one, since older pool pumps are less efficient than newer models. This means, a newer pool pump will use less energy to pump larger volumes of water than an older one, and in the long run, this will end up saving you lots of energy as well as lots of money!

You can find a large selection of pool pumps at www.supplyhouse.com

Taco Pre-Season Sale

Summer may be in full swing, but before you know it, the heating season will be knocking on your door. Make sure you are prepared this year with all the Taco products you need: circulators, relays, mixing valves, zone valves, valve control modules, and air separators. You can find all of these items at reduced prices in our Taco Pre-Season Sale.

You can find the Taco Pre-Season Sale, as well as other Taco Items, at www.supplyhouse.com.

Cleaning Your Shower Head

During these hot summer days, there is no better luxury than jumping into a nice cool shower. However, weak water flow may turn this relaxing experience into an annoyance. If you are finding that your shower head just isn't performing the way it used to, it may be because it is clogged with mineral buildup. To clear it of built up deposits, unscrew the shower head and soak it in a pot of simmering (not boiling) distilled white vinegar. The vinegar will work to dissolve months of mineral and grime. When you are done, rinse the shower head with warm water and it is ready to use again.

You can find a large selection of shower heads at www.supplyhouse.com.

Manifolds and Fittings

The manifold for your PEX Plumbing System acts as a hub for water transportation. When installing the manifold, it is important to remember that the fittings you buy must be of the same brand as the manifold. For example, a HydroPEX manifold requires HydroPEX fittings and a Wirsbo (Uponor) manifold requires that you use Wirsbo fittings. The PEX tubing, however, does not have to match the manifold. Feel free to use any brand PEX tubing with any brand manifold.

You can find PEX Manifolds, PEX Fittings, and PEX Tubing at www.supplyhouse.com.

In-Slab Installation Tip

When doing an in-slab installation for your radiant heat floors, it is recommended that you pour the concrete a minimum of 3/4" over the pex tubing. This is to allow enough space between the tubing and the flooring so that the heat generated will not damage your floors.

For more information about radiant heat installation, visit our Resource Center at www.supplyhouse.com.

Towel Warmers In The Summer

When I think of Summer, I think of lazy days by the water. There is nothing more relaxing than lounging in the swimming pool or going for a dip in the ocean. However, a bathing suit that is still wet from your previous swim can quickly ruin these summertime activities. Instead of simply hanging your suit on a hanger and waiting for it to dry, you can dry it on a towel warmer. A towel warmer can be used for other purposes than just warming towels! It is also the perfect solution for quickly drying wet bathing suits.

You can find Amba and Runtal Towel Warmers at www.supplyhouse.com.

Toilet Causing You Trouble?

SupplyHouse.com stocks all the bathroom plumbing specialties you need to deal with a malfunctioning toilet. For those common clogs, make sure you are prepared with a toilet plunger. For a more heavy-duty projects, shop our selection of flush valves, fill valves, flappers, gaskets and bolts and find the exact part that you need to get your throne back to running condition.

Find everything you need to maintain your toilet at www.supplyhouse.com

The Ultimate Cut

Are you having trouble cutting through thick building materials? Is your current set of shears just not 'cutting' it? Malco's TurboShear Heavy-Duty is built to make clean cuts through material thickness up to 18-gauge galvanized steel. Cut through anything from metal roofing panels to steel mesh or even the thick metal of furnace jackets. You must adjust the tool's cutting jaws to cut through differently-sized materials. To do so, just turn a screw on the back of the tool (clockwise to tighten the gap for thinner materials and counterclockwise to widen the gap for thicker materials).

You can find Malco's TurboShear Heavy-Duty at www.supplyhouse.com

Heat Pumps on Mini-Splits

The heat pumps on mini-split air conditioners work to maximize heating capacity up to an outdoor temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature outside dips under 32 degrees, the heating capacity of the unit drops.

For example, with a unit that is rated at 12,000 BTU's, if the temperature is 32 degrees or warmer, the unit will give you the full 12,000 BTU's. However, if the temperature is 20 degrees, the unit might only give you 8,000 BTU's.

Therefore, when considering a mini-split system with a heat pump, keep in mind that it would function well as a back up heat source, but not as a primary heat source (that is, unless you live in a place where the weather is warm all year-round)!

Mini-Split Systems can be found at www.supplyhouse.com.

Comfort While You Work

Do you have an HVAC project waiting to be taken care of? Malco's series of RedLine tools offer you comfort while helping you get the job done right. Distinguished by the red line on the handle, these hand tools were designed with your comfort in mind. The handle opening maximizes the power of each squeeze, while the non-slip, over-molded, soft to the touch handle is made to fit the shape of your hand. An easy open and close latch motion allows you to always have one free hand while you work. Best of all, Malco manufactures RedLine tools to cover all areas of your HVAC project, including: downspout crimper, pipe crimper, ceiling grid punch, fiber cement siding snip, hole punch, J-channel cutter, hand notcher, nail hole slot punch, punch lock stud crimper, hand seamer, and snap lock punch.

You can find Malco's RedLine hand tools at www.supplyhouse.com.

Cleaning Your Sump Pump

The sump pump is your prime defense against basement flooding. To keep it in top notch condition all-year round, it is important to clean and maintain it regularly.

1. To start with, clear any obstructions in the opening and on the screen of the pump to ensure that water can properly pass through.
2 You should also check the pump float to make sure there are no restrictions in it.
3. For parts within the pump, you will need something to dissolve any buildup. If you prefer to avoid harsh chemicals, using white vinegar is a green and eco-friendly way to clean your sump pump. Because of its acidity, it is an excellent solvent for dissolving any mineral deposits that may have accumulated within the pump. Just pour two cups of white vinegar into the drain regularly to reduce the buildup of residue.
4. Finally, fill your sump pump with water and run it frequently to make sure that it is in working condition.

You can find sump pumps at www.supplyhouse.com

Media Air Cleaners

As the temperature outside gets hotter and hotter, the heat may eventually become too uncomfortable to bear. As you start to seek solace inside the cool comfort of your home, ensure that the air quality indoors is just as fresh as it is outdoors by installing a media air cleaner. A media air cleaner is designed to capture and remove airborne particles and contaminants as air is circulated through the unit. It is beneficial for those suffering from respiratory illnesses or for those who of us with a bad case of the allergies. If you already have one installed, make sure that it is working efficiently by replacing the filter every 6 to 12 months. A dirty filter will only increase costs by forcing the media air cleaner to circulate air while pulling it through a clogged filter.

You can find Media Air Cleaners at www.supplyhouse.com.

New Videos Just Launched

SupplyHouse.com is happy to announce the addition of VIDEO to some of our product and category pages. Check out the Honeywell TH8110U1003 and Honeywell TH8320U1008 Thermostat pages for videos on how to program your Honeywell thermostat. While shopping for your next VisionPro Honeywell Thermostat, be sure to take a look at the informational video we have about VisionPro thermostats. And when browsing through our large selection of Manablocs, don't forget to check out our video on How To Shop for a Manabloc.

You can find all these videos at www.supplyhouse.com

Red, White, and Blue

Sorry to disappoint, but the red, white, and blue colors that PEX tubing is available in does not represent the patriotic colors of the American flag. In fact, there is no significance in the color of PEX tubing, other than aesthetics. Red PEX tubing is generally used to distinguish hot lines, while blue PEX tubing is used with cold lines. For those who would prefer colorless tubing, white PEX tubing is the way to go. Other than the color, there are no physical, chemical, or behavioral differences between the different colors of PEX, but for the sake of this holiday weekend, we can all pretend that the colors are meant to celebrate the spirit of Independence Day!

You can find all the different colors of PEX tubing at www.supplyhouse.com

White Rodgers Special

No matter what the temperature outside may be, keep your home comfortable with a White Rodgers Thermostat. Now, during our White Rodgers Thermostat Special, you can buy some of our most popular White Rodgers Thermostats at reduced prices. You will also enjoy free shipping with the purchase of select thermostats. Thermostats in this sale include the 1F95-1277, 1F97-1277, 1F80-0471, 1F80-361, 1F95-1291, 1F78-151, 1E78-140, 1F78-144, 1E78-144, 1F85-277, and the 1F56N-444. Don't miss out on this great opportunity!

You can find White Rodgers Thermostats at www.supplyhouse.com