Red is Hot, Blue is Cold, What is White for?

The color of PEX tubing does not affect what it can be used for. PEX plumbing tubing is manufactured in different colors only to simplify installation and make it easier and make it easy to identify your hot and cold lines in the future. Typically red tubing is used for hot lines and blue for cold lines, but theoretically you could do the opposite (which could get confusing!) Even with your lines color-coded, it is always a good idea to label the lines at the manifold so you also know which fixture they are going to in case you need to isolate an area for future repair.

White tubing provides another option for installers, for example if they want to buy a larger roll of one color to use for the entire system. In this type of installation it is even more important to clearly label the lines for future identification.

SupplyHouse.com has a large selection of PEX plumbing tubing made by manufacturers including Rifeng and AquaPEX.

Honeywell Dampers for Zoning

Dampers can be used to separate heating different zones in your home. This is a great option for increasing the efficiency of your heating system. In addition to a programmable thermostat, separating zones allows you to heat only parts of the house when you are actually using them. There are several different styles, including the popular Honeywell Round Dampers, available at www.supplyhouse.com.

Options for PEX in Joist Bays

When installing a radiant system in joist bays under a wood sub-floor, you have several options for attaching the PEX tubing. Your PEX tubing should not make direct contact with wood. You can use Joist Trak aluminum heat transfer panels, or alternatively you can suspend the tubing using PEX clips. All the components for each system can be found at SupplyHouse.com. We also have a new Radiant Heat calculator that can tell you which items you will need for your particular system and the quantities of each.

Hot Showers on Demand

Bronze Grundfos circulator pumps can be set to run on a timer so that you can set your system to run based on your schedule. This allows you to schedule your pump to start running at a certain time, such as one hour before you wake up, so you don't have to wait for your shower to heat up as the hot water travels through your pipes. The timer can also be set to shut the pump off when you leave for work so it's not wasting energy by running all day. Similar to a programmable thermostat, the Grundfos programmable timer allows you to run circulator pump based on your schedule to optimize efficiency and comfort! The Grundfos timer and Grundfos bronze circulator pumps are available at www.supplyhouse.com.

No-Tool-Required Fittings

Sharkbite fittings are easy to use, push-fit style fittings. While they are more expensive per peice than crimp or clamp fittings, no tool is required to make the connections. This makes them great for do-it-your-selfers and smaller jobs. Sharkbite fittings, made by Cash-Acme, are available at www.supplyhouse.com.

Everything PEX in One Place

When you're buying material for your next PEX project, look no further than SupplyHouse.com. Our new and improved PEX page is a great starting place, with links to all the categories of products you will be shopping for. Start your shopping here and decide which PEX tubing, PEX fitting system, and controls you want to use. If there is any product you need that is on our site, we can usually special order it for you. Save time and money by shopping at SupplyHouse.com for all your PEX supplies.

Create a Better Seal with the Blue Monster!

Blue Monster thread seal tape is a new product that is quickly becoming popular because of the high quality seal it creates and how easy it is to use. It is thicker but still more flexible than traditional Teflon tape, creating an effective seal with less tape, and no need for pipe dope. It is compatible with many materials and has an unlimited shelf life. Visit SupplyHouse.com to make your work easier and make the switch to Blue Monster thread seal tape today.

Easy DIY Job with the ProPEX Starter Kit

Make your DIY PEX plumbing job easy with our Uponor ProPEX Starter Kit. The Milwaukee M12 ProPEX Expansion Tool is included in the kit and it features an easy-to-use auto-rotation head. The expander system is a great option for any climate and our kit provides everything you need to get started. You can find the ProPEX Starter Kit at www.supplyhouse.com.

Control Your System with Honeywell

Honeywell manufactures controls for many parts of your heating system. The R8330D1039 Electric Furnace Sequencer switches a fan and up to three elements on and off in sequence. This control has an isolated fan switch with positive interlock to ensure the fan is on when the element is on, and the fan is off when the element is off. It can also replace devices that have the fan and the first element controlled by the same switch without rewiring the furnace.
You can get this R8330D1039 Electric Furnace Sequencer and many other Honeywell controls at www.supplyhouse.com.

Water Heater Cleaner - Easy & Effective

Water heater cleaner makes your water heater operate more smoothly quietly while extending the life of the unit. Mag-erad is a non-toxic, powdered cleaner made by AO Smith and is available in 1 lb cans at www.supplyhouse.com.

At least two 1 lb cans of cleaner are required for 30-40 gallon size water heaters (more required for larger size water heaters). Let the cleaner sit in the tank for about 8 hours before you drain it for the best results.

Go Digital and Still Keep it Simple

If you need a replacement for your old Honeywell thermostat, or you want to upgrade to a more accurate digital model and are attached to the traditional round model, the T8775A1009 is the perfect thermostat for you! On sale for just $32.55, this thermostat gives you better accuracy, a backlit display, and the classic look of the round Honeywell thermostat.

You can find the Honeywell T8775A1009 round thermostat, along with hundreds of other Honeywell thermostats at www.supplyhouse.com.

Keep Your Faucets Running Smoothly

Does the water spurt out of your faucet when you first turn it on? You may have air in your water lines, which can be a simple fix. Honeywell-Braukmann makes an automatic air vent with a built-in shut off valve that can remove this excess air and keep your water running smoothly. Check it out at www.supplyhouse.com.

Put the Intellicon Fuel Economizer to Work!

This IntelliCon Fuel Economizer is a fuel-saving device for hot water (hydronic) heating systems. It is controlled by a microprocessor that reduces fuel consumption, wear on parts, flue emissions and electrical usage when installed on any new or existing gas or oil burner. It saves energy by adjusting the burner run pattern to match the system's "heat load." The heat load is determined by a strap-on temperature sensor that monitors the boiler's out-flow water temperature and the rate that this temperature is changing.

This is a worthwhile investment that will pay for itself quickly and will make it easy for you to see just how much your saving. Check out the product reviews for the IntelliCon Fuel Economizer a to see what customers have to say about it!

Bobcat Boiler "Sealed Combustion"

The Bobcat boiler operates in total isolation from household air. The combustion process is “sealed” inside the boiler, with intake air and exhaust pipes connected directly to the outdoors (Except when the alternative non-direct venting method is chosen, in which case inside air is used for combustion).

The SlantFin Bobcat boiler is one of the many high-efficiency boilers we offer, with 93% efficiency and an innovative design. They are available in propane or natural gas at www.supplyhouse.com.

Control Your Thermostats From Your Chair

The Portable Comfort Control allows you to view and control the settings on all your thermostats from the comfort of my chair, or anywhere else you happen to be. This wireless remote is easy to connect to multi-zone controllers, making your system even easier to monitor and
control. Check out the Honeywell Portable Comfort Control at www.supplyhouse.com.

Quiet Your Steam Boiler

Is your boiler making popping and rumbling sounds when it turns on? You may be able to fix this with a simple cleaning! Scout Steam Boiler Cleaner is inexpensive, fast-acting, non-toxic and odorless. It helps your boiler operate more quietly by removing rust, scale, oil and impurities without draining the system. It can also be used to clean pressure vessels, steam kettles, heat exchangers, steam generators and tanks. For the best results, Scout should be used on a regular basis to provide clean, dry steam along with improved boiler efficiency, fuel economy and heat transfer.

You can find Scout Steam Boiler Cleaner and other products manufactured by Hercules at www.supplyhouse.com.