Lead-Free ProPEX Fittings

Uponor's ProPEX fittings have always set the industry standard for performance and reliability. Compatible only with PEX-A, they take advantage of the tubing’s uniform molecular structure that allows it to return to its original shape. To make a ProPEX fitting, you must expand the tubing (and an appropriately sized ring) with a proper tool. Then simply slide the fitting into the PEX and watch it shrink back to size, making a leak-proof seal almost instantly.

ProPEX fittings are now exclusively lead-free. “LF” fittings exceed United States Safe Drinking Water Act standards and are authorized for use in California and Vermont. They are approved for direct burial in soil and concrete slabs. When used with other Uponor products, they create a completely lead-free plumbing system, from inlet to faucet.

Uponor’s Engineered Plastic (EP) fittings provide another lead-free option for ProPEX systems. Available in a wide-variety of sizes, these fittings are also approved for direct burial in soil and concrete slabs. Their high-performance thermoplastic material meets the same ratings as Uponor’s tubing. Red brass and dezincification-resistant (DZR) fittings are produced in select sizes.

Maintaining Proper Humidity

The ideal indoor relative humidity ranges between 40% and 60% most of the year and 35% during heating season. Unless you live along the West Coast, there is a good chance you will need humidification products to reach these levels. Over the last two decades, tighter home insulation and increased awareness of health conditions such as allergies and asthma have led to a surge in indoor air quality products. If you live in a home that is too dry during the winter, you may develop uncomfortable dryness and cracking in the nasal membrane, lips, and skin. Additionally, dry air feels cooler and can cause higher heating costs. Too much humidity, on the other hand, can lead to the formation of mold, mildew, and dust mites.

The solution may be a TrueSTEAM humidifier or TrueDRY dehumidifier from Honeywell, which are available at SupplyHouse.com.

Viega's PolyAlloy PEX Fittings

If you’re looking for lead-free PEX fittings for crimp and clamp connections, check out PolyAlloy fittings from Viega. The plastic fittings are a lightweight, inexpensive alternative to standard brass fittings. They resist corrosion well, which is a must in outdoor installations. Any standard crimp or clamp rings work with the fittings. You don’t need to worry about quality or durability – Viega PolyAlloy fittings are backed by a 10-year warranty. For more information on Viega products, visit SupplyHouse.com.

Save Time with a PEX Uncoiler

A PEX tubing uncoiler from SupplyHouse.com will make unrolling PEX less of a headache. PEX tubing retains its original shape better than most materials. Especially in cold weather, it can take multiple people to uncoil the tubing for plumbing or radiant heat jobs. Compatible with PEX tubing from 5/16” to 1” (and 1/2” to 3/4” PEX-AL-PEX), an uncoiler is a must-have for anyone who works with PEX tubing on a routine basis. Uncoilers can easily handle 1000 foot rolls of tubing up to 1/2”. They will work with 500 foot rolls of larger tubing.

SharkBite Connections Made Even Easier

Cash Acme’s SharkBite fittings are popular because they require no tools for installation. Compatible with PEX, copper, and CPVC, the fittings allow secure connections to be simple. There is one tool, however, that can make working with SharkBite fittings even easier: a Safe Seal Deburring and Depth Gauge Tool. This compact device can deburr copper tubing to ensure it is clean prior to inserting it into the SharkBite fitting.

More importantly, the tool gives the proper depth to which the pipe should be placed in the fitting. The tool has 6 tube sizes (1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8', 3/4" and 1"). To find the proper depth, simply slide the tubing into the correct slot and draw a line on the tubing where the gauge ends. When installation is complete, the mark should be within 0.005” of the fitting’s release collar. Visit SupplyHouse.com for more Cash Acme products.

Save Energy with Indirect Water Heaters

Indirect water heaters take advantage of your boiler to produce domestic hot water efficiently. The idea is simple: hot water from the boiler flows through a coil in a water tank, thus heating the surrounding water. The boiler water and domestic water never touch or mix together.

Indirect water heaters do not have efficiency ratings of their own (they are only as efficient as the boilers they work with), but they do not require a separate energy source for domestic water heating. In most setups, the indirect tank will have priority over calls for heat. As a result, no additional BTUs are required on the boiler's rating. SupplyHouse.com offers high-quality indirect tanks from manufacturers including Weil McLain, Bradford White, Amtrol, and Triangle Tube.

A New Look for New Homes

DIY Baseboard Heater Covers, available at SupplyHouse.com, replace existing covers with ease. They snap right on to the existing back plates; installation takes just minutes.

The modern appearance of these covers improves the image of older designs, but they are also perfect for new construction. In these cases, there will be no back plate to connect the covers. The solution is simple: wall brackets, available separately. Provided with screws, the brackets should be fastened to wall studs 7” above the floor. The covers slip on, hide the brackets, and provide their signature look. For more information on installation, please refer to the instructions from the manufacturer.

TrueZONE Panels Take the Heat

The four different models of Honeywell’s TrueZONE zoning panels serve one primary purpose: to make zoning easier. With a simplified installer set-up, HZ322 and HZ432 models communicate with thermostats wirelessly using Honeywell’s RedLINK technology. This reduces the number of wires in the living space. TrueZONE panels can accommodate between 2 and 4 zones, and the HZ432 is expandable up to 32 zones. The compact panels all measure 8” wide. Originally designed to withstand 150 °F temperatures for attic installations in warm climates, current TrueZONE panels can handle temperatures up to 165 °F. Visit SupplyHouse.com for the full selection of Honeywell zoning products.

Always Check the Pump Curve

Variable speed circulator pumps usually have three settings on which they can operate. This means they will have three different pump curves and can be used for a larger range of applications. Variable speed pumps are advertised, rightfully so, as an inventory reducer – meaning that contractors can carry them on their truck to use in a variety of jobs.

This is true, but we would advise a certain amount of caution. The three curves on a variable speed pump are almost always very similar: one central curve with the others slightly above and slightly below it. If an application calls for a flat-curved pump (high flow, low head), then a steep-curved variable speed circulator (low flow, high head) will not work – regardless of the setting. SupplyHouse.com stocks variable speed pumps from Taco, Grundfos, Bell & Gossett, and Wilo.

Get a Cleaner Look on Your Venting

Concentric vent kits allow more efficient gas venting. Installed at the end of vent runs on gas boilers or water heaters, they require just a single hole from the house. The design lets intake air flow through the same outdoor protrusion through which waste is vented. With a dual-PVC-connection Y-fitting on the indoor side, the kit permits combustion air to enter under a rain cap with vented air flowing through the same device. Kits also include a bird screen to prevent debris from entering the system. For a cleaner appearance and installation, look no further than a concentric vent kit from SupplyHouse.com.

Save on Takagi, Save on Your Energy Bills!

Make the switch to a Takagi Tankless Heater and start saving energy by heating your water only when you need it. With a tankless heater, you will never have to worry about running our of hot water mid-shower, but you also won't keep a full tank of hot water all day when you're not even home. Take advantage of a 5% discount on all Takagi heaters during our one-week sale with coupon code TAK.

Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for more special offers and exclusive deals at SupplyHouse.com.

A Crimper that Fits in Your Pocket

The PEX Pocket Crimper, available at SupplyHouse.com, provides an alternative to bulky crimping tools. The easy-to-use tool comes with a convenient carrying case. It fits right in your pocket, and works in the tightest of spaces. All you need to make a 3/8”, 1/2", or 3/4" crimp with the PEX Pocket Crimper is pair of 10” vice grips. The included check gauge ensures the quality of each and every connection.

Baseboard Heater Cover Safety

All baseboard covers will get hot. This cannot be avoided without disrupting the efficient flow of heat to the room. Baseboard covers generally feel hot to the touch, but not hot enough to cause burns or significant injury.

A baseboard’s heating element presents the biggest danger for small children, whose hands can fit inside the gaps on standard baseboard covers. DIY Baseboard Heater Covers, available online exclusively at SupplyHouse.com, solve this problem. These attractive, easy-to-install covers completely block access to the heating element, making them a safer alternative to traditional baseboard covers.

Prestige Remote Gives User Control

Honeywell’s Portable Comfort Control (PCC) for Prestige Thermostats allows users to control their thermostat(s) wirelessly from anywhere in the home. This remote control operates with Honeywell’s RedLINK technology to connect with up to 16 separate thermostats. Powered by 3 standard AA batteries, the device has a 1-year battery life and gives a 2-month low battery warning to ensure continuous operation. It will not interfere with other wireless devices, and can be paged from the thermostat if it is ever misplaced. The remote can sync to a wireless outdoor sensor to display the outdoor temperature and humidity.

The PCC can act as a remote control, adjusting the temperature of any thermostat in its network. Users also have the option of sensing and controlling temperature from the remote - ideal for bedrooms or home offices. The Portable Comfort Control has been tested in an open field to operate at a range of 2,600 feet from the thermostat. This means that the signal will work in standard homes up to 6,500 square feet. The remote can be purchased at SupplyHouse.com by itself or as part of a Prestige Comfort Kit.

Standard ID & OD for Standard PEX

If you are aware of all the brands and varieties of PEX tubing that are available, you may wonder whether there are any differences in the wall thicknesses, inside diameters, or outside diameters of the PEX. All standard PEX tubing sold at SupplyHouse.com of any particular size will be identical in these specifications (regardless of brand and the presence of an oxygen barrier). 1/2" PEX, for example, has a .475” inside diameter and a .625” outside diameter.

The only exception is PEX-AL-PEX tubing. PEX-AL-PEX contains an embedded layer of aluminum that thickens it slightly. It also has a larger inside diameter and outside diameter, making PEX-AL-PEX incompatible with standard PEX fittings. With PEX-AL-PEX, you must use either compression or Multipress fittings.

John Guest Pipe Inserts

Push-Fit Fittings from John Guest require no tools for installation or removal, making them an excellent choice for one-time jobs. Plastic Twist & Lock Speedfit Fittings are lead-free and perfect for use with potable water.

The manufacturer requires the installation of Pipe Inserts with Push-Fit Fittings used on PEX tubing in hydronic heating systems. They recommend Pipe Inserts for PEX plumbing systems. Hot water can cause a gradual loosening of the fitting’s teeth that secure it to the tubing. Pipe Inserts, available at SupplyHouse.com in 1/2", 3/4", and 1” sizes, prevent this from happening and ensure that your John Guest fitting will remain leak-free.

Vertical Flanges for Tight Spaces

Most circulator pumps connect to a system’s piping with flanges (union and threaded options exist for some models). Standard pumps use standard-sized flanges. The pipe size of the flanges must be selected based on the piping to which they will be attached.

Generally, flanges run parallel to the pump’s casing. In certain instances, this may create spacing issues in the boiler room. The solution is a vertical flange pump. Also known as rotated or inverted flange, these pumps have flange connections that run perpendicular to the motor casing. The flanges that bolt on vertical flange pumps are the same; they just face in a different direction because of the configuration of the pump. One popular vertical flange pump is the Taco 0015-MSF2-1IFC. SupplyHouse.com stocks a wide range of circulator pumps from Taco, Bell & Gossett, Grundfos, and Wilo.

ICON = Efficiency and Control

Bradford White’s ICON gas controls, included standard on all their gas-powered water heaters, give users unparalleled control. Produced by Honeywell, the ICON control allows owners to set water temperature levels, manually light the pilot, and turn the water heater off from a single, easy-to-use panel. Its microprocessor uses advanced algorithms to monitor water temperature inside the tank and provide more hot water. The ICON requires no additional electricity to operate. It contains the water heater’s igniter and a pilot indicator light. ICON controls enhance Bradford White’s top-of-the line products, while saving owners money on utility bills. Bradford White water heaters are available at SupplyHouse.com.

Sillcock for Easy PEX Connection

With a PEX frost-free sillcock from Rifeng, hooking up to PEX tubing couldn’t be simpler. The 1/2" PEX fitting, included on the end of the sillcock, means that only a 1/2" crimp or clamp ring is required to connect to 1/2" PEX (proper tool also necessary). A standard 3/4" hose thread sits at the other end of the sillcock. The frost-free sillcocks are available in 8”, 10”, and 12” lengths. They feature anti-syphon technology to prevent backflow of dirty water. For more information, visit SupplyHouse.com.

Outside Diameter of PEX Tubing

PEX tubing is designed to replace copper with maximum ease. This is why PEX of any given size has the same outside diameter as copper of the same size. PEX's inside diameter, however, is smaller because PEX is thicker than copper. Any flow lost by the smaller inside diameter can be made up for by the fewer bends and elbows in PEX systems. PEX tubing is perfect for retrofit designs. It’s easy to run and can fit in tight spaces. PEX tubing and copper tubing with the same nominal size can fit into the same SharkBite fittings.