Hydronic Snow Melting with PEX

PEX tubing creates a wide-range of options for hydronic heating. From ceiling panels, to wall panels, to the more popular floor panels, PEX makes installations possible in many locations. When installed outdoors, you can use PEX to melt snow and ice. Some snow melt systems keep critical areas, (hospital entrances, etc.) clear, while others just save homeowners the effort of shoveling a driveway or walkway.

Snow melt systems require propylene glycol for freeze protection and proper drainage for melted water. Tubing should be spaced 12” apart at the absolute maximum. Thick insulation below the slab facilitates upward heat transfer. Automatic controls and sensors can initiate the system as needed, but simple manual controls may also be used. Visit SupplyHouse.com for more information on hydronic radiant heating.

Nu-Calgon HVAC Chemicals

Nu-Calgon offers chemicals for air conditioning, refrigeration, plumbing, heating, and food service applications. Now available on SupplyHouse.com, Nu-Calgon’s line includes cleaners, leak detectors, and degreasers. Browse our entire selection today.

SupplyHouse's Calculator Page

Whether you’re planning a new heating or air conditioning system, purchasing a whole-house humidifier, or putting a grease trap in your restaurant, SupplyHouse’s new calculator page can help you find the right products.

Boiler sizing is based on much more than just square footage, and older boilers tend to be oversized. Our BTU Calculator takes more key factors into account and provides a solid estimate. Use our Radiant Heat, Joist Trak, Quki Trak, Baseboard, and Expansion Tank Calculators for more help with hydronic heating systems.

The Mini-Split, Grease Trap, and TrueSTEAM Humidifier Calculators size those products properly for your application.

Watts Quick-Connect Fittings

Push-fit style fittings are perfect for small repairs and do-it-yourself jobs because they do not require tools to make connections. In addition to SharkBite and John Guest push-fit fittings, SupplyHouse carries the Watts Quick-Connect line. Quick-Connect fittings work with a variety of pipe styles, including PEX, copper, CPVC, and polybutylene. The fittings allow tubing to rotate after installation and they provide up to a 30% increase in flow over barbed fittings.

PEX-AL-PEX Bending Tools

PEX-AL-PEX tubing contains a layer of aluminum to make PEX more rigid and prevent oxygen diffusion. Although it doesn’t normally work with the same fittings as standard PEX, PEX-AL-PEX is compatible with PEX uncoilers. Consider a PEX-AL-PEX bending tool to make easy and consistent turns. The Uponor tool works with Uponor and Rifeng PEX-AL-PEX, while Viega’s tool works only with their FostaPEX. For more information on PEX-AL-PEX tubing, visit SupplyHouse.com.

Tamper-Proofing your Thermostat

If you want to prevent unwanted changes to thermostat settings, you have several options. For public places and tenant rooms, a remote sensor might be your best bet. These sensors, such as Honeywell’s C7189U1005 for VisionPRO thermostats, mount in the location where temperature must be sensed. The thermostat itself (where settings are modified) can be installed in a less accessible area. Remote indoor sensors almost always disable the thermostat’s internal sensor. You can also use multiple sensors to create an average temperature for different areas of a house or large room.

Passcode lockout thermostats require a password before the temperature can be changed. Robertshaw i2 Series and White Rodgers Big Blue thermostats have password-protected full screen lockout options.

“Range stop” options are available on a wider variety of thermostats. This feature allows anyone to change the setting on a thermostat, but only within a certain specified range. Use this option if you want to prevent extreme changes to settings, but still give occupants a certain degree of control.

A final option is an old-fashioned guard box around the thermostat.

Plumbing Access Doors

Acudor access doors are available at SupplyHouse.com. The plastic and steel doors conceal valves and other key components while keeping them easily accessible. Drywall doors, duct doors, and fire-rated doors provide options for a wide range of applications.

Bath Fan Installation Locations

A typical hot-water shower produces a pound of steam. This moisture can damage your home and health by weakening drywall and joists, and creating an atmosphere that allows mold and dust mites to thrive. Ventilation fans reduce these threats by pulling moisture and other irritants (cleaning chemicals, dust, pet dander, pollen, tobacco smoke, combustion by-products, etc.) from the air.

Most installers place bathroom ventilation fans in the center of a bathroom, a location that takes advantage of the lights included on many vent fans. Most vent fans (*even those with lights) can also be positioned directly over a shower. This would provide more efficient venting of shower steam. Note that fans which include heaters or decorative grilles should not be installed directly over a shower. *A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is required for electric shock protection when units with lights are positioned over a shower.

Visit SupplyHouse.com to purchase bathroom fans and more ventilation fans.