Thursday, March 28, 2013

A Picture-Frame Thermostat

The Venstar ColorTouch thermostat takes customization to a new level, making it easy to customize its touch screen display. Use the default nature and holiday themes or add personal photos. With the included SD card, load a single picture to serve as the background or a slideshow with up to 100 images for the screensaver. White, black, silver, and wood grain faceplates can further enhance the décor of any room. Find more thermostats and Venstar products on SupplyHouse.com.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Use a Tankless with an Indirect Water Heater

Indirect water heaters take advantage of an existing hydronic heating system to provide large amounts of domestic hot water very efficiently. An indirect tank serves as a priority zone on a heating system. When water in the tank drops below the setpoint temperature, fluid from the heating system flows through the tank. This fluid heats domestic water, but does not touch it or contaminate it. Energy from the heating system is transferred to domestic water through a coil in most cases, although some indirect water heaters feature a tank-inside-of-a-tank design.

Since boilers must run throughout the heating season anyway, they can heat domestic water without expending much additional energy during this period. A boiler must also operate over the summer months in order to power an indirect water heater, which can be less efficient. Using a tankless water heater when the boiler is not needed to heat the building may be worth considering, especially for those who live in areas that have relatively short heating seasons. Tankless heaters offer an ideal solution thanks to their small size and ability to produce more hot water in times of year during which supply water temperatures are higher. Find indirect water heaters, tankless water heaters, and more on SupplyHouse.com.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Underground Pipe Insulation

K-Flex Insul-Lock pipe insulation, available online at SupplyHouse.com, provides freeze protection and minimizes heat loss and heat gain in pipes. A pre-slit adhesive strip makes installation easy. Watch our installation video here. Insul-Lock comes in six-foot lengths for a variety of pipe sizes, with wall thicknesses ranging from 3/8” to 1”.

The insulation can be buried underground if you take proper precautions. To prevent water absorption, bury insulation that is above the water table in 3" to 5" of sand. Below the water table, encase the insulation in a conduit (concrete, PVC, etc.). This method is optimal for all installations. In order to guard against compression of the insulation, the manufacturer recommends using insulation a size thicker than would be needed for above-grade applications.

Thursday, March 07, 2013

Watch: Baseboarders Installation

Baseboarders do-it-yourself baseboard heater covers work with most hydronic and many electric baseboard heaters. They provide a unique, modern look, while protecting against rust and preventing small children from burning their hands. The semi-gloss white powder coated surface can be spray-painted to match any design. SupplyHouse.com offers the full-line of Baseboarders products with fast and easy delivery. Best of all, Baseboarders covers are simple to install. Watch our new video to find out just how simple and is and pick up installation tips.

Friday, March 01, 2013

Underground Pipe Insulation

K-Flex Insul-Lock
pipe insulation, available online at PexSupply.com, provides freeze protection
and minimizes heat loss and heat gain in pipes. A pre-slit adhesive strip makes
installation easy. Watch our installation video here. Insul-Lock comes in
six-foot lengths for a variety of pipe sizes, with wall thicknesses ranging
from 3/8” to 1”.


The insulation can be
buried underground if you take proper precautions. To prevent
water absorption, bury insulation that is above the water table in 3" to 5" of sand. Below the water table, encase the insulation in a conduit (concrete, PVC, etc.). This method is optimal for all installations. In
order to guard against compression of the insulation, the manufacturer
recommends using insulation a size thicker than would be needed for above-grade
applications.

Use a Tankless with an Indirect Water Heater

Indirect water heaters take advantage of an existing hydronic heating system to provide
large amounts of domestic hot water very efficiently. An indirect tank serves
as a priority zone on a heating system. When water in the tank drops below
the setpoint temperature, fluid from the heating system flows through the tank.
This fluid heats domestic water, but does not touch it or contaminate it.
Energy from the heating system is transferred to domestic water through a coil
in most cases, although some indirect water heaters feature a
tank-inside-of-a-tank design.



Since boilers
must run throughout the heating season anyway, they can heat domestic water without
expending much additional energy during this period. A boiler must also operate over the summer
months in order to power an indirect water heater, which can be less efficient. Using a
tankless water heater when the boiler is not needed to heat the building may be
worth considering, especially for those who live in areas that have relatively
short heating seasons. Tankless heaters offer an ideal solution thanks to their
small size and ability to produce more hot water in times of year during which
supply water temperatures are higher. Find indirect water heaters, tankless
water heaters, and more on PexSupply.com.