What does potable mean?

Potable means fit for drinking. Potable water is water that you can drink, so in your house it is the water that is sent to sinks, showers, refrigerators, toilets, hose bibs, tubs, etc. When purchasing PEX for plumbing applications that will take water to any of these locations, make sure to get PEX that has been rated for potable water.

Brands of potable PEX include Wirsbo AquaPEX Tubing, Pre-Insulated AquaPEX Tubing, Viega PEX Tubing, Rifeng PEX Plumbing Tubing, and Pre-Sleeved AquaPEX Tubing.

PEX Tubing for PEX Plumbing can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What is the heat output of a Beacon Morris F120?

A Beacon Morris F120 Surface Mount Cabinet Kit is not actually a heater, it is a cabinet to hold a Beacon Morris K120 Kick Space Heater. Without the K120, you will get no heat output from the F120. There are several accessories available for Kick Space Heaters including recessed cabinet kits, floor kits, motor fan assemblies, and grilles.

Kickspace heaters including Beacon Morris Kickspace heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

When does a TH6110D1005 thermostat turn off or on?

Your thermostat will always be "on", but it will call for heat or cooling at different times depending on the temperatures that you have set. When the Honeywell thermostat senses that the temperature in the room falls below 1/2 of a degree below the set "heat" temperature, the heat will turn on. When the temperature in the room rises 1/2 of a degree above the set "cool" temperature, the cooling will turn on. Both the heat and the cool will shut off when the desired temperature has been reached.

The TH6110D1005 and many other Honeywell thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What does galvanized mean?

In terms of plumbing supplies, galvanized is a metal that is coated in zinc. Galvanized nipples and galvanized fittings are available. You must make sure that galvanized material does not directly touch copper in order to avoid the corrosion of these materials.

Pipe fittings and plumbing nipples can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Is this tubing made by Wirsbo or Uponor?

Wirsbo and Uponor are actually the same company. The company used to be called Wirsbo, but recently changed its name and is now called Uponor. If you have old PEX tubing, tools, fittings, or rings that say Wirsbo on them, Uponor parts are totally compatible. The exact same products are made now, and the standards of high quality, precision engineering, and warranties you can count on continue; the only change is a new logo.

Wirsbo products including PEX Tubing for PEX Plumbing and Radiant Heat products can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What's the difference between a sump pump and an effluent pump?

A sump pump is designed to remove water, such as ground water or surface water. Sump pumps can ONLY move water and will not effectively move any solids. An effluent pump is able to move a combination of liquid and some solids. Effluent (by definition) is the outflow from a sewage treatment plant, which includes both liquids and some solids. Effluent pumps are typically used to pump waste from toilets while sump pumps are typically used to remove water that has collected in a particular location.

Little Giant Sump Pumps, Grundfos Effluent Pumps, and other plumbing pumps can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What does PEX-b mean?

PEX-b refers to the grade of the PEX tubing, a reference to how the polyethylene turned into PEX. Viega PEX is an example of PEX-b tubing. PEX-b tubing is made through a process called the Silane method. This uses a chemical agent to break the bonds and form a tight cross-linking across the polyethylene in order to make PEX.

Viega PEX and other PEX Tubing for PEX Plumbing can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Kraus Sink and Faucet Warranty

Kraus offers a limited lifetime warranty on all glass sinks and faucets. Kraus glass sinks are constructed from the most durable double layered tempered glass available on the market today. Kraus guarantees all glass sinks to be free of defect in materials and craftsmanship for one (1) year from the original date of purchase.

Kraus Bathroom Faucets, Kraus Bathroom Sinks, and Kraus Kitchen Faucets can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Tips for installation of a frost free sillcock

Make sure that you take your time and prepare all of the pipes for soldering before you begin installation of a frost free sillcock. Assemble all of the pieces without solder first to make sure that you have all of the pieces and the pipes are long enough to reach outside your house. Be sure to completely drain the system before attempting any connections. It is impossible to make a solder connection with any water remaining in the pipes. Once installed, your frost proof sillcock will assure that your water pipes will not be exposed to the elements and will not freeze in the winter.

Frost-free sillcocks and other plumbing valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

When to re-oil that pump

Bell & Gossett Series 100 pumps should be re-oiled to ensure proper operation and durability. At the start of every heating season, add one teaspoon of oil to the pump bearings. Motor bearings must also be lubricated. These bearings should get eight to ten drops of oil in each oil tube once every four months.

Pumps & Flanges including Taco pumps, Taco bronze pumps and Bell & Gossett pumps can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

A product with over 2,000 uses!

WD-40 is a product with literally thousands of uses! It removes stains, paint, rust, adhesives, and any other unwanted marks on almost any material, lubricates hinges, zippers and locks, cleans and shines everything from piano keys to school lockers, and even removes the oil from your hands! WD-40 stands for Water Displacement, 40th attempt. They say the third time is a charm, but the 40th time is the real winner with this formula that does it all!

WD-40 and other plumbing supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How do you make a cut in tight spaces?

Already installed the pipe but need to make a cut? Close quarters tubing cutters are perfect for cutting aluminum, hard copper, soft copper, brass, and plastic tubing when there isn't enough room for a standard handle to open fully. With a close quarters cutter, no space is too small to turn the knob and get a precise, accurate cut ready for connections in almost any material.

PEX Pipe, PEX Tubing, and PEX Cutters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Loop length for radiant

When installing PEX tubing for radiant heat, you must be careful not to make the individual loops too long. If there is too much distance between where the water gets heated and the end of the loop where runs under your floors, you run the risk of allowing it to cool to the point where it will not actually be heating anything. As a rule of thumb, for 1/2" tubing, be sure that no loop is longer than 300 feet. If you purchase tubing that is longer than 300 feet, you will need to cut it into multiple lengths before installation.

PEX pipe, and PEX for radiant floor heat can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Quicker connections

A battery powered Wirsbo Expander Tool will save time from each and every ProPEX connection that you make. Instead of using your muscles to open and close the tool, battery powered tools will do this for you, making sure that your tubing expands fully for a ProPEX Fitting to easily fit inside. If you plan on making a lot of connections, or just don't have the time to manually expand tubing for each connection, the Wirsbo Battery Expander Tools are a great investment.

PEX Tools including Wirsbo expander tools can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Grease Trap Maintenance

First, empty the grease trap of any water and remove the baffles. Dip a bucket into the grease trap to remove the accumulated grease. Then, scrape the sides, the lid, and the baffles with a putty knife to remove as much of the grease as possible, and deposit the grease into a watertight container. Contact a professional for grease pick-up. Once the grease has been removed, replace the baffle and the lid and record the volume of grease removed and the date so that you will be able to know when the next cleaning is due.

Grease traps and other plumbing supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Cleaner air is easy to achieve

You can capture and minimize micro-organisms passing through your forced air system when you combine your UV System with a high-efficiency air filtration system like an electronic air cleaner. Talk to your installer about adding an electronic air cleaner to complement your UV System and provide added protection for you and your family.

Air cleaners such as Honeywell electronic air cleaners, Honeywell humidifiers, and Honeywell thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Final steps in line set installation

Once all of the line set connections have been brazed, a vacuum must be pulled on the system to evacuate the lines. The manufacturer's installation instructions describe the system evacuation process. If your system operates on R22, then by law you must have an HVAC technician do this part of the job for you.

Line sets, refrigerant line sets, and other air quality products can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Easy assembly on zone valves

Honeywell V8043E1012 Zone Valves feature a compact design so that installation is easy. Honeywell also makes replacements easy, the entire zone valve powerhead may be removed or replaced without breaking plumbing line connections or draining the system. The actuator motor may also be replaced without removing the valve body or draining the system. This takes away a lot of the time and stress from traditional replacements.

Honeywell Zone Valves including the V8043E1012 can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Connecting a pump to copper pipe

With a Taco 006-BC4 Bronze 1/2" Sweat Connections, you do not need flanges in order to connect to copper pipe. If you are going from the pump straight to 1/2" copper, you can simply sweat the pipe directly onto the pump with no flange in between. Not all pumps work this way, so be sure to check what connection type your pump uses before making a decision whether or not to purchase flanges.

Taco pumps, including Cast Iron Taco Pumps and Bronze Taco Pumps such as the 006-BC4 can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Make your boiler room energy efficient!

Installing a Taco I-Series mixing valve will make your boiler much more efficient, save energy, and directly save you money in your energy bills. I-Series valves allow your boiler to not work at maximum capacity all the time, but rather to work based on outdoor temperature to gauge how high to fire. For example, without an I-Series valve, if it is 60° or -10° outside, the boiler will heat the same. It will stay on for longer in the colder weather, but it will get up to the same temperature. With an I-Series Mixing Valve, your boiler is able to fire to a lower temperature when it is warmer outside because it knows that you will not need as much heat.

Taco controls include zone valves and zone controls can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Connection method for Dual Check Valves

Watts Dual Check Valves in the 7 Series (such as the 0072205 1" Dual Check Valve) are threaded units with female threads on both sides. To connect to copper pipe to the unit, simply use an adapter with NPT male threads and screw the check valve in place.

Watts Valves, Backflow Preventers and other Plumbing Valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Features of the Ridgid Oiler

Ridgid Oilers have 50% more oil per stroke than other hand-held oilers which allows the die cast body and exposed parts to live a longer life. The ergonomic 2-finger trigger design reduces user fatigue and the heavy duty reservoir is light-weight yet will not dent, crack, leak or rust even under heavy use.

Ridgid tools including the Ridgid Oiler can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Troubleshooting a garbage disposal

If you are having problems with a garbage disposal, first turn it off. Then, reach under the sink and feel for the small Reset button. Reset your unit by pressing this button in all the way. Turn the unit back on and check to see if the problem has been fixed. If it has, you are done! If it has not, check the circuit breaker to make sure that a fuse has not been blown and test the outlet and electrical connections to make sure that everything is functioning properly. If no problem is found, it might be time to replace either the motor or the entire unit.

Garbage disposals and other faucets and fixtures including Kohler, Moen, and Delta can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

When to use a bronze pump

If you are transporting potable (or drinking) water, you will need to use a bronze pump. This means that for all plumbing systems, bronze must be used instead of cast iron. You might also need a bronze pump if you are using it for heating water but your tubing does not have an oxygen barrier. And remember, if you are using a bronze pump, be sure to also use bronze flanges.

Taco pumps including bronze Taco pumps and cast iron Taco pumps can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Energy Savings with Dampers

Adding a vent damper to an existing oil-fired boiler or furnace is a very common job. A vent damper prevents chimney losses by closing off a boiler's vent when the boiler isn't firing. Steam boilers benefit from vent dampers more than hot-water boilers, and bigger boilers benefit more than smaller ones by saving a larger percentage of energy usage.

Dampers such as Field Controls OVD Dampers, and other HVAC and Air Quality Products can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Multiple wires in a thermostat

Do you need a 2 wire or 3 wire thermostat? The Wirsbo Heat Only Radiant Thermostats differ only by number of wires. All other features and functions are identical. To find which radiant heat thermostat is for you, simply check your wall to see if there are 2 wires or 3 wires and buy the corresponding thermostat.

Wirsbo thermostats and other thermostats including the Honeywell thermostat can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

The durability of a diamond

Delta Kitchen Faucets featuring Diamond Technology are built to last up to 10 times longer than industry standard faucets. (Industry standard is based on ASME 112.18.1 at 500,000 cycles.) Testing demonstrates that the Diamond valve will last more than 5 million cycles. Waterways have been stress tested at 500 psi (the same psi as fire hydrants), and up to 200° F and will not pit, pinhole, scale or corrode in any way.

Delta Kitchen Faucets, Kitchen Faucets, and Bathroom Faucets can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

The Tekmar 519 is a great thermostat to use with a radiant heating system. To be sure that your wood never bends or warps due to high temperatures, this thermostat comes ready with a compatible floor sensor. Tekmar 519 Thermostat

You can find a variety of Tekmar thermostats and many other thermostats at www.SupplyHouse.com.

How does a gate valve work?

A gate valve has a mechanism to lift when water flows through in a specified direction. The sealing surface between the gate and the seats is flat and when water is not flowing through, a normally closed gate valve will have a seal on this surface.
Gate valves and other plumbing valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How does a grease trap work?

Grease traps intercept any oil or grease from the flow of water leaving your sink (or dishwasher). When the mixture of water and grease enters the trap, it begins to cool. As it cools, the grease and oil separate out of the water and rise to the top of the grease trap. The water continues flowing, eventually leaving the grease trap while the grease and oil remain inside. You will need to clean the grease and oil out when your grease trap gets around half full.

Grease traps and Grease trap accessories can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Line set installation tip

When feeding a new line set through a wall, it is typically easier to feed the lines "out" from the inside of the house rather than "in" from the outside. This will minimize any damage to the suction line insulation when feeding the tube through the wall. It is always advisable to slowly roll the lines open to avoid putting any crimps in the copper. If you are faced with a tight radius bend, cut the suction line and braze a 90° or 45° fitting to avoid kinking the flexible tube.

Line sets, HVAC Air quality products, refrigerant line sets and air conditioning line sets can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Outdoor sensors

Honeywell VisionPro Thermostats can be wired using an Outdoor Sensor. This sensor can be installed with up to 200 feet of wire to get outside and will allow a VisionPro to accurately display the outdoor temperature. Using the outdoor temperature as a guide, indoor temperatures can be programmed for maximum energy efficiency while maintaining optimal comfort in your home.

Honeywell Thermostats such as the TH8110U1003, TH8320U1008 and TH8321U1006 can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Connecting from 5/16" PEX

If you need to go from 5/16" PEX tubing to 1/2" PEX tubing, there are several parts needed to make the connection. If you are using compression connections, you will need a QS style 5/16" fitting assembly with R20 thread, a nipple with R20 thread, and another QS style fitting assembly for 1/2". insert the 5/16" assembly into your 5/16" PEX, screw the nipple onto the open end, and screw the other end of the nipple onto the R20 end of your 1/2" PEX fitting assembly.

If you are going from 5/16" PEX tubing to 1/2" copper pipe, you will need the same 5/16" QS style fitting assembly and an R20 thread copper pipe adapter. No nipple is necessary when going to copper.

PEX Fittings, PEX, and PEX pipe can all be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Takagi T-K3

The Takagi T-K4 Heater is only 14 inches wide and will fit in even the tightest spaces. Having a small unit means that there is less time for the water to travel within the unit and less energy is wasted. Safety is also constantly monitored in a T-K3 with an advanced system of circuits and sensors checking for over or under-heating, freeze conditions, gas levels, water levels, and even air and venting conditions. Available Takagi Tankless Water Heaters include the T-K4-IN-NG, the T-K4-IN-LP, T-KJR2-IN-NG, T-KJR2-IN-LP, and many more.

Takagi Tankless Heaters including the T-K4 Tankless Water Heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

You'll never see a plumber bite his nails!

Nail biting isn't an easy thing to quit, so if you want to continue, get a pair of red painted palm gloves! Your hands will be fresh and clean even after the most sticky situations. And the red color is stylish enough to accessorize any outfit.

Gloves and other plumbing supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

PEX to copper connections

When connecting PEX Tubing to copper tubing, you can either connect directly to the copper pipe or to the copper pipe through a copper fitting. If you are using a fitting as a go-between, you will need a PEX Copper Fitting Adapter. A copper fitting and copper pipe have different inside diameters, so a PEX Copper Pipe Adapter will not work if you are connecting via a fitting and a PEX Copper Fitting Adapter will not work if you are connecting straight to the pipe.

PEX Fittings and other supplies for PEX Plumbing can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Can programmable thermostats really save energy?

Yes, programmable thermostats can save energy and save you money on utility bills. According to the the U.S. Department of Energy, a programmable thermostat can reduce heating costs by up to 35% and cooling costs by up to 25%. Your savings will largely depend on the length of your energy saving program periods and the temperatures set. For example, an energy saving period of 10 hours with the temperature set back 10° will save more than a 5 hour energy saving period with the temperature set back 5°. Source: Lux

Lux thermostats including Lux programmable thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How do you attach flanges?

Flanges will attach to your pipe through the threads by simply screwing them into place. Flanges have female thread, so you will need a pipe with male thread or a male connector on the end of your pipe. Any brand flanges will fit any brand pump, so you can use Grundfos flanges on a Grundfos pump such as the UPS15-58FC, or on a Taco pump. Flanges come in pairs, so when you purchase one set, you get flanges for both sides of your pump.

The Grundfos UPS15-58FC pump (part number 59896341) and other Grundfos pumps and Taco pumps can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What tool for AquaPEX?

When using AquaPEX Tubing, you can use any tool for connections. The only thing to make sure of is that the fittings match the tool. With AquaPEX, you can use the HydroPEX clamping tool, the Watts crimping tool, the Wirsbo expander tool, the Viega PEX Press tool or no tool at all using SharkBite Fittings. Since AquaPEX is a PEX-a quality material, all tools will work, creating secure connections.

PEX Tubing and other parts for PEX Plumbing can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Replacement aquastat for kickspace heater

The Beacon Morris 2024 is a Low Temperature (120°F) Aquastat Assembly which is a replacement part for the Beacon Morris Twin-Flo III KickSpace Heaters. Temperature source water, cut in is at 120°F which makes it ideal for solar or radiant heat.

Beacon Morris Kickspace heaters and kick space heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Refrigeration lines for line sets

When purchasing refrigeration lines, measure the length of line set needed to connect your outdoor condenser to the indoor forced air equipment. Based on that length, the correct size diameter line set can be selected which will ensure your system meets the listed SEER rating and capacity. Once you have accurately measured the length needed, use our chart below to find the diameter best for your system.

Line sets and other air quality products can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Can the wiring for two circuits touch in a zone valve?

Even if two circuits touch at a transformer, they still do not communicate or interfere with each other in any way. As long as there is only one point of contact between the two circuits, they will act independently and will not be affected by each other.

Zone valves and other zone controls and heating supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How to install a floor sensor

Use PEX as a conduit for floor sensors in radiant heat: Take a small piece of extra PEX and slide the sensor into it. When you pour the concrete, make sure that the PEX sticks up so that that area will not be filled. This way, if you ever need to replace the sensor, you don't need to break your slab.

Wirsbo Floor Sensors and other other parts for hydronic radiant heat can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Measurements of the HFT1200 Manifold

The HydroPEX HFT1200 12 outlet 1" Manifold with 1/2" PEX Outlets and 3/4" PEX Inlets is a copper manifold to be used with radiant heat systems. This part is approximately 26.75 inches long and has 1.5 inches of space between outlets.

Radiant heat manifolds and other heating supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Controlling your humidifier

Honeywell TrueSTEAM Humidifiers are controlled either manually or with a Honeywell thermostat. All of the TrueSTEAM models with "w/VisionPro IAQ Control" in the product name come with a Honeywell VisionPro Thermostat, ready to connect to and control your humidifier. You can use this thermostat to change both the temperature and the humidity of a room to find your optimal comfort level.

Honeywell humidifiers and Honeywell thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Taco 1400 Series High Capacity Green Pumps

For heating jobs requiring more than a standard heat pump, Taco offers the 1400 Series High Capacity Pumps. These pumps feature a flow range of up to 147 GPM, and a head range of up to 51 ft.

Heating pumps including Taco 1400 Pumps can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Installation Instructions for the DT-2

To install your Bell & Gossett DT-2 Drain-O-Tank Air Charger, follow these easy steps:
1. Isolate the compression tank in which the Drain-O-Tank is to be installed with shut of valves or drain the system.
2. Apply pipe joint compound conservatively to the male 1/2" NPT threads only.
3. Screw Drain-O-Tank into Compression Tank fitting on bottom of tank and tighten securely.
4. Repressurize the system.

Expansion tanks including the Bell & Gossett Drain-O-Tank can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Changing cast iron pipe sizes

To go from one size cast iron pipe to another size, you will need a cast iron reducer. Reducers are available in many different sizes from 1/2" to 3".

Cast iron reducers and other pipe fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

HydroPEX for plumbing

HydroPEX tubing is typically used for plumbing applications. Blue tubing is used for cold water and red water is used for hot water. This makes looking at your plumbing system and knowing exactly which tube goes where easy.

PEX Plumbing supplies and PEX Tubing can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

The HydroLevel Water Feeder VXT-120V comes set with a 2 minute delay before feed, a feed setting of LWCO, maximum steam pressure of 15 PSI, maximum water supply pressure of 150 PSI, maximum amp draw of .2 amp (120 VAC), and water flow of 1 GPM.

HydroLevel products and other water feeders such as McDonnell Miller Water Feeders can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Which backflow preventer do I need?

Your local water company will determine which backflow preventer is required for your home. For a general guideline, if there are any chemicals entering your water or if your home is located near a pond, river, lake, or ocean, you will need an RPZ Assembly Backflow Preventer. If you are using a sprinkler system with no chemicals, you will need a Double Check Backflow Preventer. If you need to isolate an internal element (such as a coffee machine, ice maker, etc) you can use a Pressure Vaccuum Breaker. Note: Pressure Vaccuum Breakers do not protect external water supplies.

Backflow preventers can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

The Everything 'Stat Compatibility

The Lux non-programmable Everything 'Stat is compatible with most 24v Gas, Oil, Electric Heating and Air Conditioning Systems, Single and Multi-stage Heat Pumps, 2 Wire Hydronic Systems, Hydronic Air Handlers, and Millivolt Systems. This thermostat is NOT compatible with 3 Wire Hydronic Systems or Line Voltage Systems (Without Transformer.

Lux Thermostats and other thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How often should I clean a grease trap?

A grease trap should be cleaned whenever it gets around half full. Depending on the size of your grease trap and your grease usage, the time that it will take to fill will vary. To be sure that everything will function properly, it is recommended that your grease trap gets fully emptied once per month.

Grease traps and other plumbing supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What is a vacuum breaker?

A vacuum breaker is a less complex version of a backflow preventer. It is a small anti-siphon device used to prevent contaminated water (or any other unwanted water supply) from entering your water supply.

Vacuum breakers and other plumbing supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Grille for Kickspace Heaters

Beacon Morris Kickspace heaters do not come with a grille. The grille covers the face of the heater, and is the part that is seen from your room. Grilles are available in several patterns and colors, so you will be sure to find one that fits your decor.

Kickspace heaters and kickspace heater grilles can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What is a flange union?

A flange union is a pair of flanges used to hold two pieces of pipe together. The flanges get screwed together and the pipe is attached through threads on the flange. To complete a flange union connection, you will need two flange unions, screws, and your pipe to be connected.

Flange unions and other pipe fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How to properly size a tankless water heater

To calculate how many GPM (gallons per minute) you need your tankless water heater to accommodate, you can add the GPM usages of the worst-case scenario for how many appliances you will be using at one time. Bathroom Faucets use 1 GPM, Bathtubs 4-10 GPM, Showers 2 GPM, Kitchen Sinks 1.5 GPM, Dishwashers 1.5 GPM, and Washing Machines 4 GPM.

So, if your worst-case scenario would be two showers and a washing machine operating at the same time, you would need your tankless heater to give 2 + 2 + 4 or 8 GPM.

Tankless water heaters including Takagi Tankless Water Heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Flanges with a drain for an easy job

If you need to bleed or fill a system with a heat pump, flanges with a drain will make this job a lot easier. Isolation is key when working with a heating system in order to make a fix or replacement to one part without disrupting or having to re-work with everything else. Webstone makes isolation flanges with drain that work with any standard heat pump such as Taco pumps and Grundfos pumps.

Pumps & Flanges such as Webstone isolation flanges can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How to fix a gas-fired stove

If your gas-fired stove is having problems firing, check your gas valve. Make sure that the gas valve is turned on and is functioning properly. Gas valves in the "off" position have caused much unnecessary stress when the stove will not turn on!

Gas valve units and other Honeywell heating supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Radiant Heat Manifolds

Mr. PEX Manifolds for radiant heat come with both the supply and return manifolds. These manifolds should be attached to each other before the tubing is secured to the outlets. The tubing will start from the supply manifold, run the distance of the loop (no longer than 300 feet!) and then come back to the return manifold where the water will be sent back to the boiler to heat up.

Radiant heat manifolds and other radiant heat supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What's in the box for my garbage disposal?

The Insinkerator Septic Assist Garbage Disposal includes: a Quick Lock Sink Mount, Quiet Collar Sink Baffle, Jam-Buster Wrench, Anti-Vibration Tailpipe Mount, Anti-Vibration Mount, Stainless Steel Sink Stopper, and Bio-Charge Injection Technology.

Garbage disposals and Insinkerator garbage disposals such as the Septic Assist can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Tool for attaching a MANABLOC

The Brass PEX Crimp MANABLOC manifolds can only be attached using a Crimping Tool with copper crimp rings such as the Watts Crimp Tool. A clamping tool with stainless steel clamps will not properly attach to your manifold and the connections will not be secure.

PEX Plumbing manifolds such as the Manabloc system can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Switching relays with priority

Taco Switching Relays are available with and without "Priority". When a switching relay has priority, it means that you set a zone to be the one that is most important. In other words, if changing one zone's temperature will change another slightly, a switching relay with priority will be sure to keep the designated "priority" zone at the exact temperature that you want it to be, while allowing the other zones to vary slightly if need be.

Taco heating supplies and switching relays can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Accustat Thermostats with Sensors

Accustat thermostats work with sensors for specific temperatures. If you have a heat only thermostat and a 70 ° sensor, the thermostat will call for heat until the room reaches 70 °. Multiple sensors can be purchased to set different temperatures at different times.

Accustat thermostat and other thermostats such as Honeywell thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

More outlets in the manifold

Multiple manifolds can be joined together to create one large manifold with the exact number of outlets that you need. Manifolds can be combined using a standard 1" copper coupling. When in doubt, it is always better to have an extra outlet (and plug that loop) than to not have enough. If you will ever need to add lines in the future, simply remove the plug and the manifold will function properly with the new loop.

Uponor plumbing supplies such as ProPEX Manifolds can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Easy service air valve

Honeywell Braukmann EA122A air valves include a built-in brass shutoff valve. This allows the unit to be serviced without needing to shut down the system first. This substantially cuts down the time required to do the job and makes replacing your air valve a relatively easy task!

Air valves and Honeywell Air Valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Grundfos Sump Pumps

Grundfos Sump Pumps are solids handling pumps, meaning that both liquids and solids smaller than 3/8" can fit through. Grundfos pumps are corrosion and impact resistant, feature automatic operation and will work continuously when fully submerged in fluid from 40 (°) F to 120 (°) F.

You can buy a Grundfos sump pump at www.supplyhouse.com.

Go wireless and control the temperature from anywhere in your home

New wireless temperature control systems allow you to use a portable comfort control to adjust the temperature from anywhere in your home. The Honeywell Wireless FocusPro kit provides everything you need install the system without running new wires.

The Honeywell Wireless FocusPro line is available at www.supplyhouse.com and includes a portable comfort control, equipment interface module, wireless adapter, and wireless outdoor sensor, which can also be purchased individually.

Criss-Crossing Pipes

When you need to cross one copper pipe over another, a Propress Cross-Over is the best solution. With a cross-over, the pipe using the fitting will effortlessly cross above the other pipe. The pipes will not be forced to touch each other, preventing potential heat loss. To connect these fittings, you will need a Rigid Propress Tool.

Propress copper cross-overs and rigid propress tools are available at www.supplyhouse.com.

Gas Valve Safety

When installing a gas valve, it is always recommended that you first install a gas shut-off valve, which serves as a backup safety precaution that will shut off your gas completely if necessary. They close a line and stop the flow of gas when a pre-set condition occurs, such as excess flow, a pressure pulse from a broken line, or a temperature change from an idle burner. Most use a ball design with a metal ball on a pedestal that opens a valve, allowing gas to flow through. When a sufficient leak or shaking occurs, the ball drops from the pedestal, closing the valve and shutting off the flow of gas.

You can find gas valves and water and gas safety shut-off valves at www.supplyhouse.com.

Towel Warmers- not just for warming your towels

Runtal Electric Towel Warmers can be used to heat your bathroom as well as keeping your towels toasty warm for you to enjoy after a shower. Runtal Towel Warmers radiate heat evenly and quietly throughout the space and can be used either as supplemental heat or the sole source of heat in your bathroom.

Runtal towel warmers and Amba Towel Warmers can be found at www.supplyhouse.com.

Cleaner air with UV Treatment Systems

Ultraviolet treatment systems been used in hospitals, restaurants, nursing homes and water treatment facilities for decades to maintain clean, fresh air. It is duct-mounted at the air conditioner coil of an HVAC system to help prevent mold and mildew from forming on the air conditioner coil and drain pan (when this happens to on an air conditioner, it can lower the efficiency of the cooling system and can allow unwanted odors into the home).

UV treatments are affordable for home installation and are recommended for homes and families with children or elderly residents, for humid climates, closed windows and dry climate in winter, frequent cleaning of air conditioning ductwork, or use of use of antimicrobial products.

Honeywell TrueUV Coil Treatment Systems and replacement bulbs can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How does a reverse osmosis faucet work?

The process of reverse osmosis uses a semi-permeable membrane and forces the water to flow from one side of the membrane to the other. This blocks anything that is larger than a water molecule between the membranes and will not allow it into your drinking water. With a reverse osmosis faucet, bacteria, chemicals, contaminants, chlorine, and all other particles will be left behind the membrane to drain away, leaving only pure, pollutant-free water coming out of your tap.

Reverse osmosis faucets as well as a wide selection of other faucets can be found at www.supplyhouse.com.

Using dampers for zone temperature control

Mechanical zone dampers can be used with a single furnace to direct airflow in your home through the ductwork. This allows you to manage the temperature in different areas of your home based on your needs (alternative for a programmable thermostat).

Dampers and other zone temperature control products can be found at www.supplyhouse.com.

How to replace the power head on your zone valve

If just the power head is broken or damaged on your Honeywell Zone Valve, it is easy and inexpensive to change. To do so, loosen the two screws securing the head in place and pull the broken or damaged head off. Replace with your new head and tighten the screws, connecting each wire to the same spot as in the old head. To avoid injury or other issues, be sure to turn off the power before moving the wires.

Honeywell Zone Valves, zone valve parts and zone valve replacement heads can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Attaching multiple female threaded fittings

Black nipples have NPT (National Pipe Thread) on each side. With a nipple, you can thread anything with female NPT threading of the same size (1/2" fitting for a 1/2" nipple, 3/4" fitting for a 3/4" nipple) and create a secure connection.

Plumbing nipples and other plumbing supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Burnham Alliance Indirect Water Heaters feature easy installation and easy access for service

A top mount removable heat exchanger with double o-ring design eliminates the need for welds between the piping and the tank and allows for easy installation and quick service calls. The coil comes already installed and can be easily turned to line up with the boiler and domestic water piping on replacement installations. And, all connections are located on the top of the tank and all of the controls are located on the front of the tank for easy service and installation. The heat exchanger can be removed without having to drain the tank.
Burnham Water Heaters and Indirect Water Heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Replacing the cartridge instead of the pump

If just the cartridge in your Taco Pump is no longer working, you can replace that part instead of purchasing a whole new pump. This is especially useful for bronze pumps, where the casing is the most expensive component. Taco makes their pumps with easy-to-remove cartridges, and often, with a new cartridge, your pump will run like new.

Taco pumps and Taco replacement cartridges can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Transporting Ridgid Tools

Avoid damage to your Ridgid XL-C Rings with a Ridgid Carrying Case. This 7.6 pound carrying case will definitely pass the test of time and keep your tools safe as you take them to a job site or store them. Maintaining the integrity of your tools is one of the best ways to keep them in good shape for many years, and carrying cases such as this one will allow you to keep your tools free of dents, rust, and damage.

RIDGID Tools and other plumbing tools can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Baseboards vs. baseboard covers

What's the difference between a baseboard and a baseboard cover? The baseboard heater comes with copper pipe inside of it, ready to be installed and for hot water to flow through. The baseboard heater cover comes with everything that the baseboard unit comes with except for the copper pipe. End caps, filler sleeves and other accessories are all sold separately.

Slantfin Baseboard Heaters, Fine Line Baseboard and Base Line Baseboard can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

HydroPEX Connections

HydroPEX connections are made using the HydroPEX CinchClamp Ratchet Tool and stainless steel clamps. To make a 90 degree bend in your PEX Tubing in a tight spot, you can use a HydroPEX Elbow. To make the connection, slide the clamp over your PEX Tubing and then slide the elbow inside of your PEX. Take the clamping tool and secure the clamp down, tightening the tubing around the fitting and keeping it in place.

PEX Tubing and PEX Fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Save energy with tankless

Tankless water heaters help to cut down your bills by reducing overall energy consumption. Instead of keeping a set amount of water constantly hot, a tankless water heater allows you to only heat the water that you need when you need it. Paloma Tankless Water Heaters have passed rigorous tests and all have an Energy Factor of .80 or higher.

Tankless water heater units and accessories can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Gallon Capacity of Grease Traps

Grease traps are sized by the gallons per minute (GPM) that they process, not by the gallon capacity that they hold. When deciding which grease trap is right for your application, the important factor is how much fluid will be flowing through the grease trap at any given time, not how much grease will sit in the steel box. If your grease trap holds a smaller amount of grease, you will have to clean it out more frequently, but it will still function properly. However, if your grease trap cannot handle the flow coming through it, it will not work.

Zurn Grease Traps and Grease Interceptors can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Energy Efficient Boilers

Viessmann Boilers, some of the most popular boilers in the world, are also some of the most energy efficient boilers available on the market. These condensing modulating boilers are 94 % efficient and come with a stainless steel heat exchanger. These boilers are also incredibly quiet with almost silent operation. A standard refridgerator makes more noise than a Viessmann Boiler.

Boilers, hot water heaters and energy efficient products can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Specifications of a SlimLine Hy-Vent

The Taco SlimLine Hy-Vent features a bubble breaker. The SlimLine can withstand conditions up to 150 psi and 240 degrees F. The maximum venting pressure is 115 psi.

Air Valves and Taco Air Vents can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How to keep the wiring neat from your thermostat to your pump

Most thermostats are 24 volt, while most pumps use 110 volts. You will need some type of relay to join these units together without a mess of wiring in between. So, even if you only have 1 zone, you will still need a switching relay to make the wiring easy, neat and clean to always know what is what.

Taco Switching Relays including the SR501-4 1 Zone Switching Relay can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Placement of your water feeder

To determine the location for your McDonnell Miller Water Feeder, you can use this rule of thumb: the feeder is usually mounted one third (1/3) of the way up from the bottom of the tank. This provides two thirds (2/3) of the tank for return condensate.

Water Feeders can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Sealing your PEX Tubing in place

The following products can be used when sealing PEX tubing and slab-penetration protection devices:

Latex caulk
Latex foam
Silicone sealant
Polyurethane expanding foam

The misapplication of these products could result in pooling or puddling of the products around the PEX tubing, a practice that is prohibited.

PEX Tubing for radiant heat can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Installing a submersible sewage pump

Follow these steps to install a sewage pump. First, secure a male adapter to the pump and attach about 3 to4 feet of 2" PVC pipe. Glue the PVC into the male adapter and let it stand to dry. Then, set the pump on the bottom of the pit and install the pit lid with the discharge pipe approximately 2 feet above the lid. Then, you can install the check valve in the system and finish running your discharge pipe to your sewer line. A vent line must also be installed if one is not already there. To do this, run a 2" line from about 6" from under the pit lid to a vent line in your sewer system.

Zoeller sewage pumps and Little Giant sewage pumps can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What pressure should I test my radiant heat system at?

Every radiant heat system needs to be pressure tested before, during, and after you lay out your PEX tubing. When performing a pressure test, you should set the system to 60 psi. In standard heating system operation, you will never go much above 30 psi, but it is good to test at a higher psi so that you are prepared for all worst case scenarios.

PEX Tubing for radiant heat and other radiant heat supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Save on fuel with an air valve

Each time that your thermostat calls for heat, a Gorton Air Valve will save a bit of energy, and money on fuel. Gorton's valves make radiators heat faster with their fast venting action. Each time the radiator is turned on, vapor will do the initial heating so that there will not be fuel wasted by the boiler firing to build up pounds of pressure.

Gorton Air Valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Kitchen faucet repairs

When replacing or repairing a kitchen faucet, the first step should always be to turn off the water at the fixture shutoff valves or at the main shutoff valve. You can then open the faucet to drain the pipes before beginning the repair or replacement.

Kitchen faucets including Delta Kitchen Faucets, Kohler Kitchen Faucets, and Moen Kitchen Faucets can be found at www.supplyhouse.com