What type of PEX Tubing should I use for hot and cold water (plumbing)?

SupplyHouse.com sells two types of PEX Tubing that is designed for potable water. These are Wirsbo Aquapex and Zurn PEX Non Barrier Tubing. The Uponor Aquapex Tubing is the industry leading line of potable water tubing that meets all of the industry standards. At SupplyHouse.com you will see many sizes and lengths of Wirsbo Aqaupex PEX Tubing. The other line of PEX Tubing for potable water is Zurn PEX Non Barrier Tubing. Zurn is an industry leading manufacturer, and their PEX Tubing is made to meet all of the industry standards.

This Blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com. The leader in Pex tubing.

How do I connect supply and return lines to a manifold?

There are several different options when connecting supply and return lines to a manifold. As usual there are a few questions to consider. First what is the material you would like to run as a supply and return line up to the manifolds? What size is this material? What type of manifold are you using?

If you are using brass or truflow manifolds, the end of the manifold has r32 thread. There are adapters to get from r32 thread to 3/4" PEX, 1" Copper, 1-1/4" Copper, or nominal pipe thread. If you are using a copper manifold, you can simply sweat the supply copper line directly to the manifold. There are also some manifolds that come with propex outlets for supply and return lines. These can be hooked up directly to PEX Tubing using the Wirsbo propex tool.

This Blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com. The leader in Manifolds.

How do I connect PEX Tubing to a manifold?

There are many different types of manifolds. When connecting PEX Tubing to a manifold it is important to remember a few questions. First, what size and type of ports or outlets does the manifold have? Next, can I hook up the PEX Tubing directly to these ports? If you can't hook the tubing directly you will need a fitting assembly to attach the PEX Tubing to the manifold. Finally be sure that the Manifold can handle the size of tubing you are ordering. The most common type of PEX Tubing is 1/2" this can hook up to a Truflow, Brass, or safelink manifold using 1/2" fitting assemblies. These part numbers are A4020500 for compression style, and Q4020500, for Propex Style(requires Propex Tool). Tommorow we will discuss how to hook up the supply and return lines.

This Blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com. The leader in PEX Tubing and Manifolds.

Where can I find more information on Taco Pumps?

Within the next few months, SupplyHouse.com will be changing the format of its website. When this change is made we will add additional product information. Each Taco Pump will have detailed information on all of its key metrics. Until that time you may make use of Taco's website at www.taco-hvac.com. Enter the model number of the Taco Pump you are looking for in the search box and you will find the information you are seeking.

This Blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com. The leader in Taco Pumps.

Does SupplyHouse.com sell air valves?

SupplyHouse.com prides itself in being the online leader in air valves. We sell many different manufactures, including Gorton, Hoffman, Watts, Taco, and more. We also carry many different models from each of these manufacturers. SupplyHouse.com offers all of these air valves at competitive prices.

This Blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com. The leader in air valves.

What type of fittings do I need to connect from a TruFlow manifold to PEX Tubing?

TruFlow manifolds have R20(a name for the size of the thread) outlets to connect to loops run in a hydronic heating system. Wirsbo makes "Fitting Assemblies" to connect from the R20 thread to PEX Tubing. There are three types of fitting assemblies sold at SupplyHouse.com. QS-Style fitting assemblies which are compression style and require no special tool, Propex fitting assemblies which require a Propex Expander tool, and Multicor compression style fitting assemblies which are made for use with Multicor PEX-AL-PEX Tubing.

This Blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com. The leader in TruFlow Manifolds.

What is ThermaPEX and where can I buy it?

ThermaPEX is a new line of PEX Tubing that will be for sale in early December 2005. ThermaPEX is PEX-A Tubing that is manufactured with an Oxygen Barrier. The Tubing is designed for use in radiant heat and snow melt systems. The tubing meets all of the latest standards and requirements and will have a 25 year warranty. ThermaPEX will only be available at SupplyHouse.com, the leader in PEX Tubing.

This Blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com. The leader in PEX Tubing.

Which Manifold would you reccomend for a Radiant Heat System?

Wirsbo's Truflow Manifold is the best selling manifold at SupplyHouse.com. This manifold comes with supply and return manifold, and hooks up easily to PEX tubing. Connections to PEX Tubing are made using Wirsbo Propex Fitting Assemblies (If you have the Propex Tool) or Wirsbo QS-Style Fitting Assemblies (Compression Style). Took hook the main supply and return lines up to the manifold, you will need an adapter. The adpaters may be used for pex or copper and are made to fit different sizes.

This Blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com. The leader in Wirsbo Manifolds.

What type of PEX Tubing should I use for my Radiant Heat System?

SupplyHouse.com sells two types of tubing and three name brands that may be used for radiant heating. The two types of tubing are oxygen barrier PEX Tubing and PEX-aluminum- PEX Tubing. The three different brands are Wirsbo, Zurn, and Safelink Mr. PEX Tubing. There are five different products that we sell that may be used for radiant heating. These are Wirsbo Hepex Tubing, Wirsbo Multicor Tubing, Zurn Barrier PEX Tubing, Safelink Mr. PEX Barrier Tubing, and Safelink PEX-Al-PEX Tubing.

This blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com the online leader in PEX Tubing.

What is the most popular circulating pump sold on SupplyHouse.com?

The Taco 007-F5 Circulating Pump is the most popular pump sold on SupplyHouse.com. It is ideal for most radiant and hydronic heating applications.

This blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com the online leader in Taco 007 Pumps.

What is PEX A tubing?

The term PEX A comes from European standards and is not a rating system of any kind. PEX A tubing refers to PEX Tubing made using the Engel Method of crosslinking. This can get quite technical but for those who are interested we will provide information on the Engel method in more detail.

According to www.pfahome.org "The "Engel" or peroxide method employs a special extruder with a plunger action where peroxide is added to the base resin and through a combination of pressure and high temperature the cross-linking takes place as the tubing is produced."

WIrsbo PEX Tubing and Mr. PEX Tubing are PEX A Tubing made using the Engel Method.

This blog is sponsored by supplyhouse.com the leader in PEX Tubing Information.

Do you sell Controls for Hydronic Heating Systems?

SupplyHouse.com sells a wide variety of controls for hydronic heating systems. These include controls by Taco, Honeywell, Wirsbo, and more. If there is a contorl that you are looking for but don't see on the site, send an e-mail to admin@supplyhouse.com and we'll try to find it for you.

SupplyHouse.com the online leader in Radiant Heat Controls.

Which Honeywell Thermostats do you carry?

SupplyHouse.com sells many different models of Honeywell Thermostats. We are willing to match prices with any published price on the web. We are always adding different models. To find more information on a particuliar honeywell themostat, go to www.honeywell.com and enter the model number of the search box on the right and click the red button. If there is a model number you would like but don't see listed, e-mail us at sales@supplyhouse.com and we'll try to find it for you.

This blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com the online leader in Honeywell Thermostats.

What is the difference between Wirsbo Aquapex Tubing and Wirsbo HePex PEX Tubing?

Wirsbo makes several different models of PEX Tubing. The two most popular are the Wirsbo Aquapex and Wirsbo HePEX Tubing. There is a distinct difference between these two products. Wirsbo HePEX Tubing has an oxygen diffusion barrier to prevent rusting of metal components. Therefore HePEX is designed for use in radiant heat systems. Conversely, Wirsbo Aquapex doesn't have an oxygen barrier and is designed for potable water (drinking water) systems.

This blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com the leader in Wirsbo PEX Tubing.

How do I make connections when using PEX Tubing?

There are three main types of PEX connections. These are connections using an expander tool, connections using a crimping tool or connections using compression fittings that don't require a special tool. The Wirsbo Propex fitting are expander type fittings. The Wirsbo Propex fittings require the Wirsbo expander tool and rings. The Wirsbo SSC fittings and Zurn Quiksert Fittings are crimp style fittings. These fittings require the WIrsbo SSC clamping tool. Finally the Wirsbo QS Style fittings will allow you to make connections without the use of a special tool. These are compression style fittings.

This blog is sponored by supplyhouse.com the online leader in PEX Tubing.

What does "IFC" mean when I see it at the end of Taco Pumps?

IFC stands for integral flo-check. For example a 007-IFC would be a Taco 007 Pump with an integral flo-check . The IFC models are made for each of the oo series pumps. However, we only stock the most popular models. Those that are not on our site may be purchased over the phone.

This blog is sponsored by supplyhouse.com the online leader in Taco Pumps.

When should I use Joist Trak?

Wirsbo Joist Trak is for use in joist heating applications. Joist Trak should be used in suspended floor applications where access to the joists is available.

This blog is sponsored by Supply House.com the leader in Wirsbo Joist Trak.

Why is PEX Tubing different colors?

PEX Tubing comes in many different colors. These include white, red, blue, orange, and several others. The color of the PEX is mainly used to distinguish hot and cold lines in potable water systems. For radiant heat, different manufacturers may use different colors. However, there is no material difference from one color to another. Difference in PEX Tubing comes from the way the tubing is made and the material that is used to create it.

This blog is sponsored by supplyhouse.com the leader in PEX Tubing.

Which Taco Pump do I need for my system?

Pump or circulator selection is an important part of any hydronic heating system. Supply House sells a wide variety of Taco Pumps. Each pump is designed for specific levels of GPM and feet of head. In order to match the pump perfectly to the heating system you will need this information. A Taco 007 Pump is suitable for most hydronic heating applications. For more detailed infromation on Taco pumps go to www.Taco-hvac.com.

This blog is sponsored by www.supplyhouse.com the online leader in Taco Pumps.

When do I need an Oxygen Barrier for PEX Tubing?

PEX Tubing comes in several forms. When installing a radiant heat system that contains ferrous (metal) materials, you must use a PEX Tubing w/ an oxygen barrier. This tubing will prevent rusting of the metal components in the system. If there are metal componenets and the installed tubing doesn't have an oxygen barrier, the components will rust. Metal components in a hydronic heating system might include pumps, valves, and anything else that may come into contact with water.

This blog is sponsored by SupplyHouse.com, the online leader in Oxygen Barrier PEX Tubing.