Make it easy to fix a mistake

With a PEX Ring Cutter, mistakes are much more forgivable. This lightweight yet heavy-duty tool will quickly remove copper crimp rings from 1/2", 3/4" or 1" PEX Tubing. If a ring has not been tightened properly or if you accidentally inserted a tee instead of an elbow, you can just cut the ring off and re-use that fitting where you need it.

PEX Fittings and PEX Tubing for PEX Plumbing and Radiant Heat can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Make sure there's liquid when using an effluent pump.

Do not run an effluent pump in a dry basin. If an effluent pump is run in a dry basin, the surface temperature of the pump can rise to a dangerously high level. The pump could then burn your skin if touched. The high operating temperatures will also cause serious damage to your pump.

Effluent pumps and Little Giant effluent pumps can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

An advanced thermostat without the complicated installation

The Honeywell IAQ Series VisionPro Thermostats are more than just a thermostat, they are a control center for your home. They are able to control heating sources, cooling sources, ventilation, humidification, and de-humidification all from one source. And the best part? The thermostat installs with only 3 wires in your wall. The equipment interface module (EIM) gets installed in your boiler room (or wherever you keep your heating equipment) and the rest of the wiring is done right there, without having to go through any walls.

Honeywell thermostats and Honeywell VisionPro thermostats such as the YTH9421C1002 can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How does a B&G Comfort-Trol valve work?

Bell & Gossett Comfort-Trol Zone Valves are opened by a heat motor. Because of this, there is about a two-minute period between the time the thermostat closes (calling for heat) and the time the Comfort-Trol opens. As long as heat is required, the Comfort-Trol is kept in the open position by a built-in control switch, which meters small amounts of electricity to the heat motor. When the thermostat opens (signaling the need for heat has been satisfied), a return spring in the Comfort-Trol slowly closes the Comfort-Trol zone valve.

Heating Valves and Zone Valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

PEX- not just for plumbing

AquaPEX tubing is perfect for plumbing applications, but is also flexible enough to turn into a hula hoop or a variety of other around-the-house projects. And if you get the clear, milky-white color, you can make that hula hoop glow-in-the-dark! Simply place some glow sticks inside of the PEX before connecting it together. When the lights go out, the glow sticks will shine through the PEX and a neon glow will surround you. From our experience, bigger PEX makes better adult hula hoops while smaller PEX is perfect for kids.

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

Installation of a base mount faucet

If there is a base mount in the faucet you will be installing, be sure to put silicone underneath the entire opening. The silicone will ensure a tight seal with your sink and prevent any potential future leaks.

Base mount faucets, such as Delta Classic Faucets and Delta Signature Faucets can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Green inside and out

The RAPL model Rheem Air Conditioners feature Earth-friendly R-410A refrigerant. Since it does not contribute to ozone depletion, R-410A has replaced R-22 to become the preferred refrigerant for use in residential and commercial air conditioners in Japan and Europe, and is quickly gaining in popularity in the United States. Rheem air conditioning units also use a wraparound outdoor coil made of copper tubing and aluminum fins for improved airflow transfer which helps reduce energy consumption.

Air conditioners and mini-split air conditioners can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Replacing an old thermostat

If you purchase a new thermostat to replace an older model, make sure that you do not just throw the old thermostat in the trash. If your new thermostat is replacing a thermostat that contains mercury in a sealed tube, it can not be thrown into the regular garbage. Contact your local waste management authority for instructions on how to properly dispose of the thermostat.

Honeywell thermostats, Robertshaw thermostats and White Rodgers thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Warm up on a cool night

If it's a bit chilly outside on a nice night, you can still enjoy your patio. A Schaefer Patio Heater will add instant warmth and a comforting glow to any backyard or outdoor restaurant. With its sleek look and warm glow, it will even make your patio look nicer. If you live in a colder climate, these patio heaters are also great for utilizing backyard spaces in the months where you might have been able to in the past.

Schaefer Patio Heaters and other Portable Heaters can be found at www.pexsupply.com

Replacing your Honeywell aquastat

To find out what models you can use to replace the aquastat on your boiler, you will need to find the model number of your existing unit. You should look for this number on the unit itself, not on the cover. On Honeywell aquastats, the last four digits indicate the range of the dial and the length of the capillary. This information is important for choosing the correct replacement. The first part of the model number tells you the series.

You can find many different models of Honeywell Aquastats at www.pexsupply.com

Flexibility with a bend support

Not only does a PEX bend support help to keep your PEX tubing free from kinks, but it also greatly increases the bending radius. Without a bend support, Viega PEX Tubing has a bending radius of eight times the outside diameter (for a one inch roll of PEX, OD= 1.125" and bending radius would be 9"). With a bend support, the tubing has a bending radius of five times the outside diameter (one the same one inch roll of PEX, bending radius would be 5.625"). A lower bending radius is good because it means that you can fit that PEX into tighter spaces and move around corners with ease.

PEX Tubing and PEX Bend Supports can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Accessory for T-KJr Tankless Water Heaters

The remote for the Takagi T-KJr2 Tankless Water Heater allows you to monitor both incoming and outgoing water temperatures, and to change the output settings to a different desired temperature from the factory-set temperature. Also, if something ever goes wrong with your T-KJr, the remote will display the error code so that you will know exactly what has malfunctioned and find out, quickly and efficiently, how to get it fixed.

Takagi Tankless Water Heaters and Tankless Heater Accessories can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Clean air is healthy air

The air we breathe is filled with contaminants that can make us sick such as gases, bacteria, mold, and viruses. An air cleaner will help to get rid of anything unwanted in your air and help to keep your family healthy.

Air cleaners and other HVAC products can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Steam Angle Convector Valves

Steam angle convector valves are made of heavy duty bronze with a screwed bonnet, rising stem and composition disc. Each valve is tested twice for air under water, both in the open and closed position.

Radiator valves and other parts for baseboard heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Pipe sizing for a sump pump

When installing a sump pump, the discharge pipe should be the same size as the pump discharge for optimal performance. Using undersized pipe may dramatically reduce the flow and therefore waste energy and money.

Sump pumps and other plumbing pumps can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Kraus Waterfall Faucets

In the last 5 years Kraus has been a leading manufacturer of high end bathroom fixtures. Kraus offers the most exquisite collection of waterfall faucets. This collection includes Kraus waterfall faucets for vessel sinks, under-mount sinks, and even bathtubs. Each faucet is uniquely designed to resemble a waterfall and creates a stylish and serene environment in any bathroom. For many years, Kraus products have only been available in high-end retail stores and would often have a hefty price tag of up to $1000. This all changed when SupplyHouse began selling the Kraus brand. Now, you can turn an ordinary bathroom into a spa-like paradise without spending a lot of money.

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

PEX used with Wirsbo Expander Tools

The Wirsbo Expander Tool can only be used with PEX-a quality tubing. PEX can be made using three distinct processes, creating PEX-a, PEX-b, and PEX-c quality. PEX-a is the highest quality PEX available, the PEX that is most uniform in nature and the PEX that is able to keep a memory of its shape and return to that shape after expansion. When using the Wirsbo Expander Tool, you will stretch the PEX tubing out to the point where PEX-b or PEX-c would not come back, and thus would not create a secure connection. PEX-a's superior quality allows it to be expanded to fit over the fittings and within seconds return to its shape forming snugly around the newly inserted fitting.

Radiant Heat PEX and pipe for PEX Plumbing can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Radiant Heat Efficiency

For every 3 degrees that you can lower the water temperature in your heating system, that system becomes 1% more efficient. This might not seem like much until you look at the average running temperatures of different systems. Baseboard heaters typically run at 180°F while radiant heat runs at 120°F. That is a difference of 60°, or a 20% reduction in your heating costs. Radiant heat will typically be between 15 and 33% more efficient than other heating methods.

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

Installation tips for Taco Venturi Tees

1)Venturi Fittings should be installed on the return side. Where the bypass requires additional flow, place the Venturi Fitting on the supply side. For maximum flow through the bypass, use two Venturi Fittings (one on the return side and one on the supply side).
2) Make sure that the arrows on the Taco Venturi Fittings are pointing in the proper direction for return or supply installation.
3) The Venturi fitting should always be installed with the Venturi marking between the by-pass supply and return lines.

Taco Tees and Venturi Fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Not too close to the edge

When installing a new kitchen sink, you should make sure that it is not too close to the edge of your counter top. To be safe, at least one and a half inches should remain between the edge and the beginning of your new sink.

Kitchen Sinks including Kohler kitchen sinks and Elkay kitchen sinks can be found at www.supplyhouse.com