PEX Tools for Using PEX Tubing

PEX tubing is widely known for being lees expensive an easier to work with than copper tubing. Aside from flexibility and ease of fixing repairs, there are several tools that help make PEX tubing easier to install, such as the PEX uncoiler and the PEX cutter tool. The PEX cutter tool even has a replacement blade so that you can continue to use it if it ever gets dull in the future without replacing the entire tool. Check out these and other PEX tools at www.supplyhouse.com.

Not Sure Which Humidifier You Need? We Can Help!

Try out our new Honeywell TrueSteam Humidifier in the Resource Center. With just a few simple questions, we can help you figure our the correct size unit for your home. After entering the size of your home and some basic information about the construction, you will have to which type of control you want.

There are four main types of controls to choose from: mechanical humidistat, digital humidistat, digital touchscreen thermostat, and wireless thermostat. A humidistat allows you to use the humidifier with your existing thermostat if it has humidification control. If your current thermostat does not have humidification control of if you just want to upgrade, the VisionPro touchscreen thermostat is one of our most popular thermostats. It allows you to create a custom program based on your schedule, saves energy and gives you a more accurate temperature reading than mechanical thermostats - all great benefits of digital programmable thermostats. It also has an easy-to-use, sleek looking touchscreen that will look great in your home. Finally, the Honeywell RedLink wireless system is also an option that you can use with the TrueSteam humidifiers. This system is top of the line and can communicate with other components of your system.

Ways to Use Switching Relays

supplyhouse.com offers several types of switching relays. The switching relays combine clearly-labeled PC board layouts with advanced features that enable you to completely customize your system. Whether you’re using basic priority switching Taco Plug-In PowerPort Cards or add-on power controls, the external indicator lights give you instant diagnostic feedback, making service calls or new installation start-ups a snap. All switching relays are UL listed, use standard "ice cube" replaceable relays which are compatible with conventional and programmable thermostats. For larger jobs, switching relays can be expanded up to 20 zones according to your priority.

With the exclusive Taco PowerPort Plug-In Cards, you can easily add such features as post purge, priority protection and pump exercise. Any expandable switching relay can also interface with the Boiler Reset Control and Injection Mixing Add-On Power Controls. Mix-and-match as needed to customize your system.

Honeywell Switching Relays also provide intermediate switching of a line voltage device from a low voltage controller. For more information please click on the individual Honeywell Switching Relays. Honeywell Switching relays come in several different sizes.

There's Still Time to Go Green!

Even if you didn't get a chance to shop for your new energy efficient products on St. Patrick's Day last week, it's not too late to go green! You still have time to take advantage of our sale until the end of the day today - save on our top-selling programmable thermostats, Takagi tankless water heaters, boiler reset controls and Energy Star-rated bathroom ventilation fans. Upgrade to energy efficient products and start saving money on your bills today!

Quickly Calculate Your Quik Trak Needs!

Quik Trak is a great installation option if you want to install radiant heat in an existing home. You can use our new and improved Quik Trak calculator and get an estimate of for the number of Quik Trak plates and the amount of tubing you will need. The calculator is easy to use and has just one simple question: "What is the square footage of the slab or space to be heated?" You can find this tool along with other calculators in our Resource Center.

Amtrol - The Leader in Expansion Tanks

Amtrol designed the first expansion tank in 1954 and is now the market leader. EXTROL has become the world's leading expansion tank with its pre-pressurized technology. It has a unique diaphragm design that will not stretch or fold. It also maintains a closed system for optimal efficiency and longevity.

SupplyHouse.com has any size EXTROL tank you need, as well as a large selection of other Amtrol lines including FILL-TROL, Radiant EXTROL and Therm-X-TROL tanks. Visit our expansion tanks category to find the right tank for your system.

Stylish Ceiling Fans

Remodeling your bathroom? SupplyHouse has a large selection of ventilation fans, including the stylish line of decorative Broan NuTone fans. These fans feature quiet operation and a modern look with a light so the fan is much more discrete than traditional models. They are available in several corrosion-resistant finishes to match any color scheme and fit perfectly in your home.

Check out the NuTone line and other bathroom ventilation fans in our faucets & fixtures category.

Pipe Hangers - New to SupplyHouse!

Carpenter & Paterson pipe hangers and other everyday items have been added to SupplyHouse.com. Stock up on the common items you use on so many jobs, and save even more with special box pricing. You can also find teflon tape, grit cloth, thread sealants and more!

Keep It Neat With Stainless Steel Access Doors

Acudor access doors are a great way to keep your boiler room looking neat and organized by covering up your manifold. You can install an access door to hide your manifold if it is mounted in a bay. SupplyHouse.com offers stainless steel access doors that will hold up to the elements over time. Regular steel manifolds are another option and are significantly cheaper, but may not be as sturdy over the years. Both can be great options depending on your system and the conditions where it is installed. Visit SupplyHouse.com today for access doors and other installation accessories.

DIY Baseboard in Any Color!

Tired of looking ad your old, banged up baseboard? Our DIY Baseboard makes it easy to upgrade without replacing your entire system. These covers slide right on over your existing baseboard, making them look like new in no time, and without paying for someone to install them. You can find a video demonstrating a replacement on our product page. All covers come ready to install with a white glossy finish, but you can paint them any color you want!

We recommend using spray-on, latex paint without primer for an optimal finish (primer is recommended if you have children or if they will be installed in a home with pets that may climb on them). These Baseboard Heater Covers fit most units and are a great addition to your home. Learn more about the product in SupplyHouse's baseboard heater category.

Venting Pipe Can't be Mixed & Matched

When it comes to venting pipe, it's important to choose one brand and stick with it. For example, if you choose a Z-Flex vent kit and realize you need additional pipe to extend the line, you will need to get an additional piece of Z-Vent pipe to make the connection; Takagi pipe will not be compatible. Z-Flex venting pipe and accessories can be found at SupplyHouse.com.

PEX-AL-PEX on Sale - Unbeatable Prices!

Our Rifeng PEX-AL-PEX (Aluminum PEX) is on sale at unbeatable prices while supplies last, plus all sizes ship free! Check out the sale in the Radiant Heat PEX Tubing category today.

Expansion Constraint of Aluminum PEX

Aluminum PEX cannot be expanded because expansion could cause the aluminum layer to tear. Therefore PEX-AL-PEX is always produced as a PEX-b tubing. The main benefits of PEX-AL-PEX are that it holds its shape when bent, and that it has an even lower expansion rate than regular PEX, reducing the amount of noise that is produced as your system heats up.

PEX-AL-PEX is a great option for high-temperature applications such as warmboard, baseboard, fan coils and ice-melt systems. You can find Rifeng PEX-AL-PEX, Uponor MultiCor and Viega FostaPEX at www.supplyhouse.com in the Radiant Heat PEX Tubing category.

Red is Hot, Blue is Cold, What is White for?

The color of PEX tubing does not affect what it can be used for. PEX plumbing tubing is manufactured in different colors only to simplify installation and make it easier and make it easy to identify your hot and cold lines in the future. Typically red tubing is used for hot lines and blue for cold lines, but theoretically you could do the opposite (which could get confusing!) Even with your lines color-coded, it is always a good idea to label the lines at the manifold so you also know which fixture they are going to in case you need to isolate an area for future repair.

White tubing provides another option for installers, for example if they want to buy a larger roll of one color to use for the entire system. In this type of installation it is even more important to clearly label the lines for future identification.

SupplyHouse.com has a large selection of PEX plumbing tubing made by manufacturers including Rifeng and AquaPEX.

Honeywell Dampers for Zoning

Dampers can be used to separate heating different zones in your home. This is a great option for increasing the efficiency of your heating system. In addition to a programmable thermostat, separating zones allows you to heat only parts of the house when you are actually using them. There are several different styles, including the popular Honeywell Round Dampers, available at www.supplyhouse.com.

Options for PEX in Joist Bays

When installing a radiant system in joist bays under a wood sub-floor, you have several options for attaching the PEX tubing. Your PEX tubing should not make direct contact with wood. You can use Joist Trak aluminum heat transfer panels, or alternatively you can suspend the tubing using PEX clips. All the components for each system can be found at SupplyHouse.com. We also have a new Radiant Heat calculator that can tell you which items you will need for your particular system and the quantities of each.

Hot Showers on Demand

Bronze Grundfos circulator pumps can be set to run on a timer so that you can set your system to run based on your schedule. This allows you to schedule your pump to start running at a certain time, such as one hour before you wake up, so you don't have to wait for your shower to heat up as the hot water travels through your pipes. The timer can also be set to shut the pump off when you leave for work so it's not wasting energy by running all day. Similar to a programmable thermostat, the Grundfos programmable timer allows you to run circulator pump based on your schedule to optimize efficiency and comfort! The Grundfos timer and Grundfos bronze circulator pumps are available at www.supplyhouse.com.

No-Tool-Required Fittings

Sharkbite fittings are easy to use, push-fit style fittings. While they are more expensive per peice than crimp or clamp fittings, no tool is required to make the connections. This makes them great for do-it-your-selfers and smaller jobs. Sharkbite fittings, made by Cash-Acme, are available at www.supplyhouse.com.

Everything PEX in One Place

When you're buying material for your next PEX project, look no further than SupplyHouse.com. Our new and improved PEX page is a great starting place, with links to all the categories of products you will be shopping for. Start your shopping here and decide which PEX tubing, PEX fitting system, and controls you want to use. If there is any product you need that is on our site, we can usually special order it for you. Save time and money by shopping at SupplyHouse.com for all your PEX supplies.

Create a Better Seal with the Blue Monster!

Blue Monster thread seal tape is a new product that is quickly becoming popular because of the high quality seal it creates and how easy it is to use. It is thicker but still more flexible than traditional Teflon tape, creating an effective seal with less tape, and no need for pipe dope. It is compatible with many materials and has an unlimited shelf life. Visit SupplyHouse.com to make your work easier and make the switch to Blue Monster thread seal tape today.