Pex To Wood Attachment

Attaching PEX Tubing to wood is made simple with a Manual or Pneumatic Clip Gun. Manufactured by Peter Mangone, these clip guns are light-weight and easy to use. The RB-5 Manual Clip Gun and RB-6 Pneumatic Clip Gun are designed to use nails, not staples, guaranteeing quick and sturdy installation.

You can find the RB-5 Manual Clip Gun and the RB-6 Pneumatic Clip Gun, as well as other PEX to Wood Attachment Tools, at www.supplyhouse.com

Find The Perfect Fitting

Not sure which fitting you need? Don't know where to start? Use SupplyHouse.com's Fittings Finder to find the appropriate ProPEX Expander Fitting for your next project. With the convenient selector tool, browse through our large selection of ProPEX Expander Fittings and the different sizes that are availablle. To further assist you with your PEX project, we have included an instructionary video on how to make expander connections. Fittings Finders and videos are also available on our PEX Compression Fittings, HydroPEX Crimp Fittings, SharkBite Push-Fit Fittings, and Multipress PEX-AL-PEX Fittings pages. Now, shopping for for your PEX project is easier than ever.

ProPEX Expander Fittings, PEX Compression Fittings, HydroPEX Crimp Fittings, SharkBite Push-Fit Fittings, and Multipress PEX-AL-PEX Fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com.

Eliminate Shower Drain Odors

The moist and damp conditions in your shower can cause your shower drain to smell and a buildup of hair and soap scum form a breeding ground for bacteria. To eliminate the odor and the germs, clean your strainer regularly by soaking it in vinegar. Also, you can pour half of a small box of baking soda down the drain, followed by 2 cups of vinegar. Let the mixture travel down and bubble inside the drain for an hour. After an hour, pour a gallon of boiling water down the drain to rinse away the gunk. Keep in mind that boiling water should only be used on metal pipes. If you have PEX pipe, run hot tap water down the drain. Boiling water will damage PEX pipe.

Shower drains and PEX Pipe can be found at www.supplyhouse.com.

Under-Sink Plumbing Made Easy

Use RIDGID's Model 2006 Faucet and Sink Installer on your next under-sink plumbing project. It is designed to help you reach and tighten faucet and drain connections, with inserts for turning angle stop handles and handling strainer baskets. Every do-it-yourself-er will find the Faucet and Sink Installer handy for tightening water supply lines, fitting basket strainers, and installing faucet mounting nuts. It is a well designed and easy to use device that will surely earn a permanent place in your tool box.

You can find the RIDGID Faucet and Sink Installer at www.supplyhouse.com

How To Cut PEX

To properly cut PEX pipe, be sure to use the correct PEX Tool: a PEX Cutter. A PEX Cutter is specially designed to cut through PEX pipe evenly. Where a hacksaw or copper pipe cutter may leave jagged and rough edges, a PEX Cutter ensures a clean and smooth cut. When cutting PEX pipe, first use a permanent marker to determine where you are to make the cut. Next, open the blade on the cutter and place the PEX pipe inside. One firm squeeze will cut most of the way through the pipe. To finish, rotate the cutter a quarter-turn before cutting through the rest.

PEX Cutters, along with other PEX Tools and PEX Pipe, can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Regulating Comfort & Safety

While it is extremely important for the temperature of your hot water to be set high enough to kill off dangerous germs and bacteria, scalding injuries are a real danger in households nation-wide. A thermostatic mixing valve, such as the Watts Series MMV-M1 Thermostatic Mixing Valve, regulates water temperature through use of a thermostat in the mixing chamber of the valve. Responding to mixed outlet temperature changes, the thermostat moves the seat assembly, allowing for the cold or hot water inlet ports to release more water. In extreme cases, such as the failure of the cold water supply, the seat assembly would completely shut off the hot inlet water port. Conversely, if the hot water supply were to suddenly fail, the cold inlet water port would be shut off. A thermostatic mixing valve thus regulates a constant outlet temperature, ensuring comfort and safety.

Watts Thermostatic Mixing Valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Why Do I Need An Expansion Tank?

An expansion tank is a necessity in your home. When the temperature in your hot water heater goes up, the water expands. Prior to the days when homes started using backflow preventers and check valves, this excess water would push the cold water back into the water main. Nowadays, however, the water remains in your plumbing system. The installation of an expansion tank prevents this expanded water from causing your hot water heater to malfunction from the increased pressure. When the heated water in your plumbing system expands, this excess water enters the expansion tank. When someone turns on a hot water faucet, hot water leaves the system and the expansion tank releases the extra water back into the water supply.

Expansion Tanks can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Got A LoudMouth?

The SunTouch LoudMouth Meter is a must-have for your every SunTouch Floor Mat project. It monitors heating elements during the entire installation process and (like its name and comical illustration suggests) sounds an audible alarm if cables are cut or damaged. This allows for easy repair before the elements are covered with finished flooring or insulation. Designed for safety, the LoudMouth Meter is a great tool that ensures quality and precision during installation.

The LoudMouth Meter, along with SunTouch Radiant Heated Mats, can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Cover Your PEX

PEX is a leading contender for use in plumbing and heating projects, proving to be more affordable and more versatile than copper pipe. However, when PEX is used in outdoor applications, keep in mind that it cannot be used for outdoor aboveground purposes. In fact, the tubing should always be kept out of sunlight. Prior to installation, store PEX indoors or in the original packaging. Exposure lasting as little as 30 days will cause the PEX to degrade in quality and lose its effectiveness.

Everything you need for your PEX project can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Drain Your Water Heater

Over time, sediment can accumulate in your water heater, which can drift into recirculation lines and jam open check valves. As a layer builds up on the bottom of the tank, small amounts of water can get trapped underneath. When heated, this trapped water turns to steam bubbles, which pop loudly and violently. If left alone, sediment slows heat transfer and overheats the bottom of the tank. This can weaken the steel and damage the glass lining, lowering both the efficiency and the lifespan of your heater. To avoid having to prematurely replace your water heater, you should drain your tank every year or so. How often depends on the source and purity of your water supply. Doing so will flush the sediments away and ensure that your water heater will continue to supply hot water to your home without interruption.

Water Heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Thermocouples For Safety

Gas water heaters utilize a pilot flame to light the main gas burner. If the pilot flame goes out, gas can be dangerously released. To prevent this, a thermocouple is used as a safety device to detect when the pilot light is burning. The tip of the thermocouple is placed in the pilot flame, generating a voltage which operates the supply valve that feeds gas to the pilot. As long as the pilot flame is lit, the thermocouple remains hot, and the pilot gas valve is held open. However, if the pilot flame goes out, the temperature of the thermocouple will drop and the electrical current will be disrupted. The gas supply will then shut off in response.

Thermocouples can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

When To Replace A Sink Strainer

Sink strainers are designed to last a lifetime. However, under some circumstances, you may want to consider getting a new one:

1. If you are getting a new sink, getting a new sink strainer will ensure that the wear will be uniform on both the sink and the strainer.
2. If the sink strainer is leaking and beyond repair, it is time to replace it.
3. Finally, if the sink strainer is old and discolored, you may want to replace it for aesthetic purposes.

Sink Strainers and other Kitchen Plumbing Specialties can be found at www.supplyhouse.com.

Toilet Augers To The Rescue

There is nothing worse than a clogged toilet that won't respond to the efforts of a plunger. If the clog in your toilet refuses to budge, even after multiple plunging attempts, it may be time let a toilet auger handle the job. A toilet auger (also known as a closet auger) is designed with an offset hand crank, a long sleeve handle, and an auger bit at the end to break through an obstruction. When using one, first inspect your toilet: some toilet bowls drain to the front, some to the rear. Make sure the curved end of the auger faces in the direction of the drain and push the cable into the drain carefully while cranking the handle in one direction. When it becomes difficult to turn the handle, crank it in the opposite direction until the auger is in as far as it will go. Crank the auger to break up the clog. If it feels as though the auger grabbed onto whatever was clogging the drain, pull it out to check. If it gets stuck, push and pull gently or turn the crank back and forth while pulling up (never use an auger too forcefully or you may scratch or damage the toilet). After clearing up the blockage, use a plunger to ensure that the clog is complete gone. Keep in mind that this job can get messy, especially if you pull the blockage back out through the pipe. Have a bucket and some rags on hand just in case.

Toilet augers and other plumbing tools can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Be A SeeSnake Investigator

RIDGID's SeeSnake Micro Inspection Camera is the perfect little tool for investigating hard-to-reach and hard-to-see areas in your home. Just fish the cable into any crevice (such as a hole in the wall) and its 2 adjustable LEDs will light up the area. The image can then be seen on its 2.4" color LCD. Its lightweight, hand-held design allows for easy use and a separate 3-foot cable extension allows for a further reach. Use the SeeSnake Camera to scope out everything from what is behind your wall to what in beneath your fridge and never be in the dark about your home again!

RIDGID's SeeSnake Micro Inspection Camera, the 3' Cable Extension, and other SeeSnake Accessories can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What Is That Noise?

Don't be alarmed if your kitchen faucet suddenly starts whistling like a tea kettle. This sharp and high-pitched noise can be attributed to water pressure that is either too high or too low. Simply adjust the pressure from the faucet's shut-off valve until the water pressure is normal again and the sound stops. If the noise still persists, the issue may be lodged debris in the faucet. To fix this, you will need to remove the supply line from under the sink, then blow compressed air into the faucet to clear it.

Kitchen faucets and everything else you may need for your plumbing job can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Signs Of A Faulty T & P Relief Valve

The job of the temperature and pressure relief valve on your hot water heater is to release excessive pressure from the steam build-up inside. However, if you have been hearing bubbling noises in the hot water heater and/or your faucets have been releasing dangerously hot water or steam, your temperature & pressure relief valve may be defective. If this is the case, turn down the water heater's temperature and allow the water to cool before handling the issue.

Temperature & Pressure Relief Valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

A Natural Way To Unclog Drains

Considering how much use your sinks and tubs get, you might feel wary of using too many harsh solutions and drain cleaners to maintain them. When you find yourself faced with yet another clogged drain, instead of reaching for chemicals, try this home-made natural drain cleaning solution: Pour 3/4 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Allow the solution to settle into the clog and do its work. After 30 minutes, poor hot water down the drain to wash away whatever is left of your drain clog.

Find everything you will need for your plumbing project at www.supplyhouse.com

Preventing A Frozen Pipe

No homeowner wants to deal with a burst pipe. If you have a frozen pipe in your home, it is suggested that running hot water through the pipe system for a few minutes can help to thaw it out. However, to avoid frozen pipes in the first place, you should regularly turn on the warm water in your faucets. This will help warm the cold pipes and potentially prevent pipes from freezing.

Everything you need for your do-it-yourself plumbing project can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Single Handle Faucets

When picking a faucet to suit young children or older users who have trouble turning round knobs, a single handle faucet is the best choice. Its lever-styled handle makes for a new sink experience and can be turned on and shut off with ease. When young children use sinks, they tend to reach for only one handle. A single handle faucet eliminates the chance that the water coming out of the tap will be scalding hot. The simplicity and ease of use of a single handle faucet make it an ideal choice for all households.

Single Handle Faucets can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

The Solution To Small Space Heating

If you are looking for a way to stay warm, but don't have available space for a baseboard or wall heater, consider installing a Beacon Morris KickSpace Heater. Because of small size and limited wall space, areas such as kichens, foyers, and bathrooms can be difficult to heat. A KickSpace Heater is designed to fit under a cabinet, in the floor, or in the wall and is the perfect solution for those hard to heat areas. It is connected to your home's boiler, circulating hot water and blowing out warm air to heat a space. Also, with Beacon Morris KickSpace Heaters, you can select your desired fan speed so the unit turns on and off according to your home's heating demands.

Beacon Morris KickSpace Heaters and everything else you need for home heating can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Sanitize Your Wooden Cutting Board

The wooden cutting board gets a lot of use in the kitchen. Whether it's used for cutting, dicing, or slicing, it is one kitchen tool that every household needs. However, bacteria from raw foods can seep into the cracks and contaminate the wood. That is why it is extremely important to keep your cutting board clean and sanitized. You should clean your cutting board after each use, scrubbing it thoroughly with hot, soapy water. To sanitize your cutting board, use a diluted liquid chlorine bleach solution of one teaspoon of bleach combined with one quart of water. Pour the solution onto the entire surface area of the board and let it sit undisturbed for a few minutes. Rinse the board with water to clean, and then dry it with a cloth or allow it to air dry. When storing the board, it should stand vertically to avoid any accumulation of moisture and dust. Following these simple steps will ensure that your cutting board (and your loved ones) are free from harmful bacterias.

Elkay's line of Wooden Cutting Boards and other Elkay Kitchen Accessories can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Cleaning Your Faucet Aerator

Don't wait until the water coming from your faucet is reduced to a trickle to clean your faucet aerator. By the time stubborn deposits have formed, you may need to throw it away. Cleaning it regularly will prevent such build-ups. When cleaning a faucet aerator, close the drain to prevent losing any parts. Unscrew the aerator from the spout and remove the parts that make up the aerator (just be sure to remember their order and placement for reassembly). For those especially hard-to-remove deposits, soak the pieces in white vinegar for a few minutes. Rinse all of the parts with water and scrub with a toothbrush, if necessary. Reassemble the faucet aerator, screw it back onto the spout, and enjoy the steady flow of water once again!

Faucet Aerators, along with other Kitchen Plumbing Specialties, can be found at www.supplyhouse.com.

Warm Floors Anytime of the Year

With Spring just around the corner, your mind is probably on blue skies and warm sunshine. But with fickle March temperatures sure to snap you back to reality, don't be deterred from your fantasy of walking on warm sand just yet. With electric radiant heated Suntouch Floor Mats, you can experience the warmth from radiant heated floors under your feet anytime of the year. Unlike conventional heating devices that warm the air, electric floor heating warms a room by warming the floor. Suntouch's radiant heated floor mats are easy to install. They are designed for rooms of all shapes and sizes and can be cut to fit (just be careful not to cut the blue heating wire). Safe to use in both indoor and outdoor applications, you can enjoy radiant heated floors whenever and wherever.

Suntouch Floor Mats, along with everything else you may need for your Electric Radiant Heat project, can be found at www.supplyhouse.com