Uponor's AQUACENTER Manifold

In “home run” piping schemes for plumbing systems, distribution lines run from a single manifold to each individual fixture. These systems cut down on the number of necessary fittings, promote stable water pressure, and speed up the delivery time for hot and cold water. Viega’s MANABLOC is a popular choice for home run PEX plumbing systems. With individual shut-off valves for each distribution port, it combines hot and cold manifolds into a single unit and is available with PEX press, crimp, or compression fittings.

For installers who want to use ProPEX expansion-style fittings with a valved PEX manifold for home run distribution, there’s Uponor’s AQUACENTER manifold. The manifolds can be installed in 3/4” or 1” hot or cold lines. They run 1/2” PEX-A to fixtures and use only ProPEX fittings. Multiple AQUACENTER manifolds may be joined together with the appropriate coupling. Supply inlet adapters and mounting brackets must be purchased separately. See SupplyHouse.com for more PEX plumbing and Uponor products.

Taco Replacement Actuators

Taco’s Zone Sentry Valves give installers unmatched quality. Energy efficient and quiet, the valves have LED indicators and can be wired easily.

The Zone Sentry replaces Taco’s older electronic zone valves, the EBV and ESP. The replacement actuator heads for these previous models are no longer produced, but Zone Sentry actuators are compatible with EBV and ESP valve bodies. Zone Sentry actuator heads are available in normally closed and normally open configurations. To see more Taco products, visit SupplyHouse.com.

Lifetime Chimney Liners

Looking for a new chimney liner? SupplyHouse now offers single-wall round chimney liner kits from Lifetime Chimney Supply. Made in the United States, the liners are composed of 316L stainless steel and meet UL1777 zero-clearance standards. In addition to the liner, each kit includes a stainless steel tee, tee cap, rain cap, and top plate.

SharkBite Fitting Sleeve

SharkBite fittings make it easy to connect piping without soldering or buying a PEX tool. Perfect for do-it-yourselfers, SharkBites are a great solution for small jobs. The fittings work with PEX, copper, and CPVC. Each SharkBite includes a small, white plastic sleeve inside the fitting. The sleeve is designed to stiffen PEX inside the fitting. When using copper, the sleeve does not serve any purpose and can be removed. It may also be left in the fitting, reducing flow by a very small amount. To purchase SharkBite fittings and accessories, visit SupplyHouse.com.

New Baseboarders Design

Baseboarders DIY Baseboard Heater Covers provide an alternative to traditional baseboard cover designs. They attach to existing wall plates with ease and can be used in new construction with wall brackets. Perfect for bathrooms, these rust-proof covers improve the look of any room in the home. Their enclosed construction ensures small children cannot burn their hands on hot elements.

Find Baseboarders products at SupplyHouse.com.

Stop Water Hammer Noise

Water hammer occurs when the normal flow of water in pipes is interrupted. It can create loud noises and vibrations. A water hammer arrestor cuts down on these effects. Its captive volume of air absorbs the force of the water hammer, reducing or eliminating the annoying sounds.

SupplyHouse.com carries water hammer arrestors from several manufacturers, including Sioux Chief and Watts. Cash-Acme’s SharkBite water hammer arrestors work like a regular SharkBite fitting, easily adapting to PEX, copper, or CPVC.

How to Connect PEX to PVC

In certain applications, including retrofits, it may be necessary to connect PEX to PVC. No single fitting can do this, but there are options. PVC fittings must be glued to PVC pipe. The opposite side of certain fittings has male or female pipe thread. A PVC x male threaded fitting, for example, could attach to a female threaded x PEX fitting. When threading plastic threads to metal threads, it is best to have male threads on the plastic fitting. When used together, these two fittings can connect PEX to PVC. The PEX fitting may be crimp/clamp, ProPEX, compression, or SharkBite style. The choice among these should be based on the tool individual installers own and prefer.

SupplyHouse.com offers Spears PVC fittings, Hercules PVC installation products, and a wide variety of PEX fittings.

PEX Packages/Starter Kits

SupplyHouse.com’s PEX Starter Kits give first-time PEX installers all the basic items they’ll need. Available for both plumbing and heating, the kits include common tubing sizes, fittings, and tools. Plumbing packages come with either crimp, clamp, ProPEX, or PEX Press fittings and tools. Radiant heat packages are comprised of parts needed for various types of floor heating installations, whether in joist bays, concrete slabs, or on top of pre-existing slabs.

Easily Monitor Heating Oil Levels

The OEM Rocket Wireless Fuel Level Monitor lets users keep track of the amount of heating oil remaining in their storage tank. The transmitter mounts to the oil tank. It uses ultrasonic waves to detect the amount of oil remaining in the tank and communicates with a receiver in the home. The receiver must be powered through a standard electrical outlet. It may be placed up to 150 feet away from the transmitter (which is shaped like a rocket and has a battery life of over a decade). The receiver displays oil amounts in 10% increments, with a warning when the tank falls below 10% capacity.

This system puts an end to the need for trips to a cold basement or treks through snow to monitor remaining fuel visually. It’s also more accurate. Visit SupplyHouse.com for more information.

Uponor "Engineered Polymer"

Uponor’s ProPEX fittings work with PEX-A tubing (including hePEX and AquaPEX) using the “expansion” method. A special tool expands the tubing and a corresponding ring, which shrink back to size around a ProPEX fitting. ProPEX fittings are reliable and have the same inside diameter of PEX tubing, minimizing any loss in flow.

EP ProPEX fittings, formerly “Engineered Plastic,” are now known as Engineered Polymer. The name change reflects the properties of the fittings more accurately. Always lead-free, EP fittings contain high-quality thermoplastic polymers. These materials have been in use in medicine and aerospace products for years, in addition to plumbing. Their durability makes them perfect for direct burial and otherwise demanding plumbing and heating installations,

SupplyHouse.com Sale Items

The sale page at SupplyHouse.com, accessible from the bottom of the home page, displays all the products currently available at a discount. Start there to see all our products that are on sale grouped together. To receive additional discounts and coupons codes, sign up for our email newsletter (see the bar also near the bottom of the home page). Every order over $300 ships free within the continental United States.

PEX Tubing Resource Sheets

SupplyHouse.com has put together useful resource sheets for PEX tubing. They can be found under the ‘Manuals’ tab on PEX tubing product pages. The “GPM Chart for Copper & PEX Pipe” gives flow rate information. “Pipe Sizing Guide” displays BTU output ratings. “PEX Tubing Guidelines” offers the maximum loop lengths and bend radii for various PEX sizes.

For more information on PEX products for plumbing and heating, please visit our Resource Center.

Fittings for Soft Copper

Copper tubing is produced in two different tempers: drawn and annealed (or, in more common terms, hard and soft). Installers generally join hard copper tubing by soldering, brazing, welding, or with capillary fittings. Although it is possible to connect soft copper by these same methods, flare and compression fittings are commonly used. Soft copper can also be expanded and soldered/brazed to another tube without the use of a fitting. SharkBite fittings work with both hard and soft copper. When working with soft copper, it is recommended to incorporate a straight run of tubing for at least a few inches immediately after the fitting.

SupplyHouse.com offers a wide selection of fittings and copper tubing.

A Lux Thermostat/Remote Control

The Lux TX9000RF thermostat allows you to change the set-point temperature from anywhere in the home. With a range of up to 75 feet, the included battery-powered remote control uses radio waves to communicate with the wall-mounted, 7-day programmable, single-stage heat/cool thermostat. The thermostat also features a large, backlit display. Visit SupplyHouse.com for more thermostats and Lux products.

SharkBite T & P Gauges

Cash-Acme offers SharkBite temperature and pressure gauges. They’re available pre-installed in a SharkBite tee, or as an individual part. Tees can be ordered in 1/2”, 3/4”, and 1” sizes. The separate gauges come in 1/2” or 3/4” sizes. They snap into SharkBite fittings of the corresponding size.

SharkBite fittings offer an easy alternative, particularly for do-it-yourselfers and those without PEX tools or soldering experience. The fittings work with PEX, copper, and CPVC. They are available at SupplyHouse.com.

Learn from a Heating Expert

Looking for books to add to your HVAC library? SupplyHouse.com now offers a full selection of books from industry professional Dan Holohan. Holohan’s works include Hydronic Radiant Heating, Pumping Away, and The Lost Art of Steam Heating. Holohan’s amusing anecdotes will keep you entertained. The advice is valuable for seasoned installers trying to learn new techniques or homeowners who simply want to learn more about how their heating systems work. The books are available in our Books & DVD’s section, along with other radiant heat resources.

Bend Supports for PEX Tubing

PEX bend supports, available on SupplyHouse.com in metal, plastic, and PVC, protect PEX tubing at the point it exits a concrete slab. Through a process known as linear expansion, PEX grows longer when the water it carries gets hotter. In fact, PEX lengthens at about ten-times the rate of copper. The exact rate of linear expansion for PEX is 1.1 inches per 10°F temperature rise per 100 feet of PEX. PEX bend supports at the area of slab penetration protect the tubing from wear as it expands and contracts. In addition, bend supports provide a more finished look and facilitate installations in tight spaces.

Auto-Changeover Thermostats

Thermostats with auto-changeover capability are able to switch between heating and cooling mode automatically. Users do not need to change the mode manually. In “auto” mode the thermostat will meet the set-point temperature whether the space is above or below that threshold. This can be convenient during the spring and fall months, where heating and cooling could each be necessary on the same day. Visit SupplyHouse.com for a full selection of thermostats from Honeywell, White-Rodgers, and Robertshaw.