Controls for electric baseboard

QMark Electric Baseboard Heaters can be controlled using any line voltage thermostat. Popular choices include the non-programmable Honeywell TL7235A1003 and the programmable Honeywell TL8230A1003.

Electric Baseboard Heaters and Line Voltage Honeywell Thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Taco 00R Pumps

Taco 00R pumps have 3-speeds which each have a separate wineding. Winedings are what connect the switch to the pump motor, and can break over time due to stress, power surges, or old age. If one of the winedings on your Taco 00R dies, all you need to do is click the pump to another speed and it will continue working without skipping a beat.

Taco Pumps and Taco 3-Speed Pumps can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Honeywell Universal Switching Relays

Installation is easy with a Honeywell Universal Switching Relay. With three knock-outs on the bottom and one on the top, you can mount and wire this switching relay any way that works best with your system. These units also feature large screws and the standard Honeywell layout for hassle-free installation.

Switching Relays and Honeywell Switching Relays can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Tubing for PEX Press

Viega PEX Press Tools and Sleeves can be used with standard PEX or FostaPEX PEX-al-PEX. Other types of tubing do not have the same inside to outside diameter ratio and will not fit properly.

The Viega PEX Press Tool and PEX Press Fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Sloan sensor operated flushometers

Sensor-operated flush valves offer many advantages over manual flush valves. Eliminating the need for manual flushing greatly reduces the spread of germs and protects the fixture from excessive abuse through user operation.

Sloan flush valves and Sloan flushometers can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Monoflo Tees

Monoflo Tees are usually installed on the return side of heaters with the middle portion of the tee facing upwards. Looking at the tee this way, the left side is the where water enters, the middle (on top) is where air escapes, and the right side is the outlet. Sizing is done with the first number representing the inlet and outlet and the second number representing the middle.

Monoflo Tees can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What is a sillcock?

A sillcock is a type of hose bib (or bibcock) with female threads where it connects to the house. The back of the sillcock is flared, so that when it is screwed into place, the flared part covers the hole in the wall where the pipe comes through. Sillcocks are used for outdoor faucets, gardening, watering lawns or washer hook-ups.

Sillcocks can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Honeywell Aquastats and Wells

On the side of your Honeywell Aquastat is a copper sensor. Vertically mount the Aquastat, slide the well over the copper sensor and fasten with a coupling or bushing. Emerge the well into the boiler water- the copper sensor and copper well allow for the transfer of heat but not the transfer of water. Regardless of the type of boiler you have, an Aquastat acts as a safety device for measuring the temperature and assuring that it does not go too high.

Honeywell Aquastats with different model numbers can serve different functions, but all Aquastats require a well. In some cases, the Aquastat will turn the boiler on and off, and some check the water level, temperature, and/or pressure. Make sure that your Aquastat meets the specifications required to perform the functions needed by your boiler and that the well is of the proper size.

Honeywell Aquastats and Honeywell Aquastat Wells can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

FNPT Ball Valves

SharkBite Ball Valves for 3/4" pipe are available with a SharkBite connection on both ends or a SharkBite connection on one end and a female threaded connection on the other (FNPT stands for Female National Pipe Thread).

SharkBite Fittings and SharkBite Ball Valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Heat exchanger maintenance

Hydronic heat exchangers should be taken apart and cleaned approximately once a year or once every other year for optimal performance. To clean your plate heat exchanger, take apart the pieces and soak it in lime (the acid). The lime will un-clog any potential issues and make sure that your heat exchanger will work properly again.

Flat Plate Heat Exchangers can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Replacing a Taco ESP Zone Valve

Taco ESP Zone Valves (or Energy Storage Principal Zone Valves) are just an older model of current EBV Zone Valves (Electronic Ball Valve). The EBV's are a direct replacement of the ESP, only the name has changed, so if you're looking to replace your ESP Zone Valve, just make sure that the sizing matches up for your new EBV Zone Valve.

Zone valves and Taco EBV Zone Valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Solar Panel Installation

When it comes to flat panels, for every 10 square feet of home, you need approximately 2 square feet of panel. This should only be used as a guideline, as other factors involved in determining the number of panels include the area you live in and how much sun your home is able to soak up.

When installing solar panels, always face your panels towards the equator. For the USA and Canada, that means face them toward the south in order to obtain maximum efficiency.

Solar panels and other solar heat products can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Straight-through support sizing

The metal plate on straight-through supports is 3" square and the metal pipe support is 3.5" long. Straight-through supports are perfect to keep your PEX Tubing in place where it enters or exits the floor and are used for 1/2" PEX only.

Straight-through supports and other PEX Plumbing installation parts can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Fittings in tight places

Many tools have wide handles that cannot fit into some small spaces where connections need to be made. The HydroPEX Clamping Tool's handles are small and compact, allowing you to get in and make connections practically anywhere.

The HydroPEX Clamp Tool and HydroPEX fittings for PEX plumbing and radiant heat applications can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How to set your VisionPro for Auto Changeover

All Honeywell VisionPro Thermostats can be set for Auto Changeover (including models TH8110U1003, TH8320U1008, TH8321U1006, TB8220U1003, and TH9421C1004).

To set your thermostat for Auto Changeover, first press "System". There are 5 blank buttons on the VisionPro, press and hold the 2nd and 4th buttons at the same time until a new screen appears. Hit the up arrow on the left hand side until the number on the screen reaches "0300". Then, select the up arrow on the right hand side to change the setting from 0 to 1 and press "Done".

Honeywell Thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Finishing touches

Chrome finishing sleeves work to protect any PEX not already hidden and provide a beautiful, shiny finish. Each chrome finishing sleeve is 4 inches long and can fit over 3/8" or 1/2" PEX.

Chrome sleeves and other materials for PEX Plumbing can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

One part to do the work of several

The Taco Radiant Mixing Block makes controlling and installation of radiant systems easy. It is a variable speed injection mixing control, injection circulator, system circulator, and air eliminator all in one. And, it requires no special piping, no balancing valve, no closely spaced tees, no external controls, no complex wiring; just four pipe connections and your installation is complete.

Taco Radiant Mixing Blocks, and other parts for radiant heat systems, can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

I want to set my thermostat so that the kids can't crank it up it while I'm not looking.

The Honeywell VisionPro is the perfect thermostat when you want to set it and not have to worry about that setting getting changed by other people. This thermostat features password protection, so the only way to change the setting is to enter the password that you program in. For a room only needing to control 1 heat source and/or 1 cooling source, the TH8110U1003 is the best thermostat available.

Honeywell Thermostats including the TH8110U1003 can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Where to install a temperature and pressure gauge

Temperature and pressure gauges should be installed at the boiler. This can be done either at the supply side, at the return side, or in both locations depending on where you need to see readings on the temperature and pressure going through your system.

Temperature and pressure gauges can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Propress 100-B Battery Tools

100-B Propress Battery Tools are used with Copper Tubing and Propress Fittings. Be sure that the copper you are using is rated M, L, or K in quality.

Propress Tools and Propress Fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Taco Flo-Chek Operation

Taco Flo-Cheks open automatically when the circulator starts running. When the room thermostat is satisfied and the circulator is stopped, the Flo-Cheks close immediately, preventing gravity circulation. Gravity circulation of water is induced by the difference in specific weight or density of the hot water in the vertical supply pipe and the cold water in the vertical return pipe. The lighter hot supply side water, which naturally wants to rise, is drawn up and around the system by the "pulling down" effect of the heavier cold water in the vertical return pipe. The amount of gravity circulation is dependent on the height of the system and the differential between the hot and cold temperatures. In systems with multiple zones, "ghost flow" may occur if a Flo-Chek is not installed on each zone. Ghost flow is induced when a circulator on one zone is running but is still able to bypass water through a zone that is not calling, due to a differential in piping resistance between the two zones.
Source: Taco Flow Control Submittal Data

Taco products such as flow controls can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Fittings to use in hard water

For hard/aggressive water try using ProPex Red Brass Fittings. This product is highly resistant to the effects of aggressive water conditions, it is regarded as immune to de-zincification and stress-corrosion cracking. These fittings are safe for direct burial.

ProPEX Fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Step number 1 in PEX Connections

Your first step in making a secure PEX connection is always to have a clean, even cut in your PEX tubing. Using a PEX Tube Cutter is the best way to assure that your cut is clean and ready for a fitting.

PEX Fittings and PEX Tools including PEX Tube Cutters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Drain-O-Tank Application

The DT-2 Drain-O-Tank Air Charger is made to be used for compression tanks on closed loop systems. You should not use the Drain-O-Tank with pre-charged diaphragm/bladder tanks.

The Drain-O-Tank and other Expansion Tanks can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Tools for Wirsbo EP Manifolds

To install a Wirsbo EP Manifold, you need a Wirsbo Expander Tool with a 3/4" head and a 1/2" head. 3/4" PEX-A tubing can be attached to the supply and return ends of the manifold, and 1/2" PEX-A tubing to each outlet.

Wirsbo manifolds, tubing, tools, and fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Installation of a DetectIt Alarm System

The DetectIt is designed for quick and easy installation on the main waste line trap to your sewer or cesspool. You just need to replace one of the threaded trap caps with with the DetectIt Alarm System. For professional installations, the threaded end is designed to be cut off for slip installation into a rubber fitting or 3" glued PVC fittings. DetectIt is powered by a single Lithium AA battery for wireless transmission or can be hard wired.

The DetectIt System and other Plumbing Supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Are sleeves required for Multipress fittings?

Stainless steel sleeves are actually included attached to Multipress fittings, so no additional sleeves must be purchased. To install, slide your Pex-Aluminum-Pex tubing between the sleeve and the inside of the fitting and use the Press Tool to compress the sleeve.

Pex-Al-Pex and Multipress Fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Expanding your tubing

To properly expand Pex-A tubing using the Wirsbo Expander Tool, you must fully separate the handles and insert the head into the tubing. Then bring the handles together at least 5 times for 3/8" tubing, 4 times for 1/2" tubing, 8 times for 3/4" tubing and 14 times for 1" tubing before inserting the ProPEX Fitting.

Wirsbo PEX, Wirsbo Tools, and Wirsbo Fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Exactly how long are your loops?

You don't need a tape measure to know how long your loops are. PEX Tubing is marked every 3 feet, so if you look at the markings going from and coming back to your manifold on the same loop, you can just subtract the lower marked number from the higher and know, within a few feet, the length of your loop. Make sure not to use loops longer than 300 feet in radiant heat applications to avoid heat loss.

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

Which pumps use Webstone flanges?

Webstone Isolator Flanges can be used with circulator pumps of all kinds including all Taco pumps, Grundfos pumps, and Bell & Gossett pumps.

Heating pumps and flanges can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Water Heater Adapters

When hooking up PEX tubing to your water heater, there needs to be at least 6 inches of metal to act as a barrier. A water heater adapter makes this connection quick and easy with one side connecting to your PEX tubing and the other side to the water heater.

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

Firomatic Oil Valves

The handle of Firomatic valves is made of a special alloy that melts at a very low temperature. In the event of a fire in the boiler room, the handle of the shaft melts off which frees the plunger and shuts off the oil flow to the burner.

Firomatic oil products can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Sizing your pressure reducing valve

A properly sized valve prevents noisy operation and premature valve failure. A valve that is too large can lead to problems such as wire draw under low flow conditions. In general, the minimum flow through a water pressure reducing valve should be 10% to 15% of the maximum flow rate desired in the system. Pressure reducing valves should be selected based on the flow and pressure ranges listed, not by the size of the pipe they will be attached to. You should select a regulator whose operating pressures fall within the middle of its rated range.

Pressure valves including Watts Pressure Valves, Taco Pressure Reducing Valves, and Bell & Gossett Pressure Reducing Valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Naming tees

Tees are named first by the size of the ends, and then by the size of the middle connection (typically called end-end-middle). The order of the ends does not matter; for example, a 1/2" x 3/4" x 1/2" tee would function the same as a 3/4" x 1/2" x 1/2" tee if you just flip it around. If a tee only has one size listed, all three connections are for the same size pipe.

Brass tees, copper tees, black tees, and PEX tees can all be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How far will heat travel from each blue heating wire?

Suntouch Electric Radiant Heat wires are woven 2.75 inches apart so that people will not feel any cold area between the blue wires at that spacing. However, if your tile extends three inches past the wire, you will probably feel a temperature drop. Your radiant heated floor temperature can also be affected by the presence of ductwork below, insulation variations, solar gain, and heat loss outside. All of these are good reasons to plan your layout so you can install the heated floor mats where they will do the most good.

Suntouch mats and other radiant heat products can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Plumb like a pro

Designed not to snag on fittings or obstructions and able to make its way through multiple twists and turns, the Ridgid SeeSnake camera lets you see, with great clarity, exactly what is going on in your pipes. Not only can you see what needs to be done when a problem arises, but you can put the camera back in and make sure that the problem was fixed properly when you are done.

RIDGID SeeSnake Micro Cameras can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Tools for your manifold

Different manifolds require different tools. If you are using a HydroPEX Crimp Copper Manifold, you have two choices for your tool- either the HydroPEX Clamping Tool or the Watts Crimping Tool. Both of these tools are used with HydrdoPEX fittings but require different rings to make the connections (stainless steel for Clamping and copper for Crimping).

PEX Tools, Manifolds, and Fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

An uphill tank

If your septic tank is located uphill from your house, a sewage pump will be required to get the waste to the sewer line. Make sure that you get a pump large enough for the waste to travel the full distance and install check valves to ensure that sewage water does not re-enter the sump and building.

Sewage pumps and check valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What voltage does my thermostat use?

Thermostats run on either line voltage or low voltage. The easiest way to tell if you need a line or low voltage thermostat is to look at the wire. If it is a very thin wire (like a doorbell or speaker wire), you will need a low voltage thermostat. If it is a heavy wire, you will need a line voltage thermostat.

Honeywell thermostats, low voltage thermostats and line voltage thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Matching your flanges

If you need a pump for potable (drinking) water, you must use a bronze pump. With a bronze pump, you absolutely need bronze flanges. Cast iron flanges will rust, compromising your whole system. With a cast iron pump, you can use either bronze flanges or cast iron flanges. With no clear benefit of using bronze flanges with a cast iron pump, most people opt to save some money and use cast iron flanges.

Taco pumps and flanges can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Facts about Indoor Air

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air in homes can be up to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air.

The National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine reports that exposure to indoor pollutants is a key contributor to the asthma problems of this nation.

Most allergy and asthma sources are passed from person to person through the air.

The air in a single room can contain hundreds of thousands of infectious bacteria, viruses, fungal spores, and contaminants, which can only be seen with a microscope.

Health effects may show up immediately, or after years of exposure to poor indoor air quality. These symptoms include some respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer. They may be severely debilitating or fatal.

Clean your indoor air with UV light using an air purification system that is friendly for the environment and your wallet.

Air cleaners and UV-Aire Air Purification Systems can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Thermostat placement

Where you put your thermostat can greatly change how effective it is. If your thermostat is directly under an air conditioner or next to a window, this cool air will make your thermostat think that the room is colder than it really is. If the thermostat is over a lamp, television or heat source, it will read warmer than the room is. Put your thermostat away from these items and you'll get accurate readings to send the right commands to your heating and cooling systems.

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

Save water with an efficient toilet

An efficient toilet or flush valve can really save money on your water bill. Some flushometers use less than 2 gallons of water per flush while others flush almost 5 gallons! To check if your toilet is silently wasting water, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the colored water makes it to the bowl without flushing, you are losing water.

Water-saving Sloan Flushometers can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Latch and Finish Information

The latch on Acudor Fire Rated Access Doors features universal self-latching bolt, operated by either a knurled knob or flush key. When master keying is required, doors can be prepared for rim cylinder locks or mortise cylinder locks. The steel finish is 5-stage iron phosphate preparation with prime coat of gray baked enamel and the stainless steel has #4 satin polish.

Acudor Access Doors and Fire Rated Access Doors can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How did polyethylene get its start?

Polyethylene was invented in the early 1930s and played an important role for the Allied Forces in World War II. British scientists took polyethylene and used it as an insulator allowing British pilots to have radar on their planes for the first time in history. Airborne radar was a great technical advantage for battles fought through clouds with low visibility and for long-distance warfare. Polyethylene has come a long way, as it is now cross-linked and used for plumbing and heating water lines all throughout Europe and North America.

Cross-linked Polyethylene, or PEX can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How to open and use your PEX Ratchet-Style Tube Cutter

First, push the handles together to slide the metal lock off. Then, pull the handles apart as far as they will go (you may need to pull further than you would think!). This will release the mechanism and free the blade, allowing you to easily cut your PEX Tubing.

PEX Tubing and Ratchet-Style PEX Tube Cutters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How to fix a slow draining tub

Most tubs today have a lift and turn type drain. To remove it, twist the textured knob counter-clockwise while the drain plug is in the down (closed) position. Remove the hairy buildup and replace. The tub should drain much faster now. If the drain is still slow, a quick replacement with a new bath drain should solve your problem.

Gerber bath drains can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Spacing your Air Separator

You need at least six inches of pipe on either side of your Air Separator before you place any circulation pumps or other equipment in your heating system.

Taco Air Separators and other Air Eliminators can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How to stop a sump pump from shutting off so much

If water runs back into the pump from the line, this could be causing the pump to shut off when you don't want it to. Installing a check valve (or replacing the check valve if it's been there a while) would likely solve this problem.

Sump pumps, Sharkbite Fittings and Check Valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

A tip when installing floor sensors

Use some left over PEX tubing as a conduit for the sensor. That way, if the sensor goes bad down the road, you can just pull the sensor out and replace it with ease.

Radiant Heat thermostats and floor sensors can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Straight stop or angle?

If the vertical run of the supply line is 8" to 10", you can install a straight stop as your shut off valve. If the run isn't that long, it is best to install an angle stop. Attach the angle stop to the horizontal pipe and then run the supply line vertically.

Straight stops, angle stops and other PEX fittings and valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Selecting mounting position and location for a Honeywell HEPA Air Cleaner

The F500 can be suspended from exposed ceiling joists or the ceiling surface, or it can be floor-mounted.

1. Install the F500A in a conditioned space or the F500B in an unconditioned space using these guidelines.

2. Plan the unit location to minimize duct lengths.

3. Locate an existing electrical outlet with the appropriate current rating to plug in the power cord. (If an outlet is not available, have a qualified electrician install one.)

4. Choose a location that is readily accessible for checking and replacing the filter. (Allow at least 26-1/2 in. (673 mm) clearance in front of the unit.)


Honeywell Whole House HEPA Air Cleaners can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What thermostat should I use to control my electric baseboard heat?

The Honeywell Line Voltage Electric Heat Thermostats are double pole thermostats ideally suited to control the heating for electric baseboard applications. You can choose from programmable or non-programmable, and both thermostats are digital showing both the time and the temperature.

Honeywell Thermostats including Honeywell Thermostats for Baseboard Heat can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What is the warranty on Stiebel Eltron Tempra Heaters?

Stiebel Eltron offers proven reliability which is backed by a Three Year Warranty. Stiebel Eltron has a track record of engineering excellence and high product quality. The three years parts warranty means that you can depend on the Tempra unit for many years to come.

Stiebel Eltron Tempras as well as a variety of other tankless water heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Beat the heat with a Schaefer fan

In addition to using it for our own comfort, a Schaefer fan can also help the vegetation in your life! All greenhouses large or small, whether naturally ventilated, mechanically ventilated, cooled, and/or heated, will benefit from horizontal airflow. Plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, shrubs and trees thrive when provided with horizontal airflow gained from a fan such as the Schaefer Versa-Kool.

Schaefer Fans & Coolers can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Uses for PEX-Aluminum-PEX

Mr. PEX brand PEX-Aluminum-PEX (PEX-Al-PEX) has an oxygen barrier and is most typically used in heating applications. However, Mr. PEX has also been approved for potable water and can be used in plumbing applications as well. So if you're looking for a sturdy PEX that holds the shape you bend it to in plumbing or heating applications, Mr. PEX could be just what you were looking for.

Mr. PEX, PEX Tubing, and PEX-al-PEX can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Wiring for Taco Zone Valves

While two circuits (each with its own transformer) touch at terminal #2, they do not communicate or interfere with each other in any way. Each circuit flows only in that circuit. This occurs because the transformer in either circuit cannot cause a voltage or current driving force to be realized in the other circuit when joined only at one point to that circuit.

Zone valves including Taco Geothermal Zone Valves, Taco 570 Zone Valves and Honeywell Zone Valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What do you use to attach a ProPEX Manifold?

To hook up your ProPEX Copper Manifold, you will need a Wirsbo Expander Tool and 1/2" ProPEX Rings.

Manifolds, tools, and other supplies for PEX Plumbing Systems can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Can heat exchangers be used in salt water?

FlatPlate MPN Series Marine & Swimming Pool Heat Exchangers are designed to be used with sea water, swimming pools, brackish water, Low PH water, ground water, river water, fish tanks, treated steams & condensate and select acids.

FlatPlate Heat Exchangers can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What is a flow switch?

A flow switch is a simple device that monitors the flow and sends a signal to another device, such as a pump. Common uses for flow switches include protecting pumps, protecting cooling circuits and serving as an alarm for high and low flow rates.

McDonnell & Miller Flow Switches can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

The ease of repairing PEX

With copper pipe, a small leak can easily turn into a big disaster. If there's a kink or break in your PEX Tubing, it's a quick fix. All you need to do is cut the tubing on either side of the problem area and use a PEX coupling to re-attach the pieces.

If you're looking for how to install PEX, check out www.supplyhouse.com

How does the Honeywell thermistor work?

The Honeywell thermistor (found in the Honeywell VisionPro Thermostat with Dehumidification Control TH8321U1006) senses the humidity in the air and lowers the thermostat a few degrees to reach your desired humidity level.

Honeywell thermostats including the Honeywell VisionPro Thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Help making a ProPEX connection

ProPEX rings should sit about 1/8" off the edge of the tubing. Make sure to rotate the expander head so that you won't burn the expansion grooves of the tool into the PEX tubing.

ProPEX rings, ProPEX Fittings, the Wirsbo Expander Tool and PEX Tubing can all be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Bending PEX

All PEX can flex into very tight spaces. The smaller the PEX tubing, the tighter it will fit. Half inch PEX bends to between 5" - 7" and three quarter inch PEX bends to between 8" - 10".

PEX of all sizes including Radiant Heat PEX and Plumbing PEX can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How to detect a silent leak

If you know there's a leak in your radiant heat tubing, here's a trick to find the source. Spray all of your connections and pipe with soapy water and look for the soapy water to bubble up.

PEX Pipe, PEX Fittings and other PEX Connections can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Installation position of heating pumps

Never install a pump with the can pointing up. Most Taco pumps and Grudfos pumps are water lubricated and most pressures in residential heating systems will never overcome the 20 psi constant to lubricate the cartridge. This can make the pump seize forcing you to replace the cartridge earlier than under normal operation.

Taco pumps, Grundfos pumps, and many other pumps and flanges can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Make your boiler more energy efficient

Hook up a boiler reset control such as the Taco PC700. Your boiler is designed for worst-case scenario heat loss, but a PC700 will modulate the boiler to true outdoor conditions. This quick fix can save you between 18% - 35% on your fuel bill.

Boilers & heaters, and Taco controls such as the PC700 can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

When to pressure test your radiant heat system

After you've laid out your PEX tubing for a radiant heat system, make sure to pressure test BEFORE you pour your slab to make sure that nothing has punctured or disconnected. You should pressure again DURING the slab pour and then once more AFTER the pour, just to make sure that everything is working properly before you need to rely on that system for heat. The more you pressure test, the more sure you'll be that your radiant heat will keep your home comfortable all winter long.

Pressure test kits as well as PEX Tubing and a variety of other supplies for radiant heat can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

What is Hercules Block?

Hercules Block is a greenish-blue paste, insoluble in water. Applying this paste onto the threaded ends of fittings will seal the grooves to the pipe and prevent leaks.

Hercules Block, as well as many other plumbing supplies, plumbing chemicals and plumbing compounds can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How to add heat with a little kick

If you are looking to add some extra heat to your hydronic heating system (without it costing your first-born!), installing a kick space heater will do the trick. These heaters can be installed in many different configurations- underneath the floor, wall mount, floor mounted or even in a toe kick.

Kick space heaters as well as other Beacon Morris products and heating supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Why use a full port zone valve?

A full port zone valve is true to it's pipe size. A 3/4" zone valve full port is true 3/4" throughout the bore, therefore the CV value the valve can handle is higher than a valve that is not full port. In other words, the pressure drop through a full port valve is a lot less than with a valve that is not full port.

Zone valves including Taco zone valves, Honeywell zone valves and full port zone valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Don't push through that valve, pull through it.

Always put your circulation pump after your Taco mixing valve. Never push water through a mixing valve- this can damage the valve. Putting the mixing valve first will allow it to function properly for years to come.

Circulation pumps, mixing valves and other heating supplies can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How to bleed a radiant manifold

Radiant heat manifolds should be bled one loop at a time. While you might think that bleeding everything at once will make the job go faster, this will actually add several hours! The fastest, most efficient way to bleed a system is one loop at a time.

Radiant Heat Supplies including Radiant Heat Manifolds, Radiant Heat Tubing and Radiant Heat Panels can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How a thermostatic radiator valve works

There is a dial built into the thermostatic radiator valve. The more that you turn the dial closing the valve, the less heat is emitted. This valve works as a thermostat and a valve built into one.

Thermostatic Radiator Valves, and a large variety of valves and thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Having trouble making fittings in tight spaces?

The ProPEX AutoRotation Adapter enables you to make a connection with very limited space. This head lets the tool do all of the twisting, meaning that you can make a fitting anywhere and taking potential human error out of the equation.

ProPEX tools, including the ProPEX AutoRotation Adapter, and ProPEX fittings can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

A step not to forget

Repairing or replacing an appliance with a gas line? Don't forget to shut off the gas! A Gas Ball Valve, or Gas Cock, is one easy step to shut off the gas just to that one appliance instead of a whole room or house. Turning off the gas will keep your house safe and avoid potential explosions from an open gas line.

Gas Ball Valves, Ball Valves, and other products by Matco-Norca can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How strong is Engineered Plastic (EP)?

To give you an idea of its strength, Engineered Plastic is what they use to make artificial hearts. Besides choosing EP for the lower cost, you might want to consider EP fittings to go under concrete slabs in radiant heat applications. Concrete can sometimes eat away at metal if it's completely covered. Swapping the brass for EP will keep your fittings safe and sound.

ProPEX EP Elbows, ProPEX EP Couplings, ProPEX EP Tees and many other Wirsbo ProPEX fittings and valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

The Taco D'Mand System

Waiting for hot water at your sink or your shower is an easy fix with Taco's D'Mand re-circulation pump. This pump boosts the water pressure so that water reaches your fixtures faster, eliminating wait times and wasted water. These pumps can be also be installed right underneath the sink for added convenience.

Circulation pumps and re-circulation pumps including the Taco D'Mand System can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Features and Benefits of the Grundfos SU25 Pump

Grundfos SU25 Pumps are corrosion resistant, lightweight, impact resistant, and continue operating regularly even when fully submerged.


A variety of sump pumps can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Laying out your Wirsbo (Uponor) QuikTrak

If you are installing wood floors over your radiant heat Wirsbo (Uponor) QuikTrak floor, lay the tracks perpendicular to your finished floor. This way, you can see the tubing when nailing the floor in place and won't accidentally puncture the tubing.

Radiant Heat Tubing, Panels, and Accessories can be found online at www.supplyhouse.com

Don't skimp on supply riser length

When choosing a supply riser, select a connector of adequate length and bend gradually. A sharp bend or riser that is too short in length may put a kink in the tube, causing it to fail prematurely.

Supply risers can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Make your boiler room look like a pro did the install

A boiler header makes installing your pumps for your zones much easier and prevents possible leaks in the future. The header is a seamless fitting which replaces having multiple tees tied together.

Boiler headers, and everything else for your boiler room, can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Firomatic valves shutting off in the fire

Firomatic oil valves operate using a spring-loaded plunger. In the case of a fire in the boiler room, the handle (made of a special alloy that melts at a low temperature) melts off the shaft which shuts off the oil flow to the burner. Oil flow can also be manually shut off by turning the handle on the valve clockwise.

Firomatic valves as well as a variety of other valves can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Connecting PEX Tubing to a Water Heater

When you are trying to attach PEX tubing to a gas/oil fired heater, you will need a Water Heater Adapter. The flue on the heater gets very hot (260-480 degrees) and can damage the tubing if an adapter is not used.

PEX tubing and ProPEX Water Heater Adapters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Taco 3350-T2 Cartridge Pressure Reducing Valves

When installing a fill valve, try a Taco 3350-T2 as well. This pressure reducing valve is used to automatically feed water to a system whenever pressure in the system drops below the pressure setting of the valve.

Pressure reducing valves and the Taco 3350-T2 can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Paloma Tankless Heater Venting

Paloma PH-20 heaters are vented with 3" (Part # 2ZVWP03), Paloma PH-28 heaters are vented with 4" (Part # 2ZVWB04)

Paloma Tankless Heaters can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

How to use a ball wick

Ball wicks were much more popular in the past, but are still used by plumbers today to create secure fittings. To use a ball wick, take your nipple and carefully wrap it with the ball wick, then spread pipe joint compound over the entire area. This forms a secure and tight fitting for the nipple to the fitting.

Fittings, nipples, and ball wicks can all be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Checking the wiring

When replacing an old thermostat, you what to make sure to check the voltage powering your unit ( 24v or 110v ). A quick way to tell is by looking at the wire attached to your thermostat- if it is a thin (commonly seen in doorbells or speakers) wire it is most likely 24v. If it is a thick wire hanger it is line voltage 110v. Make sure to never wire a 24v thermostat into a 110v wire or a 110v thermostat into a 24v wire.

Honeywell Thermostats, White Rodgers Thermostats, Wirsbo Thermostats, RobertShaw Thermostats, Lux Thermostats and Tekmar Thermostats can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Using HydroPEX fittings, again

If you are using a Watts Crimping Tool with copper rings to secure HydroPEX fittings and happen to make a mistake, you don't need to waste that fitting. Simply cut the ring with a PEX Ring Cutter, remove the fitting, and try again.

All tools and fittings for PEX Plumbing and Radiant Heat can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

McDonnell & Miller Flow Switches

Unlike most competitor flow switches which are normally closed, McDonnell & Miller Flow Switches give you the flexibility to have the switches either normally open or normally closed. This allows you to use them with virtually any application needing a flow switch.

Flow switches can be purchased online from www.supplyhouse.com

PEX, the environmentally friendly plumbing pipe

While it may seem hard to believe that plastic is better for the environment than metal pipe, PEX proves that it’s possible. Since copper tubing weighs more than PEX, it requires significantly more energy to both refine and melt into shape. And, once PEX is installed, the energy efficiency gets more prominent. There is less heat loss with PEX than copper, and PEX is freeze resistant so less energy is needed to heat the water running through PEX pipe. This adds up to a more environmentally friendly product that saves you money, too.

PEX Tubing can be purchased straight from the source at www.supplyhouse.com

Make sure that you run all of your wires before completing the walls in a new construction.

Most thermostats are two-wire, but Wirsbo set-points to control radiant heat systems are 4-wire (two wires for 24 volt power and two wires for heat call). Running all 4 wires (or 5 wires to be safe) before sheet-rocking will save you time and frustration later.

Thermostats for all applications can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Drain-O-Tank Uses

Drain-O-Tanks are typically used with compression tanks on closed loop systems. It is not recommended that you use a Drain-O-Tank with a pre-charged diaphragm/bladder tank.

Drain-O-Tanks and compression tanks can be found on www.supplyhouse.com

Using a ball valve for shut-off

Ball valves are incredibly durable and are usually able to provide perfect shut-off after years of not being touched. However, it's generally a good idea to turn them once or twice a year, just to make sure that when you need to use it, it will work.

Ball valves of all shapes and sizes can be purchased from www.supplyhouse.com

How to simplify your radiant installation

PEX tubing can be difficult to lay out without help as the coils tend to want to stay in their ready-to-ship position. A tube uncoiler fixes this problem and makes laying out your PEX tubing a one-man job. The uncoiler allows your PEX to straighten out and makes it easy to handle to create your loops.

PEX Tubing and Tube Uncoilers can be found at www.supplyhouse.com

Plan Ahead for Pump Replacement

When replacing or installing a new pump, you should consider using shut-off flanges. These flanges make isolating the pump for repair or replacement easy because they literally shut-off the line, allowing you to change out the pump without needing to drain your entire system.

Pumps and flanges can be found online at www.supplyhouse.com

Adding radiant comfort to your home

Make your bathroom more comfortable with radiant heat. When laying out your tubing try placing the tubing under your tub/shower and in the exterior walls about 4 feet up from the floor. Make sure to insulate behind the tubing in the wall using a concrete barrier foil from www.supplyhouse.com.

Installing a Low Water Cut-Off with Pro Dope

When installing a low water cut-off make sure to never use teflon tape or paste containing teflon. The teflon can cause your low water cut-off to malfunction. Use Pro Dope to make your seal.

Both Pro Dope and Low Water Cut-Offs can be purchased from www.supplyhouse.com

Where can a Hot Dawg Heater be used?

The Hot Dawg Unit Heater was designed to provide heat to places where it normally wasn't found, particularly garages and woodworking shops. With a Hot Dawg installed in your garage, you can now work in a safe, heated environment. Whether you are simply taking your kids in and out of the car, leaving for work in the morning, or working on your hobbies, the Hot Dawg Heater makes the garage usable 24/7, 365 days a year.

Using a tankless heater for your space heating

Tankless heaters are designed for domestic use. A unit that says 199,000 BTU's will not give you 199,000 BTU's for space heating. That is just a rating on what the unit needs to deliver hot water at its listed gpm. To find out how may BTU's this unit will deliver for space heating, there is a quick formula you can use. Find out what GPM the unit will deliver (e.g. 5 gpm). As a rule of thumb, at a 20 degree delta t (the difference in temperature between the supply water and the return water) you can deliver 10,000 BTU's per GPM (10,000 BTU's X 5 GPM). This unit would give you 50,000 BTU's for space heating. This works for Takagi Tankless Water Heaters, Bosch Tankless Water Heaters, and Stiebel Eltron Tankless Water Heaters.