It’s possible to kink PEX tubing if you bend it too tightly. When using PEX-B or PEX-C grade pipe you will normally want to cut the affected piece of tubing out of the line and replace it with a coupling, depending on the severity of the kink. With PEX-A, heat can be used to fix the kink (watch …
A Few Tips on Radiant Heat and Wood Floors
1. The wider the boards, the greater the chance for trouble. Stick with boards that are no wider than three inches. Wide wood can warp. 2. Use mechanical humidity control. The relative humidity in a radiantly heated home that has wood floors should be no more than 50 percent. Without this con…
What a Dehumidifier Does…
Have you ever wondered what actually goes on inside of a dehumidifier? Recently I did a video with Nicole from customer service about the dehumidifiers sold on our website. We created a pretty cool image that shows the basic functions inside a dehumidifier. When an excess amount of moisture is …
Hot Water in an Instant
Are you tired of waiting for hot water to reach your shower every day? Do you shake your head as wasted cold water flows down the drain? SupplyHouse may have the solution: a hot water recirculation pump. These pumps allow you to get instant hot water at the turn of the faucet and can result in big s…
Direct Burial of PEX Tubing
PEX tubing is approved for direct burial outdoors, a practice most often necessary when running a water supply line to a house. PEX, since it can expand, resists freezing more effectively than rigid pipe, but PEX can still burst if water freezes in a line. As a result, it’s a must to bury the tubi…
How to Become a Better Troubleshooter
Avoid "Auto" Conclusions Don't try to solve the problem while you're still in your truck. Some technicians make up their minds before looking around, and then they set out to prove that they're right - even if they're not! Comprehend the components If you don't understand how the parts work…
Bath Fans Do More Than Clear Odors
Since the bathroom is the most humid room in any house, a ventilation fan is the best defense against moisture-related problems—namely, mold and mildew. Humidity is not only uncomfortable, it is damaging to your home, particularly indoors where it can lead to peeling paint, warped wooden doors …
When to use Supply End Caps on Viega Manablocs
Viega Manablocs have three “supply port” connections: one hot and one cold at the top, and one cold at the bottom. Since the Manabloc is partitioned internally into hot and cold sections, hot water from the water heater must enter through the hot port. Incoming cold water can enter through eithe…
Connecting PEX to PB
Polybutylene (PB) piping was commonly used for domestic water piping in the United States during parts of the 1970s and 1980s. Polybutylene can be identified by its gray color. Lawsuits related to fitting assembly failures caused the production of PB to stop, but the plastic tubing is still present …
How to Fix a Leaky Cast-iron Radiator
J-B Weld Company of Sulfur Springs, TX (903-885-7696) told me that the City of Dallas, Texas used their product to repair a cracked Caterpillar engine block. That sure got my attention! They also said that people have been using J-8 Weld to fix old cast-iron radiators. But to do this you first h…
Fitting Sizing for Copper Pipe
It's important to remember that when buying fittings for plumbing and heating systems, copper pipe sizing refers to the listed size of the pipe which is approximately the inner diameter. For example, a ½ inch Copper fitting doesn't actually measure ½ inch. It simply fits over the ½ copper pipe…
Give your Dryer a Boost
Does it seem like it takes forever for your clothes to dry? The solution may be easier than you think. With a Fantech Dryer Booster Exhaust Fan from SupplyHouse.com you can cut down on clothes drying times and slash your utility bills. Dryer Booster Fans are perfect for homes with long runs betwe…
