No Sweat.
Installing supply-line shutoffs just got easier, thanks to
Watts' new KwikStop Water Supply Stops. Available in straight
and angled styles, the NSF-approved quarter-turn valves simply
push on to 1/2-inch copper, CPVC, and PEX tubing. According to
the maker, they can be removed and reused if necessary. List
price is $6.15 each. Watts, 978/688-1811,
www.watts.com
Jacket Required? Whether embedded in a slab or
running through accessible space, water lines can be
challenging to fix or replace. Pre-Sleeved 1/2-inch Aquapex
Tubing is designed with its own color-coded high-density
polyethylene sleeve, which makes repairs and replacements a lot
less difficult. This product is ideal for water lines buried in
pesticide-treated soils, too, the manufacturer says.
Uponor, 800/321-4739,
www.uponor-usa.com
Keep It Basic. Simplify your clients' solar
hot-water heating systems with a Phoenix Solar. This 80- or
119-gallon solar storage tank has a built-in 97
percent-efficient gas-fired backup heater with a
sealed-combustion 199,000-Btu modulating burner. Side taps for
space heating add versatility. Made from 316 stainless steel,
the tank is covered with 2 inches of foam insulation and
doesn't need anodes. Heat Transfer,
800/323-9651, www.htproducts.com
Metal Connectors
Long Term.
I've seen salt air completely eat through traditional
galvanized metal connectors within a few years. Short of moving
inland, the only real solution for owners of coastal homes is
to use stainless steel connectors like those made by PowrFab.
In addition to 30 standard shapes, the company makes custom
hangers complete with an engineering stamp. A single 2x8 hanger
(JH28) sells for about $9.
PowrFab,
541/265-4269,
www.powrfab.comTop Coat. Once it became evident that
copper-based pressure-treating formulas were corrosive to metal
connectors, many connector manufacturers switched from G90 to
G185 zinc coatings for additional corrosion resistance. But USP
took a different approach with its Gold Coat connectors: A gold
organic polymer coating applied over the connectors' zinc base
coat protects the zinc from contact with the copper formula,
thereby eliminating any risk of galvanic corrosion, says the
company. Prices compare favorably with those of G185 hangers
from other companies, according to USP. USP Structural
Connectors, 800/328-5934
www.uspconnectors.com
Space and
Brace. Set roof trusses faster with the Stabilizer, a
spacer and brace that fits between truss chords and fastens
without nails or screws. At 1 1/2 inches wide, the product can
be temporarily stored on the truss chord while the truss is
lifted and positioned, allowing crew members to use both hands.
It comes in 16-inch and 24-inch sizes, for $1.20 and $1.35
respectively. MiTek, 800/325-2556,
www.mii.com