Product Spotlight

Providing ease, cost savings and strong performance, product offers contractors a competitive advantage  To provide a quick and easy tank replacement solution to both contractors and end users, Rinnai America Corporation created the non-condensing Demand Duo® R-Series Commercial Hybrid Water Heating System. Its design connects easily to the existing 6” B-Vent, allowing Contractors to quickly and easily replace standard-efficiency Read more

Providing ease, cost savings and strong performance, product offers contractors a competitive advantage 

To provide a quick and easy tank replacement solution to both contractors and end users, Rinnai America Corporation created the non-condensing Demand Duo® R-Series Commercial Hybrid Water Heating System. Its design connects easily to the existing 6” B-Vent, allowing Contractors to quickly and easily replace standard-efficiency atmospheric tanks. The end user, too, can benefit by simply upgrading to a “best of both” system, featuring part-tank and part-tankless design.

“With patented technology, the Demand Duo R-Series delivers superior, reliable performance and a longer service life,” said Dale Schmitz, Marketing Segment Manager. “Switching from traditional tanks to the consistency and efficiency of the Demand Duo R-Series is simple and benefits customers with a lower total cost of ownership.”

Sold in 80 or 119- gallon tank options, the Demand Duo R-Series eliminates the need for new vent penetrations. The pre-installed drip leg and 36” Swivel-Flex Gas Line also creates material efficiencies and reduces install time with a pre-installed electrical junction box and duplex outlet. The digital controller, which comes with the product, also allows management of building recirculation without having to purchase an additional aquastat.

“With cost advantages to the end user, as well as ease of installation, this product gives contractors a great competitive advantage,” said Schmitz. “Rinnai is going one step further and offering an aggressive promotion to encourage Rinnai PROs and installers to try the Demand Duo R-Series, earning them a $150 rebate through June 30, 2021.”

Rinnai’s R-Series originated from the Demand Duo product portfolio; the first commercial hybrid water heating product introduced by Rinnai in 2015. It was developed to compete against high-efficiency tank-type water heaters in emergency replacement situations. Due to water heating inside traditional tanks, those products are put through a higher amount of strain, and that constant heating is what ultimately causes the tank to fail, leading to costly replacements. The Demand Duo was designed to solve this problem, by putting less stress on the tank through water being heated outside the tank in the Demand Duo’s tankless unit. With this solution comes a longer product service life, a longer warranty and more economical repairs.

To continue providing solutions to end users and contractors, Rinnai expanded the product category which now includes multiple tank sizes and Btu inputs including two tankless units mounted to a 119-gallon tank, known as the Demand Duo H-Series, a condensing hybrid water heater.

“Once contractors use the Demand Duo series, they seldom go back to installing tank-type water heaters because they can offer a product that is at the same price point but offers so many more advantages,” said Schmitz. “These advantages end up benefiting both the contractor and customer, while providing reliable performance whenever hot water is needed.”

To learn more about Rinnai, visit www.rinnai.us.

There seems to be some confusion in the HVAC/R industry right now about press fittings. So RLS – manufacturer of the original RLS (Rapid Locking System) press fittings that were first sold under the ZoomLock brand name – wants to set the record straight. While you can’t always trust what you hear, you can always Read more

There seems to be some confusion in the HVAC/R industry right now about press fittings. So RLS – manufacturer of the original RLS (Rapid Locking System) press fittings that were first sold under the ZoomLock brand name – wants to set the record straight.

While you can’t always trust what you hear, you can always trust the facts. And here are some undisputed facts about HVAC/R press fittings:

FACT: RLS is the inventor, patent holder and manufacturer of the original HVAC/R press fittings, which were introduced under the ZoomLock brand in 2015, through an exclusive agreement with Parker Hannifin Corporation’s Sporlan division. The fittings were designed and engineered – and continue to be made – in America.

FACT: The exclusive agreement ended in late 2019, and RLS stopped supplying fittings for ZoomLock in August of 2020. (See the official announcement here)

FACT: In August of 2020, Parker began selling press fittings manufactured in Europe by Conex Banninger (the Conex B MaxiPro line) under the “ZoomLock Max” name.

FACT: RLS now sells the exact same fittings, tools and jaws that were originally sold as ZoomLock under their own RLS brand name. That is why the original ZoomLock tools and jaws still work perfectly with RLS fittings – and always will.

FACT: Any rumors being circulated about RLS/ZoomLock jaws needing to be “traded in” or replaced are simply not true.

FACT: RLS fittings and jaws use a patented double circular press, with 360˚ metal-to-metal connections. ZoomLock Max/Conex B MaxiPro fittings and jaws use a hexagonal press similar to what is used in plumbing.

FACT: RLS fittings have a 6+ year proven track record of success worldwide. Conex Banninger introduced the new B MaxiPro design sometime after June of 2019.

FACT: The only difference between the original ZoomLock fittings and the current RLS fittings is the name. The product is identical – and made in the same American factory.

Want more facts? You can get them from the source by visiting rapidlockingsystem.com or emailing sales@rapidlockingsystem.com.

If you have experience installing gas appliances, you have installed a sediment trap. It’s an assembly that many plumbers have fabricated hundreds of times in the field, lauded for its simple design that protects expensive gas appliances like water heaters and boilers. It is even required by code in the United States and many other Read more

If you have experience installing gas appliances, you have installed a sediment trap. It’s an assembly that many plumbers have fabricated hundreds of times in the field, lauded for its simple design that protects expensive gas appliances like water heaters and boilers. It is even required by code in the United States and many other places across the world. So, why is it so important?

All gas appliances rely on a supply line to receive fuel from a building’s main utility source. This line, however, exposes the appliance to certain vulnerabilities. Debris such as dirt, metal, or other foreign matter can accumulate in this line during installations and repairs. If these loose particles enter the appliance, they can cause serious damage including malfunctions or even fires. Because of this, every gas appliance installation is required by code to ensure protection from sediment.

Plumbers have protected against gas sediment for years using the simple law of gravity and a clever assembly of fittings. With the understanding that debris will naturally settle at the lowest point in the piping line, a strategically placed tee with an elongated, capped branch is installed between the supply and the appliance to form a trap. The flow travels downstream from the gas supply, entering the tee through the top and continuing through the side branch at a 90° angle to the appliance. This sharp change in direction causes the loose particles to separate from the flow and drop into the capped nipple.

This trap assembly is widely accepted as the solution to guarding against gas sediment, but it has room for improvement. Assembling individual components not only takes time and introduces leak paths to the system, but it also aesthetically leaves much to be desired. Most importantly, the design is only functional if installed correctly, by a plumber who understands the significance of the 90° directional change. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to see sediment traps assembled with an improper tee orientation, resulting in ineffective horizontal flow path that allows particles to bypass the trap and enter the unit.

Enter the Gas Sediment Trap from Webstone®, a brand of NIBCO®. It’s the industry’s first integral trap solution – a forged brass tee with an elongated capped branch that meets the 3” length that’s required by code. Created as an all-in-one installation kit, it includes a CSA-certified full port gas ball valve, with the choice of an optional flex line. It’s available in ½” or ¾” connections, making it ideal for a wide array of applications including high BTU appliances.

Choosing the Gas Sediment Trap has several advantages over field fabrication. Its attractive forged brass design results in cleaner, consistent quality professional installations that eliminate the possibility of an ineffective flow path. It saves time, replaces several components, and eliminates multiple leak paths. Kit models provide everything needed to complete the job, including a versatile flex hose that connects to the appliance or the supply line. For more information and other products that help you work smarter, visit webstonevalves.com.

Protect work sites and equipment from dripping video cable reels with the new Reel Cage Cover for Gen-Eye sewer cameras from General Pipe Cleaners. The heavy-duty, 600 denier poly canvas cover fits snuggly around General’s full size camera reels. Three times more durable than standard covers, it’s securely affixed with Velcro tabs – and easily removed for Read more

Protect work sites and equipment from dripping video cable reels with the new Reel Cage Cover for Gen-Eye sewer cameras from General Pipe Cleaners.

The heavy-duty, 600 denier poly canvas cover fits snuggly around General’s full size camera reels. Three times more durable than standard covers, it’s securely affixed with Velcro tabs – and easily removed for reel inspection or cleaning between jobs.

The new Reel Cage Cover now comes standard with all full size Gen-Eye POD®, Gen-Eye X-POD®, Gen-Eye SD®, and Gen-Eye USB® video inspection systems. It’s also available for separate purchase by existing Gen-Eye equipment owners – and is not intended for Gen-Eye mini-reel designs.

Easy to move, easy to use, and easy on budgets, General’s lightweight, compact Gen-Eye POD® sewer cameras include integral Wi-Fi to record and share inspections from tablets and smartphones.

The Gen-Eye X-POD® features a powerful Command Module with USB port to record video inspections on flash drives. It also includes a 7” LCD color monitor, one-touch recording, digital zoom, voice-over recording, and more.

The Gen-Eye USB® Premium packs potent features into a compact package. Included are a USB port, 10.4” sunlight-readable screen, waterproof keyboard, rechargeable battery that lasts up to 4 hours, and Wi-Fi capability – all protected by a heavy-duty Pelican case.

For additional information, contact the Drain Brains® at General Pipe Cleaners at 800-245-6200, or visit www.drainbrain.com/geneye

U.S. Boiler Company has released the new Alta Combi boiler, the industry’s first and only gas-adaptive combi boiler with 10:1 turndown. The all-new Alta Combi high efficiency condensing boiler offers best in class, next-generation gas adaptive technology that provides the shortest installation time and lowest operating costs. The powerful gas-adaptive technology offers true “no touch” Read more

U.S. Boiler Company has released the new Alta Combi boiler, the industry’s first and only gas-adaptive combi boiler with 10:1 turndown.

The all-new Alta Combi high efficiency condensing boiler offers best in class, next-generation gas adaptive technology that provides the shortest installation time and lowest operating costs. The powerful gas-adaptive technology offers true “no touch” combustion setup. There are no manual throttle or offset adjustments. Engineered for five-minute start-up, the boiler’s control system provides continuous, automatic self-calibration of burner combustion by adapting to component wear, variations in fuel, environment, and vent air pressure to provide safe, efficient, and clean combustion at all times.

Converting from natural gas to LP is simple. No additional parts or conversion kits are needed. The Alta also includes a sensor-less reset, which performs the functions of a conventional outdoor reset without the need to install an outside sensor.

Domestic hot water response time is virtually instantaneous. Domestic hot water temperatures are maintained under all demand conditions, and the unit’s DHW recirculation system can be set to either economy or comfort mode.

At 95% AFUE, The Alta Combi is currently available with 136 MBH DHW input (3.7 GPM) / 120 MBH heating input. However, stay tuned! U.S. Boiler Company will be releasing a larger Alta Combi boiler (200 MBH DHW / 150 heating) and numerous heating-only Alta models (80, 120, 150 and 180 MBH) later this year.

Each Alta comes with value-added components and features, including an AltaFastPipe primary/secondary piping assembly, lift-away front and side panels for three-sided access, boiler flow safety switch (UL353) and display indicator, ProPress compatibility and a five-year parts warranty.

For more information, please visit www.usboiler.net