Product Spotlight

With winter comes the inevitable rise in the number of burst pipes all plumbers will be tasked with repairing. Fortunately, John Guest has plumbers covered with John Guest’s high-tech ProLock slip connectors, which provide plumbers with a quick, simple, and easy fix for burst pipes. John Guest slip connectors come in two sizes and can be used to fix pipe bursts on PEX, CPVC, and copper pipes, providing an efficient solution to a litany of burst-pipe problems that any plumber is bound to face this season.

John Guest slip connectors feature push-fit connections, making rapid installations easy and allowing plumbers to increase the number of visits they can make each day. In addition to being easy to install, John Guest pipe fittings can also solve one of the major issues with burst pipes: leakage. The push-fit fitting allows all of this to be quickly accomplished without any additional pipe work being performed by the plumber.

John Guest slip connectors are also built with versatile use in mind, and they work equally well with both hot and cold pipes, again providing coverage across the entire spectrum of possible burst-pipe issues that one of John Guest’s customers may encounter. John Guest slip connectors are made with lead-free, non-toxic, and non-flammable materials so plumbers can feel secure after installing these connectors and then allowing them to run without constant monitoring. Like all John Guest products, ProLock slip connectors are made with an advanced polymer material, assuring our customers that they are receiving only the highest-quality performance. No matter how many precautions people take to prevent winter pipe bursts, some bursts are unavoidable.  For this season, John Guest slip connectors are a must-have for any plumber.

U.S. Boiler Company has introduced a new thermoplastic-lined, indirect-fired water heater for residential and light commercial applications.

The new Alliance LT is a corrosion-resistant tank designed to provide outstanding thermal performance. The tank itself is light, offering ease of transport and installation, but has a faster recovery rate than competing electric, gas or oil-fired water heaters.

The Alliance LT is the perfect solution for any application where water quality, hardness, softness or chlorides could otherwise be an issue. By utilizing a proprietary, double-bonded thermoplastic tank liner, the Alliance LT can withstand even the most aggressive water conditions without the use of an anode rod.

The Alliance LT also features one inch of dense foam insulation, providing minimal standby heat loss. Bolted, topside connections provide easy access to the coil without the need to train the tank.

Fresh water enters through a diffuser that deposits water toward the bottom of the tank. The perforated diffuser shoots cold water in a 360-degree pattern across the heat exchanger. This puts the coldest water in direct contact with the coil. This design has proven to speed recovery time by more than 15 percent.  Fast water movement across the heat exchanger also diminishes mineral buildup on the coil.

The unit comes standard with an advanced TPI thermostat control and 10-year residential warranty. A lifetime warranty is optional. Available in five sizes from 30 to 119 gallons, the Alliance LT requires minimal maintenance and offers long service life.

New compatibility allows customers to control home comfort with their voice

Côr 5C and 7C thermostats now work with Google Assistant, allowing customers to more easily manage their smart home. Côr is a brand under UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

Google Assistant smart speakers, like Google Home, have integrated support for home automation, letting users control smart home devices such as the Côr 5C and 7C thermostat with their voice. For example, customers can ask the Google Assistant to control the temperature set point of the thermostat; or get instant feedback about the state of the thermostat temperature and mode.

“We are pleased to be able to offer our customers the ability to control their home comfort with more popular devices from Google,” said Todd Nolte, director, product management, Côr. “This compatibility allows Côr customers the ability to monitor and change their home system settings with just their voice or via an easy-to-use app.”

Côr Series Wi-Fi® thermostats keep homeowners connected and in control. The mobile app lets customers easily create and edit their schedules, review energy usage reports and change home temperature from anywhere. Plus, they can provide instant feedback on estimated energy savings, teaching users how to better balance comfort and savings. 

“With Google Assistant, you can easily control all the connected devices in your home, from lights to thermostats, all in one simple place,” said Michele Turner, director, Smart Home Ecosystem, Google. “Our compatibility with Côr advances that effort to make the home smarter to help people live comfortably.”

The Côr 5C and 7C thermostats can save homeowners an average of 20 percent on their heating and cooling costs and are available through Carrier’s nationwide dealer network. The Côr thermostat is already compatible with Amazon Echo and will work with the vast majority of 24 volt communicating heating and cooling systems.

For more information on Côr products and services, please contact your local Côr dealer or visit mycorhome.com.

The popular AquaBalance^™ wall mount line of combination and heat only boilers from Weil-McLain now feature an energy saving AFUE rating of 95% on the new Series 2 version. The updated energy efficient units combine the warmth of high-efficiency space heating with the convenience of on-demand domestic hot water (combi version) in a reliable, space-saving, easy-to-install package. The units feature the industry’s latest stainless steel, titanium-infused heat exchanger technology, and are ideal for retrofits or new construction in single-family homes, apartments or condominiums.

“The AquaBalance combi units feature an advanced condensing technology to deliver efficient, worry-free space heat and domestic hot water in a sleek, compact design that’s small enough to fit in a closet,” said Mike Boyd, product manager with Weil-McLain. “The AquaBalance Series 2 boilers have been awarded the ENERGY STAR^® Most Efficient designation in 2018 – rated to deliver maximum operational cost savings to homeowners and provide qualification for local utility rebates, if available.”

The AquaBalance is now available in 3 sizes (80, 120 & 155 MBH input), in both combi or heat only versions. The impressive AquaBalance 155 size combi-boiler produces a constant supply of hot water up to four gallons per minute (GPM) at 70 degrees Fahrenheit temperature rise. The unit has the power to supply hydronic heat for up to a 2,500 square-foot home and enough hot water to run two showers and a dishwasher simultaneously.

The boilers also feature an aesthetically pleasing design and simple, user-friendly controls making installation and operation easy for contractors and homeowners.

“When choosing the combi version, the AquaBalance streamlines the installation process by eliminating the need to connect a separate boiler and hot water tank,” said Boyd. “Fewer pipes and less connection points translate into reduced set-up time and a more efficient installation.”

Other features of the AquaBalance include:

• Low NOx rated – low emissions level achieved South Coast certification
• Easy to navigate boiler control with digital display
• Simple electrical connection points and plug in cord
• Removable sides for easy service
• Heavy gauge insulated jacket for quiet operation
• Unique 3-in-1 vent adapter approved to readily accept PVC, CPVC, stainless steel or polypropylene vent materials
• Able to satisfy various venting challenges and orientations
• Ships as a natural gas unit, but simply converted to propane (LP) with conversion kit

To learn more about the AquaBalance boilers, visit our website or contact a Weil-McLain regional sales office.