Special to CONTRACTOR

HILLSIDE, N.J. — Next to its existing 18,000-sq.-ft. facility here, West Side Plumbing Supply has opened a new 10,000-sq.-ft. warehouse that is heated by a state-of-the-art radiant system. A grand opening and trade show for customers and vendors took place July 23, although the building actually went into operation a month earlier, President Jerry Grunt said.

“The fact that we’re using radiant in a warehouse facility makes this system unique,” Grunt told CONTRACTOR. “The differential heat loss between a conventional system of gas-fired heating units and this radiant system is 70%, which means we’ll use 70% less fuel.”

The two Peerless Pinnacle 140,000-Btuh modulating boilers in the system are 92% efficient, he noted. By using two of them, West Side won’t have to run both boilers all the time and won’t have to utilize them at full input.

“We’ll run them just based on Btu demand, which in turn will be based on outdoor temperature,” Grunt said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we add another 10% efficiency. So that would add up to an 80% heat loss differential over a conventional heating system.”

Also making the system unique was the installation, which West Side used as a training exercise on radiant heating for both its employees and local contractors. Grunt served as the general contractor on the project, which was designed in-house with work beginning last summer.

“Our own employees got involved in laying the 12,000 ft. of PEX tubing, as did our contractor customers,” Grunt said. “The entire job became a family affair.”

Embassy Industries supplied the PEX tubing and manifolds. Other products in the radiant system include: pumps from Taco and Bell & Gossett; controls from Taco and McDonnell & Miller; Wardflex gas piping; Weiss solar-powered thermometers; Apollo ball valves; Conbraco backflow preventers; and Ridge Tool Co. ProPress fittings.

Besides additional warehouse space, the new building will house training seminars on radiant heat and boiler efficiency for the wholesaler’s customers and employees. West Side specializes in heating and industrial PVF products. Company vice president is Bob Fochesto and treasurer is Jeff Grunt.