Check out todays Groupon Deal, $20 Gift Card for $10, http://ping.fm/01He4 Ace Is the Helpful Place!

Great Deals this weekend, Sweeping some inventory out, SAVE up to 50% on select products, Richland Ace Hardware!!

Worried about going out of town and keeping your flowers and garden watered, we have an easy to install, worry free, irrigation system

We are now selling Craftsman Tools, great Deals for Dad for Father's Day http://ping.fm/0mQPb

Memorial Day Sale starts Today! Great deals on all types of products.

For the most awesome flowers for Mother's Day and more, come check out our Garden Center, Ace is the Helpful Place!!!

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers in stock now, some of the best looking baskets in town Ace is your place for all your gardening needs!!

Flowers, shrubs, mulch, potting soils all now in stock in our Garden Center. Come check it out

Do you have limited space for a garden, check this out, new from Ace Hardware stores only, http://ping.fm/4xoKh

Tomato Tower

Do you have limited space in your back yard?  Do you want to save money this year by growing your own vegetables?  We have the solution, the Tomato Tower. 


-For growing tomatoes and other vines grown down; herbs, lettuce or peppers grow up

-Decorative molded upper planter with bottom storage cavity

-Upper planter capacity 9.5 gallon

-Durable resin construction is maintenance free and reusable year after year
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iytSYqYPmv8

$5 Rebate on Gallons of Ace Royal Paint, Save some money painting inside and out this Spring Season, www.richlandacehardware.com

A good looking yard requires a little bit of work, we have the product, tools, and advice, check with us for your Lawn and Garden Needs!

Thinking of going green with your lawn mower, check out this, www.acehardwarehelpfultips.blogspot.com

Electric Lawn Mowers

When it comes to lawn mowers you have plenty of options now to choose from.  Your traditional gas mower, the Old Fashion Reel Mower, and the Electric Mower.  Electric mowers have become more popular here in the last few years, with gas prices increasing and yards getting smaller.  We stock Earthwise Electric mowers, below is an article with reviews about all the models:

Earthwise Electric Mowers


If you are looking for an Earthwise Electric Mower for your lawn care needs, then you have two options under the Earthwise corded lawn mower brand name series. These are the Earthwise 20" 12 Amp Electric 3-in-1 Lawn Mower; and the Earthwise 18” 12 Amp Electric Side Discharge/Mulching Lawn Mower. But if what you seek is a cordless Electric Earthwise Mower, then what you need is the Earthwise 20” 24 Volt Cordless Electric 3-in-1 Lawn Mower with Grass Bag mower then.

All three products are manufactured and sold by The Great States Corporation and American Lawn Mower Company. This lawn mower company has been involved in lawn mower manufacturing for 113 years, starting with its hand push reel mowers and now branching out into the Earthwise Electric Mower series as well. With such a great company which has a solid reputation in lawn mower manufacture offering you an Earthwise Mower, you may breathe a little easier that you are getting a good deal.

The corded Earthwise Electric Mower known as Earthwise 20" 12 Amp Electric 3-in-1 Lawn Mower weighs just 66 pounds so you can find it manageable for your lawn care activities. With 12 amps of power to juice it up, you can do grass cutting with ease and power. Add on the 3-in-1 Mulching – Side Discharge or Rear Bagging options and sweeping up grass cuttings becomes a thing of the past. There seven ways to change the height with its single lever height control mode. The mulch plug – grass catcher – discharge chute was designed for easy attachment to the main mower and for hassle-free removal after grass cutting has ended. Prior to storing, just fold its comfort “v” handle (which comes with a cushioned grip) and then rely on the special cord hook to place the cord out of harm’s way. The safety blade control featured on the mower handle is an additional convenience for you. The ball bearing wheels means you no longer have any reason not to store this machine afterwards.

The second Earthwise Lawn Mower on this list is the Earthwise 18” 12 Amp Electric Side Discharge/Mulching Lawn Mower (sometimes called an 18” corded electric lawnmower.) It too is a corded lawn mower that comes with a long electrical power cord that has to be plugged into an electrical socket somewhere nearby for grass cutting to commence. This mower has 12 amps of power for you to work with. Like its 20” cousin, it features single lever height control function which permits height adjustment in seven ways. Easy folding is designed into the cushion-grip comfort “v” handle, meaning soft touch operation is possible. Just use its special cord hook to loop out the long cord to make it less of a nuisance. It also has a safety blade control on the handle itself. Being a lawn mower with wheels, storage is a breeze following a grass cutting session. At 51 pounds of weight, you can push it around in your yard and cut grass with less effort.

For those eyeing the cordless Earthwise Electric Mower variety, then the Earthwise 20” 24 Volt Cordless Electric 3-in-1 Lawn Mower with Grass Bag product is probably a good option. The juice that runs this lawn mower is backed by a 24 V system while the Side Discharge/Rear Bagger/Mulch options help is also good to have around. Other features you will find on this Earthwise Electric Mower are its easy-fold handle, soft touch operation, plus cushioned foam-grip comfort “v” handle design. Ball bearing wheels round out the package.

If you are interested in knowing more come see us at the store, we can answer any question you may have. 

Did you know we stock a huge selection of Chrome fasteners at a fraction of cost compared to the Motorcycle shops, We are the Helpful Place!

Need a new string trimmer we carry one of the best, STIHL, we also have a knowledgeable staff that can get you the best one for your needs

Time to plant your onions this year, we have them and the other gardening supplies you need to get started www.richlandacehardware.com

Time to plant those Onions!

It is time to start planting your garden this year.  And its hard to imagine a garden without onions.  This article should give you some ideas about planting and harvesting your onions. 

Enjoy Great Flavor with this Versatile Vegetable



It's hard to imagine eating without onions. From fast-food burgers to the Thanksgiving dressing and green-bean casserole, onions add flavor and interest to otherwise dull ingredients. You can eat the tops as scallions, immature bulbs as green onions, or mature bulbs as regular onions. It's easy to grow your own from seeds, sets, or transplants


Project Steps
1) Start Your Onions Early


Sow onion seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date in spring. For a summer harvest, plant sets (small bulbs) or transplants in the garden 3 weeks before the last frost date. In mild-winter regions, you can plant transplants in early winter for an early summer harvest.

2) Plant In Good Soil


To grow best, onions need loose, well-drained soil free of rocks and debris. Raised beds are ideal. Amend the soil with compost or other organic matter, such as Miracle-Gro® Organic Choice® Garden Soil"> before planting.

3) Feed Your Onions Regularly


Apply a plant food that's high in phosphorus, such as Miracle-Gro® Liquid Quick Start® Plant Food, at the time of planting. Follow up with a complete plant food, such as Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food, every 2 weeks during the growing season. Water regularly, but don't flood the planting bed.


4) Harvest Your Onions


About 8 weeks after planting, scallion tops should be 6-8 inches tall and ready for picking. You can harvest green onions any time after the bulb has formed. Mature onions should be ready for harvest in mid- to late summer, when the green tops start to turn brown and fall over. Then simply pull the onions from the ground.

Article found at Scotts.  Stop by our store for your onions and other gardening supplies this spring.  We are your helpful place!

We still have portable heaters to get you through this cold spell, Ace is the Helpful Place!

Ace rank high in customer service, give us a shot to prove it to you at one of our stores www.acehardwarehelpfultips.blogspot.com

Ace in Business Week's Top Ten in Customer Service

Ace makes BusinessWeek's top ten in customer service

Ace Hardware was named one of BusinessWeek’s top ten “Customer Service Champs.” This is the third consecutive year that Ace made the top ten, and we were the only home improvement retailer to do it.

BusinessWeek used two main factors to determine customer service excellence:
- Existing data from J.D. Power & Associates about customer satisfaction
- An independent consumer survey conducted by the BusinessWeek Market Advisory Board

BusinessWeek specified several ways in which Ace has invested in customer service, such as increased mystery shops and strategic use of inventory technology. The latter allows store associates to focus on customer service rather than stock levels.

We have always been here to serve you, our customer.  Whether you are working in the yard, or repairing your toilet, we have the helpful advice to help get your project done.  Sure we usually have those small hard to fiind items, but we also sell products to complete those Big "Honey Do" Projects.  Please remember us for all your hardware needs, we promise you will get the best service and helpful advice.

Thanks for making Ace Your Helpful Place!!

Time to start planning that Garden for this Spring, we can help with all the supplies you need www.richlandacehardware.com

Days are getting longer, which gives you more time for your outdoor projects, let us help with those. Ace is your Helpful Place!!

Having a great looking yard takes work, here are some tips to make it easy www.acehardwarehelpfultips.blogspot.com

Fertilize for the Lawn of Your Dreams

Make the neighbors wonder how you do it!

Keep up with the Joneses no more! Your lawn can look "professionally kept" without your checkbook looking like you professionally keep it. The importance of proper fertilization is paramount, and fortunately we have some advice to offer. Knowing that a good, healthy lawn will take time and effort, it's a snap to maintain once you have it established.

Your first step is to strip your lawn of any dead grass and debris. This can be done with a leaf rake or by renting a power rake if you have a rather large yard. When you're done with this step, your shoulders will ache and your lawn will actually look worse, but that's fine - it's all part of the plan.

You'll need to pick up some grass seed, which will be spread over the entire lawn. Ace carries several 99% weed-free seed blends. Choose the best one for your yard based on how much light your lawn gets, the climate of your region, how much traffic the lawn will receive, etc. The helpful folks at your local Ace Hardware can help you determine what seed is for you. If you want a little help determining just how much you need, look for the "Grass Seed Calculator" in the Project How-To's section.

Most of this project will require the use of a spreader. There are two types of spreaders: broadcast spreaders (such as Ace no. 7083751), which throw or "broadcast" (hence the name) the hopper contents in a pre-determined radius, and drop spreaders (such as Ace no. 7089337), which literally drop hopper contents the width of the hopper based on the where you walk (for example, a 20-inch drop spreader will drop a 20-inch wide path). You generally have more control of where the contents goes when using a drop spreader, but for covering rather large areas, a broadcast spreader makes the most sense, as many models can throw contents up to eight feet.

Using a spreader, cover the thinned-out lawn with the seed mix you chose. Once the seed is down, use the spreader to cover the seed with Ace's "Green Turf" lawn fertilizer (Ace no. 7014608) or Scott's "Lawn Pro" (Ace no. 75083). Both of these items can be used when overseeding. After the fertilizer has been spread, covering the lawn with peat moss will keep the seed moist when you water it and also keep the birds from eating all the seed. The peat moss can be spread by hand or using the spreader, provided you break the clumps up by hand into a fine, spreadable consistency.

You'll want to water the lawn regularly to achieve about an inch of water saturation. Deep, infrequent waterings are much more effective than short, daily efforts, as generally the roots of weeds grow only in the first two to three inches of soil. Therefore, the deeper the water soaks into the lawn, the more it will be going to the direct benefit of your grass versus the weeds.

Within about two weeks, you'll begin to see the new grass coming up. You'll also see some bare spots, which you'll want to add seed to by hand and cover with some peat moss to fill in. After about a month it will be safe to mow the lawn. Set your mower to a higher setting, leaving about 2 to 3-inches of blade height on the grass. After this initial cut, you can go back to your usual mowing height.

For fertilization, follow this schedule:
Step One: February-April - crabgrass preventer (Ace no. 7014665)

Step Two: April-June - weed and feed (Ace no. 7014632)

Step Three: June-August - lawn food (Ace no. 7014608)

Step Four: October-November - winterizer (Ace no. 7014681)

Follow these steps for the greenest lawn you've ever had. If you have additional questions about lawn care, ask the helpful folks at your neighborhood Ace Hardware store or feel free to e-mail me at asklou@acehardware.com.

Beautiful day today and tomorrow would be a good day to clean and seal your driveway, we have the stuff you need

Is your toilet running, fixing your toilet can save you $25-$100 a year off your water bill, www.acehardwarehelpfultips.blogspot.com

Anatomy of a Toilet

Ever go to the hardware store with Toilet questions and have a hard time discribing which part you need.  This article will help you understand the parts and workings of a toilet, and hopefully help you in your next toilet repair.  A constantly-running toilet can use up to 8,000 gallons of water each year. Fix the problem by installing a toilet repair kit that features a new valve, flapper and other devices that will conserve water. Average Savings: $25 - $100 per year.
(Article found at www.acehardware.com)
Flush-tank mechanisms consist of two control valves. Levers and other parts open or close these valves at the proper time.

One of these valves is the flush valve which is seated at the bottom of the tank. This is kept closed by a rubber flush ball, diaphragm or flapper. When the outside handle on the toilet tank is pressed down it raises a trip lever that pulls the flushing device off its seat. Water inside the tank pours through the opening to flush the toilet bowl.

The flushing device is held in place by water pressure; however, once the device is lifted by the trip lever, it remains off the seat by floating on top of the water until the tank is empty. As the water level drops, the flush ball or flapper gradually settles back into the opening, sealing it so the tank can refill for the next flush.

Some toilets have a trip lever with two-way action to conserve water. When pushed in one direction, a full flush occurs. When pushed the other direction, a partial flush results, which is adequate for water waste.

Standard toilets previously had 3.5 gallon tanks, but beginning Jan. 1, 1994, federal law mandated that toilets that use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush.

In their search for a method to increase flushing power, some manufacturers have introduced systems that harness compressed air to add greater velocity to each 1.6 gallon flush. These toilets hold water in a pressurized chamber until needed.

Refilling is controlled by the second valve mechanism, the inlet valve or ballcock. As the water level inside the tank drops, the hollow metal or plastic float ball drops, pulling the float arm down with it. This arm opens the inlet valve inside the ballcock and permits water from the supply line to pour into the tank through the ballcock.

As rising water forces the float ball upward, it gradually shuts off the inlet valve until the flow of water is stopped entirely when the tank is full.

If this valve fails to operate properly, the water does not shut off at the right time. Excess water then flows out through an overflow pipe, which stands vertically inside the tank.

A refill tube, which replaces water in the toilet bowl after it has been flushed, also squirts a small stream of water through the overflow pipe while the bowl is flushing. This refills a trap built into the toilet bowl to keep sewer gases from escaping into the house.

FLUSH VALVES
In some homes and many commercial buildings, a flush valve instead of a tank flushes the toilet bowl.

Flush valves may develop leaks around a vacuum breaker in the valve. It is often difficult to find which of several seals and/or diaphragms in the valve is leaking, so it is often best to recommend replacement of all internal parts. Flush-valve repair kits are available to facilitate replacements.

BALLCOCKS
Ballcocks or toilet fill valves are sold in pre-assembled units; replacement parts are available from the manufacturer, also in prepackaged units.

Replacement parts include upper lever, float rod, lower lever, plunger, valve seat, refill tube, nylon seat, eye screw, body, hush tube, regular shank, shank gasket, lock nut, coupling-nut washer, riser pipe and repair shank.

In addition to ballcocks, several other devices perform the same functions.

One is a toilet fill valve that can be installed underwater. It measures the water level from the bottom of a toilet tank. As the toilet is flushed and water level falls, its internal diaphragm senses the weight of the water above it. As the water level drops, the reduced pressure opens the fill valve and supply water enters.

When incoming water rises to a predetermined point (usually 8" deep), increased pressure on the diaphragm closes the valve.

This system is simpler than ballcock valves because it does not need a ball float or float rod and has fewer internal parts that can malfunction or wear out. These hydraulic systems, since they work with the water pressure, generally provide faster, more positive water shutoffs eliminating many of the noises associated with the older style filling valves.

Senior and Service day, come in and get 20% your purchase, first Wednesday of every month, Ace is the place!

Having water heater troubles, we have the parts and knowledge to get your heater heating again, and the best prices on new Water Heaters

Did you know there are new government regulations to the type of fluorescent light bulbs you can use http://ping.fm/5v9ks

Did you know there are new regulations for the bulbs you can use in your fluorscent light fixtures http://ping.fm/r0nXO

New Regulations to Fluorescent Lamps

You may not have read or heard, but if you have fluorescent light fixtures in your house or business you may be in for a big surprise.  Just recently the Federal Government has passed new Regulations for all Fluorscent lamps.  Basically all T12 (larger) 4' and 8' Fluorescent bulbs will be eliminated, you must change over to the T8 (smaller) bulbs.  The process is not as easy as changing the bulbs, ballast must also be changed to an electronic ballast.  Check out our website for a chart of the new standards and some additional tips.  http://www.richlandacehardware.com/

Check out GAC tonight at 8 pm central, for an interview with Country Singer Easton Corbin done at our Richland store, Ace is the Place!!

Bag sale this weekend, BYOB (Bring your own Bag) get 20% off everything* you put in it. www.richlandacehardware.com

Want to remove oil stains from your concrete driveway with no scrubbing or pressure washing, www.acehardwarehelpfultips.blogspot.com

Getting Rid of Oil Stains in your Driveway

Do you have oil stains on your concrete driveway or maybe in your garage?  I am sure you have tried scrubbing and pressure washing and haven't had any luck.  Check out this product, Pour-n-Restore.
 

Pour-N-Restore Oil Stain Remover lifts and absorbs embedded oil stains as it dries from a liquid to a powder. This is made possible by combining a powerful citrus degreaser with a non-leaching absorbent. To restore concrete and masonry, just apply Pour-N-Restore Oil Stain Remover, let it dry from a liquid to a powder, and sweep it up. No scrubbing. No rinsing. No mess.

It is completely biodegradable, phosphate-free, and has a fresh orange fragrance.  One Gallon Covers 24 square feet.  You will  be amazed how will it works. 
Click here to see it work

http://www.richlandacehardware.com/

Warm weather this weekend, it is a great time to get down a pre-emergent on your lawns, check this out for tips www.acehardwarehelpfultips.blogspot.com

Prevent Crabgrass before its to late

It's that time of year for you to start thinking about your lawn.  You probalbly have't had to do anything to your yard in a few months, but an early start will keep you from getting frustrated this summer with a lawn full of weeds.   It's time to prevent crabgrass from coming up this year.  Crabgrass gets its name because it sprawls from a central root low across the ground.  It can become a problem quickly because it is able to grow vigorously in hot, dry, conditions.  Before dying in the fall, a single weed can distribute thousands of seeds which will be ready to germinate in spring.  Crabgrass is a problem, but can be taken care of easily with the right products.

Turf Builder with Halts Crabgrass Preventer

• Prevents crabgrass all season
• Feeds and greens for fast green up after winter
• Water Smart improves lawn's ability to absorb water and nutrients.
• Apply in early spring.

You only have a small window to apply this product before the weeds start to sprout.  Take advantage of this weekend with the warm weather we will be having.  If you have any questions please stop by the store. 

Snow is falling Ace is your Place for Sleds, Salt, Ice Melt, and Snow Shovels. www.richlandacehardware.com

Looking to reduce energy cost this year here are some tips, www.acehardwarehelpfultips.blogspot.com or stop by our store for more ideas!

Money Saving Tips!

Save Money with Help from Ace!

With most of the nation facing tough economic times, there are plenty of ways that you gave save $$ in your home by just doing a few things.  Here are some examples:

• Add weather stripping around windows and doors.  Use of door thresholds, window caulking and plastic window film can go far in saving your money this winter. If you live in a drafty home, you could save up to 20 percent with an investment of as little as $25.
• Check furniture arrangement in your rooms.  Are you unknowingly blocking vents and radiators with a big sofa or armchair? If so, you're restricting the airflow in your home, resulting in higher output from your furnace or boiler. Rearranging the furniture can save your units from having to work overtime.
• Install a programmable thermostat. A recent study revealed that only 24 percent of Americans have installed this handy device - for shame! Well-insulated homes can save up to 30 percent on heating costs with one. You can program these thermostats to automatically lower temperatures when at work or while sleeping, thereby saving energy hours at a time. Prices for programmable thermostats range from $40 to $100, and will quickly pay for themselves.
• Adjust your water heater settings.  Your water heater may be working harder than it needs to, costing you precious dollars. Reduce the temperature on the unit to about 120 degrees - the water doesn't need to be any hotter. If the unit is older than 12 years, you may want to look into replacing it with a new, more energy-efficient model. Average Savings: $20 - $50 per year.
• Inspect your toilet.  A constantly-running toilet can use up to 8,000 gallons of water each year. Fix the problem by installing a toilet repair kit that features a new valve, flapper and other devices that will conserve water. Average Savings: $25 - $100 per year.

For more helpful money saving tips come in our store or visit http://www.richlandacehardware.com/

Now when you buy an Edenpure Heater get a $50 Ace Gift Card for FREE!! www.richlandacehardware.com

Want to save $$ on your lighting bill one bulb at a time. G.E. now has increased their line of CFL bulbs www.acehardwarehelpfultips.blogspot.com

GE Energy Smart™ Compact Fluorescent (CFL) Bulbs

 

Discover the many shapes & sizes of energy-efficient lighting.

 

There's no question that GE Energy Smart bulbs give you the energy-saving benefits you want and the high-quality lighting you expect. With a complete family of different shapes and sizes, you have energy-friendly lighting options for nearly every room in your home – including decorative fixtures.

 

Why Choose GE Energy Smart Bulbs?

• Save money: On energy and bulb replacement costs
• Save energy: Up to 75% less energy
• Last up to 10 times longer
• Turn on flicker free
• Most provide the same light output (lumens) but use lower wattages
• Soft white and daylight color temperature options
• Fit in most common household sockets/fixtures
• Instant-on feature
• Dimmable and 3-way products available
• ENERGY STAR® qualified

Click Here to find out how much you can save on energy costs by using GE Energy Smart CFL bulbs.

Looking for painting tips check out www.acehardwarehelpfultips.blogspot.com, print off the coupon to get a Free Benjamin Moore Wet Sample!

Painting Tips

When it comes to choosing a paint color for your room, start at the top - ceilings need color, too! Learn how color on the ceiling can transform a room.


The Forgotten Fifth Wall

There’s no better time to freshen up the look of your home than now. You can bring the sense of renewal inherent to the season into your own environment with beautiful color. Where to start? Look forward to the season by looking up.

Ceilings are often the Forgotten Fifth Wall in a room. Too often, little thought is given to a ceiling’s contribution to the overall room design, which is typically just coated in some ubiquitous white paint.

Look at your ceilings from a new perspective. Color, sheen, pattern, and texture on the ceiling can transform the entire look and feel of a room. Here are some ideas to consider:

Warm it Up

On the flip side, a large room with high ceilings can feel impersonal or unbalanced sometimes, with furnishings, floor coverings and accessories visually occupying the bottom half of a room, leaving the top bare. Experiment with a deeper color on the ceiling in this case. A rich cocoa, in a soft sheen such as eggshell or pearl immediately cozies up and balances a large open space with style.

Dress it Up


Consider experimenting with glazes on your ceiling, including metallic and pearlescent effects. Benjamin Moore offers a complete line of specialty finishes. Watch videos and learn how-to techniques for glazes here.

Open it Up

Make a small room or room with a low ceiling feel larger by keeping the color contrast between the walls and ceilings to a minimum. A pale yellow ceiling over wheat colored walls allows your eyes to gently travel upward without a stark demarcation of a bright white ceiling (think of how the sky naturally lightens in an ombre effect as it approaches the sun).


Use a flat sheen paint for the best effect. Try Regal Matte or Regal Flat Finish available in all bases. 

Wrap it Up


Ceilings truly are a blank canvas for your creative expression (bonus: you don’t have to worry about smudgy fingerprints or furniture nicks). And painting your ceiling is a budget-friendly way to give any room in your home a new, inviting look. With a stunning ceiling to look at, it’ll be easy to keep your chin up even in a tight economy!

(Article found at Benjamin Moore.com)

Sleds and Ice Melt coming in Friday, don't be one of the ones who misses out next time we get a Winter Storm www.richlandacehardware.com

Check us out on My Space www.myspace.com/generationacehardware give us ideas about what you would like to see us post.

Cold weather is a great time to feed birds, if you want to find out more click here, http://ping.fm/U2iAx

Winter Bird Feeding & Survival For Wild Birds

Surviving the cold weather and finding food poses many challenges for wild birds. Many species of birds will double their amount of feathers during the winter as a ways to reduce their body heat loss.

Birds can regulate body temperature allowing them to survive in a remarkable range of habitats such as tropical, polar, temperate, and oceans.  Metabolic heat production must be repaid balancing the intake of energy with what has been consumed. Also unique circulatory system of arteries and veins reduce the heat loss through their feed. In many birds, arteries and veins in their legs lie in contact with each other in order to exchange heat and maintain temperature. Arterial blood it is normally at body temperature and it is send to the feed trough a series of conducts that run along with the cold returning venous blood. Other small birds such as sparrows, juncos and other ground foraging birds usually drop down covering their legs and feed as a way to transfer body heat.

Birds produce heat during the winter nights and cold storms by shivering (thermogenesis). During this process all winter birds will produce heat by consuming their fat perseveres.  Shivering allows birds to maintain their body temperature up 8- 10 hours depending on the species and their intake of energy from food during the day.  That’s why it is necessary for winter songbirds to find food early in the morning regardless of weather conditions. If the bird doest not find enough food to produce the necessary energy to make it trough the night or a severe storm, the bird will die.

Other songbirds such as Chickadees will enter a state of unconsciousness or torpor. During the torpor state body temperature may drop between 10 to15 degrees during the night or during days of severe cold weather. Early morning Chickadees will decrease their periods of inactivity and will start shivering again, increasing body heat and becoming active. There is a high metabolic cost incurred by awakening from torpor that demands immediate payback in energy from food intake.

During the winter the thermogenic capabilities of some birds such as Goldfinches, House Finches and Redpolls are impressive, in many cases better than the ability of mammals. The same species will become hypothermic during a cold front in the springtime, due to the lower feather cover and the low fat preserves.

Feeding the birds is a rewarding and enjoyable hobby. If you provide food in the winter, keep the feeder full since many birds will rely on it as a regular place to eat. Keep the following tips in mind for a successful winter bird feeding season.

•    Clean off feeders, platforms and perches after each snowfall so seed is easily accessible.
•    Leave fruit and berries on trees, hedges and bushes to provide a natural source of food throughout the winter.
•    Add a heated birdbath to your backyard or place a safe heating element in a regular birdbath to provide birds with liquid water.
•    Stamp or shovel snow around feeders to provide easier access to spilled seed for ground feeding birds.
•    Leave nesting boxes and birdhouses up all year round to provide winter roosting sites.

To maximize the number of species that visit your feeders, you'll want to offer a variety of food in several feeders. Kaytee recommends Black Oil Sunflower, suet, Golden Safflower which has high oil content (Golden Safflower can be found in Kaytee new regional blends), Peanuts, Thistle (for Goldfinches) and at least two
single seed blends.

(Article found at www.kaytee.com)

Winter storm is coming check out acehardwarehelpfultips.blogspot.com for advice and tips, also we have sleds and salt in stock, We are the Helpful Place!

Bad Weather Tips!

With a "Winter Storm Warning" spreading across most of Tennessee I thought it would be good to give some ideas for how to prepare for the winter storm.  Here is a list of hardware goods that you want to make sure you have on hand:

• Ice Melter of Salt (Keep in mind that Rock Salt can damage concrete and vegatation, it will also not work below freezing)
• Portable Heaters (Non electric in case of a power outage)
• A snow shovel (may not use it that much but you will be thankful you have one)
• Batteries and flash lights in case of a power outage
• Window scraper and windshield deicer
• Sand bags or some type of weight to put in your truck or car.
• Heat tape and pipe insulation
• Faucet cover for exterior water faucets.

Always think in advance, get your supplies prior to the storm coming.  Here at both our locations we always try to keep supplies in stock and ready for your winter needs.  Here are some suggestions to do if we do loose power

• Leave faucets dripping to keep pipes from freezing. 
• Shut doors in your house to keep heat from escaping
• Keep flashlights, matches, and candles somewhere you will find them
• Get out portable radios and make sure cell phones are charged

More more helpful tips and advice come see us or visit our website at http://www.richlandacehardware.com/ or http://www.goodlettsvilleacehardware.com/

Want some of the Best Hardwood floor cleaner at a discount click here http://ping.fm/Glfa9 It is safe for you and your kids!

Looking to save money on your heating bill this winter, check out an Edenpure Heater and the proper way to use it http://ping.fm/pn8BO

Save Money this winter on your Heating Bill

Your furnace heats the whole house — even though you may only be "living" in just a few rooms this winter.


Result: you channel warmth to unoccupied rooms — and that costs you money.

Your furnace heats the whole house — even though you may only be "living" in just a few rooms this winter.


Result: you channel warmth to unoccupied rooms — and that costs you money.

Today, it pays to be smarter. And EdenPURE helps you do it. Here's how:

Get an EdenPURE Model 1000 or Model 500 heater. Close the duct vents and doors leading to the unused rooms, and dial down your furnace... even as low as 50 degrees! That saves money right away.

But an EdenPURE heater helps you save even more by heating the objects in a room. They absorb the warmth and act like a heat bank.

Bottom line: You spend a lot less money to heat your home.

Today, it pays to be smarter. And EdenPURE helps you do it. Here's how:

Get an EdenPURE Model 1000 or Model 500 heater. Close the duct vents and doors leading to the unused rooms, and dial down your furnace... even as low as 50 degrees! That saves money right away.

But an EdenPURE heater helps you save even more by heating the objects in a room. They absorb the warmth and act like a heat bank.

Bottom line: You spend a lot less money to heat your home.