The summer months bring later sunsets, bluer skies, and of course, the heat. You quickly begin to rely on your air conditioner to keep you cool and refreshed, but we've all dealt with air conditioner troubles. Louie's Home Center has some tips to keep your AC running smoothly this summer:
The purpose of an air filter is to keep fresh, clean air circulating throughout your AC. Air filters trap in dust, dirt, bacteria, and pollen that is trying to make its way into your home. It's important to replace your air filters on a regular basis to keep everyone in your home healthy.
How often you change your air filters depends on the type of filter that is required for your home. Depending on how many people you have living in your home, if you have pets, etc. will dictate when you need to replace your air filters.
One of the most effective ways to keep your air conditioner running smoothly is to check and clean the outdoor unit. Over time, leaves, dirt, and other various objects can collect in your outdoor filter and need to be removed. Outdoor air units take in refrigerants, these refrigerants flow throughout the unit and turn hot air into cold air. It is recommended that you clean your outdoor air unit every year.
We've all been in a situation where you turn on your air conditioner and a terrible odor emits and spreads throughout your home. There are various smells that dictate what is wrong with your air unit.
If you begin to smell an egg-like odor coming from your air conditioner, it is likely that there is a deceased animal in your air ducts. The solution to this problem is to either remove or have someone else remove the animal from the air ducts.
If you turn on your AC and it smells like a group of teenagers who have been at soccer practice all day, it means that you have mildew growing on your evaporator coil. To get rid of this smell, you will need to give your evaporator coil and ducts a thorough cleaning. This, however, can be a temporary solution. Some air units are prone to developing mildew.
While you can go in and tackle some of the maintenance projects yourself, every year you should have a professional come and deep clean your air conditioning unit.
If you are in the market for a new air conditioning unit or would simply like more information on how to maintain your current air conditioning unit head over to Louie's Home Center today!
Although mason jars were originally created as a means to preserve food, these molded glass jars have a wide range of uses. Over the years, the number of different uses has grown exponentially and will continue to grow. Mason jars have been used in every area of the home, for parties, given as gifts, and so much more. Louie's ACE Home Center has a great selection of mason jars for all of your home decor needs!
1. Canning Produce & JamsCanning produce and jams are one of the most popular uses for mason jars. From pickles to peaches, you have the ability to can just about anything. Homemade jams are also a great thing to store in mason jars because they are portable, easy to store, and stay fresh longer.
Make cooking a breeze with a magnetic spice rack comprised of mini mason jars. To re-create this magnetic spice rack, simply attach a magnet to the top of the mason jar, fill with desired spices, and label it. You can either add a stainless steel piece to any wall in your kitchen or place them on any stainless steel appliance.
Mason jars can serve as a quick fix for desktop clutter. You can have one mason jar for all of your writing utensils or several depending on your level of organization. Not only is this a great way to de-clutter your workspace, but it also adds a decorative touch!
Ditch the plastic soap dispensers and opt for a homemade mason jar dispenser. It's an environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and simple way to store and use soap. So rather than purchasing a new soap bottle every couple of months, you can buy a large quantity of soap and refill your jar when it's running low.
Add chic, rustic vibes to your bathroom by building your own bathroom storage unit. All you need is a wooden plank, wood stain, a few mason jars, and metal picture hangers. This is a creative way to decorate and store your bathroom necessities!
Similar to the DIY bathroom storage shelf, you can use this same technique to create your own herb garden! All you will need is a mason jar, wooden plank, metal fixtures, soil, and the herbs of your choice. Simply hang the wooden plank up on the wall, attach the mason jars to the wood with the metal fixtures, and plant your herbs!
Whether you are hosting a party, planning a wedding, or just want to spruce up your home, a floral centerpiece is a go-to choice. Using a mason jar, pick or purchase your favorite flowers and you're good to go!
Reusable cups and mugs are the newest trend in drinkware. Mason jars are the best option, the removable lid is ideal for hanging out at home or taking on the go.
Mason jars are a great way to take snacks on the go! There are endless possibilities for these snacks; they are portable, easy to make and quick. A few of these include salads, parfaits, and overnight oats.
Building a DIY bird feeder can be a fun and affordable activity for anyone. The best part is you only need a few supplies! You'll need a mason jar, twine, a round chicken feeder, and birdseed. Once you've gathered all of the necessary supplies, you can begin to assemble your bird feeder.
With a few simple supplies, you can create a cute decoration or gift! Using a mason jar, glitter, glycerin drops, water, and your favorite figurine, you can make your own DIY snowglobe. This is a great activity for the kids to do during the holidays.
Once you open a bag of candy, it is always difficult to find a container that will keep it fresh. Mason jars are a great solution to this problem! They come in all different sizes to fit a wide variety of candies and seal in the freshness. In addition, these candy jars are great for parties, gifts, centerpieces, and more!
Oil lamps are a great way to decorate for an outdoor event or simply to spice up your backyard! All you need is a mason jar, lamp oil, and a cotton wick. Simply fill the jar two-thirds of the way with lamp oil, puncture a hole in the lid, and thread the cotton wick through. Let the wick sit for about an hour and then it is ready to light!
Hot chocolate, cupcake and s'mores mix are just a few holiday gift ideas. You can place the ingredients inside of a mason jar, attach a label and a bow and bring it to any holiday party or gift exchange. Your friends and family will love it!
15. Decorative LightingWhy spend up to hundreds of dollars on outdoor or decorative lighting, when you can make it yourself! Whether you want to string lights, candle holders, or table lighting, a mason jar can help bring your vision to life.
Now that you know all of the uses for mason jars, you're ready to try them out for yourself. Louie's Ace Home Center has a great selection of mason jars, so come on by our store to get your own. Contact us today!
For those on the fence, we put together a list of four of the best reasons to buy a swamp cooler this summer.
Let’s be honest, sometimes one of the best reasons to get a swamp cooler in Fallon is to save money. According to ConsumerEnergyCenter.org, swamp coolers use up to 75 percent less energy than air conditioning, saving on average about $150 a year. Use those savings for the next vacation with family and friends.
An air conditioner will generally take longer to cool the house and it may take a while to meet your level of comfort and satisfaction. Mobile swamp coolers eliminate that problem by targeting your area of recreation, cooling the air in a few minutes.
This benefit is for those choosing a mobile swamp cooling system.
For those considering a big swamp cooler to replace an air conditioning unit, you’ll find the savings to be worth it. According to the National Association of Home Builders, a big swamp cooler costs between $700 and $1,000, whereas central air conditioning units tend to cost several thousand dollars.
Simply put, swamp coolers use moisture to produce fresh, clean air. Nevada has always been a dry climate, but adding a little moisture to your room can benefit your skin’s complexion.
If you’re ready to join the swamp cooler revolution, come in to Louie’s ACE Home Center today and ask us how we can keep you cool this summer.
Long a tradition for some families, canning has seen resurgence in popularity alongside the growing admiration for mason jars. Food that has been canned can last for years, extending the life of your food and preventing waste, and now even more so than ever there are great ways to add personal touches to your canned food making them great gifts for friends and family.
Methods of CanningThere are two methods of canning, each corresponding to the type of food you are looking to can. It is important that you choose the correct method for what you want to can. This can be crucial in ensuring your food isn’t susceptible to bacteria.
Water Bath Canning: This method is used for foods and vegetables with acidic content. This is what you use for jams and jellies as well as for pickles. The process of water bath canning is fairly easy, and is a great starting point for beginner canners.
Pressure Canning: Using the pressure canning method is for foods with low acidic content including vegetables, meats and poultry, and seafood. This particular method requires a lot of attention because if the process is done incorrectly, this food can spoil very easily.
While there are two different methods depending on what you’re planning to can, there are things to keep in mind with both methods that are important to making sure your food is properly canned, thus making sure your food is optimally protected.
For both methods, be sure to select your favorite recipe and follow those instructions carefully. It is important to reduce the entry points for bacteria before the food is placed within the jars. When done correctly, food is edible for one to five years depending on what you’ve canned.
With the Mason jar trend at a peak, there are more options than ever to add a personal touch to your canned foods. Lots of DIY elements including chalkboard paint on the lids or die-cut labels are great ways to add a personal touch, especially when gifting things such as jams to friends and family.
One thing we have here at Louie’s ACE that we love are the purple heritage jars; they resemble desert glass and are special edition, which means as soon as they sell out, they’re gone!
Visit Louie’s ACE today to see all of our food canning supplies!
If you can’t remember the last time you tested or replaced your carbon monoxide or smoke detectors, then you’re likely putting your home, and most importantly your family at risk.
Both your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detectors follow a similar testing schedule. These safety devices should be tested monthly, and if they are not hardwired, should have their batteries replaced twice a year. Even some of the hardwired devices will have backup batteries that allow for them to continue keeping your family safe even in the event of a power outage.
It is likely that some devices require less frequent checking, as per the directions in their manual, but it is always best to aim on the side of caution and check more often then not.
1. Have a family member stand in a distant location from the device in your home, this will help you ensure the volume of the smoke detector is loud enough.
2. Press and hold the test button hopefully producing a loud, piercing noise. If it sounds faint or non-existent, then try replacing the batteries and try pressing the test button again.
3. Clear any dust or cobwebs that may be on the smoke detector, these can muffle the sound, and reduce the alarm’s effectiveness.
4. Try testing it with real smoke by lighting a match and blowing it out directly below the safety device. If it doesn’t go off, consider replacing the batteries.
1. Hold down on the testing button
2. Wait for the beeping noise
3. Release the button
4. Replace the batteries if you hear no beeping
No matter how strict you are in keeping a maintenance schedule for these safety devices, your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector are not everlasting. If any of these tests are conducted and batteries do not fix the issue, it is likely time to replace the safety device.
It is also important to replace these items according to the standards within their manual, with a general rule of replacing:
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are important safety devices for your home. They can detect the undetected and can let you know of danger before it’s too late.
If you think your safety devices are past their prime and its time to replace them, then stop by Louie’s ACE Home Center today! We are more than happy to help you find the right replacements that will guarantee your family is safe.
Whether you are looking for a bounce house or cotton candy machine for your child’s birthday party, or tables and chairs for your next big family gathering, the last place you may think to look is your local ACE Home Center. Although we do offer ACE hardware rentals, we offer ACE hardware party rentals as well.
But, there is a little known secret to throwing any kind of party in and around Fallon. Louie’s ACE Home Center is more than a hardware store. We offer ACE hardware rentals and ACE hardware party rentals. It has tents, bounce houses, tables, chairs, and even cotton candy machines to rent. Locals know Louie’s is the best place to get rentals in Fallon.
You can plan a party on budget when you go to Louie’s ACE Home Center for your party rental needs. Here are just a few creative ways you can use party rentals to add happiness to any type of gathering.
Bounce Houses are lots of fun. But, did you know adults can enjoy them too? Consider adding a bounce house to your company event and giving adults permission to jump. At Louie’s ACE Home Center, you can find bounce houses that are rated for all ages fun.
The temperature is dropping, but that doesn’t end your ability to have an outdoor event. Tents with walls hold heat well. Or, place the tent against a structure during the day for shade and residual warmth.
Tables and chairs can be used year-round. Expand your indoor space by adding tables and chairs in your living room for Thanksgiving dinner. Or, pair up tables and chairs with one of our tents for a comfortable fall outdoor luncheon.
Cotton Candy Machines: Cotton candy machines make great party additions. They are also good for fundraisers. School is back in session and your fall fundraiser could include delicious cotton candy with one of the machine rentals from Louie’s ACE Home Center.
So, you see, there are many creative uses for ACE hardware party rentals and you can get all of them at Louie’s ACE Home Center in Fallon. We have also expanded our party department to include balloons, pinatas, tablecloths, napkins, plates, and much more!
The first snowflakes of the year have fallen and, if you haven’t begun winterizing your sprinkler system, you need to. Split or ruptured pipes can cost you hundreds if not thousands of dollars to repair.
We have put together some easy, step-by-step instructions on how you can winterize your sprinkler system yourself. We recommend the same technique used in the northeast, the blow out method, for winterizing a sprinkler system.
This method gets all the water out of the lines and is an easy and effective way to winterize. You can get all the parts for this do-it-yourself project at Louie’s ACE Home Center.
Use an air compressor with an 80 to 100 cubic foot per minute (CFM) rating. Make sure the sprinkler system you want to winterize has a mainline for water of 2-inches or less. You can purchase an air compressor, or rent one from our ACE hardware rentals. We have all the hook ups as well.
Locate the air hose connections. Make sure you use a connection located after the PVB back flow preventer. In the Fallon area, homes built in the last 15-20 years have a back-flow preventer on the sprinkler system. If you don’t have one, crack the pipe and the sprinkler valve and connect the air hose there to assist you in winterizing the sprinkler system.
You can make your own attachment (a jig) and connect it to your irrigation system. We can help you locate the parts and make it. Jigs are made with a washing machine hose, cut to 18 inches, a quick coupling, and a threaded to bared connector to combine the coupling and the hose. Screw it into the existing hose bib.
Trace the pipe back or locate the main water meter for your house. Make sure no new water can flow into the lines.
Most systems have a drain plug or sill cock drain. Open the valve and drain it into a bucket. Allow the pipe to drain completely. Go outside and close the back-flow isolation valves. Open and drain the test cocks on the PVB.
Keep the valves closed and attach the air compressor hose to the fitting. DO NOT run a compressor with an open valve. It can lead to a damaged zone valve gate.
Start with the zone which is highest in elevation and furthest from the compressor and turn it on. Blow out each zone for two minutes. Do this until no water can be seen coming out of the heads. Repeat the process until it is dry.
Disconnect the air compressor and release any air pressure from the lines. Open and drain all test cocks on the PVB to make sure no water is left inside.
You do this to ensure any trapped water is gone from the upper areas of your system. Turn and leave these valves at a 45-degree angle to complete winterizing your sprinkler system.
If you rented the compressor from our ACE hardware rentals, don’t forget to return it in a timely manner so someone else can use it to winterize their sprinkler system. Happy winterizing!
Are you ready to start planning for your spring and summer camping trips? A few months ago we showed you how to winterize your RV to get ready for the colder months. Now, we'd like to share our best tips for de-winterizing your RV, so that you can be on the way for your next adventure.
Before you go out for a trip, make sure you check your RV for gaps, cracks, and tears. You’ll want to fix these before the season starts to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Imagine spring cookouts, breezy air, and a lush, green lawn to enjoy it all on. In Fallon, Nevada, keeping a nice lawn can take a lot of work. Unlike other climates, it takes the use of sprinklers and regular upkeep to keep your grass bright and vibrant. With that comes regular maintenance, especially after the winter season. Luckily, at Louie's Ace Hardware, we have all of the lawn care hardware rentals that you need to have the yard that you've been dreaming of.
After the long winter, thatch can build up and prevent your grass from looking its best. When the dead grass that gets stuck between living grass and the soil is not able to receive proper air, water, and nutrients, your lawn can look less than stellar. At Louie's Ace Hardware, we carry all the lawn care hardware rentals you need to remove thatch and restore your lawn to its prime.
It's that time of the year again! Time to aerate your lawn to allow air, water, and nutrients to get to get to the grass roots. If you're lawn is looking dead and colorless, this is a great way to alleviate soil compaction. In dryer climates like Nevada, aerating can save your lawn. Stop by our hardware rentals department for all the equipment you need to get your lawn looking in tip-top shape!
Weeding or digging a garden by hand can be tedious and time consuming. That's where a rototiller comes in hand. These handy tools can make gardening a breeze. We carry them as a rental item, so that you can have the added convenience without the pressure to store them throughout the year.
A lawn roller can be great for erasing damage caused to your lawn throughout the winter. You can flatten ant and mole hills quickly, and make your lawn look flawless.
There's nothing that says spring more than a lush lawn. So what are you waiting for? Stop by to check out our ACE hardware rentals you may need for your lawn and garden this season. We make lawn care and other hardware rentals easy and affordable, and our knowledgeable and friendly staff are ready to assist you. Want to inquire about our hardware rentals? Give us a call. We hope to see you soon!
With winter upon us, our homes are much colder and our electricity bills are skyrocketing. Turning up the heater is the first thing we do as soon as we feel the cold, but there are other alternatives. If you invest in the appropriate window coverings, you won’t have to run the heater as often and will save a bunch of money. Although, purchasing blinds can require a large upfront payment, you are making an investment in your home and it will pay off.
Of course it does! Windows are the greatest source of cold into and warmth out of your house. It has been said that windows account for 40% of heat loss in homes. You spend all this money on a heater, just to lose almost half of it to the outside. Window coverings wouldn’t allow this loss to occur. If you are able to trap a layer of air in between blinds and the window, the heat won’t be able to escape and cold won’t be able to enter.
Making the most of the newest addition to your home is actually quite simple. The best way to control the temperature in your home without touching the thermostat is to time the opening and closing of your blinds. During the day, you are going to want to open the blinds to let in all the sunlight and warmth. However, when dusk falls, close the blinds to keep the natural heat inside and the cold out.
Because every home and customer is different, there is not a one-size-fits-all window covering. The perfect window covering for you depends on the style you are looking for, the size of your windows, and the cold protection you desire. Louie’s Ace Hardware offers a wide variety of mini-blinds and basic rollers to fit any need. In addition, at Louie’s, you are able to special order products from Hunter Douglas. Whatever your style, we have you covered!
For other home projects, we also offer ACE hardware rentals if needed. Contact us today!
