Category Archives: old hardware stores

customer service, hardware store, Hardware Store Life, old hardware stores, plumbing, Shop Local

8 Things Your Plumber Wishes You Knew…

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April 25th is National Hug your Plumber Day. When you need a plumber, you usually need one ASAP!! I would say that a good chunk of our customers that walk into our hardware store are seeking help with some type current plumbing issue or seeking a replacement plumbing fitting. That being said, this might be a “fitting” blog post to “plunge” into today.

The plumbing aisle is usually a busy place on most days of the week inside our hardware store.
Plumbing issues can become time consuming and can be expensive, especially if you lack the equipment and expertise that a plumber has.

As we all know, Home maintenance is ongoing, and can get expensive. Being proactive with your maintenance tasks, can give you an opportunity to move forward with other projects.

No worries y’all, just following these tips could add to your existing knowledge base about plumbing 🪠 so let’s plunge into the tips!

WCH Recommends … every home should have a plunger. Now, Let’s “plunge” into these great tips!

1. Know where your main water shutoff is located. Enough said! If you don’t know where your water shutoff is located, then make it your mission to find out ASAP! A water issue can be controlled much easier when you know where the main shutoff is found. Instead of a looming disaster with water everywhere inside your home, you can divert the danger by immediately turning the water off.

A very kind plumber who came to our home several years ago on a small plumbing project took the time to show me where our main shutoff is located. I value and appreciate his expertise and friendship .

2. Don’t use bleach to clean with regularly if you are on a septic tank system(Think about the toilet bowl drop ins and cleaning chemicals you are using the most often.) . The bleach can kill off the good bacteria in your system. When the good bacteria are destroyed, your tank won’t be able to break down waste effectively, meaning a clogged septic tank could be inevitable. 😳

Always available at Wilkes County Hardware!

3. What goes in must come out… and everything is not flushable! Yes, to most folks this is common sense. But everyone doesn’t know that baby wipes, Q-tips, grease, feminine hygiene products, diapers, paper towels, tissues are not flushable or acceptable for drains! Yes, even coffee grounds can clump up as well as cat litter and can lead to a clog. All of these items can reek havoc on your pipes/toilets and cost you a small fortune in order to get rid of a massive clog!

This 🧻 Decomposing at a faster rate! A camping & boating essential! Now available at WCH!!

4. When you do have a clog, deal with IT effectively. Using a Plunger or a snake is your first line of attack against a clog. Powerful Chemicals are secondary… especially if your plumbing lines are older. The harsh chemicals can break down your current, older plumbing lines even more quickly. 😳 AND if you have to use a chemical agent, read the directions and use it as directed!!! Be safe!

WCH Recommended item: if you need to deal with a clog, this is a good, safe option and eco friendly.

5. Check out your Insulation around water lines in basements and crawl space. If you don’t like what see, it is a good idea, especially during the extremely cold months to add insulation. Don’t forget to also check your Well pumps and pressure tanks, they should also have insulation around them too.

We stock essential homeowner necessities for plumbing….Glues, tape, fittings, insulation wrap, CPVC, and more!

6. Disconnect your water hose at the end of the growing season and cover your outdoor faucets. Outdoor faucets will freeze and create greater problems for you!

WCH Recommended item: These are great to have in hand before the first frost hits at the end of the long hot summer.

7. Do a bit of Reconnaissance work as a homeowner… a visual inspection of your plumbing . It is necessary as a homeowner- check your whole house water filters, look for any leaky hoses, or visible water around base of toilet( this can become a costly repair) are your toilets flushing properly, do you see leaks around hot water heater, visible water under your sink??? The small cost of a roll of plumbers tape is definitely worth the investment to add to your home toolbox. Lastly, Some leaks are not visible… pay close attention to your water bill each month to examine any spikes in your monthly costs. If you see a noticeable increase, definitely get this checked out!

WCH Recommends: A roll of plumbers tape is good to keep on hand at home for quick fixes.

8. Know when to call in an expert. Even the best DIY homeowners often know their limits and will call in the professionals when necessary.

That’s all folks! These tips are based on my own personal experience. Your experiences are uniquely relevant as well. I hope that you find this information helpful and useful as a homeowner.
customer service, entrepreneurship, hardware store, Hardware Store Hours, Hardware Store Life, old hardware stores, Shop Local, southern living

FAQ’s -Frequently Asked Questions

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If you are inside shopping at our hardware store, you will probably hear the phone ring ☎️. We field lots of questions each and every day of the week. Here’s a list of the top 5 most popular questions that we address on the phone and in personal conversations with our customers

1. What time ⏰ do you close today ???

AND along the same lines…

Are y’all still closing early on Wednesday afternoons? NO! We have regular store hours on Wednesday and have had normal store hours on Wednesday afternoon for about 7 years now.

Old newspaper research… came across this ad that may help explain why businesses closed early on Wednesday in our small town so many years ago.

2. Can I park in the back parking lot and come in the back door? 🚪Yes! Absolutely! The lot is public parking and parking is also available on 10th Street in front of our store.

The back door is used by our staff as an entrance and many of our regular customers. You don’t have to use the front entrance on 10th Street if you’re having a hard time finding a parking spot.

3. Is it possible for you to order this item for me???💻 Yes! I’ll be glad to check our current inventory and get a price on that item for you.

We have added several new inventory items over the last few years BUT if you can’t find it quickly, ask us if we can order it for you.

4. Can you make me a key?🔑 If you have an existing key, then we probably can… no key, call Bill, the locksmith next door.

This item is a best seller! Hiding a key 🔑 so you don’t lose your new key!

5. How’s business going? 🛍️We need your support each and every day. We appreciate your loyalty and making purchases inside our small business so that we can continue to add new products, staff and grow our economic community in Wilkes. We want to be here for YOU years down the road. When you shop local, your money stays in our community. Please support all small businesses( retail, restaurants, and service providers) in our two towns. They need your continued support always! Local supports local!!!

Thank you for your support as we approach year 8 in the hardware business!
hardware store, Hardware Store Life, nuts and bolts, old hardware stores, Shop Local, work

Nuts and Bolts

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Work… the mechanical manifestation of energy, according to science. Work it could be said, is the “nuts and bolts “ of what we do each and every day. After all, nuts and bolts are not the whole of a project, they are only a portion of a project.

The successful concept of work today creates within the soul a feeling of pride, satisfaction of a job well done, and contribution back into your greater community in some type of capacity. Today I’m offering y’all an inside look at our hardware work… the “nuts and bolts” view of what we do each day.

Walking inside Wilkes County Hardware may take you back into a time of nostalgia… viewing our old building, wood stove, historic elevator, or even remembering a time when hardware stores used to be full service for the customer. We still do that each and every day. Our customers always come first! Customers are the essential element in our business, and that is why we are customer service oriented in what we do! Wilkes County Hardware is definitely more than a place to go pick up a few nuts and bolts.

They just don’t build them like this anymore, check out the size of those beams y’all!
Elevator view from top down
Wood stove heat keeps us moving and going in the winter months.
Our nuts and bolts aisle

Yes, we have several folks who stop by to shop our extensive selection of nuts 🔩 and bolts… whether you are looking to purchase one or two or even multiple boxes. But did you know that we do the following things as well??

1. Key duplication

Wayne is a popular guy in our key area! We duplicate keys, rekey locks, can make chip keys … ask us if we can help you out with your key needs

2. Kerosene wick replacement

Wick repair is ongoing, unsure which wick you need? We can find that for you too!
A work area for repairs like kerosene wick repair, tool repair, lamp repair

3. Threading and pipe cutting

Galvanized and black pipe threaded… if you have never done this, it is a labor intensive job and takes time to do it well. Kudos to Richard who does most of this laborious task.

4. Glass cutting up to 36 inches

This custom piece was recently done for a customer and it is ready to go!

5. Chain cut to exact length

Our display showcases the chain we have in stock and ready to go home with you! Measure twice, cut once… cut chain CAN NOT be returned please know how much you need before we cut it for you.
Folks often ask about what we use our upstairs space for… we measure and cut chain, tubing, rope, do window screen repair, window glass cut, and pipe threading is all done upstairs.

6. Basic lamp repair

Have a lamp that is acting all weird.. we can fix it for you or you can do it yourself with these simple pieces
Light bulbs, extension cords, fuses, and basic electrical supplies we will help you find what you’re looking for in order to get your to do list completed

7. Tool handle replacement

Replace your own if you wish!
Or we can do it for you!
Our lawn and garden section is usually a busy spot year round. Ask us if you have questions about a project, or product.

8. Pool water testing for free!

Pool water testing is always a good idea when you’re a pool owner
Wilkes County Hardware keeps a variety of pool chemicals in stock for sale

9. Roll pipe cut to length (most hardware retailers sell the entire roll) and copper pipe

Roll pipe cut upstairs
Copper cut to length or sold by roll
Need to do a small plumbing repair? We can cut these to length as well This display is found on the plumbing aisle.

10. Gas and plumbing fittings … including a good selection of Pex and Shark Bite

Compression fittings and flared fittings of all sizes
Our plumbing aisle is a bustling place on most days

11. Vast selection of furnace filters

Ask us and we will gladly help you find your size of furnace filter

12. Window screen repair

This is a basic list of our service offerings.

13. Knife and scissor sharpening

Working on a knife 🔪 for sharpening

As y’all can see we work hard to be a full service hardware store for our customers. Our goal is to keep our customers coming back to us for all of the things that they need for any project. Thank you for being a great part of what we do each and every day whether it is a purchase of nuts and bolts, a key or even a bag of bird seed. We couldn’t be here without you!

Coles bird seed has become a very popular item for our regular customers
You need to clean it or scrub it, we can probably help you!!

And we have locally sourced items too!!!
Locally made soaps, candles, pottery, & woodworking
Stop by and find some “Great Stuff” that you didn’t know existed inside our historic walls. Sorry for the pun y’all.

So there it is… the “nuts and bolts” of the hardware life daily work. Stop by and see us soon. We appreciate your support of our small business. YOU are the part that holds all of our work together in our nuts and bolts analogy. Thank you for joining us in our journey of the hardware life for the last seven years.