WHEELING — Whether it’s winterizing the inside of your home or picking the right outdoor power equipment for your snow removal needs, Kennedy Hardware has all the necessary equipment and supplies to help you prepare for Old Man Winter.

Located at 3300 McColloch St., Wheeling, Kennedy Hardware has been in business since 1923. It has a full-service department that services everything the store sells. The hardware store, which is located next door to the outdoor power equipment showroom, has a variety of supplies for winterizing your home or business, according to Manager Tom Andrews.

Whether you are looking for a heat tape or pipe insulation to keep your waterlines from freezing or a plastic window kit for insulating your windows, Andrews said the business has all the necessary supplies for protecting your home from the cold temperatures.

“Heat tapes are always a big-selling item in the wintertime. … It’s a device that attaches to your waterlines,” said Andrews, noting the tape is controlled by a thermostat and will automatically warm the waterline if the temperature dips to the freezing point. He said the heat tapes the store carries are all safety approved. “They are safe, with backup safety devices on them.”

He said the store also has heavier winterizing plastic and clear window kits for both business and residential needs, as well as replacement weather stripping for doors.

“We have replacement weather stripping for any size door,” said Andrews. He said just by applying simple weather stripping, homeowners can save tremendously on utility bills throughout the winter months.

“At the end of the winter last year, I had a customer who came in that kept track of their bill the year prior, and when I sold them their winterization stuff he actually told me that I saved them a total of $172 for the course of the winter,” said Andrews.

He said if people make an effort to winterize their home, it can make a significant impact on their heating costs. He said draft stops for doors are another popular item to help insulate your home during the winter months.

Andrews said workers realigned the hardware store back to the way it was 40 years ago by stocking it with “USA MADE” products, and the store has adjusted its prices to be in competition with all the big box stores. He said the store will also be running specials on rock salt supplies, especially for those who pre-order salt. The store caries both residential and commercial grade salt spreaders.

In addition, Kennedy’s outdoor power equipment showroom has a variety of tractors (with plows to fit), snow blowers and other snow removal equipment.

“We are gearing up with snow blowers of all sizes to fit every need and application, whether it be commercial or residential,” said Andrews.  “We have plows to fit all of our tractors.”

The store carries a several different brands in power equipment, including Cub Cadet, which is nationally ranked as a top snow blower brand, according to Andrews. He said the store has 20- to 30-inch snow blowers available. He said the larger size Cub Cadets are equipped with head lights as well, to assist those who may need to clear snow before sunrise or after sunset.

“A lot of people are up before work, or after work, and the sun is down and hard to see, and these help with the headlights,” said Andrews. “We are coming full force this year with special pricing for this coming winter.”