No one wants to experience their AC malfunction on a hot Texas afternoon in June. However this happens to households over-and-over again, the AC Unit goes out just as contractors are experiencing the busy Austin Central AC Repair season.
Our suggestion, have your AC united inspected now, while the weather is still cool and appointments are open!
Like automobiles or any type of machinery, AC & Heating equipment experiences fewer breakdowns if properly maintained. Lack of regular maintenance puts additional stress on your equipment which eventually leads to premature failures.
Central AC & Heating Systems operate an average of 3,000 to 4,000 hours per year in Texas. This is the equivalent of a car driving over 200,000 miles at 65 MPH in one year. Can you imagine anyone driving their car 200,000 miles without changing the oil?
Neglecting regular maintenance of AC & Heating equipment makes very poor economic sense.
YOU WON’T BELIEVE HOW MUCH YOU GET WITH A PRECISION TUNE-UP!
Click to see a list of services.
Reduce Utility Bills
Without regular and proper maintenance, air conditioning components become covered with dirt, debris and biological growth. As a result, the cooling system works harder, uses substantially more energy and compromises air quality.
Unconditional Guarantee
If you are not satisfied with our service, for any reason, we’ll refund your money. Plus, should you experience an emergency service call on your system within one year after we complete our precision tune-up, we will waive our normal diagnostic fee.
Preferred Service Plan (PSP)
ABC’s Preferred Service Plan (PSP) provides you with two precision tune-ups of your AC & Heating System per year as recommended by equipment manufacturers, as well as a 15% Discount on All Repairs. Read More
Termite colonies can range in size from 500,000 to 5,000,000. Termites feed on cellulose or wood materials. Some of their food source is found in the ground, like trees, but they will also feed on your home. They work 24 hours a day and only need fractions of an inch to invade your home. The annual loss due to structural damage by termites is more than $2 billion!
STEPS TO SIGNATURE PLUS SERVICE
Detection of termite activity
ABC Austin Termite Control service will inspect your home for termites, termite damage, and foraging (mud) tubes. We will install monitoring stations around the perimeter of structures to serve as an early warning system. You buy a security alarm to protect your home or business from human invaders. With ABC, your home has a security system to warn it from termite invasion.
Treatment of termites
ABC will apply a liquid treatment zone in the area the termites are feeding. The materials that we use have both ingestion and contact effect. Termites will unknowingly pass through the material and become infected and will transfer the material to non-infected nestmates. Termites that have ingested the material can transfer the material to nestmates by sharing their food before they die. Assurance
ABC will return quarterly to inspect the monitoring stations and the structure to assure the termites are gone and if “new” termite intruders are detected our process begins again. An important feature is that, the Signature Plus Service for Termites is an ongoing process. Even after the termites are gone, the ABC System stays on duty to help find a new colony that may invade your property.
Commercial Termite Program
Inspection
An ABC Specialist will thoroughly inspect your facility for termites and design a treatment plan.
Treatment
Where we find evidence of termites, we will apply a liquid treatment that has both an ingestion and contact effect. Termites will pass through the material, become infected and will transfer the material to non-infected nest-mates by sharing their food before they die. This includes installing monitoring stations around the perimeter of structures to serve as an early warning system.
Assurance
ABC’s treatment system is an ongoing process. ABC will return regularly to inspect the monitoring stations and your structures. Even after the termites are gone, we stay on duty to find any new colony that may appear. If new termite intruders are detected, our process begins again.
The ABC Promise
Choose the “Promise of Protection” option that’s right for you. Either warranty may be renewed annually and can be transferred to new owners if you sell your facility.
The Termite Damage Repair Warranty
Delivers as complete a treatment of your facility as possible and ensures that if termites come back, we’ll re-treat and repair any new damage they caused.
The Termite Pre-Treat Warranty
Can be added to our General Pest Control Program and ensures that if termites come back after the initial treatment we’ll be there to re-treat. This option does not provide repair of damage.
Chemical-free termite prevention
If you’re building or adding on space, stop termites before they ever get started. The Termimesh System is a proven technology approved by the Southern Building Code Congress and the Structural Pest Control Boards.
Installed during your building’s construction phase, ABC’s Termimesh System is a non-corrosive, stainless steel mesh that is installed under strict quality control guidelines and is sealed inside the concrete slab. Termimesh physically prevents termites from entering your building and unlike chemical pre-treatments, it’s effective 100% of the time.
Why the ABC System is the Best System
Whether you need to eliminate a current termite problem or you want to prevent one from happening, the ABC Termite Management System is your best solution.
The ABC System takes full advantage of several natural termite behaviors to both eliminate them and keep them from coming back. First, termites are social insects that continually feed, groom and contact each other. Termidor Termite Control takes advantage of this behavior as termites quickly and unknowingly transfer Termidor throughout their entire population.
Second, termites are constant foragers – they never stop searching for new food sources. As new termite populations enter your yard looking for food, ABC’s Monitoring System will immediately alert us.
Central heating systems, depending on type, can malfunction in a number of ways – from no heat to random noises. Though many of these issues benefit from a professional inspection, here are some basic tips for Austin Central Heat Repair:
When to Call a Repairman
If there are problems with an electric central heating unit, it should really be looked at by a professional that is licensed to handle the job. However, there are a few things that can be done by the owner to rule out or possibly even solve an issue, and at the very least know what the repairman should be fixing. If there is a lack of heat but air is still blowing, more than likely the heating element has burned out. If neither the heat or the blower is working, this could also be the heating element, but it could the blower. Either way a repairman is needed. If the system seems to be running even though it has reached the required temperature, this could mean the thermostat is broken. Check this by turning the thermostat all the way down and see if it turns the system off. If it doesn’t, the thermostat needs replacing. If it does turn the system off, then adjust it to the highest temperature and see if it turns the system back on. If this happens then the thermostat isn’t broken, but needs calibration. Either way a repairman needs to be called.
Slow to Heat
If the air flow in the home seems to be weak to non-existent, it could be a filter issue. Check all intake filters as well as the filter on the system itself and see if they are dirty. If so, remove and replace with new ones. A system can only send out the air that it brings in, and if the filters aren’t allowing air into the system, it can’t heat and send it back through.
Temperature Changes in Rooms
If it seems that some rooms are cooler or hotter than others, it could be a simple case of the registers not being adjusted correctly. Make sure that the registers are open and come back and check the rooms again in half an hour. Another reason for this problem could be the duct work. Go to the attic of crawl space where the duct work for the system is located and try to find the area where the room that is cooler is located. Check to see that the duct work is attached and sealed properly. If not, it can be fixed easily with supplies from the hardware store.
Calling the Electrician
If the system shuts off without warning, it could be the breaker. Go the the box and check the switch. If it has been thrown, turn it back on. If it happens again an electrician, not a heating repairman, is needed.
Homeowners considering Austin home remodeling normally fall into two categories, those who want to increase the value of their home for resell and those who want home remodeling and plan to continue living in the home. There are ways to achieve both goals. You can enjoy the benefits of an updated kitchen and bathrooms, added living space and greater curb appeal for your Austin home and still get a good return on your remodel investment when you sell your home.
Some remodeling projects offer a greater return on your money than others. Of course this will depend on the vitality of the housing market when you decide to sell. If you are primarily interested in getting return on your money there are some things you can do that will give you the best return.
Types of Remodeling Projects That Can Make You Money
A recent report in Remodeling magazine lists the top 10 remodeling projects for increasing resale value in a home:
Replace siding – fiber cement
Replace siding – vinyl
Window replacement –wood, mid range
Kitchen remodel – minor
Bathroom remodel
Window replacement – vinyl high end
Window replacement – vinyl , mid range
Addition of second story
Siding replacement – insulated vinyl
Window replacement – wood, high end
This is an average for all of the U.S. This doesn’t mean that this list will be applicable for Austin. There are some areas of the country that show a better return on different types of remodeling projects. Your neighborhood and the location of your home will also make a big difference in what things will work for you and what won’t. If you are planning to sell your home we recommend you have a reputable professional real estate agent who is familiar with your area take a look at your home and make recommendations. They will usually know what buyers are looking for and they can give your home a fresh look with a new set of eyes.
If you are not planning on selling your home any time soon, you should plan your remodeling project around your specific wants and needs. Just be aware that a well thought out home remodeling plan with a detailed budget is critical in determining if the project will be a successful and enjoyable experience or something more similar to a disaster.
Find an Austin Remodeling Contractor
A reputable Austin remodeling contractor can be a big help with this upfront planning. They know which facets of remodeling, such as electrical rewiring and plumbing cost the most money. In many cases a good contractor will be able to show you ways to the home remodeling you want without cutting corners or overextending your budget.
Most contractors will want to have an on-site inspection to review any plans and ideas you have before they provide an estimate for their services. Careful shopping for big-ticket items like kitchen appliances, lighting and bath fixtures can save you as much as 20% or more of your total budget. The more time you take shopping and planning for your remodel the more money you can save. You may want to do some of the work yourself depending on your skill level. If you are a do-it-yourselfer check with your contractor about doing some of the demolition or tear-down yourself. This doesn’t require a lot of construction skills and can save you a lot of money.
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A finely tuned commercial HVAC system works more efficiently and can save your San Antonio business from costly repairs. There are some free and low cost options for saving on energy and bills that you can implement easily into your business or facility. Some of those include:
If possible, adjust workplace schedules to reduce energy use during the hours when there is most demand for electricity. If employees start work earlier or have lunch during the hottest hour of the day, a company can save on air conditioning, lighting and other electricity use during the hours of peak electricity demand.
Prevent solar entry and air-conditioning loss during the summer. Use shades and blinds to keep the sun out. Close doors to the outside to keep in cooler air.
Add controls to the exhaust fan. These fans remove air you have already paid to cool. Ask your air conditioning contractor to install timers and switches to shut them off when they are not needed, such as when the building is unoccupied.
Install an energy-efficient attic fan or evaporative cooler. Attic fans or evaporative coolers help reduce or replace air conditioner use.
Perform regular maintenance on cooling equipment. Regularly clean condenser coils, change belts and filters and fix duct leaks. Also check for proper economizer operation and adequate refrigerant levels. Maintenance activities can save up to 30% of fan energy and up to 10% of space conditioning energy use.
Perform regular maintenance on heating equipment. Inspect and patch leaky heating ducts. Fix steam leaks. Clean blower coils and heat exchanger surfaces. Adjust belt drives, dampers, valves and linkages.
Perform regular maintenance to keep heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems running more efficiently. Maintenance activities can save up to 30% of fan energy and up to 10% of space conditioning energy use.
Reduce air conditioning and heating hours by installing a time clock to turn off the system when the building is unoccupied.
ABC San Antonio’s Commercial HVAC Maintenance Program provides regular check-ups for all brands of AC and heating systems. Our Maintenance checklist includes items like:
Check refrigerant pressures
Test for proper voltage
Check & lubricate blowers & fan motors
Test for natural gas leaks and carbon monoxide levels
Tips for Preventing Garage Door Disasters It may seem strange to be concerned about garage doors and their safety, but an “average of 20,000 people each year have been treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to garage doors.” … Continued
How To Choose a Fertilizer for your Lawn At Bryan – College Station ABC Home and Commercial, our lawn services include many components, one key component is fertilization. Fertilization is a critical step to growing a beautiful lawn you’ll … Continued
Though you may often hear about how solar energy can be used for electricity, the sun can also be used to power your Austin solar water heating systems. Using solar energy for your water heater involves few items: a holding tank, a solar collector, and a way to circulate the water. When researching, you may find that these types of Austin Solar Heating systems can be either direct or indirect.
Direct System – To have a direct system means that the water will flow through the collector and be heated.
Indirect System – An indirect system means that a fluid heated in the collector then flows through a heat exchanger in the holding tank which then heats the portable water within the tank.
A typical family of 4 can spend about 40% of their utility costs on water heating. Using solar energy to run your hot water system can be a cost effective way to use clean energy to save money on bills. Here are some facts (courtesy of Solar Thermal) about how solar heating can affect your home and bills:
Businesses can save 40% – 80% on electric or fuel bills by replacing their conventional water heater with a solar water heating system.
Water heating accounts for approximately 25% of the total energy used in a typical single-family home. An electric water heater is the single biggest energy user of all appliances in the home.
Solar water heaters do not pollute. These types of heaters can reduce carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and the other air pollution and wastes created when your utility generates power or you burn fuel to heat your household water.
When planning your dream San Antonio home additions, there are so many things to keep organized. Having a game plan, and knowing what you’re getting into can save you not only a lot of time, but potentially a lot of money.
1. Draw Your Dream Even before you consult an architect, you can begin sketching out your ideas and imagining your remodeled home. If you are adding or expanding a room, think about how the space will be used and how the changes will affect traffic patterns. Also consider how new construction will affect the overall context of your home. An oversized addition may overwhelm your house or crowd a small lot. A simple home design software program can help you visualize your project.
2. Learn From Others One of the best ways to get inspiration and to avoid pitfalls is to follow the experiences of other homeowners. A number of Web sites offer online chronicles of home improvement projects, along with reply forms, message boards, and chat rooms that let you ask questions and get feedback.
3. Think Ahead Although you may dream of having a spacious new addition, the project may not make sense if you plan to sell your house in a few years. A luxury bathroom can price your house beyond the values in your neighborhood. Some projects, such as vinyl siding on a Queen Anne Victorian, will actually decrease the value of your home. Moreover, your own family’s needs may be very different in a few years. Will the plans you draw today fit your future?
4. Count Your Money Even the best-laid budgets can go bust. Chances are, your remodeling project will cost more than you expect. Before you set your heart on high-end ceramic tile, find out how much you have to spend and make sure you have a cushion against cost overruns. For must-have items that could wipe out your savings account, explore home improvement loans and other financing options.
5. Choose your team Unless you plan to take on the entire remodeling project by yourself, you’ll need to hire helpers. Naturally, you’ll want to make sure that the folks who work for you are qualified, licensed, and properly insured. But, finding the best team for your remodeling project goes beyond a simple reference check. The architect who has won top awards may have a design vision very different from your own. Use these resources to find the professionals you feel comfortable with.
6. Negotiate a Contract Whether you plan a simple carpentry job or a major project requiring the services of an architect and a general contractor, misunderstandings can lead to disaster. Do not begin remodeling without a written contract. Make sure everyone agrees on the work that will be completed and how long it will take. Also be clear on the types of materials that will — and will not — be used.
7. Get Permission In most parts of the world, a legal permit is required before you make structural changes to your home. The building permit assures that the remodeling project meets local building codes and safety regulations. If you live in a historic district, the permit also assures that exterior changes to your home are in keeping with neighborhood guidelines. General contractors will usually take care of the paperwork, but smalltime workers may not… and the permits become your responsibility.
8. Plan for Problems The larger the remodel, the greater the chances for frustrations. There will be equipment breakdowns, supply shortages, miscommunications, and delays. Draw up a few friendly rules for workers. Tell them where they may park their trucks and store their equipment. Plan for ways you can indulge yourself when times become especially stressful. Schedule a day at a spa and reserve a night at a romantic bed and breakfast inn. You deserve it!
Though we offer some chem-free options for pest control, some pest issues may not be severe enough to need professional help. For those little nuisances around the house, here are some natural solutions for safe pest control around your Austin home.
Ants
Cucumbers – Did you know that some kinds of ants have a natural aversion to cucumber? Try setting out some cucumber slices in the kitchen to keep away these pesky ants.
Soapy Water – Put some soapy water into a spray bottle as a pesticide-free way to rid ants from your countertops.
Spices & Scents – If you know where the ants are coming in from, try tracing the ant column back to their point of entry. In this area, place one of these at the entry: cayenne pepper, citrus oil, lemon juice, cinnamon or coffee grounds. These items act as deterrents in which ants will not usually cross.
Cockroaches
Soapy Water – Put some soapy water into a spray bottle as a pesticide-free and touch-free way to kill cockroaches.
Bread & Beer – Place beer-soaked bread at points of entry for the cockroaches to rid them from your home.
Spices & Scents – Bay leaves, cucumber slices, or garlic can also act as deterrents. Place these in affected areas.
Mosquitoes
Sage or Rosemary – Try placing one of these items in the coals of your barbeque pit to repel mosquitos.
Garlic Juice – Mix one part garlic juice with 5 parts water in a small spray bottle for an effective natural bug repellent. Shake well before using. Spraying this mixture on your exposed body parts can repel mosquitoes for 5-6 hours.
Marigolds – Planting marigolds around your yard can work as a natural bug repellent. These types of flowers emit a fragrance that bugs and certain flying insects do not like
Remember, if you notice pests continuing to cause a problem or becoming more severe, don’t hesitate to call us! Visit our website for more information on safe pest control.
No one wants to experience their AC malfunction on a hot Texas afternoon in June. However this happens to households over-and-over again, the AC Unit goes out just as contractors are experiencing the busy Austin Central AC Repair season.
