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Birds That Eat Ticks: Do Turkeys Eat Ticks?

. Posted by in , • Bryan-College Station
Birds That Eat Ticks

Ever been bitten by a tick? If so, you know how annoying they can be, at best. At worst, ticks can transmit serious diseases to humans. Ticks are small, parasitic pests that feed on the blood of a “host”—namely, another animal. Ticks aren’t too discriminating when it comes to their food; they’re all too happy to feast on humans, dogs and cats along with other, wilder animals. Fortunately, there are many different animals that are a tick’s natural predator, including some birds that eat ticks that might make a great addition to your home to assist with natural tick control.

Do turkeys eat ticks? That’s a question many homeowners ask. There are several types of poultry and wild birds that eat ticks, for example, along with ants, centipedes and certain other predatory insects. Keep reading to learn more about these parasitic creatures and how you can keep them away from … Read Full Post »

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Sugar Ant Bites And More: How To Treat Ant Bites And Stings

. Posted by in • San Antonio
sugar ant bites

For such a tiny creature, ants have quite an impact on humans. These insects have lived on Earth for over 100 million years, outlasting the dinosaurs. As social animals, ants live in groups that can number in the millions. Although ants perform an important function in nature, bites from these pests can be annoying, painful and can even trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction in some individuals.

To help better understand how to treat an ant bite, it’s helpful to know about the different types of ants you might encounter and what attracts them to your home. Once you have treated your ant bite, you’ll also want to learn how to avoid an infestation so you won’t getting bitten in the future.

Sugar Ant Bites: Should I Be Worried?

One of the most common ant species you are likely to run across indoors is the sugar ant, which is actually a group of ant … Read Full Post »

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How To Make An Air Conditioner Colder

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
how to make an air conditioner colder

If your air conditioner is older or overdue for regular servicing, cleaning and other maintenance, it won’t run at peak efficiency—which means it won’t be able to blow air that is as cold as you want it to be during the warmer times of year.

How To Make An Air Conditioner Colder

If you’ve been wondering how to make an air conditioner colder, look no further. Whether you’re dealing with central air conditioning system or a window unit, we have several tips homeowners can use to make your air conditioner work more effectively. Some are basic maintenance tips and some are tricks of the trade that could make all the difference in cooling your home efficiently.

How Air Conditioning Units Work

Whether your home is cooled by a central air system or window units, your air conditioner works by pulling outside air into your home and cooling it while transferring warmer indoor air … Read Full Post »

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Scorpions in Texas and What To Do If You Encounter One

. Posted by in • Austin
Scorpions in Texas

 

Scorpions truly look like something out of a movie, but they’re actually a member of the arachnid species. You’ll immediately recognize them – they have the claws of a lobster and the tail of a pug that curls up over their backs. Their bodies are covered in a hard shell and the end of their curved tails are tipped with a stinger. And sting they do, but only when surprised.

Scorpions in Texas

About 1,500 known species of this predatory arachnid live across the world. More than 90 types live in this country alone. Texas is home to over a dozen different types of scorpions, with the most common being the striped bark scorpion or Centruroides vittatus. It’s a medium-sized, pale-colored scorpion, about two to three inches long. What sets it apart from the other scorpions are the two dark stripes across its back with a dark triangle on its head.

There’s no escaping … Read Full Post »

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Termites in Trees: Is My Home At Risk?

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station
Termites in Trees

Most homeowners have heard of termite infestations in the wooden structures of a home, such as floors, attics, support beams and the wood frames behind drywall. But did you realize termites in trees can also be a real problem, especially if termites make their way from trees on your property onto your home and other wooden structures?

Termites in Trees

Read on to find out about signs of termites in trees, including termite holes in trees’ trunks and branches, and learn what to do if trees on your property are home to a termite infestation.

Types of Termites

There are two main types of termites that can cause problems to people’s homes and other parts of their property: subterranean and drywood.

True to their name, drywood termites don’t require much moisture to survive, and thus can thrive within the drier woods found in hardwood floors, attic spaces or higher-up areas of a home. While … Read Full Post »

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What Is a Mosquito Hawk?

. Posted by in , • San Antonio
What Is a Mosquito Hawk

Mosquito hawks, also known as crane flies, are often mistaken for huge, threatening mosquitoes—but they are not a type of mosquito at all. In fact, they aren’t even related to mosquitoes, despite the fact that they are rumored—incorrectly—to feed on mosquitoes and their larvae.

What Is A Mosquito Hawk?

What do these huge flying insects eat? Do mosquito hawks bite humans, the way mosquitoes do? And perhaps most importantly, how can you keep these insects out of your home and yard?

What Mosquito Hawks Aren’t

First, let’s clear up a couple of misconceptions about mosquito hawks. Crane flies are not the only insect species referred to by that name. Dragonflies are also sometimes called mosquito hawks since they actually do prey on mosquitoes (along with other small, flying insects) for food. Contrary to popular rumor, however, dragonflies aren’t an effective factor in mosquito control, as they don’t eat nearly enough of those bloodsucking pests … Read Full Post »

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How to Get Rid of Birds in the Attic

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station
How to Get Rid of Birds in the Attic

One of the pleasant sounds you can experience in nature is the chirping of birds. When these calls become too close for comfort, however, you may start to suspect something else is going on: you might have birds living in your attic.

How To Get Rid Of Birds In The Attic

Read on to learn how and why birds seek refuge in our homes, what signs we should look for that they are inside and how can you move them back to their proper habitat.

How do birds enter my home?

While it might seem odd to find a bird in your attic, it’s not uncommon, especially during the spring, as birds are migrating back from the south. During this time of year, our feathered friends are looking for a new place to call home and often attics, garages and chimneys offer the shelter and protection the birds are looking for.

Although these … Read Full Post »

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Corpus Christi Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

. Posted by in , , , , , , • Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

Although Corpus is a great place to live year-round, springtime is an especially nice time of year. Flowers are blooming, the beaches are quiet, before peak tourist season hits and the weather is temperate. Spring is a perfect time to take a closer look at your biggest investment—your home—to make sure you are taking the right steps to maintain your property and make any improvements that will allow you to better enjoy it.

Corpus Christi Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

ABC Home & Commercial Services is a family-run company which prides itself on making homeowners’ lives easier with reliable, high-quality services. As a trusted resource in the community, ABC employees go above and beyond to treat your home as we would our own. As a part of this commitment to superior home services, we created a Corpus Christi Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017.

This 9-page Guide includes:

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San Antonio Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

. Posted by in , , , , , , • San Antonio
San Antonio Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

 

Spring is a great time of year to turn your focus as a homeowner to how to improve your living and outdoor spaces. The return of nicer weather is also a great excuse to get out, enjoying all San Antonio has to offer.

San Antonio Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

ABC Home & Commercial Services has been making life easier for homeowners for over 60 years. Our San Antonio Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017 is full of resources and helpful information to continue on that tradition.

The 9-page Guide includes:

  • Ten Things to Do in San Antonio This Spring
  • Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
  • Spring Cleaning List of Where to Donate or Dispose of Common Household Items Locally
  • Advice on How to Mosquito-Proof Your Yard
  • Spring Gardening Tips
  • 6 Signs You May Need to Repair Your AC
  • What You Need to Know About Oak Wilt
  • Easy Home Improvement Projects

Download the guide here. Read on for a taste of the information you’ll find … Read Full Post »

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Austin Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

. Posted by in , , , , , , • Austin
Austin Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

Austin is the place to be during the spring months. Flowers are blooming, the sun is out and temperatures are still usually mild. Take advantage of this time of year to make some subtle improvements and to conduct home maintenance so that you can enjoy your home for the rest of the year.

Austin Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

For over 60 years, ABC Home & Commercial Services has been making life easier on Texans. Our Austin Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017 provides you with tips and other information to help you take care of your biggest investment.

The 9-page Guide includes:

  • Ten things to do in Austin this Spring
  • Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
  • Spring Cleaning List of Where to Donate or Dispose of Common Household Items Locally
  • Advice on How to Mosquito-Proof Your Yard
  • Spring Gardening Tips
  • 6 Signs You May Need to Repair Your AC
  • Pool Opening Checklist
  • Easy Home Improvement Projects

Download the guide here. Get a preview of … Read Full Post »

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