ABC Blog

Please choose a city to view local blog posts:

Choose a City

Hello, Sunshine! Five Perks of Going Solar

. Posted by in • Houston

If you’re a homeowner who harnesses our warm Houston sunshine, you can revel in solar power’s five perks (six if you include the bragging rights).

1. Less Dependence on Utility Companies

When you harness solar power, you use less energy from utility companies. Solar panels may not provide all the energy you require. Still, they offer a significant amount and lessen the likelihood that you’ll suffer a complete loss of power during blackouts or brownouts.

Common sense tells you that reduced fossil fuel use reduces your utility bills; however, it could also put spare cash into your pocket. If solar power produces more energy than you use, Houston utility companies could buy the extra power from you. You win twice over.

2. Cash Incentive

Who doesn’t like tax credits? The government at federal and state levels wants you to reduce your use of fossil fuels, so they offer incentives in the form of tax credits … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

You Will Soon Be Able to Purchase Cyborg Cockroaches. No Really. We’re Not Joking.

. Posted by in • Austin

Order Your Cyborg Cockroaches Today

If you’ve ever wanted to control a cockroach with your iPhone, today’s technology can fulfill your dreams. No, it’s not a new app. We’re talking about real live cyborg roaches that have been surgically modified with microelectronics.

How RoboRoaches Work

Tiny circuit boards affixed to their backs receive signals from Bluetooth-enabled devices; the signals stimulate electrodes inserted into their antennae. Roaches normally use their antennae to detect obstacles in their path. The signals trick them into thinking there is something in their way. They move right or left as directed to avoid the perceived objects. With a few strokes on a touch screen, you can make them walk in circles or navigate through an obstacle course. Neuroscience educators are excited about the prospect of teaching kids to modify their own roaches. They’re hoping the experiment will promote interest in the field. If you can’t wait to get your … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

Bed Bugs Want Your Home for the Winter

. Posted by in , • Houston

Here comes the cold weather. It ends outdoor activities and begins an indoor migration of pests looking for somewhere to hide from the inclement weather. Bed bugs think your house would make a great winter home, and they have ways to get inside it. Once they breach your castle walls, they’re extremely hard to remove without the help of a professional pest control company.

ABC Home and Commercial Services of Houston employs the latest technology and some old-school tricks. We use a dog to check your home for bed bugs. Dogs can take one sniff and know if your home has an infestation of bloodsuckers. You might have suspicions, but our dog knows if and where bed bugs are hiding in your home.

Once we find the bed bugs, we don’t use pesticides to kill them because bed bugs hide in tiny crevices and cracks in the walls and furniture. Pesticides can’t … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

Creepy Ways Bed Bugs Can Get into Your Room

. Posted by in , • San Antonio

When it comes to bed bugs, big problems arrive in small packages. These tiny menaces strike just when you’re getting comfortable at home or on a much-needed vacation. Bed bugs are fast, dangerously effective at sucking blood and have plenty of creepy ways to sneak into your home. Whether you’re defending your own territory or trying to outsmart them in a hotel, it’s important to be bed bug aware.

Travel and Hotels

Bed bugs are natural travelers that are designed to hitch rides. Most travelers are wary of bed bugs in hotel mattresses, but they can hide in other places too. Bugs can even lurk on the straps of luggage stands. Infestations can also stem from household visitors, including that old friend who slept on your couch after visiting every youth hostel in North America. Watching out for bed bugs is the best way to minimize exposure.

Work and School

Schools have long been … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

When the Heat Is Gone, Rodents Arrive

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth

As temperatures begin to drop, more homeowners begin to see signs of rodents within their homes. This is no coincidence. Rats and mice have lived alongside humans for thousands of years, and they choose to inhabit our homes because of the warmth, shelter and food that we inadvertently provide. During the winter, a house can provide rodents with protection against the elements.

In the summer months, rodents may spend more time outside, especially if there are gardens to raid or other plant-based food sources. Once autumn arrives, however, they will withdraw to a warmer area that’s protected from ice and snow. They might move to the shelter of a porch, crawl space, attic or an out-of-the-way corner of your home.

Fortunately, there are a few ways you can discourage these unwanted guests from wintering in your home:

Seal off any cracks and crevices that might provide easy access to your home. Bear in … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

Signs of Infestation That Most Homeowners Miss

. Posted by in , • Orlando
can termites eat concrete

If you’re like most people, you prefer to live in an environment that’s sheltered from the elements and has an adequate food supply. Unfortunately, many pests share your desire for a cozy home. Because they are small and often difficult to spot, you can have quite an infestation before you notice that pests have invaded. However, knowing what to look for, you can better defend yourself against unwanted intruders.

Is it an infestation or a minor problem?

Termites come in two varieties: subterranean and dry wood. The subterranean species make their home in the soil, leaving it to feed. The dry wood species prefers to invade wood floors, furniture, and house frames, living out their lives within the invaded structure. Many homeowners never know they have an infestation unless they see them swarming. Other signs are less obvious but may allow you to detect a problem sooner. One such sign is the … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

Landscaping That Does More than Look Good

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station

Tropical plants are renowned for their lush colors, but that beauty comes at a steep price for homeowners who maintain them. Some thirsty flowers like Iris pseudacorus require standing water, which is extremely costly in Bryan-College Station during the summer. If you’re looking to practice sustainable gardening, reduce water and energy consumption whenever possible.

Mulch

Most people who mulch prefer organic materials like bark chips and pine needles, but you can choose rubber, cardboard, or stone if you don’t want to reapply mulch every year. When applied to an entire flower bed, mulch presents a beautiful, uniform look, and it helps keep the edges clean. Weeds have more difficulty growing up from the soil through several inches of mulch.

Mulch also reduces soil evaporation, so you don’t have to irrigate as often. According to one research project presented at Texas A&M, mulch reduces water evaporation by 25%, which could save you thousands of … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

The Worst Rodent Infestations in History

. Posted by in • Orlando
roof rats

Rodents have lived alongside humans since the earliest days of civilization, and they continue to be a significant pest. Rats and mice eat human food and contaminate the house with their droppings. They are also very destructive and can chew through nearly anything, including a house’s walls and foundation. Although rodents are found anywhere humans live, a few places have had historically awful infestations. Here are some of the worst rodent infestations in history:

Medieval Europe

During the Crusades, Asian black rats began migrating into Europe in ever-increasing numbers. They brought along the fleas that carried the bubonic plague, which devastated Europe. Their numbers became so overwhelming that the profession of rat-catching had to be invented to deal with them.

Australia

When explorers began traveling to Australia, they inadvertently brought mice on their ships. The mice, facing few natural predators and plenty of easy food, began to reproduce rapidly, and to this day, they … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

Landscape Fail: The Most Common Design Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

. Posted by in • Austin

Like any homeowner, you’d probably like your landscaping to look amazing. Wanting an amazing yard and creating one are two different things, of course. It’s easy to make seemingly small mistakes that can wreak major havoc on the appearance of your landscaping. By familiarizing yourself with the most common ones, you can be on your way to incredible landscape design in no time!

1. Not Having a Plan

If at all possible, come up with a plan before doing any major landscaping work. At ABC Austin, we routinely come across yards that have been worked on a little here and a little there. There’s often a mishmash of elements that don’t really go together, which results in a scattered, disheveled look. With a clear plan in mind, you can easily achieve an attractive, cohesive landscape design for your Austin home.

2. Not Considering the View from Inside

It’s easy to have tunnel vision when … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

Winter Prep Tips for Your HVAC System

. Posted by in • Houston

At ABC Houston, we understand that our friends and neighbors depend on their furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps to get through the winter months. The more prepared your system is, the more comfortable you’ll be. Here are eight steps to prepare your HVAC system for the heating season.

1. Get Reversible Ceiling Fans

During the cooling season, fans help your air conditioners run efficiently by circulating the air that collects near the ceiling. During the heating season, a fan with a reverse setting can do the same for your furnace. For best results, invest in an Energy Star-rated fan.

2. Use a Humidifier

If your home has a forced-air heating system, you’ll find that your indoor air may become uncomfortably dry. A humidifier will help you breathe easier by replacing that lost moisture.

3. New Filters

A dirty filter reduces the efficiency of your furnace by blocking air flow and may lead to other maintenance problems. … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed