What Do Baby Termites Look Like?

February 1, 2018. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Termite Control • Houston

Any homeowner who has seen small, winged, ant-like insects in or around their home has probably wondered, What do baby termites look like? It’s wise to worry about a possible termite infestation, as these insects are a severe problem if they infest your home, garage, or other structure. They can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your property.

In fact, Americans reportedly spend $1 billion each year on termite control and repairs to correct damage caused by these small but powerful pests. Clearly, a savvy homeowner should know how to identify termites. Telling these creatures apart from winged ants, for example, or any other look-alike insect species, however, can be challenging. Many of us know what these insects look like in their adult form, but what about termite larvae? Read on to learn about baby termites, the termite life cycle, the swarming season, and how to keep these … Read Full Post »

The Importance of Eco-Friendly Pest Control

January 26, 2018. Posted by Russell Jenkins in Lawn Care, Pest Control • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

We share a planet with other creatures, some of which we live peacefully with, others not so much. Unfortunately, most pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, contain chemicals that cause health complications for humans and wildlife.

The Pesticide Problem

Pesticides cause a wide range of short and long-term health hazards, such as:

Headaches
Skin and Eye Irritation
Dizziness and Nausea
Cancer
Endocrine System Damage
Birth Defects

Pesticides present acute dangers to other living organisms as well, sometimes having devastating environmental effects. Pesticides can pollute the air, water, and soil. They are harmful to many living species and can kill microorganisms that would be have eben beneficial for soil health.

Over one billion pounds of chemical pesticides are used every year in the United States (about 5.6 billion pounds worldwide) (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

This causes a significant health and environmental concern.

Water and air contamination
Killing of plants and wildlife
Chemical over-exposure and the harmful associated health problems

Some of the common chemicals in pesticides are methoxychlor, vinclozolin, … Read Full Post »

HVAC Trends & Home Renovations To Save Money

January 25, 2018. Posted by Tom Riggs in Air Conditioning & Heating • San Antonio

Keeping up with heating and cooling trends can be time-consuming. There are a few trends that are here to stay, however, some of which can also help reduce your energy bills year after year. Our team at ABC Home & Commercial Services has compiled the following suggestions to help you save money now and for years to come.

Heating & Cooling Trends

Today’s air conditioners and heat pumps can be up to 40 percent more energy efficient than older models. The money homeowners can save in reduced energy bills by purchasing a new, high-efficiency system is often worth the investment.

A good air cleaner can help trap many of the pollutants that may be traveling through your home. As part of your heating and cooling system, these devices filter indoor air to help improve indoor air quality. To ensure the continue to serve in that role, indoor air quality products are often backed by a five-year parts limited warranty.

Another important aspect of your indoor … Read Full Post »

Overseeding Weedy Lawn: Homeowners Take Back Their Yards

January 22, 2018. Posted by J Zambo in Lawn • San Antonio

When you look out over your yard, does the sight you see bring you a sense of pleasure and pride, or do you cringe with embarrassment? If you’re in the latter camp due to unsightly weeds and patchy, lifeless grass, don’t despair—and don’t give up! Your yard doesn’t have to be the neighborhood eyesore, and you don’t have to declare your neglected lawn a total loss.

Depending on the severity of your situation, it’s possible that you’ll need to re-sod the entire area, but a far easier fix might work just as well. The simple yet highly effective key lies in overseeding weedy lawns to reclaim the lush, green, beautiful grass that all homeowners desire.

Let’s find out how just a bit of time, care and know-how will help you resuscitate your ailing lawn into a thing of emerald, weed-free beauty.

Overseed: Definition And Benefits

The term “overseed” may sound technical and even … Read Full Post »

Air Conditioner Parts And Functions You Should Know

January 19, 2018. Posted by Tom Riggs in Air Conditioning & Heating • San Antonio

As every homeowner knows, an air conditioner is a device which is used to cool the air inside your house. Having a basic understanding of the air conditioner parts and functions will help know what you should look for when buying a new AC unit and having your system installed. To make a wise purchasing decision and help prevent future air conditioner problems, start with the basics. There are three major parts of an air conditioner: the condenser, the compressor and the evaporator coil. While the first two are located on the exterior to the air conditioning unit, the evaporator coil is inside the machine.

Essential Parts Of An Air Conditioning Unit

As we’ve already mentioned, the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator coil are the three main parts of an air conditioner. Besides these, an air conditioner also has a hot coil and a cool coil on the outside and inside, respectively. Each unit also has two fans and a control circuit to modify … Read Full Post »

Signs of Termite Infestation

January 18, 2018. Posted by Russell Jenkins in Pest Control, Termite Control • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

Did you know that termites are responsible for 5 billion dollars in damage per year in just the United States alone? By the time most homeowners start to notice termite damage, the termites have been munching away for quite some time. Here in North Texas, homes are especially susceptible to termite damage. Termites thrive in the humid weather of the summer months and eat away at your home’s wood structures year round. As a homeowner, it’s important to take preventative measures to keep termites from literally eating you out of house and home.

But, if you think you may be too late, look for these signs of termite infestation to know when to call in the professionals at ABC Home & Commercial Services.

Mud tubes near the home’s foundation.

Mud tubes are small, irregularly patterned lines made of dried mud that often outline the outside of your home’s foundation, usually created at the … Read Full Post »

Purple Texas Wildflowers: How To Add Color To Your Landscape

January 17, 2018. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Landscaping, Lawn • Houston

A rite of passage here in Texas is taking the family for the annual Bluebonnet photo. Did you know these plants are just the tip of the iceberg for wildflowers in Texas? And you can grow these flowers in your back (or front) yard?

Whether you’re tired of the usual suspects in your home garden or considering wildflowers as another way to use native plants in your landscaping, wildflowers are a gorgeous option that can add a nice splash of color to any property.

Below, we will suggest different types of purple Texas wildflowers you might consider incorporating in your lawn and answer common questions homeowners have about adding these plants to your outdoor spaces.

Different Types of Purple Wildflowers You Can Find in Texas

Bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes get the lion’s share of attention when it comes to Texas wildflowers, but they’ve got nothing on the many varieties of purple wildflowers that thrive … Read Full Post »

Scorpions In Florida: What Homeowners Should Know

January 15, 2018. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Pest Control • Orlando

There are things you worry about when buying your home in Florida. For example, you knew you’d have to protect against hurricane and flood damage. Maybe you had a passing thought about crossing paths with an alligator.

No one told you about the scorpions, though. You also never got the memo about how many of them have venom in their stingers that can be poisonous. Even when there’s no venom, those stings hurt like crazy.

Just looking at a scorpion, you can tell that they’re formidable, at least as far as bugs are concerned. If you’ve heard stories about how painful the stings can be, the encounter will likely scare you, even if the scorpion doesn’t do much of anything.

In this post, we will give you an overview of scorpions in Florida, including how to identify them, which types are most common here, why more people have been seeing them in their … Read Full Post »

Do Water Bugs Bite? Taking The Sting Out of Your Next Outing

January 14, 2018. Posted by Holt Myers in Pest Control • Corpus Christi

Imagine that you are taking your dog for a quick swim in the creek in the greenbelt in your neighborhood. By anyone’s standards, not a particularly dangerous activity. It’s the end of August, a great time for both of you to cool off from the oppressive heat.

You decide you might as well take off your shoes and dip your toes into the cool water.

Then it happens. One minute you were laughing and your pup was splashing around, and the next minute, you suddenly feel an intense pain in your toe, causing you to scream.

You look down, expecting to see a snake. Instead, you see a frighteningly huge bug swimming away. Was that a giant cockroach or beetle? You may even have a simpler question: do water bugs bite?

Immediately you pull on your dog’s leash and limp out of the water as you begin to feel the pain shooting up your … Read Full Post »

Why Is My Gas Bill So High In The Winter?

January 10, 2018. Posted by Tom Riggs in Air Conditioning & Heating • San Antonio

Imagine leaving a window open all winter long—the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding attic stair, fireplace or clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day. These often overlooked sources of heat loss and air leakage can cause warm air to leave your home and the cold outside air to rush in—costing you money in the form of higher heating bills. If you’re ready to lower your heating costs this winter, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Air leaks occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes and other entry points. Most homeowners are well aware of the benefits caulk and weatherstripping provide to minimize heat loss and cold drafts. But what can you do about the three largest “holes” in your home—the folding attic stair, the fireplace and the clothes … Read Full Post »