What Can a Handyman Legally Do?

November 1, 2017. Posted by Les Stobart in Handyman • Austin

What if you could get all of those little tasks on your “honey-do” list completed without having to lift a finger?

Home repairs, maintenance and weekend projects can quickly eat up all your free time. It’s only natural that homeowners are looking for ways to outsource these tasks at the lowest possible price. Depending on the nature of the tasks involved, you may find yourself wondering which jobs are suitable for a handyman and which tasks are better performed by a licensed contractor. Since virtually anyone can call themselves a handyman, you might ask yourself, “What can a handyman legally do?” Is there a real difference between the training and skills of a handyman and a contractor? What type of jobs should you hire a handyman to complete? Some homeowners have an even more basic question: What is a handyman in the first place?

A handyman may be a jack-of-all-trades or … Read Full Post »

Can I Get Mold Spores Bites? What To Know About Mold Mites

October 27, 2017. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Pest Control • Orlando

Most of us are familiar with mold. In addition to this fungus that can grow on food, plants, and areas with moisture or high humidity, you may run across tiny creatures called mold mites. These microscopic white or tan-colored mites feed on mold and fungi and are part of the larger species of mites, including cheese mites, flour mites, and grain mites.

Mold mites are wingless, smooth, and so small that they don’t cause structural damage, and they don’t bite humans. However, these soft-bodied pests have long “hairs,” which can cause an allergic reaction in some people. That is why some individuals may believe they have gotten mold spore bites when in contact with a mold mite. In some cases, a skin irritation linked to an allergic reaction to mold growing inside your home may feel like a bite or sting. Several environmental factors, including medical conditions, certain medications (or changes … Read Full Post »

How to Get Rid of Aphids on Christmas Tree

October 23, 2017. Posted by Holt Myers in Pest Control • Austin

During the holiday season, thoughts of yummy food, a fire in the fireplace, warm sweaters, cute boots and spending time with family and friends fill your head and heart. The months around Christmas evoke warm and fuzzy feelings from treasured memories and family traditions. A freshly-cut Christmas tree fills your home with a welcoming, nostalgic aroma. The excitement and anticipation surrounding your visit to find the perfect tree may only be matched by the enthusiasm around the arrival of favorite family members and guests who come to stay, including… aphids? While we prepare to welcome these house guests, we don’t want to have to deal with getting rid of aphids or other creepy crawly, uninvited visitors. We certainly don’t want to have to invite an aphid control specialist to the party.

Like any live plant, Christmas trees can suffer from diseases, including root rot, Swiss needle cast and insect infestations. When you bring such … Read Full Post »

Beach Bugs That Bite: Protecting Yourself From These Pests

October 20, 2017. Posted by Holt Myers in Pest Control • Corpus Christi

You’ve waited for that perfect beach vacation to come. You packed your swimsuit, beach towels and have the perfect day planned. But, once you get set up in the sand, you start feeling little bites on your legs. You look down and can’t see anything. You have no idea what bit you. These beach bugs that bite can be called a variety of things: sand fleas, sea lice, sandflies and no see ums, just to name a few possible culprits.

In this post, we’ll explore what kind of critters dwell in the sand and which ones might nibble on us, how long sand flea bites last, the difference between sand flea bites and bed bug bites and answer the common question, “What are no see ums?”

Sand Dwellers

There are a number of creatures that live in beach sand, most of which don’t bite humans. These sand dwellers include several species of … Read Full Post »

How Does Pesticide Work? What Homeowners Should Know

October 18, 2017. Posted by Les Stobart in Pest Control • Bryan-College Station

A pesticide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is, “Any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.”

How Does Pesticide Work?

Insecticides are a form of pesticide which typically work by affecting the nervous system of insects. However, they can also affect energy production, cuticle production, the endocrine system and water balance. These chemical formulations can enter through the body, ingestion and inhalation.

Pesticides are used as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, which is a more environmentally-friendly pest control philosophy. The principles of this approach, as laid out by the EPA, state that IPM “focuses on pest prevention and uses pesticides only as needed.”

Types of Pesticide

There is a wide range of pesticides available for residential and commercial applications. Some target insects, while others target algae (algaecides), germs (disinfectants) or weeds (herbicides). The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) categorizes the types of … Read Full Post »

Your San Antonio Christmas Events 2017 Guide

October 16, 2017. Posted by Les Stobart in Holiday Lighting • San Antonio

Whether you just want to be a tourist in your own city or entertain your out-of-town guests or kids for winter break, San Antonio has a variety of Christmas events throughout the holidays which are sure to make everyone happy.

In addition to simply strolling along the beautiful River Walk, you and your family can enjoy a festive experience when San Antonio’s quintessential tourist stop will be lit up with more than 2,000 luminarias between December 1 and 17 on weekend nights. The traditional Mexican Christmas lantern tradition begins at dusk on Fridays and brings a soft glow to the river. In addition to luminarias, The River Walk will be decorated with 122,000 lights draped over the bald cypress trees along the river the day after Thanksgiving until the new year. In addition, the San Antonio River Authority covers the path along the river between Grayson Street and Lexington Avenue … Read Full Post »

Negative Effects of Floods and How to Clean Up Your Property

October 13, 2017. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Lawn • Houston

Around the world, the most prevalent kind of natural disaster is flooding. In the United States, floods are the leading cause of weather-related deaths, taking the lives of around 200 Americans each year. During 2016, 19 floods occurred across the United States—the most since record-taking began in 1980. Over the past 36 years, Texas has been the state which has seen the most fatalities from flooding and flash floods.

The adverse effects of floods are numerous, and it can take years to rebuild. So this begs the question: can you do anything to help protect your home from floods? What should you do if your house floods? What can you do after a flood to help your home withstand potential damage from a future flood?

A flooded home isn’t necessarily a total loss. In a Washington Post article, Claudette Hanks Reichel of Louisiana State University’s Agricultural Center, who has written disaster recovery … Read Full Post »

How To Change Central Air Conditioner Filter: Tips And Troubleshooting

October 9, 2017. Posted by Tom Riggs in Air Conditioning & Heating • Austin

Air conditioners require regular maintenance to keep them running efficiently. Performing routine checks also helps keep your energy costs down and enables you to spot problems early on, which can avoid costly repairs. One of the quickest and easiest ways to keep your unit running at peak efficiency is to regularly change your filter. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5 percent to 15 percent.”

How to Change Central Air Conditioner Filter

When you weigh the energy savings of having a clean filter against the low cost of a new filter, replacing your filter seems like a no-brainer. Remembering when and how to perform this simple task, however, is another matter. Even if you think you know how often you should change your filter, you may not understand what a filter actually does for … Read Full Post »

Clogged Filter? Furnace Filter Symptoms Of Heating Problems

October 4, 2017. Posted by Tom Riggs in Air Conditioning & Heating • San Antonio

Clogged Filter Furnace and Filter Symptoms

Remembering to change your furnace filter can be a tall order since it isn’t something you see or notice. The adage “out of sight, out of mind” seems well-suited for this routine task.

But clogged furnace air filters can spell big problems not only for your electric bill but for your furnace itself.

We know what you might be thinking. “What? There’s another filter in my home?”

Well, it depends. Here in Texas, the filter that’s working during the winter months is typically just your air duct return air filter, the same one you regularly change for your air conditioner. What you might not realize is that it is just as important to change this filter when you turn on the heater in your home as during the summer months.

In colder parts of the country, some homes may have a warm air furnace. In these units, a dedicated furnace filter is typically … Read Full Post »

ABC Supports American Heart Association’s Heart Walk

October 2, 2017. Posted by Les Stobart in Community • Austin

One in seven deaths in the United States is linked to heart disease. Coronary heart disease, hypertension and stroke—all heart conditions—represent the number one cause of death in the United States. Over 92 million Americans are living with some type of cardiovascular disease or are experiencing the after-effects of a stroke.

Since 1924, the American Heart Association has been working to fight heart disease through research, public health policy and education. The organization has set an ambitious goal for 2020: to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% and to reduce the deaths from heart disease and stroke by 20%.

Each year, the American Heart Association hosts the annual Austin Heart Walk to bring the community together to have fun, get inspired and support a meaningful cause. The owner of ABC Home & Commercial Services in Austin, Bobby Jenkins, is on the Board of Directors of the local affiliate.

Austin Heart Walk 2017

ABC … Read Full Post »