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Can You Paint Siding on a House?

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station
painted wood siding

Key Takeaways

Most types of house siding can be painted, but the right paint and prep depend on the material. In Texas, most paint jobs last five to ten years, though the heat and sun can shorten that. If your siding is still in good shape, painting is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to give your home a fresh look.

Want to give the exterior of your home a refresh? Before you pick out a paint color, it’s important to know whether or not you can paint siding on a house.

The short answer is yes, you can paint most types of siding on a house. However, there’s a little more to it. The process of painting siding, as well as how long the paint job lasts, depends on the siding material. 

Some types of siding are better candidates for paint than others. … Read Full Post »

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Cyanuric Acid in Your Pool: Why It Matters and How to Fix It

. Posted by in , , , , , • Houston

Key Takeaways

  • Cyanuric acid (CYA) acts like sunscreen for pool chlorine — without it, UV destroys half of unprotected chlorine in just 17 minutes.
  • The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance ANSI standard sets the ideal CYA range at 30–50 ppm for traditional chlorine pools and 60–80 ppm for salt water pools.
  • Cyanuric acid is not the same as muriatic acid. Muriatic acid lowers pH; CYA protects chlorine from sunlight.
  • Low CYA means chlorine burns off fast, leading to algae and cloudy water. High CYA causes chlorine lock, where chlorine reads fine on tests but can’t effectively sanitize.
  • The only reliable way to lower CYA is to drain and dilute — it does not evaporate or break down.
  • Most pools drift into high CYA because Trichlor chlorine tablets are 50–55% cyanuric acid by weight.

Introduction

Clear pool water doesn’t always mean safe pool water. Many Houston pool service customers test chlorine, pH, and alkalinity faithfully every week … Read Full Post »

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Toilet Leaking at Base? Causes, Fixes & When to Call a Plumber

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
a thumbnail from a video featured in this blog

Key Takeaways

A toilet leaking at the base isn’t always coming from the base. Water from a higher leak can travel down the porcelain and pool at the floor, making it look like the seal underneath has failed. This is worth addressing since even a slow leak can cause hidden damage.

A small ring of water around the toilet can be easy to shrug off, especially if it disappears after you wipe it up. If you notice that same damp spot showing up again, especially after flushing, it usually means something needs attention. A toilet leaking at the base may come from a simple issue. It could also be the first sign that water is reaching places it shouldn’t.

That matters more than many people realize. Even a slow leak can work its way into flooring, soften the subfloor underneath and create the kind of … Read Full Post »

AC Not Blowing Cold Air? A Texas Homeowner’s Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

. Posted by in • Austin
an ac vent

Key Takeaways

A broken AC during hot, humid weather is never something you want to deal with. ABC Home & Commercial Services offers HVAC repairs from experienced technicians who take the time to find and fix the real problem.

What should you do if your AC isn’t blowing cold air? This situation can be stressful for Texas homeowners, especially during extreme summer heat.

Luckily, there are several ways to troubleshoot the issue before calling in a professional. This guide breaks down the common causes of your AC not blowing cold air, what you can check for and when to call in assistance.

It also includes expert insights from Gary Cremeans, HVAC Operations Manager at ABC Home & Commercial Services.

Why Is My AC Not Blowing Cold Air?

According to Cremeans, the most common reasons your AC isn’t blowing cold air is due to a clogged drain … Read Full Post »

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Low Hot Water Pressure? Here’s What It Means (and How Texas Homeowners Can Fix It)

. Posted by in • San Antonio
a thumbnail from the video in this blog

Key Takeaways

Low hot water pressure is often caused by mineral buildup, a clogged showerhead or aerator, a partially closed shut-off valve or an aging water heater. Texas’s hard water makes these issues more common, so routine maintenance is the best way to stay ahead of this problem.

When you want to take a relaxing hot shower after a long day, nothing is more frustrating than low hot water pressure.

Plus, the issue doesn’t stop at lukewarm showers. Low hot water pressure can cause slow-filling tubs and poor appliance performance.

This comprehensive guide covers the causes of low hot water pressure so that homeowners can get to the bottom of the issue. You’ll learn quick checks you can perform to solve the problem, and if those don’t work, when to call in the professionals.

For Texas homeowners, issues like hard water, aging infrastructure and slab homes can … Read Full Post »

Roach Eggs: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent an Infestation

. Posted by in • Houston
Roach eggs

Key Takeaways

  • Roach eggs are housed inside protective cases called oothecae. German oothecae hold 30 to 50 eggs each, while American oothecae hold 14 to 16.
  • Finding roach eggs in your home almost always points to an active infestation — a single German female can produce 200 to 300 offspring in her lifetime.
  • The most common hiding spots are kitchen cabinets, behind appliances, bathroom corners, and inside cardboard storage boxes.
  • Store-bought sprays don’t penetrate ootheca casings, which is why DIY treatment usually fails to break the cycle.
  • Prevention comes down to three things: moisture control, sealing entry points, and removing the food sources roaches depend on.

Cockroaches have been around for more than 300 million years — longer than dinosaurs — … Read Full Post »

Interior Paint Ideas to Transform Your Home

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth

Choosing the right interior paint color can instantly change the look and feel of your home. However, with endless shades, finishes, and styles to choose from, finding the right one can feel like a lot.

Fortunately, a few smart guidelines and expert insight can simplify the process. Whether you are updating one room or refreshing your entire home, this guide highlights popular interior paint ideas that feel current, intentional, and made for today’s homes.

Why Interior Paint Color Matters

Interior paint does more than update walls. It shapes how you experience your space every day.
The right paint color can:

  • Make small rooms feel larger and brighter
  • Create warmth and comfort in gathering spaces
  • Set a calming mood in bedrooms and private areas
  • Tie together furniture, decor, and architectural details

For example, lighter interior paint colors reflect natural light … Read Full Post »

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The Difference Between Bed Bug And Mosquito Bites

. Posted by in • Orlando
Difference between bed bug bites and mosquito bites

Unless you live inside an air-conditioned bubble, you’re likely to find yourself scratching your skin at some point throughout the year as you come into contact with different varieties of biting insects. Both indoors and outdoors, and especially during the summer, you might have run-ins with fleas, mosquitoes, horse flies, black flies, or even—shudder—bed bugs. Bed bugs can be very difficult to get rid of, so finding suspicious, itchy welts on your skin can cause momentary panic as you try to figure out the culprit. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to tell the difference between bed bug bites and mosquito bites or the bites of other insects, as long as you know what to look for. Read on to learn about various insect bites and the signs and symptoms indicating which pesky pest has taken a chomp out of you.

Mosquito Bites Vs. Flea Bites

Read Full Post »

Brown Algae in Pool: How to Identify, Remove and Prevent It in Texas

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station
brown mustard algae

Key Takeaways

Brown algae in a Texas pool is often misidentified, so correctly identifying the problem is the first step to treating it. Maintaining proper chlorine levels, brushing pool walls weekly and keeping your filter clean are the best ways to prevent brown algae.

Is the brown algae in your pool getting in the way of summer fun? 

The truth about brown algae is that it’s often misidentified. It’s an easy mistake: you see a brown, dusty coating around your pool and naturally assume it’s algae overgrowth. However, there are several other things it could be, including dirt or debris, metal staining and pollen buildup.

This guide will help you correctly identify brown algae from other issues so that you can remove it correctly. Then, keep reading to learn how to prevent brown algae in Texas pools.

You’ll also learn from Steve Ambrose, Home Improvement Division Manager … Read Full Post »

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What Do Flea Bites Look Like?

. Posted by in , • Austin
flea bites on a man's arm

Key Takeaways

Flea bites typically appear as small, itchy red bumps in clusters around the ankles and legs, and can often be mistaken for bites from other insects. Acting quickly and taking a comprehensive approach is the best way to control fleas.

Have you noticed itchy red bumps on yourself or your family members? Maybe you’ve noticed your pets scratching more than usual? These are common signs of a flea infestation.

To help you understand what flea bites look like, how to differentiate them from other bug bites and what to do about them, we spoke with Alan Brown, Board-Certified Entomologist and Technical Director at ABC Home & Commercial Services.

What Do Flea Bites Look Like on Humans?

Flea bites can look very different from person to person, so it can be difficult to determine if you’re dealing with flea bites or another type of bug bite. … Read Full Post »

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