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Tankless Water Heater Not Heating? Causes & Solutions

. Posted by in • Austin
a cold shower because the tankless water heater is not heating up

Key Takeaways

A tankless water heater that stops heating is often caused by something preventable. Staying on top of annual maintenance is the best way to avoid the most common problems, especially in Texas, where hard water accelerates scale buildup inside the unit.

Few things get your attention faster than turning on the shower and realizing the water isn’t getting hot. It’s even more frustrating when you have dishes in the sink, laundry waiting or people in the house asking if something is wrong with the hot water. If your tankless water heater stops working suddenly, most homeowners want an answer right away because there is no stored tank of hot water to fall back on.

Tankless systems work differently from traditional water heaters. Instead of holding heated water in reserve, they warm water only when you open a tap. Inside the unit, water moves … Read Full Post »

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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What Is a Slab Leak?

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

Key Takeaways

A slab leak happens when pipes under your home’s foundation start to leak, and Texas homes are especially prone to them. If you notice higher water bills, warm spots on your floor or the sound of running water when nothing is on, it’s time to call in a plumber.

Is a slab leak causing severe structural damage to your home’s foundation?

A slab leak occurs when the concrete pipes beneath your home’s surface leak water. Unfortunately, slab leaks are common in Texas homes built on slab foundations. They can cause serious structural damage if left untreated.

This comprehensive guide covers what slab leaks are, their causes, warning signs, how they’re repaired and more. It also features expert insights from Michael Marugo, Plumbing Operations Manager at ABC Home & Commercial Services, who has both his Journeyman Plumber and Master Plumber licenses.

What Is a Slab Leak?

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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 »

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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

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