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Identifying & Preventing Oak Wilt Disease

. Posted by in , • Austin
an oak tree

Texas is known for beautiful oak trees that live for hundreds of years, so it’s important that homeowners care for their oak trees properly. A threat to oak trees is a disease called oak tree wilt, which can quickly deteriorate your tree’s health.

If oak tree wilt is a problem in your yard, contact an expert. Early detection is crucial to prevent the disease from spreading to more of your trees. 

Identifying and Preventing Oak Wilt Disease

Oak trees make for gorgeous assets in any lawn, and keeping them healthy is important. One common issue that homeowners encounter is called oak wilt disease. This is a fungal disease, caused by beetles or root grafts, that invades the tree’s internal water transport system and causes the tree to wilt. Identifying and managing infected trees is crucial to preventing the spread of oak wilt.

Fungal mats, which are patches of fungal growth, can form under the … Read Full Post »

My Gas Stove Igniter Keeps Clicking: What Should I Do?

. Posted by in • Austin
Gas Stove Igniter Keeps Clicking

You’re rushing to get dinner ready on a weeknight. You grab your favorite burner, turn the knob to “Light,” and… nothing. Just endless clicking from the gas stove igniter. 

My Gas Stove Igniter Keeps Clicking: What Should I Do?

If you’re like most homeowners, the last sound you want to hear coming from an object that uses gas and gets hot is ticking. What should you do?

This is a common problem, primarily with stoves with a spark ignition system. The most important thing to know is that a clicking stove isn’t dangerous, though you should deal with it promptly.

A normal igniter clicks up to three times before it sparks and lights your stove. However, the igniter will sometimes experience constant clicking, even after the stove is lit. The following are some of the possible causes:

  • Problems with the burner
  • Problems with the spark ignition switch

Let’s go over these … Read Full Post »

How Often to Clean Your Air Ducts

. Posted by in • Austin
a thumbnail for the video in this blog

Is cleaning your air ducts important? If so, how often should you clean them? Homeowners are often shocked to learn that, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, cleaning your air ducts does not necessarily improve the air quality in your home. In many cases, it can cause more problems than benefits. 

If you’re concerned about the air quality in your home, don’t hesitate to reach out to an HVAC professional.

How Often to Clean Air Ducts

How often should you clean your air ducts? The answer may be surprising: you shouldn’t. According to multiple reports and experts, cleaning your air ducts is unnecessary because it does not improve the air quality in your home. In fact, in some cases, it can do more harm than good.

The dust that adheres to your air ducts tends to cling to the duct’s surface and rarely enters your home. Since it doesn’t interact with your living space … Read Full Post »

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Tax Credits for EV Charging at Home

. Posted by in • Austin
tax forms

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a great way to help fight climate change and reduce gas costs. Additionally, the U.S. federal government offers a tax credit for EV charging stations to help make switching to an electric vehicle more affordable.

Let’s go over a few things you should know about this EV incentive.

Tax Credit for EV Charger: What Is It?

The EV charger tax credit is a provision under the U.S. government’s Inflation Reduction Act. The federal government offers these incentives to help lower the cost of installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Known as the 30C Tax Credit or EV Charging Tax Credit, this program provides up to $1,000 per charger for home installations. It covers 30% of the installation costs, including the charger, necessary parts, permits, hardware upgrades and the work of a licensed electrician.

Although this tax credit does not help pay for the electricity used to charge your EV, it … Read Full Post »

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How to Add a Water Feature Without Attracting Mosquitoes

. Posted by in , • Austin
a thumbnail from the video featured in this blog

Ponds, fountains and other water features can transform your backyard into a tranquil oasis. If you live near a highway or in a noisy area, water features can drown out ambient noise and replace it with a soothing, natural sound. 

Adding a water feature can also enhance existing landscaping, often with little required maintenance. Lastly, providing a water feature in your yard can help you attract butterflies and hummingbirds. However, there is one creature you don’t want to attract when you add water to your landscape: mosquitoes. It’s important to control mosquitoes in your water features to maintain a pleasant backyard environment.

How To Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Water Features

When designing a water feature, it’s essential to consider the potential for mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so incorporating features that prevent stagnant water from accumulating is crucial. Opt for a water feature with a depth of at … Read Full Post »

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What Does BTU Mean? Understanding Your AC

. Posted by in • Austin
an AC unit

You’ve probably seen the term BTU on the label when shopping for an air conditioning unit. But what do these three letters mean? And should you pay any attention to them?

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. It’s a way to measure how much heat an air conditioner can remove in one hour. The higher the BTU, the more powerful the cooling.

But bigger or smaller isn’t always better, as choosing the wrong BTU can lead to higher bills, poor cooling or a humid home.

What Is BTU in an Air Conditioner?

BTU is a way to measure heat energy, specifically how much heat an AC can remove from a room in one hour.

Think of it like this: one BTU is the heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. In air conditioning, the higher the BTU, the more heat the unit can move out of your … Read Full Post »

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How Long Does It Take for Bed Bug Bites to Appear?

. Posted by in , • Austin
a bed bug

Bed bug bites often appear as unexplained bites on your skin. The time it takes them to appear after an infestation varies, so it’s important for homeowners to understand what bed bug bites look like.

The sooner you can catch a bed bug infestation, the easier it will be to kick these pests out of your home. Besides bites, there are other signs to watch for that can help you catch them early.

How Long Does It Take for Bed Bug Bites to Appear?

How long it takes for bed bug bites to appear varies from person to person. Every immune system responds differently to bed bug bites, and it’s likely that you won’t have an immediate reaction. Bed bug bite reactions can take up to 14 days to appear, while some people have no reaction to bed bug bites at all.

Noticing bites is typically the first sign of a bed bug infestation, … Read Full Post »

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Patio Paver Ideas to Update Your Outdoor Spaces

. Posted by in , • Austin
patio pavers

When the weather is warm enough to spend time outside, homeowners love to spend their evenings reading or spending time with friends or family on their patio. If you’re looking to upgrade your patio and refresh it, new patio pavers are a great option. With a few simple changes and upgrades, you’ll have a welcoming outdoor space to enjoy with family and friends.

One way to change the look of your patios is to install new patio pavers. New pavers also add durability to your patio and can increase your home’s value.

A professional landscaper can talk you through your paver options so you get the style and functionality you want. Then, they’ll install them the right way to ensure durability and functionality for years to come.

If you’re ready for a patio upgrade, contact a local landscaping service about installing new patio pavers.

Patio Paver Ideas to Update Your Outdoor Spaces

Are you looking … Read Full Post »

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What You Need to Know About Black Carpet Beetles

. Posted by in • Austin
a black carpet beetle

As a homeowner, you might be worried about black carpet beetles, since their larvae can cause damage to your belongings. The black carpet beetle, or Attagenus unicolor, is a common household pest. Black carpet beetle larvae eat just about anything, from animal by-products (wool, hides and feathers) to natural fibers and plant products (vegetables, grains and cereals).

If you’re dealing with a black carpet beetle problem, your best option is to contact pest control professionals to handle these pests. You can also ask them questions like, “When do mosquitoes come out?”

What Do Black Carpet Beetles Look Like?

Adult black carpet beetles are small, oval-shaped insects, typically one-eighth to three-sixteenths of an inch long. They are dark brown or black, with a shiny, smooth appearance. Their larvae are light brown to black and covered in bristly hairs, growing up to a quarter inch long. The larvae have a long, elongated and carrot-shaped body … Read Full Post »

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How to Identify Brown Patch Fungus

. Posted by in • Austin
brown patch on grass

Is brown patch fungus damaging your lawn? This fungal disease can wreak major havoc on not just the appearance of your lawn, but the health.

An expert can identify the root cause of the brown patch fungus in your lawn, create a personalized treatment plan and put prevention methods in place to help maintain the health of your lawn for the long-term. Additionally, they’ll advise you on proper lawn maintenance techniques to avoid fungal diseases in the future.

How to Identify Brown Patch Fungus

Brown patch is a fungal disease that can turn a beautiful lush lawn into a patchy and brown one in a short amount of time. This disease typically appears in mid to late summer and affects some types of grasses more than others.

Brown patch fungus appears as circular or irregular brown patches of grass across your lawn. The grass will look dead, and the patches range in size from … Read Full Post »

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