Like most families, you’ve probably planned some sort of pool-related fun for the summer. Or maybe you’ve planned an all-out trip to the beach. Either way, we have put together a list of pro-tips for the pool that we’d love to share with our ABC family blog readers. These eight safety measures will ensure that your summer vacation isn’t disturbed by any scraped knees, sunburns, or worse.
As a Central Texas resident, you likely experience only a few short months during which your air conditioner is turned off. We’ve had a pretty mild year so far in 2016, so you could have just turned on your AC within the last few weeks! In any case, heading into our 100-degree days of summer, it’s vital to make sure that your AC is ready to operate at full capacity. We’ve all heard stories of people who have had their AC break down in the heat of summer, or been victims of an AC breakdown ourselves. Take some time before it gets too hot to do some DIY AC maintenance. If you run into any problem areas, you’ll still have wiggle room for an air conditioner tune-up.
Doing any air conditioner maintenance yourself can be intimidating – the thought of tampering with (and possibly breaking) your AC unit is pretty scary. … Read Full Post »
Having a pool at your home can provide endless entertainment for your family, but there’s also the ever-present danger of injury and drowning, especially for young children. The privilege of a beautiful swimming pool comes with the responsibility of protecting those around you from harm. Adopt these pool safety practices below to ensure the well-being of swimmers of any age.
We’re inching closer to Memorial Day weekend, and pool season is upon us – once the rains subside! Many of us have already been to a swimming pool in between the rain showers, or are ready to visit the public pool once the summer heat hits in earnest. We have a wide variety of neighborhood and municipal pools to choose from here in Austin – don’t forget to check the City of Austin’s website for a massive list of pools and splash pads to plan your trip.
Before heading out to take a dip, take a look at our list of what to bring to the pool below. You may not need all of these items, but there are bound to be a few you might want that you didn’t consider bringing.
Standard issue: for a trip to a public pool (or any pool for that matter) … Read Full Post »
Most of Texas, including the City of Austin, experienced historic drought conditions in 2010-2011, leading Austin to impose strict watering restrictions. Even with recent heavy rains, another drought could be right around the corner. Making matters worse, thousands of people are moving to Austin, which causes increased demand for water.
What this means is that water supplies in Central Texas are limited, and costs for water will continue to rise. In light of increased costs and watering restrictions, what’s the best way to keep your front yard looking great through our long, hot Texas summers?
At ABC Home and Commercial Services, we have a solution: xeriscaping.
Xeriscaping replaces high-water, high-maintenance plants with native and adapted plants. It also introduces rock formations and other landscape features that require no supplemental watering.
You can incorporate … Read Full Post »
Summer is approaching and with it comes the time for hot days, relaxing by a poolside, reading a book in your yard and of course summer landscaping. Summer is the time in which you spend most of your day enjoying the nice weather and you will most likely want your yard to look perfect to set the mood. Luckily for you, Austin has some amazing rebates to reduce the cost of your summer landscaping. A rebate is money that is refunded to you by the city for taking cost or energy-saving measures with your home or yard maintenance.
If you use any of the following techniques or a combination of them for your home you could qualify for this rebate and also save money by reducing your need for water. The … Read Full Post »
It’s that time of year again when everything is sprouting. Just step outside your door and tree pollen will be in your face – it’s all over your lawn, your patio, your car, you name it! And just when you wanted to start spending time outside, your plans are halted by the onslaught of pollen and the pesky allergies that accompany it. Your watery eyes and running nose can have you locked up in your house for the next month or two. Try these tips – for both you and your home – to help keep the suffering to a minimum.
Note: Before getting started, it’s important to know what your allergies are. A trip to the allergist will help solve that mystery. Once you know what ails you, you’ll have a number of options regarding how to treat your allergies – allergy shots, medications, and home remedies. Here are a … Read Full Post »
Roaches are excellent at hiding. When it comes to fight or flight, this family of insects has evolved to excel at dodging attempts by humans to somehow squish or squash them. That’s why cockroaches have managed to remain one of humanity’s biggest pest problems for centuries. In fact, the cockroach family has thrived here on Earth for over 300 million years!
During the day, you rarely spot one of these creepy crawly creatures, but at night, you can often find them in your bathroom or running across your kitchen floor. This Houdini-like ability to disappear often elicits the same question: where do roaches hide?
Almost 70 species of cockroaches are found in the United States, and most of those rarely make their way inside our homes. Unfortunately, once you see one roach, chances are that there could be tens or hundreds that you haven’t seen. The most common … Read Full Post »
Positive drainage can help you protect and maintain your home’s foundation. Good builders always construct homes to have “positive” drainage. This term is civil engineering speak for: “Water flows away from the base of the house, and not towards it.”
But over time, negative drainage conditions lead to serious potential damage to the foundation of your home. Negative drainage occurs if for example, a house is missing rain gutters, or if the soil expands and contracts with moisture or temperature changes, or if there has been a general lack of maintenance over time.
Berms are little man-made mounds with slopes that adorn the landscape. Adding a strategically located and constructed berm is one of the things you can do to prevent water from pooling near your foundation. This helps prevent expensive foundation damage, flooded crawl spaces, mold proliferation and other fun adventures in homeownership that … Read Full Post »
Spring is upon us! With such pleasant weather, it’s hard to imagine the sweltering temperatures heading our way in the next several months. Get prepared for the heat ahead of time by scoping out the best public pools Austin has to offer. Austin also has some beautiful hotel pools as well, for those times when you just need an escape, in or out of town.
For the most current opening and closing dates, fees, hours, and locations check the City of Austin’s website.
Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest Municipal Pool is located in the park of the same name, near the intersection of Burnet Road and Greenlawn Parkway. It is a large pool with lanes for lap swimming, a more shallow open swimming area, and a wading pool for the little ones. There are shaded picnic tables in the pool area, as well as a playground, picnic tables … Read Full Post »