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How Our Least Favorite Critters Made It Through Winter

. Posted by in • Austin

Insects are an inevitable part of warm weather. Every year, the very same bugs appear, buzzing and bumbling where you don’t want them. Even a long Texas winter can’t deter these persistent pests. Have you ever wondered how they manage to make it through the same weather that had you shivering in your boots?

Migration

Perhaps the most obvious way to avoid freezing is to skip winter entirely. Like birds, some insect species simply take a vacation and come back when the warm weather returns.

Freeze Tolerance

Some insects have a unique protein in their bodies that acts almost like antifreeze. These “cryptoprotectant” compounds serve to lower the freezing temperature of the insects’ bodies and are triggered by the environmental changes that signal an oncoming winter, such as shorter days and cooler temperatures.

Lying “Dormant”

Insects can weather the winter in a variety of forms. Some snuggle up in cocoons, spending the season as pupae. Others … Read Full Post »

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Why Do Raccoons Have Masks?

. Posted by in • Austin
why do raccoons have masks

You might confuse a raccoon for a small pet if you come across one in your yard. While these outdoor pests may not look fierce, they can cause quite a bit of damage to your yard and can create a big mess if they get into your trash containers. One reason we tend to associate raccoons with mischief is the mask that covers most of their face.

Why Do Raccoons Have Masks?

You might think that between the destruction, theft and spreading of disease blamed on this furry animal, raccoons might wear masks to prevent being identified in a police lineup. After all, their damage could be deemed criminal activity under the eyes of the law. One theory, though, is that the black fur under the raccoon’s eyes reduces glare and enhances the nocturnal raccoon’s vision when it’s dark outside.  Another theory is that the different patterns of each animal’s mask help raccoons recognize … Read Full Post »

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Upgrade Your AC System to Beat the Heat

. Posted by in • Austin

How to stay cool and save cash

An average July temperature of 95 degrees means that Austin homeowners need efficient, effective solutions to beat the heat. A well-designed, professionally installed HVAC system can go a long way toward keeping any house comfortably cool even on scorching days. Unfortunately, many homeowners worry that keeping their properties cool during the spring and summer months means shouldering unbelievably high electricity bills. Instead of stressing about staying on budget, consider how upgrading your air conditioning system now can help you beat the heat and save money.

Keeping Up With Heating and Cooling Needs

Taking time to honestly evaluate your heating and cooling needs is the first step towards choosing energy-efficient upgrades that will help you stay comfortable while cutting down on costs. Think about how you use your current HVAC system. Is your system able to meet your cooling demands? In what ways does your system fall … Read Full Post »

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How Many Years Do Your Household Appliances Have Left?

. Posted by in • Austin

We’ll help you make an educated guess

Major appliances aren’t cheap, and some units take considerable effort to install. It makes sense to keep them running as long as possible. You can accomplish this by reading the manual and taking various steps to boost the longevity of your equipment. Nonetheless, it’s a good idea to estimate how many years each appliance will survive because it may help you save the right amount of money for replacements.

Refrigerators

Medium and large refrigerators typically last between 10 and 18 years. Small models conserve space and electricity, but they remain less reliable. These units often fail after about eight years. Refrigerators will last longer if you keep your kitchen below 70 degrees and clean any exposed condenser coils. When you unplug it, prop the doors open to prevent mold.

Ovens, Ranges

Most cooking appliances have very few moving parts, so they usually perform well for 11 to 21 … Read Full Post »

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Making the Big Switch From Traditional to Tankless

. Posted by in • Austin

Stretching your energy dollars further

By now, you’ve probably heard something about the benefits of tankless water heaters. Compared to traditional water heaters, these pieces of equipment have plenty of positive implications for your home’s energy bills as well as the general state of your utility areas. While installing a tankless water heater isn’t rocket science, it does help to keep a few commonsense tips in mind as you embark on this money-saving project.

How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?

Also known as “continuous flow” heaters, tankless water heaters live up to their name. Instead of taking in heating and storing water from an incoming main line, tankless water heaters deliver powerful blasts of heat that warm up the water that flows into a structure from outside without halting its movement. Since stored water has much more time to lose heat than rapidly flowing water, this dramatically reduces the amount of energy that … Read Full Post »

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Three Drought-Resistant Plants That Add Color to Any Space

. Posted by in • Austin

Austin landscaping schemes and drought-resistant plants harmonize like milk and cookies. If we don’t consider our climate and choose Texas-friendly plants, our green spaces soon resemble barren wastelands flourishing with tumbleweeds. It’s not pretty. These three plants, however, require very little water and add an abundance of glorious color to any space.

Portulaca Grandiflora

Also called the moss rose, portulacas grow six to 10 inches tall, but this plant sprawls outward more than upward. If you want a flowering plant that loves high heat, can withstand Austin’s sun and has very little water requirements, this is your plant. Additionally, it doesn’t need fertilization or have special soil requirements.

Moss roses produce intensely vivid blooms through spring, summer and fall. The blooms continue to show and add color to your space after the stems and leaves appear to have withered from heat.

Asclepias Tuberosa

You might better recognize this plant by the name pleurisy root or … Read Full Post »

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Five Composting Nutrients You Need to Know About

. Posted by in • Austin

What links aquariums, manure and coffee? Lawn care in Austin, of course.

Anyone in Austin with a penchant for lawn care knows the benefits of composting. You likely know that it gives purpose to otherwise useless yard waste, and it’s one of the best means of nourishing plants into a large, healthy state. Many would-be composters mistakenly assume that they’ll have to go out of their way to create their own healthy compost, but a lot of the nutrients most essential to effective composting come from everyday materials.

1. Aquarium Gunk

Do you have an aquarium? If so, you have a ready source of moisture and nitrogen for your compost. When you clean the tank, toss the water, algae, waste and live plants from the aquarium directly into your compost heap.

2. Coffee Grounds

Used coffee grounds give your compost excellent doses of copper, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and each of these nutrients bolster … Read Full Post »

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What’s Going On Under Your Sink?

. Posted by in • Austin

Settling the score in the kitchen and bathroom

When you think about plumbing problems, your first thought probably involves your home’s toilet. For multiple reasons, toilets tend to cause a host of visible problems with relative frequency. Meanwhile, temperature swings can cause poorly insulated pipes to burst in your basement or under your yard. However, there’s another class of plumbing problems that doesn’t get the attention it deserves: leaks, breaks and clogs in kitchen and bathroom sinks.

Clogged Sink Drains

This is a common problem in the bathroom and kitchen. Although a slow drain may be little more than an inconvenience for intrepid homeowners, clogs can eventually cause damaging backups. Worse, they may even result in burst or leaky pipes underneath your sink. To prevent these negative effects, attack the problem as soon as it becomes apparent. If you don’t want to use harsh drain-opening chemicals, opt for a handier approach. Simply remove … Read Full Post »

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Don’t Let Dishwasher Problems Get the Best of You

. Posted by in • Austin

Dishwashers take the hard work out of cleaning up after dinner and keeping your kitchen tidy. These convenient appliances are so common that most homeowners take them for granted, but you could be in for a big surprise if your dishwasher stops working and you’re stuck washing everything by hand. While you can’t stop all appliance breakdowns from happening, knowing the signs that your dishwasher is wearing out will help you make the right repair and replacement decisions.

Is Your Dishwasher Wearing Out?

Like most Austin homeowners, you rely on your dishwasher to help you tackle kitchen cleanup tasks. Keeping up on maintenance and monitoring your dishwasher for any signs of trouble will help to ensure that you’re not stuck scrubbing pots by hand. Remember that most dishwashers are designed to last for about 10 years, so you’ll need to take your washer’s age into account as you evaluate its condition.

It’s important … Read Full Post »

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What’s the Big Deal With Efficiency Ratings?

. Posted by in • Austin

Austin may enjoy some pleasant spring and fall temperatures, but most area homeowners rely on heating and cooling systems to keep them comfortable during extremely hot summers and chilly winters. A great HVAC system can certainly boost home comfort, but many homeowners have to balance their comfort needs against their utility budgets. Thankfully, meeting comfort needs and staying within budget is possible when you pay close attention to HVAC efficiency ratings.

Heating & Air Conditioning Efficiency Ratings

Efficiency ratings are designed to provide consumers with accurate information about the costs of using various home appliances. Efficiency ratings are also used by the municipal, state and federal governments to determine if homeowners can qualify for special incentives or tax credits when buying new HVAC equipment. Before shopping, take time to familiarize yourself with these common HVAC ratings:

• EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings are used to describe the efficiency of air conditioners. Units with … Read Full Post »

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