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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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Keeping Creepy Crawlies out of Your Garden

. Posted by in • Austin

As the Austin area begins to see hotter spring temperatures, many homeowners are heading outside to begin work in their gardens. Before you hit the garden this year, take some time to familiarize yourself with the scorpion, a fairly common garden pest. If you aren’t on the lookout for them, startled scorpions may sting and put a serious damper on your gardening day.

Who’s Creeping and Crawling in Your Garden?

Scorpions have a bad reputation due to their nasty sting and frightening pincers. The scorpions found in Texas don’t cause severe allergic reactions in most people, but they can cause a great deal of discomfort. Of course, individuals who are sensitive to other natural toxins may suffer from more severe symptoms if stung by a scorpion. Thankfully, controlling these pests is easy so long as you can identify them and create a management plan for your space.

Identifying pests is the first step … Read Full Post »

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It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a. . . Bug Bomb?

. Posted by in • Austin

Are you ready for bug bombs? No, we’re not talking about the insecticide foggers that kill every bug in an enclosed room. These bug bombs are actually made of bugs, but they aren’t just any bugs—they’re bugs with voracious appetites for specific unwanted weeds. The future of biocontrol weed management may involve aerial attacks that drop “bombs” filled with hordes of flea beetles or other beneficial insects on the vegetation below.

The idea was presented in a slide show by West Virginia University entomologist Yong-Lak Park at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America held in Austin, Texas. It depicted unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, armed with biocontrol payloads that can bombard crops, fields and other open areas with hungry bugs ready to turn weeds on the ground into their own private buffets.

Bug Bomb Pros and Cons

The concept of biocontrol isn’t new. Introducing bugs to kill other bugs … Read Full Post »

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Tips on Finding a Pest Management Professional

. Posted by in • Austin

With so many companies offering pest control services in the Austin area, where do you start your search? Find out what questions you need to ask to narrow your options down fast and find the right fit for your home.

When you’re dealing with a pest infestation, every minute counts. From termites that make permanent marks in the home’s structure to blood-sucking bedbugs, common household pests can instantly lower your quality of life and eventually cause a big dent in your bank account. The sooner you contact a professional pest management company, the sooner you can get back to living life without fear. Below, we share all of the tips you need to know to find the best pest control company for your needs and budget.

• Get leads and information online. For a searchable register of pre-screened pest management companies in Austin and step-by-step pest identification guides, check out this comprehensive … Read Full Post »

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Can Pest Control Treat for Lice, Scabies and Dust Mites?

. Posted by in • Austin

You’ve probably heard of dust mites, lice and scabies. These three pests are smaller than other common household pests—in fact, they can be microscopic—and may not make their presence felt immediately. However, they each have a well-defined role to play in our homes and personal spaces. Learn more about these creatures and what can be done to manage their activities.

What Are Dust Mites, Lice and Scabies?

Lice, dust mites and scabies are ubiquitous. Whereas lice and scabies are generally regarded as “personal pests” for humans and animals, dust mites are largely harmless and may actually perform beneficial tasks for their human hosts.

Dust mites measure less than .5 millimeter in length and can congregate in colonies of many thousands. They can’t clearly be seen without the aid of a microscope. Meanwhile, head lice can grow up to three millimeters in length, and body lice can be even larger. Scabies mites are about … Read Full Post »

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New to Austin? Become Familiar with Our Most Common Pests

. Posted by in • Austin

The Austin area is among the country’s fastest-growing metro regions. Anyone who spends time here understands why: It’s a vibrant, economically diverse city with a unique local culture and plenty of natural amenities. Unfortunately, the area’s pests seem to like it just as much as its human residents. If you’re new to Austin, take some time to learn about the creepy, crawly and occasionally dangerous critters that also call the region home.

Wasps and Other Stinging Insects

Several species of wasp are endemic to the Austin area. The most visually stunning of these is the Cicada killer, a 1.5-inch beast that can kill a tarantula with its venom. The area also harbors several varieties of paper wasps. These smaller creatures aren’t as scary to look at, but their stings can be dangerous for children and those who have a sensitivity to venom. Meanwhile, fire ants like to create colonies near structures and … Read Full Post »

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FAQ: Is My Dog, Cat, Bird, Fish, and Child Safe with a Pest Control Program?

. Posted by in • Austin

Austin-area homeowners have to deal with a wide range of rodent, insect and arachnid pests. To combat these critters, many turn to our powerful pest management programs. Of course, it’s natural to have concerns about our pest control solutions, and we’re more than happy to answer any questions that you might have. We offer answers to some commonly asked questions below.

What Types of Pest Control Do We Offer?

ABC Home & Commercial proudly administers a diverse array of pest control services. Some of our most popular services include:

• Wasp and flying insect control
• Termite and structural pest mitigation
• Bed bug control
• Rodent and wildlife services
• Mosquito control

Each service begins with a licensed inspector’s thorough examination of the affected property. We’ll identify problem areas and determine which pests are at fault. After looking for mitigating factors and sanitation issues, we customize a powerful, proactive pest control plan.

How Do We Minimize the Impact … Read Full Post »

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Three Quick Home Plumbing Upgrades You’ll Love

. Posted by in • Austin

Whether you’re the go-to neighborhood handyman or can’t tell a tire iron from a toilet seat, you probably don’t give your DIY skills enough credit. With a little preparation and a lot of discipline, it’s possible to execute many straightforward plumbing upgrades and fixes without calling on a professional or buying special tools. We outline three simple tasks that take less than half a day and leave your home in even better shape.

Upgrading Faucets with Aerators and Other Water-Saving Devices

If your home suffers from low water pressure or has wasteful, outdated faucets, you don’t have to replace your entire piping system. Instead, tack a simple aerator onto your faucet head to increase the perceived speed at which water shoots out of the tap. You can buy aerators at most home improvement stores, and installing them simply demands some manual twisting or clipping.

If you’re more interested in sprucing up your faucet’s … Read Full Post »

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