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Do Mice Hibernate? Keeping Rodents Out Of Your Home

. Posted by in , • Corpus Christi
a mouse outside

As a homeowner, there are many things to consider before winter arrives. You want to make your space as comfortable as possible for the upcoming cold weather. The trouble is, without taking the proper steps, mice and other pests may end up seeing your home as a sanctuary of their own.

If you’re like many homeowners in Texas, you may have wondered: Do mice hibernate, or do they stay active throughout winter? The short answer is no. Mice don’t hibernate, which means they don’t have the capacity to withstand the cold the same way other mammals do. This matters to homeowners because it means these pests may be searching for a place to stay warm, which could be your home. 

The cold triggers their survival instincts, often leading them to find a path indoors. You may notice increased mouse activity when the weather gets cooler. This doesn’t mean you necessarily have more … Read Full Post »

Your Guide to Christmas Lights in Corpus Christi

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
Christmas lights

Throughout the holiday season, locals and tourists flock to Corpus Christi to take in the many stunning Christmas light displays. Our coastal town is known for going all out for the holidays, and it’s never too early to make your Christmas bucket list.

Want to get your home in the holiday spirit, too? Save time by reaching out to ABC for professional lighting services.

Your Guide to Christmas Lights in Corpus Christi

Bright lights and holiday magic fill the streets of Corpus Christi come Christmastime. Our city becomes filled with spectacular light displays and events that the whole family can enjoy. 

Lights go up in November and stick around through early January. It’s the perfect time for neighborhood strolls with your loved ones and a hot chocolate in hand. Some of the best options include:

  • Peppermint Lane
  • Christmas Tree Forest
  • Candy Cane Lane
  • H-E-B Christmas Tree … Read Full Post »
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Heater Is Not Turning On: Troubleshooting Tips

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
a thumbnail from the video in this blog post

Homeowners rely on their heaters to keep their homes comfortable during the cold. Unfortunately, heaters can stop working out of nowhere, leaving you wondering what went wrong. The good news is that there are several ways to troubleshoot heating issues. However, it’s important to understand that all major heating system repairs should be left up to professionals. Your heater serves a vital purpose in your home and deserves the best care to ensure its longevity. If you can’t figure out why your heater isn’t turning on, contact a local HVAC repair service to inspect your system.   

Heater Is Not Turning On: Troubleshooting Tips

There are several potential reasons why your heater is not turning on. Most of them are simple fixes that homeowners can troubleshoot on their own. However, if fixing the following issues doesn’t resolve the issue, you should contact an HVAC expert to inspect your system. These steps include:

  • Read Full Post »
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My Furnace Won’t Ignite: What Should I Do?

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
Furnace Won't Ignite

As a homeowner, you rely on your furnace to keep your home warm throughout the winter. Unfortunately, there are times when furnaces can fail and provide unreliable heating.

If you’re dealing with any furnace issues, contact a heating repair specialist to inspect your furnace. They can get to the root of the problem.

My Furnace Won’t Ignite: What Should I Do?

There are several reasons why a furnace won’t ignite. The good news is that that means that there are also several potential solutions. Some of the possible reasons include:

  • Clogged air filters
  • Faulty wiring
  • Gas supply issues
  • Malfunctioning thermostat
  • Old pilot light
  • Failing Igniter
  • Wear and tear

Let’s examine these in more detail.

Clogged Air Filters

One of the most common reasons your furnace won’t light is that your air filters are clogged. Filters that are clogged with debris and dust … Read Full Post »

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What Causes An Air Conditioner To Freeze Up?

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
What causes an air conditioner to freeze up

When the temperatures rise, the last thing homeowners expect to deal with is a frozen air conditioner system. Unfortunately, air conditioner freeze-ups can happen any time of the year. They often point to a larger problem with your air conditioning system.

It’s important for homeowners to understand that running a frozen air conditioning unit can cause more damage and lead to costly repairs. If your unit is frozen, turn it off and contact an HVAC technician. An expert will get to the bottom of the freeze-up and ensure that your air conditioner works properly all year long. 

What Causes an Air Conditioner To Freeze Up?

The main reason that an air conditioner freezes up is due to insufficient airflow to the unit. However, an air conditioner can also freeze up because of low refrigerant levels. 

If your air conditioning unit doesn’t get proper airflow, specifically from warm air across the evaporator coil, the entire … Read Full Post »

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How Long Can Mosquitoes Live Without Food?

. Posted by in , • Corpus Christi
a mosquito on a person's hand

Mosquitoes are annoying pests that can make it hard to enjoy the outdoors. Some people think they can try to starve mosquitoes before spending time outside. This might sound like a good idea, but it doesn’t work when it comes to controlling mosquitoes.

How Long Can Mosquitoes Live Without Food?

Many homeowners wonder if they can get rid of mosquitoes by starving them out, especially in Texas during mosquito season. However, trying to starve out mosquitoes is not an effective pest control plan.

For one, there isn’t a clear-cut answer for how long mosquitoes can survive without food. Since male and female mosquitoes mainly survive on sugary foods like nectar from plants, fruit juices and other natural sugars, it would be nearly impossible to make sure the mosquitoes on your property aren’t getting food.

Many people don’t realize that only female mosquitoes bite people or animals. Female mosquitoes bite people because they need blood to … Read Full Post »

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What Is a MERV Rating?

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
a thumbnail from the video featured in this blog

Have you heard of the MERV rating? It’s a system that measures the effectiveness of air filters at removing particles like dust and allergens. It’s helpful for homeowners to understand this rating system so they can choose the right air filter for their home. For more advice on selecting and replacing your air filters, contact an HVAC specialist.

What Is a MERV Rating?

The term MERV rating stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value Rating, and it’s a system for measuring the effectiveness of an air filter in removing particles from the air. MERV ratings range from 1 to 20, indicating filter efficiency levels.

While a higher MERV rating sounds good, it’s not always what you want. The higher your air filter’s rating, the more particles it will catch, including dust, pollen and bacteria. Higher MERV ratings effectively trap smaller particles such as bacteria and allergens. However, a higher rating also means that less … Read Full Post »

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Mosquito Bite On Foot: Why Do Mosquitoes Bite Ankles?

. Posted by in , • Corpus Christi
why mosquitoes bite feet

Have you noticed that you get more mosquito bites on your feet and ankles than anywhere else on your body? This may not be not a coincidence.  According to Alan Brown, Board Certified Entomologist and Technical Director at ABC Home & Commercial Services, there may be many reasons why mosquitoes bite feet and ankles more than other areas, including:

  • The skin around your feet and ankles are exposed 
  • There’s less wind and airflow around your feet 
  • Certain bacterias found on feet can attract mosquitoes  

First, mosquitoes bite exposed skin, and when the weather warms up and mosquitoes come out, ankles and feet are often exposed. Your feet may also be exposed, depending on what kind of shoes you wear while outside. Unlike skin covered by clothing, exposed skin is easy for mosquitoes to access.

Next, mosquitoes are not great fliers, and staying low to the ground … Read Full Post »

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Signs of Fleas in Your Bed and What to Do Next

. Posted by in , • Corpus Christi
a white bed

Are you worried about fleas around your bed? These pests feed on animal and human hosts. If there’s a flea infestation in your bedroom, you and your pets may wake up with itchy bites.

The first step to controlling fleas around your bed is to look out for the common signs of a flea infestation. Fleas are difficult to spot, but they leave behind several tell-tale signs of their presence.

There are also steps you can take to make your home less hospitable to fleas and keep fleas off you while you sleep. However, the only way to completely control flea bites is to work with a pest control professional.

Signs of Fleas in Your Bed and What to Do Next

Fleas are very small pests that are difficult to spot. A better way to identify a flea infestation is to look for the signs of fleas. Fortunately, fleas leave plenty of signs behind, … Read Full Post »

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How Small Are Termites?

. Posted by in , • Corpus Christi
termites

Have you ever seen a termite? These pests are hard to spot, especially since they spend most of their lives staying out of sight from humans. However, it’s still important for homeowners to learn about the appearance of termites, such as how small they are and what termites look like.

If you suspect a termite infestation in your home, contact a pest control company.

How Small Are Termites?

How small are termites? There are several species of termites, like subterranean and drywood termites, but they are all small pests. In fact, termites only range in size from one-eighth to three-eighths of an inch long. The tiniest termites are around the size of a grain of rice while larger termites are near the size of a paper clip.

While understanding the size of termites is helpful, it’s important for homeowners to know other aspects of termites’ appearance. The more you know, the easier it will … Read Full Post »

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