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Chinch Bugs: What Homeowners Need to Know About This Common Lawn Pest

. Posted by in , • San Antonio
chinch bugs

Your lawn is full of all kinds of small insects, some which are beneficial, and some which are not. Chinch bugs are a common lawn pest that can do a lot of damage to your grass. Let’s learn more about chinch bugs, how to know you have them and how to get rid of them if they are in your yard.

Chinch Bugs: What Homeowners Need to Know

Southern chinch bugs are small and slender with white wings with distinctive black triangular marks. Nymphs will go through five phases. The color will change from red with a faint white band across the midsection to black with a white band. They are the top pests associated with St. Augustine grass, although they can also feed on other grass species, such as Zoysia and Bermuda grass.

Chinch bugs are inactive during the winter months, as they prefer warmer, … Read Full Post »

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How To Calibrate A Thermostat Properly: Expert Tips

. Posted by in • San Antonio
calibrate thermostat

You can set the thermostat in your home or office at the perfect temperature—whatever that means to you personally—but how do you guarantee that the thermostat is reading the room’s temperature correctly?

If the thermostat isn’t calibrated correctly, you could find yourself looking for a better night’s rest because you’re uncomfortable with the indoor temperature. Even more alarming, you could be leaving your air conditioner running constantly and driving your cooling costs way up trying to find the perfect temperature to set the thermostat.

Your thermostat can lose its calibration if dirt gets inside it or if it gets bumped. The result is that you may set it on 75 degrees, but it will only cool the room to 78 degrees. Constantly readjusting the thermostat can raise your utility bill by up to 10 percent. The same is true for an incorrectly calibrated thermostat that “thinks” it’s running at a lower temperature … Read Full Post »

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San Antonio Power Washing, Window Washing and Gutter Cleaning Services Now Available from ABC

. Posted by in , • San Antonio
Gutter Cleaning San Antonio

https://blog.abchomeandcommercial.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Power-Washing-San-Antonio.mp4

Looking for an easy way to freshen up your home’s exterior? Power washing can remove the pollen, dirt and grime from your driveway and walkways. Window washing can allow more light to enter your home. Cleaning out your gutters can remove unsightly leaves and debris which can harbor pests and lead to other damage.

San Antonio Power Washing, Window Washing and Gutter Cleaning Now Offered by ABC

ABC Home & Commercial Services has been making life easier for Texas homeowners for over 60 years. As a part of the company’s continuing commitment to providing high-quality and reliable home services, owner Bobby Jenkins announced that ABC will now provide power washing, window washing and gutter cleaning services in the greater San Antonio area.

“We are grateful to our loyal customers for allowing us to expand ABC’s service offerings in San Antonio,” Jenkins noted. “Homeowners can count on the background-checked, highly-trained staff to … Read Full Post »

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CPS Energy Rebates For San Antonio Residents

. Posted by in • San Antonio
CPS Energy Rebates

City Public Service (CPS), based in San Antonio, is the largest municipally-owned energy company in the United States. CPS offers a wide variety of options to heat and cool a San Antonio home or business, and their programs reward residents who are environmentally conscious. The company offers clean energy and serves as a regional leader in solar power, LED lighting, clean coal and smart grid design.

City Public Service actively seeks ways to improve their services and the value of those services. One way the company accomplishes this goal is through the SaveNow energy savings programs and rebates.

Many San Antonio residents are looking for more efficient energy sources that balance a concern for the environment with a desire to save money. Buying a new AC unit that has a high energy rating is a good place to start if you are looking for ways to save on heating costs and how to … Read Full Post »

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2017 San Antonio Bucket List, Summer Edition

. Posted by in • San Antonio
2017 San Antonio Bucket List Summer

Looking for the top things to do this summer in San Antonio, Texas? It’s heating up outside, and your summer bucket list 2017 starts here!

2017 San Antonio Bucket List, Summer Edition

San Antonio summer fun activities range from cultural events to awesome amusement parks, dining experiences you can’t have anywhere else in the world and so much more. When it comes to the top things to do this summer in San Antonio, there’s truly something for everyone. Read on to get our ideas on how to have the best summer in San Antonio!

Take Your Kids to the Zoo, the DoSeum and Kiddie Park

The San Antonio Zoo in Brackenridge Park is a wonderland of all kinds of animals living in habitats nestled along trails and amongst lush foliage. You can ride the train or the Zootennial Carousel or visit the spectacular butterfly garden. Near the zoo is the DoSeum, San Antonio’s children’s … Read Full Post »

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How To Keep A Room Cool That Faces The Sun: Summer Tips

. Posted by in • San Antonio
How To Keep A Room Cool That Faces The Sun

Ah, summer. The season of cookouts, BBQ, fireworks, splashing in the pool, days at the beach, long nights and family vacations.

It’s also the time of year when you begin to crank up the air conditioning in your home, battling the scorching sun and blistering summer days. We all know the feeling: walking in the front door in the middle of July, only to find the refreshing feeling of cool air spilling out of your AC unit. While we all love that blast of chilled air, we all also love saving money—and in this case, saving money means saving energy. In addition to using your air conditioner this summer, there’s plenty of other ways to help keep your home cool. As you prepare for the hot days ahead, take a look at our summer tips and learn how to keep a room cool that faces the sun.

Utilize Ceiling And Exhaust Fans

Many … Read Full Post »

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Sugar Ant Bites And More: How To Treat Ant Bites And Stings

. Posted by in • San Antonio
sugar ant bites

For such a tiny creature, ants have quite an impact on humans. These insects have lived on Earth for over 100 million years, outlasting the dinosaurs. As social animals, ants live in groups that can number in the millions. Although ants perform an important function in nature, bites from these pests can be annoying, painful and can even trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction in some individuals.

To help better understand how to treat an ant bite, it’s helpful to know about the different types of ants you might encounter and what attracts them to your home. Once you have treated your ant bite, you’ll also want to learn how to avoid an infestation so you won’t getting bitten in the future.

Sugar Ant Bites: Should I Be Worried?

One of the most common ant species you are likely to run across indoors is the sugar ant, which is actually a group of ant … Read Full Post »

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What Is a Mosquito Hawk?

. Posted by in , • San Antonio
What Is a Mosquito Hawk

Mosquito hawks, also known as crane flies, are often mistaken for huge, threatening mosquitoes—but they are not a type of mosquito at all. In fact, they aren’t even related to mosquitoes, despite the fact that they are rumored—incorrectly—to feed on mosquitoes and their larvae.

What Is A Mosquito Hawk?

What do these huge flying insects eat? Do mosquito hawks bite humans, the way mosquitoes do? And perhaps most importantly, how can you keep these insects out of your home and yard?

What Mosquito Hawks Aren’t

First, let’s clear up a couple of misconceptions about mosquito hawks. Crane flies are not the only insect species referred to by that name. Dragonflies are also sometimes called mosquito hawks since they actually do prey on mosquitoes (along with other small, flying insects) for food. Contrary to popular rumor, however, dragonflies aren’t an effective factor in mosquito control, as they don’t eat nearly enough of those bloodsucking pests … Read Full Post »

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Toilet Auger vs. Snake: Which Tool to Use and Why

. Posted by in • San Antonio

 

Have you ever walked into your bathroom to find a clogged toilet? If you have, we’re sure you’d prefer not to have to experience that again. If you haven’t, we hate to break it to you, but you probably will at some point. You’ll want to be ready to know what to do when you have to deal with a clogged toilet and which tools are best for the job. Two of the more common tools homeowners use for basic plumbing repairs are toilet augers and snakes.

Toilet Auger vs. Snake

When do you need a toilet auger and in what situations is a snake the right tool for the job? Read on to find out.

The Toilet Auger

One of the most common tools for unclogging a toilet is the toilet auger. Also known as a water closet auger or plumbing snake, this device is designed to move through the drain of the toilet … Read Full Post »

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Types of Poison Ivy and How to Identify Them

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Types of poison ivy

Grilling with friends, swinging in a hammock or lying on a blanket, gazing up into the trees: leisure time spent outdoors is what homeowners look forward to after a long day at work or during the weekends. But enjoying your outdoor living space—or just getting outside to do some yard work—can be a dicey prospect if you have pockets of poison ivy hiding on your property. This invasive plant produces a volatile oil (called urushiol oil) that can cause real injury to humans in the form of an itchy, blistering rash that develops after skin-to-plant contact. 

Types of Poison Ivy and How to Identify Them

To avoid the unpleasant experience of dealing with the rash associated with contact with this plant, you’ll want to know how to identify poison ivy, including learning about the different types of poison ivy. If you know what to look out for, you can avoid this plant … Read Full Post »

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