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Holiday Safety Tips [INFOGRAPHIC]

. Posted by in • Austin
Holiday safety tips

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that over 15,000 people are injured each year while decorating for the holidays. Whether it’s because of a fall from a ladder, a fire linked to your Christmas tree, or a mishap experienced while putting up your Christmas lights, an injury is the last thing you want to spend time having to deal with during this busy time of year.

Holiday Safety Tips

ABC Home & Commercial Services wants to help you get ready for the holidays. Make sure that you stay safe this holiday season by following our list of dos and don’ts for using ladders, decorating with Christmas lights, and keeping your pets and children safe.

From all of us at ABC, we wish you a joyous – and safe – holiday season.

 

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DID YOU KNOW? It’s Rodent Awareness Week!

. Posted by in • Orlando
roof rats

Did you know that it’s Rodent Awareness Week 2016?

Every year, the National Pest Management Association sponsors a Rodent Awareness Week to educate homeowners about some of the most cringe-worthy pests — rats and mice. Rodent Awareness Week is the perfect time of year to learn what will keep mice away and what will repel rats so you can get them out of your home.

In Orlando, it isn’t uncommon to find rodents or their droppings around decks, storage sheds, attics, or the roof. Our customers often ask us how to get rid of rats independently. This can be tricky without the help of an exterminator. But homeowners should know a few things before calling in a professional.

Why & When Do Rodents Move In?

Rodents will enter a person’s property for one or both reasons: food & shelter during winter. While mice and rats find their way onto your property and into your home for … Read Full Post »

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How To Showcase Your Home This Holiday Season

. Posted by in • San Antonio

Selecting Holiday Lights That Are Right For Your Home

We love all the beautifully decorated homes in this city—especially during the holiday season. Don’t you? Whether they’re varied in color or snowy white, these arrangements put a smile on our faces.

There are many trends and options currently available to showcase your home before your holiday gatherings begin and your out of town guests arrive. Are you considering laser lights, or curious about what’s involved in setting your lights to music? We’ve compiled a list of outdoor Christmas decorating ideas to help you decide what options are the best for your home.

LED Lights

There are many benefits to LED lighting, so it’s no surprise more people are reaching for them instead of traditional string lighting.

For starters, they’re more energy efficient, using up to 90% less energy than traditional lighting options; one traditional bulb uses the same amount of energy as 140 LEDs. They also … Read Full Post »

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How to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Yard

. Posted by in , • Austin
how to keep mosquitoes out of your yard

Mosquitoes thrive in warm weather.  When it cools down in Austin, we all get excited at the prospect of going outside without getting bitten. Unfortunately, the temperature hasn’t dropped enough to completely get rid of mosquitoes, but we still want to enjoy the cooler weather.  What’s a homeowner to do to keep mosquitoes out of his or her yard?

How to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Yard

Your most important first step to is to recognize mosquito breeding grounds in your yard and get rid of them as quickly as possible.  Mosquitoes breed in standing water.  Make your yard as inhospitable as possible by getting rid of standing water.  Remember that even tiny amounts of water – like a thimbleful – can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes.  Scan your yard on a daily basis for standing water sources and dump any that you find. If you see mosquito larvae in the process, … Read Full Post »

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Day of the Dead History & San Antonio Observances

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Day of the Dead history

In tandem with Halloween, another holiday takes the spotlight at the end of October and beginning of November: Día De Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. This is an important holiday for many people of Mexican ancestry and therefore is quite popular in San Antonio.

In this article, we will explore the history and traditions of the Day of the Dead, and list some of the major festivities that will take place this year in San Antonio.

What is the Day of the Dead?

People in Mexico celebrate Día De Los Muertos on November 1 and 2 as a way to honor loved ones who have passed away. You can also find Día De Los Muertos celebrations in Guatemala, Brazil, Spain and within US Mexican-American communities.

Day of the Dead is actually two different celebrations. November 1st is known as either Día de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents) or Día de los … Read Full Post »

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Do Rats Eat Acorns? How To Get Rid Of Rats In Your House

. Posted by in • Austin
do rats eat acorns

There are many reasons that Americans are increasingly moving to the southern states. Our warm sunny days, green spaces, majestic trees and outdoor patio restaurants offer many ways for residents to enjoy spending time exploring these cities.

Guess what? All of the things that make these urban areas so appealing to people also make it an ideal habitat for local rat populations. In this post, we’ll answer the common question: Do rats eat acorns?, as well as discuss what rats we are most likely to see and how to keep these creatures away from your home.

The Ideal Rat Habitat

Rats love greenbelt areas with access to water, lush vegetation, seeds and other food sources. They eat nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit, worms, lizards and various bugs, including spiders and roaches. When desperate, they’ll eat green plants, paper or even candle wax. Rats frequent areas with lots of pecan trees and they also find … Read Full Post »

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How To Throw The Perfect Backyard Party

. Posted by in • Houston
backyard party ideas

Now that the weather is cooling down, it’s the perfect time of year to host a party in your backyard. You and your guests can relax outside without the sweltering heat or hovering mosquitoes.

Backyard Party Ideas

Though the idea of hosting a party sounds fun, many of us find it overwhelming. All the cooking, decorating, setup and cleanup can seem like a huge chore. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a little planning, you can host and enjoy the perfect backyard party. Follow these tips to reduce the extra work and amp up the fun.

Think through your party plan

Before sending your invitations out and setting a date, sit down and think about your party plan.

  • Consider choosing a theme for the party and start collecting ideas. Start a Pinterest board (public or secret) to collect backyard party ideas. Don’t get intimidated. This is just one way to get started.
  • What … Read Full Post »
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Meet the Mosquito Everyone’s Talking About in Orlando

. Posted by in , • Orlando
Aedes egypti

People are buzzing about mosquitoes here in Orlando, and there’s a good reason why. One species found in central Florida, Aedes aegypti, is the primary vector that transmits the Zika virus to humans. Although the long-term implications of the spread of the virus are unknown, Zika causes severe neurological conditions such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Mosquitoes In Orlando

With our wet climate and wetlands, mosquitoes love Orlando. With the rising threat of mosquito-borne diseases in our area, it’s essential to understand the problem we face in our region and take steps to control mosquitoes around our homes.

Below we’ll look at some of the types of mosquitoes we have in Orlando and what you can do to protect yourself and your family.

Types of Mosquitoes

Out of the approximately 3,500 species of mosquitoes, we’re fortunate to only have 171 here in the US. However, more than in any other state, Florida is home to … Read Full Post »

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HVAC Inspection Checklist: Preparing Your Home For Fall

. Posted by in • San Antonio
HVAC inspection checklist

By the time the scorching San Antonio summer gives way to a slightly-less-scorching autumn, you’re probably ready for a break from the heat. But is your home prepared?

If you’re like most Texans, your air conditioning unit worked hard in the summer months. As you look forward to the coming cold weather, your entire HVAC system may need servicing to ensure that it continues to work perfectly. Here’s a quick HVAC inspection checklist of things to do to help you get started.

Clean Up Your Unit

Just as your home needs a deep cleaning a few times per year, you need to occasionally clean your HVAC system to keep it running optimally.

Outdoors

Clear leaves and debris away from your outdoor HVAC unit. This prevents any blockages from happening, as well as any reductions in the unit’s ability to provide heat.

Not all of the debris is located inside of the unit, however. Trim any other … Read Full Post »

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Where do rats come from?

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
where do rats come from

Like many homeowners, you’ve unfortunately found yourself with a rodent infestation. Rats have invaded your home. Before you even begin to attack the problem, you might be wondering: how did these rats even get into my house? Clearly, you didn’t let them in the front door, and you keep your windows closed all the time. So how did they get in?

Where do rats come from?

First, you have to consider what attracts rats, or any rodent for that matter: sources of food and shelter. Your home is a shelter, so there isn’t much you can do to change that. However, you can take steps to keep the food in and around your home from attracting rats.

What attracts rats?

Rats have a keen sense of smell, so the best way to keep them from detecting food in your home is to seal it up as much as possible. Consider these tactics:

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