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

April 21, 2017. Posted by Les Stobart in Air Conditioning & Heating • San Antonio

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 »

Birds That Eat Ticks: Do Turkeys Eat Ticks?

Ever been bitten by a tick? If so, you know how annoying they can be, at best. At worst, ticks can transmit serious diseases to humans. Ticks are small, parasitic pests that feed on the blood of a “host”—namely, another animal. Ticks aren’t too discriminating when it comes to their food; they’re all too happy to feast on humans, dogs and cats along with other, wilder animals. Fortunately, there are many different animals that are a tick’s natural predator, including some birds that eat ticks that might make a great addition to your home to assist with natural tick control.

Do turkeys eat ticks? That’s a question many homeowners ask. There are several types of poultry and wild birds that eat ticks, for example, along with ants, centipedes and certain other predatory insects. Keep reading to learn more about these parasitic creatures and how you can keep them away from … Read Full Post »

Types of Rodents and Wildlife in Houston

April 19, 2017. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Rodent & Wildlife • Houston

Whether their presence pops into your mind when thinking about the Lone Star state or not, Texas is home to abundant rodents and wildlife. Houston is no different. Our city is one of the state’s most populated and diverse wild animal ecosystems. The greater Houston area offers a combination of lush outdoors, bayous, and urban dwellings, which serve as the habitat for many rodents and wildlife.

Types of Rodents and Wildlife in Houston

One thing is seeing rodents or other types of wildlife when you are out and about. Spotting one of these animals in your yard will likely produce an entirely different reaction. Learn more about the types of rodents and wildlife that might make it into your outdoor spaces and the steps you can take to ensure they get out—and stay out.

Roof Rats

Rats are much larger than mice, so you’ll know the difference when you see one. Roof rats (sometimes … Read Full Post »

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide On Your Body?

April 18, 2017. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Bed Bug Control • Orlando

Bed bugs. Chances are good that you’ve heard of them or even had a friend who ran in with these pests that love to bite humans, feeding on their blood and leaving an itchy, painful rash behind. For most of us, the idea of bed bugs sends a shiver of fear up the spine, yet many people don’t know much about this insect, its habitat, or its habits.

Can you find bed bug eggs in hair, and can these pests live on clothing or our body? Do they fly or cause diseases? And how difficult are they to get rid of once they’ve invaded your living space? The more you know about bed bugs, the better you can protect yourself and your home from a bed bug infestation.

A common question homeowners ask is, “Where do bed bugs hide on your body?” Let’s address this query first. Bed bugs hide primarily during … Read Full Post »

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

April 17, 2017. Posted by Les Stobart in Pest Control • San Antonio

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 »

Summer Lawn Care Tips

April 14, 2017. Posted by J Zambo in Lawn Care • Austin

Let’s see if this sounds familiar: You buy a new barbecue to enjoy grilling out while the weather is nice and warm. You plan your menu. Get all the fixings. But when you head out back to get started, you barely recognize your yard. There are just as many patches of weeds as there are brown spots and you can’t walk more than a few feet without stepping on an anthill.

What happened? There are many reasons our lawns can look a little worse for the wear during the summer months. Luckily, we have a few suggestions on how to keep your outdoor spaces looking great, even during the hottest months of the year.

Summer Lawn Care Tips

Summers in southern states can be brutal for lawns. Temperatures frequently reach triple digits. Rain may come infrequently – if at all– and insects and weeds are out in full force. If you’re not paying attention, your … Read Full Post »

How To Make An Air Conditioner Colder

April 13, 2017. Posted by Les Stobart in Air Conditioning & Heating • Corpus Christi

If your air conditioner is older or overdue for regular servicing, cleaning and other maintenance, it won’t run at peak efficiency—which means it won’t be able to blow air that is as cold as you want it to be during the warmer times of year.

How To Make An Air Conditioner Colder

If you’ve been wondering how to make an air conditioner colder, look no further. Whether you’re dealing with central air conditioning system or a window unit, we have several tips homeowners can use to make your air conditioner work more effectively. Some are basic maintenance tips and some are tricks of the trade that could make all the difference in cooling your home efficiently.

How Air Conditioning Units Work

Whether your home is cooled by a central air system or window units, your air conditioner works by pulling outside air into your home and cooling it while transferring warmer indoor air … Read Full Post »

Scorpions in Texas and What To Do If You Encounter One

April 12, 2017. Posted by Les Stobart in Pest Control • Austin

Scorpions truly look like something out of a movie, but they’re actually a member of the arachnid species. You’ll immediately recognize them – they have the claws of a lobster and the tail of a pug that curls up over their backs. Their bodies are covered in a hard shell and the end of their curved tails are tipped with a stinger. And sting they do, but only when surprised.

Scorpions in Texas

About 1,500 known species of this predatory arachnid live across the world. More than 90 types live in this country alone. Texas is home to over a dozen different types of scorpions, with the most common being the striped bark scorpion or Centruroides vittatus. It’s a medium-sized, pale-colored scorpion, about two to three inches long. What sets it apart from the other scorpions are the two dark stripes across its back with a dark triangle on its head.

There’s no escaping … Read Full Post »

Termites in Trees: Is My Home At Risk?

April 11, 2017. Posted by Les Stobart in Termite Control • Bryan-College Station

Most homeowners have heard of termite infestations in the wooden structures of a home, such as floors, attics, support beams and the wood frames behind drywall. But did you realize termites in trees can also be a real problem, especially if termites make their way from trees on your property onto your home and other wooden structures?

Termites in Trees

Read on to find out about signs of termites in trees, including termite holes in trees’ trunks and branches, and learn what to do if trees on your property are home to a termite infestation.

Types of Termites

There are two main types of termites that can cause problems to people’s homes and other parts of their property: subterranean and drywood.

True to their name, drywood termites don’t require much moisture to survive, and thus can thrive within the drier woods found in hardwood floors, attic spaces or higher-up areas of a home. While … Read Full Post »

2017 Orlando Bucket List, Summer Edition

April 10, 2017. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Community • Orlando

Temperatures are inching higher here in central Florida, and you know what that means—it’s time for all summer fun activities! Wondering about the top things to do this summer in Orlando, Florida? The Sunshine State is famous for its theme parks and extensive outdoor fun opportunities, but Disney, swimming holes, and great hiking spots are just the beginning of all that central Florida has to offer.

Orlando Bucket List, Summer Edition

Our Orlando Summer Bucket List is below, and don’t worry: This list of summer fun activities truly has something for everyone. Read on to learn about the top things to do this summer in Orlando.

Water and Theme/Adventure Parks

Wekiwa Springs State Park is just a 20-minute drive north of Orlando, and it’s well worth the trip. You’ll get a glimpse of gorgeous, unspoiled vistas that hint at how central Florida appeared to the Timucuan Indians who lived here long ago. There’s truly … Read Full Post »