Do Mouse Traps Actually Work?

February 29, 2016. Posted by ABC Home & Commercial in Rodent & Wildlife • Corpus Christi

rodents can enter your home through your AC unit.

One day recently, one of our customers was watching birds and squirrels feeding at her bird feeder when she noticed something shocking. There was a huge rat making its way towards the feeder.

Because the rodent was outdoors, she didn’t want to take the plunge and call out rodent & wildlife control immediately. She decided to opt for mouse trap instead. But weeks went by, and the trap was always empty. She thought the rat was frightened away and didn’t think any more about it. Until she saw the rat again!

Rodents will gravitate towards food sources and shelter.

The sight of a rat or mouse can be rather unnerving on many levels. The truth of it is, in Texas, mice often find their way into our homes (or backyards) in search of dry nesting spots and easy food sources. Because we know some homeowners in the Corpus Christi area may wish to … Read Full Post »

The Very Best Mosquito Repellents

Warm weather is just around the corner, and that means mosquito season is not far behind. These pests can be a real nuisance! Worse yet, in some cases, mosquito bites can even make you sick. Below, we’ll look at some of the diseases carried by mosquitoes and then we’ll offer our picks for the very best mosquito repellents.

Why should you be concerned about mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes aren’t just a nuisance. They can carry diseases that can affect you and your family. In the Corpus Christi area, the biggest concern for mosquitoes is the West Nile virus, with July 2015 marking the first confirmed cases in the area. Lately, the media has also been reporting on the Zika virus, which has spread to Brazil and may be causing microcephaly, a birth defect that affects the development of an infant’s brain. The good news is that while there have been a dozen cases of … Read Full Post »

Our 5 Favorite Landscape Supply Stores in Austin

February 25, 2016. Posted by ABC Home & Commercial in Landscaping, Lawn • Austin

ABC has a full service landscape design and lawn services team

Are you thinking of starting a vegetable garden, but don’t know where to begin?

It can be an overwhelming process for someone new to gardening. The first things to know are what materials you need and where to go to get them. These 5 gardening supply stores in Austin will provide you with everything you need to start your vegetable garden.

The Natural Gardener (southwest)

Built on the site of an old farmstead, the Natural Gardener is not just any gardening and landscaping store – it’s a destination. Owner John Dromgoole has been a major force in Austin for bringing environmentally sustainable gardening practices to Austin, even going so far as starting his own product line. In addition to being able to purchase all the materials you need for your vegetable garden, take advantage of the numerous amenities and services available. Peruse the teaching gardens, attend a free class, say hello to the … Read Full Post »

Common Winter Invaders

February 24, 2016. Posted by ABC Home & Commercial • Bryan-College Station

Unwanted Winter Tenants

When it starts to cool down in Bryan and College Station, a lot of pests decide to take the winter off. Of course, this year it was warm enough to get mosquito bites while hanging your holiday lights, but for the most part, a couple of good cold snaps in the Brazos Valley will take care of most household pests for a few months.

Unfortunately, the main exceptions (here and in most of Texas) are some of the most unhealthy and destructive pests around — I’m talking about mice and rats. Rodents don’t hibernate; they just look for shelter somewhere warm, which could be your house.

We see three common types of rats and mice in the Bryan and College Station area:

Common House Mouse

House mice are the most common rodent in most parts of the world; they prefer to live in dark and secluded parts of structures such as building … Read Full Post »

Bed Bugs: They Spread Like Wildfire

February 23, 2016. Posted by ABC Home & Commercial in Bed Bug Control • San Antonio

We all know that bed bugs are a nightmare of a hassle. But there are few things the average person doesn’t know about bed bugs.

For example, did you know that you can have bed bugs and not even know it? Sometimes these bugs don’t bite, and even when they do, not all people react to bed bug bites in ways that are visible to the naked eye.

And while bed bugs are found in people’s beds (and other parts of the home), they are not always hiding in or under the mattress.

ABC has been in the integrated pest management business for years. When it comes to truly problematic pests, like bed bugs, we have quite a few stories to tell.

The Case of the Invisible Bed Bug Bites

A couple in a duplex asked for ABC’s help with bed bugs when they realized they had an issue last year. Of course, because the … Read Full Post »

Rodent Tales of Terror: Austin Edition

February 23, 2016. Posted by ABC Home & Commercial in Rodent & Wildlife • Austin

One advantage of being in the home services industry for so many years is that there isn’t a problem too large for our wildlife specialists to handle.

The quaint charm of central Austin and surrounding towns’ historic neighborhoods is magnetic. But older homes have weak, pier-and-beam foundations that have deteriorated over the years, creating the perfect entry points for rodents. Whether the issue is rats, mice, raccoons, or nutria, our team knows where to look to find the point of entry.

Because our guys have been in the business so long, they have some pretty terrifying stories to tell of rodents wreaking havoc on homes in Austin.

Tails of Terror from the Field in Austin

One thing we know is a big misconception is that rodent problems are related to economic status. This simply isn’t true. The bigger the house, the more space for rodents to hide. And the more damage they can do.

One … Read Full Post »

Top Bed Bug Myths DEBUNKED

February 19, 2016. Posted by ABC Home & Commercial in Bed Bug Control • Austin

Pesticide-resistant bed bugs are invading homes across Texas

After being all but eradicated after World War II, the past 20 years has seen a bed bugs comeback in the United States. According to Brooke Borel, who wrote the book Infested: How the Bed Bug Infiltrated Our Bedroom and Took Over the World, the combination of a new species of bed bug and an increase in domestic and international travel has meant that bed bugs now have a ticket for the ride — right into your home!

There are a lot of misconceptions about bed bugs. We are setting the record straight and debunking the biggest bed bug myths out there.

Myth: You can’t see bed bugs.

Bed bugs are very small, with a tendency to hide in crevices, so they can be difficult to detect. But if you look closely, especially with a flashlight, you can often spot them. Another telltale sign of an infestation … Read Full Post »

Your Heater Is On — Why Is Your House Still Cold?

February 18, 2016. Posted by ABC Home & Commercial in Air Conditioning & Heating • San Antonio

uneven heat can easily be remedied with hvac system maintenance

It’s not always cold in San Antonio, but it certainly does get chilly every winter. When it is cold outside, we Texans don’t enjoy it. No one likes to roll out of bed in the morning only to be startled by the ice-cold touch of kitchen tiles underneath your feet. In fact, getting out of bed at all is a struggle when the home is drafty.

Uneven heat in your home puts additional strains on your HVAC system and can lead to higher utility bills. So, what causes you to grab a coat or blanket indoors?

Your home should be a refuge when it’s cold outside, but there are a few reasons you might feel a draft in the winter. Usually these issues can be easily fixed, but sometimes a larger furnace breakdown is the culprit.

Air Leaks

That draft you feel in certain rooms in your home could be due to a poorly … Read Full Post »

5 Questions & Answers about Zika in Houston

February 16, 2016. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green • Houston

Zika Virus FAQ’s

Zika Virus has been in the news a lot lately. Zika is still rare in the U.S. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stay informed.

The health and safety of our neighbors are what inspired the Jenkins family to get into this business over 30 years ago. Mosquitoes spread diseases like Zika, so it is part of the ABC mission to keep our customers in Harris County and beyond informed. We’ve put together a list of questions and answers about Zika, travel, and mosquito diseases.

Question: Where did Zika Virus originate?

Answer: Most sources indicate that Zika originated in Africa. That is also where the carriers of the disease, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, originated. Mosquitoes and the diseases they carry travel the world like most pests — via human transport. Chances are, a few infected mosquitoes were transported from Africa along trade routes around the world, and those insects reproduced.

The disease is … Read Full Post »

5 Surprising Ways Rodents Get In Buildings

February 15, 2016. Posted by ABC Home & Commercial in Rodent & Wildlife • Bryan-College Station

Have you heard the rumor of the mouse that could fit through a space the size of a pencil? Well, it might be true.

We recently saw a video circulating on social media where an expert demonstrates just how tiny of a hole a mouse can actually squeeze through. Rodents get into homes and buildings in more ways than you may think. And rats can be inside your home for days or even months before you detect them since they regularly search for food overnight.

There are any number of entry points on buildings, especially within older homes like the ones we have here in College Station. Dorms and small unit apartment buildings are also common here in town, and those make for easy access too.

How do mice get inside buildings?

1. Through the AC Unit

Check the sealant around the pipe outdoors that connects the AC unit to the inside of your home. … Read Full Post »