How To Identify Termite Damage Versus Wood Rot

No one wants to see something odd going on with the wood in their homes. Whether it’s a door or window, any kind of damage can send a homeowner into a panic. What if the wood has rotted? Or what if termites have invaded and moved into the home? First, it’s important to know how to tell each type of damage apart from one another.

How to Tell If It Might Be Termites

There are a few tell-tale signs of termites. First, you might see termite swarmers lying dead on a window sill, around a door or flying around. Or you might see mud tubes going up from the ground to your foundation or along a wall in a crawl space. These are shelter tubes that do what they sound like they do. They shelter termites while they march into your home for a wood feast. The third obvious sign is wood … Read Full Post »

How to Winterize Your Home and Yard

December 29, 2021. Posted by Amberlee Warner in Air Conditioning & Heating, Lawn • Dallas-Fort Worth

Winter is here, and even in a place with milder temperatures, preparing your home and lawn for whatever Mother Nature throws your way can give you and your family peace of mind. Since it’s hard to tell when a more serious freeze or winter storm will pop up, it’s important to get your home prepared early. No matter what comes your way, there are critical steps you can take to be ready.

Heating System

If your heater smells when you turn it on for the first time of the season, that’s a good reminder of the importance of having your HVAC serviced before temperatures dip. Fall is a good time to contact a licensed professional for a tune-up on your heating system. Just as a service call in the spring gets you ready for the blistering summer, a check before winter helps your entire HVAC system run more efficiently. A unit that … Read Full Post »

Does Heat Kill Bed Bugs?

December 28, 2021. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Bed Bug Control, Pest Control • Houston

If you’re dealing with bed bugs in your home, you want to know how to get rid of them, fast. These pests are a frustrating problem that can feel overwhelming to solve. What’s the best way to treat them? Does heat kill bed bugs? The good news is, high temperatures do kill off bed bugs in all stages of the life cycle.

High heat is actually the most effective way to kill off bed bugs. This is partly because these pests are highly resistant to insecticide products. Insecticides don’t even reach bed bugs or their offspring well, because the insects hide in tiny cracks that most products can’t penetrate.

Bed bugs are vulnerable to high temperatures, but how hot does it need to be for them to die off? And what can you do to prevent them from returning?

Sustained temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will kill bed bug eggs and … Read Full Post »

Common AC Noises and What They Mean

December 23, 2021. Posted by Tom Riggs in Air Conditioning & Heating • Austin

Learning about normal AC noise versus AC noise that signals a problem is important. This knowledge comes in handy for anyone wanting to know what to do if their AC breaks. After all, there are several noises AC systems commonly make that are perfectly normal. Knowing what isn’t normal is key to keeping your AC in good working order and extending its life as long as possible.

There are a few normal sounds that any well-running AC might make. There’s the humming, starting-up sound the AC makes when it first kicks on, for example. There’s also the gentle whirring noise the outdoor condenser unit makes while it runs. The metal ductwork that connects your AC to the vents in your home might also make noises over time. These sounds come from normal expansion and contraction due to temperature changes through the seasons.

Other noises, on the other hand, can mean the AC … Read Full Post »

Furnace Turns On But No Heat

December 22, 2021. Posted by Tom Riggs in Air Conditioning & Heating • Bryan-College Station

The low “whoosh” of a furnace kicking on brings a sigh of relief when the temperatures drop. But, it’s a shock when your furnace turns on but there’s no heat. If your furnace is not putting out the heat you need, there are a couple of things you can check.

Check the Switches

First, take a look at your thermostat. It might seem obvious, but sometimes, a homeowner has accidentally clicked “cool” rather than “heat.” Luckily, if that is the case, it is an easy fix to click the switch to the correct function.

Your thermostat has another toggle that can just as easily be the reason for the flow of cool air in the cold weather. The location might vary, but somewhere on the wall thermostat is a switch that says “Auto” and “On.” A switch on “Auto” will make the furnace click on only when a sensor signals that the temperature … Read Full Post »

When To Replace An Air Conditioner

December 21, 2021. Posted by Tom Riggs in Air Conditioning & Heating • San Antonio

a homeowner calculating if it's worth it to replace their air conditioner

https://blog.abchomeandcommercial.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/When-To-Replace-An-Air-Conditioner-PC-Video-for-Blog-1.mp4

The worst time to discover your air conditioner is failing is when the sun is blazing, there is no breeze and you need some cool air right away. In order to avoid sweating inside your home, waiting for the repair person to save everyone, you will want to know how to tell when your AC is failing so you can be proactive. According to Gary Cremeans, HVAC Operations Manager at ABC Home & Commercial Services, the first sign that your AC is failing is a higher than normal electricity bill. Then, you may notice that your AC is running for longer periods of time or that your house isn’t staying as comfortable as normal. Generally, if you notice any of the following, it’s best to call in a licensed professional to find out exactly what is going on.

Loud or increasing noise or vibrations.
You notice more dust on your furniture. Your … Read Full Post »

The Colorful Orb Weaver Spider

December 17, 2021. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Pest Control • Orlando

Orb weavers are a group of spiders that includes many different species. However, each of these spiders shares certain characteristics.

For one, they spin intricate webs using both sticky and non-sticky silk. In fact, orb weaver spiders even got their name from the shape of their webs because they weave organized webs that are circular like orbs. They use the non-sticky silk to build the frame of their web. They also use it for the threads that anchor the web to trees and plant stems, as well as the radial support threads of the structure.

The spiders then use sticky silk to spin a circular pattern between these support threads. They also use these sticky threads to catch prey. Additionally, many kinds of orb weavers build a thick, zig-zag line from the center of the web downward known as a “stabilimentum.” It is believed that this part of the web helps attract … Read Full Post »

How To Get Rid of Wasps

December 16, 2021. Posted by Russell Jenkins in Bee & Wasp Removal, Pest Control • Dallas-Fort Worth

For many people, seeing a wasp is cause to scream, duck and run for cover. This is understandable, considering how much it hurts to get stung. Some people are even allergic to stings, making bees and wasps a real danger. But while some types of wasps are aggressive, plenty of others are very unlikely to sting you. Regardless, most of us want to get rid of wasps when we see them. Read on for more information about these insects, including the best ways to get rid of wasps when you see them or their nests around your property.

Are Wasps Beneficial?

Something many people don’t realize about wasps is that they are actually beneficial. Like bees, wasps are pollinators. This means they are an essential part of the process of producing fruits, seeds and more plants. Wasps also feed on caterpillars and other pests that might otherwise destroy our food crops.

For all … Read Full Post »

Nuisance Midges Identification & Control Guide

December 14, 2021. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Pest Control • Houston

Living near water is a dream for lots of people, but it can come with its own issues. Things you might even call a nuisance—or nuisance midges, to be exact. If you live near a lake or a pond, you’re likely familiar with these annoying, mosquito-like little insects. But what exactly are nuisance midges? Are they dangerous to humans? And what’s the best way to get rid of them?

Identifying Midges

Though these small flying insects look a lot like mosquitoes, they are actually a type of fly. This is why they’re also known as “blind mosquitoes” or non-biting midges. One way to tell midges apart from mosquitoes is their antennae. Male midges have bushy, feathery-looking antennae. Of course, their antennae are hard to see, since midges are so tiny.

Whatever you call them, nuisance midges don’t bite, suck blood or carry diseases. Thus, they aren’t dangerous to people or our pets in … Read Full Post »

What Do Flea Bites Look Like?

December 10, 2021. Posted by Holt Myers in Flea & Tick Control, Pest Control • Austin

Fleas can cause lots of problems for both humans and animals. It’s no fun to deal with red, itchy bites on your own skin, and it’s no better to see your beloved pet scratching and suffering. Sometimes it’s hard to know whether you’re dealing with fleas or some other pest. What do flea bites look like? How can you tell if you have a problem with fleas, mosquitoes, bed bugs or something else? Here are some ways to tell what you’re dealing with, so you can get rid of them as soon as possible.

Flea bites look like small red dots on the skin, about a quarter-inch in diameter. There might be a tiny bump in the center of the bite, or it might be flat. Depending on your body’s reaction to the bites, they could also develop into larger, raised welts. Whatever size they are, flea bites are usually itchy.

Flea … Read Full Post »