ABC Blog

Please choose a city to view local blog posts:

Air Conditioner Fan Not Spinning but Hums

an AC unit

When you turn on the air conditioning at home, the hottest, most insufferable days are instantly better. But sometimes, the AC refuses to run. A common problem is the fan not spinning but humming. If you’re dealing with this situation, you likely have a faulty capacitor.

Knowing what a capacitor is will help you understand its role. You can rely on HVAC specialists to fix your capacitor problems. They have the tools and expertise to perform the necessary repairs or replacements. Your AC will soon be up and running again, and everyone at home will be in a better mood.

Air Conditioner Fan Is Not Spinning But Hums: The Capacitor Might Be to Blame

First things first, it’s helpful to know what a capacitor is. The capacitor is a small cylindrical component inside your AC’s outdoor unit, typically resembling a tin can. Think of it as a giant battery for your AC that … Read Full Post »

Tree Pruning Versus Trimming

a pro trimming a tree

As a homeowner, you know that proper tree maintenance is important to having a beautiful and healthy property. However, do you know the different techniques required to maintain your trees?

Many homeowners confuse or interchange the concepts of tree pruning and trimming. However, they are two different things with different purposes and outcomes.

Working with an arborist is the best way to maintain your trees’ beauty and vitality. They have the right tools and knowledge to trim or prune your trees without damaging them.

Tree Pruning Versus Trimming

Do you know the difference between tree pruning and trimming your trees? While both tree maintenance methods are similar, they have different purposes.

Trimming primarily refers to an immediate need to be addressed and is usually only in reference to one specific or a few branches. Examples of trimming include removing a broken branch, trimming low hanging branches over a sidewalk and trimming back the end of … Read Full Post »

What to Know About Replacing Siding on a House

vinyl siding

Many homeowners take the siding on their house for granted, sometimes even forgetting it’s there. We often don’t realize its importance to our house’s structural integrity. It protects the home from sneaky pests and outdoor elements, and improves insulation. It also makes a massive difference in your home’s looks, as it is the most visible part of the exterior.

While vinyl, fiber cement, brick and wood sidings are durable, they’re not indestructible and will eventually need replacing. If you’re wondering if your house needs new siding, we’ll cover the signs you need to look out for and how you can perform the task. However, replacing the siding on your house is a complex project that takes up a lot of time and should be done by a professional.

Let a professional handyman do the job. With their tools and expertise, your home’s new siding will look flawless.

Replacing the Siding on Your House: … Read Full Post »

Why Is My Pool Pump Leaking From the Top?

a pool pump leaking from the top

“Why is my pool pump leaking from the top?” This is a question many homeowners with pools ask certified pool professionals when they find their pool pump is leaking. Discovering a leak in your pool pump can be frustrating, but these leaks are actually very common.

Pool pumps have many different components, including a motor and housing as well as various gaskets, clamps and o-rings. If any of these parts breaks or wears out, it can cause a leak. Having too little water in your pool can also lead to a leak, since it can allow air into the pump. Of course, low water levels in the pool can also be the result of a pump leak, not the cause of it. In these cases, it can be helpful to learn your pool’s evaporation rate.

Whatever is causing the leak needs to be fixed as soon as possible. Some pump leaks can … Read Full Post »

How Are Generators Powered?

a standby generator

Power outages are not fun, especially if you’re in the middle of an important task. Power interruptions during extreme weather conditions can also be worrying.

Invest in a standby generator if you want peace of mind for you and your family. This backup power solution will ensure your lights, appliances and devices at home will keep working during unexpected power outages. But how are generators powered? Here’s an explanation of how generators work and their benefits for the home.

If you want to install one in your residence and ensure it’s running smoothly, contact a licensed electrician.

How Are Generators Powered?

With a standby generator, power outages will be a thing of the past in your home. It’s an automated system that gets its power from a fuel source of natural gas or propane.

A generator’s automatic transfer switch can sense when there’s an interruption in your home’s main power supply, signaling the generator unit. … Read Full Post »

What To Do About Bed Bugs in Your Furniture

a bed bug

As their name implies, bed bugs love your bed. They hide in your mattress seams, bed sheets and headboard. While they usually stay near the bed, you can still find bed bugs in your furniture. These pests are no thicker than a credit card and can squeeze themselves through tiny cracks and openings.

If you suspect you have bed bugs at home, here are some signs to look out for and measures to control them. However, the best solution is to call in pest control specialists. These pros have the tools and expertise to control the bed bug population in your home so you can get your beauty rest again.

Signs You Have Bed Bugs in Your Furniture and What You Should Do

Bed bugs are small, flat and wingless insects that are around a quarter of an inch long. Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed but will swell … Read Full Post »

How To Spread Fertilizer

spreading fertilizer

Do you know how to spread fertilizer? This is something that is useful for a homeowner to know, but it’s also something a professional can do if you don’t want to spend your weekend spreading fertilizer.

Tips To Prepare for Fertilization

Proper lawn fertilization is important for maintaining a lush, beautiful lawn. However, many homeowners don’t know how to properly spread fertilizer. Once you learn the correct steps, you’ll find that spreading fertilizer doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task.

The first step is choosing the right fertilizer for your lawn’s needs. Factors to consider include the type of soil you have, the species of your grass, and any nutrient deficiencies or pH balances you need to address.

Additionally, some fertilizers are specifically formulated to control weeds or improve the health of your soil. If you aren’t sure what type of fertilizer or how much fertilizer you should use for your lawn, a lawn … Read Full Post »

How To Identify Red Fire Ants

a red fire ant

Do you know how to identify red fire ants? These pests are stealthy, and they can inflict pain with their bites. It’s important for homeowners to understand what they look like, where they nest and how they behave so that they can get in front of a red fire ant problem.

While working with a pest control company is the best way to deal with a red fire ant colony, there are prevention measures that homeowners can take to help deter these pests from their homes.

How To Identify Red Fire Ants

Fire ants are a major nuisance for homeowners, so it’s important to learn how to identify red fire ants to deal with an infestation. However, identifying these pests goes beyond knowing what they look like. It’s helpful to be able to recognize their behaviors and nest patterns.

Red fire ants are known for their reddish-brown bodies and large eyes. Their bodies have … Read Full Post »

Mosquitoes in Texas: What Homeowners Should Know

Mosquitoes in Texas

https://blog.abchomeandcommercial.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mosquitoes-in-Texas.mp4

You’re proud of your home. You’ve spent years caring for it, improving it and making it suit your style. Your home and landscape have never looked better. But there’s still a problem you’ll encounter, simply because you live in Texas: mosquitoes.

In addition to being an annoyance, these tiny biting creatures pose a risk to you, your family and your pets. Maybe you’re starting to feel their presence every time you step outside, or you’re tired of getting covered in itchy bites. You might find yourself wondering: what mosquito species live in Texas?

Mosquitoes in Texas: What Homeowners Should Know

You probably can’t spend much time outside without feeling the itch of new mosquito bites. New reports of cases of mosquito-borne diseases, such as the Zika virus, don’t seem to be going away.

Now may be the time to rethink the measures you take to protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes. Pest control professionals can … Read Full Post »

What’s the Best Grass for Central Texas?

bermuda grass

Many central Texas homeowners find it difficult to know what type of grass is best for their lawn. While central Texas experiences mild temperatures for most of the year, the summers can reach sweltering levels of heat. It’s important to consider durable warm-season grasses that can withstand drought.

Bermuda Grass

Bermuda grass, pictured above, has a high heat tolerance, which is important when you factor in the warm summers in central Texas. It’s also a grass that can resist drought well.

As a warm-season grass, bermuda grass thrives with well-drained soil and full sun. It’s an excellent choice for high-trafficked areas of your lawn because it grows densely. Its fine texture also makes it a very attractive grass to create a luscious green landscape.

One thing homeowners need to keep in mind when it comes to bermuda grass is that it turns brown and goes dormant in the winter. However, with the right care … Read Full Post »