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How To Get Rid Of Cockroaches: Advice For Homeowners

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
How To Get Rid Of Cockroaches

The vast majority of homeowners have come across a cockroach in their home. That’s because these critters are among the most common pests in homes, schools and businesses. There are around 3,500 species of cockroaches globally, but only 55 species are known to live in the United States. Fear not, though. If you are wondering how to get rid of cockroaches, you have a number of options. But before we dive into the details of how to remove these common pests, let’s go over a few characteristics that set this critter apart from the other creatures possibly inhabiting your home.

As you’ve probably noticed before, cockroaches have flattened bodies and heads that are concealed by a plate-like structure called a pronotum. Cockroaches have elongated, spiny legs that move incredibly fast—as we all know from attempting to squish one—and equally long antennae that help them find food and move around in the … Read Full Post »

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Are Centipedes Poisonous? Your Questions Answered

. Posted by in • Orlando
Are centipedes poisonous

You wake up in the middle of the night. Thirsty, you head to the restroom to get a drink of water.

Then it happens—you feel something skitter over your foot. Immediately you kick it off and flip on the light, only to see a creature out of your nightmares speed across the bathroom floor and disappear into a pile of clothing.

It was long and flat but with long legs—almost like a spider. It had way more than just eight legs. There were dozens, at least. They were everywhere.

A centipede, you guess, but not like any centipede you’ve ever seen before. You want it out. But is it dangerous? Poisonous? Will it bite you? Infect you with something? Is there a nest of hundreds of them somewhere in your home?

Unlike ants, spiders, roaches, mosquitoes, and many other types of insects, most people don’t have run-ins with centipedes regularly. Because of this, it … Read Full Post »

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Post-Flood Pest Control | How to Prevent Pest Problems After a Flood

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler
Post-Flood Pest Control | How to Prevent Pest Problems After a Flood

March, April and May are Texas’s wettest months. But, this ain’t our first rodeo. We’re no strangers to flash floods, heavy storms and sustained rains. Floods are our most regular and costly natural disaster.

When returning home to begin the rebuilding process, some of the main problems you are likely to encounter are mold, deteriorating materials, insect infestations and pest problems.

During a flooding situation, animals, just like humans, will be forced to flee from their homes. Searching for drier, higher ground, animals often find refuge in dry areas of homes and other buildings.

After a devastating storm, such as Hurricane Harvey, the threats don’t end when the water recedes. Severe pest problems can develop both during floods and after flood water has retreated. Snakes, fire ants, rats, and other dangers can come with the flooding or arrive afterwards. More often than not, pests make their way into homes and other structures after … Read Full Post »

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6 Spring Pest Control Tips | Spring Pest Prevention

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler
6 Spring Pest Control Tips | Spring Pest Prevention

The beginning of spring marks a time of renewal and rejuvenation. Birds are chirping, flowers are beginning to bloom, and animals are venturing out. Spring can be immensely enjoyable, but it can also bring a host of unwanted pest problems.

As we begin preparing for the spring and summer seasons, it’s important to keep pests as far away as possible.

Now that nature is bursting back to life, it’s time to start thinking about pest control tips for spring.

6 Spring Pest Control Tips

Common pests that return with new vigor in the spring include bees, ants, mosquitos, rodents and much more. Don’t let an infestation develop right under your nose.

Common Springtime Pests

  • Cockroaches
  • Ants
  • Rats & Rodents
  • Earwigs
  • Silverfish
  • Flies
  • Mosquitos
  • Bees & Wasps

Here are some things you can do to prevent common springtime pests:

  1. Year-round maintenance with Commercial Pest Control Company

From sickness and disease to damage and disgust, pests can be disastrous for many reasons.

Even if you don’t have a pest … Read Full Post »

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Preparing House For Extended Vacation: What About Your AC?

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Preparing House For Extended Vacation

You’ve boarded the pets, asked the neighbors to get the mail and turned off all your appliances and lights. You’ve taken care of everything, and now you can enjoy a few weeks of well-earned vacation away from the hassles and tasks at home—but not quite. Before you hit the road, there are a few things you need to do to prepare your HVAC system for vacation.

Preparing a house for an extended vacation will keep your air conditioner in good shape and ready to resume service when you return. At the end of your vacation, the last thing you want to do is return to a hot, sweltering home and a big heating contractor bill because you failed to take a few simple precautions before leaving on your trip.

Your HVAC unit is one of the most complex pieces of machinery in your home. It’s also one of the biggest consumers of energy. Properly … Read Full Post »

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Why Is My Gas Bill So High In The Winter?

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Why Is My Gas Bill So High In The Winter

Imagine leaving a window open all winter long—the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding attic stair, fireplace or clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day. These often overlooked sources of heat loss and air leakage can cause warm air to leave your home and the cold outside air to rush in—costing you money in the form of higher heating bills. If you’re ready to lower your heating costs this winter, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Air leaks occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes and other entry points. Most homeowners are well aware of the benefits caulk and weatherstripping provide to minimize heat loss and cold drafts. But what can you do about the three largest “holes” in your home—the folding attic stair, the fireplace and the clothes … Read Full Post »

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What Can a Handyman Legally Do?

. Posted by in • Austin
What Can a Handyman Legally Do

What if you could get all of those little tasks on your “honey-do” list completed without having to lift a finger?

Home repairs, maintenance and weekend projects can quickly eat up all your free time. It’s only natural that homeowners are looking for ways to outsource these tasks at the lowest possible price. Depending on the nature of the tasks involved, you may find yourself wondering which jobs are suitable for a handyman and which tasks are better performed by a licensed contractor. Since virtually anyone can call themselves a handyman, you might ask yourself, “What can a handyman legally do?” Is there a real difference between the training and skills of a handyman and a contractor? What type of jobs should you hire a handyman to complete? Some homeowners have an even more basic question: What is a handyman in the first place?

A handyman may be a jack-of-all-trades or … Read Full Post »

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Can I Get Mold Spores Bites? What To Know About Mold Mites

. Posted by in • Orlando
mold spores bites

Most of us are familiar with mold. In addition to this fungus that can grow on food, plants, and areas with moisture or high humidity, you may run across tiny creatures called mold mites. These microscopic white or tan-colored mites feed on mold and fungi and are part of the larger species of mites, including cheese mites, flour mites, and grain mites.

Mold mites are wingless, smooth, and so small that they don’t cause structural damage, and they don’t bite humans. However, these soft-bodied pests have long “hairs,” which can cause an allergic reaction in some people. That is why some individuals may believe they have gotten mold spore bites when in contact with a mold mite. In some cases, a skin irritation linked to an allergic reaction to mold growing inside your home may feel like a bite or sting. Several environmental factors, including medical conditions, certain medications (or changes … Read Full Post »

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Negative Effects of Floods and How to Clean Up Your Property

. Posted by in • Houston
Negative Effects of Floods and How to Clean Up Your Property

Around the world, the most prevalent kind of natural disaster is flooding. In the United States, floods are the leading cause of weather-related deaths, taking the lives of around 200 Americans each year. During 2016, 19 floods occurred across the United States—the most since record-taking began in 1980. Over the past 36 years, Texas has been the state which has seen the most fatalities from flooding and flash floods.

The adverse effects of floods are numerous, and it can take years to rebuild. So this begs the question: can you do anything to help protect your home from floods? What should you do if your house floods? What can you do after a flood to help your home withstand potential damage from a future flood?

A flooded home isn’t necessarily a total loss. In a Washington Post article, Claudette Hanks Reichel of Louisiana State University’s Agricultural Center, who has written disaster recovery … Read Full Post »

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How To Change Central Air Conditioner Filter: Tips And Troubleshooting

. Posted by in • Austin
air conditioner filter

Air conditioners require regular maintenance to keep them running efficiently. Performing routine checks also helps keep your energy costs down and enables you to spot problems early on, which can avoid costly repairs. One of the quickest and easiest ways to keep your unit running at peak efficiency is to regularly change your filter. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5 percent to 15 percent.”

How to Change Central Air Conditioner Filter

When you weigh the energy savings of having a clean filter against the low cost of a new filter, replacing your filter seems like a no-brainer. Remembering when and how to perform this simple task, however, is another matter. Even if you think you know how often you should change your filter, you may not understand what a filter actually does for … Read Full Post »

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