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Home Remodeling Solutions for Seniors

As people age, many find that their homes no longer suit their everyday safety and comfort needs. Wheelchairs and walkers can be difficult to maneuver down narrow hallways. Cabinets can become tough to reach. Getting in and out of a shower or bathtub can become a daunting task. At John Moore Services, we understand the challenges faced by senior homeowners and aim to make their lives more comfortable and convenient.

Everyday Kitchen Safety for Seniors

One of the most important rooms to remodel for senior citizens is not surprisingly one of the most often used rooms in the house: the kitchen. The remodeling professionals at John Moore Services can provide a number of tweaks to improve the safety and usability of your kitchen.

We are able to adjust the height of kitchen cabinets, counters, desks, and other built-in features, so they become easier to reach. Microwaves and ovens can be placed so that no stooping or reaching is required in order to get hot food in or out of them.

Lighting is also an important consideration when designing a senior-friendly kitchen. As our vision often gets worse with age, adequate lighting in the kitchen is paramount to keeping seniors safe. Properly placed lighting with the correct wattage can make all the difference in world - as well as add to the room's ambiance!

Other home improvements for seniors include:

• Improved lighting in hallways, on porches, and other typically under-lit areas to prevent slips and falls
• Replacing old, damaged flooring with secure carpeting and hard flooring solutions to prevent slips
• Adding wall handles and built-in shower seats for bathtub safety
• Installing easier-to-reach front door peep holes
• Installing programmable thermostats
• Updating sink faucets and light switches with hardware that is both easy to read and to use

Winterizing Your Home's Plumbing Systems

Bed Bugs: A Growing National Epidemic

To most of us, bed bugs may seem like a myth. However, they have become an unpleasant reality to many Americans in recent years.

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown, oval-shaped insects. Although they cannot fly, they can quickly and discreetly take over your home with ease.

Bed bugs feed on humans and animals and therefore set up shop on our beds, couches, chairs, pet beds, and other places we spend most of our time.

Preventive Measures to Combat Bed Bugs in the Home

While bed bug infestations are not the result of uncleanliness in the home, there are certain measures you can take to help reduce the likelihood of them showing up in your home. These include:

• Removing clutter, particularly from areas near beds, couches, and other living areas
• Washing sheets and other linens at high temperatures
• Inspecting areas around furniture for bed bug feces as well as the bugs themselves

Health Concerns of Bed Bugs

Medical concerns related to bed bug infestations are fortunately not severe. While bed bugs do feed on us as well as our pets, the bites are small and largely unnoticeable. If you are bitten, your doctor may prescribe antihistamines for itch relief and / or antibiotics, should infections occur. To learn more about treating bed bug bites on your pet, contact your veterinarian.

An Unwanted Vacation Souvenir

Because hotels are such a convenient place for bed bugs to make their home, it is important to take preventive measures to ensure your stay in a bed bug-free hotel. Sites like www.tripadvisor.com offer reviews of hotels to help you find a place to stay that will help you avoid having to take these pests back home with you!

What to do if you Find Bed Bugs in your Home

Bed bugs are resilient. They can travel from hotels overseas to your home. Individual bed bugs can live up to one year, and females can give birth to as many as 500 offspring. With an insect this experienced at survival, it's important to stop bed bugs as quickly as possible.

Bed bugs have unfortunately developed a resistance to most store-bought pesticides, which is why calling a professional exterminator like John Moore Services is vital to stopping and eliminating any bed bug infestations in your home.

Schedule service online today, and let the experts at John Moore Services eliminate pesky bed bugs from your Houston area home!

Enjoy Tax Credits & Lower Energy Costs with New Doors & Windows

Rasberry Crazy Ants: A Southeast Texas Menace

Why Should I Be Concerned?

Rasberry crazy ants have made the news since they first showed up on the scene in Southeast Texas back in 2002.  Unlike other species of ants, rasberry crazy ants often gather in large groups inside electrical equipment.  This can cause short circuits, power outages, and other electrical dilemmas, costing homeowners hundreds if not thousands of dollars in repairs.

How to Identify Rasberry Crazy Ants

Rasberry ants are dark reddish-brown in color and grow to about 1/8-inch in length.  They tend to appear in large groups underneath rocks, wood, and debris.  They do not build typical ant beds and instead stay hidden below ground, often near objects that contain moisture.

Rasberry crazy ants are most active in the Spring and Summer, so now is the best time to spot them.  Thought to be native to South America, they are common in Southeast Texas, including Houston and its surrounding counties.

How to Control Rasberry Crazy Ants

Traditional home pest control products have had little, if any, effect on controlling rasberry crazy ant infestations.  Experts suggest that you contact a professional pest control company to handle the problem.  John Moore Services has over 45 years experience helping Texans eliminate unwanted pests from their homes and offices and can ensure your property remains free of rasberry crazy ants.

Don't wait until rasberry crazy ants take over your home or office.  Schedule your in-home appointment with John Moore today!

(Image courtesy of Swaplot.com)

Upgrade your Houston Area Home with our Green Energy Services

There are few things that Houstonians dread more than summertime electric bills. Finding a balance between keeping your home comfortable for you and your family and not spending an arm and a leg is a daunting task.  The energy saving experts at John Moore simplify the process with increased attic insulation, radiant barriers, and efficient S.E.E.R.-rated air conditioning equipment.

Home Attic Insulation

The truth is that most homes are under-insulated, which means homeowners are throwing away money they shouldn’t have to.  A properly insulated attic can reduce electric bills by up to 30%. Our heating and cooling professionals can determine lapses in your Houston home’s attic insulation and help you save your hard-earned money.

Radiant Barrier Insulation

Attic spaces absorb heat from outside, and with no air flow, that heat causes the temperature of the attic to rise to levels higher than outdoors.  Installing radiant barrier in your home’s attic helps to keep hot air from entering your home and cool air from leaving.  By reducing your attic temperature, you are further reducing the temperature of the rest of your home.

Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning Systems

Inefficient air conditioning and heating systems can also cause a tremendous drain on your energy expenses.  Older air conditioners might not be thoroughly keeping things cool, or they may be spending too much effort cooling the entire home when in reality you only need a few high-traffic rooms to be comfortable.  At John Moore Services, we can help you choose and install the right Energy Star rated air conditioning system for your home, making it greener and more energy-efficient and letting you enjoy significant long-term savings.

Turn to Houston's Experts in Green Energy Services

The experts at John Moore Services have over forty-five years experience keeping Houston area homes properly cooled and heated, saving Houstonians hundreds of dollars every year on their electric bills.  To learn more about our green home energy saving services, give us a call today, or kindly fill out our free consultation request form online.

Save Money & Enjoy Continuous Hot Water with a Tankless Water Heater

Hot water generation is one of the biggest residential energy wasters of any Houston area home.  On average, 20-25% of our energy bills is spent on the production of hot water.  We turn off appliances while they are not in use to save energy, so why not do the same with our hot water?

In contrast with traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters are small, lightweight, and simple to install.  Because they are driven by flow rate, there is no need for a bulky water storage tank.  Tankless water heaters offer continuous hot water to run your washing machine, dishwasher, tap, and more.

With a tankless water heater, you can enjoy:

• Continuous hot water when you need it
• An estimated 20-year life expectancy of your water heater

When you upgrade to a tankless water heater from John Moore Services, you pay for hot water only when you need it.  Additionally, your purchase of a tankless water heater may qualify you for new energy tax credits. Learn more about available tax credits for Energy Star rated products.

John Moore Services offers gas tankless water heaters to the greater Houston, TX area, which we have proudly served for over forty-five years.  We offer complete installation and repair services on all types of water heaters.  To find out which water heater solution is best for your Houston area home, contact us for a free consultation.

Whole House Standby Generators Keep Houston Homes Up & Running

For Southeast Texas area residents, Summer means beaches, baseball, and, unfortunately, hurricane season. In recent years, the Gulf Coast has been ravaged by deadly storms including Hurricanes Ike, Rita, and Katrina. When a hurricane strikes, the last thing you want to worry about is having enough energy to power your home and keep your loved ones safe.

Despite what many people believe, portable generators are designed to keep only essential appliances powered during outages; running your air conditioner, for example, with a portable gasoline generator is unlikely. Additionally, portable generators are commonly noisy and require significant amounts of fuel to run.

In contrast, whole house standby generators have enough energy to focus on keeping high-power appliances like heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration up and running for your comfort and convenience.  These stationary generators kick in during emergency situations and can be tailored to the needs of your unique Houston area home. Imagine being able to wait out a storm with your air conditioner cooling your house, your television keeping your kids entertained, and your coffee maker percolating; all of this is possible with a whole house generator.

When considering a whole house standby generator, turn to the experts at John Moore Services. Our licensed Houston electricians provide free consultations to help you find the right generator solution for your home, and with forty-five years of experience, you can rest assured that a whole house generator from John Moore will be there when you need it.

Visit our Online Service Request Form to speak with a whole home generator expert today!

Don't Forget to Service your Heater!

Many Houstonians often forget how it is that their homes are heated, until they receive astronomical energy bills during the winter months. Determined to be more conscious of their spending, a record number of homeowners are making efforts to find out of the amount of heat that is being used in their homes, and how to reduce the use of it.

Luckily, there is a way to make the cost of providing energy to your home much lighter on the pocketbook. The easiest way to achieve this effort is by investing in an energy efficient heating system. Energy-efficient heating systems include a number of appliances such as: energy efficient furnaces, boilers, tankless water heaters and radiant heating systems. Without doubt, most homeowners today desire a system that combines comfort and the low cost of operation respectively. Common heating systems include: forced air heating, heat pumps and hydronic heating.

More traditional in nature, forced air heating uses gas burners which are used to heat a sizeable metal chamber. During the heating process, air is forced above the metal chamber, heated and then pushed through ducts into different rooms by way of an electrical fan. Because heat rises, the air near the ceiling can reach 81 degrees while the air near the floor may be only 65 degrees. The taller the ceiling, the more intense the effect is.

In addition to forced air heating, heat pumps are also widely used by many. While heat pumps are highly energy efficient, they tend to be more complex in that they can also function as an air conditioner. While the devices use electricity to run, it uses an electric motor as opposed to a heat coil to provide heat. Because of its means of operating heat pumps, more energy is supplied than consumed, as heat is taken from the air and water around it. For these reasons, it is no wonder that heat pumps distribute more air and have a longer durability.

As can be inferred from its name, hydronic heating is a heating system that involves the use of water.  Flexible in nature, hydronic heating can be used in conjunction with radiant heating systems or forced air respectively. During the heating process, heated water is pushed through numerous radiating units, and then a blower blows the cool air across the units. Once the cold air passes, the air is warmed and directed to a common area. Radiant heating systems intensify economy, flexibility and comfort. The warmed water is distributed through pipes in the floor, or walls and warms the floors as heat courses through the home.
Radiant Heating Systems

Considered the best by many, radiant heating systems can be extremely expensive to both to install and maintain. However, radiant heating systems use less energy than others systems, thus saving consumers hundreds of dollars on energy bills. Using between 21% to 39% less energy to heat the same spaces, radiant heating provides a more comfortable heat level.

When considering a radiant heating system, one must also consider boilers. Boilers are charged with heating the water that circulates through baseboard radiators or floor tubing. This is an especially critical component of the heating process, as without a sufficient amount of heated water, baseboard radiation and tubing will not have enough heated water to release into the home.
Heating System Repair Houston

At John Moore Services, we understand how important it is to have properly functioning heating and cooling in your home. If you need more information on Houston heating service or air conditioning services, contact John Moore Services today at 1-877-342-2232.

Residential Pest Control: Identifying the Culprits and How John Moore Services Can Help

You may not be dealing with lions, tigers and bears, but "Oh my!" is a familiar expression when confronted with a pest control problem in your home. With Houston's climate, area residents often find themselves waging a war over territory: you and your family versus the pests (in their various forms) and theirs for control over your home. John Moore Services, a professional home services company, has compiled a list of the most common pests, and tips on how you can prevent them.
Termites

Termites are a group of social insects that feed on cellulose, found primarily in wood products. These pests, sometimes referred to as "white ants" are especially detrimental, as they pose a threat to the structure of your home.

The presence of termites can be detected by the presence of mud tubes and wood damage around the home. Houston residents may notice this more frequently during the spring months when temperature and moisture conditions are favorable to their breeding.

Because they need moisture to survive it is important to avoid moisture accumulation near the foundation of your home. Diverting water from the foundation can best be done with properly functioning downspouts, gutters, and splash blocks. Minimizing the use of wood mulch and removing old tree stumps can also be helpful.
Cockroaches

Cockroaches are among the most common pests in Texas. These insects can be identified by their reddish brown bodies, with a margin of light brown or yellow behind the thorax. Flattened bodies allow these typically, outdoors creatures access to homes by way of entry through cracks and crevices. Cockroaches also gain entry be means of infested boxes, grocery bags, beverage cartons, furniture and dried pet foods. They also enter around loose-fitting doors and windows, where electrical lines or water and steam pipes pass through walls, in seasoned firewood and through sewer lines. When outdoors, cockroaches live in wood piles, decaying trees and sewer systems.

While most are relatively harmless, they can contaminate food and kitchen utensils with excrement and salivary secretions.

Proper sanitation, both indoors and outdoors, effectively limits cockroach populations. This can be done by cleaning up all spills immediately, and frequently cleaning areas beneath and behind cabinets, furniture, sinks, stoves and refrigerators. Sealing cracks more than 1/8 of an inch from foundation and exterior walls, as well as immediately attending to leaky faucets can also help greatly in cockroach infestation prevention.
Fire Ants

Fire ants, or red ants as they are sometimes called, are stinging ants that are common to Texas and other states in the southern United States. These ants can best be identified by their copper heads and bodies, and darker abdomens.

These vicious pests bite to get a grip on their victims, and then inject them with alkaloid venom from their abdomens, leaving their victims with a burning sensation, much like that of those who have been burned by fire.

Typically, fire ants nest in soil, near moist areas. Their dome shaped nests are often hidden from view, namely underneath rocks and logs. If you notice numerous mounds of loose soil, resembling gopher diggings above the ground, more than likely you've discovered a nest.

If you must work in proximity to fire ants, the use of rubber boots and gloves powdered with talc can prevent contact. Other measures of control can be obtained by the use of broadcast and individual mound treatments.

John Moore Services has the solution to all of your pest control needs. Free termite inspections and pest control estimates can be arranged by calling 1-877-342-2232.