By DonaldA October 01, 2013
When we found out that the home we were buying had a radon level twice the limit, I thought we were going to have to look for a different home to buy. I spoke to Jamey at SWAT. He assured me that radon problems are very common and can be corrected in any home. We are now living in our new home, radon-free! ...read more
By KorraV July 10, 2013
Technician was knowledgeable and took the time to explain the need relating to radon mitigation. His patience with our questions was greatly appreciated. SWAT Environmental was recommended to us by a family member who recently sold their home. ...read more
By KVR June 08, 2013
Andy of Tartan Plumbing replaced by garbage disposer early May 2013. The disposer is very noisy when turned on and worked for about less than a month. I repeatedly call Andy back to ask him to call me back about possible repair of the disposer, but he never returned my call. Andy was referred by my condo association, but I am going to write them and make sure they let the condo owners know about my situation also. ...read more
May is the perfect time to schedule an air conditioning tune-up or repair. We are offering $70.00 spring ac tune-ups during the month of May. If you have a repair you have been putting off since last fall, contact us to schedule an early repair to have your hvac system running great. We value are past customers and are offering an additional ten dollars off of our tune-up special. The best to you, Randy Air Conditioning, AC, Air Conditioning Repair, AC Repair, HVAC, Mechanical Contractor Ann Arbor ...read more
By Four Seasons Heating and Cooling May 07, 2011
Article first published as How to Raise Socially Healthy Children That Find it Irresistible to Be at Home on Technorati. By Randy Koch During our twenty-seven years of raising children my wife and I have discovered three very powerful lessons in raising socially healthy children who love to be at home. They are timeless lessons that have produced positive results in families around the globe and are a foundational base for healthy relationships of every kind. The tips I am about to share will point your families compass in the right direction and help secure your dream of family gatherings surrounded by love, joy, and heartfelt relationships. These are not philosophical musings from high on a mountaintop, rather, they are principals grounded in the stuff of life. They are for you. Right where you live. Right where life is most difficult. And best of all, they are possible for you today. First though, let me mention that family development is very rarely a one-event make or break experience. Life is a process and though from time to time we fail, it is important to continue progressing even in the face of an occasional setback. In fact, as my wife and I have learned, failure can quite often lead too much larger gains within our children s hearts. With that said let's be bold and ask ourselves a few questions. Do your children like being at home? Do they enjoy inviting friends over for dinner or for the holidays? If asked, would your children rate their home life as positive? If you're like most parents, the answer to those questions will depend on a few important details. Age will have a lot to do with how your children view their happiness and it is very common for children to distance themselves from parents during their teenage years. Don't judge yourself too harshly during these awkward times, however, (I cannot stress this enough) keep doing the things I am about to share. Most parents find it hard to practice these life-giving tips during the difficult seasons, so take heart, but remember the sacrifice you make now, when it's hard, will be more rewarding in the end.OK, let's get started- are you ready to win your child's heart? Are you ready to pave the way for well-adjusted children and grandchildren that just happen to enjoy your company? If you've let your coffee get cold now may be the time to heat it up. ยง Intentionally and consistently find ways to encourage your children by recognizing the uniqueness of their gifting. Don't fall into the trap of projecting your dreams and desires onto your children. Instead, take time to study what makes them unique. Find ways to encourage and promote noble efforts they undertake toward any positive goal. Especially those that God has given you special privilege to discern. Are they artistic? Encourage them by listing how moved you are by certain details of their painting or artwork. When you take the time to communicate approval in this manner you instill in them the confidence that your love is unconditional. Simply stated, you allow them to escape the trap of condemnation brought on by constantly seeking the approval of others. Isn't it funny that parents quite often teach their children independence, as a way to keep them from harm or peer pressure, while subconsciously enabling this behavior by granting or withholding affection based on personal expectation? The key: Keep your radar active and look for opportunities to speak a word of encouragement to your children. As they mature into the teenage years find something they excel at and tell them so. If you can't find anything, it most likely means you need to change the shade of your glasses. ยง Life is hard for adults. It's also hard for kids. Find ways to make life fun. This is extremely important in my book but don't misread what I am saying. The most important aspect of this point is to find something your children enjoy that can be done together. This is not about buying them a new video game or buying them anything for that matter. It is about finding ways to enjoy each other's company doing something fun. Remember, each child will most likely define "fun" differently. As a parent, that means it's extremely important to find out what "fun" is for each child. This can also be one of the more difficult things to do. Sometimes accomplishing this second point requires a little creativity. My oldest son enjoyed playing chess as a teenager. Chess was not one of my favorite games or one that I was very good at. However, I have a friend who is an avid chess player and it always excited me when opportunities arose for them to play chess together. In a sense, sharing their excitement allowed me to be a part of that activity. We cannot be everything to our children; however, more often than not we can find someone in our community willing to fill in the gaps. Find ways to make this happen and don't be surprised if your community is enriched by the experience. The Key: Find ways to make life fun. Most importantly, find activities that can be done together. ยง Be there for them. As grown ups we value friendships that have stood the test of time- friends that have been there when we've needed them. Give it your best shot to pause before giving a lecture. When we are in need do we seek out friends who tend to lecture us or friends that lend an ear? Our children will need us to fill two different roles at times. Understand when it's your time to be a friend who listens. The Key: Be there for them. Lastly: Try keeping the kitchen open. There's nothing like a little food to make great fellowship! Randy Furnace Repair,Heating Contractor, Air Conditioning Four Seasons Heating and Cooling ...read more
By Four Seasons Heating and Cooling January 29, 2011
Article first published as Marriage? A Prisoners Dilemma or Romantic Get Away on Technorati. By Randy Koch There is a concept in the criminal investigation world known as "The Prisoner's Dilemma". This "Dilemma", highlights the internal struggle two interrogated, and guilty, suspects find themselves in when facing the possibility of conviction. You may be wondering, "How in the world does this have anything to do with my marriage"? The answer to this question lies in an important principal we can all learn about human nature. If your marriage resembles a priceless heirloom misplaced in a dark closet, and you need some practical ideas on how to restore it, you will appreciate the following simple advice. Maybe your marriage is good, even a little above the curve, however somewhere in the back of your mind you realize it could use a little restoration, then follow along as we share a few romance kindling ideas. Before we dig in though, let's take a closer look at the Prisoner's Dilemma and see what hidden treasures lie just beneath its surface. "Two suspects are arrested by the police. The police have insufficient evidence for a conviction, and having separated the prisoners, visit each of them to offer the same deal. If one testifies for the prosecution against the other (defects) and the other remains silent (cooperates), the defector goes free and the silent accomplice receives the full 10-year sentence." "If both remain silent, both prisoners are sentenced to only six months in jail for minor charges. If each betrays the other, each receives a five-year sentence. Each prisoner must choose to betray the other or to remain silent. Each one is assured that the other would not know about the betrayal before the end of the investigation. How should the prisoners act?" Over the years, history has shown that more often then not each person will act according to his or her own self-interest rather than the greater interest of both. Remarkable considering their irrational decision ultimately increases both individual sentences. Given the heated scenario, the behavior of the two suspects may not seem too surprising, but is it possible the Prisoner's Dilemma has somehow crept into your marriage? To find out, let's look for signs of this robber in our marriage, and, for good measure, break out the trusty ounce of prevention to ensure our relationships are full of life, trust, and first-love romance. By the way, having these qualities alive and well in our marriages is the best security system we can have against unwanted intruders. Are you ready? Lets begin preparing the scene for our Romantic Get Away? Marriage robber #1 Self-Interest When our lives are filled with self-interest we rarely recognize our spouses sacrifice or thoughtfulness as we're too busy focusing on our own wants and desires to notice. There is an old phrase I first heard early in our marriage that has guided me over the years. Periodically I examine my life to see how it measures up to this simple little phrase: Do I love people and use things, or, do I mainly love things and use people. It is very hard to do both at the same time! The ounce of prevention Practice words of encouragement and praise. This may mean praise for a wonderfully prepared dinner or for a husband that takes time to fix all those things that seem to break down. The words you speak have the power of life or death so use them wisely. You can build your spouse up or tear them down by using words chosen carefully or carelessly. Make it a point to release a fountain of blessing on your spouse each day with carefully chosen words of life. Does your wife or husband need your emotional support to fulfill a dream? Let them pursue it while you find ways to be an encouragement along the journey. When you do this your Romantic Get Away Vehicle is just around the corner. Marriage robber # 2 Distraction In every marriage there comes a time when our most cherished commitments are tested. Think back to that wonderful day when you and your spouse exchanged vows. Are you reminded of your promise to cherish, love, honor, and live a life of devotion for one another? Are these promises still worth keeping? Since every marriage will face an investigator that will challenge its promises, we must determine in advance whether or not we will stick to them? There's a country song I've come to love whose chorus goes "That's my story and I'm sticking to it!" What about you? Have your wedding vows suffered from chronic distraction? Here are a few ideas to help you beat marriage robber # two.The ounce of preventionEvery relationship requires maintenance. Don't let distraction rob you from developing strong lines of communication. The number one distraction is busyness, so plan ahead to deal with this robber head on. Defeat distraction by planning date nights centered around activities you both enjoy such as walks, cozy restaurants, or site seeing. The important point is to do them consistently.My wife and I suggest you and your spouse pick a time each week to be alone together. Date nights were not just for dating. By keeping date nights active and encouraging your partner daily you can defeat the "Prisoners Dilemma" and watch the "Romantic Get Away" speed around the corner! Furnace Repair,Heating Contractor, Air Conditioning Furnaces, Air Conditioning Units, Boiler Repair Furnace Company, HVAC Contractor, AC Contractor Air Conditioning Repair,Rooftop Units, AC Repair HVAC Repair,Boiler Maintenance, Air Conditioning Contractor Rheem,Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor, RUUD Heating and Cooling, AC Units, Heating and Air Conditioning Furnace Installation,Mechanical Contractor, AC Installation Refrigeration Contractor,Walk-In Cooler, Ice Machines Four Seasons Heating and Cooling ...read more
By Four Seasons Heating and Cooling January 29, 2011
Many people have baseboard or wall heaters that are used as primary heat sources or as add-ons for heat in certain rooms of their homes. They are both economical and very easy to use. Should one become damaged or just go out you can repair it yourself with little or no effort without having to replace... ...read more
Many people at some point in their lives have used a humidifier, but many people do not have whole house humidifiers. Whole house humidifiers are used to regulate the moisture in the air for a number of reasons. For people with respiratory problems, for example, a humidifier can make all the differenc... ...read more
