Comfort Pro provides free Lennox heating system to Berks family
The Rhoads family of Reading will be feeling much warmer this winter after being selected as the recipient of a free Lennox heating system, provided by Comfort Pro Inc. of Maidencreek Township as part of the 11th annual Comfort Pro Cares event.
After the panel reviewed five nomination letters, site evaluations were conducted by Comfort Pro, and the Rhoads family was selected as the 2021 Comfort Pro Cares recipient. Christine Rhoads nominated her family to receive the new heating system through Comfort Pro Cares via a letter submission.
After the Rhoads’ gas furnace stopped working two years ago a few days before Christmas, she and her family of six have been heating their house with small electric heaters in each room.
Not only is heating the home difficult, it takes a financial toll on the family during the winter when they average electric bills of $800 to $900 per month.
Rhoads, 63, was laid off last December after working at the library for 23 years. Her husband works at Hillside Mechanical, but his pay check helps care for their four grandchildren ages 11, 14, 16, and 18 who they have custody of and regular household expenses. They have applied for numerous loans, but her unemployment has kept them from receiving a loan to replace their heating system.
“I reached out to the United Way for help and they told me about the Comfort Pro Cares program and even sent me a link with information,” Christine Rhoads said. “My family and I could not face winter again without heat. The thought of it drove me to tears. Now I cry tears of joy for the blessing of heat.
“My world has come full circle as now two years later almost to the day my family will again have heat in their home other than electric heaters.
“On top of being expensive on days when the temperature drops below 30 degrees, the electric heaters struggle to keep up.”
“After reading Mrs. Rhoads’ letter and visiting her home to evaluate the heating system, we felt she and her family are very deserving of this new heating system,” said Luis Velasquez, of the Comfort Pro sales team. “It takes a lot to raise four teenagers, then add financial struggles and a non-operational heating system to the mix, kudos to Mrs. Rhoads for what she is doing. We hope that the new heating system will be one less thing that she and her family have to worry about moving forward.”
“We received five Comfort Pro Cares nominations this season,” Comfort Pro Inc. CEO Doug Weisman said. “It was touching to read all the nominations. The Rhoads’ family story made a real impact on the panel and the Comfort Pro team. It is heartwarming to know Comfort Pro can make a difference that will impact their entire family especially during the holiday season.”
On Dec. 22, a Comfort Pro team removed the family’s existing gas furnace and replaced it with a Lennox 96% high-efficient gas furnace with a whole house air filtration MERV 11 air cleaner. They also installed a Lennox touch screen programmable thermostat.
“For the installation to work, the Comfort Pro team also added new fiberglass ductwork, ran PVC flue piping and added new air supplies to the first floor and a condensation pump,” Velasquez said. “This will ensure the Rhoads family will stay warm this winter and for winters to come.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you Comfort Pro!” said April Topur, 18, one of the Rhoades’ granddaughters. “We haven’t had heat for way too. Because we have not had heat we have to sit in our rooms with our little electric heaters and lots of blankets instead of being in our living room as a family. Now, we can sit in our living room as a family. Thank you.”
“Out of all the people that could have gotten the heating system, I found it to be a miracle that we were selected,” said Summer Topur, 14, another granddaughter. “We really needed heat in our home. Thank you.”
“I am so excited! Comfort Pro, I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Christine Rhoads said, fighting back tears of joy. “It is a blessing that my grandchildren will come home from school today to a warm home! This is the best thing that has happened to us in years. It is the best Christmas present I have ever received.”*