MERCER COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18)– The temperature has dropped and it is time for the furnace to be turned on. Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning is making sure one family’s home is warm this winter.
“We’re just always holding our breath hoping that every season that we have heat for the winter and air for the summer,” said Beth Prater.
Chris and Beth’s heating and cooling unit is more than 26 years old. Every year, they spend around $220 on repairs/Freon. A repairman told them their coil is badly bent, but they don’t have the money to replace it.
In the summer, the temperature inside the Prater family’s home averages about 85 degrees, in the winter, it averages 55.
“Two dozen candles, wear long sleeves, it’s like you’re going outside in the summertime. Ice water on the countertops, and electric blankets,” said Chris. Chris is a veteran of the Army National Guard. He served for 20 years, and was deployed to Iraq in 2003, but says he was sent back after a month due to a previous injury. When he got back, he was honorably discharged and no longer employed at the Army National Guard headquarters, so he had no income until he found a job at the VA Hospital as a surgical tech.
Money has been tight and fixing their heating and cooling system was bumped lower on the list, especially since their daughter went to college.
Thursday morning, Chris thought he was meeting someone for an assessment on his furnace system, but a local company had another idea.
“We know you’ve had some heating and air conditioning issues in the past. We know the air conditioning is not working at all and the heaters not working well, so Comfort Heating and Air is proud on behalf of our entire team to give you a brand new system today,” said Comfort Heating And Air Conditioning owner Mike Buckley.
“I wish I could say something right now but I just can’t. Thank you, wow,” said Chris.
“Thank you so much, you took a big load off of our hands,” said Beth.
Beth’s birthday was also Thursday and she said this was a great surprise.
