Project HEAT'S ON (Handicapped and Elderly Assistance To Service Our Neighbors), co-sponsored by the Greater Michigan Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Association, Inc., (PMC), and UA Local 190, Plumbers / Pipe Fitters / Service Technicians / Gas Distribution, was a resounding success.

In its ninth year in Washtenaw County, HEAT'S ON continues to be a community service that not only provides free safety inspections and minor repairs of heating systems, but also helps to insure the homeowner's safety with new smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

At a kick-off breakfast hosted by Local 190 and PMC, volunteers were given jackets to identify them as Project HEAT'S ON participants. Then, service technicians were teamed with apprentices and other volunteers ready to spend their Saturday meeting the needs of the community.

The program participants cleaned and checked 65 furnaces along with installing Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Smoke Detectors. After the work of the day was done, everyone came back for lunch. It also gives the volunteers time for fellowship, catching up with friends is always important.

Assisting Elderly In Need

Furnace Replacement

One of the intricacies to running the HEAT'S ON Project is the follow-up work that comes after the day. This year we had to replace three furnaces. The replacements take a number of different configurations including assistance from the Family Independence Living departments, to the need for the Association to pay for the replacement.

The most difficult replacement this year was a project that involved enormous effort on the part of the apprentices who were working on the project under difficult conditions. The homeowner was very sick and had a furnace that he had begun replacing himself before he became ill. This necessitated a totally new installation, new ductwork, and a new furnace. The installation was complicated due to the unbelievably small crawl space the apprentices had to work in to put in the new ductwork.