A local, family-owned company in California provided a full AC replacement for free to an elderly Fresno couple surviving on a fixed income.
Here's what to know
A failed air conditioner in triple-digit weather became an urgent problem for Hazel Hayes and her family. Once the aging cooling system stopped working, the Fresno resident said they had few viable options, KMPH reported.
With a unit beyond repair, the couple was left with a replacement estimate of about $12,000 — far more than they could afford. Hayes said there was virtually no room left in the household budget.
"We're right on the edge of falling off the cliff … to just get some food on the table," she said.
The first Costless Plumbing, Heating and Air employee sent to the home was service technician Ethan Hernandez. While assessing the problem, he learned the couple was already under financial strain and dealing with mounting medical bills after Hayes' husband's battle with cancer.
The Hayeses had a difficult time even gathering the $95 service fee. "She was a little struggling, just to collect and put it together," Hernandez said, noting that she ultimately ended up using a credit card because she did not have enough cash.
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After the visit, Hernandez contacted his brother, Nathan Hernandez, the company's operations manager, to ask whether the company could help.
"This service call kind of pulled on his heartstrings," Nathan Hernandez said.
Nathan then took the situation to their father, Angel Hernandez, CEO of Costless Plumbing, Heating and Air. The family-owned business has operated in the Valley since 2003, and it approved a full system replacement at no cost.
Angel Hernandez said, "Anytime I hear elderly, anytime I hear fixed income, and I hear especially a veteran, somebody that's given so much to our country, it's almost an obligation that we got to help."
What is this significant?
When temperatures surge into the triple digits, losing air conditioning can become dangerous for anyone, but the threat is especially serious for older adults and households with limited financial flexibility. For families already trying to keep up with food costs, medical expenses, and other essentials, a major home repair is financially unrealistic.
Triple digits have become all too common this summer, with human-caused air pollution driving temperatures higher and higher. That kind of heat requires a lot of energy, pushing appliances to their limits. People using older models who are unable to afford a replacement might find themselves in the same position as the Hayes family.
What's being done?
The company's decision to replace the entire system at no charge to restore safe indoor cooling for the couple and lift a major financial burden isn't something you see every day. That act of kindness blessed the Hayes family with immediate relief, safety, and a restored sense of hope during a brutal heat wave.
Hopefully, Costless Plumbing, Heating and Air's good deed will drive more business as word spreads. Supporting companies and businesses that do the right thing is a way to let your money talk. For more ideas, check out the TCD Guide's page on supporting eco-friendly initiatives by your favorite brands.
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