A Yankton, South Dakota, family spent a year without functioning heat or air conditioning before an assistance program and a company provided a free replacement system valued at almost $15,000, according to KTIV.
Here's what to know
The Voracek family lived for about a year in their Douglas Street home without working heating or air conditioning until Lennox's Feel the Love Program stepped in.
Lennox supplied the equipment, and Kalin's Indoor Comfort donated the installation labor.
"Our heating bill and our light bill will probably be cut in half," Tammy Voracek told KTIV.
For homeowners facing a five-figure replacement bill like the Voraceks did, Palmetto can explain options for efficient HVAC systems and heat pumps to reduce energy costs.
Palmetto's Comfort Plan network connects homeowners with vetted installers who can find the best heating and cooling setup for any home.
As for how the family got by before the new system was installed, Tammy described several strategies they employed.
"We've used space heaters throughout the winter. We spent a lot of time at the pool. The splash pad down here in Yankton offers that for free, so [the kids] enjoyed going down there quite a bit."
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More background
Along with raising four children, Tammy and her husband, Alan, have been coping with Alan's 2025 diagnosis of stage 4 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The family's house, which came from her in-laws and was built more than a century ago, has also been opened up to foster children and daycare kids.
"The house is over 100 years old. So if the walls could talk, it would tell you lots of stories," she told the station.
Tammy continued, "And due to [my] husband's health, he has not worked for quite a while … at the end of the day, we live on a budgeted income, which doesn't always leave much for anything else."
What can be done?
The process began when Daniel Davis, a coworker of Voracek's, nominated her family for Lennox's Feel the Love Program.
After three weeks of discussion, the family was chosen, and Kalin's Indoor Comfort installed it for free.
Palmetto's Comfort Plan offers another path for people who aren't ready to spend up front, including $0-down options that can lower heating and cooling costs by up to 50% and provides 12 years of free maintenance.
Homeowners can reduce costs even further by pairing solar panels with electric appliances such as efficient HVAC systems. EnergySage can find the best solar options and installers for your home and budget, with savings of up to $10,000 on new installations.
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