Madison Area Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (MSC) and Steamfitters Local 601 had over 60 volunteers service 56 homes of veterans at the 36th Heat’s On event on Saturday, October 12, 2024. The service technicians ensured all the furnaces were operating properly and safely. During the service checks, two furnaces were found in need of replacement. There have also been two additional follow-up visits this week as well.
For the furnace replacements, Hooper Corporation and 1901 Inc. are coordinating with the veteran homeowners to schedule the replacements as well as following up on several other part repairs that were unavailable during the Heat’s On event last weekend. All the labor and supplies for the furnace checks and repairs were completely complimentary to the veteran homeowners. The furnace replacements are donated by Temperature Systems Inc. and First Supply.
"Your guys were just out here to service my furnace on this Heat's On for Veterans program,” said Army Veteran John Heintz. “They were very professional, very friendly, and this is a very good program. I hope you guys keep it up as a veteran. I do appreciate the service call and the professionalism of your guys. O, and thank you so much for the sweet roll. You guys are fantastic."
The three-decades old event, Heat’s On, has checked and serviced over 2,700 homes in Dane County since its inception in 1987. The event originated when two elderly individuals froze to death when the temperatures dropped because their furnace was not working properly. The association and local union originated the program to assist the poor and elderly to stay warm throughout the winter. In 2015, Heat’s On began checking furnaces for veterans.
“Thank you again for servicing my furnace,” said Army and Vietnam Veteran Karl Hacker. “The people were great. Can't believe I didn't do this sooner.”
During this year’s event, 13 local contractors: 1901 Inc., Air Temperature Services, Bassett Mechanical, Butters-Fetting, CS Mechanical, Grunau Company, Helm Mechanical, Hooper Corporation, IKM Building Solutions, JM Brennan, Lee Mechanical, The Waldinger Corporation, and Trane, provided trucks for the technicians to use to service the furnaces. First Supply, Gustave A. Larson, Johnstone Supply, and Temperature Systems Inc. are the supply houses that donated the materials used to repair the furnaces. “We could not do this program without the support of our volunteers, contractors, and supply houses who go above and beyond to help our veterans each year,” said MSC Executive Director Julie Walsh. “This continues to be my favorite day of the year! This event is proof that acts of kindness can make the world a better place.” The service technicians volunteered their Saturday morning to service the veterans’ furnaces. One of the perks for the service technicians during Heat’s On is sitting down and hearing stories from our veterans. It gives them a new appreciation for all that the homeowners have done for our country. Many of the service technicians who volunteer for Heat’s On are also veterans themselves. This year’s event had 17 veterans that are members of the Steamfitters Local 601 and organizations affiliated with Heat’s On that participated in the event and helped keep their fellow veterans warm this winter.
For the veteran homeowners, the annual Heat’s On is a program that not only gives them comfort and peace of mind this winter, but in some cases, it is lifesaving. Madison Area Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors Association is starting to collect information from veterans who would like their furnaces checked as part of the 37th Heat’s On event which will be held during one Saturday in October 2025. Veterans interested in a free furnace check next Fall can contact the Dane County Veterans Service Office at 608-266-4158.
Click here for the Photo Album from the event!
Click here to watch the Thank You Video!
It is important for all homeowners to have preventative maintenance done on their furnace yearly to keep it running as efficiently as possible. Some additional maintenance homeowners can do on their own include: If homeowners are using high efficiency filters, change the filter every three months. If it is a standard rate filter, change it every six months. If it is a Space Guard/Aprilaire filter, change it every six months to a year. Change the filters more frequently if they are really dirty. Check for water leaks around the furnace, humidifier, and PVC piping. If a homeowner is having issues with their furnace: Check the breaker to make sure it was not tripped. Check the PVC on the outside of the home to make sure they are clean of debris. Especially during the winter months, snow can blow around the PVC vents and intake can plug them up. When this happens, the furnace will fault out. During snowstorms, 75% of the time there is a problem with a furnace because the vents on the outside of the home are plugged up.
For more information on preventative maintenance, please reach out to Madison Area Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors Association Executive Director Julie Walsh at 608-288-1414.