Get Marty: TUDI steps in for man who hasn't had furnace in 20 years

This is the Heat For The Needy program in action
75756A5E-120A-4932-810C-2FD980DB785E

If this doesn't warm your heart... it's a prime example of TUDI Mechanical Systems Heat for the Needy program doing what they set out to do. In the video you'll see two fantastic guys from TUDI, Chris and Angelo, who spent two days putting in a brand new furnace and it's all free of charge.

The man behind the mask in the blue sweatshirt, that's Jim Waight and this is his house in Tarentum.  He's lived there for nearly 20 years without a working furnace.  For heat, he's been burning wood and using kerosene heaters.

kerosene heaters
kerosene heaters Photo credit Get Marty

Look at the walls and you can see they're covered in black soot.  That's not the only thing Jim has been living with, he's also battling lung cancer.  Just before our visit, he got the good news that his condition is improving.

In a normal year, the TUDI teams would be out doing all of the furnace installations in one big blitz but the pandemic has changed all of that.  Before the season is finished they'll have restored heat to nearly 20 homes.

Jim, Marty and TUDI crew
Jim, Marty and TUDI crew Photo credit Get Marty

Nominations are closed for this season but the Heat for the Needy program will reopen for submissions in September. You can find out more on their website: TUDI Mechanical System

Featured Image Photo Credit: Get Marty