Monroeville family has warm Christmas after receiving free furnace

It was a warm Christmas for Doug Gaworski of Monroeville, his wife and nearly 2-year-old daughter.

The Gaworski family received a free furnace from a Plum heating and cooling company just two days before Christmas.

Gaworski, 29, said the family moved to the house in 2017. The move meant inheriting a 35-year-old furnace.

“It was on its last leg,” Gaworski said.

The Lennox furnace, valued at around $4,500, was part of Cartwright Heating and Cooling’s inaugural giveaway. Owners Hoss Cartwright and Nicole Brown said they started the giveaway because they wanted to give back to the community that has supported their new business, which recently celebrated its third year.

“This is just one way to pay it forward,” said Brown, Cartwright’s fiancée.

She said the giveaway had no strings attached. There were no purchases necessary, and the installation was free. It included a thermostat, metal work and reconfiguration of ducts.

“I mean, these people have paid our bills with their support,” Brown said. “It’s important for us to do something special.”

Cartwright, 34, said Gaworski was one of 10 families who were in the running to receive a new furnace. To qualify, the furnace had to be at least 20 years old and the family had to own the home they’re living in.

Gaworski said he didn’t know he was in the running. His aunt, Linda Mancine, nominated the family.

“I was shocked,” he said. “I didn’t expect it.”

In order to make it a surpsrise, Gaworski was told that Cartwright was one of his uncle’s friends and that he had a background in heating and cooling.

When the furnace was installed Dec. 23, Gaworski thought his “uncle’s friend” was simply replacing a faulty gas valve. He thought the temporary fix would buy enough time to save up to replace the furnace next winter.

“He called me downstairs and it was a new furnace,” Gaworski. “I was pretty shocked.”

His shock continued when he asked how much he owed Cartwright.

“He told me ‘we’re giving this for free.’ I was shocked about that also. They were really good, nice people,” Gaworski said of Cartwright and Brown.

Mancine, Gaworski’s aunt, said her husband took a look at the old furnace this summer. He saw it had a number of issues and recommended it be replaced with a new one. So when Mancine saw the company’s giveaway, she thought right away about her nephew and his family.

“We were just so worried about the furnace lasting through the winter,” she said.

Brown, 40, said she understands the dilemma many families are facing.

“A lot of people can’t drop $4,500 on a brand-new furnace. I mean, when we were in our early 20s, we struggled. I know what it’s like,” she said.

Next up for Gaworski is replacing the house’s air conditioning unit.

He already knows which company he’ll hire for the job.