Three local contractors teamed up to install a brand new heating system at no cost to a customer who had been without heat for a decade. 

When Dwight Miller, owner of Lifetime Heating, Cooling, and Electric became aware of a community member’s situation through The Snohomies Facebook group, he reached out to two local competitors- CM Heating and Emerald City HVAC.

Eight years ago, Laurie Simmons was having chest pains and decided to go to the hospital as a precaution. On the way there, her husband had a massive heart attack and passed away.

“That was really a shocker for me because we’d been married almost 40 years,” said Simmons.

“She lost her spouse and her loved one; her support system,” said John Giacomi, General Manager and Co-Owner of CM Heating. 

Since her husband’s passing, Simmons developed diabetes, losing her leg to it in February. Due to her limited mobility, she has since been confined to the downstairs area of her 101-year-old home. The furnace then went out, and living on a limited income, she wasn’t equipped to have it repaired. She’s since lived without heat for ten years.

“She was keeping warm through the winters with a space heater and heated blanket,” Giacomi explained. 

Daughter Maggie Simmons was determined to figure out a solution for her mother but didn’t have the financial means to pay for the repair herself.

On a whim, she reached out to her local community through the Facebook group, asking for recommendations for contacts or contractors that could help. 

For no-cost, the three contractors teamed up to install a brand new heating system on April 9. Lifetime Heating supplied the furnace, CM Heating supplied the labor and permits. Emerald City HVAC supplied the additional essential materials to complete the project. 

“It was a collaborative project that had a real impact,” Giacomi said. “It was nice to have us naturally put our competition with one another aside to have the opportunity to do something good… we’re all ultimately fueled by wanting to make a difference in people’s lives.” 

Simmons said that she is beyond thankful for the generosity she was shown.

“I’m very thankful for it,” she said. “These companies came together and helped; three companies that are competitors.”