CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. — Although she is glad the weather has been in her favor with warmer-than-normal temperatures, Linda Smalley is still left to figure out how she will keep her home warm.
"We started the furnace up when it started to get cold out, but we noticed that the pilot light kept going out," said Smalley as she described how her furnace first began having problems.
On Friday, she had a serviceman visit the home who discovered that her furnace had holes in the heat exchanger.
They also found that the furnace was too old to safely use, saying the parts necessary to keep it safe are no longer available.
"I'm not gonna be able to afford a furnace. I'm gonna have to use space heaters. I don't know how I'm gonna be able to afford for a new furnace," Smalley said. She also explained that she was told it would cost $7,000 to $9,000 to fully replace the furnace, a cost she says she cannot afford.
She worries that the winter cold will make her unable to live in her home.
While she has space heaters, she is not sure how long that method can last, as she looks for help to find a more permanent solution.
"I'd feel awfully blessed if someone could help me out with resources in helping me to get a furnace. It would be a miracle for me. It would be my Christmas miracle."
Resources and organizations that help community members who find themselves in difficult situations regarding their home in Kent County:
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