Casey Cartier (left) and Lance Morgan service a furnace during HEAT’S ON 2013.

Volunteer members of St. Paul Pipefitters Local 455 and Minneapolis Pipefitters Local 539 serviced furnaces for the needy Sept. 28 during the 28th Annual HEAT’S ON Program. The day of service safeguards low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners – and reduces their fuel costs.

Area union contractors supplied parts and vehicles to the effort, which drew 156 volunteers statewide. They serviced 143 furnaces for operating efficiency and safety, and they installed or maintained smoke detectors in homes in Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Cloud, Mankato and Rochester.

HEAT’S ON is a national program that was started in the Twin Cities in 1986. Since then pipefitters in Minnesota alone have volunteered over 32,098 hours and assisted 7,447 homeowners at an estimated value of over $3.4 million.

Homeowners were pre-qualified for HEAT’S ON assistance with the help of local community human service organizations including the Minneapolis Community Action Agency, Community Action for Suburban Hennepin and the Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties.