Contractors unite to help family

BY MELANIE SAVAGE Staff Writer
When Mark Hany, of Mark Hany Plumbing and Heating , Inc., received a service call to a home in Coventry in May of 2008, he had no idea what he was getting into. “I had received a call for no hot water,” said Hany. What he saw when he entered the home’s basement shocked him. “The whole situation was deplorable,” said Hany. “It was a whole safety issue down there.” The previous homeowners had installed a propane hot water heater in an illegal fashion. And the existing boiler, original to the 1950s-era home, was in terrible shape. “It was all clogged up with soot,” said Hany. “The boiler was so hot, the family had put an air conditioner in the living room to cool it down.” Consequently , the family was paying triple energy bills: propane, oil, and electricity . “It was one of the worst situations I’ve seen,” said Hany.

The current homeowners, who wish to remain anonymous, had no idea of the severity of the problem. “An oil contractor had told us that there were some things that were not up to par,” said the mother of the house. “We knew that the previous homeowners had monkeyed around.” But, lacking the thousands of dollars required for a new system, the family was forced to make do. But when the phone book led them to Hany, the family got lucky.

Hany was taking care of the original service call when the family’s handicapped child arrived on the school bus. “Their whole lives revolve around him,” said Hany. “Only one parent works. Someone’s gotta be with the child at all times.” Hany decided that he needed to take action. “I had the overwhelming feeling I had to do something ,” he said. Lacking the money to help the family on his own, Hany reached out to his fellow contractors. “The only resource I had was this group of people,” he said, referring to the Greater Hartford Association of Plumbing , Heating, and Cooling Contractors. Hany, the president of the chapter, came up with a plan for assisting the family, and asked fellow members for their help. “Everyone at PHCC was immediately willing to get involved,” said Hany.

What followed were numerous phone calls to suppliers in search of replacement equipment for the home. In the end, Crown Boiler Co., Manchester Winnelson, Vernon Winnelson, and New Shepard Plumbing Supply all agreed to donate supplies at cost. “This is about a $9,000 job,” said Hany. “PHCC will end up writing a check for about $2,000 for supplies.” And all labor was donated by members of PHCC.

On Friday, Sept. 12, the homeowners’ driveway resembled a parking lot, as more than 10 local contractors gathered to install the new equipment. “What’s really interesting is that we’re all competitors normally,” said Hany. “We’re competing for jobs in the same areas.” But part of the purpose of PHCC is to foster camaraderie within the profession, and provide contractors with opportunities to share ideas and information about innovations in the field. Most of the contractors involved in the project were individuals, who had donated their time and labor to the cause due to a desire to help and a sense of dedication to the organization.

As her home swarmed with activity inside and out, the homeowner sat quietly in her living room, tending to her son. It hadn’t quite seemed to sink in yet that all of the equipment and services were being donated free of charge. “I hope it’s not too expensive,” she said. Hany expects that the new, efficient oil furnace and integrated hot water system will decrease the family’s heating costs by 35 percent, at minimum. And it will be much easier to maintain the temperature constant required by the handicapped child. “Last year, I probably had eight deliveries of oil,” said the mom, stroking her son’s hair. “And he needs a constant temperature. Most children can put on a coat if they get cold, but that’s not possible with him,” she said.

Hany expected to work into the afternoon on Sept. 12, and finish up the job on Saturday, Sept. 13. Other local contractors involved in the job were: Al Gerner, of First Choice Home Services out of Stafford Springs; Wayne Beaupre , of Waynes Plumbing, Etc. out of Manchester; Bob Macca, of Macca Plumbing and Heating, Inc. out of Hartford ; Mike Collins, of Somers Mechanical out of Somers; Mike Manccini, of Advance Plumbing and Heating out of Newington; Mike Cormier, of Better and Better Plumbing and Heating out of E. Hartford; Shawn Koehler, of Liberty Plumbing, LLC out of Ellington; Trever Jones, of T.F. Jones Plumbing out of Bolton; Richard Wilson, of Rising Star Plumbing LLC out of Glastonbury; and Ray Page, out of Ray Page Plumbing Service out of Vernon. Dale Duby of Cunningham Supply and Bob Macca also donated tickets to Lake Compounds .