Heating Systems
What We Do
Heating System Repair and Replacement
Who Are these Services for?
- Homeowners who live in Franklin or Hampshire Counties
- You must receive fuel assistance or the utility discount rate for electricity or natural gas.
If you do not currently receive fuel assistance, we still may be able to help. We will need copies of your electric/ natural gas bills to see if you qualify.
Utility funds will not cover heating system repairs for tenants. If you are a tenant and your heating system needs repair, please contact your landlord.
How do I sign up?
Email energy@communityaction.us
Please include:
- name
- LIHEAP application number (if you have one)
- home address
- phone number
- email address
- attach a copy of your electric and natural gas bills
You can call 413-376-1115. Please be prepared to leave all information in your message.
We will respond to explain the process and determine the best time to schedule an assessment.
What can I expect once I am enrolled?
Emergency Calls
If you call between November 1 and April 30 and you have no heat, you are considered an emergency.
- You will hear from us within 18 business hours after receiving your request.
- If you need a repair, we will contact a contractor and send them to your home with a work order. If you need a replacement, we will complete a heat survey with you. We will always attempt to contact your vendor first if you are in an emergency.
Non-Emergency Calls
- If your vendor does not do replacements, has not recommended replacement, or you are not an emergency, we will schedule an assessment.
- A technician will complete an assessment of your heating system and request quotes.
- We assign the contract to a contractor who will complete the replacement.
- The contractor will contact you to schedule the work.
- Our technician will inspect the work once it is complete.
How do I connect someone else to HEATING SYSTEMS?
Anyone interested in heating system repair and replacements should call 413-376-1115 or email energy@communityaction.us
CONTACT INFO FOR THE PROGRAM
EMAIL: energy@communityaction.us
CALL: 413-376-1115
If you have no heat because your system broke down between October 1 and April 30 include EMERGENCY in your message.
Forms, Documents & Downloads
IF YOU QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM, YOU MAY ALSO QUALIFY FOR:
Frequently Asked Questions about Repairs and Replacements
If you receive Fuel Assistance or a utility rate discount and your heating system is not running or running poorly, contact Community Action at 413-376-1115. If you receive Fuel Assistance, we will issue a Repair Work Order to your primary provider.
If you need a heating system replacement, we will schedule an appointment to come into your home and review your system. This will include taking measurements and verifying that it is beyond repair or inefficient.
If you qualify for a replacement, contractors will be notified to provide an estimate for replacement. The cost for the replacement is requested from our funders. Once the funding is approved, the contractor will complete the job.
All Repairs are funded through Fuel Assistance. You must receive fuel assistance to be eligible for repairs to your heating system.
In most cases there is no cost to you if your heating system needs to be replaced. This depends on if you are on Fuel Assistance or receive a R2/R4 discount rate from your utility.
Sometimes the cost to replace your heating system is higher than the amount our funders are willing to pay. In that case, we may ask you to pay the difference. We will not do any work without telling you first if there will be a copay.
The process can take from 1-4 weeks or more depending on if you have a No Heat Emergency or not.
You are designated a No Heat Emergency and made a high priority for repair or replacement if you are receiving fuel assistance.
Typically hot water systems are not funded for repair or replacement. An exception can be made if your domestic hot water is directly generated by your boiler.
If you receive Fuel Assistance, we may be able to help with a replacement but not a repair.
If you are not eligible for Fuel Assistance, it is the landlord’s full responsibility to repair or replace the heating system.
We may be able to replace inefficient heating systems.
If the tenant receives Fuel Assistance or is on the discount rate there are limited funds available for replacements.
If the tenant does not receive Fuel Assistance and is not on the discount rate, it is the landlord’s full responsibility to repair or replace the heating system.
Yes, we strongly encourage you to contact Community Action for an application. Clients need to reapply every year for approval.
Typically, if a person is approved for Fuel Assistance, they are automatically approved for the discount rate with their utility. On an electric utility bill, it will have an R2 rate. On a gas bill it will have an R4 rate. If you receive Fuel Assistance and are not receiving the discount rate, you need to contact your utility provider directly and submit a copy of your fuel assistance eligibility letter.
Air Source Heat Pumps
Air Source Heat Pumps
Air Source Heat Pumps
What We Do
We install eco-friendly air source heat pumps to replace fossil fuel and baseboard heating systems. They cool in the summer, heat in the winter, and dehumidify your home when needed.
Who Are these Services for?
- Homeowners and renters who live in Franklin or Hampshire Counties.
- You must receive fuel assistance or the utility discount rate for electricity. If you are not receiving fuel assistance, we will need copies of your electric bills to see if you qualify.
How do I sign up?
Email energy@communityaction.us .
Please include:
- name
- LIHEAP application number (if you have one)
- home address
- phone number
- email address.
- Please attach a copy of your electric and natural gas bills. We will respond to explain the process and schedule an assessment.
You can also call 413-376-1115. Please be prepared to leave all information in your message.
What can I expect once I am enrolled in ASHP Program?
- We will schedule an assessment with you.
- Our energy technician will come to your home with a contractor who will take measurements.
- The contractor develops a proposal that ensures your house is cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
- Once we have approval from our funder, we notify you and the contractor.
- The contractor schedules installation with you and complete the work.
- We inspect the installation after completion.
How do I connect someone else to ASHP?
Anyone interested in air source heat pumps should call 413-376-1115 or email energy@communityaction.us.
CONTACT INFO FOR THE PROGRAM
Forms, Documents & Downloads
IF YOU QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM, YOU MAY ALSO QUALIFY FOR:
Frequently Asked Questions about ASHPs
The Air Source Heat Pump program is free of cost for most homeowners. It is a value of $15,000-$30,000.
The assessment will take about 1 hour of your time.
If you are a landlord, there may be some cost to you. This depends on the system required and the funding source.
You need to either be eligible for fuel assistance or receive the utility discount rate on your electric bill.
On an electric utility bill, it will have an R2 rate. On a gas bill it will have an R4 rate.