Oregon woman working 3 jobs gets free $16,000 heating system after breakdown

Diane and Brian Johnsen, a retired couple from Beaverton, Oregon, can now face the winter in comfort after receiving a new HVAC system worth $16,000 at no cost. “We were ecstatic,” Brian told KOIN-TV as the couple received the unexpected gift through the Lennox Feel the Love programme.Answer to their prayersThe Beaverton couple were stretched thin. Diane took on three jobs to keep up with the mortgage on their home in Beaverton, Oregon.

Money was tight, and every bill counted. And that’s when the heating and cooling system stopped being worth repairing. A technician could not get it working again at a price that made sense, so the couple faced a bigger problem. They needed a new system, and they had little room in their budget to buy one.That’s when they turned to the Lennox Feel the Love programme. It is a community initiative that helps qualifying homeowners get essential home improvements at no cost.

Lennox donates the equipment, and local dealers install it for free. The programme is built on that partnership between the manufacturer and the people who work on the ground.The Johnsens hoped that the programme would help them, and it did. They received a complete heating and cooling system and a new thermostat. The equipment was valued at about $16,000. Aviator Heating & Cooling, a local contractor, handled the on-site installation.When they heard the news, the couple couldn’t hold back.

“Are you kidding? We were ecstatic,” Brian told the broadcaster.Feel the love programSince 2009, more than 3,100 recipients have received new systems through Feel the Love, Lennox says. In 2025, the company said it had donated 402 units that year alone. Those numbers cover homeowners and non-profits across North America.Aviator says it wants to help families in need across Beaverton, Portland and the surrounding communities in Oregon and south-east Washington.

The company’s work for the Johnsens fits that goal.For the Beaverton couple, this is nothing short of a blessing. For people of retirement age, a reliable furnace is more than a comfort. It is a question of safety and peace of mind through the coldest months. Diane put it simply: “Especially in our retirement years, it means the world to us.”Diane and Brian Johnsen’s story has drawn attention well beyond Beaverton, and the Feel the Love programme is getting much of the credit.

Since 2009, Lennox has donated heating and cooling systems to families in need, and local dealers install them for free. The arrangement is simple, and that may be part of why it works. For one retired couple, a system that could not be repaired is now one that will keep their home comfortable for years.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.