Local News

A warm gift for winter

Jacobson Heating provides new furnaces for two homes

KINGSFORD -- For two Iron Mountain households, heading into winter will be a little warmer and a lot less stressful thanks to Jacobson Heating & AC.

The Kingsford-based business recently gave away new furnaces to local residents Sherri Derouin and Sean and Christy Verity as part of its first giveaway. What began as an idea to help one family quickly turned into an opportunity to help two, demonstrating the company's commitment to giving back to the community.

"We originally planned to do the one furnace, but after seeing the number of responses, I decided to surprise two lucky winners," Jacobson Heating & AC owner Garrett Johnson said.

Johnson took ownership of the business from Gary Jacobson on Jan. 24, 2025, continuing a local heating and cooling tradition that has spanned 40 years.

Since taking the reins, Johnson said he has been looking for ways to make community involvement an even bigger part of the business.

"Since day one, I wanted to make it one of our missions to help as many people as we can," he said.

He had considered doing a furnace giveaway last year but the timing of taking over the business and focusing on its growth made it difficult. As fall approached this year, he decided it was time to make the idea a reality.

Johnson said the response from the community was overwhelming. Participants were asked to submit a photograph of their old furnace, follow Jacobson's Facebook page and share the giveaway post to help spread the word to others who might need assistance.

Within just 10 days, the business received more than 100 entries. Submissions closed at the end of September, and the winners received their new furnace in October. They were selected through a random drawing conducted live on Facebook.

Johnson said the company knew it wanted to provide the best furnace it sells, a Daikin two-stage, along with the installation and labor at no cost to the recipients. The total value of the giveaway was approximately $6,000.

As it turned out, both winning households needed new equipment.

Johnson said the furnace at the Verity home was estimated to be at least 30 years old, while Derouin's unit was almost twice that age and in considerably rougher condition.

"We knew his furnace was winding down," Johnson said of the Verity home, noting the company had completed more than $1,000 in repairs on the unit the previous winter.

Derouin, meanwhile, had spent years wondering how much longer her furnace would keep running.

She said the furnace was already in the home when she purchased it nearly 35 years ago, making it difficult to determine its exact age.

"I was crossing my fingers every year that it would start," Derouin said.

After seeing the giveaway announcement on Facebook, she decided to enter almost on a whim. She had recently purchased new filters for her aging furnace and thought she might as well take a photograph and submit it.

"I thought mine looks older than everybody else's furnace that had been posted at the time," Derouin said.

When the winners were announced, she initially didn't realize she had been selected. Friends began sending her messages on Facebook telling her she had won, prompting her to check the post herself.

"When I went to the post and he said my name, I started crying," she said.

The new furnace has already made a difference -- Derouin said she has noticed $20 in savings just on her electric bill and is looking forward to seeing what additional savings the new, efficient furnace will bring during the winter heating season.

Johnson believes the improved efficiency is a major benefit, but the greatest relief for him comes from the reduced liability.

"I'm very grateful for their generosity and appreciate everything they have done for me," Derouin said. "It's so awesome."

For Sean and Christy Verity, the giveaway also came as a welcome surprise.

The couple knew their furnace would eventually need replacing, and a problem the previous winter had them debating whether it was time to invest in a new system.

He said his wife was the one who brought the original Facebook post about the giveaway to his attention.

The couple was surprised when they found out they had been selected.

"We are so grateful -- we are Jacobson super fans," Verity said.

The family's appreciation for Jacobson Heating goes back several years. When they lived in a previous home, the company had replaced their furnace, and Verity said the experience left a lasting impression.

"We have had a couple emergencies and they have always pulled through," he said.

Receiving a new furnace means the family no longer has to worry about their aging system failing in the middle of winter.

"It's such a relief for us," he said.

"It's an awesome thing he (Johnson) did for the community," Verity said. "They got a good guy at the helm there."

For Johnson, the giveaway represents much more than installing new heating equipment. It is about recognizing the customers and neighbors who have helped the business grow.

Jacobson Heating & AC serves Iron Mountain, Kingsford, Norway plus Niagara and Aurora in Wisconsin, along with surrounding communities. The company currently employs 13 people, and Johnson credits the team with helping the business grow significantly over the past two years.

In addition to the furnace giveaway, Jacobson supports several non-profit organizations, community events, schools and athletic groups throughout the area.

"We want to give back to the people that give to us," Johnson said.

The first giveaway was such a success that Johnson said it will become an annual tradition, with the possibility of another giveaway in the spring.

Johnson said the experience reinforced just how fortunate the business is to be part of the local community.

For Derouin and the Verity family, the generosity means peace of mind this winter. And for Jacobson Heating & AC, the giveaway is just the beginning of another way to say thanks to those that support them.

"This is just the start," Johnson said.

Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.