For most people, facing Las Vegas’ summer heat without air conditioning or running water is the stuff of nightmares. But for Jim Siler, a recently widowed man in his 70s, that nightmare was reality.
Siler has been living in the Las Vegas Valley without working plumbing or air conditioning for several months. First, his air conditioning unit stopped functioning. Then a plumbing line burst, causing water to pool under his home.
Because he was on a fixed income, Siler couldn’t afford the $8,000 it would cost to get things fixed. So he resorted to keeping his windows open and keeping his water line turned off. To take a shower or use the toilet, Siler had to go outside and turn his water on in the sweltering heat or fill 5-gallon buckets for daily water usage (a weight of about 42 pounds), a massive challenge with his mobility limited by strokes and cancer treatments.
Although he’d been hospitalized several times this summer for heat-related issues , Siler resolved to tough out the brutal weather.
Clark County Social Services referred Siler to The Sunny Plumber and Goettl Air Conditioning for help. With four members of Bishop Gorman’s football team, The Sunny Plumber and Goettl Air Conditioning helped fix Siler’s plumbing and air conditioning.
Goettl Air Conditioning and The Sunny Plumber owner Ken Goodrich said many of his staff members donated time to help at Siler’s home.
“Giving back to those in our community who need help is our obligation,” he said.
Ken Goodrich’s 16-year-old son Duncan and three of his Bishop Gorman football teammates cleaned and removed debris from the yard and help fix stairs and railings to make the home safer and more comfortable.
Meanwhile, The Sunny Plumber and Goettl Air Conditioning repaired Siler’s plumbing system and air conditioning.
Goettl Air Conditioning donated $2,000 in materials and services to fix the air conditioning; The Sunny Plumber donated $6,000 in materials and service to fix the plumbing. The company installed a new, comfort-height toilet, perfect for Siler given his limited mobility.
When asked about how he felt about the work being done, Siler said, “A lot more comfortable and a lot better … at one point it was 127-degrees (in the house).”
About Goettl Air Conditioning:
Goettl Air Conditioning was originally created by Gust and Adam Goettl in 1939 and came to the Las Vegas Valley in 1968. Because of the recession, the company left Southern Nevada in 2007 and returned in 2015. Goettl Air Conditioning offers new units, maintenance, and repair to residential heating ventilation and air conditioning systems. All technicians are background-checked, drug-tested, and receive continuous technical training to make them the best in the industry. For more information, visit lasvegas.goettl.com
About The Sunny Plumber:
The Sunny Plumber offers the highest quality plumbing services throughout the Southwest. All plumbers are experienced in solving a wide variety of plumbing problems including drain cleaning, leak detection, sewer line and garbage disposal repair. The company also sells, installs and services standard and tankless water heaters. All plumbers are background-checked, drug-tested, and receive continuous technical training to make them the best in the industry. For more information, visit sunnyplumber.com