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Cleveland tenant has no heat or hot water

Posted at 5:53 PM, Jan 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-18 17:53:56-05

When the cold weather hits like it has recently, if you have problems with heat, it can be a miserable time.

Veronica Williams told us there have been problems with her furnace, hot water heater and her natural gas for a while now. She called us, her loved ones called us, and today we got some answers.

"We have no heat in this house or no hot water," said Williams, who lives on Cleveland's east side, has health problems and is dealing with a cold home.

What's it feel like? 

"In this house, like you outside. I mean, if you turn off the stove it will be colder," said Williams. She had all four burners going on her stove trying to help heat the home she's lived in for the last 3 years. The blue glow of the flames accompanies the red glow from space heaters around various rooms. 

The heaters were set on high as emotions ran high in her family.

"I mean, excuse me, it's cold as hell! I'm going to tell you that right now," said Veronica’s son Tyson Williams, who lives there, too. "Listen, when you ain't got no furnace on, it's kind of hard to deal with cold water even though you gots to wash up. You gots to keep your body clean," Tyson told us.

The landlord said he replaced the furnace in the last 30 days but the gas pressure was not holding up. So, we called Dominion Gas and within a couple hours the company responded with an emergency crew.

It was a step in the right direction after the Williams got creative to get some heat. "We'll put clothes in the dryer so the dryer can keep us warm," commented Veronica.

The gas is now flowing into Veronica's home, but Dominion Gas told us you should never use a stove to heat your home. That is very dangerous.

Remember, if the gas account is in your name, you have to contact the company, not a landlord. If you have any problems, call the gas company right away. It takes calls 24 hours a day.

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