Chappell family submits essay, receives new HVAC for home

By BRITTANY FHOLER 

Cove Leader-Press 

Thanks to the owner of A.R.T. Heating & Air in Copperas Cove, Brandi and Patrick Chappell now have a new heating and air conditioning system in their home. 

A.R.T. owner Frank Ellis has given away heating and A/C systems before without fanfare and says he tries to do it at least once a year. When Ellis decided that he wanted to give away a new heating/air conditioning system to a Copperas Cove homeowner back in December, he enlisted the method of having people submit a letter on paper by mail for a chance to be selected, with a deadline of January 15, 2020. The Leader-Press ran an article with his announcement after being contacted and made aware of Ellis’ efforts. 

In the January 31, 2020 publication, the Leader-Press announced the winner of the new A/C system to be Brandi and Patrick Chappell. The Chappells currently live in their house with Brandi’s 12-year-old son, Patrick’s four-year-old son and three-year-old daughter and the couple’s infant daughter. The two have been trying to remodel.

“It’s taken a huge load off of our shoulders,” Brandi said. “We’re trying to remodel and fix the house up for us and just to have that being the biggest thing that we needed to get done, taken care of, I mean, it just takes a huge load off our shoulders.”

 Both the inside and outside units were from different manufacturers and hadn’t been replaced for as long as the couple had lived in the house. Despite regular maintenance and repairs, the system still had issues. 

 Patrick explained that while their previous unit worked in keeping the house cool and warm, it would often leak and leave a mess.

When they found out they won, they were so excited, Brandi said. 

“I sent my husband the pictures, and he was like, ‘Are you serious? No way!” Brandi said. “So, I think it’s really cool that they do this, especially for Cove.”

Ellis said that he had narrowed down letter submissions to the top three before selecting the Chappells. 

“It feels good to help people out every now and then,” Ellis said. “If you can, I mean, why not do it?”

Ellis estimated that the Chappells’ previous unit was around 30 years old. The new system was made possible with the help of Robert Madden of Killeen who provided the unit at a discounted price. Ellis registered the new system which will give the Chappells a 10-year parts warranty on every part on the entire unit. They also received a two-year labor warranty, meaning that for two years, everything will be covered. The Chappells will not have to pay out of pocket for anything, according to Ellis. 

A.R.T. Heating & Air is located at 2209 Business 190. Their phone number is 254-630-2586.