FARMINGTON — Homeowners in Farmington and Wilton are eligible to receive a voucher from the American Lung Association for the purchase of a new EPA-certified heating system.

The Rumford River Valley Communities Wood Stove Changeout Program was launched in September 2015, allowing homeowners in certain towns to receive a voucher for $1,000 toward the purchase of a new EPA-certified pellet, gas or wood stove.

Homeowners in Andover, Byron, Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, Hanover, Peru, Mexico, Roxbury, Rumford, Wilton and Farmington are eligible for the vouchers.

“I think the program has been win-win for everyone involved,” Michelle Edwards, program coordinator, said. “Businesses are happy because they have more business, consumers are happy because they can now afford a stove whereas maybe before they weren’t able to. There’s less fuel cost, and the (American Lung Association) is able to obtain its healthy air goals.”

The voucher can be used at Buy the Fire stove shop on Route 26 in Oxford, Don’s Stove Shop & Chimney Care at 113 River Road in Livermore, and Northern Lights Hearth and Sports at 639 Wilton Road in Farmington.

The stove must be professionally installed in compliance with all relevant building and fire codes.

The program has eight vouchers left. To apply for one, homeowners must complete an application on the American Lung Association website or at the participating stores. Applications, which must include a picture of the existing stove, are to be mailed to American Lung Association in Maine, attention Michelle Edwards, 122 State St., Augusta, ME 04330.

The voucher must be used or the homeowner enter into a purchase agreement with one of the three participating retailers within 30 days of receipt.

“The retailer will then install the new stove and make the old stove inoperable,” according to an American Lung Association new release.

emeisner@sunmediagroup.net

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