How Weatherization Made a Cle Elum Family’s Home Safer, Healthier, and More Affordable

In 2020 Sarah Letson moved back to Cle Elum to a family home with her new husband, Riks Rai, a native of Fiji. The old house was drafty, kept warm only with space heaters and a woodstove. At first she didn’t think much about it. “I grew up in a double-wide trailer. It was always so cold and so hot. It was all I knew,” Sarah said.

But her Fijian husband was perpetually cold, and then a baby came along, changing the equation. The old house was no longer a good environment to raise a child, and her asthma was a continual problem.

“I’m not one to ask for help,” said Sarah, who trained as a massage therapist but could not work during Covid. “But my mom told me about this weatherization program.” The family income-qualified for services and work began on the house.

First up was replacing the dangerous knob-and-tube wiring and an outdated electrical panel. The wiring had been a constant worry for her, given that she didn’t have the money to do that work herself. The weatherization crew then added insulation and installed a ductless heat pump, providing the family with energy-efficient heating and cooling year-round.

“When I found out I would get a minisplit, I said whoa! The cleaner air has made my allergies and asthma so much better. I’ve really noticed a difference with my breathing.”

“And I have peace of mind about the electrical wiring. I can sleep at night.”

Now she, Riks and two-year-old Rainsun enjoy a safer, healthier and more affordable home, leaving more time for the couple to focus on running their catering business, Fiji Fusion, bringing their cuisine to a rural area. 

“It’s really incredible,” Sarah said. “It makes me want to cry. I’m so thankful.”