In Lakeside we service older boilers, sort out mixed heating systems left by additions and install ductless mini-splits for upstairs rooms that never stay cool. Common calls are uneven heat between the original house and an addition, cold radiators, failing circulators and second floors that hit 85 degrees in July. Our phone is answered 24/7.
Lakeside's homes surround Lakeside Park and its rose garden off Lake Avenue, northeast of downtown. The historic district holds houses from the early 1900s through the 1940s: four-squares, bungalows, Colonial Revivals and a few cottages. Over the decades, owners added sunrooms, rear kitchens and second-floor dormers, and each addition got whatever heat seemed easiest at the time.
So a Lakeside house might have a hot water boiler serving the original rooms, electric baseboard in a sunroom, a small furnace in a rear addition and window units upstairs. Each system works on its own schedule, and none of them talk to each other. When Landcons visits a home here, we look at the whole picture first, because the cheapest fix is often to stop the systems fighting each other rather than adding another.
When additions and an old boiler share one Lakeside house
The boiler in the basement is often older than anyone living in the house remembers, sometimes converted from coal to gas long ago. If it serves radiators in the original rooms and also a zone for an addition, it may cycle oddly, run constantly or leave the far end cold. Sunrooms with lots of glass lose heat fast and need more than a single baseboard zone can provide. These systems respond well to proper sizing, balancing and modern controls.
Upstairs cooling is the other big topic. Many second floors here sit under the roof with little insulation, and window units are the only cooling. A multi-zone ductless system with heads in each bedroom solves that without touching the radiators. Some owners also choose a ductless head for a sunroom, where it supplies both heat and cooling.
Lake Avenue area calls, from boilers to bedrooms
Most of what we do here falls into one of these four requests.
Addition colder than the rest of the house
We look at how the addition is heated and whether its zone can keep up. A ductless head or a rebalanced hot water zone usually fixes it.
Old boiler losing efficiency
Converted boilers from decades past burn more gas than needed. We test combustion, check the controls and price a replacement if it makes sense.
Upstairs bedrooms unbearable in summer
Ductless heads in each bedroom cool the second floor quietly. We locate the outdoor unit where it is out of sight from the street.
Radiator valve leaks
Old radiator valves can weep at the packing nut. We repack or replace the valve and check the system pressure.
Water heater near the end
Many Lakeside water heaters share the old boiler chimney. We check the venting and replace the tank when needed.
Pricing for Lakeside heat and cooling projects
A three-zone ductless system for a Lakeside second floor typically runs $7,295 to $11,985. Adding a single ductless head for a sunroom or addition is usually $3,485 to $5,895. Boiler replacement typically falls between $7,485 and $13,985 depending on size, venting and controls. Those ranges are typical; the real price comes from the visit, and you will have it in writing.
We also check whether any of these upgrades qualify for current Indiana Michigan Power or NIPSCO rebate programs, which change from year to year. If you are planning an addition, call before the framing goes up, because sizing heat for it at the drawing stage costs far less than fixing a cold room later.
Lakeside questions
Can my Lakeside boiler also heat a new addition?
Often it can, if the boiler has enough capacity and the piping can reach. We measure the heat loss of the addition and check the boiler's output. If it is too small, a ductless heat pump in the addition is usually simpler than adding a zone.
What is the quietest way to cool a Lakeside upstairs?
Ductless mini-splits are very quiet indoors, often quieter than a refrigerator, and the outdoor unit can be placed in a side yard. Small-duct systems are also quiet. Window units are the loudest option, which is why many owners near the park replace them.
Is my converted Lakeside boiler safe to keep running?
Old boilers can run safely for a long time with good maintenance. We test combustion, check for CO, inspect the flue and verify the safety controls. If we find problems, we explain them plainly and price both the repair and a replacement.
Do you take emergency calls in Lakeside after midnight?
Yes. Our phone is answered 24/7, every day of the year, and we dispatch technicians at any hour for no-heat boilers and furnaces. Tell us what the system is doing and we will give you an arrival window.