In North Anthony we replace older furnaces with high-efficiency models, sort out chimney venting and liners for the water heater left behind, and add return air to bungalows and cottages that never had enough. We also repair furnaces and central air. Typical calls are aging furnaces, weak airflow, orphaned water heaters and AC that struggles upstairs. We answer 24/7.
North Anthony Boulevard runs through the north side past North Side High School, lined with bungalows, cottages and modest two-stories built from the 1920s through the 1950s. Most have a basement holding the furnace and water heater, with both appliances venting into a masonry chimney that runs up through the middle or side of the house. That arrangement worked fine for decades.
It gets complicated when the furnace is replaced with a high-efficiency model. A 90-plus percent furnace vents out the side wall through PVC pipe, leaving the water heater alone in a chimney sized for two appliances. A lone water heater in a big, cold masonry flue may not draft properly, which can lead to condensation damage and backdrafting. Landcons checks the chimney on every furnace upgrade in North Anthony and tells you up front whether a liner is needed.
Old chimneys, orphaned water heaters and small returns
When the furnace stops venting into the chimney, the water heater becomes what installers call an orphaned appliance. Its small flue gases cool quickly in an oversized masonry chimney, condense and soak the mortar, and in cold weather the draft can stall. The usual fix is a properly sized metal liner run down the chimney to the water heater. The other choice is to switch to a power-vented or tankless water heater that vents out the wall, leaving the chimney unused.
Airflow is the second issue. Bungalows from this era often have one return grille in a central hallway or on the floor of the living room. Upstairs rooms under the roofline have supply ducts but nowhere for the air to go back. Adding a return upstairs through a closet or knee wall usually makes the new furnace quieter and the house more even.
Questions North Anthony owners bring us
These six cover most of our visits along the boulevard and the side streets around it.
Upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace
We size the furnace, plan the PVC vent and intake routes, and check where the condensate will drain. A floor drain or condensate pump completes the job.
Chimney liner for the water heater
We inspect the chimney, measure the flue and check the water heater draft. If a liner is needed, we include it in the replacement price so there are no surprises.
Spillage or backdraft at the water heater
Soot near the draft hood or a CO alarm in the basement is a warning sign. We test draft and CO and correct the venting before anything else.
Not enough return air
Undersized returns make blowers loud and rooms uneven. We add returns through closets and floors where the layout allows.
Cramped upstairs in summer
Half-story bedrooms under the roof heat up fast. A small ductless head or improved ducting can bring them in line.
Aging mid-efficiency furnace
Furnaces from the 1990s with metal flues are near the end. We price both a mid-efficiency swap that keeps the chimney and a high-efficiency upgrade so you can compare.
Typical upgrade costs for north side bungalows
A high-efficiency furnace replacement in a North Anthony bungalow typically runs $4,485 to $7,295, including PVC venting and condensate drainage. A chimney liner for an orphaned water heater usually adds $685 to $1,495. Adding a return on the second floor often costs $395 to $895. Treat those as typical ranges; the chimney inspection and the visit decide the actual figure.
NIPSCO offers rebates on some high-efficiency furnaces, and the rules change from year to year. We check what applies when we quote.
North Anthony questions
Do I need a chimney liner when I upgrade my North Anthony furnace?
If your gas water heater will stay in the old chimney after the furnace moves to PVC venting, you probably do. A lone water heater often drafts poorly in a masonry flue sized for two appliances. We inspect the chimney and tell you before you commit, and we include the liner in the quote.
Can a North Anthony bungalow switch to a high-efficiency furnace easily?
Usually yes. The main needs are a route for PVC vent and intake pipes through a basement wall and a place for condensate to drain. We look at both before pricing. In most bungalows the work is done in one day.
What are the signs of water heater backdrafting in a North Anthony basement?
Soot or rust around the draft hood, a smell of exhaust, moisture on the flue pipe and CO alarms are all warning signs. If an alarm sounds, leave the house and call 911. Then call us to test draft and correct the venting.
Do you answer calls from North Anthony late at night?
Yes. Someone picks up at any hour, weekends and holidays included. For no-heat calls and CO concerns, we dispatch technicians at any hour. Tell us what you see and hear, and we will give you a realistic arrival time.