In LaGrange County we repair furnaces, install ductless mini-splits and heat pumps, and service propane heat, dehumidifiers and water heaters in LaGrange, Shipshewana, Topeka, Howe and Wolcottville. Lake homes need humidity control and year-round heat, farmhouses need propane service, and town houses need older ductwork sorted out. Landcons answers the phone 24/7.
LaGrange County sits directly north of Noble County, against the Michigan border, about 45 miles from our office on West Wayne Street. It is a long drive, and we plan for it. When you call, we ask about the equipment, the fuel and what you are hearing or smelling, so the technician arrives with the parts most likely needed. The county seat is LaGrange, and Shipshewana, Topeka, Howe and Wolcottville round out the towns.
The county is home to one of the largest Amish communities in the country. Many Amish households do without grid-powered central heating and cooling, so most of the calls we take come from the town homes, lake houses and non-Amish farm properties that sit among them. Lakes scattered across the county add another group of homes, many of them former summer cottages now lived in all year.
Three kinds of LaGrange County houses and their heating trouble
Town homes in LaGrange, Topeka and Howe tend to be older, often two stories with a basement furnace and ductwork that was added after the house was built. Upstairs rooms run hot in summer and cool in winter because supply runs are small and returns are few. Older chimney-vented furnaces and water heaters also show up here, and when one gets replaced with a high-efficiency unit, the remaining appliance in the chimney needs a draft check.
Lake properties near Wolcottville and elsewhere in the county are a different picture: crawlspaces instead of basements, long flex duct runs, and high summer humidity. Farmhouses outside town are usually on propane, sometimes with a wood stove that carries part of the load. When a wood stove does most of the heating, the furnace may sit idle for weeks and then fail the first time it is really needed, usually from a dirty flame sensor or a stuck inducer.
Common LaGrange County service calls, town to lakeshore
These are the requests that come up most often north of the Noble County line.
Ductless heads for rooms the ducts miss
Additions, sunrooms and upstairs bedrooms in older homes often have no good duct path. A single-zone mini-split heats and cools the room without opening walls.
Damp lake cottages
Shoreline crawlspaces bring moisture into the living space, and musty air follows. A whole-home dehumidifier, often with a sealed crawlspace, keeps humidity under control.
Propane furnace lockouts
Farmhouses call when the furnace tries to light and quits. We check the tank level, regulator, flame sensor and gas pressure in that order.
Water heater replacement on propane
Propane water heaters need the right gas valve and venting. We replace tank and tankless units and check the flue while we are there.
Winter on the Michigan line, and how we plan the drive
LaGrange County gets more lake-effect snow than Allen County, and the roads between towns are two-lane and open to the wind. A 45-mile trip in clear weather can take a good deal longer in a January squall. We tell you that honestly when you call, along with a realistic arrival window. The phone is answered 24/7, including holidays, so you are never waiting until morning just to report a problem.
Before a technician arrives on a no-heat call, check the simple things: thermostat set to heat with fresh batteries, the furnace switch on, a clean filter, and on propane homes, a tank gauge reading above 20 percent. If you have a wood stove, keep it going safely while you wait. If you smell gas anywhere in the house, leave and call your gas or propane supplier first.
LaGrange County towns with their own page
LaGrange County questions
Do you travel to Shipshewana, Topeka and Howe in LaGrange County for heating repairs?
Yes. We cover the whole county, including Shipshewana, Topeka, Howe, Wolcottville and the town of LaGrange. The drive is about 45 miles from our downtown office, so we gather details on the phone first and bring the parts most likely needed for your furnace, boiler or air conditioner.
What does a ductless mini-split cost for a LaGrange County home?
A single-zone ductless mini-split for one room typically runs about $3,485 to $5,965 installed, and multi-zone systems cost more depending on the number of indoor heads. That is a typical range. The real price depends on line set length, electrical work and wall construction, which we see on the visit.
Can a LaGrange County lake cottage use a heat pump instead of propane?
Often yes, especially with a cold-climate heat pump designed for northern Indiana winters. Some owners keep a small propane furnace as backup for the coldest nights. We check insulation, ductwork and electrical service before recommending which setup fits your cottage best.
Why does my furnace in LaGrange County quit after weeks of using the wood stove?
When a wood stove carries most of the heat, the furnace runs rarely and its flame sensor, igniter and condensate drain can get dirty or dry out. The first cold night it is needed, it fails to light. A fall check of those parts usually prevents that call.