Boiler and Radiator Heating Service for Shaker Heights Homes
Shaker Heights was built out mostly between the 1910s and the 1950s, and its heating systems reflect that: U.S. Census estimates put about 42 percent of its homes before 1940 and another 36 percent in the 1940s and 1950s. Raber HVAC services steam and hot water boilers, radiators, converted furnaces and ductless cooling in Fernway, Lomond, Moreland, Onaway and Ludlow. We also handle water heaters and drain lines in basements that were never built with modern equipment in mind.
- Boiler and radiator repair on original 1920s piping
- Ductless cooling laid out around Shaker Heights zoning and screening rules
- Air quality work for plaster homes that have no ductwork
- Water heater and sewer line service in older Shaker basements
What Shaker Heights houses ask of a heating and cooling system
The Van Sweringen brothers began developing Shaker Heights as a planned Garden City suburb in 1905, and most of its houses were designed in the Tudor, French and Georgian revival styles. Building took off after the rapid transit line opened in 1920, and Census estimates put the median year built for Shaker Heights housing at 1945. Plaster walls, slate roofs and no cavity for ductwork are common, and many homes still heat with a boiler and cast iron radiators, often a replacement boiler on the original piping.
In Shaker Heights, a new outdoor AC unit needs a building permit and zoning approval, but not Architectural Board of Review approval, according to the city's residential permit chart. The zoning rules are specific: a rear yard unit must sit within ten feet of the house and be screened from the side, a side yard unit is allowed only where the side yard is at least 25 feet, and any unit that can be seen from the street must be screened to its full height by a solid fence or evergreen plantings. We plan placement against those rules before the quote. Interior work also means protecting plaster and original trim, which is slower than drywall and priced that way.
- Boiler and radiator repair on original 1920s piping
- Ductless cooling laid out around Shaker Heights zoning and screening rules
- Air quality work for plaster homes that have no ductwork
- Water heater and sewer line service in older Shaker basements
Booking a visit in Shaker Heights
- Dispatched from
- 6505 Rockside Rd, Suite 125, Independence, OH 44131
- Hours
- Every day, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. 24/7 emergency service.
- Phone
- (216) 888-4822
- Services
- Heating, cooling, indoor air quality and plumbing in Shaker Heights, Cuyahoga County
- License
- OH LIC #28728
Around Shaker Heights
- The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes
- The Van Aken District
- The Fernway neighborhood
Every service we run in Shaker Heights
One crew covers heating, cooling, air quality and plumbing, so a single call handles the whole house.
Heating
Furnaces, heat pumps and boilers
Heating in Shaker HeightsCooling
Air conditioning and heat pumps
Cooling in Shaker HeightsIndoor Air Quality
Cleaner, better balanced air
Indoor Air Quality in Shaker HeightsPlumbing
Drains, water heaters and repipes
Plumbing in Shaker HeightsHeat Pumps
Cold climate heat pumps, dual fuel systems and ductless heat pumps
Heat Pumps in Shaker HeightsEmergency Service
A 24/7 line for no heat, no cooling, active leaks and backups
Emergency Service in Shaker HeightsShaker Heights heating and cooling questions
If yours is not here, call and ask. We would rather answer it now than have you guess.
How do I cool a 1920s Shaker Heights house with no ducts?
Ductless heads are the usual answer. One outdoor unit can feed several rooms, the wall opening is three inches, and nothing has to be cut through plaster ceilings. High velocity small duct systems are the other option where an attic or closet chase exists. We walk the house and price both.
Should I replace my old boiler or keep repairing it?
Cast iron boilers in Shaker Heights often run fifty years, so age alone is not the test. We look at the sections, the flue, the water quality and the gas bill. If the block is sound, a new burner and controls can be the better spend. If it is cracked, it gets replaced.
Can you work within the Shaker Heights zoning and design review rules?
Yes. For a single or two family home, Shaker Heights allows an outdoor unit in the rear yard within ten feet of the house, screened from the side by a solid fence or evergreens. A side yard location is allowed only when the side yard is at least 25 feet, with the unit placed beyond the required setback and screened. A front yard location is allowed only within five feet of the house, behind evergreen plantings that will be at least as tall as the unit when mature. Any unit that can be seen from the street must be screened to its full height. On the application we note the screening, the distance to the house and all dimensions, with photos of any existing plantings, as the Planning Department requires. Our Ohio license number is OH LIC #28728. If your home is a designated local landmark or is in the Winslow Road or Shaker Square local landmark district, the Landmark Commission also reviews exterior changes, and we plan for that from the start.
Articles about Shaker Heights
Guides for Northeast Ohio homeowners
- Repiping a house with galvanized pipes: the signs, PEX or copper, and what the job involves
- Is a tankless water heater worth it in Northeast Ohio?
- Is there still a heat pump tax credit in 2026? What ended, and what Ohio homeowners can still check
- Frozen pipes in Northeast Ohio: how to prevent them, thaw them safely, and what to do if one bursts
Other towns we cover
Each town has its own page on its housing, its local conditions and the questions homeowners there ask.
Page last updated .
Need a technician in Shaker Heights?
Call before 2 PM and we aim for same day. The emergency line is staffed around the clock.
Every day, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM · 24/7 emergency service · OH LIC #28728