Fall in a Fort Wayne house

Fall is the time to get a Fort Wayne house ready: the first freeze comes around October 21 in a normal year, and a furnace check is easier to book before it does.

A large red brick Victorian house with a round tower on West Wayne Street, Fort Wayne — PLATE 1The John Claus Peters House in Fort Wayne's West End.

These five essays cover the paperwork and the checks: which rebates still exist, who issues permits, what to look at before the first frost, how to live with an old boiler, and why the air gets so dry in November. The freeze date comes from NOAA's 1991-2020 normals.

SeptemberRebates and tax credits for a Fort Wayne houseThe federal credit ended with 2025. Indiana Energy Saver rebates reach $18,000, by income and savings.
SeptemberHVAC permits and licenses in Allen CountyBefore any furnace work, one call: ask the county about the permit and the contractor.
OctoberA furnace check before the first frostFort Wayne's first 32°F night comes around October 21. Filter and CO alarms come first.
OctoberOld boilers and radiators in older Fort Wayne housesWest Central dates to the 1830s. Bleed hot-water radiators, never steam, and leave the wrap alone.
NovemberDry air and humidifiers in a Fort Wayne winterJanuary's dew point averages 20.3°F here. A $10 to $50 meter beats guessing.