Furnace Repair in Kennett Square, PA
Old houses close together, and a lot of them heated the same way since the 1950s.
Kennett Square is a one-square-mile borough where most homes are older than the furnaces in them. Post-war oil systems converted to gas, twins with shared walls and chimneys, and older houses split into apartments shape the repair calls here. This guide covers what to expect and how to get connected with a local heating company.
- Free referral service, not a contractor
- Independent local HVAC companies
- No obligation
Kennett Square heating conditions, in one table
Kennett Square is a small, dense, older borough. Most homes predate 1960, many share a wall, and the 2000 census found oil and gas splitting most of the heating. Those three facts explain most furnace and boiler calls here.
| Factor | Kennett Square | What it means for heating |
|---|---|---|
| Municipality | Borough in Chester County, ZIP 19348, about 1.07 square miles | Short drives between calls; tight lots and alleys for equipment access |
| Population | 5,936 at the 2020 census | Dense housing, many renters and multi-unit buildings |
| Elevation | About 328 feet | Lower and more sheltered than the Unionville hills |
| Housing age (2000 census) | 28% built 1939 or earlier; 34% built 1940 to 1959 | Original chimneys, converted systems, older ductwork |
| Housing type (2000 census) | 48% detached, 17% attached, about a third in 2 or more unit buildings | Twins, rowhouses and converted apartments with their own systems |
| Heating fuel (2000 census) | Oil 47%, utility gas 34%, electric 16%, propane 3% | Both oil and gas technicians work here; many homes have since switched |
| Historic district | Kennett Square Historic District, National Register 1989, 507 contributing buildings | Most buildings 1875 to 1924; masonry chimneys and radiator systems |
| Winter | West Chester averages a January low near 22°F and about 28 inches of snow | Long run times; shared vents and side-wall PVC pipes get snowed in |
Census 2000 is the most recent heating fuel and year-built breakdown for the borough that could be retrieved for this page. The American Community Survey's 2024 five-year estimate puts the borough at about 2,340 housing units.
Why Kennett Square homes have the heating problems they do
The borough's housing was mostly built before modern furnaces existed. Systems were added, converted and replaced inside houses that were not designed for them, often more than once.
A post-war building boom. More than a third of the borough's homes in 2000 dated from 1940 to 1959. Houses of that era were commonly built with oil-fired boilers or furnaces and masonry chimneys. Many have since moved to gas, but the ductwork, piping and chimney often stayed.
Older still at the center. The National Register describes most buildings in the historic district as built between 1875 and 1924, in Victorian, Colonial Revival and Federal styles. Homes of that age were first heated by stoves and fireplaces. Central heat came later, threaded through walls and floors where it fit.
Shared walls and stacked units. About one in six homes was a single-family attached unit in 2000, and roughly a third sat in buildings of two or more units. A twin or a house split into apartments can have two or three furnaces in one basement, sometimes venting into one chimney.
Many renters. With about a third of homes in multi-unit buildings, many residents rent. Tenants often don't know the age of the system or who services it, and repairs wait on a landlord. That makes clear communication part of every heating call.
Heating problems seen most in Kennett Square
These are typical patterns for homes of this age and type, not records of specific calls.
The orphaned chimney
When a home's furnace is upgraded to a high-efficiency model that vents through PVC, the gas water heater may be left alone in an old masonry chimney. The chimney can be too large and cold for one small appliance, which leads to condensation and poor draft. A technician should check the water heater's draft after any furnace change.
Converted oil systems
Homes that switched from oil to gas sometimes kept the original boiler and swapped only the burner, or kept ducts sized for an older furnace. These setups can work for years, then show weak heat on upper floors or short cycling. See boiler repair for radiator systems.
Old ducts and closed returns
Ductwork in older houses is often undersized, leaky or partly blocked by later renovations. A return covered by a cabinet or rug makes the furnace overheat and trip its high limit.
Radiator and boiler problems
Older borough homes still run hot water or steam radiators. Common issues are air in the lines, a failing circulator pump, a stuck zone valve and low system pressure. Cold radiators on one floor usually point to air or a zone, not a dead boiler.
Shared-building complaints
In a twin or converted apartment house, one unit's thermostat may be wired to the wrong furnace, or a shared chimney may draft poorly when both units run. These problems need someone who can trace every system in the basement.
Snow on side-wall vents
On tight lots, high-efficiency vents often exit low on a side wall facing a neighbor or alley. Snow shoveled or plowed against that wall can block them and shut the furnace down. Clear them by hand after a storm. More on furnace repair.
Kennett Square streets and landmarks covered
The whole borough is covered, from the historic district downtown to the newer streets at its edges. Independent companies on the referral line also serve the surrounding townships.
- State Street and Cypress Street, the one-way pair that carries Baltimore Pike through downtown
- Union Street and South Street, which carry Route 82 through the borough
- The historic district, roughly bounded by Sickles, Willow, Mulberry, Broad, South, Union, Cedar, Lafayette, State and Washington streets
- The Genesis Walkway area off State Street, home of the Friday farmers' market
- Homes near Anson B. Nixon Park, more than 100 acres on the borough's edge
- Neighborhoods north toward the US 1 bypass and the Route 82 interchange
- South Street and the Route 82 corridor heading southeast out of the borough
- Addresses with a Kennett Square 19348 mailing address that are actually in Kennett Township or East Marlborough
Kennett Square history that shapes heating today
The borough grew from a crossroads village into a mushroom-industry town, and most of its housing went up in two waves: before 1925 and right after World War II. Each wave left its own kind of heating system behind.
| When | What happened | Heating legacy |
|---|---|---|
| 1777 | General Howe's British army marches through on the way to the Battle of Brandywine | A settlement that long predates central heating |
| 1800s | Town plays a role in the Underground Railroad; incorporation sought in 1853, elections by 1855 | Brick and frame homes heated by stoves and fireplaces |
| About 1885 | Quaker flower growers begin growing mushrooms in the space under carnation beds | Start of the industry that drew workers and built out the town |
| 1875 to 1924 | Most of today's historic district is built | Masonry chimneys, later coal and oil boilers, radiators |
| 1940 to 1959 | The largest building wave in the 2000 census count | Oil furnaces and boilers, many later converted to gas |
| 1989 | Kennett Square Historic District joins the National Register | 507 contributing buildings, many with original chimneys |
The mushroom industry is still central. According to an NPR report, Chester County farms grow roughly half the country's mushrooms. Its workforce came in waves, starting with Italian former quarry workers in the late 1800s and, in recent decades, mostly workers from Mexico. The old homes heating guide covers what older masonry means for a furnace.
What to expect when a heating company comes out
Kennett Square is close to the roads companies already travel, so access is mostly about parking and getting equipment into a tight basement. Have a clear path to the furnace and know which system serves which unit.
- Getting there. From Unionville, Route 82 runs south as Unionville Road past Unionville High School, crosses US 1 at an interchange, and enters the borough as North Union Street. Wikipedia's Route 82 mileposts put the US 1 interchange about 3.2 miles south of Unionville's village center.
- Parking. Downtown streets are narrow and busy, especially on market Fridays and during the Mushroom Festival on the weekend after Labor Day. Tell the company if there is a driveway or alley entrance.
- Basement access. Older homes often have steep, narrow stairs or exterior bulkhead doors. Clear the stairs and the area around the furnace.
- Multiple units. In a twin or apartment house, label or describe which furnace, thermostat and meter belong to which unit.
- Tenants. If you rent, ask your landlord who services the system and whether you can arrange access. Many leases put heating repairs on the owner.
- Parts. Older boilers and converted burners may need parts ordered. Ask whether the first visit is diagnosis only.
Kennett Square owner and tenant checklist
A short list for older borough homes. It focuses on venting, carbon monoxide and the shared-building issues that are common here.
- Check CO alarms. Pennsylvania's Act 121 of 2013 sets CO alarm rules for home sales and multifamily rentals with fuel-burning heaters. Test alarms on every level.
- Ask about the chimney. If the furnace was replaced but the water heater still uses the old chimney, ask for a draft check and a liner inspection.
- Find your returns. Uncover return grilles hidden behind furniture or rugs.
- Change filters. Monthly in winter for a 1-inch filter.
- Bleed or check radiators at the start of the season, or have the boiler serviced.
- Mark the vents. Know where your PVC vent pipes exit so snow isn't shoveled onto them.
- Book a tune-up in fall. See the tune-up checklist.
Leave and call 911 from outside if
- You smell gas. Don't flip switches or use the phone inside.
- A CO alarm sounds or several people feel headachy or dizzy.
- You smell exhaust in a shared hallway or the unit next door.
On an oil burner, press the red reset button once only. If it won't stay lit, call.
Call (724) 241-4851More on alarms, symptoms and placement in the carbon monoxide safety guide.
Gas, oil and electric in Kennett Square
PECO is the electric utility and supplies natural gas in most of Chester County, and the borough had a higher share of gas heat in 2000 than Pennsbury or the farm townships. Oil was still the largest single fuel in 2000, so some homes still burn it. Check your own meter or tank to be sure.
- Gas. If you have a PECO gas meter, the most common furnace problems are flame sensors, ignitors and pressure switches. A gas smell is a 911 call from outside.
- Oil. Older homes may still have a tank in the basement or yard. Nozzles, filters and soot are the usual issues. See oil furnace repair.
- Electric. About one in six homes used electricity in 2000, often apartments with baseboard heat or heat pumps.
- Converting. If you're weighing a move off oil, the fuel comparison guide explains trade-offs. PECO rebates for heat pumps exist; confirm amounts on peco.com and see rebates.
Pennsylvania PUC winter rules limit utility shutoffs from December 1 to March 31 for eligible households, and LIHEAP for 2026/27 opens November 2, 2026. Details are on the homepage under rebates and heating help.
Kennett Square furnace questions
My twin's chimney is shared. Is that a problem?
It can be. A chimney shared by two units' appliances needs to be sized and lined for both. If one side upgrades to a PVC-vented furnace, the other side's draft can change. Ask a technician to check draft and CO on both sides when possible.
Why is my upstairs cold while the downstairs is warm?
In older borough homes, ducts to upper floors are often small or leaky, and returns may be missing. With radiators, air trapped in upper radiators is common. A technician can check airflow or bleed and balance the system.
I rent. Who fixes the furnace?
Check your lease. Many put heating repairs on the landlord. Tell your landlord in writing when the heat fails, and if it's a gas smell or CO alarm, leave and call 911 first.
Is it worth converting from oil to gas in the borough?
Often gas is available on borough streets, but not always at every house. Ask PECO whether service reaches your address, then compare the cost of a gas line and new equipment against staying on oil or adding a heat pump.
Does the historic district limit furnace work?
Indoor furnace work usually isn't affected, but exterior changes like new vent pipes or condensers on a street-facing wall may need borough review. Ask the borough before planning visible exterior changes.
Do I need a carbon monoxide alarm?
Every home with a fuel-burning appliance should have one near sleeping areas. Pennsylvania's Act 121 of 2013 sets CO alarm requirements for home sales and for multifamily rentals with fuel-burning heaters.
How quickly can someone get to Kennett Square?
This site doesn't promise response times. The borough sits on Route 82 and Baltimore Pike, close to roads local companies already drive, but timing depends on the company and the weather.
Is this site a heating company?
No. UnionvillePAFurnaceRepair is a free referral service. It connects you with independent local HVAC companies, which set their own prices and terms. This site doesn't perform or guarantee any work and may be paid for referrals.
Nearby areas
Kennett Township and Longwood
The township surrounding the borough, from Hamorton to Mendenhall.
Kennett Township guideUnionville and East Marlborough
North on Route 82: the village, farms and subdivisions.
Unionville guideAll areas: service area list.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (population, area, elevation, ZIP, roads, history, parks, schools).
- Census 2000 DP-4, Profile of Selected Housing Characteristics, Kennett Square borough (Pennsylvania State Data Center).
- Census Reporter: Kennett Square borough (ACS 2024 five-year housing units).
- Wikipedia: Kennett Square Historic District and National Register listings in southern Chester County.
- NPR: How a sleepy Pennsylvania town grew into America's mushroom capital.
- The Mushroom Festival (weekend after Labor Day, State Street vendors).
- Wikipedia: Pennsylvania Route 82 (route and mileposts between Kennett Square and Unionville).
- Wikipedia: PECO Energy Company (gas service territory).
- West Chester climate figures, Act 121, PUC winter rules and LIHEAP dates as summarized on the Unionville furnace guide.
Written by Lawrence. Updated October 25, 2026. Facts on this page were checked against the public sources listed above.
This is general information from a free referral service, not a heating contractor. For gas smells or carbon monoxide alarms, leave the house and call 911.
Related furnace help
Furnace trouble in Kennett Square? Get connected with local help.
Say whether it's a house, a twin or an apartment, your fuel, and whether the heat comes from vents or radiators. That helps a company send the right technician.
One call to (724) 241-4851 connects you with independent local HVAC companies that serve Unionville and nearby Chester County communities. It's free, with no obligation.
Have this ready when you call
- Your town or road
- Your fuel: oil, propane, gas or electric
- What the system is doing, and any blinking light code
- Whether you smell gas or oil (if so, leave and call 911 first)
Free referral service. Not a heating contractor. Companies are independent and set their own prices.