Through four generations, Evansville's Lappe Heating & Air has weathered changes
EVANSVILLE – Spanning four generations, Lappe Heating & Air gets the best kind of advertising imaginable – word of mouth.
“To this day we have many multi-generational customers who have referred us to their kids and grandkids,” said Dave Lappe. “It’s always nice to hear stories from customers on how our dads and grandfathers installed or serviced their HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) equipment long before we were even involved in the business.”
It has evolved from generation to generation, through multitudes of technological advances, from Edward F. Lappe to his grandson, Ed, to his sons and grandsons.
Ed said the marketing acumen of Dave, his son, has helped the business blossom even more in the past few years.
“He gets a lot of credit for the success of the business,” Ed said. “The word has been out for a long, long time.”
But Dave accelerated the word, using marketing and technology to spread it from the West Side to the entire Tri-State area.
“Dave went to different meetings through Carrier Corporation,” Ed said. “He was introduced to different marketing people that he developed a relationship with, developed a great website and reached out to different advertising avenues to increase our exposure.”
Lappe Heating & Air is celebrating its 100th anniversary; it was founded in 1922 by Edward F. Lappe. His sons, Dan and Dave, took over the business in 1964. They were joined by their sons, Ed and Dan, who have run the business for several years. The company is currently in its fourth generation under Dave and Daniel Lappe.
“We’ve been very fortunate to learn from prior generations on how to successfully carry on the business and family name,” Dave said. “There has always been a great level of respect for prior generations which is large contributing factor in reaching 100 years of business.”
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Lappe Heating & Air’s team has more than 200 combined years of experience. Dave said it speaks volumes to their loyalty and dedication.
“We all work together to provide the best possible customer service that we can provide and feel fortunate to live in an area that supports small family-owned businesses the way that the Tri-State area does.”
Located in Edward Lappe’s 1,800-square foot home shop until '64, the business moved to its current location at 621 North 9th Ave. Still steeped in history, the Lappes still have several pieces of sheet metal equipment in their shop that their great grandfather used when he opened the business.
“We still hand-make all of our duct systems in our shop and even use some of the same patterns that my great grandfather designed when he was running the business,” Dave said. “It’s nice knowing that a piece of each generation of our business is still being used in the services we provide.
"Our entire staff is committed to training and learning new ways to improve upon what we’ve built over the last 100-plus years.”
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Edward F. Lappe started out installing coal-fed furnaces, along with sheet metal and copper gutter work. During the Great Depression, he traded his services for livestock to provide for his family.
Lappe Heating & Air installed its first Carrier air conditioner in 1954, which has led to a 68-year partnership with that brand.
“At the time, there were only three sizes to choose from,” Dave said. “To see the evolution of the HVAC industry over the last 100 years that our family has been involved is amazing. We started the coal burning furnaces and room air conditioners to now 26-plus SEER multi-speed systems, geothermal and thermostats that you can talk to."
Although his father and grandfather navigated several changes through the years, technology relentlessly marches on.
"You can operate your thermostat with your cell phone, which is kind of crazy, in a good way," Ed said.
As far as the legacy moving forward, Dave has two sons and Daniel has two sons as well.
"That could possibly make up the fifth generation? But of course that’s still a long way away," Ed said.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Grandfather to grandchild, Lappe Heating & Air celebrates 100 years
