“Though much has been done by the ingenious men in the art of distributing heat for household uses; it must be confessed that in one or two instances only have they been able to make a permanent impression or bring their contrivances into that general use.” – Walter Bernan in History and Art of Warming and Ventilating Rooms and Buildings
Bernan was right. While trying to stay warm has been one of humankind’s major struggles throughout the ages and while so many technologies have been invented to deliver heat, the basics are still what they were nearly 500,000 years ago – fire and ventilation.
Humans have been using fire to heat homes – caves, huts and other dwellings – and cook for over a half million years. At some point, fire was brought inside homes. The basic arrangement was a central fire with a roof opening allowing smoke to escape.
Central heating – warming a building by heating water or air in one central location and then circulating it via vents, pipe or radiators – was invented in Ancient Greece but the Romans were the heating engineers of the ancient world. They invented the hypocaust system, which warmed floors and walls with air made hot by a fire of charcoal, brushwood, and coal. Unfortunately, the hypocaust system disappeared along with the Roman Empire and central heating was not reintroduced until 1500 years later.
During the Middle Ages, the fireplace was used to heat buildings, with pits located in the middle of the room and smoke escaping through a hole in the ceiling. When two-story buildings became more common, fireplaces moved to the outside wall and the modern chimney was invented.
For the next almost 600 years, there was very little innovation in heating. Then in 1743, Benjamin Franklin invented the all-metal fireplace. This “stove” was more efficient and revolutionized heating, soon replacing open fireplaces.
Quickly evolving technology then fueled heating inventions, and the first real furnace and central boiler system were introduced. In 1885, Dave Lennox advanced home heating with coal-burning cast iron radiators.
Robert Bunsen’s burner technology was the first open flame to produce heat without soot, blending gas with air before combustion, and fueling the development of gas-, propane-, and oil-fired heating systems. Pilot lights on gas-powered furnaces still use this technology today.
Albert Marsh, “the father of the electrical heating industry” discovered chrome, allowing him to construct a heating element 300 times stronger than previous materials, and converting electricity to distributable heat. This technology is also still in use today.
Alice Parker invented and patented the first American central heating system, providing better temperature regulation and more substantial heat throughout homes. Her invention paved the way for the coal fueled, electric fan, and ductwork distributed forced air wall furnaces we use today.
Today, smart technology allows for the fine-tuning of temperatures in different rooms and the convenience of Wi-Fi programmable thermostats and mobile apps.
Our ancestors had to find fuel, build, start, tend and huddle around a fire all day and all night long to stay warm. Now, generations of engineers and service personnel have made heating so reliable that we don’t even give it a second thought. Now, you can just tap a button to ensure your home is warm and cozy.
Maertin Heating and Cooling’s service personnel are here to help whenever tapping that button doesn’t generate the heat you need. Just reply to this email, call our office at 708-479-9350 or click here to schedule an appointment!
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