We’ve come a long way in the terms of home heating methods. Over the centuries we have evolved from mammoth-bone hearths to energy efficient, multi-unit HVAC systems. Here’s an interesting overview of how home heating has developed over millions of years!
History of Home Heating
Approximately 100,000 years ago, humans used a central fire for what archaeologists believe had a dual purpose- for cooking and for heating. We believe that this dates back millions of years, however we haven’t found any settlements with proof this was custom all the way back then.
In approximately 42,000 BC/BCE, archaeologists believe that Neanderthals in the area of Ukraine had hearths they constructed out of mammoth bones.
Tens of thousands of years later (7500-5700 BC/BCE) in Turkey, Neolithic settlements are suspected to be some of the first to use open hearth heating in their homes.
Ancient Greeks & Romans are credited with developing some of the first known central heating systems. Excavations of temples have found that there were flues that circulated heat from fires throughout various rooms.
Romans also developed the first underground heating system which radiated into floor panels. They built a floor that was raised up on pillars with a low-burning fire underneath. This system heated the flooring panels, which then warmed the people and air above. In around 400 AD, after the fall of the Roman Empire, heating systems became more primitive- the use of fireplaces and hearths returned- and would take a long time to recover technologically. For hundreds of years that followed, various improvements were made again. These included the development of stoves and chimneys. However, serious technological advances in heating were not seen until the Industrial Revolution in the 1700-1800s. These advances include the refinement of piping systems for radiant heat, more advanced and efficient stoves, and boiler systems using steam and water. William Strutt of England developed a more advanced heating system in 1805.
The system he created used ducts to circulate the heated air, and dampers so that the temperature of rooms could be better controlled. People in the upper-class were the most prominent users of these systems. In 1919, Alice Parker patented her central-heating furnace that was gas powered. This is credited by many as one of the first main replacements to homeowners using firewood to heat their homes.
While Alice Parker’s patent was not the first central-heating furnace, it is one of the most important. It was a major development in shifting from wood and coal-powered heating to natural gas. Her exact patent never caught on fully, but was the inspiration for the central-heating systems that would follow. Over the decades, central heating evolved and absorbed more modern technology. An important step was the Clean Air Act of 1956, which caused many central heating systems to finally make the switch from coal-powered heating. Now we have multiple heating system options- from solar powered to geothermal. We have come a long way from mammoth-bone hearths. Now we can remotely control the temperature of our homes with an app from our phones!
New Heating System Installations in Dayton, Ohio
If you’re thinking you are ready to update some aspects of your heating system, we can give you a free estimate. Whether it’s updating your thermostat or installing a new furnace, we can help! Our comfort advisors will come to your home and discuss what is best for you and your home based on your needs and budget. Call us today for a free estimate- 937-439-4696. You can also contact us via e-mail or social media!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Alice Parker Photo Credit Goes To Caribbean National Weekly. The article can be found here.
#furnacerepair #heatingandcooling #hvac #ketteringhvac
