Today our home heating specialists at Washington Court House Heating & Cooling take us on a journey of how the modern furnace came to what it is today. Since the dawn of man, we have always searched for better ways to stay warm for our survival. So let’s take a closer look and discover just how we are able to achieve daily optimal home comfort.
Who Invented the Radiator?
When the city of Rome needed a way to stay warm, the first vision of the radiator was created and named the hypocaust. This piece of equipment is used to heat rooms through hollow spaces in the floor where warm air passes through. Later on, in 1855, Frans San Galli developed the first modern radiator that was renovated for the better that same year by Dave Lennox. He created a coal-burning cast iron radiator in order to provide warmth to all homeowners at the time. These pieces of equipment were situated in basements where they would transmit heat to the upstairs areas of the house.
Who Discovered Electric Heat?
Albert Marsh, also recognized as “The Father of the Electrical Heating Industry,” made a significant breakthrough in developing electric heat when the metallurgist discovered certain metals contain chrome. This would pave the way for Marsh to design a heating element that would change the course of home heating. He introduced using electricity to heat a home. Which involved sending electrical currents across the heating element, transforming electricity into heat. This concept is still used today in modern furnaces.
Who Developed the Central Heating System?
Alice Parker officially changed the home heating game when she developed the first central heating patent in 1919. Because of this invention, heated air was now able to regulate and equally distribute throughout a residence. This invention would later lead to the foundation of what we now know as home heating.
When Was Distributed Forced Air Created?
Let’s step forward to 1935, when we discovered the first distributed forced air wall furnace. This new piece of hardware is used to take heat from the furnace and distribute the heat throughout the home using ductwork. Despite this advancement, there was a problem with this home heating creation. Unfortunately, when heat flows from the furnaces up through the ductwork, gravity pulls it back down to the equipment causing it to short cycle and restart the heating process.
What Are Modern-Day Furnaces Like?
With gravity-fed furnace defects, there needed to be a heating solution that could help prevent the issue of short cycling; introducing the motor-driven fan. This discovery drives forced warm air through smaller ductwork, assisting heat transfer to the entire home. This provided regulated temperatures and was more efficient and effective than the gravity-fed systems.
Over the decades, it is incredible to see how much the industry has improved to provide home comfort and safety across the globe. Furnaces have come a long way from just rubbing two sticks together to maintain temporary warmth. Nowadays, we are fortunate to have high-efficiency furnaces that heat entire homes and sustain temperatures that keep everyone happy. The home heating specialists at Washington Court House Heating & Cooling never want you to suffer through a cold winter night without heat; that is why we offer 24/7 emergency furnace repair services, including holidays and weekends. So whether your need a fix for your small furnace problem or require an entire furnace replacement and installation, we got your back! Give us a call at (740) 281-5312, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
