If you have never wondered about the history of the modern furnace, it is quite intriguing. Everything starts somewhere. And the idea of the furnace can first be traced back to Rome. Today, at Canal Winchester Heating & Cooling, we are discussing all the major milestones in the progression of the furnace’s history.
How Did the Radiator Come About?
Dating back to Rome, the radiator concept is traced back to their ancient invention called the hypocaust. This consisted of hollowed-out, tunnel-like spaces underneath their floors, which intentionally allowed heated air to pass through these spaces into specific rooms. While this concept originated with the Romans, in 1855, a man named Franz San Galli created the idea of the modern-day radiator. Thirty years later, however, in 1885, Dave Lennox furthered this discovery by inventing coal-burning cast iron radiators. These radiators were generally placed in basements so that the heat generated from them could rise and heat the space above it.
How Was Electric Heat Created?
In 1905, Albert Marsh was dubbed “father of the electrical heating industry” because of his contributions to developing electric heat. He discovered metal in chrome that enabled him to create a stronger heating element that could endure electrical currents to pass through, thus being converted to heat. Technology has progressed throughout the years, but Marsh’s original concept can still be seen even in today’s heating equipment.
How Did the Central Heating System Start?
Alice Parker established the first central heating system in 1919. Due to this monumental milestone, central heat became a significant moment in the furnace’s history. Her invention enabled warm air to be evenly regulated and distributed throughout the home.
How Was Distributed Forced Air Invented?
Alice Parker’s invention laid the foundation for the distributed forced air wall furnace to come about. In 1935, the distributed forced air furnace was created. This functioned by the heat from the furnace blowing through ductwork and being evenly distributed. Because of this, warm air could now travel throughout the house and enter rooms through the air registers. The disadvantage to this was that gravity brought the warm air back down, and the heating process would have to start again. It was a very inefficient way to keep a home heated but was the best available option at the time.
How Do Modern-Day Furnaces Function?
Thankfully, gravity-fed furnaces are no longer a concern. The solution to this problem was the addition of motor-driven fans. Using a motor-driven fan, allowed the warm air to pass through ductwork and reach farther rooms. As a result, warm air no longer dropped back down into the furnace. Of course, this is beneficial to us today because we can now enjoy a consistently heated home with warm air that is adequately circulated throughout the house.
It’s impressive to see the progression of the modern-day furnace. Its development has come a long way throughout history. Today, we get to experience the comfort of a warm home due to diligent research and discoveries of the people who came before us. Your Canal Winchester Heating & Cooling professionals want the best for you and your family. Staying warm and comfortable in your home is one of our main concerns. If you have any current problems with your current furnace or possibly need to upgrade to a more efficient one, please get in touch with us as soon as possible! Our number one priority is to provide our customers with a five-star experience. Call us at (614) 524-4737, or schedule an appointment online by clicking here!
