Have you ever wondered how cavemen kept warm on cold nights? Archaeologists believe that early humans discovered that fire could pull double duty by not only cooking their food but also keeping them from freezing on cold nights. People in caves learned to keep smoke out by making a hole in the roof. If there were no caves around, people gathered mammoth bones, sunk them partially into the earth, and covered them with animal hides. People even made shelters under the snow.
From those first fires, humans have continually found new and better ways to bring warmth indoors. The story of how we got from open flames to modern heating is a fascinating one.
Fireplaces and Stoves
After the discovery of fire, the next major advancement came in the form of fireplaces with proper chimneys, though people still had to huddle close to the fire to stay warm on the coldest nights. The rest of the house was shut down, and one had to sleep in one’s clothes. Sometimes, farm families even brought in their livestock; a cow or two gives off plenty of heat!
Later, stoves were invented, and they proved more efficient than fireplaces. They initially burned wood like fireplaces did, but by the early part of the 19th century, they’d switched to coal. Coal stoves were so efficient that just one could deliver a comfortable amount of heat to much of a medium-sized house.
Central Heating’s Roman Roots
While fireplaces and stoves were warming individual rooms well into the 1800s, a different approach to heating had actually been around for centuries. You may be surprised to learn that the ancient Romans enjoyed central heating for their homes. The wealthy class used what was called a hypocaust system. This was a version of the radiant floor heating people use today. Building a hypocaust was labor-intensive, but it kept the rooms of a Roman villa toasty for most of the day.
The Rise of the Radiator
After the fall of Rome, central heating largely disappeared for centuries. It took until the 19th century for the concept to return, this time in the form of the cast-iron radiator. Radiators used steam or hot water to heat homes, and homes today are often still set up the same way, with a radiator in nearly every room. However, at the time, only the rich could afford this heating system. Installing one required a monstrous coal-fed boiler and piping that few people knew how to properly install. Safety was also an issue in early boilers, but today’s systems are both safe and efficient.
Modern Furnaces and Forced Air
The boiler was then followed by furnaces that used forced air instead of steam or hot water to heat the house. These furnaces also used coal at first and pushed warmed air through ducts that connected to vents and registers in the floors instead of radiators. Now, nearly all heating is powered by gas, electricity, or oil. Furnaces, like boilers, grow more energy efficient over time.
From open fires to forced-air furnaces, the history of home heating is indeed fascinating. Thanks to advances in technology, keeping your home warm and toasty is easier and more efficient than ever. If you live in Montgomery, AL or a surrounding area and need heating services, make your first call to Alabama Home Pros.