Since the days of early societies, fire building remained the primary way of generating warmth. Even after the emergence of modern housing structures, fireplaces were a common structure for generating heat indoors; however, the cold remained an issue once a person moved more than a few feet away from the heat source.
Introduction of the Radiator
Radiators were introduced in Europe during the 1850s, but they only became widely available when low-cost, coal-burning, cast-iron options emerged. Radiators used natural convection to generate a more efficient heat distribution. These appliances were typically kept in basements to leverage the rising nature of heat and warm the rooms above.
The Bunsen Burner
People continued to seek better, more efficient ways to stay warm while indoors. Next came Bunsen burner technology, which introduced the first open-flame concept to produce heat without a foot. The Bunsen burner blended gas with air in a controlled environment prior to combustion. This technology led to the development of gas, propane, and oil-fired heating systems. Today, we still use pilot lights and gas-powered heaters, both of which emerged from Bunsen burner technology.
Electric Heating
Most of us are familiar with the exciting advances electricity brought to modern-day heating. In 1905, Albert Marsh discovered chrome, which allowed him to construct a heating element that was 300 times stronger than others that were available on the market at the time. Marsh’s heaters pushed electrical current through the chrome heating element, which converted electricity to distributable heat. Today, electrical heating has changed very little and is still produced in the same way it was back in 1905.
Today’s Furnace
Furnaces today are available in a variety of fuel, electric, and geothermal options. Fortunately, [company_name] services all types of furnaces. In most cases, the style of furnace a homeowner has is indicative of age. Most older furnaces in the United States have an old-fashioned pilot light. People who own older homes should have their furnace inspected annually to ensure the system’s ignition and parts are all functioning properly.
Contact us today to receive assistance with identifying the age and type of your furnace or to schedule heating maintenance and annual inspections in the Frederick area.
