A Brief History of Central Heating | Morvent's One Hour - Furnace Repair in Exton, PA - Morvent's One Hour - Air Conditioning Repair in Exton, Downingtown, & West Chester, PA. , Kennett Square, PA

A Brief History of Central Heating | Morvent's One Hour - Furnace Repair in Exton, PA

Last updated 3 months ago

Most homes throughout Pennsylvania are equipped with central heating and air conditioning systems to keep their indoor temperatures comfortable throughout the year. But before central heating was developed, how did people stay warm during bitterly cold eastern winters?

Here’s a look at the history of home heating and the development of central heating systems.

For most of history, humans used very basic forms of energy to keep warm during cold nights or throughout the winter. Fires made from wood and other organic material were used to supply heat in homes for most of America’s history through the 19th century. Fireplaces were very common in homes built during this period, but were very limited in their ability to warm entire buildings. They were also inefficient and often filled the rooms they were located in with smoke.

Home heating took a huge leap forward in 1744 in Philadelphia, when Benjamin Franklin created the Franklin stove. This cast-iron stove was fueled with wood, but was much more efficient than a plain oven fire. This stove could also be installed in rooms that did not have fireplaces for heating throughout the entire home.

The industrial revolution shifted the emphasis on heat production from wood to coal and steam. These materials made early central heating systems much more efficient than fire-powered heaters of the 1700s and 1800s. Iron boilers and air duct systems became more popular in homes, and large air furnaces were common in institutional buildings.

By the 1900s, these systems were found throughout the country. Today, homeowners have a wide range of options when it comes to home heating and air conditioning. Forced-air furnaces are the most common heating systems around and typically run on gas or electricity.

Does your home’s heating system make you wish you had a Franklin stove? Call Morvent’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning for professional service in Chester and Delaware Counties. Call us at (484) 734-1445.