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A History of Central Heating

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Is there anything better than coming in from the cold to a warm, cozy house?

Well we have central heating to thank for that – and many other things in between. Dating back centuries, heating systems have not only kept us warm but have helped foster family relations and marked the country’s transition into the modern age.

This year’s unseasonably bad weather has given us even more reason to be thankful for central heating – read on to find out about how the system developed and the ways in which it has changed everybody’s life.

history of central heating and cooling systemsHistory

Central heating stretches back as far as the Romans in the UK, who channeled heated air through spaces under their floors to keep the chill at bay.

Fireplaces and hearths then became the main source of heating houses for centuries, until Angier March Perkins began to popularize his central heating design in the 1830s. The invention of the radiator in 1857 helped further aid the spread of gas systems in Victorian Britain although, like many of the improvements of the time, some of the household improvements were highly unsafe.

The introduction of ceramic radiants at the beginning of the 20th century and the gradually improving efficiency brought about through convector fires helped make the system more affordable for ordinary Brits. Further technological and ethical advances, such as the Clean Air Act of 1956, further boosted the popularity of central heating, with the vast majority of houses now having an electric, gas or dual fuel household system.

Air Balancing

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Room Temperature Imbalance

Are some rooms colder or hotter than the others? This difference temperature is typically an easy of air and heat flow. Since heat migrates upwards, upstairs rooms tend to be hotter and downstairs room colder. Also, rooms furthest from the furnace and air conditioner get the least air flow.

Checking Comfort

For this article I’m going to assume it is the middle of summer and keeping the house cool is the main objective. Start the process by getting to know your cooling system. Start from the heart of the system (i.e. the air conditioner) and note how the ducts carry the air to the rest of the house. The registers distribute air to each room while the return vents feed air back to the air conditioner. Make sure all registers are set wide open and that all returns are free from obstruction. Also, make sure that the air conditioner has been properly maintained and the air filter replaced regularly.

Now carefully note over a couple of days, and at different times, the temperature of each room. While it isn’t a bad idea to take exact temperatures, just noting how comfortable each room is will suffice. I used a floor plan of my house to document the comfort level for each room, as shown below.

How to balanace the temperature in your house

air balance 2

My house is an open split level layout so air flows freely between all rooms. The problem is cold air pools in the bottom level and warm air rises to the top. My SimpliSafe freeze monitor, located on the lower level, shows about 6°F temperature difference between the  lower level and the upper level, where the thermostat is located.

Air Conditioner Maintenance and Cleaning

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Maintain the AC every spring to reduce energy costs and prolong the life of the unit.Caring for the Air Conditioner

For a home’s heating system the furnace is the heart. For a cooling system it isn’t that simple. The air conditioner does all the work, but it is split into two major components: the condenser and the evaporator. The part of the air conditioning system on the outside of the house is the condenser. On the inside, usually integrated with the furnace and blower, is the evaporator. Connecting these two components are refrigerant lines that transfer heat (energy) outside.

Maintenance, Cleaning, and Inspection

Professional Inspection

While there are a few tasks you can complete as a DIY homeowner, it is best to get a professional to service the air conditioner once a year. They have special equipment to test the refrigerant line pressures. This reading allows them to detect a leak much earlier than a homeowner, who probably won’t notice the problem until the system has a hard time cooling.