Central Heating

Hello there. My name is Central Heating, and I am like a big, warm, invisible hug for your whole house. Before I came along, families had to shiver and crowd around a single smoky fireplace to stay warm. The rest of the house would be so chilly. I thought to myself, ‘There must be a better way to keep everyone cozy.’ So, my story began with the idea of sharing warmth with every single room.

My story starts a very long time ago, in a place called the Roman Empire. My oldest ancestor was called a hypocaust. It was a very clever idea. The Roman builders would make a big fire in a furnace, and then they would guide all the hot air through special tunnels. These tunnels ran under the floors and even inside the walls of their big buildings and bathhouses. It was like having secret, warm rivers flowing through the house, making the tiles on the floor feel toasty under their feet.

But after the Roman times ended, people seemed to forget all about my clever ancestors. It was as if I took a long, chilly nap for hundreds and hundreds of years. Houses became drafty and cold again. Families went back to using individual fireplaces, which meant only one room could be truly warm. I slept and waited for someone to remember how wonderful it was to have a whole house feel like a cozy blanket.

Finally, I started to wake up. A man from Russia named Franz San Galli helped invent my good friend, the radiator, around 1855. I like to think of radiators as little iron accordions that I fill with warmth to share with a room. Then, a truly brilliant inventor named Alice H. Parker came along. On December 23rd, 1919, she had an amazing idea for a new kind of me. She designed a system that used natural gas, a much cleaner fuel than wood or coal. Her invention would send warm air through special tubes, called ducts, to every room in the house. It was safer, cleaner, and made it so easy to warm up an entire home with just the turn of a knob.

After Alice Parker’s wonderful invention, I started to change the world. Can you imagine having to wear your winter coat while playing inside your own house? Well, kids didn't have to do that anymore. Families could use their living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms all winter long without getting goosebumps. Homes became healthier places because they were no longer damp and cold. I made every house a true haven, a comfortable and safe place to be, no matter how much snow was falling outside.

Today, I am still working hard to keep you warm. You can find me in homes, schools, and hospitals all over the world. I am always learning new tricks, too, like working with smart thermostats that help me know the perfect temperature to keep you comfortable. I am proud to be the warm heart of your home.