From Fire to Furnaces THE HISTORY OF HOME HEATING
Inventors and innovators have granted us the luxury of only having to think about our winter comfort and the source of that comfort — our home's heating system — during the regular maintenance season. But it wasn't always this way.
without the mess. Franklin’s stoves remain popular, and some homeowners prefer this method of heating.
Heating with Coal About a century after Franklin’s invention, the U.S. began its love affair with coal. It became so popular that it surpassed wood as a primary source for heating in 1885. However, improvements had to be made to original coal heating systems. Keeping your home warm with coal required continual labor, not to mention the mess that came with it. Stoves that allowed for automatic flame stoking became more popular as coal use increased, too. Thankful for Thermostats With the advent of oil-burning systems in the early 20th century, stoves were placed on the back burner of American heating trends. Sytems eventually developed from oil to gas and electric. (Although some homes still use oil.) Today, many efficient models can warm the air in your home with little effort — a far cry from the days of the hearth. If your home’s heating system is giving you modern-day headaches, give our team at Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley a call.
Let’s travel back in time to see what life was like before modern-day heating systems.
Around the Hearth Historians believe humans have relied on fire for heat for more than a million years. Similar to a fireplace, hearths often housed these fires and were regularly stoked for heat and cooking. In the 14th century, Europeans moved their home hearth to the center of the home, which allowed for more even heating, and chimneys prevented smoke from filling the room. Fireplaces and hearths would remain as the main source of heat for centuries. Ben Franklin’s Mark on Heating History In the 17th century, woodstoves began replacing traditional wood fireplaces, but the devices were not efficient. Benjamin Franklin developed a stove — a version of which still exists — that produced more heat with less smoke. This was very desirable for homeowners who wanted greater comfort
HAVE A LAUGH
BLACK BEAN, MANGO, AND AVOCADO SALAD
Liven up your healthy eating this year with this Latin-inspired, flavor-packed recipe!
INGREDIENTS
• 1 small mango, peeled and chopped • 1 avocado, chopped • 3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved • 1 red chile, seeded and chopped
• 1 medium red onion, chopped • 1 15-oz. can black beans, drained • Cilantro, to taste, chopped • Zest and juice of 1 lime
DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, gently mix the ingredients together until just combined.
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Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
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