Central heating has been around for about a thousand years. It might seem a little strange to think that the Romans invented home-heating, however they really did. It is thanks to them that we have central heating as standard in our homes today.
For the most part, the modern world has chosen to heat it’s buildings in ways that differ from the original Roman idea. However, even in the modern age the Roman system is seen to be effective, potentially more so than many modern methods, such as wall mounted heaters.
Essentially the Roman’s heated buildings by placing heat sources underneath the floors and in the walls. This creates a very even heat, that spreads quickly throughout the home, eliminating cold spots, and ensuring that floors themselves are kept at a comfortable temperature.
Of course these days electricity as opposed to fire is used for underfloor heating systems. Modern electric underfloor heating can also be very carefully controlled, and so can be lessened in one part of the home and increased in another. Having such control over how much your home is heated can even save you money.
Perhaps the Romans didn’t, but we definitely know that hot air rises. With electric underfloor heating heat rises from the floor upwards and so less heat is lost to the outside world, and rooms are heated from the floor upwards. This creates a very comfortable sense of heat, especially in bathrooms.
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