No, modern-day heating systems haven’t been around for centuries, but our ancestors were quite innovative when it came to keeping warm or cool. Looking at history, you will see cave dwellers used geothermal heating by digging holes in the earth and that ancient Egyptians used wet reeds hung in windows to cool the breeze.
In addition, multiple Asian cultures were using fans far before we made use of them and the Greeks have been credited with the first use of ductwork. If that isn’t enough, the ‘latest and greatest’ heating trend–radiant floor heating–can actually be seen in simpler versions throughout history.
What we would like to do, is take a look at who is responsible for the creation of modern heater, look into how your current HVAC system works, and learn to date or age an HVAC unit. Keep reading for more information!
Willis Carrier: A Name That Everyone Should Know
You probably don’t know the name Willis Carrier and that is understandable. He’s only the man known for inventing the modern air conditioner. Willis Carrier worked in a publishing house in New York.
This publishing house had a problem with humidity that Willis was intent on solving because it was ruining all of the paper. Instead, in 1902, he inadvertently created the air conditioner.
How Your HVAC Functions
We’re not talking about the way your thermostat works, but more along the lines of the two main components of your HVAC system.
These components are known as the air handler (located inside, usually in a closet or attic) and the condenser which is located outside.
Both of these main parts break down into several smaller parts and they each have a hand in keeping you cool:
Air Handlers: housed within the air handler you will find the blower and the evaporator coil which is filled with refrigerant. As warm air blows over the coils, the refrigerant absorbs heat and expands to gas.
After the air has passed over the coil, it is cold and sent through your ductwork with the help of the blower. Once the refrigerant is a gas it can no longer absorb heat so it is transferred to the condenser via a conduit
Condensers: as the refrigerant gas arrives at the condenser, the compressor squeezes all the heat out to be blown out of the unit by the fan. Once the refrigerant is a liquid again, it can return the air handler to start the process over
Dating Your Heater
No, we’re not talking about taking your HVAC system to dinner and the movies–we are talking about the process of finding out how old the system is.
This is important because of how long heating systems last, on average, for 10-15 years. While this number is not a guarantee of the length of life nor a death sentence, it is something to be aware of to allow for planning.
If you’re not sure of your heater’s birthday, you can find it by looking at the serial number. Although this ‘number’ is really a string of digits and letters, you should be able to find four consecutive numbers.
These four numbers are really two pairs that will indicate the week of the year and year of manufacture. For instance, if you have a four-digit number that looks like 1222, it is safe to say that the unit was not made in 2022 or 1912. Therefore, the 12 indicates 2012 and the 22 indicates the 22nd week of that year.
Call All Clear For All Information!
If you are worried that your heater is getting up there in age and wonder how much longer it’ll last, give All Clear Plumbing a call. We can inspect your heater, give you an idea of how much life it has left, and help you size a new HVAC unit for your home that fits your budget. We won’t try to use sales pitches to convince you of anything, just give you the information you need to make an educated decision.
