Homes Extra: All Fired Up

Sara Whatley
Sep 9
3 min read

It’s that time again when our thoughts turn to cosying up inside as the nights turn cooler. Sara Whatley looks at how heating has evolved over history to the efficient and effective modern-day solutions that keep us snug and warm

It’s a bit chilly - shall we pop the heating on? And with the flick of a switch it’s done, our homes warm and welcoming whenever we want.

It wasn’t always this easy though. Heating, cooking and community have gone hand in hand for thousands of years, and it is only through trial and error that we have arrived at the slick and efficient heating options we enjoy today.

It all started with a fire. Gathered around the central campfire, mainly outside, prehistoric families would have huddled together to keep warm and cook their food. Eventually, the fire started to be brought inside, with basic vents in the roof for the smoke.

The fire also acted as a focal point – somewhere to come together, trade information and tell stories. Which is still the same today, of course. Be it outdoors at the campsite or cosied up in our living rooms, an open fire or wood-burner is a timeless heart to the home.

Next in the history of heating came a fixed hearth, evidence of which has been excavated in Greece. Meanwhile, Egyptians where fanning the flames of their fires with bellows, followed by the first attempts at underfloor heating in Turkey, and central heating by the Roman Empire. Alas, when the Roman Empire fell it was back to the open fire for many centuries.

The invention of the chimney in the 12th century really lit a fire under the concept of indoor heating and gradually ducts, boilers, pipes and eventually the radiator became a feasible way to heat the home.

Once electricity took off that opened a whole new channel of heating possibilities, including the invention of bar heaters, and storage heaters and it wasn’t until around the 1980s that central heating became widespread in UK homes.

However, many homes were still reliant on traditional stoves and fires, and their popularity is still strong today for that homely glow that emanates warmth and comfort – albeit with newer technology allowing a cleaner and more efficient use of fuel and energy.

Recent heating advancements have seen a big shift towards greener and more energy efficient solutions, such as biomass boilers, ground, air source heat pumps, and solar panels. This type of heating is designed to heat our homes very efficiently and conveniently, giving us the ability to tailor our heating to our lifestyle. It also takes into consideration the rising costs of energy and lessening our impact on the planet’s resources.

However, since the beginning of heating history it is the fire that has endured and today you can still enjoy the warm glow and flickering flames with the huge array of fires and stoves that are available using all types of fuel. They offer a cost-effective way of connecting with our ancestral roots and create the unique ambiance of a flaming fire.

Lighting a real fire is a primal activity and many people thoroughly enjoy the whole ritual; from chopping the wood, to scrunching the paper and setting the fire in the grate, then striking the match and watching the flames lick through the kindling. The warmth that emanates, the crackleof logs, the glow of the fire – it is a uniquely satisfying process.

Eco-design wood-burning stoves are a popular choice for those conscious of wood burning emissions. They aim to reduce emissions and minimize the negative impact on the environment, while also burning with an improved fuel efficiency and offering a choice of fuel, from wood to pellets, or biomass (fuel derived from organic matter such as plants and animals which can be used to produce energy).

It may still be bright and balmy as you read this, but all too soon crisp autumn days and fire-hued leaves will blow, followed by cold nights and pale frosty mornings, when all we want is to be warm and snug in our homes. Getting prepared now for this seasonal change is key to keeping our homes comfortably cosy for the winter ahead.