Central Heating Collection

Insulation in a house loft or roof space. Insulating your loft can save a significant amount of household heat loss
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

A man measuring the depth of insulation in a house loft or roof space. Insulating your loft can save a significant
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

setting the central heating thermostat at a cooler temperature to save energy
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Elderly lady who lives on Lamont Street, N. W. Washington, D. C. 1942. Creator: Gordon Parks
Washington, D.C. Elderly lady who lives on Lamont Street, N.W

Mrs. Hull and corner of her one-room basement dugout, Dead Ox Flat, Malheur County, Oregon, 1939
Mrs. Hull and corner of her one-room basement dugout. Dead Ox Flat, Malheur County, Oregon. [Note L. & H. Economy stove]

Interior of eastern Oregon one-room county school, Baker County, Oregon, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Interior of eastern Oregon one-room county school. Seven pupils enrolled. 8:45 a.m. Between Pleasant Valley and Durkee, Baker County, Oregon

9: 00 a.m. four pupils attend this day... eastern Oregon county school, Baker County, Oregon, 1939
9:00 a.m. Four pupils attend this day, of the seven who are enrolled at the eastern Oregon county school. Between Pleasant Valley and Durkee, Baker County, Oregon

Kotatsu Dojoji, no. 5 from a series of 12 prints depicting parodies of plays, c. 1716 / 35
Kotatsu Dojoji, no. 5 from a series of 12 prints depicting parodies of plays, c. 1716/35. Scene from the legend of Musume Dojoji

The Brazier of Elegance and the Bell of Damnation (Fuga hibachi muken no kane), c. 1739/40

Narcissus in Winter, from the series "Choicest Odes upon Flowers of the Four Seasons
Narcissus in Winter, from the series " Choicest Odes upon Flowers of the Four Seasons (Shuku awase, shiki no hana)", c. 1792

Idealised interior of a Russian izba, c. 1880 (colour engraving)
CHT241203 Idealised interior of a Russian izba, c.1880 (colour engraving) by French School, (19th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Domestic Stove (ceramic)
XIR391144 Domestic Stove (ceramic) by French School, (18th century); Musee d Unterlinden, Colmar, France; (add.info.: Pyramid-shaped ceramic stove; ); French, out of copyright

Paris Street Scene with many advertisements, mainly for medicines
CHT237154 Paris Street Scene with many advertisements, mainly for medicines, 1885 (colour engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Tough Story - Scene in a Country Tavern, 1837. Creator: William Sidney Mount
The Tough Story - Scene in a Country Tavern, 1837

The Great Exotic Stove at Kew, 1763. Creator: William Chambers
The Great Exotic Stove at Kew, 1763

Plan of a Roman hypocaust found on the site of the Coal Exchange, City of London, 1848

Kitchen scene, Warwick, Warwickshire, 1966. Artist: Michael Walters
Kitchen scene, Warwick, Warwickshire, 1966. A housewife attending to the cooking in her new kitchen. The kitchen is the new fitted American style with matching formica fronted doors

New range of central heating boilers, 1965. Artist: Michael Walters
New range of central heating boilers, 1965. In a studio photograph, a model adjusts her new Autostat 502 model central heating boiler from the Victory range of gas fired domestic heating boilers

Roman hypocaust, Salamis, North Cyprus. Archaeologists have found remains at Salamis dating back to the 11th century BC. Evidence of Phoenician and Assyrian settlement has been found

Proposed method of warming and ventilating a house, 1866. A print from Cyclopaedia of Useful Arts, Mechanical and Chemical, Manufactures, Mining, and Engineering, edited by Charles Tomlinson

Hot water cylinder

Hand against side of heater timer

Pipes attached to central heating

Adjusting a Thermostatic Radiator Valve
Adjusting a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV). It is a relatively simple uncalibrated device in which the flow of water through a radiator varies with the expansion or contraction of a wax plug

Thermostatic radiator valve. This is a self-regulating device that once set by hand adjusts itself to control the amount and temperature of the hot water flowing into the radiator

Cats on window sill, thermogram image. These are domestic cats (Felis sylvestris). The colours show variations in temperature

Houses and road, thermogram. A thermogram shows the variation in temperature on the surface of an object, measured by the long-wave infrared radiation it emits

Block of flats, thermogram
Block of flats. Thermogram of a block of flats in the evening. A thermogram shows the variation in temperature on the surface of an object, measured by the long-wave infrared radiation it emits

Drying clothes. Thermogram of clothes on a household radiator. The colours show variations in temperature. The scale runs from white (warmest), through yellow, orange and red to purple (coldest)

Insulation material

Household boiler (white cabinet above fruit bowl), mounted on the wall of a kitchen. This is a gas boiler, which burns natural gas, heating water for use in the kitchen, as well as baths

Energy efficiency
Insulation. Conceptual image of foam insulation round a copper pipe beside a globe

Foam insulation round a copper pipe

Radiator leak being repaired. Welding torch and solder being used to repair a leaking section of a central heating pipe connection to a radiator

Insulated water pipes in an industrial system

Insulated heating pipes in an industrial heating system

Solar thermal heating system. The three pumps at upper centre (with red and blue dials) are examples of a modern heating and solar thermal system

Wireless thermostat 2 C009 / 9146
MODEL RELEASED. Wireless thermostat. Householder handling a wireless programmable thermostat for controlling a central heating system

A gound source heat pump with Pipes coming up from 55 metres down in a house in Ambleside, Cumbria, UK
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Pipes coming up from 55 metres down for a ground source heat pump, in a house in Ambleside, Cumbria
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

Central heating is more than just a way to keep your home warm; it's a means of saving energy and combating climate change. One effective method is insulating your house loft or roof space, which can significantly reduce heat loss and contribute to energy conservation. Picture a man carefully measuring the depth of insulation in his loft, taking proactive steps towards reducing household heat loss. By doing so, he not only saves energy but also plays his part in protecting our planet. Another strategy for efficient central heating is setting the thermostat at a cooler temperature. This small adjustment can make a big difference in terms of energy consumption and cost savings. Imagine an elderly lady on Lamont Street, N. W. , Washington D. C. , back in 1942, diligently adjusting her thermostat to conserve energy during challenging times. Looking back further into history, we see people adapting their living spaces to combat harsh weather conditions. Mrs. Hull finds solace in her one-room basement dugout on Dead Ox Flat, Malheur County, Oregon in 1939—a testament to human resilience and resourcefulness. Education too has played a role in promoting sustainable practices throughout time. In an eastern Oregon one-room county school from 1939 captured by Dorothea Lange's lens, four dedicated pupils attend class despite the cold temperatures outside—proof that even young minds understand the importance of conserving warmth for both comfort and environmental reasons. Intriguingly enough, centuries ago Japanese culture embraced central heating through innovative designs like Kotatsu Dojoji—a low table with built-in heaters beneath it—providing warmth during chilly winters while fostering social interactions within households. Artistic expressions have also depicted various aspects throughout history: The Brazier of Elegance symbolizes elegance combined with functionality; Narcissus in Winter showcases nature's beauty amidst colder seasons; an idealized interior Russian izba demonstrates how homes were adapted for warmth even before modern heating systems.