The first gas heater

The first gas heater indoor made use of the same principles of the Bunsen burner invented in the previous year. It was first commercialized by the English company Pettit and Smith in 1856. The flame heats the air locally. This heated air then spreads by convection, thus heating the whole room. Today the same principle applies with natural gas heater patio heaters or "mushroom heaters" which act as giant Bunsen burners.