Technology creating smarter homes is nothing new. Sure, more recent advances may be more impressive to us. However, the concept has been around for a very long time.

This concept, called home automation, often makes people think about being able to perform tasks around the house from miles away of a phone or tablet. This, while true, is just one aspect in the overall history of home automation.

In fact, you may be surprised at the over 100-year running history of smart homes. Let’s take a stroll through time and take a look at the history and great advances in technology that helped lead home automation to where it is today.

Early 1900’s

Believe it or not, home automation goes all the way back to the turn of the century. The amenities we take for granted today were the first stepping stones in smart home technology.

Think about this. Before 1908, if you wanted to wash your clothes you had to do it by hand. After the electric washing machine’s invention in 1908, home owners were able to wash their clothes with ease just by putting them in the machine.

Similar revolutionary home appliances such as the vacuum cleaner (1907), dishwasher (1917) and blender (1922) followed. These inventions eliminated the hassle and physical labor it took to take care of the home.

Although they may not seem as impressive or groundbreaking to us today, these simple inventions changed everything.

The Kitchen Computer

In the winter of 1969, a new ground-breaking step towards smarter homes was invented: The Honeywell Kitchen Computer.

Weighing over 100 lbs. and costing $10,000 at the time, this early computer was designed to be able to do variety of kitchen and home related tasks. Not only would the machine store recipes, but with simple inputs, the computer would help you plan out a meal.

However, being able to operate it fluently required a two-week training course and as you can imagine the Honeywell Kitchen Computer quickly died. Regardless, this device was well ahead of its time.

Late 90’s through Modern day

Home automation as it stands today revolves around two themes: security and convenience.

Advanced home security systems allow remote controlled locks, security alarms and video cameras around your home can be monitored and controlled on tablets and smartphones.

Homeowners can also remotely start their cars, an invention that we are certainly thankful for on those cold mornings.

Old innovations in home automation have also been perfected. Refrigerators like the Family Hub can connect to your mobile devices to tell you what you are out of, what you are running low on, help you make lists, build calendars and even play music for you while you are cooking.

Other profound advances in home automation come in heating and cooling. New technologies like the Housewise thermostat from Cor Home Automation have changed the way homeowners control their comfort levels.

This thermostat has the ability to connect with mobile devices to allow for alterations to heat levels from outside the home. Inside the home, it can also synchronize with voice command devices and apps like Amazon Alexa, allowing for voice-controlled thermostats.

Throughout the last couple decades, as home automation has become better and better it has also become more affordable. Whereas years ago inventions like a washing machine were a luxury, they are now commonplace.

Even the more advanced innovations like home security and smart thermostats are easier than ever to introduce into your home.

Want to learn more about the latest in home automation in heating and cooling? Give Chapman a call.

Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, carries a full line of high efficiency furnaces. Contact us to recommend the best services to your home

In today’s world, there is a lot of pressure to pursue a 4-year education. Many say it is the only way to find a successful and rewarding career. But, did you know 53% of college grads are under or unemployed?

A 4-year education is not the only path to a strong career.

Pursuing an education at a vocational or trade school is a gateway to a promising future. A career as a service industry professional lets you work in an area you are passionate about, but also allows you to earn a comfortable living.

With typical pay raises, a service industry professional like an electrician or a plumber will earn more after 5 years on the job than other professions like a teacher or someone in law enforcement.

In addition, trade schools only cost a fraction of a 4-year college. Someone pursuing a trade school will invest around $29,000 as opposed to the $120,000 it costs for 4 years of in-state tuition. Not only do you leave with less debt (if any at all) but you leave with a flexible skill set that you can apply in a multitude of different ways.

Think you have what it takes to explore a career in the service industry professional?

At Chapman, we are always looking to add new talent to our already outstanding team. We look for individuals committed to building a life-long career in the HVAC industry. Whether you have been in the industry for a more than a decade or looking for your first job, if you can display a dedication to hard work and helping others you’ve got a place at Chapman.

So, what do you get out of a career with Chapman?

You get to join a team that has been serving families in central Indiana for over four decades with high-quality and reliable service. You also get an opportunity to grow as a professional. We take the time to properly educate our employees on all matters around the job whether it is customer service training or learning new technical skills.

We believe promoting continued education through our in-house training program is very important. As technology in our industry changes, we must adapt and refine our skills to help give our customers the best service possible.

So what do you say? Think you have what it takes? We are always accepting applications, so introduce yourself today and start on the path to a rewarding and successful career in the HVAC industry.

Looking for home ac repair contact Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, today

The boom in smart, mobile devices over the last several years has changed the way homeowners control and monitor their home in some pretty amazing ways.

Synchronizing home security systems with smart phones and tablets allows people to watch cameras, arm alarms and even lock doors from afar to give them piece of mind.

Even more recently, new refrigerators let you see what’s inside from the grocery store on your phone, alert you when you run out of something or when your milk expires.

The ability to connect your home with new technology has since become known as home automation.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to connect other aspects of your home with remote control? Well, home automation is now giving homeowners a new level of control and comfort.

The latest technology from Home Automation has created a smart thermostat: the Housewise Thermostat, a dynamic, new way to control your home’s comfort level.

The Housewise Thermostat not only gives you further reaching control but also changes how you make adjustments within your home.

Complete remote control

Did you forget to turn down the thermostat this morning? Is an approaching cold front going to make you come home to a freezing house?

Home automated thermostat gives you the ability to control your home’s heating and cooling levels to ensure you come home to the perfect temperature, all from your mobile device.

What makes Housewise Thermostats different from other similar products out there? These devices are registered not only to you, but with your dealer as well. That way, if something goes wrong with your system, you won’t be the only one getting an alert.

Your dealer, like Chapman, will also get an email alert of the issue. This eliminates the run around of contacting repair and significantly reduces downtime of a broken system.

Voice-controlled comfort

Controlling your thermostat from outside the home is just the beginning. Housewise Thermostats are also game-changers inside the home.

Housewise Thermostats are compatible with Amazon Alexa-enabled devices.

Stop fiddling with knobs and buttons. No more only being able to control the thermostat from one room. And no more having to constantly get up to fidget with a temperamental system. Now you can control all your heating and cooling with your voice.

We know, this is Star Trek type stuff, right?

All you need is registered Housewise Thermostat, an Alexa-enabled device (Amazon Echo, Amazon Dot or Amazon Tap), the Alexa app and a Wi-Fi connection. From there, you are free to give your device simple commands to control and change your system from anywhere in the house.

Ready to own the smartest home on the block? The future is now! Pick up the phone and call Chapman today to have any questions you may have answered and find out how you can bring a smart thermostat home with you.

Give Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, to provide air conditioning installation for your home today