Introducing the Women Who Helped Shape the HVAC Industry
While the HVAC industry comprises mostly men, there is no denying the role that women played in shaping the industry. They created excellent ideas and patents, educated the public, and so much more. Modern-day women still look up to the role models of yesteryear who paved the way for gender equality in this field.
HVAC is a complicated and very technical career field. It requires years of training, innovative thinking, and dedication to excellence. Here are some women who embodied all of these attributes and set the stage for success for women everywhere.
Alice H. Parker Sets the Stage
Many homeowners rely heavily on their central heating system to keep them warm, but they don't know where the invention comes from. Most people would be surprised to learn it was actually invented by a woman! In the early 1900s, Alice H. Parker became famous for patenting a system that utilized natural gas as a source for central heating.
She was a female African American inventor with a revolutionary idea. Instead of using fireplaces to warm the home, natural gas was a convenient solution. Her designs didn't see much use, but her idea sparked others to consider how natural gas and heating ducts could keep homes warmer than traditional fireplaces. Homeowners could forego chopping wood to keep warm, and the risk of a building fire significantly decreased with this idea.
Margaret Ingels and the Hall of Fame
Another revolutionary woman in HVAC, Margaret Ingels was the first female to receive an engineering degree from the University of Kentucky. Ingels was only the second woman to graduate with this degree in the United States, and she was the first to receive her mechanical engineering degree. She later went on to work for the Carrier Engineering Corporation, where she studied air conditioning for several years.
With her extensive knowledge of engineering, she became the first female engineer at this company. Throughout her years working with HVAC at Carrier, she made many speeches and tried to educate the general public about what air conditioning had to offer. Due to her contributions in the industry, she got inducted into the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers Hall of Fame in the late 1990s.
Modern Day Women in HVAC
Unfortunately for women, HVAC is still mostly a male-dominated field. Women make up just a small percentage of the total workforce in this area, even though they comprise almost half of the entire workforce in the nation. HVAC presents a stable career opportunity with the potential for excellent pay for women who want to challenge the gender-gap and stereotypes.
Women can pave the way just like Alice H. Parker and Margaret Ingels to make a more inclusive work environment!
About ThermAll Heating & Cooling, Inc.
Homeowners in Yakima and Kittitas counties have come to rely on ThermAll Heating & Cooling, Inc. to help with all their HVAC needs. From heating repair to furnace replacements, they can help to improve indoor air quality with a satisfaction guarantee. All employees offer top-quality workmanship with straightforward pricing around the clock! Call now for expert AC services!
