New Britain was settled in 1687 and then was incorporated as a new parish under the name New Britain Society in 1754. The name is a transfer from Great Britain. During the early part of the 20th century, New Britain was known as the "Hardware Capital of the World," as well as "Hardware City". This is because major manufacturers, such as The Stanley Works, the P&F Corbin Company (later Corbin Locks), Landers, Frary & Clark (LF&C) and North & Judd, were headquartered in the city.

New Britain, CT has a temperate climate, with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid with temperatures routinely reaching into the high 80s and low 90s. Winters are cold and snowy, with temperatures occasionally dropping below freezing. Spring brings rain showers, and fall is generally mild before turning cold in late autumn. New Britain experiences snowfall from November to March each year, with an average of 34 inches of snow yearly. To live comfortably, HVAC systems need thorough attention and maintenance regularly to navigate the extreme weather of New England.