Without the vitality of an operating HVAC system, our days would be spent in discomfort this summer as we toil away in our daily duties. So whether you appreciate working in a cool office during the day, resting upon the cool side of your pillow at night, or hosting a festivity during the scorching summer heat, let’s take time to savor the cool air that air conditioning gifts us. If that air goes out, trust me, things can get uncomfortable fast! But, if you find yourself in such a situation, touch base with Huber Heights Heating & Cooling so we can have somebody out to your home as soon as possible! Air conditioning is a luxury that we can attribute to the many great designs throughout history that came before. Fasten your seatbelts, friends, as we travel to the past and look at the history of the modern air conditioner.
What Began the History Of the Modern A/C?
Primary ideas of cooling our indoor atmosphere began in the history of ancient Egypt. The Egyptians would fasten wet clothing from their entrances; as the wind blew, it cooled the damp clothes and gave rise to the cooler air in the home. China also contributed to A/C history when Ding Huan forged a hand-cranked rotary fan in 180 AD. In addition, the Romans assembled a sophisticated water/air supply system, the aqueduct system, that comprised a sequence of belowground passages to transport water and cool air into the homes of the more prestigious. All of these contributions, while now minorly seeming, are fundamental efforts toward developing our modern A/C technology.
Was There A/C In the 1700s?
Benjamin Franklin and John Hadley performed the first reported experiment for air conditioning theory in 1758, employing the evaporation method to chill an object hastily. As a finding of their research, Franklin and Hadley successfully decreased the thermometer’s temperature to 7 degrees Fahrenheit while the external circumstances sat at 64 degrees Fahrenheit. “From this experiment, one may see the possibility of freezing a man to death on a warm summer’s day,” Benjamin Franklin proudly claimed in a letter after the experimental trial.
Was There A/C In the 1800s?
In 1820, Michael Faraday fulfilled a similar test with ammonia, the first sort of volatile liquid used in a modern A/C unit. And in 1830, Dr. John Gorrie of Florida utilized a small steam and ice machine to alleviate symptoms in his patients suffering from tropical ailments. Dr. Gorrie’s cooling machine was patented in 1851 and appointed to hospital rooms to attend to yellow fever and other diseases.
Was There A/C In the 1900s?
In 1902, Willis Carrier developed the first air conditioning unit that resembled present-day models, needed by the Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing and Publishing Co., which sought to discover a way to cool paper while printing. It employed cold coils to keep the surface cool. The machine dehumidified and cooled the air, enhancing the paper’s smooth texture and ink’s vibrancy. This equipment reduced humidity levels by up to 55%. And in 1915, Willis Carrier operated alongside the Buffalo Forge Company, which secured the production of the Carrier Air Conditioning Company of America. Today, this company is better known as Carrier.
Slowly but surely, air conditioning was adopted and utilized by manufacturers and industries to protect their products. The White House, as well as other essential executive buildings, started integrating air conditioning in 1930. People began to realize that air conditioning could better establish comfortable indoor conditions when central air became essential in movie theaters. Nickelodeons had a theater that gave low-cost entertainment to the public. As a way of allowing upper and middle-class customers to be comfortable while watching the film, cooling systems were established in the theaters, opening the way for the usage of household A/C units. Therefore, air conditioners launched installation in American homes in the 1950s, with about 74,000 documented installs.
In inspecting the results from the 2020 Energy Consumption survey, we see air conditioners utilized by 88% of American households. Thus, today we may relish our cold home environments thanks to the innovators of our past. Each breakthrough and HVAC landmark was a stride closer to our current top-notch high-efficiency A/C systems. And, if you have any problems with your heating or cooling system, don’t forget you can always contact our experts at Huber Heights Heating & Cooling, where our technicians await to help you keep cool this summer. Call today at (937) 226-9675, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
