While our technicians can talk all things air conditioning for days, it may not seem like the most fascinating topic to ponder about! Read a little bit of its history and fun historical facts below and you will definitely be amazed at this modern marvel.
When Was Air Conditioner Invented?
In 1902, a New York-based publishing company was facing issues with the hot and highly humid summer air which was causing its magazine pages to wrinkle, words to blur and damaging its printing machinery. So it asked a young engineer, Willis Carrier to come up with a solution who invented an ‘apparatus for treating air’. This device purified the air inside the building and adjusted the amount of water vapor in it. This apparatus worked by using a fan to force air through multiple chambers.
In one chamber, the air was diffused in water and then passed through plates that functioned as filters to remove dust from it. Then, the air was made to pass through coiled pipes that contained a that could either warm or cool the air, thus altering its humidity.
Who First Invented Air Conditioning?
Born in 1876 in Angola, New York, Willis Carrier is credited with inventing the first air conditioning. After graduating from Cornell in 1901, Willis began working for the Buffalo forge company as a heating engineer. The rest is history.
When Was Air Conditioning Common?
The most popular manufacturing companies- General Electric, Carrier, Westinghouse, etc. started producing air conditioners in bulk at the end of the Depression in the United States. Officed started purchasing the AC units and its sales rose to about $30 million in 1937. After World War 2, a construction boom drove many homeowners to install private air conditioners. Approximately 1 million air conditioning units were installed in 1953 to homeowners.
People First Experienced Air-Conditioning In Movie Theatres
Movie theatres were among the first businesses to see the potential of air conditioners and its usage inevitably helped coin the term ‘Summer Blockbuster.’ So when the air conditioner was introduced in movie theatres in the 1930s, viewers came in droves not only to enjoy the films but to experience the cool air that was desperately needed in the summer. Marketers spun this phenomenon for their benefit and released the big hits during the summer to drum up sales. This is why we still hear the term “Summer Blockbuster” in our vocabulary.
Air-Conditioners Take Humidity Out Of Air
You may have seen some air conditioners dripping water and this water came out of the air in your home. This process lowers the humidity in the air which feels more comfortable. If you were in a house that was at 80 degrees with 65% humidity, you wouldn’t feel comfortable but you would feel so much better with 45% humidity.
The coil inside the air conditioner condenses water vapor from the air through the same process by which condensations appears on a glass containing a cold beverage. So when moist and hot air comes in contact with the evaporator coil, water is pulled in from the air which is then directed to a drain, away from your space.
Air-Conditioners Save Lives
Chances are you’re sitting in an air-conditioned room right now! The widespread adoption of air conditioning has not only helped improve the standard of lives but can also prevent deaths and injuries caused by heat. By providing cold and comfortable air, the air conditioner has played a role in reducing heat-related deaths by almost 80%
Energy-Efficient Air Cons Save You Money
While it is tempting to save money in the short-term by buying a cheaper model, it will end up adding a lot to your energy bills the more it runs. Choose an air conditioner which has consumes less energy to produce a high amount of cooling which can be measured by SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. We would suggest a split system air conditioner with a EER (energy efficiency ratio) rating of 11 or higher for home usage. A high-efficiency unit will cost more than lower ones but if you plan to use an AC regularly, it will pay for itself in a couple of years by reducing your energy bills.
Air-Conditioners Made Certain Medicines Possible
We’ve been used to seeing air conditioners as a luxury or comfort good that it is easy to forget how essential it is in the field of medicine. Low temperatures and good air quality is imperative for the well-being of patients, operation theatres, recovery from surgery and storage of medicine and equipment. In fact, if it weren’t for low temperatures, certain medicines would never have been invented and diseases would still be prevalent.
Air-Conditioning Provides Allergy Relief
While also providing relief from the heat and humid air, air conditioners can also bring relief from your seasonal allergies. Most allergy-causing agents are soluble in water and when the air gets taken in from the air by the appliance, these allergens are removed as well. To get better protection from these agents, you can get a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter installed which will make your AC even more effective in protecting you.
Air-Conditioning Increases Productivity At Work
Businesses are always on the lookout to improve productivity without spending a lot of resources. It may seem surprising but air conditioning is the easiest way to keep employees happy and working at their best. No employee would enjoy working in a sticky and hot environment where sluggishness is bound to occur. Furthermore, a cool and stable temperature helps reduce the chances of dehydration, allergies, and stress that is caused by excessive heat, Another reason why we encourage offices to have an AC unit is to prolong the life of laptops, desktops, servers, printers, and other technology and keep them from overheating.
Air Con Sunshine Coast installs and provides maintenance services to a variety of clients throughout the Sunshine Coast area like Caloundra, Kawana and Noosa. Our technicians will provide efficient, safe and affordable services to you that will keep you breathing easy.
