Working inside an office daily from 9-5, sleeping in a cool room in the middle of the night, and hosting a dinner party during the hottest month of the summer- none of that would be possible without the convenience of a working HVAC system. We enjoy cool air in our homes without even thinking about it. Of course, that is until the air goes out! In which case, you should call Beavercreek Heating & Cooling to get on the job as soon as possible! No, but seriously. All jokes aside, there are so many great inventors in the history of the modern-day A/C that we can attribute our modern-day comforts to. So join us as we walk through some of these milestones in the history of the A/C.
Where Do the Roots Of the Modern A/C Begin?
Roots of the A/C can be traced back to Ancient Egypt. To cool down their homes as best as possible, the Egyptians would hang their wet laundry in front of their doorways. Doing this created an evaporation cooling effect, so when the wind passed, it touched the damp laundry and blew cool air into the home. In 180 AD, Ancient China also contributed to the history of the AC when Ding Huan invented a hand-cranked rotary fan. Additionally, Ancient Rome was not to be left behind in these progressive endeavors. The Romans created a complex aqueduct system that consisted of a series of underground tunnels which carried water and cool air to the homes of the wealthy. Each of these contributions, though rudimentary, are important milestones that mark the history of the modern-day A/C.
What Is the History Of the Modern A/C In the 1700s?
In 1758, Benjamin Franklin and John Hadley performed the first documented experiment for air conditioning theory. They applied the principle of evaporation to cool down an object swiftly. By the end of the study, the two had succeeded in lowering the thermometer’s temperature to 7 degrees Fahrenheit while the outer temperature was still 64 degrees Fahrenheit. After the experiment, Benjamin Franklin enthusiastically proclaimed in a letter, “From this experiment one may see the possibility of freezing a man to death on a warm summer’s day,”
What Is the History Of the Modern A/C In the 1800s?
Using ammonia, Michael Faraday conducted a similar experiment in 1820. This was the first form of volatile liquid used in a modern A/C unit. Then in 1830, a physician in Florida named Dr. John Gorrie put to use a small steam and ice machine to relieve his patients suffering from tropical illnesses. Dr. Gorrie patented his cooling machine in 1851, which was used in hospital rooms to treat yellow fever and other illnesses.
What Is the History Of the Modern In the 1900s?
Fast forward to 1902; it was this year that Willis Carrier invented the first air conditioning unit comparable to today’s current models. This took place as a result of the Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing and Publishing Co. needing a means of cooling the paper during printing. The invention used cold coils to provide cooling. So the machine dehumidified and cooled the air, keeping paper smooth and ink vibrant. This equipment had the capacity to reduce humidity levels by around 55%. By 1914, a mansion in Minneapolis was the first home to have an A/C made by Carrier. In 1915, Willis Carrier partnered with the Buffalo Forge Company, which led to the establishment of the Carrier Air Conditioning Company of America, which is widely known today as the famous brand called Carrier.
The concept of air conditioning slowly began to be accepted and started off being used only by manufacturers and factories to protect their products. However, in 1930, the White House and other large executive buildings fully embraced the air conditioning system. But it wasn’t until the need for central air arose in movie theaters that people started realizing air conditioning could aid in daily comfort. At that time, Nickolodeans, a 5-cent theater, was offering cheap entertainment to the public. In an attempt to keep the upper and middle class comfortable while they watched the film, A/C systems were installed in the theaters. This paved the way for the A/C system to be used residentially. In the 1950s, air conditioners were installed across many suburban homes. Record shows that there were about 74,000 A/C units installed in homes across America at this time.
According to the most recent results from the 2020 Energy Consumption survey, 88% of American households use air conditioning in their homes. In 2022, we get to enjoy the comfort of cool air in our homes, thanks to those who came before us. Each discovery and HVAC milestone were stepping stones that led us to the top-notch high-efficiency systems we use in our homes today. If you have any issues pop up with your HVAC system. Beavercreek Heating & Cooling is ready to assist you at a moment’s notice. Call us today at (937) 708-8527, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
