Whether catching some Zs in a cool room, laboring at your 9-5 job, or caring for your household, none of that would be feasible or at least comfortably accomplished during the hot summer months without the comfort of a functioning A/C. We enjoy cool air in our households without even thinking twice about it. That’s why you should count on Springboro Heating & Cooling with your air conditioning needs to ensure you won’t have to fight to stay cool in everyday life. It’s essential to point out the many great inventors in the history of the modern-day A/C that enable us to appreciate our modern-day cooling satisfaction. So come along for the ride as we travel in time, looking at some of these milestones in the history of the A/C.
Where Does the History Of the Modern Day A/C Commence?
Origins of the A/C track back to Ancient Egypt. To cool down their lodgings as best as feasible, the Egyptians would dangle their wet garments in front of their entrances. This technique created an evaporation cooling effect when the breeze pushed past the damp laundry, cooling the air. In 180 AD, Ancient China also participated in the AC’s history when Ding Huan developed a hand-cranked rotary fan. Moreover, Ancient Rome was right there as well in these progressive ventures. The Romans developed a sophisticated aqueduct system embodied in a series of underground tunnels which carried water and cool air to the homes of the wealthy. Each of these contributions, though more simplistic than today’s advancements, are essential milestones in the history of modern-day A/C.
What A/C Progression Occurred In the 1700s?
In 1758, Benjamin Franklin and John Hadley performed the first documented test for air conditioning theory. They applied the principle of evaporation to cool down an object promptly. Wrapping up the study, the two had lowered the thermometer’s temperature to 7 degrees Fahrenheit with the external temperature being 64 degrees Fahrenheit. After this endeavor, Benjamin Franklin proudly declared in a letter, “From this experiment, one may see the possibility of freezing a man to death on a warm summer’s day.”
What A/C Progression Occurred In the 1800s?
Utilizing ammonia, Michael Faraday conducted a similar experiment in 1820, making this compound the first volatile liquid element used in a modern A/C unit. Unfortunately, ammonia is corrosive and, in high concentrations, poisonous. Hence in 1830, a physician in Florida, Dr. John Gorrie, used a small steam and ice machine to decrease his patient’s ailments from tropical illnesses. Dr. Gorrie patented his cooling machine in 1851, which was used in hospital rooms to assist those with yellow fever and other diseases.
What A/C Progression Occurred In the 1900s?
Moving on to 1902, we see Willis Carrier developed the first air conditioning unit characterized similarly to today’s current models. This finding is thanks to the Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing and Publishing Co. requiring a means of cooling paper during printing procedures. The invention employed cold coils to contribute to this cooling effect. Accordingly, the machine dehumidified and cooled the air, ensuring the paper remained smooth and its ink vibrant. This device could reduce humidity levels by approximately 55%. By 1914, a mansion in Minneapolis was the first residence to have an A/C made by Carrier. And in 1915, Willis Carrier teamed up with the Buffalo Forge Company, which led to the establishment of the Carrier Air Conditioning Company of America, famously known today as the brand Carrier.
The vision of air conditioning was slowly accepted and used by manufacturers and factories to protect their products. However, in 1930, the White House and other large executive buildings completely embraced the air conditioning system. It wasn’t until the demand for A/C in movie theaters that people began understanding air conditioning could profit society in desire for daily comfort. At that time, Nickolodeans, a 5-cent theater, offered cheap entertainment to the public. To keep the upper and middle class satisfied while they watched the film, Carrier installed systems in these theaters, igniting the way for the A/C system to be utilized residentially. In the 1950s, the installation of air conditioners took place within many suburban homes, with documents revealing that there were about 74,000 A/C units installed in households across America.
Referencing the 2020 Energy Consumption survey, 88% of American households employ air conditioning in their homes. In 2022, we resume to delight in the comforts of cool air in our homes, thanks to the trailblazers who came before us. Each finding within these HVAC milestones was mere stepping stones to the top-notch, high-efficiency residential systems we use today. If any problems arise with your HVAC system, Springboro Heating & Cooling is prepared to assist you at a moment’s notice. Call today at (937) 600-6834, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
