Whether you are motivated to work hard at your job, maintain your home, or take some much-needed respite, these would not be possible in the hot summer months without the comfort of a functioning A/C. Most of us receive comfort from the cool air in our homes without giving much thought to its existence. Though, be sure to rely on Upper Arlington Heating & Air with your air conditioner’s necessities to ensure your summer is comfortable yet productive. We should consider the many notable innovations in the history of the modern-day A/C that allow us to find relief from the scorching sun within our cool indoor atmospheres. So tag along with us as we rewind through time and embark on some of the critical events in the history of modern A/C.
When Did the History Of the Modern Day A/C Commence?
The onset of the A/C tracks back to Ancient Egypt. To feasibly cool down their homes, the Egyptians would dangle their wet laundry from their thresholds. As a result, an evaporation cooling effect would arise as the wind blew past this wet laundry, cooling the air. With Ancient China, in 180 AD, we see contributions to the history of the modern AC as Ding Huan formulated a hand-cranked rotary fan. Furthermore, the Romans, another influence of this progressive endeavor, developed a sophisticated aqueduct system comprising a sequence of underground tunnels which transmitted water and cool air to the homes of the noble. Each of these contributions, though seemingly immature in contrast to today’s developments, are significant moments in time for modern-day air conditioning.
Where Was A/C Development In the 1700s?
In 1758, Benjamin Franklin and John Hadley conducted the first reported investigation of air conditioning theory. They referenced the law of evaporation to cool down an item promptly. At the end of the study, the two could successfully reduce a thermometer’s temperature to 7 degrees Fahrenheit with the exterior temperature standing at 64 degrees Fahrenheit. After this endeavor, Benjamin Franklin eagerly declared in a letter, “From this experiment, one may see the possibility of freezing a man to death on a warm summer’s day.”
Where Was A/C Development In the 1800s?
Utilizing ammonia, Michael Faraday conducted a comparable experiment in 1820, with this mix being the preliminary volatile liquid material used in a modern A/C unit. However, ammonia is corrosive and, in high concentrations, poisonous. And in 1830, a physician in Florida, Dr. John Gorrie, utilized a little steam and ice machine to alleviate his patients’ symptoms stemming from tropical illnesses. Dr. Gorrie patented his cooling machine in 1851, which was employed in hospital rooms to boost the restoration of those struggling with yellow fever and other diseases.
Where Was A/C Development In the 1900s?
Fast forward to 1902, Willis Carrier developed the first air conditioning unit comparable to today’s modern representations. This outcome is gratitude to the Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing and Publishing Co., which was searching for a means of cooling paper during printing processes. The device manipulated cold coils to transmit this cooling effect. By doing so, the machine dehumidified and cooled the air, ensuring the paper stayed smooth and its ink vibrant. This apparatus could decrease humidity levels by about 55%. And by 1914, a mansion in Minneapolis was the first estate to have an A/C formulated by Carrier. That following year, Willis Carrier, along with the Buffalo Forge Company, oversaw the establishment of the Carrier Air Conditioning Company of America, famously recognized to this day as the brand Carrier.
This conception of air conditioning was gradually acknowledged and manipulated by manufacturers and factories to defend the integrity of their products. Then, in 1930, the White House and other large executive buildings fully embraced the air conditioning system. It wasn’t until the demand for A/C in movie theaters that society began perceiving air conditioning as an essential means for populations to live in daily comfort. At that time, Nickolodeans, a 5-cent theater, provided cheap entertainment to the public; to keep the upper and middle-class content while they watched the film, Carrier installed A/C systems in these theaters, opening the way for the A/C system to be used residentially. In the 1950s, the installation of air conditioners sprouted within many suburban homes, with documents indicating about 74,000 A/C units in homes across America.
A 2020 Energy Consumption survey found that 88% of American homes utilize air conditioners. In 2022, we continue to relish the luxury of cool air in our homes, thanks to innovators preceding us. Each discovery within these HVAC key periods is mere stepping stones to the top-notch high-efficiency residential systems of today. So, if any problems surface with your HVAC system, Upper Arlington Heating & Air is prepared to lend a hand ASAP. Call today at (614) 490-7507, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
