How Did We Get the Modern AC Technology We Have Today?
Whether you are working inside a building during a heatwave or buying chocolate on a hot day, it wouldn’t be comfortable or possible if it wasn’t for air conditioners keeping everything cool. Nowadays, we have the luxury of modern air conditioning, while not so long ago, people weren’t as fortunate to stay cool during hot, humid summers. If you’re curious about how we’ve come to the modern cooling technologies we have today, then you’ve come to the right place! Our HVAC experts at White Oak Heating & Cooling explain the history of modern air conditioning and how we got to the luxury of home cooling we have today.
What Did People Do to Stay Cool Without Modern Air Conditioning?
Although early methods of staying cool weren’t like the modern air conditioners we have now, humans still had a few tips and tricks to keep themselves comfortable. For example, ancient Egyptians were some of the first to understand evaporation for cooling purposes by hanging wet cloths in doorways for a fresher, cooler breeze. Another example comes from Ancient Rome, where they created Aqueducts used to pump water to various parts of the city. Wealthier Romans would use the aqueducts in their homes to keep water circulating, ultimately making their homes cooler.
Through trial and error, years passed before the modern air conditioner came about in homes. Finally, in 1758, changes began when John Hadley, a professor at Cambridge University, and Benjamin Franklin gave a presentation on the effects of evaporative cooling. They stated that objects could be cooled to freezing by evaporating inconstant liquids, like alcohol, on the water’s surface. Later on, in 1820, English inventor Michael Faraday performed a resembling experiment with ammonia, which was used in the first modern AC unit as the volatile liquid. At last, Dr. John Gorrie, an American physician, began creating the first mechanical cooling apparatus in the 1830s and perfected it by 1851.
Who Created the Modern Air Conditioner?
After extensive research, 1902 was finally the year the modern air conditioner would start its earliest development as a home comfort tool. Willis Haviland Carrier was a skilled engineer who experimented with laws of humidity control to clear up issues at a printing plant. Carrier’s systems borrowed concepts of mechanical refrigeration that were established years ago, sending air through coils full of cool water. By doing this, the system cooled and removed moisture from the air. By 1914, Carrier created the first in-home air conditioner installed in a home for the first time, which was only used in hospitals and commercial buildings.
How Did We Get to the Smart Technologies We Have Today for Home Comfort?
As the years went by, air conditioners were developing and were becoming more popular in homes across the country, so much that in 1953 requests became so high that the supply couldn’t match the demand. Between the 1950s and now, many developments have been made to perfect the modern air conditioner, including a quieter system, more energy-efficient, temperature control, and much more. As a result, almost 75 percent of homes in the United States have an air conditioner system, and at this point, it has become a necessity for families across the country.
Air conditioners play a significant and essential role in our everyday lives. We are fortunate to have all of the smart technologies we have for home comfort today. If you’re looking to upgrade your system or require services on your air conditioner, White Oak Heating & Cooling can help! Call us today at (513) 342-8434, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
