It’s hard to imagine a world without air conditioning, isn’t it? When the HOT summer is at its worst, there’s nothing quite like the relief of stepping into a perfectly cooled room. But have you ever stopped to wonder how we got here?
The history of air conditioning is actually pretty fascinating – and it goes back way further than you might think!
Keeping cool in ancient times
Did you know that the quest for cooler indoor temperatures dates all the way back to ancient times? It’s true! The ancient Egyptians, for example, used a clever technique called “evaporative cooling” to beat the heat. They’d hang wet mats in their doorways and windows, and as the hot, dry air passed through the mats, the water would evaporate and cool the air.
The ancient Chinese took a similar approach, using water-powered fan wheels to circulate cool air through their homes. Pretty genius, right?
The father of modern AC
Fast forward to the early 20th century, and we meet a man named Willis Carrier. Carrier was a brilliant engineer who was working on a problem for a publishing company in New York. The company was having issues with humidity affecting the quality of their printed materials, and they tasked Carrier with finding a solution.
His answer? The first modern air conditioning system, which used a compressor to force air over cold coils, cooling and dehumidifying it in the process. Little did Carrier know that his invention would change the world!
AC for the masses
Carrier’s AC system was a huge success, and it wasn’t long before it started popping up in factories, theaters, and office buildings across the country. In the 1930s, the age of the “summer blockbuster” movie was born – after all, what better way to beat the heat than by catching a movie in a deliciously air-conditioned theater, since you wouldn’t have it in your own home yet? But it wasn’t until after World War II that AC really took off. With the post-war economic boom in full swing, more and more people could afford to install AC in their homes.
So there you have it – the story of how we went from sweating it out to living it up, in AC comfort! tThe next time you’re enjoying your AC keeping you cool (which is hopefully right now!), take a moment to appreciate the people who made it all possible!
Speaking of those who make cool air possible – you can always trust the pros at Sun if you are having any problems. Contact us today or give us a call: (248) 986-1506
