Air conditioning has shaped our world more than we realize. If you're ever stuck in a hot building during a heat wave, you know how important air condition services are. Today, many of us feel like we can't live without it. However, it may be surprising how air condition services evolved. Here's a brief history of it.

1840s to 1850s

In the 1840s, electricity had not been invented, but John Gorrie, a Florida doctor and inventor, thought cooling might help fight disease and keep people comfortable. He created a system of interior cooling. To complete this, he had to move large blocks of ice from frozen lakes and streams in the north to cool hospital rooms. The logistics were a challenge, so he experimented with refrigeration. He created a machine that made ice with steam, wind-powered sails, or horsepower. He held a patent for his ice-making machine in 1851, but it never came on the market. Finally, however, he created the foundation for modern-day air conditioning.

1900s

The beginning of the 20th century brought with it humidity that threatened the high-quality printing of Brooklyn's Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographic and Publishing Company. Then, two summers back-to-back, extreme heat interrupted the business's printing. Their pages swelled, and the prints were blurry.

Willis Carrier had the answer to all their problems. He was an experimental engineer, and he created a rudimentary cooling system. This system reduced the humidity around the printer. His system consisted of an industrial fan that blew air over steam coils that were filled with cold water. The humidity condensed on the coils and created cool air. Finally, the problem was solved, and people felt more comfortable.

1920s

Despite the success, he knew this wasn't the best way to remove humidity from the air. He kept working on it, and by 1922, he created the safer, smaller, and more powerful centrifugal refrigeration compressor. This is what came before our modern air condition services. As with all experiments, many people before Carrier had created ways to cool water and remove humidity from the air. Even though he wasn't the first to come up with the idea, he is regarded for being the creator of modern-day air conditioning. There are always detractors, but air condition services were gaining acceptance, even if it was slow.

Carrier was a recent graduate in engineering and eagerly wanted to use science and mechanics to move the world forward. Businesses were especially interested because the increasingly hot weather was impacting their products. The public was introduced to cool air by the movies. Movie theaters provided inexpensive entertainment, but they were often dark and stale while smelling of sweat. Movie theaters used the technology created by Carrier to attract the middle and upper classes.

1950s

It wasn't until the mid-20th century that the country eagerly embraced the new version of prosperity that was emerging. This was when air conditioning became a fixture of American households. In the 1950s, there was a lot of competition to keep up with your neighbors. Technology was thought to be a luxury. Today, most U.S. households are more likely to have air conditioning than they are to have a dishwasher, garage, or dining room.

Modern Day

The primary problem that always existed with air conditioners, however, is the amount of energy they use. Luckily, they continued to evolve over the years. Now, according to Gitnux, there has been a decrease of over 50% in the average energy consumption of air conditioners over the past 30 years thanks to technological advancements. Air condition systems have also become significantly cheaper and more accessible in recent decades as well. What used to be a status symbol for the upper middle class is now a part of most American's daily life. While extreme heat used to be debilitating, we've found a way to ensure safety and comfort in our homes.

As you can see, air conditioners have been evolving for almost 200 years. Many homes likely wouldn't know what to do without one, or just be very uncomfortable at the very least. If you're interested in more information or need air condition services, call Joe East One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning today. We look forward to hearing from you!