Air Conditioning History and Fun Facts

Air conditioning was a revolutionary technology at the time and has affected just about every industry in the world. Before the invention of AC people relied heavily on things like snow and ice to cool things down. Nowadays, of course, the idea of using ice to cool your Jacksonville home wouldn’t be practical.

Thankfully, you can now purchase a new air conditioner from a variety of retailers, and experts can easily install it to start cooling your home.

Before air conditioning became widespread, handling the heat in Jacksonville wasn’t as easy as it is now. Along with causing discomfort, the heat posed health risks, especially for older individuals. However, Willis Carrier put a stop to this and is the person we have to thank for inventing the modern mechanical air conditioner. His invention changed how people around the world live, but it took some time to become the affordable solution we know today.

Keep reading to find out more about the Air Conditioning history and fun facts you may not have known.

Ancient History

Although Mr. Carrier invented the modern mechanical air conditioner, he was not the first person to successfully cool the air around them. As far back as Ancient Egypt, there has been evidence of people trying to make the air cooler. The basic concept of adding cool moisture to the air has been around since ancient times when the Egyptians would hang wet reeds from their windows, so the breeze would condition the air inside the room. Although this was a rudimentary solution, it involved the basic process of air conditioning.

Modern Times

While there were definitely some improvements on the Egyptian process, especially with the ice trade in the 17th and 18th centuries, that modern AC unit that you have in your Jacksonville home only became a reality in the 20th century. In 1902, Mr. Willis Carrier, a US inventor from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, came up with the first fully mechanical air conditioning system. 

The first air conditioner was certainly much different than what is hanging out of your window nowadays. It was made for industrial purposes to help with the heat and humidity for a printing company. This machine would have looked nothing like the units you see today, as technology has helped make everything much smaller and more efficient.

AC in the Home

The first modern air conditioner was manufactured in 1902, but models for homes didn’t make an appearance until 12 years later in 1914. If you were looking for air conditioners in Jacksonville back then, you really had to have some extra money laying around. These AC systems cost upwards of $50,000 at the time, which was out of reach for the vast majority of people. 

It wasn’t until the mid-1950s that new air conditioners started popping up everywhere, as they were much more affordable after the war. AC service and repair became a more popular trade as over one million units were being sold annually across the United States. Finally, the general public could afford to properly cool their homes.

Conditioned Air for Everyone

With how fast technology expands and grows, it makes sense that just about every home and business in Jacksonville and the rest of the state have some form of air conditioning or another. This miraculous invention has saved countless lives from heat stroke or other medical complications, as well as made sitting inside much more bearable on those really hot days. 

If you ever need to repair or replace your modern-day air conditioner, call the experts at Elite AC LLC. Today. We’ll make sure you stay cool and comfortable.