10 fun facts about HVAC, and how we owe Willis Carrier a debt of gratitude!
Air conditioners certainly haven’t always been like the ones we use today – they actually have quite interesting histories. And because we love air conditioning so much, we want to share some intriguing facts about them that just might surprise you.
Willis Carrier invented the modern air conditioner in 1902, for the sole purpose of protecting paper and ink in a publishing company. And it wasn’t until 1906 when the term air conditioning was coined by textile mill engineer Stuart Cramer.
The first common items that people used to keep cool were hand fans. Electric fans became the more popular and effective choice in the United States during the early 1900s.
The first residential air conditioning system was installed in 1914. It was 7 ft. high, 6 ft. wide, and 20 ft. long.
Because of the size and cost, only wealthy people with large homes could afford air conditioners. Systems cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000, which today would be like paying $120,000 to $600,000.
The first single-room air conditioner was invented in1931 by H.H. Schultz and J.Q. Sherman. It sat on the ledge of a window but was very expensive. The average hourly wage was $0.64, yet a typical air conditioner cost $416. This means that someone would have to have worked 650 hours to afford it.
Most people experienced artificially cooled air for the first time in movie theaters. In fact, “Refrigerated Air” was often highlighted in theater advertisements, in hopes of enticing ticket payers who were seeking solace from the heat.
Summer vacation as we know them were originally implemented because of hot summer months. School buildings were so uncomfortable, the break helped students and teachers avoid the seasonal peak of high temperatures.
Schools weren’t the only institutions that shut down during the summer – government offices did too. Some historians credit air-conditioning for the growth of federal bureaucracy, as longer sessions for lawmakers were made possible.
Air conditioning meant a population growth in some parts of the United States. The nation’s booming economies were primarily located in the Northeast until air conditioning made places like Arizona, Nevada, Florida, and Texas more appealing.
Air conditioning became something of a status symbol after World War II. Window units were so popular, over one million units were sold in 1953.
Cited: air conditioning service, Indianapolis air conditioner technicians