The History of the Air Conditioner: From Ancient Times to Modernity

In the sweltering summer heat, all we want is to turn up the air conditioner in our homes and cool off. However, do you know how we got to enjoy such a luxury? Air conditioners have come a long way since the days of fanning ourselves with palm leaves. In this blog, we will explore the history of the air conditioner, from ancient times to modernity. So, let’s hop in and discover how we arrived at our air-conditioned bliss.

Air conditioning has been around since ancient times. Ancient Egyptians and Persians used giant fans to move wind over water in the summer and then into houses. The evaporating water created a cool breeze, giving ancient royalty some relief from the heat. Throughout history, people also placed iceblocks in front of fans to cool the air, which resulted in effective cooling.

Dr. John Gorrie is credited as the creator of the first modern air conditioning system. Gorrie invented his system in 1842 in Apalachicola, Florida, to help fight tropical diseases with cool air in the hospital. The system used ice to create cool air, which was filtered and sent through ducts in the hospital. The improved airflow helped the patients recover quickly.

Willis Carrier invented the first electric air conditioning unit in 1902. He created the system to control moisture in a Brooklyn printing facility. An unintended side-effect of this was that the workers experienced optimal cool comfort during their worktimes. Carrier, later on, refined the unit, and his modern air conditioning unit was introduced in 1924.

In 1931, H.H. Schultz and his brother J.Q. Schultz created the first air conditioner for cars. The unit weighed 80 pounds and was mounted on the car's trunk, blowing air into the car through a pipe. It was commercially unsuccessful at the time because of the Great Depression. However, this invention laid the groundwork for modern car air conditioning systems.

In the 1980s and 1990s, air conditioning slowly evolved into more small and refined units. The invention of mini-split systems brought ground-breaking innovation in the air conditioning industry. Today, we have ductless mini-split systems that bring efficient and quiet air conditioning into our homes.

Conclusion

The air conditioner has gone through notable improvements throughout history, driven by necessity, health, and comfort. Innovation has tackled the general populace's need for cooling and comfort during the hottest months of the year. As we move forward in the future, we expect further innovation to the AC supplies leveling comfort and energy efficiency. If you're looking for AC supplies in Florida, contact Discount Air Supply today for more information on the latest AC supply technology.