Air Conditioning, One Of The Great Inventions In History

The first modern electrical air conditioner was invented in 1902 by a New York-area engineer who was tasked with solving a humidity problem at a local publishing company. Now, more than a century later, the air conditioner ranks as one of the most important modern inventions in history, allowing for climate control of homes and businesses. As the heat and humidity of summer beat down on us, it’s hard to imagine a world without it.

Like the first versions, modern air conditioners use refrigeration to chill indoor air, utilizing a process that forces special chemical compounds to evaporate and condense repeatedly in an enclosed system of coils. The compounds used are refrigerants that have unique properties that allow them to change at relatively low temperatures. Air conditioners also utilize fans that move warm interior air over these cold, refrigerant-filled coils, producing cooled and dehumidified air. Central air conditioners feature a system of ducts that funnel the hot air to and the cold air from these serpentine, air-chilling coils.

The invention sparked experimentation with cooling technology, and the American public first experienced air conditioning at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. In the 1920s, Americans flocked to movie theaters that were cooled with air conditioning systems. But air conditioning units for many years remained too large and expensive for public consumption. By the 1930s, smaller residential air conditioners were developed but still remained cost-prohibitive to the public. In the late 1940s, inexpensive models of residential air conditioners finally became available. By the mid-to-late 1960s, most new homes were built with central air conditioning, and more older homes were being outfitted with affordable window air conditioners. This helped to fuel population expansion in hot-weather states such as Arizona, Florida, Nevada and Texas. According to a 2015 report by the Energy Information Administration, air conditioning is used in nearly 100 million American homes, representing 87% of all American households.

Masters is proud to be a part of more than 100 years of the home comfort industry. Call us today for all your air conditioning needs.