Lady in front of an Air Conditioner, frost in her hair, as she is "blown away" by the cold air.

HVAC Facts That Will Blow You Away!

We all know that HVAC systems keep us cool in the summer and warm in the winter, but did you know there’s a lot more to them than just regulating the temperature?

When you think of heating, cooling, and ventilation, “fun” isn’t usually the first word that comes to mind, but we’ve got some “cool” facts that will change that! Get ready to discover 20 things you might not know about HVAC:

  1. From Hypocaust to AC: HVAC dates all the way back to 350 BC, when the Romans built the first heating system. Called the Hypocaust, this system directed heat from a furnace through the floor and pipes in walls. The first air conditioner was invented by Willis Carrier in 1902, and was used to control humidity for a printing plant so that ink could dry in hot conditions. It wasn’t until 1913 that Charles Gilbert Gates built the first residential air conditioner in a mansion located in Minneapolis, MN.
  2. Chilling Evolution: The first fully air-conditioned office building was the Milam Building in San Antonio, TX, in the late 1920s. By 1965, only about 10% of American homes had air conditioning. That number had risen to an overwhelming 93% by 2017.
  3. Revolutionizing Home Heating: African-American inventor Alice H. Parker filed a patent for a heating system in 1919. This new system provided central heating and allowed control of how much heat reached different parts of a building. This invention led to the forced air furnace and thermostat used in homes today.
  4. School’s Out for Summer: Most schools and government buildings in the early to mid-1900s did not have air conditioning. Because of the sweltering heat indoors, they were forced to close during the summer… a tradition that continues today.
  5. Rise of the Blockbuster: Movie theaters were among the first businesses to have air conditioning in the 1930s. Summer blockbusters brought people to see movies and stay cool, introducing them to the comfort that air conditioning provides.
  6. The Great Indoors: The widespread adoption of air conditioning in the 1930s significantly impacted architecture. Before air conditioning, homes were designed to provide shade and cross-ventilation to keep occupants cool. Once air conditioning units became available, architects could design homes with smaller windows, lower ceilings, and fewer porches. Since homeowners could now comfortably stay indoors year-round, architectural styles evolved to reflect this shift.
  7. Changing Our Bodies: According to scientific studies, our reliance on air conditioning has reduced our ability to handle extreme heat. Our bodies have adapted to the constant cool temperatures, making it more difficult to acclimate to hot weather.
  8. Filter Out the Problems: Changing your air filter every month is the best and easiest thing you can do for your air conditioner. Accumulated dirt can clog the filter, trap harmful contaminants, and reduce performance and efficiency by restricting airflow. Your HVAC system will work harder, and energy bills will go up. Worst of all, you could face expensive repairs and replacements that were avoidable.
  9. Breath of Fresh Air: A well-ventilated HVAC system helps keep allergens, mold, and bacteria out of your home, improving health. Living in a healthier indoor environment is much more pleasant.
  10. Heat Smart, Save Smart: Even at the lowest setting, running your heater wastes energy when you don’t need it. Turn the unit off when not at home or install a programmable thermostat. Heating schedules can make selecting times to save energy easier, and constantly heating your home can allow much of it to escape through hidden cracks.
  11. Seal the Deal: Adding insulation and caulking around doors and windows can make your home 30% more energy-efficient.
  12. Cold Hard Truth: Shutting a vent only cuts air flow to the room it serves, and the same amount of air still circulates in the system. Closing vents can put pressure on ductwork and critical HVAC components, resulting in more damage and repair bills than any energy savings you tried to achieve.
  13. The Heat Is On: Energy bills are a significant expense for American households. On average, a family spends $2,000 every year on energy costs, and half of this goes toward heating or cooling their homes.
  14. Don’t Get Burned: Blown fuses, capacitors, tripped breakers, and damaged electrical wiring can often lead to an air conditioning breakdown. Tampering with the system can result in fire, shock, or electrocution. You should always contact a professional to address these types of situations.
  15. Take a Chill Pill: Air conditioning plays a critical role in the pharmaceutical industry. Some medications require a cool environment for production and storage. Many of these medications would likely never have been created without air conditioning.
  16. Beat the Heat: Air conditioning saves lives. An analysis of suicides in both Canada and the US shows that suicide rates increase with heat waves. Additionally, people without access to cooling become more likely to die. Tragically, 739 people died during a Chicago heat wave in 1995 because they didn’t have air conditioning.
  17. The Goldilocks Zone: Studies show that employees work better when the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold. In fact, the ideal temperature for productivity is around 71 degrees Fahrenheit. While personal preferences will vary, it is important to find a temperature that allows employees to focus on their work without being distracted by the temperature.
  18. Keeping America Cool: The United States consumes as much energy just to cool homes and businesses as the entire continent of Africa uses for all its power needs. That’s a staggering amount of energy and highlights the importance of energy-efficient HVAC systems.
  19. Hot or Not? Contrary to popular belief, cooling has a much smaller carbon footprint than heating. Annually, the average American household uses 40.4 million BTUs for heating and only 9.3 million BTUs for cooling.
  20. Heatwave on the Horizon: Over the next 30 years, demand for air conditioning is expected to triple. Analysts predict that 5.6 billion buildings will have air conditioning by 2050. To meet that demand, consumers must buy ten new air conditioners every second for 30 years. That’s equivalent to 600 air conditioners every minute and 3,600 air conditioners every hour.

Just like you, your air conditioner is pretty cool – pun intended. We hope these interesting facts will leave you with a newfound appreciation the next time you turn on your AC.

Here’s one more fun fact: if you live in the Greenville area and need professional installation, repair, or maintenance services for your AC system, contact Wright’s Air today!

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