Air Conditioning Essentials

Welcome to Air Conditioning Essentials!

Here you’ll find a wealth of information on all things air conditioning. We have reviews on particular products, general purchasing advice, and technical information shedding light on the subject of what air conditioning really is and how it works.

The origins of Air Conditioning can be traced to Florida in the 1800’s when a doctor there created an archaic version of the swamp cooler, which was a contraption that blew air over ice to cool the rooms of his patients. While swamp coolers, now known as evaporative coolers, are still sold today, the technology they are made with has advanced considerably.

Today’s A/C unit is a more practical solution than even a contemporary swamp cooler, and has also seen much development since the first prototype in 1902. In that year, Willis Carrier introduced a machine using concepts similar to those employed today, that of chilled coils. His invention spurred an industry we could not live without today; much less imagine what life was like before the use of these cool air machines.

Introducing AC

Not surprisingly, corporate buildings and manufacturing facilities were eager to put these units to work, and they could soon be found in theaters, department stores, and even the White House. The average residence did not have cool air until many years later, with the first being installed in 1914. The units were impractical for several reasons; they used poisonous ammonia for a cooling agent, were expensive, and too bulky for the smaller homes of the times.

Carrier continued to refine his invention, which was later relieved of using toxic ammonia with a less poisonous coolant. Sales spiked in the post WWII years, thriving through 1953.

While 21st century A/C units are a product of American ingenuity and chemistry advances, the concept is certainly not new. Both Ancient Rome and Persia utilized various techniques, including pushing cold water through walls or aqueducts to cool them. In Persia, wind towers channeled wind over large water capturing vessels called cisterns. These large towers were common in that region during the Middle Ages.

Cooling Our Homes

As we define it today, any machine that is installed for the purpose of lowering humidity in the home and cooling the room is considered an air conditioner. While this takes different forms, the concept is the same. The chemicals used as cooling agents continue to evolve, however. Ammonia was long ago phased out, as were the replacements, methyl chloride and propane (the very same used to light barbecues today!) These explosive agents were pushed aside with the advent of Freon by the DuPont Corporation in 1928.

Although we continue to use this gas, it is scheduled to be eliminated by the year 2020, with the exception of existing supplies from recycled units. The ozone-damaging gas is being replaced by Genetron, or R-410A.

Updating A/C

This trend towards environmentally sound indoor comfort cooling practices includes a constant effort to make them use electricity more efficiently, and create better air quality in the home. Both of these are important causes for concern, but the high danger to the ozone layer from air conditioner green house gas emissions is far more destructive than carbon dioxide, and just as much of a priority.

To address the growing concerns of global warming, to which A/C units have been contributing, scientists have ironically suggested using carbon dioxide gas to replace Freon or other damaging gases. The jury is still out on this idea, but it is certain our society today plans no new builds or remodels without integrating an air conditioner or cooling system.

In reality, our technologically advanced society now depends on it. Besides cooling our homes, office buildings, and cars, manufacturing products such as electronic circuits, computer components, and pharmaceuticals require cool, controllable temperatures.

Today, we benefit from temperature controlled, humidity adjusted, and fresh airflow manipulating technology, which is so good we often take it for granted.

If you’re after something in particular then you know what you’re here for, the sitemap lists everything we have in alphabetical order. Otherwise, the featured articles section is a good place to begin your journey into the (cool, but not too cold!) world of air conditioning.