The Evolution of Air Conditioning
For as long as there have been human beings, there have been humans looking for ways to stay cool when the temperatures soared. Even the cavemen looked for the right location for his cave dwelling to maximize his comfort during the hottest parts of the year. The Egyptians, famous for being innovative and creative would soak reeds in cool water and then hang them from open windows for relief from the oppressive heat. The Ancient Romans used water-filled ducts inside of their walls to keep their homes cool. From Egypt to the Southwestern US, ancient cultures used the knowledge available to them at the time to deal with the extreme temperatures that they were facing.
Some cultures simply used the surrounding landscape to help cool their homes. For instance, some of the Native American tribes in the Southwest carved homes into rocky hillsides. The resulting homes were sheltered from direct sunlight while also being kept cool from the newly exposed surfaces of the rock behind it. Even now some homes are built to take advantage of natural shade with some homes even built just below the earth’s surface. Every area has special accommodations for its climate and home builders know how to maximize comfort while minimizing energy consumption.
A Young Man Named Carrier
Willis Carrier was only 25 years old when he invented something that would change the face of homes, businesses and even transportation in the United States. His invention was one of the first examples of mechanical air conditioning and a major leap forward in a brand new industry. His invention used water filled coils and a fan system that would help to reduce the humidity in the surrounding area. It wasn’t perfect in any way, but the first attempt at something new rarely is.
Carrier’s invention brought up some major points with business owners resisting the call for this new device to be used in their buildings. Many had serious doubts that the air conditioning would work and others felt that it would increase illness, could decrease productivity and would lead to a lazy, complacent staff. They were wrong. It is almost unthinkable to have a business that does not provide air conditioning in these days, especially when the summer temperatures have been increasing.
Although it had been developed in the early 1900s, air conditioning did not start making an appearance in the average home for many years largely because of the expense. Air conditioning meant for just a single room was first developed in 1913 but still remained hugely inaccessible because of the expense.
Changes in design and materials finally made air conditioning more affordable and homes started adding them in the 50s. As for transportation, air conditioning became standard in airplanes in 1936 and in the family car just three years later. The majority of homes in the US now have at least some form of air conditioning and nearly every car sold has this feature as well.
Air Conditioning Creates New Jobs and a New Industry
As more and more people added air conditioning to their homes the need for experienced installers and repair people grew as well. Air conditioner repair became one of the fastest growing new job fields in the US and as demand continued to rise so did salaries. Average HVAC salaries start at around $20 per hour in some parts of the country.
In addition to air conditioner repair, there were other jobs in the field as well. These jobs included air conditioner sales person and installers. Some of the smaller companies had a handful of people that did all three plus all of the office work, bookkeeping and other tasks but others had entire divisions with each specialized to handle one specific job.
Air Conditioning Continues to Change and Adapt
Every year, there is a new development in the world of air conditioning and the air conditioner repair people have to be ready to adapt to all of those changes. Some are subtle changes while others may mean learning a whole new system including complex circuitry and computer programs. Air conditioner repair is even more complex now than it has ever been. Today’s units work with Smart thermostat technology that are so sensitive that they can change the temperature up or down by a single degree. End users can adjust these thermostats by accessing an app on their smart phones or home computers. They can even change the temperature setting in their home while they are hundreds of miles away! For that kind of air conditioner repair, you have to be not only an HVAC tech but a computer whiz and a touch of mad scientist at times.
Another improvement that can change the way air conditioner repair is done is the ability to set your thermostat with voice activated devices. You can simply tell your device to turn the temperature up or down and it does so. One of the new tasks being given to the air conditioner repair team may be helping to set this up and explain the process to customers.
Air conditioning also continues to become more and more energy efficient. In the late 80s, the SEER rating was developed. This number tells how much energy is used by the air conditioner when it is in operation with the higher the SEER rating, the lower the energy usage.
Conclusion
From the homes set deep inside the recesses of hillsides to hanging wet reeds and using water filled tubes to today’s modern systems, the air conditioner is one of the ways that people not only survive but thrive in extreme temperatures around the world. While the way that they look and work may change with time, the need for qualified installers and air conditioner repair technicians will never go away. The industry will continue to look for new, better ways to operate with safer, cleaner materials and coolants and hopefully these changes will also include ways to make air conditioning more affordable for everyone both at home and at work. Contact the air conditioning repair Jacksonville experts today to learn more.
