HVAC Fun Facts

We are in the throes of summer and everyone needs to blow off a little steam – or at least do a little light lifting.

This post reflects the current “out for the summer” vibe with some fun facts about the HVAC industry you may not have known.  This was taken from Chills Air Conditioning in Florida – https://chillsairconditioning.com/10-hvac-fun-facts/.  We thought it was a fun piece to share – and give you a few minutes reprieve from the pile of work!

Fact One: The first fully air-conditioned home was built in Minneapolis in 1913 by Charles Gilbert Gates. The mansion took up three city lots, had gold plumbing and a full ballroom. Sadly, he died before his home was completed and he never had a chance to enjoy the cool air.

Fact Two: Air conditioning systems helped coin the term “Summer Blockbuster.” One of the first businesses to utilize air conditioning technology back in the early part of the twentieth century were movie theaters. In the 1930’s, patrons flocked to theaters to enjoy the films – but also to enjoy the cool air during summer months. Marketers took advantage of this trend and saved their big hits for summertime releases. Thus, the term “Summer Blockbuster” became a part of our vocabulary and going to the movies has never been cooler.

Fact Three: Herbert Hoover was the first President to enjoy air conditioning in the White House. He spent $30,000 to install the system in the oval office, just after the start of the Great Depression.

Fact Four: If you wanted to buy a basic AC unit in the 1940’s, it would cost you approximately $350. Translating that into today’s price based on inflation, you would be paying almost $3,500.

Fact Five: The first car with air conditioning was introduced in 1939 by the Packard Motor Company. It wasn’t very popular due to its high cost and the fact that the system took up half the trunk space.

Fact Six: Air conditioning saves lives. American researchers found that the chance of dying on extremely hot summer days has fallen more than 80 percent over the last 50 years. The research team correlated this to the rise in air conditioning.

Fact Seven: The Romans were the first to use a heating system. This heating system was called a “hypocaust”. It sent heat through the floors and walls of the homes of rich Romans.

Fact Eight: Children were given summer vacation from school because of the lack of air conditioning, but even when air conditioning came about, schools decided to keep this going. Businesses also used to shut down for two months.

Fact Nine: Willis Carrier came up with the idea for the air conditioner while working at a publishing company. The heat was causing paper to wrinkle and ink to run.

Fact Ten: Air conditioning in the U.S. uses the same amount of energy as it takes to power the whole continent of Africa, and that’s just air conditioning alone! With such high-energy use, it’s no wonder why the need for HVAC technicians are in such high demand!