The temperatures are already on the rise and it’s barely April! As we all spend more and more time indoors (for other reasons) it’s important that our air is at a comfortable level. That has us thinking about air conditioners! This time on the ACE Home Services blog – everything you’ve ever wanted to know about air conditioning (and probably a bunch you never thought of!)
Air Conditioning FAQS
Who Invented Air Conditioning?
Oh, that’s your first question? Huh, didn’t expect that. Well the man most commonly credited with creating the modern AC was William Carrier. A lot of other folks got their hand on the ball too, including Stuart Cramer, a Florida physician named John Gorrie, Benjamin Franklin (that’s right, the Benjamin Franklin), and John Hadley just to name a few.
When Was Air Conditioning Invented?
The idea of using evaporating water or other liquids to cool a room predates Carrier by, oh about several thousand years! The original idea is as old as ancient Egypt! Egyptians used to hang wet mats over their door, allowing the water to evaporate and cool the temperature inside, as well as keep the dry desert air at bay. Thankfully, we don’t have to do that everytime we want to make ourselves more comfortable, thanks to Carrier’s creation in 1902.
How Does Air Conditioning Work?
ACs basically work like this:
The air conditioner works to lower the temperature in the home by providing cool air throughout the ductwork. To do that, it must first draw out the warm air inside. The AC unit takes that warm air, pushes it through an indoor evaporator coil or cooling compartment. The hot air passes across metal fins, those fins then exchange energy with the air. At this stage the refrigerant will turn from liquid into vapor, removing heat from the air. With the heat removed, the air is cooled and then can be blown back into the home, lowering the temperature indoors. The condenser will then take the refrigerant vapor and turn it back into a liquid, removing the heat, making it ready to repeat the process. This process cycles until the temperature reaches what you have your thermostat programmed to.
Basically.
How Does Central Air Work?
Confused after hearing ‘central air’ mentioned a lot in discussing HVAC? Don’t sweat it. Here’s what you need to know. Central air just means that the air is cooled (or warmed) at a central location, the HVAC unit, before being dispersed throughout your home using ductwork and fans. There are other kinds of air conditioning out there, but central is the most common here in Phoenix.
How Much Does Air Conditioning Repair Cost?
Well, that entirely depends. What kind of repairs does your AC unit need? Have you been keeping up with regular maintenance? Come back next time where we’ll focus our blog entirely on the financials of HVAC repair and maintenance.
If you need some HVAC maintenance performed or a new unit put it, don’t hesitate to call ACE Home Services today! We’ll do our best to answer every question you have and to make sure your home is in top-notch shape!