In the 1840s, physician and inventor Dr. John Gorrie of Florida proposed the idea of cooling cities to relieve residents of “the evils of high temperatures.”
This statement began a family tree of innovations that would lead us to more comfortable homes, healthier hospitals and even drive innovation for green technologies. In the 1840s, hospitals were cooled by hauling ice from frozen lakes and shipping it from the northern states to the southern. This was expensive as well as a logistical monstrosity.
In 1902, Willis Carrier was tasked with helping solve a humidity problem. After much testing and experimenting, he created the Apparatus for Treating Air, which could de-humidify by cooling water or humidify by heating it. Later he would join with six other engineers to form Carrier Engineering Corporation, also the namesake of Carrier Air Conditioners.
Up until this point, all of the mechanical air conditioning had been too large and expensive for the typical consumer. Jump ahead to 1929 and Frigidaire introduced a split system room cooler for home use. It was small enough to be used in the home and shaped like a radio cabinet. In 1932, H.H. Schultz and J.Q. Sherman brought to the market an AC unit that could be placed on a window sill and allow for the modern home to be cooled conveniently. By the late 1960s, most new homes had central air conditioning and window units that were more affordable than ever.
Efficiency and standards continue to drive the market, which is why Summit AC is committed to continuing this rich history by providing the best service that not only saves you money but keeps your modern AC running at modern standards.
