Modern air conditioning didn’t come about by accident. In the early part of the 20th century, a young man invented the first air conditioner after taking his first job out of Cornell University’s Engineering school.
How Willis Carrier Invented Modern Air Conditioning
Willis Carrier is the one who invented air conditioning. It was 1902 when a printing company in Brooklyn, New York called the young engineering graduate to help with a problem. Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing & Publishing Company suffered warped paper and misaligned text under sweltering July heat. Carrier took the idea used for heaters and reversed it. Instead of passing air over hot coils, he proposed a method for passing air over cold coils. That year, the first air conditioner was born.
How Carrier Grew His Company and Invention
Four years later, the U.S. Patent office granted Carrier U.S. patent No. 808897 for his invention. Five years after that, in 1911, he laid forth the principles of air conditioning in his paper, “Rational Psychrometric Formulae.” With it, anyone could design air conditioning systems that exactly fit the unique requirements of any building or application. Then, in 1915, Carrier and six other young engineers pooled their money together to form the Carrier Engineering Corporation. The company survived through the Great Depression and both World Wars. The popularity of air conditioning finally exploded in the 1950s during the post-war economic boom. Today, Carrier’s company continues to lead the field in modern advances in air conditioning built on his original principles from 1902.
Four Functions of Modern Air Conditioners
Most people understand that air conditioners change the temperature of the air. However, humidity, the amount of water moisture in the air, played an important role in Carrier’s original design. Today, modern air conditioners serve four basic functions:
- Temperature Control
- Humidity Control
- Circulation and Ventilation
- Filtering for Air Quality
Simply put, they lower temperature, reduce air moisture, blow air at a comfortable speed and clean air as it circulates.
Senica Air Conditioning, Inc.: A Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer for Clearwater FL
Now that you know who invented air conditioning, you’re probably happy to know that the Carrier brand still lives on. In fact, Carrier produces some of the leading modern applications of air conditioning. Carrier products operate at peak efficiency to keep your home both cool and warm while giving you the lowest energy bill possible.
Our company, Senica Air Conditioning, Inc., serves Spring Hill to Clearwater FL and all areas in between. We’re a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, and the standards to qualify for the Carrier distinction are the highest in the industry. Less than five percent of heating and cooling professionals in America have qualified. Not only must we use the best equipment, but also customer satisfaction surveys must indicate your happiness with our service. Call us today to find out how we can help you.
