Air conditioning is present almost everywhere, and we tend to take it for granted, but people have been trying to keep cool long before any consistent and reliable systems came into general use.
Air Conditioning History
In India, people would hang wet grass mats over their windows; these would cool the air as it passed through them, evaporating the water. In the 19th century, the textile industry employed atomized water sprays to cool and humidify the air, but it was not until the early 20th century that a man named Willis Carrier devised something called dew point control. He knew that air carries water vapor and when the air is cooled it carries less than when it is warmer; the cooled air, therefore, loses moisture through condensation. He devised a system which was installed in a theatre in 1922. The system fed the treated air in through the ceiling and had exhaust vents at floor level. Improvements were made and by the mid-1930s American railways were installing small units on their trains.
Air Conditioning Today
Now we have sophisticated systems that contain refrigerant which evaporates and condenses inside coils as air is passed over them. This process removes heat and water from the air before it is pumped into the building. The refrigerant is compressed and passed through condenser coils as the warmer outside air returns it to liquid form ready to be recycled and evaporated once again. This system was developed in such a way that in winter the functions can be reversed, resulting in warming of the building.
Modern air conditioning varies depending on the size of building or room that needs to be conditioned. Small units are compact and serve a direct space. Larger units may be built into the very structure of a building with air ducts and vents all leading from the system driving the air. Systems can also take into account variables such as sunlight and shade which affect the ambient room temperatures in different rooms.
There is also the question of how the cooler air is dispensed into the room. Vents need to be skillfully placed, or there may be uncomfortable spots in the room that receive too much cold air, or heat when reversed. Another alternative is the ceiling diffuser which sends the air along the ceiling allowing it to mix with warmer air in the room before it drops down to become part of the general atmosphere. You might also consider these tips for improving your air conditioning.
There is more choice now in types of coolant, systems, and methods of delivery. If you are looking to maintain or renew your systems in Southern Oregon, then you need a good reliable heating and air service that can identify your needs and explain the possible choices for a comfortable, free-flowing air system that will cool and dehumidify your rooms in summer and heat them comfortably in winter. Please give us a call at (541) 245-9007.
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