What are air conditioners?

Air conditioners are devices that use the evaporation of a refrigerant, such as Freon, and a device called VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow), to provide cooling to a room. It may also heat, clean, humidify and basically condition the air to the level of comfort required in the space.
Developed since the late 19th century, modern air conditioners are available in various forms and designs for both domestic, business and industrial use.

A timeline...

1902 -- Willis Carrier builds the first air conditioner to handle humidity inside a printing company. Controlling the humidity in printing companies and textile mills was the start of managing the inside environments.

1950 -- A major study shows that families living in air conditioned homes sleep longer in summer, enjoy their food more and have more leisure time.

1969 -- Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon in space suits with life support and cooling systems.

1998 -- Research for the 21st Century, a multi-year, million dollar research program for air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment, begins. The objective is to decrease building energy usage while improving indoor air quality.

> Read more in History of Air Conditioning

Keep your AC in top form...

Maximize the energy efficiency of your home during both the summer and winter months by making sure windows and doors are closed properly. Seal off the edges of the window where the air conditioner rests to make sure that the cool air from the air conditioner doesn't escape right out the window.

> More tips in Maintenance