Since the first recorded uses back in 1200 BC heating & Cooling has become a way of life in the United States. This topic over the years has given rise to some interesting facts and some myths.
FACTS:
Your home can be 30% more energy efficient if you simply add insulation and caulking around your doors and windows. (Source)
Willis Carrier built the first commercial air conditioner in 1902. (Source)
The word “furnace” comes from the Greek word “fornax,” which means oven. (Source)
Without air conditioning, some medications, which are made in a cool environment, would never have been made. (Source)
The first car air conditioner was installed in a Packard in 1939. (Source)
In 1953 more than one million a/c units were sold in the U.S. (Source)
In the 1940s, a window air conditioner cost $350. In today’s dollars that would be around $3,500. (Source)
Today, the average family spends $2,000 annually on energy bills, with half of that going toward keeping their homes cool or warm. (Source)
Homes with low humidity will feel colder than homes with moister air. (Source)
The first businesses to have air conditioning were movie theatres in the 1930s. Summer blockbusters brought people to see the movies and stay cooler. (Source)
The Romans were the first culture to have furnaces in their homes. This was in 1200 BC. (Source)
Myths:
Ceiling Fans Cool Your Home?
Fans move air, and moving air feels cooler on the skin. So, if a room is feeling warm, fans are a great way to cool it down – as long as someone is in the room. While fans create wind, they don’t change the temperature. When fans are left on in an empty room, they’re not dropping the temperature, but they can help keep the air from feeling or smelling stagnant when you get there.
Fireplaces Mean Less Work for Your Heating System?
There’s something about a fireplace – that soft crackling sound and flickering light is totally unique. If you’re using your fireplace to lessen the work for your heating system, you’re fooling yourself. The fact of the matter is that a fireplace is a great big hole in your ceiling, and since heat rises, it escapes through that hole. Add in the fact that most people purchase firewood, and you’re spending far more than you’re saving.
Duct Tape Is Great for Sealing Ducts!:
Not so much. Duct tape is good at a lot of things, but sealing ducts is definitely not one of them. When duct tape is used to patch up ductwork, it consistently fails, usually within the year. If you’re looking to seal up your ducts, you’ll be far better served by mastic or foil tape.
