Here at ARS, we are all about staying cool during the dog days of summer. And next to lounging in a pool, the best way to beat the heat is certainly with decent air conditioning. As we all know, summer can be unbearable if your cooling system isn’t up to par. So, it’s no surprise that the period between July 3 and August 15 is officially recognized as “air conditioning appreciation days”—because these are the days when we appreciate our AC the most.
To celebrate this special time period, our HVAC service pros are sharing some benefits to AC that you might not be aware of, plus some “cool” history (see what we did there?) that may surprise you!
6 Benefits of Air Conditioning
AC may reduce stress
If you’ve ever been hot and sticky on a steamy day without the chilled relief of air conditioning, you probably ended up cranky and overheated. Overheating can cause agitation and make us extremely uncomfortable. Just think how it feels that first moment you walk into your cool house after a day out in the heat—ahh. You feel great, right? And feeling great helps reduce stress levels.
AC helps boost concentration
When we get overheated, we don’t just sweat physically, we can also get drained mentally. And anything that affects our mental faculties can cause problems with our thinking. According to a Harvard Study, students who had zero air conditioning in their dorms scored much worse on a series of cognitive tests than students who studied with air conditioning. The study showed that being cool and comfortable has a great effect on our abilities to concentrate and think freely.
AC improves air quality
Air conditioning helps create a healthier indoor space. With decent air filters and proper ventilation your system can filter out dust, pollen, debris, and other pollutants that affect your breathing and trigger respiratory issues. And as you may know, regular filter changing also helps prevent the need for unwanted AC repair.
It protects electronics
It’s not just people who get overheated when temperatures soar. Indoor appliances and devices such as laptops, cell phones, microwaves, and refrigerators are just a few electronics that can get compromised in extreme heat. But keeping them in a chilled air conditioning space ensures they are cool enough to function properly.
AC protects pets, too
Extreme heat can be very harmful to pets. Imagine if you went outside in 90-degree weather wearing a coat! Pets have a harder time than people when it comes to regulating their core temperature. To keep pets cool, comfortable, and happy, keep the AC on for them when you leave the house.
It reduces dehydration
According to the National Library of Medicine, we can lose between three to four liters of sweat (water) per hour in the heat. And this number only increases if you’re exercising. When you turn on your air conditioning you will cool both your surroundings and your body. This in turn will help prevent your body from dehydrating.
Cool Facts You May Not Know About AC
And now just because we want to have a little fun, here are six “cool” facts about the history of air conditioning.
- Willis Carrier invented the first electrical air conditioning in 1902.
- Carrier initially called his invention an “Apparatus for Treating Air.”
- Window ledge units hit the market in 1932 but weren’t widely purchased because they were too expensive.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to have air conditioning in the White House.
- Stuart W. Cramer is known for coining the term “air conditioning” during a speech in 1906.
- Today, air conditioning can be found in nearly 100 million American homes, representing 87 percent of all households.
ARS Is Here to Keep You Cool
Don’t sweat it out this summer! Celebrate air conditioning appreciation days with us this season by taking care of your cooling system. As always, if you need HVAC service, we are available seven days a week for AC repair and air conditioning installation when you need to cool down.
