15 Fun HVAC Facts That Will Blow You Away (2024)

As air conditioning and mechanical specialists, Sovereign Planned Services Ltd takes pride in the satisfaction we deliver to clients. We manage your energy assessments, we guarantee optimal service for your heating/plumbing needs, plus we assure expert maintenance and air conditioning repair services for your facilities. But today we’d like to celebrate our work by sharing a few heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) fun facts that may surprise you. There are really expensive and ineffective HVAC or air conditioner out there, but only the experts know the best way.

We have organised these facts so that they do not only apply to your place of business, but also your homes. These invaluable tips may end up saving you money, or you just might end up realising why we find our industry so fascinating.

1. HVAC INVENTION FACT

The modern air conditioner was invented by Willis Haviland Carrier in 1902. While civilisation had been inching towards a cooling system since the Chinese, Egyptians and Romans all found ways of technologically adapting to the heat. It was during his time working for anAC repair service company that Carrier created a machine which introduced the real possibility of controlling temperature and humidity while also serving as a ventilation unit. A huge step for mankind in environmental control.

2. HVAC INSULATION FACT

The most efficient way to conserve energy without adjusting your heating system is to ensure your home is adequately insulated. You can save more than 25% on your electricity bill by sealing window and door cracks. By sealing air in, your heating or cooling unit spends less time changing your room temperature and more time maintaining the climate of the room.

3. HVAC MONEY SAVER FACT

Here is one that ought to have you reconsidering how warm you need to be at home or work. Compared to your yearly average, just turning your thermostat down by one degree Celsius will save you about £60 per year. Every degree counts!

4. HVAC SIZE FACT

Until 1931 air conditioners were too large and expensive for homes. The first air conditioners were over six feet tall, just as wide and measured about 20 feet in length. Hardly a fit for the average window ledge. It took the innovation of two inventors named H.H. Schultz and J.Q. Sherman to make air conditioners small enough for the everyday household. It is worth noting that these early models were still larger and much heavier than those of today.

5. HVAC ENGLAND FACT

England: The coldest and the hottest!

The warmest temperature ever recorded in England was in Faversham, Kent. On August 10th 2003 the temperature reached 30.8 degrees Celsius (101.3 degrees Fahrenheit) or as the Spanish like to call it, midsummer in Madrid. The coldest temperature ever recorded in England was in Newport, Shropshire on January 10th 1982. On that day the temperature dropped to -26.1 degrees Celsius (-15 degrees Fahrenheit).

6. HVAC SYNERGY FACT

There was a revolution in the HVAC industry in the year 1977 as advancements allowed air conditioners to also carry heat pumps within the same machine. Ever since then we have been able to purchase one unit which takes care of our heating and cooling needs.

7. HVAC IMPACT FACT

New home designs!

Air conditioners didn’t only refresh our homes as they began to be adopted on a mass scale in the 1930s. They affected the way we approached architecture. Because an appliance could be used to keep families cool in the summer, there was no longer a need to build homes for shade. Breezeways were no longer sought after. Ceilings were made lower, giving air conditioning units less work to do. It became less surprising to find homes without porches as people could remain indoors comfortably.

8. HVAC ‘OFF OR ON’ FACT

This one causes a bit of controversy: do you save money if you keep the heat on all day or are you better off using it only when you need it?

As per the counsel of the experts at British Gas, you do not save money by leaving your heater on all day. No, not even if you keep it at a low setting. You are better off turning the heat on when you need it. If possible, use the timer on your thermostat to set your heating system according to your schedule. What is the rationale behind this conclusion? Simple. If your unit is left on, heat will escape through cracks around your building/home. Leaving your heating system on throughout the winter means your heater is continually pumping heat while warmth escapes, wasting energy and costing you money.

9. HVAC FAMILY FACT

The car air conditioner was invented by the Goldberg brothers (Lowell, Norman, Hiram and Max) on the 17th of July, 1946, about 44 years after the modern electrical air conditioner was invented by Willis Carrier. The rest of us are glad that the Goldberg’s were a family that worked together. Otherwise, our summer road trips would feel longer than they currently do.

10. HVAC DUCTWORK FACT

The History of the Ductwork

As much as we might like to claim ducts as a modern advancement used to connect heating and cooling units across large buildings, the ancient Romans implemented a similar system known as the hypocaust. Archaeological evidence proves that around 300 B.C the Romans carved out vertical tubes (Pilae stacks) underneath room floors. The pipes were connected to a furnace that drove hot air towards the tile ground of baths and other public areas.

11. HVAC DIFFERENCE FACT

What are your heater and air conditioner doing?

As you may have assumed, a heater is a machine that emits heat into space. An air conditioner on the other hands does not work by blowing cold air, but by removing the warm air from the room.

12. HVAC AIR FACT

Stale air is bad air.

According to 2017 statistics published by the World Health organisation, when compared to Sweden, people in the UK are 64 times likely to die from air pollution. Air pollution is one of the most dangerous issues facing residents of the UK as polluted air causes around 40,000 deaths a year.

Proper ventilation is one of the surest ways to improve indoor air quality.

Poor ventilation allows pollutants to fester in stale air as humidity from cooking, washing or bathing seeps into our homes. The non-circulation of clean air breeds mould spores and traps dangerous chemicals from the use of everyday items like cleaning products, bleach and aerosol cans. Poor air circulation also exacerbates allergic reactions and deteriorates overall health particularly for those with asthmatic conditions.

Even though you may want to insulate your home to save money, don’t forget to let in the fresh air.

13. HVAC BUSINESS FACT

Your bosses are smart, not just complying with regulations.

Though not all employees will agree on the ideal room temperature, most workers will admit that there is a zone where they feel comfortable enough not to be distracted by the office temperature.

Studies show that productivity drops when offices are too hot or too cold. According to research, the ideal temperature at work is 21.7 degrees Celsius (71 degrees Fahrenheit).

14. HVAC ORIGIN FACT

Father of cold air and ice

Did you know the person considered the father of air conditioning and refrigeration was a physician? Dr John Gorrie, in his plight to save lives, invented the icemaker. This predecessor of the refrigerator was created to keep patients cool as Dr Gorrie’s city (Apalachicola, Florida) was overtaken by a breakout of yellow fever. To achieve his goal, he creatively blew air over buckets of ice to chill his hospital rooms. Because of his dedication to people and his scientific acumen, his work continues to save lives. The number of deaths across the globe resulting from harsh summer heatwaves has sharply declined since people have been able to retreat into air-conditioned homes.

15. HVAC FILTER FACT

Why did my unit stop working?

The most common cause of HVAC failures is dirt and dust accumulation, which makes sense after you learn that just 1 millimetre of dirt on the heating and cooling coil of your unit can decrease the performance by over 20%. This fact highlights the importance of frequent maintenance and investment in reliable filters.

Society has come a long way since the Romans lined tubes underneath tiled floors. We have achieved incredible feats which have had a significant impact on the world.

Without air conditioning systems large data centres would not be able to store processors, and perhaps the internet wouldn’t exist as it does today. Without cooling machines, the medical and pharmaceutical industry wouldn’t be able to preserve perishable samples. Entire regions of the world were able to prosper as extreme heat became less of a deterrent for working in hot areas. And now, heating, ventilation and air conditioning are factors of business success.

Now you see why we dedicate ourselves to ensuring clients are never disappointed. We at Sovereign Planned Services Limited, hope you enjoyed these fun facts as much as we did. For your air conditioning, heating, electrical, mechanical or energy-saving needs, contact us today. We can’t wait to hear from you.