The fan of a refrigerated air system in El Paso.

The History of Refrigerated Air and Its Impact on Modern Cooling

January 21, 2025

Refrigerated air systems are so common nowadays that they’re often taken for granted. Anytime you enter a home or business during the summer, you simply assume that you’ll be greeted by cool, refrigerated air. However, it wasn’t that long ago when air conditioners were largely unknown.

To learn more about refrigerated air and how it can benefit your El Paso home or business, call Scott Heating & Cooling at (915) 595-4529 today.

The Original Need for Air Conditioning 

In the modern era, people associate refrigerated air conditioning with comfort and convenience. While that was part of the reason that air conditioning was originally invented, it wasn’t the primary one. 

Instead, air conditioning was originally dreamed up as a way to combat illness and disease. Many medical conditions, such as malaria and many others, thrive in hot and humid climates. Therefore, it was believed that patients infected with these conditions would have an easier time fighting them off if they were cool and comfortable. 

When Was the First Refrigerated Air System Created? 

In an effort to help his patients struggling with malaria and similar conditions, Dr. John Gorrie was the first person to experiment with a refrigerated air conditioning system. He was a doctor in Florida in the 1850s and wanted to keep his patients comfortable while also giving them the best chance to fight off diseases. 

Gorrie developed a system that could create ice using a compressor powered by horses, steam, or wind. Although he wasn’t successful at creating the first full-fledged air conditioner, he laid the groundwork for it. 

Fast forward to 1900, and Willis Carrier successfully created the first refrigerated air system. He was hired to solve a humidity problem in the magazine industry that caused damage to the pages. He solved the problem by creating a system that reduces humidity using coils and compressed refrigerated air, aka, the first air conditioner. 

An Increase in Popularity 

It wasn’t long before businesses and other commercial buildings started enlisting Carrier’s air conditioning services. This happened in 1922. From there, Frigidaire produced the first split air conditioning system for residences in 1929. By the 1960s and 70s, most new homes were built with either central or window air conditioners installed as a standard feature. 

Refrigerated Air in El Paso 

If you want the latest and greatest air conditioning system for your home or business in El Paso, Scott Heating & Cooling is here to help. Refrigerated air in El Paso has come a long way since the days of John Gorrie, and we offer high-efficiency split and ductless systems. Call (915) 595-4529 to learn more.

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