The days keep getting hotter, and it can be tempting to just stay indoors where your air conditioner can keep you cool all day. If you’re able to do this, more power to you, but it’s important to keep an eye on your energy bills if you do so. In the meantime, check out these interesting facts about air conditioners.

Bounds Heating & Air, a local contractor specializing in HVAC maintenance and repair, lists four items to add to your knowledge of air conditioning systems.

A Luxury Item

Air conditioners were considered luxury items when they were first introduced. It was only in the 1960s that they became widely used in residential homes.

Average Life Span

An air conditioner can be expected to last 16 years on average. This could be a good benchmark for you to determine if an HVAC repair would still be worth it. If your air conditioner has already hit it’s 10- to 15-year mark, you might want to start looking for a new one instead of spending money on repairs.

The Origin of School Summer Vacations

School summer vacations are often thought to have been started to allow time for children to help out during planting and harvesting time. While this may have influenced the school calendar, the main factor that led to the creation of summer vacation was the heat. Back then, school buildings had no air conditioning, and it was believed that the heat made it difficult for students to focus on their classes. However, even with the mainstream use of air conditioning, summer vacations continued.

Energy Efficiency

The energy efficiency of an air conditioner is typically measured in SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The higher the SEER, the greater a unit’s efficiency.

Bounds Heating & Air has over 20 years of expertise in heating and air conditioning repair. Call us at (352) 472-2761 or fill out our contact form to request a free quote. We offer our services to homeowners in Gainesville, Newberry, and surrounding areas.