The first concept of air conditioning wasn’t intended to cool people, but ink. It was in 1902 that Willis Carrier invented air conditioning in the same way we know it, and cooling down the office workers at the publishing company in which it was installed was the last thing on his mind. The intended purpose was the preservation and protection of paper and ink for books. It wasn’t until 1914 that the first residential air conditioner was installed, and it was a whopping 7 feet high, 20 feet long and 6 feet wide.
Due to the size of these air conditioners and the cost of their creation, the first air conditioners were sold for anywhere between $10,000 and $50,000, which in today’s money would equal $120,000 to $600,000. While the idea of getting a second mortgage for an air conditioner is incomprehensible to us now, there was a reason that people spent the exorbitant amount of money it took to cool their homes.
According to the Australian Medical Association, over 500 people die each year of heat stress in Australia, making it this country’s most dangerous natural hazard. In a country like Australia, where the heat can be brutal and incessant, cooling your home isn’t just a good idea – it can save lives.
Who is at most risk of heat stress?
The Elderly
For people over 75, the heat can pose a serious threat. As the body ages, it becomes less efficient at regulating and handling the heat. From storing fat differently in the body, to not sweating as much, the body of an elderly person is at a severe disadvantage when it comes to heat. If you are elderly, or have elderly people living in the home with you, cooling their living area is a fantastic way to help safe guard them from the dangers of heat stress.
The Young
In hot weather, babies and children overheat and become dehydrated very quickly. Babies and children cannot adjust their bodies to suit the temperature as well as adults do, and while they are active, they generate considerably more heat than adults. This puts them at a high risk of overheating and dehydration.
Those Who Are Ill
For people suffering with serious injuries or infirmities, it can be extremely difficult for them to handle themselves appropriately in the heat. Their bodies may have difficulty regulating their temperature and they may be unable to help themselves get cool, by moving to a different location or changing into cooler clothes.
Pregnant Women
Pregnant women can suffer from heat stress much more easily than a woman who is not pregnant. When a pregnant woman overheats, this can cause untold damage to the baby inside her, including neural defects and miscarriages.
Different sections of Australia have been categorised with ‘climate twins’, indicating countries that our climate is most similar to. Inland of South East Queensland has the unfortunate weather correspondence of the Sonora Desert, towards the coast South East Queensland has the hot and muggy climate of Southern Brazil, while the centre of our Great Land is more akin to the Sahara Desert.
These dramatic similarities bring into sharp focus exactly how hot our country can get – but it’s not just people who can suffer. Your pets are a part of your family, and the heat can adversely affect them, too.
How Heat Can Affect Your Pets
Pets, especially dogs, are highly susceptible to heatstroke and dehydration. The effects can range from mild, to severe, to catastrophic. When a pet is outside in the heat without adequate shade or water, and coming inside provides little to no relief from the heat, it can suffer from the debilitating effects of heatstroke.
Animals don’t respond to heat the same way humans do. They can’t sweat, which is a primary way the body cools itself, and their only form of cooling comes from panting. While their coats can provide a level of insulation, particularly thick-coated dogs, like Malamutes, German Shepherds, Huskies and Saint Bernard’s, can find the heat almost unbearable.
So what can the heat do to our beloved four-legged friends?
Effects of Heat on Dogs and Cats
Overheating can cause a number of issues, symptoms and ailments, including, but not limited to:
- Increased Panting
- Decreased Appetite
- Decreased Energy
- Warm Skin
- Collapsing/Stumbling
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Bright Red Gums
- Brain Damage
- Upper Airway Swelling
- Kidney Damage/Failure
- Muscle Damage
- Organ Failure
- Damage to Lungs
- Damage to Liver
- Death
So, what can you do about it?
While the heat may seem all-consuming, getting the right air conditioning unit for your home or commercial space can considerably reduce your risk, as well as the risk on other people and pets, of heat-related problems.
Here at Port City Air Conditioning, we specialise in getting you the right system for your needs. We know that the Australian heat can be brutal, and summers can feel never ending. That’s why we have a team of dedicated specialists to help you in your time of need.
We can find the right air conditioner for:
Homes
From large homes to small homes, we can find the right system to cool your space. Larger homes benefit from a ducted air conditioning system which can simultaneously cool multiple areas in the home.
Units
Whether it’s a single unit or a block of units, we can find the solution that meets the needs of each individual space.
Offices
Don’t let your office workers swelter in the heat. Provide a cool and comfortable work place for them by trusting Port City to get the perfect system for your office.
Shopping Centres
With the rise in use of granny flats, converted garages or portable buildings as home offices, cooling these separate areas has become more important than ever.
Commercial Spaces
From large warehouses and restaurants, to corporate buildings, we can assist in finding the right system that will keep your commercial space cool.
What Kind of Air Conditioner Do I Need?
Here at Port City Air Conditioning we offer a number of solutions and we’re confident we’ll be able to assist you in getting the right solution for your needs. Whether you need a residential split system or ducted system, or a larger scale commercial system, we can help. We offer a huge range of options to suit every home or business, with all the biggest brands, like Daikin, Panasonic and Fujitsu. Not only that, we offer free onsite quotes for all new air conditioner installations.
Okay, I need an Air Conditioner. What now?
If your home or office doesn’t have an air conditioning system, or you’re looking to upgrade, then trust Port City Air with your needs. Don’t let yourself or anyone else suffer from the heat any longer. Provide a cool and comfortable atmosphere year-round, helping to protect your family, friends, children and pets from the disastrous effects of heat stroke. Cool bedrooms and living areas, offering a sanctuary from the heat for everyone in your world. You could see an end to heat stress in the elderly, your children or your pets with the right air conditioning system.
The team at Port City Air Conditioning can help you with the process of finding and installing your air conditioning system. We’ll sit down with you and discuss your individual needs, and provide an optimal solution. Reach out to the team at Port City today to get started on your journey. Trust us. It’s a breeze.