AC/no AC

[Meddle]

50s and 60s? A/C didn't become common in homes until the late 70s or so. And that was only new construction. Older homes were rarely retrofitted. Even now, most older homes don't have central A/C. Window or portable units, yes, but not central.

I went through some wicked summers in town with no A/C. Steel casement windows and a whole house attic fan was all we had. But then again, we only had short periods from late June into late August that were really uncomfortable. Where I am now, we have heat from late May into late September, so there's a bigger need for most.

I have a single window unit in one room now in an old farmhouse. I could have put Central A/C in when I did the new furnace and ductwork, but I thought the same thing, why cool the whole house and pay a huge electric bill?

[Gistok]

50s and 60s? A/C didn't become common in homes until the late 70s or so. And that was only new construction. Older homes were rarely retrofitted. Even now, most older homes don't have central A/C. Window or portable units, yes, but not central.

I went through some wicked summers in town with no A/C. Steel casement windows and a whole house attic fan was all we had. But then again, we only had short periods from late June into late August that were really uncomfortable. Where I am now, we have heat from late May into late September, so there's a bigger need for most.

I have a single window unit in one room now in an old farmhouse. I could have put Central A/C in when I did the new furnace and ductwork, but I thought the same thing, why cool the whole house and pay a huge electric bill?

Ummmm.... air conditioning versus centrul air conditioning... apples and oranges...

1948: 74,000 units sold in the USA.
1953: 1,045,000 units sold in the USA.

That would NOT be central air conditioning...