Few modern luxuries are as magical and necessary as air conditioning. In areas like Minnesota, the weather has a mind of its own, and although we experience our fair share of sub-zero temps, our summers are hot. When the temperature hits the 80s and 90s, you want fresh, cool air circulating throughout your home, so you can relax in comfort.

But, there are a number of myths out there preventing homeowners from making the most of their air conditioning system. Air conditioning’s popularity has led to more than a few cool facts about air conditioning and its history. Check them out below.

FACT. Some of the first artificially cooled spaces were movie theaters. Most people experienced air conditioning for the first time while watching a motion picture, and theaters capitalized on the idea. “Refrigerated Air” was a highlight in theater advertisements, enticing consumers to buy a ticket to the movies at the promise of a little solace from the heat.

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MYTH. The first type of cooling was electric fans. Electric fans do little to cool air; they actually produce a wind-chill effect, and help to evaporate the sweat on your skin, effectively lowering your body temperature. Electric fans were the most popular and effective way to cool down homes during the early 1900s — until air conditioning came along just a couple years later.

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MYTH. Although Maytag is well-known for its air conditioners and other appliances, modern air conditioning was invented by Willis Carrier. On July 17, 1902, Carrier invented the air conditioner for a publishing company in New York that was experiencing problems with ink and control and paper expansion, due to excessive and varying humidity levels.

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FACT. Early air conditioners were sizable and costly. The first home system was seven feet high, six feet wide, and 20 feet long! Only wealthy homeowners with adequate space in their homes could afford these air conditioning units. In the 1910s, systems cost anywhere between $10,000 to $50,000 — which equates to between $120,000 and $600,000 today.

By the 1940s, the cost of A/C units started to drop, and prices were comparable then to what they are now. Depending on the type of air conditioner you’re looking for, today’s units range between $500 – $10,000. This range includes everything from small, portable A/C units to full-scale, centralized air conditioning units with or without ducts.

FACT. For the most part, summer vacation as we know it is the result of unbearable heat during summer months. Without air conditioning, school buildings were so hot, and so uncomfortable, that they implemented summer break to give students and teachers a relief from the heat. And for the sake of kids everywhere — we’re glad the tradition of summer vacation stuck around, even though it’s no longer needed.

MYTH. On the earliest air conditioning units, output settings were measured in “Ice Power” — that is, how many blocks of ice it would take to produce the same amount of cooling power. Air conditioning can be measured in a handful of ways, but today, the most common output measurement is tons. A ton refers to the amount of heat it takes to completely melt a ton of ice in one day. So, while we no longer measure air conditioners with “Ice Power,” current measurements still reference blocks of ice. The more you know!

MYTH. Nope, it wasn’t Phoenix — it was good ol’ Minneapolis, the city we call home! The first fully air-conditioned home popped up nearly 120 years ago, in 1913, at 25th Street and East Lake of the Isles Boulevard. The mansion was destroyed in 1933, just 20 years after it was built. Minneapolis historians estimate it would cost at least $1,500 a month to cool a space that large today — and that’s using equipment that’s at least 60% more efficient than it was in the 1910s.

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FACT. Prior to modern air conditioning, the chances of folks dying from heat stroke or exhaustion were quite high. But, research has found that the chance of dying on hot days has fallen 80% over the last 50 years — which correlates with the rise in access to A/C.

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FACT. Modern air conditioners are a luxury — there’s no doubt about it. Not only does A/C cool the air in your home or retail space, they also take the humidity out of the air, making the air in your home more comfortable for you and all of your guests.

Here’s an air conditioning tip: Don’t keep your fan on all day. If you leave your fan on all the time, moisture blows back into the house and impact your humidity levels. Select the “auto” feature on your thermostat, so that new air is emitted only when the cooling system is running.

Fake or Fact? Now You Know!

Were you familiar with any of these air conditioning myths and facts? From the early days of electric fans to modern, central air conditioning systems, A/C has come a long way.

Learn more about air conditioning with our guide to the many types of air conditioners and how to choose the best one for your home.