On this day in 1848, the first air conditioner was build by J.E. Coffee and installed in a Broadway theater in New York City. A year later, on the first hot day of the summer, folks were knocking on his door to tell him it wasn't working. All these years later, little has changed. When temperatures soar, we find the air conditioner is no more. To beat the heat, check filters first. Clean or replace as needed; and check often. The hotter the weather and the more it runs, the faster filters clog up again, making units work harder and break down even faster. For both central air and window-mounted room units, check intake vents and condenser coils monthly. Remove leaves, hose out dirt and debris and clear condensation drain hoses. Why wait for problems? Check early and often. And that's the On The House tip for today.