I recognize some people had central s 30 years ago however not my family, then the people I was with and I never had central a/c, instead, the people I was with and I had a single window set up in the living room. It would only be turned on if it was close to a hundred degrees outside and, if it was still undoubtedly hot at night, the people I was with and I would all get our sleeping bags & the people I was with and I would sleep in the middle of the living room floor to stay cool. The was not powerful enough to cool all of the study rooms. It could only cool the living room & maybe, sometimes the family room. In the Summer the would stay on nonstop for weeks at a time. This would cause it to literally freeze up. The back of the would be full of frost & ice & my dad would go outside & hose it off with the garden hose & the people I was with and I would turn off the for a few hours. I have no method if that was normal or not however it was normal for my family. The people I was with and I have the same window a/c unit for a great 20 years. my mom was also careful about cooking in the Summer because she didn’t want to heat up the house. The people I was with and I would eat a lot of salads & sandwiches in the summertime. It wasn’t until I grew up, got married, & got a lake house of my own that I got central a/c & felt the joys of having cool, comfortable air whenever & wherever I wanted in the house. My central never freezes up either & I can use the oven without worry too.