An HVAC technician installs, maintains and repairs heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. HVAC is an abbreviation for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Someone who works in this occupation may specialize in installation or in maintenance and repair and in either heating, air conditioning or refrigeration work.There were almost 268,000 HVAC technicians employed in the United States in 2012. A majority worked for plumbing, air conditioning and heating contractors. A few were self employed. Most jobs were full time and, during busy times of the year overtime is usually required.Working as an HVAC technician can be uncomfortable or even dangerous. He or she spends time working in cramped spaces in unheated or very hot buildings. Refrigerants, used in cooling systems, are hazardous and can cause serious injuries. One may also be subject to shocks, burns and muscle strains if the proper precautions are not taken.Most employers prefer to hire HVAC technicians who have completed formal training.

This may include an apprenticeship or classroom instruction. Classroom instruction can take place at a trade or technical school, or at a community college. The US Armed Forces also offers HVAC training. Apprenticeships generally last three to five years and are jointly sponsored by local chapters of unions, for example the Air Conditioning Contractors of America or Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association.ac to dc power supply definition To learn about local HVAC apprenticeships, see My Next Move: Careers With Registered Apprenticeships.Why Do You Need to Know About Educational Requirements?ac unit cover woodSome states and localities require HVAC technicians to be licensed which typically means passing a written test. why ac unit in tonFind out what the licensing requirements are in the state in which you plan to work.

See the Licensed Occupations Tool from CareerOneStop.In addition to the technical skills obtained through formal training, one also needs certain soft skills, or personal qualities, to succeed in this occupation. An HVAC technician needs good listening skills to receive information about the problem he or she is trying to solve. Good speaking skills will allow him or her to convey information to coworkers and customers. In order to meet the demands of a busy schedule, one also needs good time management skills. Critical thinking skills allow the technician to weigh various solutions to a problem and choose the best one.Some HVAC technicians may advance to managerial positions while others may move into sales and marketing jobs. There are HVAC technicians who become building superintendents, cost estimators and system test and balance specialists.Why Do You Need to Know About Advancement?The job outlook for HVAC technicians is excellent. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts this occupation will grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2022.

Why Do You Need to Know About Job Outlook? to find out how much a HVAC technician currently earns in your city.Troubleshoot and repair HVAC/R equipment.Apply local HVAC codes in a practical manner on each job.Provide excellent customer service.Provide technical support in the fieldCollaborate with sales and engineering to develop product definitions responsive to customer needs and market opportunities.Layout, design and install low voltage wiring.Run after hours calls as required.Sources:Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm (visited February 2, 2015)./link/details/49-9021.01 (visited February 2, 2015). HVAC CAREER TRAINING - LOCAL HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION TRAINING AVAILABLE Trane - HVAC Field Technician* - Hunt Valley, MD

Trane - HVAC Field Technician* - Washington DC Project Engineer - Team Leader, HVAC EquipmentPay: $75k - $80k/year Inside Commercial Sales Engineer Assistant Warehouse Manager 2nd Shift Propane Service Technician - Oakland, MD LP Gas Co - Oakland, MD HVAC INSTALL $1500 SIGN ON HVAC Building Technician (TS/SCI) Maintenance Technician IV - HVACPay: $40,110 - $48,132/year Email this Job to Yourself or a FriendDespite national unemployment still hovering near 10 percent, there are pockets of labor shortages where thousands of new positions go unfilled. One of the biggest: the field service and HVAC sectors, according to Mike Moore, Director of Training and one of the founders of HVAC Learning Solutions. An experienced trainer of technicians and managers alike, Moore explains the problems facing HVAC firms looking for talent, and what the industry as a whole needs to do to remedy the situation. How do things look these days for hiring managers in the HVAC industry?

One of the problems that we have is that as an industry, we have to let potential employees know that there are opportunities out there. Because a lot of people when they’re growing up or they’re graduating from high school or college, they don’t necessarily think about the HVAC industry when they’re looking at their career choice. So subsequently, the age of technicians in the HVAC industry is older. So you have people that are leaving the workforce and you have a shortage of technicians. I think we’re probably about 20,000 people short in terms of the techs we need. So the key is to catch young people whether they’re in junior high or in high school and let them know there are opportunities, so when they’re planning for their career they can at least give the HVAC industry a look. So as long as you’re a qualified technician, the job outlook is pretty outstanding if you wanted to break into the HVAC industry. Oh yeah, if you’re a person who has good technical skills and good people skills.

It’s important to have the good people skills because when you’re in the customer’s home it’s just as important that you’re able to fix the customer as you are to fix the equipment. If you’re having somebody come out to your house because your equipment’s not working, on a hot day or cold day, you’re not really in the best of moods. So you want technicians showing up that can relate to that customer, put her at ease, and then fix the equipment. Are those people skills something that you can even teach? How does one get a feel for if a technician’s a good person or not? I think what you do is, the interview process is critical. So you maybe have them go through a multitude of interviews and get people’s impressions. You ask different type of behavioral-based questions that sort of lead you down that pathway. Sometimes you’ll make mistakes, but if you use an interviewing guide that’s based on behavior, usually you can get to the facts about that individual.