It is a well known fact that heating and air conditioning is very important in both residential homes and commercial buildings. Also, maintenance and installation of these systems is very important and hence, requires expertise. The requirement of systems for climate control in various buildings and areas has paved ways for many to form careers in industries that deal with HVAC like commercial and residential construction, contracting, HVAC systems, etc. If you want a career in this booming industry of mechanical systems repairing, then choose the career option of a residential HVAC technician.
Responsibilities of a residential HVAC
As a residential HVAC technician, you will be responsible for maintaining and repairing ventilation and air conditioning and heating systems. As a technician, you need to make use of special equipment and tools, like combustion analyzers, digital multi-meters. Apart from the use of these advanced tools, you also require working at odd hours and working overtime if required. You must have the knowledge of various components of HVAC, which are inclusive of motors, compressors and pumps.
Apart from all these duties and responsibilities, as a residential HVAC technician you would also be responsible for equipment and product servicing on various projects assigned to you and also, ensure that your client is satisfied completely. You have to use various hand equipment and tools, abiding with engineering and blueprint specifications for the repair and diagnosis of every unit. Identification, analysis, repair, diagnosis of products and systems of your customer is your responsibility. You need to determine various parts that require repair and maintenance.
You are also required to perform various site surveys, preventative maintenance, modifications and also replacements, if required by your clients. On-site repair and installation has to be done by you as a residential HVAC technician as well as the examination of difficulties, layout of the building, material acquirement and coordination of various work on-site.
Inspections of vehicles, checking of supplies and condition of vehicles are done by a residential HVAC technician. You have to maintain vehicle records, various manuals, services, repairs, maintenance and schedules.
Along with all these technical work, you also have the duty to make various documents, paperwork on the job and maintain records and files too. If needed, you would have to represent your establishment by providing your service to a direct client. Your duty also entitles you to provide training and follow-ups at the clients' site.
Sales leads are also provided to the service manager by a residential HVAC technician. Along with this, you also require to determine the completion of paperwork, inclusive of duration and progress of the job.
HVAC technicians also have to maintain records of labor, materials, data costs, subs, resources, returns etc of each assignment. Maintain current record of branded products that is concerned with operations, installation, service, repair and maintenance. As a residential HVAC technician, you have to read and thoroughly comprehend specifications of a product and also acquire experience while working with specifications for the building.
Academic Qualification & Sills Required
If you want a career as a residential HVAC technician, then you need to acquire basic training from a technical institute or school or even an apprenticeship. The programs in such institutions are mostly for 6 months to 2 years and they are inclusive of theory in subjects like equipment designs, temperature control, repair etc. Apprenticeship can take about 2 to 4 years for completion.
As a residential HVAC technician, you must have an excellent mechanical aptitude and also have the ability to comprehend technical and blueprint instructions. This is a strenuous job, therefore, you have to be in great physical shape and have good communications skills.
Career Prospects
A career as a residential HVAC technician is an excellent option. With the inclusion of benefits, a median salary of a residential HVAC technician is about $47,000 annually. Because of the numerous HVAC systems that require repairing and maintenance, scope for HVAC technicians is good.
