"5 Steps to Launching Your Career in HVAC"

Step 1: Understand the HVAC Industry

Do you really know what HVAC consists of? I thought I did but then I found out about this long list of career paths that I didn't really know of when I signed up to go to trade school check out some of the most popular jobs below:

• Residential Installer: Focuses on installing HVAC systems in homes.

• Residential Service Technician: Provides maintenance and repair services for residential HVAC systems.

• Project Manager: Oversees HVAC projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.

• In-Home Sales: Works directly with customers to assess needs and sell HVAC systems and services.

• Counter Sales and Parts Sales: Assists customers in selecting and purchasing HVAC parts and equipment.

• Customer Service: Handles customer inquiries, service scheduling, and support.

• Technical Support: Provides troubleshooting and support for complex HVAC issues.

• Manufacturers Representative: Acts as a liaison between HVAC manufacturers and vendors.

• Territory Manager: Manages sales and operations within a specific geographic area.

• Building Controls Technician and Engineer: Specializes in the installation and maintenance of building automation systems.

• Sheet Metal Worker: Fabricates and installs metal ductwork.

• Warehouse Workers: Manages inventory and ensures the smooth operation of the warehouse.

• Engineers: Designs HVAC systems and ensures they meet codes and standards.

• Energy Auditor: Assesses energy efficiency and suggests improvements.

• Service Manager: Manages the daily operations of service teams, schedules repairs, and ensures customer satisfaction.

If you want to know my top 5 click here  

Understanding the wide range of roles available can help you identify where your interests and skills might best fit. This comprehensive view of the industry can also highlight the various advancement opportunities and potential career paths within

Step 2: Get the Right Education and Training  

A very sensitive topic right here. There are people who will swear to you that a trade school is worthless and others who say it was invaluable. I’ve got colleagues who went through the union apprenticeship and could run circles around people with associates from a trade school, but no one path is a guarantee to success. If I’m being completely honest the union journeymen have the best training on advanced systems. If I was going to be a commercial service technician I’d go down to the local plumbers & pipefitters union and try and get an apprenticeship. Those guys are top notch. The sheet metal union workers are no slouch either but where I’m at they don’t do a lot of service, more new install. This is why it’s important to go through step one thoroughly so you make sure you end up where you want to be. If you need help choosing or have more questions, drop a comment below and I’ll answer it for you.

Step 3: Gain Hands-on Experience  

Learning in school or the union hall is great, but nothing beats field experience. There’s just way to much that is just known and can’t be taught in a power point. The other day I had one of my service guys working on a VRF system and he was having an issue the the EEV(Electronic Expansion Valve). Because he had lots of experience with this particular manufactures equipment, he knew that sometimes the valve gets stuck or won’t fully open unless you switch it into vacuum mode which fully expands the range of the EEV and resets the positioning of the valve so that it corresponds with where the central controller expects the valve to be. I’m simplifying here because there was more too it, but the point is you can’t teach it all in the classroom.    

Take every opportunity to do side work along the way. When your long-lost family member calls and wants you to take a look at their system, go do it! You learn many valuable lessons when you have to figure things out for yourself. These experiences allow you to apply your knowledge, troubleshoot independently, and you'll be able to call on some of your friends and mentors to help you along the way.  

Step 4: Get A Mentor 

This right here...This supercharged my career. I had great people to bring me up and teach me what they know. You might have to change jobs a couple of times before you find the right person who’s willing to spend the extra time and share their knowledge but it’s irreplaceable. Like I alluded to in the hands on experience step, experience matters. A mentor who you can call for advice, to help you look at jobs, or think through situations will not only shorten your development but provide you with a meaningful relationship you can carry forward for the rest of your life  

Step 5: Find Your Career and Continue Learning 

At this point you probably already have a job. This business is way to needy for new workers for you to not have found anything during the process of getting experience. But this isn’t about just getting a job, this is about finding your career. Maybe you are lucky and the first job you get is your last one. I tip my cap to you good sir. But if you’re not after you’ve got some experience, now’s the time to cash in on that well earned experience. Once you’ve been around and hopefully created a bit of a network you’ll figure out which companies are solid and ideal to work for and others that aren’t. You’ll also find out if the career path that you initially aspired too is the right fit or if you like something else a little better. It may take you 3-5 years before you’ll get to the point where you can do this but be patient and you’ll be handsomely rewarded with a great career on your terms.

Conclusion  

So these are my 5 steps to launching a career in HVAC is a promising path with multiple entry points and opportunities for growth. By following these five steps—understanding the industry, obtaining the right education and training, gaining hands-on experience, getting a mentor, and securing yourcareer job—you’ll be well on your way to a successful and fulfilling career. Whether you’re a recent high school graduate or an adult looking to make a career change, the HVAC industry offers a stable and rewarding profession. If you’ve got questions drop me a comment, and if you enjoyed reading PLEASE LIKE THE POST! It helps me determine which kind of content you’re interested in hearing about. Until next time. AIRFLOW GENIUS OUT!