 |
FACTOIDS:
|
There were 286,000 HVAC jobs
in 1998; about half were with
heating and cooling contractors. |
| William
Haviland Carrier, inventor
of scientific air conditioning
and "The Father of Cool,"
was granted the patent for
"Apparatus for Treating Air"
in 1906. |
|
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
which were invented in 1928
and are used in air conditioners,
cause ozone depletion. |
|
|
 |
|
- Americans
have come to expect that nearly every building -- homes,
offices, factories, schools and public structures -- will
have a controlled indoor climate in winter
and summer. Heating, air conditioning and
ventilation equipment makes this possible,
and HVAC mechanics are essential to installing,
maintaining and upgrading this equipment.
- Refrigeration
equipment -- systems to keep spaces
or products cooled to below-normal temperatures -- are
also a commonplace and essential part of
modern life. Everything from supermarkets
to pharmaceuticals to blood banks depends
on cooling equipment maintained by HVAC
and refrigeration mechanics.
- HVAC
mechanics install and maintain the many
mechanical, electrical and electronic components,
such as motors, compressors, pumps, fans,
ducts, pipes, thermostats and switches,
that are part of heating, air-conditioning
and refrigeration systems. Technicians must
be able to maintain, diagnose and correct
problems throughout the entire system using
special tools and test equipment.
- Technicians
often specialize in either installation
or maintenance and repair. Some specialize
in one type of equipment -- for
example, oil burners, solar panels or commercial
refrigerators. Technicians may work for
large or small contracting companies, or
directly for a manufacturer or wholesaler.
Those working for smaller operations tend
to do both installation and servicing, and
work with heating, cooling and refrigeration
equipment.
- HVAC
mechanics doing installations may work alongside
other building trades, while maintenance
workers are often on-call to respond to
problems at any time.
|
|
|
- An
HVAC mechanic performs hands-on equipment
installation and maintenance, thus requiring
a good ability to work with all types of
power and hand tools safely and effectively.
Diagnostic tools require an understanding
of test procedures and knowledge of electronics.
- Installation
and maintenance mechanics must be able to
understand and follow complex blueprints,
drawings and other documentation plus analyse
complex functions, procedures, and problems
to find creative, logical, and effective
solutions.
- For
mechanics working in small shops or on their
own, a positive customer service orientation
may help secure repeat business and create
good "word of mouth" for future work.
|
|
|
- Many
secondary and postsecondary technical and
trade schools, junior and community colleges
and the Armed Forces offer six-month to
two-year programs in heating, air-conditioning
and refrigeration. Students study theory,
design and equipment construction as well
as electronics. They also learn the basics
of installation, maintenance and repair.
- Apprenticeship
programs are run by joint committees representing
local contracting associations and unions.
An apprenticeship program normally lasts
three to four years and combines on-the-job
training with classroom instruction. Applicants
for these programs must have a high school
diploma or equivalent.
- All
technicians who purchase or work with refrigerants
must be certified in their proper handling
by passing one of three types of written
examinations. These tests are administered
by organizations approved by the Environmental
Protection Agency, such as trade schools,
unions, contractor associations or building
groups.
|
|
|
- Employment
of heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration
mechanics and installers is expected to
increase about as fast as the average for
all occupations through the year 2008
- Technicians
who specialize in installation work may
experience periods of unemployment when
the level of new construction activity declines,
but maintenance and repair work usually
remains relatively stable. People and businesses
depend on their climate control systems
and must keep them in good working order
regardless of economic conditions.
|
|
Duct installers |
|
Electricians |
|
Electronics technicians |
|
Home appliance repairers |
|
Plumbers |
|
Sheet-metal workers |
|
- Air
conditioning
- Climate
control
- Facilities
maintenance
- Heating
- HVAC
- HVAC
mechanic
- Refrigeration
|
Sources:
Occupation Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor
Statistics; Hiring Tools; Invent.org; United Nations
Environmental Programme |
