How to Become an HVAC Installer
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for heating, ventilation and air conditioning installers, also called HVAC technicians, will increase 28 percent from 2008 to 2018. HVAC installers maintain and repair heating and air conditioning systems in residential and commercial buildings, installing and adjusting parts to ensure the systems run efficiently. Training and experience in the field are necessary to work as a HVAC installer.
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Instructions
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Complete a postsecondary HVAC program. Becoming a HVAC installer requires six months to two years of postsecondary training from a trade school, junior college or technical school. Students learn how to read blueprints, theories of equipment design and temperature control and installation basics.
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Receive formal training in an apprenticeship through unions such as the Air Conditioning Contractors of America or Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association. The apprenticeship generally takes three to five years to complete and is an alternative to college education. Apprentices learn through on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
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Obtain a license to work as a HVAC installer. Licensure requirements vary, but all states that require licensing require installers to pass an exam and be knowledgeable about electrical codes and HVAC-specific topics.
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Gain the necessary qualifications and skills to become a HVAC installer. These include being in good physical condition and demonstrating customer service skills.
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Tips & Warnings
Classroom instruction in apprenticeship includes safety practices, as well as operation and design of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. During the apprenticeship, an individual works with a licensed HVAC installer and assists them with minor tasks including cleaning furnaces, checking electrical circuits and carrying materials.
References
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