HVAC Frequently Asked Questions
Where do people in the HVACR industry work?
- Sports arenas
- Shopping malls
- Theaters
- Office and apartment buildings
- Private homes
- Factories
- Grocery stores
- Industrial plants
- Hospitals
What do people in the HVACR industry do?
- Contractors/Business owners: Combine technical and entrepreneurial
skills to communicate and assess customer needs and appropriate technical
solutions.
- Technicians: Install, maintain, service and repair HVACR equipment that
provides indoor comfort and essential cooling processes both in the home and
workplace.
- Designers: Use sophisticated computer aided design (CAD) techniques and
technical knowledge to design and maintain HVACR systems.
- Plumbers: Install and repair pipes that carry water, waste, drainage,
and natural gas to buildings. They cut, bend and join pipes; and they
install fixtures and appliances, such as bathtubs, toilets, dishwashers and
water heaters.
- Pipe fitters: Work on large industrial piping systems that carry steam,
gases and chemicals that supply power, heating or refrigeration.
- Sales and Marketing: Experts rely on creativity to sell and market HVACR
systems to businesses and homeowners.
- Engineers: Ensure that HVACR products are built to and perform to
specification before, during and after they are built and installed.
- Research and Development: Professionals work on constantly improving our
heating and cooling equipment, as well as rating and testing new models.
- Inspectors: Are employed to ensure that standards and regulations are
adhered to as stated by local codes or government agencies.
How do I get started?
To get started in the HVACR field, you should enroll in the following courses
in high school:
- Computer Applications
- CAD - Computer-Aided Design
- Business
- Sales and Marketing
- Air Conditioning
- Math - algebra and geometry
- Sheet Metal
- Electricity/electronics
- Mechanical Drawing
- Blueprint reading
What is the outlook for advancement?
The stronger the training, the greater the chances for advancement in the
field.
Either taking HVACR courses in high school or once you get out of high school
in a post secondary HVACR training program either public or private.
Scholarships & Loans: Most schools can help you finance your education with
scholarships and loan packages.
Job Placement: Look for programs with high rates of job placement. Often they
can find jobs for 100% of their HVACR graduates, at starting salaries ranging
from $25,000 to $35,000, depending on the applicant's experience and job
location.
How bright is the future in the HVACR industry?
Very bright! Technical jobs are the fastest growing segment of the economy! A
secure future awaits you!
Jobs in the $150 billion-a-year HVACR industry are predicted to increase into
the 21st Century, as demand grows for industrial, commercial, and residential
climate control systems. To maintain or replace older comfort systems,
additional new jobs will be created.
The HVACR industry offers well-paying jobs, ranging from $25,000 - $100,000 a
year. Sales and business HVACR jobs offer similar compensation. The growing
demand for CAD (computer-aided design) specialists has led to higher salaries,
often beginning at $40,000 per year.
What is the Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR)
industry?
The HVACR industry manages indoor environments, and designs, builds,
installs, services, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs indoor comfort and
cooling systems year-round. It is also a $150 billion a year business nationally
and employs millions of people around the globe.
The HVACR industry provides solutions to many important environmental issues
such as indoor air quality and protecting the ozone layer through proper
refrigerant handling.
Why is HVACR important?
Homes, office buildings, industrial plants, airplanes, cars and computer
technology all rely on complex HVACR systems to create and maintain safe,
healthy and comfortable living and working environments. Many industrial,
medical, technical and commercial processes also depend on sophisticated
heating, cooling air quality and ventilation systems. HVACR people are problem
solvers - experts who contribute to making equipment work better, more
efficiently, quicker and less expensively.
Why should I be interested in a career in the HVACR industry?
HVACR is a necessity today for personal comfort, medical health, food
preservation, water supply and work productivity. In fact, all human activities
rely on HVACR in one way or another. This industry will produce thousands of new
jobs in the next decades as market for these products expand.
The HVACR industry also offers variety, job security, respect, upward
mobility, great salary, life long employment, and opportunity. HVACR
professionals can use their skills in just about anyplace in the world.
HVACR is a high technology industry with constant innovations that contribute
to making the equipment work better, more efficiently, quicker and less
expensively.
page last updated 12/03/08