Guide to Training for Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Impress prospective employers with your knowledge from HVAC training courses

By Andrea Townsley, Owner, Keystone Writing Services

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start your HVAC career with the right technical program

Every state requires technicians to have an HVAC certification, and attaining that certification usually requires some formal schooling. The programs are usually not long, taking anywhere from six months to two years to complete. Enrolling in a certification program will have you well on your way to landing your first job.

I recommend: Consider the program from Gatlin Education Services, which offers programs at community colleges and technical schools all over the United States. ULinks.com can also help you find a program in your area.

Put yourself to the test and become a master HVAC technician

Earning the certification of 'master' in any aspect of the industry is beneficial. If you can prove that you are an expert in your area, you'll be worth more to your company, and this may lead to higher wages and advancements. You can become a master in a wide variety of areas; examples include commercial HVAC, home cooling and HVAC maintenance.

I recommend: Check out the master certification program at HVAC Excellence. Prepare yourself for your NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certification exam by studying the free materials available on its website.

Get more HVAC info by taking continuing education courses

Since regulations and technology are constantly changing, it's important to stay up-to-date on new laws and products that are coming out. Taking continuing education classes can help you do this. Plus, depending on your state, you may be required to take a certain number of CEUs to maintain your license or certification. Some employers are even willing to pay for their workers to take CEU courses.

I recommend: Find out the requirements for your state by using The Training Source. Each state's licensing site has HVAC information on approved CEU courses, since this varies from state to state. You will find several continuing education courses at Kaplan Professional Schools, which offers online options.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In some states, you may do an apprenticeship in lieu of taking formal classes. An apprenticeship allows you to get hands-on experience in the HVAC business and learn from professionals who are industry experts.

Guide to Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Home cooling and commercial HVAC have common considerations for builders to contemplate

By Sue Darnell, Freelance Writer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get HVAC info and inform your customers concerning carefully controlled air quality

Licensed professionals are always willing to give competitive quotes on any job info you give them to consider.

I recommend: Enter your zip code and get free quotes from several competitors in the HVAC business. HVAC.networx.com posts qualified providers and HVAC maintenance professionals in communities around the country.

Treat yourself to a Trane professional for your commercial HVAC business needs

The Trane HVAC company is easy to find across the nation and their easily-recognized brand brings many customers peace of mind.

I recommend: Find a Trane company office in your area by entering your zip code plus your postal code or your state name.

Maintain customer satisfaction by using good HVAC business sense

Whether you are a builder, building superintendent or property manager, it's good to know something about maintaining heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

I recommend: Check out the HVAC maintenance items to consider available at Nicor. The posted items provide a frame of reference for maintaining maximum performance of HVAC equipment.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) units nowadays are high-efficiency units. Different manufacturers have greatly varying price ranges. Major brand names are normally higher.
• •  Heat pumps are more energy efficient and cost effective in milder climates. They are also more complicated to maintain.
• •  Ask for references and deal only with reputable HVAC business companies licensed by the state and fully insured.
• •  Northern states often purchase heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems which use heating oil. These are generally expensive to operate, but efficient in harsh climate conditions.
• •  When possible, offer residential and commercial customers a choice between total electric HVAC equipment or a split system using both gas and electricity.

Guide to Supplies for Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Ensure that your HVAC business is ready for anything by having the proper supplies

By Andrea Townsley, Owner, Keystone Writing Services

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use diagnostic tools to get HVAC info

It's hard to pinpoint certain problems without the right tools. For example, you may suspect a customer's air conditioning unit is leaking refrigerant, but unless you can tell where the leak is coming from, you won't be able to properly fix it. Make sure you have the right diagnostic tools on hand so you can quickly and accurately locate problems in a client's HVAC system.

I recommend: Choose one of the refrigerant leak detectors from Toolfetch. Check out the different kinds of Testo instruments at SMG/interlink.

Ensure that you have the right replacement HVAC parts and equipment

There's nothing worse than getting to a customer's home or business, diagnosing the problem, then realizing you don't have the proper replacement parts. If that happens, the client will most likely find another company to use. Keeping common parts and equipment stocked up will allow you to meet every customer's expectations.

I recommend: Grainger has a wide variety of HVAC equipment and parts. Browse through the products available at AmericanHVACParts.com, which offers everything from circuit boards, tubing and capacitors to blower motors, fuses and ignition modules.

Stock up on air filters from a reputable HVAC supply company

When supplying your customers with air filters, you have to consider not just the size but the quality of the filter. Standard fiberglass filters have low MERV ratings and do not filter out smaller particles, while expensive high-efficiency filters generally have much higher MERV ratings. If you're working on an industrial HVAC project you'll want to use one of the higher-rated filters to ensure the safety of workers and the building's occupants. Make sure to instruct your customers on how often their filters need changing.

I recommend: Check out the selection of air filters at Shortys HVAC Supplies and HVACR Supplies.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Any HVAC contractor knows that low refrigerant levels can cause A/C units to freeze up. Be prepared to spend quite a bit of your day refilling the refrigerant on these units. Make sure you have both R-22 and R-410A, since many folks have already switched over to the new Puron systems.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF)

Seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) and heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) are the formulas the government uses to rank the efficiency of the heating and cooling of the unit.

I recommend: 1-800-Any-Tyme offers information about the HSPF and SEER.

Heat pumps

A heat pump is a unit that heats and cools a home. These are commonly used in areas with year-round mild climates.

I recommend: You can find information about heat pumps and other HVAC related terms on Don Vandervort's HomeTips.com.

Capacity

The capacity of an HVAC unit is the amount of energy it takes to operate. Heaters are measured in British thermal units (BTUs) or gallons per hour (GPH). Air conditioning units are measured in tons, a measurement not of weight but of capacity to cool 12,000 BTUs per hour.

I recommend: Armstrong Air offers explanations about capacity ratings. American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning offers information about BTUs.

Energy Star

When you see the Energy Star certification on an HVAC unit, that means the unit is energy efficient and has a low environmental impact. Energy Star units must be government approved to keep the certification.

I recommend: WiseGeek provides information about the Energy Star system.

Load estimate

A load estimate is a formula that takes into consideration the size of the area to be heated and cooled, the insulation of the areas and the climate in order to determine the size and type of HVAC unit a building needs.

I recommend: McAfee Heating and Air Conditioning provides information on how to determine the load estimate amount.

Geothermal equipment

Geothermal equipment use the ground to help transfer heat. This is most common with heat pumps. This type of equipment is considered environmentally friendly.

I recommend: You can find information about geothermal equipment at Air Turbine Propeller and ToolBase.