Is HVAC a Good Career Choice in Hampton Roads?

HVAC technicians who have received the needed training are in high demand. There will be a 16 percent job growth in the HVAC field by the year 2026 (according to the BLS). This means that there will be over 48,000 new HVAC jobs. This is a great career, especially for technicians based in Hampton roads due to the extreme temperatures changes and the high population.

Other Reasons why HVAC is a Good Career Choice in Hampton Roads

Quick Training

Regardless of whether you choose a diploma or a degree, it’s a short amount of time for you to learn everything you need to know about installation, electronics, equipment, temperature control, repair, and maintenance. Earning a degree, however, could help you find a job more easily and teach you additional skills that will come in handy on the job. It might take longer, but it could be worth the extra investment.

Active Workplace

Do you love working with your hands and enjoy investigating how things work? Then you should consider working as a HVAC technician. Instead of sitting behind a computer all day, you will work with your hands. You will use tools such as drills, hammers, metal snips, pipe cutters, and acetylene torches.

A Variety of things to do

Apart from being hands-on, there are different things that you can do as a HVAC technician. HVAC consists of heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration. You can choose to specialize in any of the areas. You can also specialize in installation, maintenance, or repair. If you don’t wish to specialize, you can work in all areas. There are always new things for you to do as a HVAC technician.

What do Technicians Do?

The answer to this question will vary depending on the industry, position, and specialty you choose. However, what won’t vary is the importance of the work that these professionals do.

HVAC systems control the temperature, humidity, and air quality in office buildings, homes, hospitals, schools, stores, factories and other facilities. These units keep us healthy and comfortable by providing a climate-controlled atmosphere.

How can Formal Education help one to become a Successful Technician?

HVAC technicians often work with heating and cooling systems to install, maintain and repair. Becoming a HVAC technician often involves the completion of heating, ventilation, refrigeration and air conditioning degree program.

These programs introduce students to topics such as electrical components, refrigeration fundamentals, HVAC system parts, gas heating systems, installation and industrial safety. These programs will also prepare you for apprenticeship programs. Most apprenticeship programs involve both classroom and on-the-job training.

Skills and Qualities that will make you a Successful HVAC Technician

To get started as a technician, you should master some skills. As you progress in your career, it is important to understand what to expect, here are some skills and qualities that make a successful HVAC technician:

Customer-service skills: Technicians often work with property owners that call them after an issue occurs. Therefore, it is very important that they have exceptional people skills. Interacting with property owners, homeowners and building superintendents require a certain level of customer-service skills that every great technician should have. A customer without AC might be exhausted, angry, or just plain irritable. You have to be able to work with them to understand and resolve their problem.

Mechanical skills: Although you can learn these skills in training, you should be comfortable working with mechanical systems. In case HVAC systems need to be assembled, disassembled, programmed and repaired, you need mechanical skills to get it done.

Time-management skills: This is another important soft skill that you’ll need to effectively manage your schedules and to remain organized. Because you’ll be dealing with several calls on a daily basis, you’ll need to be able to efficiently finish each task for you to move to the next call.

Troubleshooting skills: You will often receive calls about systems before you can determine what the problem is. As a good technician, you should be comfortable troubleshooting and comprehending what the problem is. This means that you should work with the property owner to determine what has failed.

Physical strength: This is a helpful bonus, especially if you’ll be working on your own. You will have to be comfortable lifting objects, equipment, and parts. Even technicians who work in teams can be called upon to lift heavy objects.

Education: Most technicians opt to acquire formal credentials. Technical schools offer hands-on training that will give you the knowledge and experience you need to support you while out in the field.

Have what it takes to become a professional HVAC technician? If you want to earn an Associate in Occupational Science in HVAC Technology with Service Management, ATI offers this course at an accelerated rate. Kick start your career today by connecting with an admissions officer to learn more about a career in the HVAC industry.