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We have heard many use the term “HVAC”, some of us have a general basic idea of what it means and is about. In this article, we're going to cover a few basics like what does HVAC mean? How does it generally apply to your home? And different types of services that are included.
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HVAC simply put, stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. In other words, HVAC refers to the various types of systems that are used mainly for moving air between indoor and outdoor areas, along with heating and cooling both residential and commercial spaces.
These are the systems that keep you cozy and warm in the winter and feeling cool and fresh in the summer. These are the same systems that filter and clean indoor air to keep you healthy and maintain humidity levels at optimal levels aiming at comfort. And moreover, there are a lot of commercial HVAC companies recruiting right now.
Sometimes each component present in your home may be separate, such as a radiant system combined with some air conditioning units. However, it is a little more common for combined systems like the central heating and AC systems that just use a single blower to circulate air using internal ducts in a home, or with a ductless system for various rooms or zones in the house.
The main purpose of an HVAC system is not just about warming or cooling a space. It is more than that. It majorly serves to improve the air quality indoors and provide comfort for those inside a building/space. While there are various different types of HVAC systems, they all begin primarily with almost the same essentials.
Basics of HVAC
Firstly, there is a source of fresh air also known as “intake” from either outside or from within the home. To put in simple words, this process is called ventilation, and it can be divided into two different types. Natural ventilation basically refers to the way natural air typically moves in and out of the house or a space through windows, doors, vents, and other openings generally present in most homes. This exchange of natural air ventilation is necessary to keep the space fresh, receive fresh oxygen, to remove odors, carbon dioxide, and excessive moisture in a space.
The second type of ventilation is Mechanical ventilation uses a mechanical system, that is the V in HVAC. It is used to move the air in and out. In the past years, there was always plenty of natural ventilation in most homes from gaps and cracks in the windows and construction along with openings and closings of doors. However, with reference to modern constructions, it is creating homes that are far more tightly sealed so ventilation is becoming difficult and has become a very important component in home HVAC systems.
Once the air comes in, it is primarily drawn into an air handling unit and that is where the main work begins. Now this air is drawn through the filters to remove dirt, dust, allergens, and various unhygienic other particles.
Next aspect is comfort. The air is either sent to be heated or to be cooled and have all the excess humidity removed. Once all the air taken is clean, fresh, and at a comfortable temperature, it is then directed into the homes/spaces. For central systems, this process means the air is moving through a network of various ducts and registers into different rooms. For other systems, this most often means being directed right into space.
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7 in-demand Commercial HVAC Jobs
The field of HVAC is growing rapidly as more and more people are gathering information and getting themselves trained to repair and work with aspects such as heating, air-conditioning system units, ventilation, and refrigeration systems in both residential and commercial spaces.
Here are 7 in-demand HVAC jobs:
1. HVAC Engineer
The first job in the list is Commercial HVAC engineers. HVAC engineers play a very important role in the HVAC industry as they have a wide variety of duties including the design, installation of the product, repairs, and maintenance of heating, ventilation, cooling
and refrigeration systems. One of the most common job descriptions of an HVAC engineer is to have the skills to design an HVAC system for commercial, residential, and institutional purposes.
They have to meet with clients, work with people of the same field like installers, managers, technicians to name a few. They are required to come up with a new design for the system, repair the existing system if needed, and find effective solutions to problems. These professionals can think about working for private design firms, HVAC agencies, and various facilities.
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Qualification
In order to become an HVAC engineer, an individual will need to have a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering or mechanical engineering. You may require a professional certification and license to apply for jobs in some American states. This can be obtained through the American society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air conditioning Engineers.
2. HVAC Installer
HVAC installers are the main technicians that install all the HVAC equipment. As the role suggests, they have to install HVAC systems, they should also be proficient in dealing with repairing and maintenance of these HVAC systems in various spaces such as homes, offices, and buildings. For proper installation, commercial HVAC installers need to study blueprints, understand manufacturer’s recommendations, and know the design requirements to ensure all components are ideally fit.
They need to be able to test the HVAC systems in order to understand and detect malfunctions and perform safety and maintenance procedures to ensure the proper working of the system. Some of the common maintenance measures that an HVAC installer may take up are, changing filters, vacuuming and oiling the parts. HVAC installers need to study and test different types of thermostats – automatic and wireless in residential and commercial spaces.
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3. HVAC Mechanic
They are also known as HVAC technicians. An HVAC mechanic mainly undergoes a specific time-based rigorous training to work as an HVAC expert in the HVAC industry. A well qualified HVAC technician would be well-versed in processes like installation, maintenance, and repairing HVAC systems. But, there are a few HVAC mechanics that specialize to work particularly with only one specific system like heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or refrigeration system (HVAC). Sometimes, HVAC mechanics can choose to deal with the installation, maintenance and repairing of the system. Some mechanics may even consider specializing in a specific type of HVAC equipment like, solar-based systems, or water heating systems, residential refrigeration etc.
The nature of work that an HVAC mechanic primarily depends on the industry and specialty they choose. What stays constant is the importance of the work that they do. As HVAC mechanics control the temperature and the overall air quality, the main aim is to provide comfort to people in various spaces like schools, offices etc.
SkillCat does an awesome job in helping skilled workers find commercial HVAC jobs. Companies like Trane, Carrier, CoolSys etc hire technicians/mechanics on the website for great salaries. Click here to get a job now!
4. Refrigeration Technician
Refrigeration technicians are also known as refrigeration mechanics. Refrigeration technicians repair and install refrigerators. Irrespective of residential or industrial, they need to work with climate-control systems like HVAC units, refrigerant storage units, etc. spaces like hotels, manufacturing companies, grocery stores, cafes etc.
Refrigeration technicians also take care of issues related to maintenance to avoid future refrigeration problems. Mostly, refrigeration technicians take care of mechanical and electrical components of the refrigeration systems. But some of these technicians can be trained to specialize in other areas as well.
Refrigeration technicians main responsibility is to ensure correct installation of climate-control systems. They need to have adequate knowledge about all the components and parts of refrigeration systems. Furthermore, technicians need to go through all the blueprints and schematics thoroughly and work according to them, understand compliance standards, and be aware of building the correct codes in the area before they go for the installation process.
A very important aspect of the role of the refrigerator technician is to take up the responsibility to diagnose issues and fix them. In such scenarios, they are required to apply all troubleshooting techniques that they have learnt during their training. In some situations, they may also be expected to upgrade their existing systems to meet the system requirements along with new standards. Sometimes refrigeration technicians go for routine inspections to examine the overall health of the product. This involves examining different parts such as Condensers, compressors, electric wiring etc.
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5. Air Conditioning Technicians
Air Conditioning technicians have the most important job. It is to regulate and maintain the proper functioning of an air conditioner. While most of the technicians mainly focus on working with cooling systems, some of the technicians can opt getting trained to handle ventilation and heating systems. Being a trained AC technician also involves dealing with certain electrical components and others like compressors and motors. These technicians are also taught about how to handle and dispose of various electrical components. Additionally, they have to work with different AC issues as well such as faulty wiring, low refrigerant etc.
SkillCat does an awesome job in helping skilled workers find commercial HVAC jobs. Companies like Trane, Carrier, CoolSys etc hire technicians on the website for great salaries. Click here to get a job now!
Qualification
In order to perform jobs related to AC, the candidates need to have some formal education and adequate training. A high school diploma or GED is required for starters to enroll in an AC technician program. Students enrolled in the program are taught about the basics of an AC, different parts, functions, fundamentals and AC installation basics. Some programs prepare individuals to take up apprenticeships which mainly include on-the-job training for upto 2 to 5 years.
6. Solar Technician
The aim of a solar technician is to convert natural sunlight into electricity by installing solar panels on roofs of buildings/ spaces. Understanding the nature of their job, most of their work takes place outdoors like roofs, attics etc.
Qualification
In order to become a solar technician, interested people should obtain a bachelor’s degree in fields such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering or computer software engineering. The individuals need to obtain a professional engineer license as well to be able to perform various professional services.
Trained solar technicians can contact organizations that focus on renewable energy for various job opportunities. Some of these organizations include the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) to name a few. In order to provide services to the public, it is important for a solar technician to acquire state licensure known as the “Professional Engineer” (PE). Candidates are expected to gain work experience while getting an education. For a better understanding, all learners need to stay updated by checking with their local states for requirements related to licensing and certifications. Furthermore, solar mechanics can also consider working in fields such as a certified energy manager (CEM) or a certified PV installer.
7. Wind Turbine Technicians
Wind turbine technicians handle the efficient working of the wind turbines. This work requires the technicians to climb tall ladders, carrying and installing heavy equipment. In some cases, they are also required to work inside the nacelle. The main role of a wind turbine technician is to work on some of the new installations, check all the parts of the wind turbine, and make sure they are working efficiently. Technicians must be an expert at detecting and troubleshooting various parts like electrical, hydraulic and mechanical parts of the wind turbines at any point.
Qualification
Working with wind turbines is very technical and methodical and involves installing, maintaining, and repairing the technology that is involved. Only engineers can think about becoming a wind turbine technician with adequate training and apprenticeship in the related field.
A wind turbine technician must have excellent communication skills to communicate and handle their clients and colleagues. They should also be able to make important decisions when they are on their own and are open to work with others as a team. They should be team players and be careful and brave as they have to handle ladders etc. With the training, they should be able to access the tasks as soon as possible.
HVAC in-demand places in future
Here is a list of places where there could be a good increase in the demand of HVAC jobs in various fields.
Florida
Texas
California
North Carolina
New York
Colorado
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Tennessee
At the end of the day, people will always need to be comfortable in their homes and office spaces. HVAC is a field that isn’t going away any time soon. It will continue to exist and grow in the future with many new roles. Sure, the roles might not be easy, you might not have the time to sit at your desk. But on the bright side, HVAC eliminates monotony. There will always be something new and different to do. To begin with, get free HVAC training and EPA 608 certification. As in the world today, we could easily get an EPA certification online through HVAC training providers like SkillCat.
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