A career in heating and cooling can look like a variety of things:
- You could be a residential installer. Installing furnaces, boilers, and chillers and the ductwork and equipment that goes with them
- You could be a commercial installer. As a commercial installer, you could install the heating and cooling unit itself or the ductwork that goes to it. The person installing the ductwork is affectionately called a tin knocker.
- There is also service work. Often they are two different types of people. The residential service guy is great with people. He knows how to reassure Mrs. Jones. He doesn’t mind taking his boots off in the house and the politics of working around cats and dogs.
- The commercial service person will find himself on rooftops of large buildings. Often when it’s too hot or too cold outside for normal people, but in exchange, he may find himself making more money.
- And finally, you could move into Estimating, Project Management, or residential sales.
There are benefits to a career in HVAC:
- The opportunity to start at entry level and learn as an Apprentice
- Seasonal layoffs are rare (especially in Western New York)
- The work is never boring and certainly not as rough on your joints as roofing
- Studies show that HVAC mechanics live in nicer homes, have better-looking children, and make more money (at least one out of those three I can almost guarantee).
The ideal candidate will have:
- A Trades related education
- A vehicle
- Great References
Pay ranges from $15/hr to $35/hr and come with great benefits and perks.
Your career advancement path is made clear early on. If you learn a certain skillset or buy a certain tool, you’ll advance accordingly.
If you believe that you have the aptitude for a career in heating and cooling, then we’d love to hear from you.
**Image credit: John Krytus