HVAC

3 Essential Safety Habits of Pros With HVAC Training

February 15, 2018

Working with HVAC equipment isn’t dangerous when you know what you’re doing. Good training programs instill in graduates a healthy respect for the risks that are present in the HVAC industry and teach foolproof habits to help avoid them.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in HVAC maintenance, it’s never too early to start getting in the safety-first mindset that is common among the top professionals in the field. Here’s an overview of some of the most important safety habits that are taught to students in HVAC training programs.

HVAC Training Teaches the Value of Checking & Maintaining Equipment

One of the most important things an HVAC repair student will learn is that it’s important to have the tools necessary for the job. This means ensuring all the standard tools are transported to the job site, and that work is postponed if a necessary tool is missing. Attempting to improvise with tools that are unintended for a given task is, at best, ill-advised. At worst, it could lead to a serious accident that damages the HVAC system or even hurts someone.

Maintenance is another important consideration in HVAC repair. Broken, worn down, or otherwise substandard tools should not be used, as they make it more likely that something could go wrong. Taking preventative action and regularly inspecting your toolkit for flaws is considered good practice among HVAC professionals.

Safety in Working With Chemicals is a Critical Lesson in HVAC Technician Training

One of the most important things taught in HVAC training is that coolants and other chemicals must be handled appropriately. This means, among other things, not leaving open chemicals in confined spaces, not mixing chemicals, and always wearing protective gloves when handling them. Maintaining the attitude that chemicals should be treated with respect and caution is one of the best ways to avoid accidental misuse that could have unfortunate consequences.

Training programs like the one offered at North American Trades Schools ensure students get plenty of practice working on real HVAC systems in a supervised environment, so that expert guidance is always at hand while this important habit is still being formed. Given time and practice, you can expect chemical safety planning to become second nature.

HVAC Technicians Take Measures to Avoid Getting Shocked

It’s not impossible to get an electrical shock while working on HVAC equipment, which is why the smartest graduates of HVAC technician training don’t leave things to chance. As a first step, they cut off the breaker for the unit they are going to be working on.

As a second step, they use a multimeter to double-check that the wires are not live. This is because any professional who works with or around electrical devices knows that wiring is sometimes done differently than expected, meaning disabling the “right” breaker might not actually eliminate the current. Taking both steps can help HVAC repair technicians be sure that there’s no chance that they’ll get shocked.

Thanks to their access to instructors with many years of professional HVAC maintenance experience, students in HVAC repair training can learn about these and many other useful safety practices that can help prevent harm. This is a good way to begin your career with wisdom far beyond your years, and stay safe in working with HVAC systems.

Do you want to learn more about how to work safely with HVAC systems?

Contact North American Trade Schools about our HVAC diploma program!

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