In recent years, we’ve seen record-high temperatures across the globe. Many homeowners are recognizing the importance of good ventilation and cooling units–and that’s where you come in as an aspiring HVAC technician.
HVAC technicians are responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Here are a few installation tips to remember when installing HVAC units, and how our HVAC technician program can help you launch a successful career in this industry!
1. Start by Determining Your Heating and Cooling Loads
The heating and cooling load refers to the rate at which heat should be supplied to or removed from a space in order to maintain a particular temperature range. Several factors go into determining this like the location, size, and age of a home. In addition, you’ll need to take into account the materials that were used to make up a home, the number of doors and windows, the amount of direct sunlight, the amount of shade, and whether or not the homeowners have special needs due to allergies and other health conditions.
Once you’ve come up with this important information, you can go on to take a look at the ductwork that’s been done and make any needed repairs or replacements. As you’ll learn in HVAC technician training, poor ductwork can cause imbalances and, as a result, block airflow and decrease air quality. To boost your ductwork, you may consider adding insulation that can improve the performance of HVAC systems.
2. Be Sure That You’ve Chosen the Correct Sized Unit
A large unit is not always better. If a system is too large for a homeowner’s space, it actually becomes inefficient. In fact, systems that are too large for a particular space can experience degradation faster, which will affect the longevity and performance of the unit. That being said, a small unit wouldn’t be appropriate for a large space as it will not effectively heat or cool the space.
How can you ensure that you’ve sized the unit correctly? First, determine the square footage of the space. Then, multiply the square footage by 25 BTU (British thermal units), the rough amount of energy it takes to heat or cool one square foot. This will give you your base BTU amount. Finally, take the height of the ceilings into account. If the ceilings are above 8 feet, multiply the base BTU amount by 1.25. This is a very basic calculation that does not take into account the climate, amount of people living in the home, or the number and placement of doors and windows. You’ll learn more about this process in HVAC school.
3. Make it a Habit to Check Your Lines After HVAC Technician Training
Refrigerant lines connect an outdoor air conditioner or heat pump to the indoor evaporator coil. It’s essential to check these lines for leaks. If you find refrigerant lines that are in poor condition, be sure to run high-quality replacement lines in a location that provides easy access. In the HVAC Technician Diploma program at NATS, you’ll learn how to install and maintain HVAC systems and work with tools like metal snips, electric drills, testing devices, and more. Students can write their G3 gas technician exam after the first module and the G2 gas technician exam after graduation.
Interested in our HVAC technician diploma program?
Contact NATS to learn more!
