HVAC technicians are experts in HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, conducting installations, repairs, routine maintenance, and more. They may work with commercial, residential or industrial air conditioning systems, refrigeration systems–as well as systems of combined heating, ventilation, and cooling. After completing your HVAC training, you’ll be able to perform a range of duties, including the assembly and installation of different system components (vales, gauges, condensers, compressors, evaporators, etc.), and troubleshooting of HVAC systems to identify leaks or other issues. You’ll also perform maintenance tasks such as parts replacement, system calibration, and refrigerant refills.

If you’re considering a career as an HVAC technician, you might just be ready to start your training after learning about the advantages of this career path. Below, discover four of them!

1. HVAC School Graduates are In-Demand in Ontario

If you’re considering HVAC school, there’s never been a better time to enrol. According to JobBank Canada, job opportunities for HVAC technicians in Ontario will be good over the next three years, as retirements create new availability and employment growth creates new opportunities for work. Ontario’s construction industry is growing, and HVAC technicians will be needed to install and maintain the commercial and residential systems for each new structure. Thanks to investments in public facilities and commercial developments, HVAC technicians may also be able to find work supporting industrial projects.

2. HVAC Technicians Benefit from a Dynamic Career

As an HVAC technician, your job will never be boring. HVAC technicians benefit from the ability to perform many different kinds of work throughout their career, depending on their interests and whether they choose to specialize in a particular sector of the HVAC industry. HVAC technicians may work with fireplaces, furnaces, pool heaters, heat pumps, boilers, and refrigeration systems. What’s more, there are many advancements in technology making the work of HVAC technicians increasingly interesting. Smartphone-controlled heating and cooling systems, solar-powered air conditioners, and other innovations are continuing to shape the industry, promising an exciting future for HVAC technicians.

3. Grads of HVAC College Are More Active

Once you become an HVAC technician, you might be surprised by the benefits of the work to your physical health. Graduates of HVAC college have a highly active job, working both indoors and outdoors and travelling between different project locations. Rather than sitting around at a desk all day, you’ll be earning all the health benefits of a job where you’re constantly moving, such as a reduced risk of cancer and reduced risk of heart disease.

4. As an HVAC Technician, You Have Many Work Opportunities

Once you become an HVAC technician, you don’t need to be restrained by a strict work schedule or an unvaried work environment. In fact, there are many different opportunities for work within the HVAC industry. As a technician in this trade, you may be employed by an HVAC system installation contractor, and you may also find work in different industrial settings, such as: engineering firms, retail, food wholesalers, and other operations. Additionally, after gaining experience in the field, HVAC technicians may choose to open their own business, installing, repairing, and maintaining HVAC systems for various clients and creating their own schedule. If you’re looking to enter a field where you’ll never get bored, becoming an HVAC technician might be right for you.

Ready to enroll in HVAC technician courses?

Launch your career with a program at the North American Trades Schools today!

If you’re considering launching a career as an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) technician, you’ll be entering an exciting field where your skills will be in-demand. On the job, your duties might include installing HVAC units, conducting routine maintenance examinations, replacing broken components, and more. Throughout your career, it’s important to prioritize your safety, as HVAC technicians are often exposed to hazardous materials and conditions while on the job. Chemicals such as refrigerants and contaminants–including dirt and debris–are all common to encounter as an HVAC technician. With this in mind, it becomes key to wear the proper safety gear to protect you from harm. 

Read on to discover what you should have on hand to stay safe as an HVAC technician.

After Finishing HVAC College, Wear Protective Gear

As an HVAC technician, it’s important to wear clothing that protects you from exposure to both chemicals and contaminants. On the job, be sure to wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants so as not to leave any skin vulnerable. Additionally, ensure that your clothing is free of synthetic fibers, as they’re more flammable. After graduating from HVAC school, it’s also important to wear the right boots, as proper footwear is necessary to protect your feet from the heavy machinery you’ll be working with. You’ll also need safety goggles to protect your eyes from debris, and earplugs to prevent hearing damage due to the power tools used in HVAC work. Lastly, a thick pair of gloves will keep your fingers safe from any injuries that could result from handling sharp wires or pipes.

Use the Right Tools

When you use the right tools, your safety will be enhanced throughout your career. There are a few critical tools that enable you to perform any job in adherence with industry standards—reducing the risk of malfunctions that might otherwise pose a threat to your safety.  As a graduate of HVAC college, you should always have the following tools in your bag:

• Clamp metre
• Anemometre
• Wrench
• Vacuum gauge
• Refrigerant leak detector
• Wire stripper

While it’s important to have these tools on hand, it’s important to examine the quality of your tools before beginning any repair or installation. By ensuring that your tools are in good working order, you’ll be able to avoid making any dangerous mistakes on the job. 

Follow these Practices When Handling Chemicals

Throughout your career as an HVAC technician, you’ll be working with and transporting many different chemicals. In addition to wearing the right safety gear, it’s also important to know how to handle chemicals on the job to reduce your risk of injury. When using gas cylinders, make sure to inspect them before filling them up, and check to make sure there are no signs of leaks or damage. You should also not have gas cylinders in your van in hot weather, as this can increase the risk of explosion. When working with any detergents, refrigerants, solvents, or other cleaning liquids, make sure to wear goggles and a protective mask over your face to avoid  exposing yourself to chemicals.

With these safety rules in mind, you’ll be ready for a long career as an HVAC technician.

Thinking about enrolling in HVAC technician courses?

Launch your career with a program at the North American Trade Schools!

While propane isn’t the most commonly used source of energy for a home, its use has been growing in popularity in recent years. Propane is used to fuel both home-heating furnaces and water heaters. It is also beneficial due to the lower amount of greenhouse gas emissions it produces, as well as its potential as a less costly source of energy. In a propane heating system, propane is stored in a designated tank. This is fitted to a home’s gas line and then transferred to the furnace, which delivers heat to the rest of the home. 

Propane is a convenient source of heat for a home, but it’s important to know how to maintain a propane heating system once it’s installed to ensure that it remains safe and effective. If you’re interested in a career as an HVAC technician, read on to discover three tips for maintaining a propane heating system. 

1. HVAC College Graduates Should Pay Attention to a Propane Heating System’s Pilot Light

Most propane heating systems operate through the use of a pilot light, which is a small flame that burns continuously. After HVAC school, it’s important to be familiar with how a propane heating system’s pilot light works in order to properly maintain these systems. In a propane heating system, the pilot light is located at the burner of the heating appliance that the propane fuel is being used for. The pilot light is also responsible for igniting the propane fuel to provide heat. 

When maintaining a propane system, check the colour of the pilot light. A pilot light’s flame should be blue in colour. But if it appears to be orange or yellow, the pilot tube may need to be cleaned. Additionally, if the pilot light frequently extinguishes, this could signal a larger problem with the propane heating system. In this case, all connections and tubes should be examined to ensure that there isn’t a leak.

2. A Propane Heating System Needs Regular Service

One of the most important things to know about propane heating systems is that they may require more regular maintenance than other heating systems. A propane tank can be regularly serviced by checking the tank’s fuel gauge. When this gauge indicates that there’s less than 20% of fuel remaining, it’s time for a refill. Additionally, it’s important to examine the tank itself regularly by checking the tightness of the connecting pipes and ensuring that there are sufficient levels of pressure. Make sure that the area around the tank is clear of any forms of clutter. If there are flammable materials in close proximity of the tank, remove them in order to reduce the risk of fire.

3. Take Measures to Prevent Leakage

While a propane leak is uncommon, graduates of HVAC technician courses should be proactive in preventing leakage. A propane leak can be extremely dangerous, as propane is flammable and can increase the risk of fire within a home. The chances of a leak in a propane system can be reduced by tightening and protecting the propane tank’s fittings. Where the gas line connects to the propane tank, ensure that the connection is properly sealed by using a wrench to tighten the connection. If a leak is suspected, the main gas valve should be turned off immediately in order to safely address the problem.

When properly maintained, propane systems can be an efficient source of heat for a client’s home. During your HVAC technician career, take the above steps to ensure that your client’s propane heating system is working safely and effectively.

Are you ready to enroll in HVAC college?

Get the training you need at the North American Trade Schools. Start exploring today!

When you replace an old HVAC unit with a new one, there are certain things worth keeping in mind. For example, many people tend to only replace their HVAC unit on rare occasions. However, having those units replaced in regular intervals can ensure that their HVAC unit is keeping them safe, healthy, and sufficiently heated and cooled. Some homeowners may also want a new unit to help them save on energy. With the right tools and knowledge, you can complete an HVAC replacement job that accomplishes each of these things.

Although replacing an HVAC unit involves a number of steps to complete before, during, and after the installation, these are some of the more important phases to remember during this process. Read on to find out what you can expect with regards to replacing HVAC units.

Preliminary Measures for HVAC Technician Training Students to Remember

Before the replacement process can begin, there are certain tasks to take care of. For one, you’ll need to assess both the home and the old HVAC system, and complete the necessary calculations and measurements. Once this has finished, you can determine how big the new HVAC system needs to be. Measure the square footage of the home to better understand how big the new unit will need to be, and how many tons of heat it can remove. You and the client will also need to determine how they will pay for the installation. Depending on the payment plan, they may put a down payment on the replacement prior to the installation. 

Upon completing your cost estimate, replacing the HVAC unit can go ahead. Complete a ductwork inspection, if necessary, and disconnect the unit being replaced after powering it off. If any parts of the interior, such as furniture, are impeding your ability to get the job done, move them away from your working area. Since HVAC technician training students will learn about installing many different types of systems during their studies, it’s equally important that they learn what’s necessary for the pre-installation phase.

The Installation Process: Out With the Old, In With the New

Once these tasks have been completed, the installation of the HVAC unit replacement can begin. When installing, remember to use dust covers and wear protective gear to prevent any direct contact with debris. Even if only one component of the HVAC unit needs to be replaced, you should still replace the entire unit so that its capacity for efficiency is optimal. Be sure to also cut off power from the old HVAC unit, flush any remaining coolant, take apart the old equipment, and then remove those parts to make room for new ones. The HVAC unit replacement can often be done within the day of installation, but can sometimes go beyond that if complications arise.

Students in HVAC college should also familiarize themselves with the parts that will be involved in the replacement. These parts include the outside compressor, thermostats, evaporators, air handlers, condensate pumps, and/or supply lines for coolant. Once the installation process is done, remember to put the new unit through a series of tests to make sure it works correctly and can sufficiently cool the home. Inspect the system to catch any possible issues, then add a new coolant and keep testing the unit until all systems look good. Lastly, remember to discard and/or recycle any old HVAC equipment being replaced. Explain to clients how the new system works, and recommend a timeline for their next replacement.

Want to get your HVAC diploma?

Contact NATS today for more info!

Working within the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry is a rewarding career path. However, it takes more than classroom learning to gain the confidence you need to feel comfortable on the job. In order to become successful in this field, it’s important that you also get hands-on training and experience. 

Being an HVAC technician is all about knowing how to diagnose a situation and use the correct tools and equipment to perform the task at hand–whether that’s installing, maintaining, or repairing a system. When choosing an HVAC program, make sure that you’re choosing one that offers hands-on training to equip you with the experience necessary to handle all kinds of situations. 

Here’s more on why hands-on training is necessary for aspiring HVAC technicians.

Hands-On HVAC Technician Courses Promote Problem-Solving Skills

A good HVAC technician should be able to apply the knowledge they learn in the classroom to real-world situations, and be able to actively solve the problem at hand. The only way to get better at problem-solving on the job is to gain experience at an HVAC college–offering students the opportunity to participate in hands-on training. At North American Trade Schools (NATS), students receive hands-on training in the lab in addition to the information they learn in the classroom. They can expect to work with testing devices and various types of equipment. This helps them to gain first-hand experience with common problems encountered on the job.

Greater Retention of Information

Learning by doing has been proven to be a fool-proof way to remember information. When engaging in hands-on learning, students enrolled in HVAC technician training have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with common materials and equipment of the trade, and get to practice using these tools. Because they’re learning by doing with hands-on training, students are more likely to retain what they’ve experienced, and can easily access and apply that knowledge to situations on the job.

Students Will Gain Familiarity with Safety Protocols

Within this field, there are always risks and safety hazards that may be encountered. Working within the real-world environment offered through hands-on training gives students in HVAC technician courses the chance to practice following safety protocols, and allows them to better understand the risks that go along with the job.

Get Training From Industry Experts

As an HVAC technician student, much of what you learn will depend on the advice and experience of others. It’s important to get hands-on training from experienced teachers in order to learn as much as possible about the field. At NATS, the instructors supervising your training are industry experts. Input from these seasoned professionals proved invaluable to NATS welding graduate Emily Harrison, who said her “favourite thing about the campus was the knowledge of the teachers and how much practical work you were able to do. It was very helpful.” 

Receiving hands-on training from experienced instructors will ensure that all your questions are answered, making you that much more ready to tackle on-the-job challenges.

Are you interested in attending HVAC school to prepare you for this role with hands-on training?

Check out program options from North American Trade Schools today.

If you value doing a variety of work and are good with hands-on tasks, then chances are that a career in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) could be a great fit for you. HVAC technicians are quick problem-solvers, possessing a solid understanding of mechanical systems and how best to install and repair them. They are relied on whenever the heating dies off or the air conditioner breaks down—and practically every modern building uses either, if not all, of these systems. 

Becoming an HVAC technician has many benefits, including the rewarding feeling of a job well done. Here are some reasons why becoming an HVAC technician might be a good idea for you!

Technicians Benefit of Short Training and Fast Results 

Starting your HVAC training is key for your success as an HVAC professional. And, unlike lengthy university programs that can take four years to complete, pre-apprenticeship training can be completed in significantly less time. 

Pre-apprenticeship training also includes plenty of hands-on work, rather than just sitting through long class lectures. As Jason Boyer, HVAC student at NATS, puts it, “I chose North American Trade Schools because it’s a hands-on school.” He adds, “They have the experience, they have the know-how, and you take what you can from them and apply it to your trade.” 

HVAC Careers Include a Variety of Work and Opportunities to Advance 

Every day on the job offers the chance to do something new—working in both indoor and outdoor settings while meeting all kinds of different people. This means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to stay active on the job. Each task will contain different challenges for you to overcome, turning every service call into an opportunity for a change of pace. It’s anything but your typical 9-5 office job!

HVAC is a diverse field, offering a variety of work for its professionals. Technicians work with a variety of heating and air conditioning systems, having been trained to install and maintain gas and propane heating systems and ventilation as well as air cooling equipment in residential and light commercial environments. As a result, technicians have room to advance their careers after years of training and earning specialized certifications.

HVAC Is a Highly Valued Service That Comes with Many Rewards

Contrary to what some might think, HVAC work is not seasonal—no matter the time of year, people often need help with their HVAC systems. Due to the nature of the work, technicians need a solid level of mechanical skill and technical ability. HVAC technicians are effective problem-solvers. They have to analyze entire HVAC systems to root out key causes of failure before knowing how to make the necessary repairs. Because the work they do is hands-on, they also get the satisfaction of seeing the concrete results of their actions after a job well done.

 

An HVAC career is service-oriented, leaving plenty of room for customer satisfaction. Technicians are often met with gratitude as they work to provide valuable service, keeping temperatures well-regulated in all kinds of environments—ultimately providing comfort and security for their clients. 

Are you interested in attending an HVAC college?

Contact NATS for more information!

There is no better feeling than returning to a warm and cozy house after a day outside in the snow. But how exactly do you keep a house the perfect temperature all year round?

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians specialize in keeping houses and the people that live in them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Read these tips and tricks to make your customer’s home a firelit haven, sheltered from the icy elements outdoors.

Seal Any Gaps When You Become an HVAC Technician

One of the main causes of a cold house is gaps around the doors and windows that let hot air out and cool air in. When you become an HVAC technician, the first thing you should do when you get a new client is examine their home for any unsealed gaps.

They can use an acrylic-latex caulk to seal any gaps around the window frames or a spray foam that will expand into any unfilled crevices. This will also help clients to save on their energy bills, as they will need less energy to heat their homes.

If the house has a fireplace, the chimney pipe could be letting cold air in,too. When the fire is not lit,advise clients that they should close the damper. However, make sure they know to check that all embers have fully burnt out – otherwise, smoke could fill their home.

 

 

Reverse Any Fans

You might assume that fans are only useful in the hot, summer months when you need to cool down. However, fans can also keep a house warm. If you reverse the direction of the fan so it’s spinning clockwise, it will stop the hot air from rising, and push it back down to warm the room. This can be a very useful tip for many clients.

Look After The Furnace and Outdoor Unit

The majority of HVAC systems have an outdoor unit attached to the outside of the house. Even though this is built to withstand cold temperatures and heavy snow, it is still a good idea to shelter it in someway. You could build a small, temporary shelter out of wood, or use a plastic cover. This will protect the fan from freezing so that your house stays warm all winter.

At HVAC college, you may also learn the importance of checking the furnace filter. This can become dirty over time and needs to be regularly cleaned and replaced. A dirty furnace filter will not be as effective, and will mean that the house needs to use more power to generate heat.

Thermostat or Portable Heater? It Depends

Both thermostats and portable heaters have an important role to play during winter. To save energy, it’s recommended that clients program the thermostat so that it automatically turns down when they are asleep or at work. The recommended temperatures are 20 degrees Celsius in the mornings, evenings, and weekends when at home, and 10 degrees Celsius when at work, asleep, or out of the house.

If a client needs to heat up their house fast,you should advise them that turning the thermostat to max is not the answer. This will drain energy and could damage the thermostat. It also won’t be effective, because the thermostat is designed to maintain a constant temperature.

In these situations, it’s better to use a portable heater. These can generate a lot of heat from electricity in a short amount of time. However, clients need to be sure to switch them off when they are not in the room, so as not to create a health and safety risk.

 

Do you want to find out more about HVAC certification?

Contact North American Trade Schools today!