Install, maintain and repair heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in homes and commercial buildings. The work mixes refrigeration basics, controls and mechanical systems.
Install furnaces, boilers and air conditioning systems, diagnose thermostat and ducting problems, recharge refrigerant (where licensed), and perform preventive maintenance.
Service calls in occupied buildings, mechanical rooms, rooftops and new-construction sites. Mix of indoor and outdoor work and occasional emergency or seasonal overtime.
Lifting heavy units, climbing ladders and roofs, working in confined mechanical rooms, and manual handling of ductwork and equipment.
Manifold gauges, vacuum pumps, brazing torches, refrigerant recovery units, multimeters, sheet metal tools, hand tools and PPE.
Fits people who like mechanical systems and diagnostics, moving between sites, and working with both electrical and mechanical components. Customer service skills help.
Apprenticeship or college diploma routes exist. Refrigeration/AC often requires certification (e.g., Certification for handling refrigerants and provincial apprenticeship completion leading to Red Seal for some specialties).
Learn basic refrigeration theory, safety procedures, piping and brazing basics, and assist on installations and service calls under supervision.
Trades school diplomas, employer apprenticeships, HVAC pre-employment programs, or starting as a helper with on-the-job training.
Year-round demand (service and maintenance), variety of work, decent pay and advancement into controls, commissioning or business ownership.
Certification for refrigerants is mandatory in many roles; work sometimes seasonal and includes customer-facing service calls and possible overtime.
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