Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
HVAC Installer (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Installer),
HVAC Mechanic (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Mechanic),
Refrigeration Technician (Refrigeration Tech),
Service Technician (Service Tech)
Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.
- DemandHigh
- state Avg. Salary $$$$$$43,122Download Career Flyer
What Do They Typically Do?
- Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.
- Repair or replace defective equipment, components, or wiring.
- Discuss heating or cooling system malfunctions with users to isolate problems or to verify that repairs corrected malfunctions.
- Connect heating or air conditioning equipment to fuel, water, or refrigerant source to form complete circuit.
- Install, connect, or adjust thermostats, humidistats, or timers.
- Comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area.
- Study blueprints, design specifications, or manufacturers' recommendations to ascertain the configuration of heating or cooling equipment components and to ensure the proper installation of components.
- Install auxiliary components to heating or cooling equipment, such as expansion or discharge valves, air ducts, pipes, blowers, dampers, flues, or stokers.
- Braze or solder parts to repair defective joints and leaks.
- Lay out and connect electrical wiring between controls and equipment, according to wiring diagrams, using electrician's hand tools.
Work Styles
Interests
Career interests describe the perspectives and interests of people who enjoy the type of work involved in this career.
Discover what your interests are by taking the Interest Profiler Quiz

Skills
People who want to pursue this career have skills in these areas.
Top Skills
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Values
Work values describe how your core beliefs align with those commonly needed for this career.
Top Values
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Abilities
Whether you have received formal training or not, these types of abilities are helpful in this career.
Top Cognitive Abilities
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Visualization
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Does this sound like something you'd like to do?
1. Learn more about this career
Talk to someone who works in this field or spend a day job shadowing
2. Prepare for training
Use the colleges and training directory to explore programs related to this career
3. Talk to a mentor for more information
- Visit your school counselor
- Talk to a career planner, advisor, or school admissions staff