Career Details
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Career Details

49-9021.00 - Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers


Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
292,000
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
331,600
Estimate
Change in Employment
+39,600
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+13.6%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • 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.
  • Inspect and test systems to verify system compliance with plans and specifications or to detect and locate malfunctions.
  • Record and report time, materials, faults, deficiencies, or other unusual occurrences on work orders.
  • Perform mechanical overhauls and refrigerant reclaiming.
  • Adjust system controls to settings recommended by manufacturer to balance system.
  • Install expansion and control valves, using acetylene torches and wrenches.
  • Install dehumidifiers or related equipment for spaces that require cool, dry air to operate efficiently, such as computer rooms.
  • Recommend, develop, or perform preventive or general maintenance procedures, such as cleaning, power-washing, or vacuuming equipment, oiling parts, or changing filters.
  • Cut or drill holes in floors, walls, or roof to install equipment, using power saws or drills.
  • Mount compressor, condenser, and other components in specified locations on frames, using hand tools and acetylene welding equipment.
  • Measure, cut, thread, or bend pipe or tubing, using pipe fitter's tools.
  • Keep records of repairs and replacements made and causes of malfunctions.
  • Install or repair air purification systems, such as specialized filters or ultraviolet (UV) light purification systems.
  • Estimate, order, pick up, deliver, and install materials and supplies needed to maintain equipment in good working condition.
  • Schedule work with customers and initiate work orders, house requisitions, and orders from stock.
  • Supervise and instruct assistants.
  • Lay out reference points for installation of structural and functional components, using measuring instruments.
  • Lift and align components into position, using hoist or block and tackle.
Generic
  • Repair or service heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to improve efficiency, such as by changing filters, cleaning ducts, and refilling non-toxic refrigerants.
  • Test pipes, lines, components, and connections for leaks.
Supplemental
  • Install or repair self-contained ground source heat pumps or hybrid ground or air source heat pumps to minimize carbon-based energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mechanical
  • 90%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 80%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Building and Construction
  • 69%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 68%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Physics
  • 68%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 English Language
  • 66%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 65%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Design
  • 63%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Administration and Management
  • 63%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Mathematics
  • 62%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Education and Training
  • 59%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Chemistry
  • 58%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 58%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 56%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Law and Government
  • 52%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 51%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Clerical
  • 51%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Production and Processing
  • 51%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • 4-wire resistance sensors
  • Alternating current AC line splitters
  • Ammeters
  • Autoranging meters
  • Capacitance testers
  • Capacitor analyzers
  • Circuit analyzers
  • Circuit tracers
  • Clamp-on multimeters
  • Current simulators
  • Electrical current meters
  • Ground fault circuit interrupter GFCI testers
  • Heating ventilation and air-conditioning/refrigeration HVAC/R clamp meters
  • Megohmmeters
  • Milliammeters
  • Milliamp/microamp meters
  • Milliohm meters
  • Multimeters
  • Non-contact voltage detectors
  • Ohmmeters
  • Phase rotation meters
  • Potentiometers
  • Receptacle testers
  • Resistance meters
  • Temperature simulators
  • Volt-ohm meters VOM
  • Voltage simulators
  • Voltmeters
  • Watt transducers
  • Wattmeters
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Diagonal cutting pliers
  • Groove pliers
  • Hand seamers
  • Hold down clamps
  • Long nose pliers
  • Magnetic pickup tools
  • Side cutting pliers
  • Strap wrenches
  • Tongs
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Allen wrenches
  • Flared tip screwdrivers
  • Hex wrenches
  • Nut drivers
  • Open end wrenches
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Pipe wrenches
  • Pullers
  • Screw extractor sets
  • Screwdrivers
  • Slotted screwdrivers
  • Socket wrench sets
  • Torque wrenches
  • Valve wrenches
 Compressors
  • Air compressors
  • Charging cylinders
  • Charging manifolds
  • Reclaiming equipment
  • Refrigerant recovery machines
 Liquid and gas flow measuring and observing instruments
  • Air flow hoods
  • Air flow sensors
  • Air velocity meters
  • Draft gauges
  • Flowmeters
  • Pitot tubes
  • Turbine flow meters
  • Velometers
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Air volume test equipment
  • Bourdon tubes
  • Chart recorders
  • High-voltage probes
  • Refrigerant leak detectors
  • Revolutions per minute RPM meters
  • Transit levels
  • Venturi meters
  • Water flow meters
 Meteorological instruments
  • Anemometers
  • Hot wire anemometers
 Marking tools
  • Awls
  • Chalk lines
  • Scribers
 Temperature and heat measuring instruments
  • Bead type thermocouples
  • Handheld thermometers
  • Infrared thermometers
  • Non-contact surface temperature heads
  • Pipe clamp thermocouples
  • Resistance temperature detectors
  • Temperature gauges
  • Thermocouple testers
  • Thermocouples
  • Water temperature gauges
 Metals and metallurgy and structural materials testing instruments
  • Belt tension indicators
  • Vibration analyis equipment
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Bolt cutters
  • Box cutters
  • Duct knives
  • Duct slicers
  • Hacksaws
  • Hand hacksaws
  • Insulation knives
  • Knockout punches
  • Metal snips
  • Power hacksaws
  • Punches
  • Scrapers
  • Shears
  • Sheet metal crimpers
  • Tin snips
  • Utility knives
  • Wire cutters
  • Wire strippers
 Measuring and layout tools
  • Bubble levels
  • Inspection mirrors
  • Laser levels
  • Levels
  • Precision levels
  • Squares
  • Straightedges
  • Tape measures
  • Water levels
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Calipers
  • Dial indicators
  • Feeler gauges
  • Micrometers
  • Rulers
  • Vernier calipers
 Gas analyzers and monitors
  • Carbon dioxide CO2 testers
  • Carbon monoxide detectors
  • Carbon monoxide evaluators
  • Combustion analyzers
  • Oxygen testers
 Dispensing tools
  • Caulking equipment
  • Caulking guns
  • Grease guns
  • Hand sprayers
  • Oil guns
 Power tools
  • Circular saws
  • Cordless drills
  • Electric drills
  • Flaring tools
  • Glue guns
  • Hand drills
  • Jig saws
  • Portable drills
  • Power drills
  • Power grinders
  • Power saws
  • Reciprocating saws
 Forming tools
  • Claw hammers
  • Fin combs
  • Hammers
  • Soft face hammers
  • Swaging tools
  • Tinners hammers
 Rough and finishing tools
  • Cold chisels
  • Wire brushes
 Surveillance and detection equipment
  • Combustible gas leak detectors
 Pressure measuring and control instruments
  • Compound gauges
  • Differential pressure detectors
  • Duplex pressure gauges
  • Gas pressure gauges
  • Magnehelic gauges
  • Pneumatic air gauges
  • Pressure gauges
  • Pressure simulators
  • Refrigerant pressure meters
  • Vacuum gauges
  • Water pressure gauges
 Computer data input devices
  • Computer diagnostic devices
  • Dataloggers
  • Image scanners
 Prying and bending tools
  • Conduit benders
  • Crowbars
  • Pipe benders
 Sampling equipment
  • Contaminant content tests
  • Service manifold sets
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Tool attachments and accessories
  • Drill bit sets
  • Hole saws
  • Lug crimping tool dies
  • Pipe dies
  • Pipe threaders
  • Reamers
  • Tap sets
 Floor machines and accessories
  • Duct vacuums
  • Industrial vacuums
 Light and wave generating and measuring equipment
  • Electrical frequency indicators
  • Infrared thermography cameras and display units
  • Portable refractometers
 Fall protection and rescue equipment
  • Fall arrest lines
  • Safety belts
  • Safety harnesses
 Pulling tools
  • Fish tapes
 Lifting equipment and accessories
  • Forklifts
  • Hoists
  • Jacks
  • Riggings
  • Shackles
  • Slings
  • Staging winches
 Humidity and moisture measuring instruments
  • Humidity sensors
  • Humidity simulators
  • Hygrosticks
  • Micron gauges
  • Moisture meters
  • Psychrometers
  • Temperature/humidity testers
  • Wet bulb/dew point meters
 Labeling machines
  • Labeling machines
 Ladders and scaffolding
  • Ladders
  • Scaffolding
 Computer printers
  • Laser printers
  • Plotters
 Fluid mechanics equipment
  • Manometers
  • Water level meters
 Metal cutting tools
  • Pipe cutters
  • Pipe reamers
  • Tube cutters
 Aerial lifts
  • Platform lifts
  • Staging equipment
  • Telescoping boom trucks
 Integrated circuits
  • Programmable logic controllers PLC
 Pumps
  • Recovery and recycle units
  • Refrigerant oil pumps
  • Refrigerant vacuum pumps
  • Transfer pumps
  • Vacuum pumps
 Vision protection and accessories
  • Safety glasses
  • Safety goggles
 Fire prevention
  • Smoke detector canisters
 Soldering machines
  • Soldering equipment
  • Soldering guns
  • Soldering irons
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Alerton Ascent Compass
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Building automation software
  • Computer aided design CAD softwareHOT
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
  • Cworks CMMS
  • Delta Controls inteliWEB
  • Facility energy management software
  • Honeywell WEBs-N4
  • HVAC tools softwareHOT
  • IBM Maximo Asset Management
  • Johnson Controls Metasys
  • ManagerPlus
  • Siemens APOGEE Building Automation Software
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Atlas Construction Business Forms
  • Graphics software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Spreadsheet software
 Data management and query software
  • Contact management systems
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • Data logging software
  • Database software
 Information exchange software
  • IBM NotesHOT
  • Microsoft ExchangeHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Network applications software
  • Internet browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Brightpoint Community College
Central Virginia Community College
Danville Community College
Eastern Shore Community College
Germanna Community College
Laurel Ridge Community College
Mountain Empire Community College
New River Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Paul D. Camp Community College
Rappahannock Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Wytheville Community College