An air conditioning specialist installs, maintains, and repairs heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems in commercial or residential settings. They can acquire training through on-the-job experience, internships, or formal training programs. Ongoing training and certifications are necessary to keep up with changing technology and regulations.
An air conditioning specialist installs, maintains and repairs heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems and may work in commercial or residential settings. These specialists are sometimes referred to as heating/ventilating/air conditioning repair (HVACR) technicians or air conditioning technicians. An air conditioning specialist can acquire training through on-the-job experience, internships or through a formal training program. Diagnosing problems, maximizing overall operating efficiency, performing equipment inspections and determining fuel or power consumption is an important part of this job. In order to carry out repairs, service contracts and perform maintenance on various systems, an air conditioning specialist needs to possess some specialized skills and certifications.
An air conditioning specialist may have years of experience on the job and may have learned the necessary skills early on or by working through an apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship programs typically last between three and five years and offer on-the-job training. Some employers prefer contract technicians to have completed a formal training program at a technical school, community college, or other training facility. These training programs typically last from six months to two years and provide adequate training in the design, construction, installation, temperature control dynamics, and electronics of HVACR equipment. Other courses focus on maintenance and repair, safety, tool care, and current regulations on the use of coolants.
Knowing how to review blueprints, schematics, or other technical diagrams is essential for repairing or maintaining an air conditioning system. Diagnosing problems, maximizing operating efficiency, performing inspections and determining fuel or energy consumption levels are the responsibility of an air conditioning specialist. An HVACR technician must be able to use specialized equipment such as hand tools, diagnostic hardware and laptops to diagnose problems and make repairs to a system. Some air conditioning experts have a working knowledge of the design of modern air conditioning systems. The chemicals used in air conditioning also mean that an expert must be familiar with current laws and regulations regarding the proper disposal of chemical refrigerants.
Ongoing training to keep up with the ever-changing technology associated with modern air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems is essential for an air conditioning specialist. Some state and regional authorities require licensing, which involves learning the latest information and passing a written test for air conditioning specialists. Some specialists have acquired additional certifications that indicate varying levels of competence in handling specialist equipment. For example, special certifications are needed to handle anything that uses natural gas or a high-pressure boiler. An air conditioning specialist may also be required to pass an exam and become certified in order to learn proper handling of refrigerants.
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