by christheacman | Mar 7, 2022 | HVAC Career, HVAC Education, HVAC Technician, Technical Career
Graduating from the Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating is an exciting time! You’ve just completed the first major step on your path to beginning a successful and fulfilling HVAC career, but what’s next? Now comes the time to find your first HVAC job.
Job hunting can be intimidating, but with the training and expertise you’ve received at the Training Center, you should have the competence to take on any new challenges, even at the beginning of your career.
As important as it is to land your first HVAC job and start putting your education into practice, it is just as important to find the right fit. Getting the right job starts your career on the right foot in an environment where you don’t just have the potential to succeed in but that you also enjoy!
As you begin your job search, use these 6 simple tips to help you find the right environment for your first successful job in HVAC.
START WITH A GREAT EDUCATION
If you haven’t done so already, your search for a job in the HVAC industry should start with a solid foundation of knowledge gained through a training course. And what better place to look than the Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating?
When you enroll in our training course in Houston, Texas, you can expect to learn the skills and techniques required for entry-level employment in the residential and light commercial HVAC field. Upon completion of this program, you’ll be able to install, service, and maintain typical air conditioning and heating systems found in the southern environment of the United States.
To learn more about our comprehensive HVAC training program, just visit our FAQ page here!
BUILD YOUR NETWORK
In addition to furthering your education, building your professional network can be another great step to take before you even start applying for open positions! There are many ways of going about this.
Many resources such as this can guide you towards HVAC associations to join. These associations are a great way to connect with other professionals in the industry, stay on top of trends, and continue building your references for that big opportunity that’ll eventually come along.
Additionally, the Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating also has a Facebook page dedicated to keeping our community informed about everything happening in our world. Students and Alumni of our training program are also invited to join an exclusive Facebook group where we stay in touch and share industry knowledge.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE PICKY
While it’s certainly important to get your first job under your belt, that doesn’t mean you have to rush into the first opportunity that presents itself. HVAC technicians and many other careers in skilled trades are in extremely high demand as businesses fill their job openings with a limited pool of qualified professionals.
That high demand means that you’ll likely have very little trouble finding available work, so you can take your time and be a little picky about the company you choose. You can take the time to ensure that your career is getting started in the right environment. Don’t be afraid to take on multiple interviews and weigh your options as you narrow in on the right choice.
CHECK THEIR REVIEWS
When you join a company, their reputation becomes your reputation. As you’re researching potential companies to join, it’s essential to know in advance how they do business and make sure they do things the right way.
One of the best ways to get an idea of the quality of work an HVAC company does and how it treats its customers is to check its online reviews. Check out their social media sites and their profile on Google to read what their customers are saying about their experience working with the company.
Obviously, not every review for every business will provide a glowing assessment, but look for trends in the comments on the quality of their work and the work ethic of their technicians.
If there is a consistent pattern of less than stellar work, that is a sign of a company lacking accountability. However, if the opposite is true, that is a sign that the company has a deep passion for its work and would likely make a great first HVAC employer.
VISIT THEIR LOCATION
As you’re submitting resumes, remember that HVAC remains a very nuts and bolts kind of business even in the very digital world we live in. Showing up to a business’ location to hand-deliver your resume, shake hands with your potential employer, and introduce yourself in person can make a great first impression on a prospective employer.
However, visiting an HVAC business is a great way to give you a leg up on the competition as they are making their hiring decisions, but it is also a great opportunity for you to get a lay of the land.
You can use this opportunity to impress and get an evaluation of the office environment, potential coworkers, and culture to determine if it is indeed a company you would like to work for.
ASK YOUR TRAINING INSTRUCTOR
Not sure where to begin your search? Unsure of which companies in your area may be the best fit for you to start your HVAC career?
Your training instructor can be a fantastic resource! Their experience in the field and in the local community should make them a wealth of information as to what you’re looking for in a great first HVAC job, and which companies in your area may be best to apply to.
Your instructor can also be a valuable resource in the application process. You may consider asking them to write you a letter of recommendation as you narrow down your choices and go in for interviews.
Chris Walters of the Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating has 38 years of experience in the HVAC industry and is a state subject matter expert on heating and cooling in the Texas and Houston area.
The education you receive here and the advice Chris can pass along from his vast experiences will give you a huge leg up on the competition as you begin the search for your first HVAC job.
Additionally, we’re always sure to provide our students with a list of contractors who are currently hiring, and many contractors show up in the last week of class to pitch their company! We are very proactive in helping our students find the right places to interview.
Learn more about beginning your HVAC career at the Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating! And – once you land your first interview, be sure to use these tips to make sure you land your dream job!
by round peg | Nov 15, 2021 | HVAC Career
After graduating from HVAC school and receiving your technician certification, you’ll be ready to start the job hunt.
This is an exciting time; lots of high-paying job opportunities are at your fingertips. To help you stand out as a great job candidate, you need to know what employers are looking for. That’s why we’ve assembled a helpful list of important HVAC professional traits for you.
Here are 5 things that every HVAC company is looking for in a hire!
A Good Attitude
HVAC employers seek out candidates who are genuinely happy and interested in their work. They want to employ professionals who approach every repair and installation job with a smile on their face, optimism, and the willingness to encourage other team members.
At the end of the day, they want to hire someone who is pleasant to be around, for the benefit of their company and the customers they serve.
So, be sure to display your great attitude during interviews! Exemplify how happy you are to be there by paying attention to the interviewers, complimenting them, and talking positively about your skills and your aspirations.
Effective Communication Skills
When you work in the HVAC field, you’ll be in communication with a lot of people. You’ll be talking with customers, coworkers, dispatchers, and other people every day. Employers want to know that you can communicate effectively to keep everything running smoothly.
A great way to express this is through your interview skills. Being able to speak about yourself and your training in a way that’s interesting and easy to understand will help you stand out. Make sure you mention that you pay attention to the details when it comes to communication.
Improve your effective communication skills by practicing active listening in your everyday life. Don’t plan how you’ll respond to people who have questions; really take the time to make them feel heard and respond naturally! This will translate into positive customer interactions as you enter the field.
Quick Thinking
It’s no secret that HVAC work keeps you on your toes.!
Employers are aware of this, and they seek out quick-thinkers when making hiring decisions. They want to know that you’ll be able to rise to the occasion when an unexpected problem arises, or when things don’t go according to plan.
To help demonstrate that, be sure to mention times in your training where you had to think on your feet. If you were trained in a high-exposure environment like the Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating, you’ll have plenty of these examples to talk about.
Time Management Skills
HVAC work will keep you busy. Multiple projects within the day at different locations and times create a big list of things to keep track of. This is why employers look for candidates who can keep track of their time and utilize it effectively throughout their working days.
Let your interviewers know about how you balance the different moving parts of your own life. Your example could be as simple as the way you balance time between HVAC school, work, and family. Be sure to mention how you keep a detailed calendar and prioritize different aspects of your schedule.
Willingness to Learn
Last but not least, you need to demonstrate that you’re willing and excited to learn! Employers value a great attitude towards learning as much as (if not more than) related job experience. This helps them know that you’re committed to mastering your craft and growing the company.
Be sure to let them know your existing expertise about hot water heating, steam heating, air conditioning, water cooling, and related appliances, but don’t forget to mention how excited you are to learn more every day at work.
Jump-Start Your Career at The Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating!
As we’ve discussed, there are a few different “soft skills” and characteristics that HVAC employers look for in new employees. These include having a good attitude, communication skills, quick thinking, time management skills, and willingness to learn.
Before you can communicate these traits to HVAC employers, you need to get your certification and get trained up! That’s where the Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating can help.
In 10 weeks, you’ll have everything you need to start your first job. You’ll be fully trained and certified, and will have completed your first installation.
You’ll be trained by industry expert Chris Walters, who has the technical mastery and industry connections to help you hit the ground running when you graduate.
Don’t wait, start training for a rewarding, high-paying career in HVAC! Gain the skills and confidence you need to nail job interviews and start working.
Take a look at our upcoming classes or contact us to learn how you can get started!
by round peg | Nov 8, 2021 | HVAC Career
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics out of 367,900 Americans in the HVAC industry, only 1.4% were women. This tells us that the HVAC and trades industries have lots of potential room to expand and diversify their workforces.
While the HVAC industry has been predominantly male-led, this doesn’t mean that women need to be left out of the mix. In fact, now is a great time for women to enter the trades! The industry is growing, along with the need for more professionals. Trades fields offer rewarding, high-paying careers for everyone who takes on the challenge.
Regardless, entering an industry that has been historically made up of men can be intimidating and at times challenging for women, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to succeed and lead in the trades.
In fact, trades careers are a wonderful opportunity for women to show how just how valuable their skillsets are. Women who enter the trades workforce will be able to inspire younger generations, encouraging them to engage with work that keeps our society functioning.
Challenge the Stereotype
As mentioned before, the HVAC industry has been male-led for decades now. Employers and even clients might believe the stereotype that a good HVAC technician is a man. But if history has taught us anything, it’s to keep an open mind and judge people based on merit, not what they look like!
Any job in the trades tends to be thought of as physically grueling and demanding, immediately making it stereotypically “manlier”. However, the truth is that jobs in the trades are just like any other job in any other industry. They require professionals that are competent in both the hard and soft skills required to get the job done well every time.
While a day in a trades job might be physically demanding, it also requires great communication, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, etc. We can all agree that these traits are all things that both men and women are more than capable of developing and excelling at.
If you’re a woman entering professional trades, make sure that you are aware of your capabilities, and highlight them during the hiring process.
Whether you excel in the physical requirements, the softs skills, or both, make sure that your future employer knows that they are not only hiring a woman in HVAC but they are hiring a well-rounded HVAC technician. After all, they just want someone they can count on to get the job done. Show them that, and you’ll be all set.
Networking and Community
Just like in any other job, it is important to network and build relationships in your industry. It is extremely important that you surround yourself with fellow professionals that are interested in seeing newcomers succeed in the industry.
A great way to build your network is to participate in trade shows, certification programs, and even volunteering to shadow other professionals in the field.
This will help you not only demonstrate that you have taken time to follow your passion but will also show that you continuously look for opportunities to educate and better yourself in the HVAC community.
Women should engage in the HVAC community using these avenues even before they start training or applying for jobs! The sooner you enter the conversation, the faster you’ll learn and the more polished your skills and network will be.
A great resource for women interested in entering the trades is Women in HVACR. They hold an annual conference that is specifically designed to cultivate relationships, connect women, and grow careers. Start your search at these large-scale industry events as soon as you can!
How to Become an HVAC Professional
One of the best ways to start building your HVAC career is by attending an HVAC school.
HVAC trade schools will be able to provide you with the training, education, and skills development you need to set yourself apart in the job search. When you graduate, you’ll be certified and ready to start working.
A great HVAC trade school won’t just teach you the technical skills you need to get a certification; they’ll help you develop your “soft skills” like communication, quick thinking, and overall professionalism.
Expert-led schools like the Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating will even provide you with education about things like job interviews or tips for starting your career.
Even better, a trade school can help you start to build your network before you even graduate. If your school partners with local businesses and employers, you’ll be in contact with community professionals who will be ready and eager to take you under their wing.
Try to find a school that prioritizes real-world work conditions and experiences. The more exposure to realistic scenarios you have, the better off you will be in the job search and in your career.
Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating
Here at The Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating in Texas, we invite everyone to learn from our director, industry veteran Chris Walters.
If you’re a woman in the Houston area looking to begin a career in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industry, be sure to connect with us to learn more about planning your HVAC career!
When you attend the Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating, you’ll receive your certification and all the skills training you need to start your career in just 10 weeks! You’ll hit the ground running, powered by technical know-how, professional development, and industry connections.
If you have any questions regarding the HVAC industry and the education you will receive here, check out some of our frequently asked questions.
by round peg | Nov 1, 2021 | HVAC Career
A new career in HVAC is a gift! It’s a fresh set of opportunities. You’ll be serving your community by supporting their safety and comfort, and you’ll be getting paid very well for it. Every day, you’ll face new challenges and have the chance to grow both professionally and personally!
However, we understand that beginning a new career can be intimidating. There’s so much to keep track of, and there are a lot of things you need to succeed. We want you to hit the ground running in your HVAC career, so we’ll share some advice that will help you do just that.
Here are 4 tips that will help you succeed in your new HVAC career and experience the gift of opportunity!
Work on Your Resume
Building a great resume helps you stand out as a candidate. Your interview skills, technical knowledge, and overall professionalism are what land you the job, but a good resume gets you “in the door.”
Make sure that you are highlighting all your experience in the HVAC industry, whether it’s time in the field or in the classroom. It is important to show that you have invested time and energy into becoming a professional. Employers often care more about your dedication and willingness to learn than previous experience, so highlight everything you’ve done!
Note any achievements, awards, or special recognitions you might have received or attended to whether they are related to HVAC or not. Show that you’re a well-rounded, capable, and engaged individual.
Include brief information about your interests and ways that you are involved with your community that goes beyond HVAC. List clubs, volunteer organizations, community service experience, and other things you are a part of to help demonstrate that you really care about people. After all, HVAC is an industry centered around serving others.
Talk about the soft skills that you possess, such as customer service, effective communication, time management, and other things that will make you a good employee.
Improve Your Communication Skills
Being an HVAC professional isn’t only about showing off your technical skills. Communication in the trades is essential, not only for working with your team but also for dealing with new, past, and potential clients.
You will truly succeed and stand out from the competition when you’re able to communicate quickly and effectively on the job.
It’s important to practice active listening. Really pay attention to the people around you. Instead of just responding as a reflex, really hear them out and take a second to think about what you need to say. This will benefit you when dealing with stressful or frustrating situations on the job. You’ll appear more confident and level-headed.
Remember, communication isn’t only what you say with your mouth but also what you say with your body. Look your clients and team members in the eyes, have a confident posture, and don’t close yourself off by crossing your arms or turning away when speaking to people on the job.
Be Equipped With Must-Have Tools
There is a list of “must-have” tools that every HVAC professional should carry around with them to be fully equipped for whatever project they might have to work on.
Hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, and tape measures should never be missing from your toolbox. After all, some of the best investments for an HVAC technician are the tools they own. Other critical equipment includes crescent wrenches, powered drills, wire cutters, and pipe wrenches.
Ensure that you have the essential equipment before you start interviewing for jobs, so you can get to work right away. Employers will be impressed by your ambition when you show up ready to go on the first day.
Look Out for Your Safety
It doesn’t matter if you have been in the industry for 1 month or 30 years, everyone should be following the proper safety standards to avoid any injuries or even casualties. Professional trades can be some of the most dangerous jobs out there, so be sure to stay on top of safety training and best practices.
There are plenty of hazards to keep in mind when doing your job. You will be working with electricity, exposed to different chemicals, and at times even doing jobs that could be hazardous for your respiratory system if you don’t use the right protection measures.
Make sure that your practices and work align with OSHA and CDC guidelines. This is necessary not only for your health but for staying within the regulations and legal standards of your work.
Another safety precaution that many might not think of is driving safety. You will be spending a lot of time on the road driving to and from jobs, so watch your speed and stay off your phone when operating a vehicle. You know how to stay safe on the road already, make sure it’s a priority on the job.
Jump-Start Your Career at The Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating!
As we’ve discussed, there are a few different things you can do to prepare yourself to take advantage of your new gift—a career in HVAC. These include working on your resume, improving your communication skills, gathering must-have tools, and looking out for your safety.
To get started in the HVAC field, you need to get your certification and proper training! That’s where the Training Center of Air Conditioning & Heating can help.
In 10 weeks, you’ll have everything you need to start your first job. You’ll be fully trained and certified, and will have completed your first installation.
You’ll be trained by industry expert Chris Walters, who has the technical mastery and industry connections to help you hit the ground running when you graduate.
Don’t wait, start training for a rewarding, high-paying career in HVAC! Gain the skills and confidence you need to nail job interviews and start working.
Take a look at our upcoming classes or contact us to learn how you can get started!
by christheacman | Sep 15, 2021 | Air Conditioning, HVAC Career, HVAC Repairs, HVAC Services, HVAC System, HVAC Technician, Normals of HVAC, Troubleshooting
HVAC installers provide an extremely valuable service: keeping them safe from the extreme heat and extreme cold of the seasons and helping them feel comfortable in their home or office. This job is especially important to the good people here in Texas who face indescribably hot conditions during the summer.
Not many people have the skills that heating and air conditioning installers have, making them a valuable member of the community they work in. As an HVAC professional, people will depend on you and the skills and expertise you possess to get them through the season.
It is for this reason that knowing 90% of air conditioning installations are done incorrectly is such a disheartening statistic. Even with all respect and expectations customers hold for the profession, almost every installation is not completed to the high standards that HVAC professionals were trained for and should hold themselves accountable to. To be frank, it is shameful.
However, it doesn’t have to be that way. As an incoming HVAC student, a recent graduate of The Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating, or just someone who is interested in the profession, you have the power to buck this trend and learn from the mistakes of those that have come before you.
Here are six of the most common air conditioning violations that occur in the field so you can learn to avoid them.
No Installation Permit
Acquiring the proper permits prior to air conditioning should be one of the very first steps in the process, yet it is often overlooked by both parties involved in the installation: the customer and the contractor. Most homeowners will know they need permits for major home renovations, but many don’t realize that they need one for air conditioning installation as well.
Permits are important for a number of reasons. They not only ensure the safety of those working on the equipment, but they also ensure that the equipment being installed is up to energy and environmental standards. Contractors can obtain the necessary permits on behalf of the homeowner and they can also be obtained by the homeowner themselves.
Installing without permits is often overlooked by homeowners who don’t know and contractors who don’t care – but both should concern themselves about it. Installing an air conditioner without the proper permits isn’t just dangerous but can result in serious fines. As a HVAC contractor, never take an air conditioning installation job without the proper documentation first.
Failure to Perform Manual J, Manual S, or Manual D
No two air conditioning system installations are the same. Each and every system requires very precise calculations and adjustments to ensure they are working properly and efficiently for the environment they are being installed in. Three calculations of particular importance that need to be done with every single installation are Manual J, Manual S, and Manual D calculations. However, these calculations are not consistently done, or done correctly, during many air conditioner installations.
Manual J is a calculation that needs to be done to properly size the system to provide optimal cooling based on the size of the home it is being installed in along with other factors. An air conditioner installed in a larger home will need to be adjusted differently than one in a smaller house in order to keep every room and every person cool.
Manual S then considers the geographical location of the system and the average temperature highs it will have to perform in. Also known as design temperature, an air conditioner needs to be calibrated to effectively and efficiently work under the conditions it will experience 99% of the season.
Manual D builds off the previous calculations by determining the proper sizing of the ducts needed to properly distribute air without underworking or overperforming.
Not performing these calculations causes air conditioners to not perform efficiently. If the system is oversized it distributes too much air during each cycle which can spike energy usage and inflate monthly energy bills for the customer in addition to ineffectively controlling humidity. Undersized air conditioners will not be able to keep the customer cool. Both instances make for unhappy customers and the need for unnecessary service calls to correct the system’s settings.
Furnace flue pipe touching combustibles
It is a shame that this needs to be said time and again, but because this is one of the most common air conditioning installation violations done here it goes: never put something very hot in contact with something flammable or combustible!
Every HVAC system has a flue pipe that vents hot exhaust air outside of the home it is installed in. Not only is this air warm, it can also contain carbon monoxide, an odorless and tasteless gas that can be deadly if it is allowed to circulate into a home’s air supply. Proper ventilation of the flue is an important part of HVAC installation, but so is the proper installation and accounting for the surrounding area.
When installed in homes, flues are often installed around wood from the subfloor or the home’s frame, which can be inflamed by the warm air and hot metal duct if the proper clearances are not accounted for. Suficit to say this isn’t just a mistake that costs money to fix, it is a potentially deadly one.
Heating equipment is the number one cause of house fires in the U.S and accounted for 19% of house fire deaths from 2014 to 2018. When installing a flue pipe or servicing a piece of equipment that may cause you to move or adjust the pipe, make sure the proper safety measures are taken before you leave.
Service access to equipment not accessible
Air conditioners need regular care, attention, and servicing to ensure they run properly for as long as possible. However, servicing the system properly can be made much more difficult (both for you and anyone else who might work on it in the future) if it has not been installed with the proper accessibility.
Here is the long and short of the situation: if it is hard to get to the system it is going to be hard to service it. This means that minor, easy-to-fix issues can get overlooked and become serious ones, cleaning is harder to do thoroughly, and the healthy lifespan of the system can be drastically shortened.
When you are installing an air conditioning system, make sure you are following the proper NEC guidelines for working space of three feet on each side of the equipment. This will allow that yourself and anyone else who needs to work on it has proper access.
Air conditioning installation isn’t always done right. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Understanding where other installers fall short is the first step in training a new generation of air conditioning installers who are hard working, thorough, and masters of the trade.
That is our mission here at the Training Center of Heating and Air Conditioning. We are based in Houston, Texas and our founder Chris Walters spent his HVAC career practicing in Texas. Through our experiences working in this industry in this state, we know exactly what our students need to know in order to have a successful career upon graduation.
If you are interested in beginning your HVAC career with the best training available, learn more about our upcoming classes and get started today!
by christheacman | Sep 6, 2021 | HVAC Career, HVAC Classes, HVAC Education, Technical Career
It’s back to school season for everyone from elementary school kids to seniors at your local university. Why aren’t you joining them?
You might be too old for elementary school and a four-year college might not have been the right fit for you, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an opportunity for you to continue to apply yourself and continue your education in an area that can be incredibly rewarding. If you are a person who is motivated, ready and willing to learn, and interested in acquiring the knowledge and skills to help you develop a rewarding career, now is the perfect time for you to go back to school too: start your HVAC career at The Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating.
The Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating is Houston, Texas’ premier school for HVAC training and education. Chris Walters, our director and an instructor, teaches true-to-life skills that will enable graduates to find work in the HVAC industry. Every class mimics real-world experiences based on Walters’ extensive HVAC career and encourages active participation with each student.
Why here and why now? There truly has never been a better time to start your training for a career in the HVAC industry and there isn’t a better place in the world to start it. Here’s why it’s time to get back to school and start your HVAC career.
There is a need for skilled labor
For years there has been a lack of skilled labor available to fill the many opportunities available for many different trade careers, particularly HVAC. However, this labor shortage has only gotten worse and worse in the fallout of the global pandemic and economic decline. HVAC businesses are hiring and desperate for workers but no one is answering the call. Now is your opportunity!
The labor shortage is showing no sign of improving in the immediate future, so now is the time to take advantage and start your career. Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating classes only take 10 weeks and upon graduation you will have all the skills and certifications necessary to land your first job soon after graduation.
Learn on the best schedule for you
For most schools, back to school season only comes once a year. That isn’t the case here, making going back to school easier and more convenient than ever. The Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating offers four classes throughout the year! Within each of these classes we also offer three different sessions in the morning, afternoon, and evening. No matter when “back to school” is for you, there will be a class just getting ready to start for you.
We understand that many of our students are working, have family to take care of, and other obligations outside the classroom. That is why we structured our class schedule in this way to provide multiple opportunities for our students to learn in the time and manner that best fits their lives.
Try for free
Not sure if a career in HVAC is right for you? The beauty of Chris Walters’ Method here at the Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating is that anyone who has a good work ethic and the desire to learn an important and valuable skill has what it takes to get started. No previous experience in HVAC is required to start your career.
Still unsure? We provide the opportunity to sit in on a class session for free! Sitting in on one of our classes gives you the chance to meet the instructors, see how the classes are structured, and to get a better idea of what our school and an HVAC career is all about, all for free. All sitting in on a free HVAC class is a few hours of your time, no obligation required!
If you’ve ever considered beginning your HVAC career, what is stopping you? Here at The Training Center of Air Conditioning and Heating, we offer the training and education you will need to start your rewarding HVAC career right away. There is a need for labor, there are jobs available, all you need is the training.
Let us help you start the career you’ve always wanted. Contact us today to learn more or check out our upcoming training opportunities and start getting ready to go back to school!
