Moving Beyond the Basics: Developing Your HVAC Technical Skills
Training to become an HVAC technician may mean learning new technical skills. While some basic knowledge and a desire to learn can possibly help you progress through training, if you really want to be in a position to succeed, you should focus on sharpening your HVAC technical knowledge and skillset.
The HVAC Technician Technical Skills Required & How to Get Them
Whether you are still researching what it would be an HVAC technician or you are already in the field but looking to hone your skills, an HVAC training school like NETTTS could help provide you with the training to be more technically savvy in HVAC.
Get Hands-On Experience
Perhaps the best way to develop your HVAC technical skills is to roll up your sleeves and get some hands-on experience. There is a big difference between watching videos online, or sitting in a classroom for a lecture versus actually performing the tasks on the machinery yourself. Make sure you try to find a way to get as many hands-on hours as possible for the chance to improve your technical skills. This may mean finding a mentor in the field or doing outside work during your HVAC training.
Exposure
A well-rounded HVAC technician should have the knowledge and skills to work with a variety of systems of different functions, brands, and types. If you want to improve your technical skills in HVAC, you should make sure to expose yourself to as many of these as possible. While it may be easy to fall into the habit of only working on what you know, you will never expand your knowledge base that way. It’s also good to work on equipment from across many different decades. The technology available today is drastically different than even 10-years ago and so are the mechanical systems they run. A residential HVACR technician that wants a broad knowledge or their industry should be familiar with both. Knowing new age systems like smart thermostats is important, but so is understanding how to repair an older furnace that could be 30 years old.
Addition HVAC Certifications
One recommended way to develop your HVAC technical skills and expand your knowledge of the field is to get additional licenses or certifications. Instead of being limited with what your license allows, you may be able to work on more complex or specialized areas of service. Certifications and license requirements vary from state to state but can include examples such as the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification or various EPA certifications. Having these licenses may not only improve your technical knowledge of the HVAC service trade, but also help prepare you to work on various projects you may never even considered before.
Choose the Right School
Every student is different and learns a little differently. When exploring your options for schools it is recommended to consider your learning style which may help put yourself in the best position possible to succeed. Meet with the instructors, talk to the students, and check out reviews online to get a feel for what you can expect when you enroll. Most HVAC schools will help teach you the basics of the industry, so when weighing out the options consider how much hands-on training you would like to receive versus classroom instruction and don’t be afraid to ask questions!
At NETTTS, we encourage prospective students to ask as many questions as possible so they are comfortable if they decide to enroll. We want to see our students succeed. We help prepare you for success in the classroom while you get ready to start your next chapter. With years of experience in career training and the help of industry experienced instructors, we strive to make our program as relevant as possible to help prepare you to become an HVACR technician. Find out more online or reach out to us today to learn more about our HVAC programs at NETTTS North Andover, Massachusetts and NETTTS Pawtucket, Rhode Island.