*This article is part 2 of 5
In the first article in this series, we asked the question: why teach HVACR? The answer was as simple as supply and demand. Highly-skilled HVACR technicians are in high demand today and the industry continues to grow rapidly.
Unfortunately, supply isn’t keeping up with demand, creating a critical shortage of these important workers. The world needs more HVACR technicians. With good pay and the chance to work in an interesting, evolving field, it’s important to build modern HVACR training programs that will lure students and workers to this growing field and equip them with the skills to succeed.
But what exactly are those skills students and workers need? If you intend to help produce the next generation of highly-skilled HVACR technicians, then you need to ensure that you’re teaching them the knowledge and hands-on skills that employers need.
In this article, we will focus on the skills that form the foundation of any HVACR program, as well as the key basic and advanced skills specific to HVACR that future technicians will need to master. With a clear vision of the skills HVACR technicians will need, subsequent articles will explore a variety of topics, including how to teach advanced smart HVACR controls, what to look for in terms of curriculum and training equipment, and much more!
Which Fundamental Skills are Important for all HVACR Technicians?
When individuals look at HVACR as a potential career choice, they might worry that it will take many years to learn all the ins and outs of modern HVACR equipment, such as air conditioners, furnaces, air ducts, thermostats, refrigerators, freezers, pipes, and vents.
Instructors and trainers might have similar fears about putting together a comprehensive program that teaches all the key hands-on skills. But let us reassure you that there’s no need to worry unnecessarily. With the right knowledge and training tools, trainees can hit the ground running in a new HVACR career quickly.
Before diving into the nitty gritty of basic to advanced HVACR skills, however, we need to start at the beginning. Underlying all of modern HVACR work is a core set of fundamental skills that form the foundation that all subsequent HVACR-specific instruction will be built upon, including:
Basic Electrical
Probably the most fundamental set of skills useful throughout industry is basic electrical. Not only do HVACR technicians need solid knowledge of electricity and hands-on skills, such as wiring and using gauges and meters, in order to install and repair HVACR systems, but being competent in basic electrical is also critical for safety.
Basic Mechanical
Whether it’s threading a gas pipeline or installing ventilation ductwork, a wide range of basic mechanical skills will be a key to success for any HVACR technician. This set of skills also includes familiarity and comfort with a wide range of tools. While some parts of HVACR systems are high-tech, others are simple and mechanical. HVACR technicians must be able to work skillfully with both.
Print Reading
HVACR technicians must be comfortable reading and interpreting HVACR system blueprints and schematics. These skills will be put to the test on a regular basis whether installing a new system or troubleshooting a malfunctioning one.
Troubleshooting
Speaking of troubleshooting, many HVACR tasks will begin with either a summer phone call proclaiming “My air conditioning isn’t working!” or a winter plea to “Please get my furnace working again! I’m freezing!” When these calls come, a competent HVACR technician must be able to quickly diagnose and isolate the problem for a timely repair.
Communication & Time Management
Although they’re often overlooked, so-called “soft skills” like communication and time management are critical to success as an HVACR technician. When given multiple service calls to make, an HVACR technician must know how to manage time in order to complete tasks in an efficient manner. Likewise, clear and concise communication with home or business owners will be the key to setting realistic expectations about installation or repair costs and timelines.
What Basic HVACR Skills do Students and Workers Need to Know?
With a solid foundation in basic electrical, mechanical, and print reading, as well as soft skills like communication and time management, it’s time to move on to the basic skills that are specific to HVACR technicians. These are the skills that will prove to be a good starting point for an introduction to or overview of HVACR.
In this section, we’ll highlight a variety of the basic skill areas any HVACR technician will find invaluable in the modern workplace, including:
Thermal Science
Although most HVACR technicians will not need to explain the laws of thermodynamics on a daily basis, a healthy understanding of the basics of thermal science will prove to be important, especially when troubleshooting. When diagnosing and repairing HVACR systems, it’s helpful to understand how and why the systems are supposed to work.
Thermal science covers a lot of ground, but here are a few of the key topics you’ll want to be sure to touch upon:
- Thermal energy
- Ideal gas law & phase changes
- Thermodynamics
- Heat transfer
- Insulation
Basic Refrigeration
As previously mentioned, the “R” in HVACR stands for refrigeration. All HVACR technicians need a skillset that includes the basics of refrigeration. Key topics related to refrigeration include the following:
- Temperature & pressure measurement
- Compressors
- Condensers & evaporators
- Thermostats
- Mass flow rate
Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps
With the exception of the far northern states, the majority of homes throughout the United States rely upon air conditioning systems to make life livable in the warm months. The same is true of businesses that want to keep employees and customers comfortable. Of course, the flip side of that coin is keeping everyone nice and warm when winter returns.
A thorough understanding of air conditioning and heat pump concepts is critical for all HVACR technicians. Key topic areas include:
- Gauge manifold operation
- Electrical current, voltage, & resistance measurement
- Troubleshooting blockages & restrictions
- Evaluating system charge levels
- Testing system components, such as compressors, capillary tubes, expansion valves, reversing valves, & blowers
- Humidity control
- Air handling systems
- Insulation applications & effectiveness
Residential Heating & Cooling Systems
In addition to the air conditioning and heat pump topics discussed previously, HVACR technicians must also possess a thorough understanding of how to install, operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair the wide variety of residential heating and cooling systems available on the market today.
For example, HVACR technicians should have a good grasp of topics and skills, such as:
- Forced air heat pump systems
- Mini-split heat pump systems
- Electronic thermostat connections
- Heating and cooling modes
- Superheat & subcooling methods
- Outdoor fans
- Defrost controls
- Systems troubleshooting
Refrigerant Recharging
The use of refrigerants is foundational to air conditioning and refrigeration systems, but they’re also highly regulated. HVACR technicians must be certified to work with refrigerants. Certified HVACR technicians must become familiar with refrigerants and how to recover them and charge systems. Key skills and topics include:
- R-134a & R-410 refrigerants
- Environmental regulations
- Leak detection
- Pressure & temperature measurement
- Refrigerant recovery
- Refrigerant system charging
Which Advanced HVACR Skills are Important to Learn?
Once students or workers have established a good foundation in basic HVACR skills, they will want to pursue more advanced HVACR skills in order to ensure that they’re prepared for any and every situation they may face as a technician.
In this section, we’ll highlight some of the advanced HVACR topic areas that students or workers will want to pursue, including:
Refrigeration Installation
Installing modern refrigeration systems requires a thorough understanding of basic electrical and mechanical skills, as well as thermal science. Some of the key topic areas and related skills HVACR technicians must master include the following:
- Refrigeration circuit diagrams
- Copper tubing
- Refrigerant line routing & bending
- HVACR system joints & fittings
- Flaring & swaging copper tubing
- Brazing & soldering refrigerant lines
- Tubing insulation
- Electrical wiring schematics
- Wire selection & routing
- Circuit protection
Commercial & Industrial Refrigeration
Commercial and industrial refrigeration systems present challenges beyond those of basic refrigeration systems. HVACR technicians working in a commercial or industrial setting will need an array of advanced HVACR skills related to these types of systems. Relevant topics areas and skills include the following:
- Semi-hermitic compressors
- Commercial & industrial refrigeration controls
- Electric expansion valves
- Multi-evaporator refrigeration
- Defrost control
- Hot gas bypass control
- Water-to-air refrigeration systems
- Variable frequency drives
- Chiller systems
- Multi-zone systems
- Component- & system-level troubleshooting
Geothermal
The word geothermal is from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). Therefore, geothermal energy is energy that comes from the heat inside the earth. Geothermal energy is present in the earth because of the heat generated at its core and the solar energy absorbed at its surface.
While not as common as traditional heating and cooling systems, geothermal systems remain popular in different regions of the world. HVACR technicians in these areas will want to familiarize themselves with the geothermal skills and topic areas required to install and troubleshoot these systems, including:
- Geothermal heat pump systems
- Pressurized & non-pressurized source circuits
- Open- and closed-loop systems
- Geothermal system components
- Desuperheaters
Steam
Some HVACR technicians may run across steam systems from time to time, particularly in industrial settings. These systems have their own unique components and considerations that require a specialized set of advanced skills in topic areas, such as:
- Steam power
- Boiler operation
- Air & condensate control
- Pressure control & regulation
- Heat exchangers
What About Smart Technologies?
In this article, we’ve highlighted the building blocks of a modern HVACR training program, from basic fundamental skills to advanced HVACR skills. However, there is another set of advanced skills that is becoming more important as HVACR systems get “smarter.”
In the next article in this series, we’ll take a closer look at why Industry 4.0 skills are a critical part of a modern HVACR training program. We’ll explain exactly what Industry 4.0 is, as well as highlight how advanced automation technologies are being used in modern HVACR systems and what advanced Industry 4.0 skills the HVACR technicians of today and tomorrow need to succeed.
About Duane Bolin
Duane Bolin is a former curriculum developer and education specialist. He is currently a Marketing Content Developer in the technical training solutions market.
