What does an air conditioning service technician do?
Air conditioning service technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real air conditioning service technician resumes:
- Prepare work site (e.g., set up scaffold, ladders, stands, etc . )
- Braze and solder pipes and cleaned/glu plastic PVC piping.
- Place fan belt on pulleys, adjust tension and tighten bolts.
- Prepare worksite and work from scaffolds, ladders, stands, etc.
- Run hoses, install and hook up evaporators and hook up and install condensers.
- Conduct trail runs before welding, soldering or brazing and make necessary adjustments to equipment.
- Observe meters, gauges and machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
- Repair and replace broken or defective parts in motors, switches and fixtures and panel boards.
- Rearrange and install items such as outlets, switches, light fixtures regulators, and circuit breakers.
- Provide electrical and operational control work incidental to the maintenance, operation, and repair of HVAC/R systems.
- Open valves on equipment, such as compressors, pumps, and condensers to prepare the system for operation.
- Install or service customer equipment in a timely and fashionable manner., including heating and air conditioning systems and plumbing.
- Replace and repair plumbing systems including: faucets, toilets, valves, plumbing lines, sinks, and garbage disposals.
- Inject small amount of refrigerant into compressor to test systems, and add freon gas to build up prescribe operating pressure.
- Utilize PLC software to troubleshoot and analyze equipment performance to affect repairs and optimization.
Air conditioning service technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Air Conditioning Service Technicians are proficient in Plumbing, Hand Tools, and Preventative Maintenance. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Air Conditioning Service Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Plumbing, 13%
Replaced and repaired plumbing systems including: faucets, toilets, valves, plumbing lines, sinks, and garbage disposals.
- Hand Tools, 8%
Operate all types of power and hand tools, safely and effectively.
- Preventative Maintenance, 8%
Maintain machinery with attention to preventative maintenance to maximize run time efficiency and minimize downtime and preventable outages.
- Emergency Repairs, 6%
Performed emergency repairs, maintained tools, ordered supplies, and made routine adjustments to ensure maximal operational efficiency.
- Ventilation, 6%
Serviced and repaired all heating, ventilation, and cooling systems.
- Air-Conditioning Systems, 5%
Make plans and designs of new air-conditioning systems including their installation and maintenance.
Most air conditioning service technicians use their skills in "plumbing," "hand tools," and "preventative maintenance" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential air conditioning service technician responsibilities here:
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for an air conditioning service technician to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what air conditioning service technicians do because "hvacr technicians often work in customers’ homes or business offices, so it is important that they be friendly, polite, and punctual." Additionally, an air conditioning service technician resume shows how air conditioning service technicians use customer-service skills: "showed customers how to program thermostats and maintain filters on service calls and start-ups. "
Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform air conditioning service technician duties is detail oriented. Air conditioning service technicians responsibilities require that "hvacr technicians must carefully maintain records of all work performed." Air conditioning service technicians also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "motivated to be self-managed, detail oriented and to give impeccable customer service. "
Math skills. air conditioning service technicians are also known for math skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to air conditioning service technician responsibilities, because "hvacr technicians need to calculate the correct load requirements to ensure that the hvacr equipment properly heats or cools the space required." An air conditioning service technician resume example shows how math skills is used in the workplace: "monitor vital statistics and assist patients to adapt and follow behavior support plans. "
Time-management skills. For certain air conditioning service technician responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "time-management skills." The day-to-day duties of an air conditioning service technician rely on this skill, as "hvacr technicians frequently have a set number of daily maintenance calls." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what air conditioning service technicians do: "increased time management skills through strict project deadlines ensured priority in customer service by investigating and resolving customer complaints. "
Mechanical skills. Another crucial skill for an air conditioning service technician to carry out their responsibilities is "mechanical skills." A big part of what air conditioning service technicians relies on this skill, since "hvacr technicians install and work on complicated climate-control systems, so they must understand the hvac components and be able to properly assemble, disassemble, and, if needed, program them." How this skill relates to air conditioning service technician duties can be seen in an example from an air conditioning service technician resume snippet: "installed diagnosed and repaired controls including electro-mechanical, ddc and pneumatic systems. "
Physical strength. Another skill commonly found on air conditioning service technician job descriptions is "physical strength." It can come up quite often in air conditioning service technician duties, since "hvacr technicians may have to lift and support heavy equipment and components, often without help." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day air conditioning service technician responsibilities: "performed physicals (vital signs, fingerstick measurements of hematocrit levels) and phlebotomy. "
The three companies that hire the most air conditioning service technicians are:
- University of Southern California2 air conditioning service technicians jobs
- Aire Serv1 air conditioning service technicians jobs
- One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning1 air conditioning service technicians jobs
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Compare different air conditioning service technicians
Air conditioning service technician vs. Hvac installer
An HVAC installer is responsible for working on office and house appliances, including heating systems, ventilation, and air conditioning units. HVAC installers follow and analyze the item's schematics and blueprints and conduct regular maintenance to ensure the efficiency of its systems. They also advise the clients of instruction manuals, especially the proper usage and basic troubleshooting of defects. An HVAC installer must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry, as well as excellent communication skills to respond to customers' concerns and resolve complaints.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, air conditioning service technician responsibilities require skills like "emergency repairs," "air-conditioning systems," "control systems," and "hvac/r." Meanwhile a typical hvac installer has skills in areas such as "hvac," "customer service," "furnaces," and "epa." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Hvac installers earn the highest salaries when working in the transportation industry, with an average yearly salary of $46,478. On the other hand, air conditioning service technicians are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $53,197.hvac installers tend to reach similar levels of education than air conditioning service technicians. In fact, hvac installers are 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Air conditioning service technician vs. Installer apprentice
An elevator installer apprentice is a trainee who trains under a skilled elevator installer to install, fix, and maintain elevators, escalators, and other lifts. Elevator installer apprentices must assist in assembling elevator cars as well as connecting electrical wiring to control panels and electric motors. They are required to test installed equipment to ensure that it meets specifications and standards. Elevator installer apprentices must also conduct preventive maintenance and inspections of elevators on a scheduled basis to ensure compliance with safety regulations and building codes.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, air conditioning service technician responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "preventative maintenance," "emergency repairs," "ventilation," and "control systems." Meanwhile, an installer apprentice has duties that require skills in areas such as "hvac," "ladders," "tape measure," and "osha." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Installer apprentices earn a lower average salary than air conditioning service technicians. But installer apprentices earn the highest pay in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $40,246. Additionally, air conditioning service technicians earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $53,197 annually.installer apprentices earn similar levels of education than air conditioning service technicians in general. They're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Air conditioning service technician vs. Hvac apprentice
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) apprentices are trainees who work under HVAC maintenance workers. They train under HVAC maintenance workers to gain actual, on-the-job experience. To be an apprentice, one should have a formal training background related to HVAC repair and maintenance. They may be enrolled in a technical-vocational school specializing in HVAC repair and maintenance. As such, apprenticeship is part of their curriculum or class requirements. During their apprenticeship, HVAC apprentices will experience installing, diagnosing, repair, and maintaining HVAC units firsthand.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an air conditioning service technician is likely to be skilled in "emergency repairs," "air-conditioning equipment," "residential air," and "system compliance," while a typical hvac apprentice is skilled in "customer service," "customer satisfaction," "ladders," and "work ethic."
Hvac apprentices earn the best pay in the health care industry, where they command an average salary of $41,468. Air conditioning service technicians earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $53,197.Most hvac apprentices achieve a similar degree level compared to air conditioning service technicians. For example, they're 1.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Air conditioning service technician vs. Mechanical installer
A mechanical installer uses a set of structures to maintain machinery. The primary responsibilities of this position are assembling, installing, dismantling, troubleshooting, and conducting repairs on machinery. They also requisition materials such as tools, equipment, and replacement parts. They need to perform the tasks given within preset schedules and sequences.
Types of air conditioning service technician
Updated January 8, 2025
