What does a hvac controls technician do?
An HVAC controls technician specializes in installing and repairing heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning control systems. Among their responsibilities include liaising with clients to identify their needs, troubleshooting errors, repairing and replacing parts, and setting up control panels and sensors. They may also provide clients with cost-estimates, discuss the extent of repairs, and educate them on operating and taking better care of their devices. Furthermore, an HVAC controls technician may perform regular maintenance checks on systems and equipment, cleaning or fixing parts when necessary.
Hvac controls technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real hvac controls technician resumes:
- Install motors, pumps, plumbing equipment.
- Replace and repair pneumatic and electrical valves, controllers, switches, relays, dampers.
- Provide assistance to new installation of residential condensers and heating units.
- Provide HVAC/R service with specific responsibility for identifying repair and/or replacement needs.
- General maintenance to HVAC/R retrofits electrical updates and generator repair and maintenance.
- Maintain environmental conditions by installing and maintaining both heating and cooling systems such as air conditioners, chillers and refrigeration equipment.
- Work with Avalon wireless units installing and servicing IP base cameras with various controlling software for security monitoring.
Hvac controls technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Hvac Controls Technicians are proficient in Mechanical Systems, Customer Satisfaction, and Hand Tools. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Physical strength, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Hvac Controls Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Mechanical Systems, 16%
Service Building Chilled water, Hot water Controls and Mechanical Systems.
- Customer Satisfaction, 14%
Developed follow-up customer satisfaction initiatives.
- Hand Tools, 8%
Align, fit, or assemble component parts using hand tools, power tools, fixtures, templates, or microscopes.
- Customer Service, 8%
Communicated with receiving warehouse to track and verify deliveries of product to ensure and maintain required inventory and customer service levels.
- Building Automation Systems, 8%
Specialized training in Automated Logic and Building Automation Systems.
- Systems Software, 6%
Use Building Management Systems software such as; Siemens-Insight/apogee, Johnson Controls-Metasys, and GXP-Delta.
Common skills that a hvac controls technician uses to do their job include "mechanical systems," "customer satisfaction," and "hand tools." You can find details on the most important hvac controls technician responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a hvac controls technician to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "hvacr technicians often work in customers’ homes or business offices, so it is important that they be friendly, polite, and punctual." Additionally, a hvac controls technician resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "provided customer service to tenants, construction contractors and building engineers. "
Physical strength. Another essential skill to perform hvac controls technician duties is physical strength. Hvac controls technicians responsibilities require that "hvacr technicians may have to lift and support heavy equipment and components, often without help." Hvac controls technicians also use physical strength in their role according to a real resume snippet: "performed other semi-skilled tasks as assigned to assist in the general maintenance of the physical plant. "
Time-management skills. hvac controls technicians are also known for time-management skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to hvac controls technician responsibilities, because "hvacr technicians frequently have a set number of daily maintenance calls." A hvac controls technician resume example shows how time-management skills is used in the workplace: "programmed programmable logic controllers (plc) to sufficiently increase production time on automobile seats to help minimize overtime. "
Troubleshooting skills. For certain hvac controls technician responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "troubleshooting skills." The day-to-day duties of a hvac controls technician rely on this skill, as "hvacr technicians must be able to identify problems on malfunctioning heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems and then determine the best way to repair them." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what hvac controls technicians do: "managed installation, design, system planning, development, maintenance, troubleshooting and analysis of building automation systems. "
Detail oriented. Another common skill required for hvac controls technician responsibilities is "detail oriented." This skill comes up in the duties of hvac controls technicians all the time, as "hvacr technicians must carefully maintain records of all work performed." An excerpt from a real hvac controls technician resume shows how this skill is central to what a hvac controls technician does: "perform detailed preventative maintenance on hvac systems by cleaning evaporation and condensation coils. "
Math skills. Lastly, "math skills" is an important element of what a hvac controls technician does. Hvac controls technician responsibilities require this skill because "hvacr technicians need to calculate the correct load requirements to ensure that the hvacr equipment properly heats or cools the space required." This resume example highlights how hvac controls technician duties rely on this skill: "utilize solidworks cad to create new part ideas, mastercam to create tool geometry. "
The three companies that hire the most hvac controls technicians are:
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Compare different hvac controls technicians
Hvac controls 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.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a hvac controls technician are more likely to require skills like "mechanical systems," "customer service," "building automation systems," and "systems software." On the other hand, a job as an installer apprentice requires skills like "hvac," "ladders," "tape measure," and "osha." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Installer apprentices tend to make the most money working in the transportation industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,246. In contrast, hvac controls technicians make the biggest average salary, $62,650, in the manufacturing industry.The education levels that installer apprentices earn slightly differ from hvac controls technicians. In particular, installer apprentices are 2.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a hvac controls technician. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Hvac controls technician vs. Serviceman
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.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, hvac controls technician responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "mechanical systems," "customer satisfaction," "hand tools," and "customer service." Meanwhile, a serviceman has duties that require skills in areas such as "hvac," "safety procedures," "laundry operations," and "perform routine maintenance." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Servicemen earn similar levels of education than hvac controls technicians in general. They're 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Hvac controls technician vs. Mechanical 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 many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a hvac controls technician is likely to be skilled in "customer satisfaction," "customer service," "building automation systems," and "systems software," while a typical mechanical installer is skilled in "hvac," "safety procedures," "osha," and "work ethic."
Mechanical installers earn the best pay in the automotive industry, where they command an average salary of $46,663. Hvac controls technicians earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $62,650.mechanical installers typically earn similar educational levels compared to hvac controls technicians. Specifically, they're 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Hvac controls technician vs. Hvac installer
Even though a few skill sets overlap between hvac controls technicians and hvac installers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a hvac controls technician might have more use for skills like "mechanical systems," "building automation systems," "systems software," and "mechanical equipment." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of hvac installers require skills like "hvac," "furnaces," "epa," and "work ethic. "
The transportation industry tends to pay the highest salaries for hvac installers, with average annual pay of $46,478. Comparatively, the highest hvac controls technician annual salary comes from the manufacturing industry.hvac installers reach similar levels of education compared to hvac controls technicians, in general. The difference is that they're 2.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of hvac controls technician
Updated January 8, 2025
