What does a hvac-r technician do?
HVAC-R Technicians are responsible for the repair, maintenance, and installation of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) systems. Their duties include repairing, maintaining, and installing HVAC-R equipment and systems, inspect equipment maintenance risks, diagnose mechanical and electrical faults, adjusting and cleaning systems, and carrying out warranty services. They maintain accurate maintenance records, assist with customer inquiries, give technical direction, provide mentorship to the junior technicians as well as ensure work complies with service, appliance, and safety standards.
Hvac-r technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real hvac-r technician resumes:
- Perform preventative maintenance, corrective maintenance and installation of refrigeration, heating, air conditioning, and ventilation and plumbing applications.
- Install, maintain, and repair package units, split systems, boilers and other mechanical equipment.
- Install, repair, and maintain light commercial rooftop units, boilers, controls, and other mechanical equipment.
- Maintain all ventilation systems including preventative maintenance tasks and rebuilding of equipment when need.
- Perform repairs and installation on HVAC/R equipment and commercial kitchen equipment for residential and commercial customers.
- Perform maintenance and repair of HVAC/R equipment for commercial and residential applications including commercial refrigeration equipment.
- Demonstrate strong knowledge of refrigeration systems, walk in refrigeration/freezer units and some experience on centrifugal and rotary screw compressor chillers.
- Validate laboratory air flows to meet OSHA safety requirements.
- Conduct a wide range of repairs in accord with OSHA regulations.
- Plumb and connect all necessary PVC piping to drain condensation from the evaporative coil.
- solder, pipe-fitting, blue print reading, climbing ladders, digging ditches, preparing pipes and fittings, cleaning
- Work on motor controls, pneumatic controls, chillers, high pressure steam, pumps, valves, piping, etc.
- Service residential and commercial plumbing equipment.
- Perform minor electrical and plumbing repairs.
- Replace and repair malfunctioned/defective HVAC equipment, troubleshoot electrical components and wiring.
Hvac-r technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Hvac-R Technicians are proficient in HVAC/R, Ventilation, and Plumbing. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Math skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Hvac-R Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- HVAC/R, 11%
Performed repairs and installation on HVAC/R equipment and commercial kitchen equipment for residential and commercial customers.
- Ventilation, 8%
Serviced our customers concerning issues with their Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning/Refrigeration.
- Plumbing, 6%
Repair or replace HVAC Equipment, grills, fryers, coolers and freezers, building repairs, lighting, plumbing and electrical
- Hand Tools, 5%
Test electrical circuits with electrician hand tools and test equipment.
- Ladders, 5%
Installed and repaired residential heating and air units, lifted heavy equipment up ladders and in small crawl spaces.
- Safety Procedures, 5%
Obtained knowledge in reading and interpreting instructions and safety procedures associated with HVAC processes.
Most hvac-r technicians use their skills in "hvac/r," "ventilation," and "plumbing" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential hvac-r technician responsibilities here:
Detail oriented. The most essential soft skill for a hvac-r technician to carry out their responsibilities is detail oriented. This skill is important for the role because "hvacr technicians must carefully maintain records of all work performed." Additionally, a hvac-r technician resume shows how their duties depend on detail oriented: "filled out detailed work order tickets for each job completed and maintained excellent customer service. "
Math skills. Many hvac-r technician duties rely on math skills. "hvacr technicians need to calculate the correct load requirements to ensure that the hvacr equipment properly heats or cools the space required.," so a hvac-r technician will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways hvac-r technician responsibilities rely on math skills: "blue print reading mathematics customer service time management troubleshooting mechanical"
Time-management skills. This is an important skill for hvac-r technicians to perform their duties. For an example of how hvac-r technician responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "hvacr technicians frequently have a set number of daily maintenance calls." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a hvac-r technician: "order materials for job sites, meet job site deadlines, oversee hvac helpers' work. ".
Customer-service skills. hvac-r technician responsibilities often require "customer-service skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "hvacr technicians often work in customers’ homes or business offices, so it is important that they be friendly, polite, and punctual." This resume example shows what hvac-r technicians do with customer-service skills on a typical day: "inspected and tested refrigeration systems, safety devices and controls.supplied technical support to customers. "
Mechanical skills. Another crucial skill for a hvac-r technician to carry out their responsibilities is "mechanical skills." A big part of what hvac-r 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 hvac-r technician duties can be seen in an example from a hvac-r technician resume snippet: "read and interpret blue prints on plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems. "
Physical strength. While "physical strength" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to hvac-r technician responsibilities. Much of what a hvac-r technician does relies on this skill, seeing as "hvacr technicians may have to lift and support heavy equipment and components, often without help." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of hvac-r technicians: "performed other semi-skilled tasks as assigned to assist in the general maintenance of the physical plant. "
The three companies that hire the most hvac-r technicians are:
- Walmart63 hvac-r technicians jobs
- Gulfstream Aerospace25 hvac-r technicians jobs
- Moores Electrical And Mechanical19 hvac-r technicians jobs
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Hvac-r technician vs. Maintenance helper
A maintenance helper performs basic support tasks to assist maintenance technicians in installing and repairing machines and equipment. Their responsibilities typically include gathering and handing tools, changing fixtures such as light bulbs and faucets, preparing workspaces, and cleaning work areas and equipment. They may also liaise with vendors or suppliers, build positive relationships with clients, and handle calls and correspondence. Moreover, maintenance helper must utilize their experiences to learn more complex tasks and gain industry insight.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, hvac-r technician responsibilities require skills like "hvac/r," "ventilation," "refrigeration equipment," and "strong customer service." Meanwhile a typical maintenance helper has skills in areas such as "preventive maintenance," "hvac," "mowing," and "maintenance tasks." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Maintenance helpers tend to make the most money working in the energy industry, where they earn an average salary of $37,360. In contrast, hvac-r technicians make the biggest average salary, $64,016, in the health care industry.maintenance helpers tend to reach similar levels of education than hvac-r technicians. In fact, maintenance helpers are 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Hvac-r technician vs. Serviceman
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.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real hvac-r technician resumes. While hvac-r technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "hvac/r," "ventilation," "plumbing," and "hand tools," servicemen use skills like "hvac," "laundry operations," "perform routine maintenance," and "cdl."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Servicemen tend to reach similar levels of education than hvac-r technicians. In fact, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Hvac-r technician vs. Hvac 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.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, hvac-r technicians are more likely to have skills like "hvac/r," "osha," "electrical systems," and "strong customer service." But a hvac installer is more likely to have skills like "hvac," "furnaces," "epa," and "work ethic."
Hvac installers make a very good living in the transportation industry with an average annual salary of $46,478. On the other hand, hvac-r technicians are paid the highest salary in the health care industry, with average annual pay of $64,016.When it comes to education, hvac installers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to hvac-r technicians. In fact, they're 1.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Hvac-r technician vs. Mechanical installer
Even though a few skill sets overlap between hvac-r technicians and mechanical installers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a hvac-r technician might have more use for skills like "hvac/r," "ventilation," "plumbing," and "ladders." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of mechanical installers require skills like "hvac," "work ethic," "duct systems," and "safety rules. "
In general, mechanical installers earn the most working in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $46,663. The highest-paying industry for a hvac-r technician is the health care industry.mechanical installers reach similar levels of education compared to hvac-r technicians, in general. The difference is that they're 2.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of hvac-r technician
Updated January 8, 2025
