Darren Fearnley is a 40-year veteran of the HVAC industry. He teaches the HVAC and Gas Technician program at Herzing College.
Are you thinking of becoming an HVAC mechanic? No matter which part of the industry you’re aiming for, your path begins with a solid pre-apprenticeship program. Students with a good grounding in HVAC fundamentals have a much better chance of landing an apprenticeship—which you’ll need to get certified.
Updated December 2022
This is an excellent time to become an HVAC mechanic in Ontario. The latest career outlook report from the Government of Canada Job Bank shows strong demand for HVAC mechanics and technicians across the province. Several regions, including the Hamilton-Niagara Peninsula and the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula, get a full five-star rating for outlook and growth.
So, if you're considering becoming an HVAC mechanic, and want to jump in while the trade is hot, what steps should you take?
Here's a look at HVAC training and careers, and our best advice on how to get started.
Updated December 2022
Why should you choose an HVAC career above all other trades?
Well, for starters, you're probably genuinely interested in the kind of work HVAC mechanics do.
This trade involves challenging diagnostics and problem-solving, technical installation and maintenance skills, and deep heating/cooling product knowledge.
HVAC mechanics play a vital role in our everyday lives. Where would we be without warm homes during the brutal Ontario winters? And cool spaces to retreat to during our short but notoriously intense summers?
Quality HVAC systems keep our air fresh indoors, help sanitize our hospitals, and even help preserve our natural environment.
And of course, cooling technology is essential for the food industry, where reliable refrigeration is the backbone of safe storage and shipping.
From homes to public buildings to businesses to factories—HVAC mechanics have a key part to play across many sectors of the Canadian economy.
So, what else should motivate you to seize the day and start an HVAC career this year? Take a look at four big advantages to making this trade your own.
HVAC technicians monitor the refrigeration weight and pressure of a chiller in order to correctly recharge the unit (Source: Flikr)
If a client calls complaining about an air conditioner or heat pump not working properly, a refrigerant leak is one possible source of the problem.
Not only do refrigerant leaks impair system performance, waste money, and hurt the environment, they're also poisonous to humans.
