The world only runs the way it does thanks to HVAC technicians and the work they do. Their critical role in society is keeping us protected from extreme temperatures and poor air quality. Without them, our daily lives as they are now would be unsustainable.
For every new house, apartment or commercial building built, HVAC technicians are necessary to plan and install the appliances and ductwork required for it to be usable. More commonly, they’re critical for maintaining the existing equipment in aging buildings too!
What Types of Work Do HVAC Technicians Do?
Unsurprisingly, HVAC technicians work exclusively with equipment and tools surrounding heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. But it’s a lot more than it may sound like! The bulk of the work certainly involves installing, maintaining and repairing ventilation systems or working on related appliances, but there’s a lot more to it!
Here are some of the typical job duties of an HVAC professional:
- Identifying and resolving safety or maintenance issues with HVAC equipment in commercial and residential settings
- Diagnosing electrician or mechanical faults in HVAC appliances and equipment
- Performing standard maintenance like cleaning and adjusting HVAC systems
- Performing warranty services
- Responding to emergency requests for repair
- Examining appliances and buildings for compliance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act.
- Educating customers, answering questions and assisting people in understanding basic HVAC safety
And that’s just a sample of some of the tasks HVAC technicians do every day in their line of work. Each individual job can be anywhere from a few minutes of work to months of back-and-forth to get it done right.
How Adrian Steel Helps HVAC Technicians Get the Job Done
Being an HVAC technician is busy work. With all the tools and equipment needed to complete each job, gearing up and getting to the site can be a challenge. Like any trade, HVAC technicians have tools they use every job and some they only need for specialty calls – but you rarely know exactly what you’re getting into until you’re there.
Adrian Steel helps simplify the problem. We specialize in upfit packages for the trades, including upfits for HVAC technicians. An upfit van lets you have everything you need for every job, while simultaneously making it easier to access.
Spending 10 minutes in your van or truck looking for the right tool may not sound like a lot of time – but if you must do it every job, it adds up. Lost efficiency is lost income, and it can reflect on your reputation!
Our HVAC upfits aren’t the only way to help you, either. While our trade packages make it easy for you to get an upfit that’s going to help, our distributors can help you get a custom upfit with Adrian Steel products that are guaranteed to make your job easier. A custom upfit means you can have the truck or van that allows you to work at peak efficiency!
Statistics on the HVAC Industry
The HVAC industry is massive – and growing in both people and revenue! With new trends, new construction and millions of homes ready for modern HVAC technology, there’s a lot going on for HVAC technicians:
- 5% Estimated Growth U.S. Residential HVAC Industry in 2019 (Statista)
- 13% increase in jobs in the HVAC sector by 2026 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- 72% of the HVAC industry is comprised of Building Equipment Contractors
- 5% Market Growth for U.S. HVAC Electronic Equipment in 2019
- Total Revenue in 2019 (U.S.): $97bn
- Ductless HVAC systems could come to represent up to 15% of the total industry revenues in the next 5 years (Aeroseal)
- 28% of the HVAC industry is comprised of single-family homes
- 1% of the industry serves apartment buildings
- 44% of HVAC sales will continue to be single household air conditioners which are consistently the largest share of the demand this industry sees
HVAC Groups & Associations
Whether you’re dipping your toe into the HVAC industry or you’re a veteran with decades of experience, trade associations can be priceless resources to help you learn, grow or network. Some of these associations are considered pillars of the industry, and they are critical to know for anyone considering a career in HVAC:
Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
The ACCA is a national trade association with the goal of furthering the interests of HVCAR businesses and the industry as a whole. With over 60,000 members, it’s one of the best associations to get involved with if you’re looking into an HVAC career.
As the leading indoor environment contracting association, the ACCA works tirelessly to the benefit of the industry and every community in the United States. Some of the major efforts of the ACCA are to work with professionals to promote
- Professional contracting in the HVCAR industry
- Energy efficiency for residential and business construction
- Healthy environments for homeowners and workers
But the ACCA also works directly with its members to help them in their career and field. They offer a great deal of benefits to their members, including unique learning opportunities from classes to conferences along with services like technical, legal and even marketing resources.
The ACCA also works with groups outside of the association to help make major leaps in safety and standards. They write stands for everything from design to installation and maintenance for indoor environment systems. Their work leads the world to better, safer and more efficient HVCAR systems.
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC)
Another respected association for the HVAC/R industry is the PHCC. Like the ACCA, the PHCC was founded with the purpose of advancing safety and education for plumbing and HVAC/R professional and technology.
One of the major missions of the PHCC is providing legislative advocacy for the industry. Their work leads to major progress in safety and environmental concerns for their specific fields of work. Some of their accomplishments include:
- Championing the cause of safe, adequate sanitation to state legislatures
- Advancing research and development towards improved plumbing appliances and fixtures
- Spearheading education programs to keep the plumbing and HVAC/R industries on pace with technological advancements
Their members work in every aspect of their industry, including residential, commercial, new construction, industrial and repair services. With over 3,300 businesses and 65,000 technicians in their ranks, the PHCC is a major organization in the HVAC/R and plumbing industries.
Top Trends in the HVAC Industry
Technology always moves forward, and the HVAC industry moves with it. If you’re looking for HVAC career information you won’t want to ignore the changes happening right now. Some of the biggest trends in modern HVAC could have major ramifications for what a career in HVAC is like!
Here are some of the tops trends in the HVAC industry today:
Smart HVAC
The title of “smart” gadgets grows every day, from phones to TVs and now even to appliances. You may have even heard the term “Internet of Things” or IOT. This is the concept of appliances and systems in our daily lives communicating with each out without direct supervision. In the HVAC world, there are plenty of applications for this:
Mobile Applications – The more our HVAC equipment can communicate automatically, the easier it is for HVAC systems to be controlled and examined remotely. We already see some basic systems for this, like smart thermostats that can be controlled by a smartphone across the world.
Education & Repair – Imagine a furnace that could warn you when the filter needs replaced with a push notification to your phone. Or when you contact an HVAC technician for service, you could have a diagnostic outline sent from your air conditioning unit detailing the most likely cause of the issue before they even arrive!
Self-Regulation – The smarter a device is, the better it can regulate itself. Furnaces and ACs could avoid damage and costly repairs by shutting down when problems happen, instead of letting them reach critical mass.
Sustainable Building Design
It takes a lot of energy to maintain an HVAC system in any building. Current HVAC specialists are working to improve aspects of HVAC systems like:
- Ventilation
- Construction materials
- Alternative energy sources
The goal is to reduce power consumption and improve the general efficiency of HVAC systems worldwide. Because essentially every permanent structure will have HVAC appliances and equipment associated with them, any step towards better efficiency helps build a greener world for tomorrow.
DeVAP HVAC
Moisture is a big concern for most trades. Everything from HVAC to construction and electronics have protocols for dealing with water and moisture risks. DeVAP HVAC is a new form of air conditioning which means “desiccant enhanced evaporative.” Desiccants are the term for substances used to absorb water.
The goal of DeVAP HVAC is to provide cooling effects using an evaporative cooling system. There are two primary benefits to this type of cooling. The first is a reduction in humidity, which can be of great help when it comes to general comfort as well as long-term maintenance of appliances. Secondly, this system requires substantially less energy than traditional methods of cooling.
Of course, there are additional benefits! One major concern with air conditioning in general is the use of refrigerants and their effect on the environment. DeVAP doesn’t require refrigerants, making it a greener alternative.
Solar HVAC
Another way experts are looking to make HVAC greener is through the use of solar energy. As solar cell technology improves, our ability to tap solar power for more essential functions of daily life increases. Because HVAC systems are ubiquitous, being able to apply this technology for home cooling could be a massive boon across the globe.
The benefits of solar aren’t limited to new construction, either. Homes and businesses are frequently retrofitted with solar systems as supplements or even their primary source of energy. The same could be done for existing air conditioning systems to bring older homes to modern standards.
Geothermal HVAC
Lastly, geothermal options in HVAC are growing in popularity for both cooling and heating. These systems run water through pipes into the ground, where natural temperatures either heat or cool the water. As the water is brought to the appropriate temperature, it travels to a unit where a fan, pump and compressor can deliver the air into parts of the building.
While these systems do use electronics for delivery, they circumvent the most energy-heavy part of the process: heating or cooling. Like solar or DeVAP, geothermal options dramatically reduce the overall energy requirements and produce fewer byproducts that may be bad for the environment.
About Adrian Steel & The HVAC Industry
Adrian Steel manufactures cargo management solutions including shelving, drawers, cabinets, partitions, ladder racks, and accessories. Our industry work with HVAC technicians is aimed at improving efficiency and reducing common headaches in your work day.
We are always evolving with you. As the industry shifts, Adrian Steel can help keep you moving forward with the right upfit solution designed around your business.
Our network of highly qualified distributors can help you create the ideal upfit for your vehicle.
Find a distributor near you to get started today!
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