Duties and responsibilities
A HVAC service engineer is responsible for finding faults on HVAC systems. They will then carry out repairs and maintenance on these systems. Their typical duties and responsibilities include:
- Troubleshooting boilers, ventilations and air conditioning service equipment
- Installing HVAC systems and monitoring them
- Travelling to different locations to service and test HVAC units and systems
- Finding faults and carrying our repairs and maintenance
- Advising customers on the best care for their HVAC system
- Ordering the parts for repair
Qualifications
To become a HVAC service engineer you will need a high school diploma or equivalent. You will then need to complete either postsecondary education (where you will get on-the-job training afterwards) or an apprenticeship program. HVAC service engineers will need a HVAC certification, as they are working with refrigerators.
Skills and relevant work experience
HVAC service engineer should aim to get as much work experiences as possible. They will also need skills such as:
-
- Physical fitness and stamina, as HVAC service engineers will have to carry heavy materials
- Communication skills, as HVAC service engineers will have to communicate the issues with the systems to clients
- Detail orientation, as HVAC service engineers need to be able to spot problems with HVAC systems
- Technical skills, as HVAC service engineers will have to run the equipment that checks for problems
- Teamwork skills, as HVAC service engineers will often work as part of a team
Hours
HVAC service engineers will work full time hours. They may, however, have to work overtime in busy periods and/or be on call incase of emergencies.
Salary
According to salary.com, the median hourly wage for HVAC service engineers is $33. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28 per hour, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $38 per hour.
Apprentices tend to earn less than qualified HVAC service engineers.
Progression
HVAC service engineers may start off as HVACR technicians. They will have specialized and completed further training in order to be a service engineer. In terms of advancement, HVACR service engineers may gather more experience and knowledge and set up their own company and become self-employed.