9781422276860

Building Trades A GROWING DEMAND CAREERS IN THE

Technician

Andrew Morkes

Building Trades A GROWING DEMAND CAREERS IN THE Heating and Cooling Technician

Careers in the Building Trades A Growing Demand

Apprenticeships Carpenter Construction & Building Inspector Electrician Flooring Installer Heating and Cooling Technician Masonry Worker Plumber Roofer Working in Green Construction

CAREERS IN THE

Building Trades A GROWING DEMAND

Heating and Cooling Technician

Andrew Morkes

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D Broomall, Pennsylvania 19008 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2019 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher.

First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ISBN (hardback) 978-1-4222-4116-5

ISBN (series) 978-1-4222-4110-3 ISBN (ebook) 978-1-4222-7686-0 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress

Developed and Produced by National Highlights Inc. Proofreader: Mika Jin Interior and cover design: Yolanda Van Cooten Production: Michelle Luke

QR CODES AND LINKS TO THIRD-PARTY CONTENT You may gain access to certain third-party content (“Third-Party Sites”) by scanning and using the QR Codes that appear in this publication (the “QR Codes”). We do not operate or control in any respect any information, products, or services on such Third-Party Sites linked to by us via the QR Codes included in this publication, and we assume no responsibility for any materials you may access using the QR Codes. Your use of the QR Codes may be subject to terms, limitations, or restrictions set forth in the applicable terms of use or otherwise established by the owners of the Third-Party Sites. Our linking to such Third-Party Sites via the QR Codes does not imply an endorse- ment or sponsorship of such Third-Party Sites or the information, products, or services offered on or through the Third-Party Sites, nor does it imply an endorsement or sponsorship of this publica- tion by the owners of such Third-Party Sites.

INTRODUCTION: The Trades: Great Careers, Good Money, and Other Rewards.......... 6 CHAPTER 1: What Do Heating and Cooling Technicians Do?. ....... 11 CHAPTER 2: Tools of the Trade. .......................................................... 24 CHAPTER 3: Terms of the Trade.......................................................... 26 CHAPTER 4: Preparing for the Field and Making a Living. ............. 31 ON THE JOB: Interview with a Professional....................................... 48 CHAPTER 5: Key Skills and Methods of Exploration........................ 51 CHAPTER 6: The Future of the Heating and Cooling Occupation. . 63 Series Glossary of Key Terms................................................................. 72 Index. ......................................................................................................... 75 Further Reading, Internet Resources and Video Credits.................... 79 contents

KEY ICONS TO LOOK FOR:

Words to understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills.

Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments and much more!

Text-dependent questions: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there.

Research projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Series glossary of key terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

Introduction The Trades: Great Careers, Good Money, and Other Rewards Trades workers play a major role in the success of economies throughout the world. They keep us cool in the summer and warm in the winter (heating and cooling tech- nicians), build structures ranging from houses to skyscrapers (carpenters and iron- workers), and install and repair pipes that carry water, fuel, and other liquids to, from, and within businesses, factories, and homes (plumbers and pipefitters), among many other job duties. Yet despite their important role in our have misconceptions about the trades. They have been told that the trades are low-paying, lack job security, and other untruths. In fact, working in the trades is one of the best career choices you can make. The following paragraphs provide more information on why a career in the trades is a good idea. Good pay. Contrary to public perception, skilled trades workers earn salaries that place them firmly in the middle class. For example, average yearly salaries for heating and cooling technicians in the United States are $48,320, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. This salary is slightly higher than the average earnings for some careers that require a bachelor’s or graduate degree—including recreational therapists, $48,190; child, family, and school social workers, $47,510; and mental health counselors, $46,050. Trades workers who become managers or who launch their own businesses can have earnings that range from $90,000 to $200,000. society, only 6 percent of students consider a career in the trades, according to ExploretheTrades.org. Why? Because many young people

6

Strong employment prospects. There are shortages of trades workers throughout the world, according to the human resource consulting firm ManpowerGroup. In fact, trades workers are the most in-demand occupational field in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. They ranked fourth in the Asia-Pacific region. Provides a comfortable life without a bachelor’s or graduate degree. For decades in the United States and other countries, there has been an emphasis on earning a college degree as the key to life success. But studies show that only 35 percent of future jobs in the United States will require a four-year degree or higher. With college tuition continuing to increase and the chances of landing a good job out of college decreasing, a growing number of people are entering apprenticeship programs to prepare for careers in the trades. And unlike college students, apprentices receive a salary while learning and they don’t have to pay off loans after they complete their education. It’s a good feeling to start your career without $50,000 to $200,000 in college loans. Rewarding work environment and many career options. A career in the trades is fulfilling because you get to use both your hands and your head to solve problems and make the world a better place. You can work at a construction site, at a manufacturing plant, at a business, and in other settings. Many trades workers launch their own busi- nesses. Jobs can’t be offshored. Trades careers involve hands-on work that requires the worker to be on-site to do his or her job. As a result, there is no chance that your position will be offshored to a foreign country. In an uncertain employment atmosphere, that’s encouraging news. Job opportunities are available throughout the United States and the world. There is a need for trades workers in small towns and big cities. If demand for their skills is not strong in their geographic area, they can move to other cities, states, or countries where demand is higher.

7

Are the Trades Right for Me? Test your interest in the trades. How many of these statements do you agree with? □ □ My favorite class in school is shop. □ □ I like doing household repairs. □ □ I like to use power and hand tools. □ □ I like projects that allow me to work with my hands. □ □ I enjoy observing work at construction sites. □ □ I like to build electronics and other things that require electricity. □ □ I like to build and fix things. □ □ I like to watch home-repair shows on TV and the internet. □ □ I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. □ □ I am good at math. □ □ I like to figure out how things work. If many of the statements above describe you, then you should consider a career in the trades. But you don’t need to select a career right now. Check out this book on a career as a heating and cooling technician and other books in the series to learn more about occupa- tional paths in the trades. Good luck with your career exploration!

8

9

■ ■ A heating and cooling technician repairs wiring on an air-conditioner.

Words to Understand

allergen: Any substance such as pollen, dust, mold, and pet dander that is recognized by the immune system and causes an allergic reaction. aqueduct: A system of typically downward sloping pipes and support structures that brings water from a distant source to a city or other destination. geothermal power: Energy that is created by harvesting heat that exists below the earth. perishable goods: Food (fruits, vegetables, fresh meat, etc.) and medicines that deteriorate quickly if not refrigerated or frozen. pollutant: Any substance (such as tobacco and other types of smoke, household chemicals, etc.) that is introduced into the environment that causes a negative effect on humans, plants, animals, ecosystems, and the overall envi- ronment. solar energy: Energy that is produced by harvesting the heat and energy of the sun.

Chapter What Do Heating and Cooling Technicians Do? 1 No one takes heating and cooling technicians for granted on a blistering hot summer day or a bone-chattering winter night. These skilled professionals keep us cool or warm—depending on the season—in our homes and businesses, and in other settings. But heating and cooling technicians have many other duties that make our lives easier and safer. They ensure that refrigeration systems at grocery stores (no one wants melted ice cream!), hospitals, ice rinks,

factories, and other places operate correctly. Others install and repair air purification systems that protect us from allergens , household chem- icals, and other pollutants . Some heating and cooling technicians specialize in servicing residential heating, ventilation, and air-condi- tioning (HVAC) systems, while others work in commercial and industrial settings installing and servicing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) systems. Heating and cooling technicians work for construction companies, factories, hospitals, sports teams, and contractors. Others operate their own businesses.

■ ■ Heating and cooling technicians don’t just fix furnaces and air-conditioners. They also make sure that the ice at hockey stadiums stays frozen.

To obtain their skills, aspiring heating and cooling technicians complete apprenticeships or training programs at technical schools. Others receive informal training from experienced

11

A History of Air-Conditioning

Ancient China: An inventor named Ding Huane builds a room-sized, manually powered rotary fan. Ancient Rome: Wealthy homeowners use aqueducts to circulate cool water through the walls of their homes. Third Century Rome: The emperor Elagabalus has workers build a mountain of snow (carried in from the mountains) in his garden next to his villa to stay cool during the summer. 18th century: The American inventor Benjamin Franklin experiments with evaporation and alcohol to achieve freezing temperatures. 1820: The British inventor Michael Faraday discovers that he can cool the air inside his laboratory by compressing and liquidizing ammonia and then allowing it to evaporate. 1881: Naval engineers build a basic air-conditioning system that consists of air blown through cotton sheets doused in ice water for a dying President James Garfield. It’s estimated that the machine uses half a million pounds (226,796 kilograms) of ice in two months. 1902: Air-conditioning as we know it today is invented by a young engineer named Willis Carrier. His initial goal is to create a system to reduce humidity (the level of water vapor in the air) at a printing plant. 1914: Air-conditioning is installed in a home for the first time. 1931: The window air-conditioning unit is invented. 1939: The first air-conditioned car is invented. 1953: More than one million air-conditioning units in the United States are sold. Today: About 75 percent of homes in the United States have some form of air-conditioning. The use of air-conditioning varies greatly around the world, but it is growing. The Future: An estimated 700 million air-conditioners are expected to be installed around the world by 2030. Sources: Slate, Popular Mechanics, Lawrence Berkeley National Labo- ratory, U.S. Department of Energy

12

heating and cooling technicians or formal training through the military. Many cities, states, and countries require heating and cooling technicians to be licensed. Most HVACR technicians love their jobs because this career provides a great combination of rewarding and constantly-changing work, good pay (without having to earn a four-year degree), and the chance to help others.

■ ■ Heating and cooling technicians and instructors discuss the rewards of working in the field and the trades in general, occupational specialties, and the work environment.

What Heating and Cooling Technicians Do Your job duties as a heating and cooling technician will vary somewhat depending on where you work: residential (homes, condominiums), commercial (grocery stores), or industrial (factories, oil refineries, natural gas processing plants, etc.) settings. For example, refriger- ation technicians install, maintain, and repair refrigeration components in refrigerated trucks, grocery stores, cold-storage facilities, sports stadiums, and any other place that has refriger- ation equipment, while technicians who serve residential customers would not work on such systems. With that said, most heating and cooling technicians perform the following duties: • Review blueprints, wiring diagrams, and schematic designs before installing new HVACR systems or repairing old ones • Plan the layout of pipework and ducts for new installation jobs • Provide cost estimates to customers detailing the cost to repair or replace a system • Install new HVACR systems by using hand and power tools and other equipment • Measure and cut piping and connect pipes, ductwork, and other components • Connect HVACR systems to air ducts, fuel and water supply lines, and other components

13

Did You Know?

Air-conditioning/refrigeration was selected as one of the ten greatest mechanical engineering achievements of the twentieth century, according to a survey of members of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

• Troubleshoot and repair existing HVACR systems by using digital tools and visual inspection methods • Perform preventive maintenance on customers’ HVACR systems including cleaning ducts; inspecting, adjusting, and replacing belts; lubricating motors, bearings, and pulleys and adjusting as necessary; checking refrigerant (a type of chemical that is used in air-conditioners and refrigeration systems to cool air) levels; replacing filters; and adjusting humidifier settings • Follow government rules regarding the conservation, recovery, and recycling or disposal of refrigerants • Respond to emergency calls such as malfunctioning furnaces and air-conditioners, carbon monoxide leaks, etc. Green construction, or green building, is a relatively new concept that stresses energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, the use of eco-friendly or fewer construction materials (when possible), and the structure’s overall effects on its site or the larger community. Green heating and cooling technicians perform job duties such as: • Conducting energy audits of homes and businesses to help reduce the amount of energy being used and identify areas of the home or business where hot or cold air is being lost • Installing and servicing energy-saving furnaces and air-conditioners (including those that are full- or partly powered by solar energy , geothermal power , or other sources of green energy), programmable thermostats, and other energy-efficient equipment and devices. You’ll like working as a green heating and cooling technician if you care about protecting the environment and helping customers reduce energy waste, enjoy solving problems, and welcome interaction with others.

14