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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

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