As an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) technician, you will have to repair a few air conditioning units. Ever wondered just how it’s done? After all, it’s not magic, and it’s not something that takes ten years to learn, but is it really all that easy? Learn about some basic air conditioning repair procedures, and whether you can truly learn how to do it.
Troubleshooting
Something not working? Your main concern is finding out what. If there’s a sound, or a smell, you’ve got to be able to identify the problem. An HVAC technician is trained to recognize the problems first. No use in teaching you how to replace the coolant if you can’t recognize that that is where the problem lies. Valley College starts every technician’s career with troubleshooting, as it’s the first step in any situation.
Gathering Supplies
Once you’ve figured out what the problem is, you’ll need to know how to fix it, and what you’ll need. If something needs to be replaced, make sure you’ve got the right part for it, and know how to perform the replacement. Gather up the tools that you’ll need, and make sure that they’re well maintained and able to do the job. You’ll also need to get the appropriate gear on, as you don’t want to go crawling into an attic or stand outside for minutes on end without the right clothing. Being an HVAC technician can be dangerous, with exposures to cramped and heated attics, hot wires, or leaking units. Without the proper safety gear, you might end up walking out of the place requiring more bandages than when you came in. It’s important to acknowledge the dangers, and be cautious of everything you do, no matter the level of skill you possess.
Perform AC Repair
Once you’re ready to go, and know what you’re doing, get to work! Shut off the power to the unit, and begin the repair. The first necessity is to perform the replacement or to actually fix whatever the problem is. Once you’ve managed that, now is the perfect time to check on other things, like the cleanliness of the vents, any moisture or electrical leakage, or even the filters in the unit. As long as you’re always careful of the possibility of burns or shocks, you can perform a quick maintenance check to see if anything can be topped up or fixed. This helps keep the unit properly maintained, and can help stop larger problems from developing later on.
Perform a Safety Check
Now that you’re done with your repairs, give the unit another once over, and ensure that everything you’ve done is still in compliance with safety regulations. Check your repairs over once again to see whether there are any leaks or anything that needs reinforcement. It’s important to check twice before walking away, as you don’t want to inadvertently create a larger problem by leaving an exposed wire. Once you’re sure that everything you done has only helped the unit run more smoothly, and is still compliant to all the safety and efficiency regulations, you can put it back together and head on out. You’re done!
Cover Your Bases
If you’re performing this in a customer’s house, it’s up to you to alleviate their concerns. Start running the machine, and check it over again to ensure that it will indeed run smoothly. Even if you’re sure of your work, giving it that second glance will soothe your customer, and make them trust in your repair more. Don’t forget that you’re not just a technician that repairs air conditioning units. You’re also a service technician who deals with customers, and you need the customer service to match it! Being agreeable with them and providing that visible “check” will negate their worries and they will wave you goodbye with a large smile.
HVAC School
Think it the right choice for you? Figure that you can handle fixing the wiring in a machine and talking to a customer all in one visit? Then check out an HVAC school to get your HVAC certification! Valley College is the college that can help you prepare to receive your certifcation, and get you started on the path to your new career in less than a year. Learn how to perform a detailed air conditioning repair, and how to recognize a problem quickly and accurately.
Start your path to an HVAC career today, and learn about our training program at Valley College. In just nine months, you’ll learn how to perform more than just a basic repair procedure, you’ll be able to rebuild a broken unit from the blueprints up! It takes less than a year to change your career to something new and rewarding, so apply now to get started. When you graduate, you’ll walk out of Valley College with a certification and the knowledge that you can indeed withstand the dangers and hard work that comes with the HVAC business!