What Is Involved In HVAC Engineering Jobs?

HVAC, also known as Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, engineers install and service air quality and temperature systems in an array of different environments. HVAC Engineering Jobs can include working in homes, with businesses, and travelling quite a lot.

One of the biggest considerations for a HVAC engineering job is safety. Each work location you visit must have their temperature and ventilation systems assessed. You will need to work safely and efficiently whilst ensuring the room remains secure and at an appropriate temperature.

Whilst being a HVAC Engineer, you are responsible for making sure all of your equipment is up to date and reaches the required safety standards, you have all the necessary safety gear and equipment needed to carry out tasks, along with ensuring each area is safe prior, during, and after work has been carried out.

Once you have ensured that the site is safe to carry work out, plans must be put in place and implemented methodically. These plans should explain the location of all pipework, ducts, along with control panels. Once this has been prepared, the manual labour will be much easier.

Now it comes down to installing these systems and carrying out quality checks which will identify whether your systems are functioning appropriately, and everything is safe.

Once systems have been installed, services must be done to check they are still performing correctly and safely.

When you are servicing systems, you are on the lookout for any faults or safety concerns. It is your responsibility to find and repair any faults before significant damage is caused or peoples safety is put in jeopardy.

A positive aspect of this job involves helping your customers reduce their usage on energy and help cut down their energy bills. 

Skills And Abilities Required To Be A HVAC Engineer

HVAC Engineering Jobs require a certain range of skills and abilities to ensure that the job is carried out efficiently and in a safe manner.

Having a strong understanding of building and construction plays a vital part in this industry and will certainly make your day run much more smoothly – this is especially required for installing systems.

When you are planning on location, understanding the building layout will allow the system to be installed in a safe and appropriate area. You will be able to avoid pipes, weaker spots, and wires prior to installation.

The next skill you will require is rational thinking with the ability to take the initiative and be able to think on your feet. Unfortunately, we are all aware that many things do not exactly go to plan or at least how we expect it too.

This can often happen in our working environment and often requires fast thinking and the use of initiative to guarantee the job is still completed. Whether this is a miscalculation with the construction of the building or different equipment and systems being in place than what should be used.

It is extremely important to remember that whilst you are thinking on your feet and using your initiative, everything is still carried out safely and no corners are cut.

With safety in mind, being able to handle machinery and tools appropriately is absolutely essential to work as an engineer.

A large range of the equipment used can cause injury if not handled correctly and can be life-threatening. Attention to detail will help keep yourself, other employees, and customers safe whilst you are working. Always follow the correct protocol!

Lastly, good customer service skills are key to all industries which deal with customers face to face.

The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are regularly located in your client’s home, business, or even vehicles which means it is vital to treat each working area with respect alongside the customer themselves!

Where You Can Expect To Work As A HVAC Engineer

Becoming a HVAC Engineer can have you working in a range of different locations and settings. Areas can include schools, factories, office buildings, and hospitals.

It is not uncommon for a HVAC Engineer to be required to perform work outside…often occurring when specific areas of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units need an assessment.

Whilst you will often work your typical day of 40 hour per week. Some companies may ask for overtime to be carried out to help meet deadlines.

You may also be asked to cover weekend shifts or out of hours to fix emergencies for clients – this will all depend on the company you are employed by and your skills and qualifications.

Travelling across the country can also be a potential request if clients are requiring your service in different locations. Again, this can all depend on your skills and qualifications.

Due to needing to travel to clients in the area and potentially across the country, a full clean driving licence is highly recommended!

Qualifications, Experience Required, And The Typical Salary For A HVAC Engineer

To become a HVAC Engineer, there are certain prerequisites which you will need to achieve in order to increase your chances of being employed. Considerations include:

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or something of similar relevance will be required by a majority of employers. You may find that this is just a preference in some job descriptions.
• Having the capability of operating machinery and tools is often a necessity…some prospective employers may only request that you have gained experience doing this.
• Experience in air conditioning is highly recommended whilst gaining technical knowledge throughout.
• Many recommend that you are F-Gas certified, and they also request that you are holding a CSCS card, however, owning this card is not a requirement.
• Experience in operating 2D and 3D design software.

If you are yet to have accumulated several years of experience as a HVAC engineer, a great pathway to help you build up this experience it to take can an apprenticeship in HVAC engineering. This will help you gain experience and qualifications whilst earning a wage. Once you have done this, you can begin climb the ladder.

A typical salary for the average HVAC Engineer is £37,310 per annum. The starting wage in this industry can average around £25,000 and higher-level wages being £47,000 per annum.

Whilst you may be required to start at the lower end of this industry, working up the career ladder is relatively stable and rewarding. So…start at the bottom, gain all the experience you can possibly get and grab every opportunity possible!

Do you need help writing your engineering CV? Perhaps you are unsure which things need mentioning and what should be left out…if so, check out our CV tips for engineer’s blog.

Finding a new job can be challenging as well as daunting, but by using a recruitment agency you can eliminate you your worries and have peace of mind that everything has been done correctly!

Submit your CV to one of our technical recruitment specialists and let us help you!