Heating and Cooling Technicians

Working conditions for heating and cooling technicians vary considerably depending on the area of the industry in which they work. For the most part, the hours are regular, although certain jobs in production may involve shift work, and service technicians may have to be on call some evenings and weekends to handle emergency repairs.

Technicians who are employed in installation and service may work in a variety of environments ranging from industrial plants to construction sites and can include both indoor and outdoor duties. Technicians may encounter extremes in temperature when servicing outdoor and rooftop equipment and cramped quarters when servicing indoor commercial and industrial equipment. They often have to lift heavy objects as well as stoop, crawl, and crouch when making repairs and installations. Working conditions can include dirt, grease, noise, and safety hazards such as falls from rooftops or scaffolds, electric shocks, burns, and handling refrigerants and compressed gases. The U.S. Department of Labor says that heating and cooling technicians "have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations." With proper precautions and safety measures, however, risks can be minimized.

Technicians who work in laboratories usually work in the research and development departments of a manufacturing firm or an industrial plant. Technicians employed by distributors, dealers, and consulting engineers usually work in an office or similar surroundings and are subject to the same benefits and conditions as other office workers. Some technicians, such as sales representatives or service managers, go out periodically to visit customers or installation and service sites.