An air-conditioning mechanic installs, maintains, and repairs air conditioning systems as well as heating, ventilation and cooling systems. Their basic job tasks include installing air-conditioning and heaters, conducting maintenance checks, repairing damaged air-con, heaters and coolers, changing spare parts, encoding reported damages, and checking leakage. They also start up system and test for leaks through the use of testing devices, recharge system with refrigerant, check and test regulators, and prepare work estimates for clients. An air-conditioning mechanic may work with a system big enough to cool an entire building or with a small one fit for a room.
To be an air-conditioning mechanic, one must be very knowledgeable on how air-cons and cooling and heating systems work. He or she must be able to easily detect damages and malfunctions, efficiently change spare parts, and communicate the problems to the client or co-mechanics. In terms of education, one must be a graduate of a short vocational course in air conditioning and cooling technician and/or have at least 2 years experience in the industry. Further training can be obtained through vocational or technical schools. Some states require licensing or certification which can be obtained through an approved U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program. A certification boosts one’s employment opportunities.
An air-conditioning mechanic earns an average salary of $19.08 per hour according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment is expected to grow faster as the need for air-conditioning, heating, and refrigeration increases. Turnover rate is high and more buildings that require cooling and heating systems are being built every year.