While back pain calls for a doctor or chiropractor, cold air blowing into an office sends people running to the building engineer. His staff maintains and troubleshoots problems in 22 buildings such as Kirkland City Hall. Advanced technical knowledge is needed now as much as the traditional mechanical skills. To meet the industry's demand, the Puget Sound region's community colleges and union halls are churning out well-trained HVAC graduates who often are snapped up by the industry before they complete the course. Renton Technical College's HVAC program focuses on troubleshooting and maintenance, with an emphasis on indoor air quality.
Students can attend the six-quarter program full time or part time.
Though most of the students come from the construction industry and are looking for year-round work with benefits, instructor Daryl Walker said the transition isn't always smooth. Not only do successful HVAC workers need mechanical aptitude, they must have strong people skills, he said. We need people who care about their appearance and attitude because our customers are the ones occupying the buildings, and we have to face them everyday. The equipment doesn't change that much - commercial equipment is bigger, but the theory is the same. Union apprenticeship programs are another way to break into the HVAC field.