What Types of Businesses Hire HVAC Service Technicians?

If you’re considering a career as an HVAC service technician, you might be assuming you’ll work for a company that does HVAC service and installations. Which is, of course, where the majority of the jobs are. However, there are other options that you might not be aware of, especially as you progress in your career.

In this article, we’ll look at the other types of organizations (not only businesses) that hire HVAC service technicians. Then we’ll share some advice about where to look for your first job.  

Businesses & organizations that hire HVAC service technicians

HVAC service & installation companies.  This is the obvious place to look for HVAC service technician jobs. These companies will hire anywhere from a few technicians to hundreds, depending on their size. Each company has its own focus and type of service that they specialize in, so  you might have the opportunity to do residential, commercial, or industrial work. 

Learn more: The Best HVAC Companies to Work For Are Union Shops

Refrigeration service companies.  Companies that service refrigeration equipment for supermarkets, restaurants, other food service businesses, and even manufacturing facilities often hire people with HVAC service experience who can learn to do refrigeration service.

Schools and universities.  Schools with large campuses, especially universities that have dormitory and food service facilities, often hire their own HVAC service technicians because of the constant need for repairs and maintenance. And don’t forget that there are technical and engineering schools that teach HVAC repair, and they need experts as instructors.

Retail chains.  Companies with many retail locations in the same area may employ HVAC service technicians to repair and maintain their equipment. They gain the advantage of always having an expert available so they reduce HVAC downtime that affects comfort conditions, which can drive away customers and impact their revenue.

Restaurant groups.  Like retail chains, companies that own a group of restaurants in one city may hire HVAC service technicians (and also refrigeration service technicians) to take care of the equipment throughout all their locations. Restaurants also have specialized needs for ventilation to keep heat and odors from the kitchen from migrating to dining areas.

Office buildings.  Large office complexes, especially in a big city, may have a facilities maintenance staff that includes HVAC service technicians to maintain large chiller systems and other types of base building HVAC systems. They may also need HVAC and Refrigeration experts to maintain equipment in food service areas.

Medical facilities.  Hospitals, surgical centers, testing locations and other large medical facilities also may hire on-staff HVAC professionals to keep specialty equipment maintained and make repairs quickly when needed. They have specialized needs for ventilation and clean-room facilities that require monitoring and frequent maintenance.

Industrial plants.  Power and other utility plants can’t afford HVAC downtime, and also have specialized needs to maintain temperature and humidity conditions where power-generating equipment is housed. That’s why they may hire a team of HVAC service technicians on staff.

Research laboratories.  These types of facilities often have specialized systems for process cooling in addition to the usual heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems. Like medical facilities, these need monitoring, ongoing maintenance, and quick action when something goes wrong, so having HVAC technicians on staff makes sense for large facilities.

Factories.  Manufacturing plants and factories also may have specialized process cooling systems that need frequent maintenance and repairs, in addition to heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems. 

Where should you apply for an entry level service technician position?

Here’s why most of the organizations listed above hire their own HVAC technicians:

• Their facilities are large enough to have enough ongoing service work for one or more full-time employees. 
• They need people with specific skills and experience to work on their specialty equipment.
• They need a guaranteed quick response when a problem arises, which they might not be able to count on when using an outside vendor.

Most of these organizations don’t have a large HVAC service team, so they are less likely to hire entry-level technicians and train them like service companies do. As you gain more knowledge and experience, you might choose to specialize in one area and work directly for a large facility.

If you’re just starting out, however, your best bet is to apply to companies that specialize in HVAC maintenance, repair, and installations. These companies generally hire new entry-level technicians every spring (and often year round), training them over a period of years to become fully qualified HVAC experts. 

Learn more:

Entry-Level HVAC Jobs: 5 Ways to Land One

HVAC Technician Apprenticeship: What to Expect in the First Year

HVACR Career Connect NY was created to promote the exceptional quality-of-life benefits of a career in HVAC and Refrigeration service, and also to provide a clear path for getting started in the profession. In doing so, we serve as a resource for employers in the New York City metro area to find and hire smart and capable new technicians. We also serve as an educational resource to support business growth and to help service technicians succeed in their chosen profession.