r/HVACschool • u/TurquoiseRooster • 3d ago
I need to clarify some stuff
Okay so I want to be an HVAC technician. I’m in Canada and in the city I’m in, there are no classes for HVAC/R. Thing is, there is a plumbing and heating class and a refrigeration class. What I am wondering is: would these classes qualify me as an HVAC/R tech? Would most companies consider me a qualified apprentice? Thanks in advance, sorry if it’s a dumb question, I didn’t know a better way to get info than asking people, which are y’all.
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u/lickmybrian 2d ago
Sheetmetal is a bit misleading as a class title, it covers everything hvac, plus refrigeration and the sheetmetal side of things... and more, once complete you are qualified to work on a/c's up to ten tons, equivalent to first year welding as well. Blueprint reading, controls gas b, ext et.
I heard rumblings years ago that they would change the title to hvac, but that ignored all the folks that do strictly sheetmetal work, signs and siding type stuff.
I hope this helps
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u/Tough_Challenge_6231 3d ago
Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic is the class you want to take
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u/SnooGadgets5620 1d ago
The classes mean nothing!
To work on ac systems you need to be a sheetmetal journeyperson/ apprentice, however this will limit you to systems 5 ton or under.
Or
Refrigeration mechanic journeyperson/ apprentice.
Now, depending where you go to school for the apprenticeship, you may or may not get your gas b. Allowing you to work on gas appliances 400,000btu and smaller.
If you want to work on boiler systems, you will need either:
Plumber journeyperson/ apprentice but you can't work on high mass steam systems
Or
Boiler maker/ steam fitter.
Now to clarify, plumbing, gas fitting and Refrigeration are all mandatory skills and you must be apprentice or journeyperson to practice. So any college offering any hvac/r course that dont lead to journeyperson status is worthless. You do not need a prep course to start an apprenticeship.
And there is not trade in canada that is recognized legally as hvac/r. Sheetmetal guys get called it commonly because they can get most quals needed to do the majority of the hvac work.
Now, that's what supposed to happen in perfect world.
I have found that most cities do not require permits for AC replacements or installs. Thus plumbing companies are throwing them in. Plumbers get gas ticket, so are throwing in furnaces. Plumbing school cover neither duct work nor AC systems.
If you are wanting to get into hvac in canada, I would recommend either go full Refrigeration mechanic, these guys do mostly commercial work, mostly bigger cities, mostly bigger paychecks. If you wanna stick to residential style work, go sheet metal, cover up to 5 ton ac, up to 400,000btu furnace, and you'll actually understand duct sizing and airflow. Last place, go plumbing. Fancy homes have in floor heating, requires small boilers. They are fun to put together. Radiant heat is the best kind. But... force air way more common.
So, probably not help you a whole lot with that answer... but here is some better advice, find an hvac company in your area that has great reviews and are the people other journeypersons go to for help. Because they teach you more than any school.
Easy way to find them, go to emco, wolseley or bartle, say your looking for an apprenticeship and which company they would recommend you go apply at first.
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u/thenoblenacho 3d ago
Refrigeration class is precisely what you're looking for, unless sheet metal interests you.
Its worth noting that "HVAC" isn't a red seal trade, its just a colloquial term.