What is Residential HVAC?

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. As a residential HVAC technician, you will work on installing duct systems for builders in the housing industry. You may work in new construction for a specialized custom home builder or for high-volume builders who develop large subdivisions containing many homes. You'll install ductwork for a wide variety of residences including single family homes, town homes, and apartment buildings. You may also work on duct systems for existing buildings to remodel, upgrade, or troubleshoot these systems. Most of your work will be done in the field.

Opportunities in this field include:

• New construction installer
• Residential finish installer
• Retrofit technician
• Residential services technician

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For a quick look into the experience you will have as a Residential HVAC sheet metal worker, click here.

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Residential HVAC: Curriculum

• Installation of HVAC systems and air distribution systems
• Wiring and connecting HVAC equipment
• Retrofitting and adding HVAC components to existing systems
• Troubleshooting and repair
• Safety

Ready to Get Started?

If you're ready to learn more about a career in the sheet metal industry, complete the request for information form. We'll match you to a training center in your area. Your local training school or Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) will contact you in about a week.

ITI's Residential Curriculum focuses on turning out professional, trained and competent technicians who are fully productive on their first day on the job. Once they have completed ITI's Residential training, ITI technicians are totally knowledgeable of electrical and mechanical controls, refrigeration, air flow, duct work fabrication and design and the principles of healthy indoor environments. ITI-trained residential HVAC apprentices are also trained to:

• Install, repair and service home systems;
• Troubleshoot and diagnose problems;
• Calculate loads and system sizes; and
• Read blueprints and specifications

How we can help your business? By providing your company with a highly-trained, productive, motivated and professional workforce. Click Play to find out more...

New Construction Installer

ITI's New Construction Installer Curriculum exposes students to the range of residential systems and equipment on the market today, ductwork fabrication and layout, installation techniques, maintenance of the worksite, and hands-on experience with tools and equipment found on the typical residential worksite. Apprentices earn union wages and benefits as they acquire on-the-job experience with top-line employers. Classroom instruction provides insight into the most up-to-date installation practices and techniques.

Finish Installer

ITI's Finish Installer Curriculum hones in on the skills you'll need to install mechanical systems, or to shape and place materials initially produced in the shop when it arrives at the construction site. Using shears, rotors, saws and other state-of-art equipment under the supervision of experienced instructors, you'll learn the proper techniques for shaping assembling and fitting ductwork, placing grillwork and registers; installing specialized equipment such air cleaners, humidifiers and special thermostats as well as specii c safety practices related to specialized tools used in the finishing process.

Retrofit Technician

ITI's Retrofit Technician Curriculum trains apprentices in dealing directly with customers and existing conditions within a residential setting. The program develops diagnostic and troubleshooting skills, and trains students in repairs and the selection and placement of enhancements to residential systems to add efficiency and capacity to an existing system.

Service Technician

Building on the knowledge and experience developed in other phases of the HVAC Residential Curriculum, ITI's Service Technician Curriculum rei nes the apprentice's mechanical skills, understanding of electrical systems, refrigeration and HVAC operations, blending that knowledge base with good interpersonal communications and sales skills. An ITI-trained Service Technician is self-confident and professional, capable of dealing independently with customers as a representative of the employer

Core Curriculum

Your SMWIA apprenticeship blends hands-on practical work experience with classroom time and projects that challenge your creativity. ITI's Core Curriculum provides a complete overview of all aspects of sheet metal work. Instructors are industry professionals, graduates of the same kind of training. Your classroom is a state of the art lab—fully equipped with the same tools and instruments that are used every day on the job. Textbooks and teaching aids include the latest technology and practical applications. Advantages of SMWIA "can-do" approach—practical knowledge reinforced by hands-on experience, under the direction of the foremost leaders in the industry.

Our "can-do" system makes it easier to master:

• Practical math
• Computer-aided design (or CAD)
• Reading blueprints
• Care and use of tools
• Fabrication of materials into usable forms
• Installation techniques