AUSTIN, Texas — With cold weather on the way, it’s a busy time for crews fixing furnaces and heating systems.
With HVAC technicians in high-demand, the workforce needs a new generation of hands-on workers.
There are several programs looking to fill the need in Central Texas, and graduates are already out in the field getting to work before the cold snap arrives.
Edgar Garcia is already a registered air conditioning and refrigeration technician at just 18 years old. He’s part of the installation team at Efficient AC, Electric & Plumbing.
“We tend to do like an install a day, or some other repairs,” Garcia said.
Everything Garcia’s learned, he was taught in a training he graduated from just two months ago.
“My HVAC program– the Skillpoint Alliance program for HVAC– was five weeks,” Garcia said.
From reading textbooks to getting hands-on experience, Garcia says he learned the basics of HVAC training all for free. He was hired as soon as he graduated, and his work has been steady as the upcoming cold snap fast approaches.
“School-wise, I guess in a way, just jumping into the work environment– it’s a lot different so you gotta adjust yourself and be ready to learn everything,” Garcia said.
People in the HVAC industry say they’re gonna need the help with this incoming freeze.
“Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, from the look of it, we’re going to be very busy,” said Vic Fredlund, an HVAC technician for 31 years. “Phones are gonna be ringing. We’re going to be running service calls and trying to get people’s heat turned back on.”
Fredlund, the operations manager at Abacus Austin, says their calls for service are rivaling what they would get during the summer at peak demand.
“We’re probably running in the neighborhood of 30, 40, 50 calls a day. On the plumbing side, I think it’s going to be reactive as pipes break,” Fredlund said.
Fredlund says they’re still able to do same day service now, but come Monday, people may have to wait a day or two for service.
However, he says there are things folks can do to be proactive and keep their homes warm.
“Make sure your heater is working before the cold gets here. Check your filter, make sure your filters are clean,” Fredlund said. “Potentially, because of lack of airflow, it could overheat the furnace and shut it off on safety devices.”
As for your pipes, Fredlund says if a pipe does crack, make sure you know where the valve is to turn off the water. He says it’s typically located near the edge of the yard.
Fredlund also says you should cover hose attachments and pipes outside of your home with Styrofoam covers to protect them. He says they’re easy to buy at a home goods store or HEB.
Fredlund also says for prolonged lower temperatures, you can also drip the faucets in your house, and if you’re using space heaters, make sure you’re not using too many or it could overload the circuit.
A Skillpoint Alliance spokesperson told KVUE that they have 100 students on the waitlist for classes now, and the ones who graduate usually get hired immediately.
They say they have 10 classes running this year due to the high demand.