HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING

AND REFRIGERATION

ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

When it comes to essential services delivered by a professional trade, few rank as high in utmost importance as the heating/cooling and refrigeration industry.

From keeping our modern-day homes, offices and businesses comfortably heated in winter and cool in the summer, to allowing the transport and storage of food and products, there can be no argument—we would be lost without this skilled trade. Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, HVAC/R, make possible our lives as we know them today.

And HVAC/R is truly a growth industry, wide open and expanding every day. Advancements in technology, ecological awareness and consumer demands will drive this exciting industry well into the future. There is no better time to begin a new career.

At M-TEC at Kirtland-Gaylord, we can help get your HVAC/R career on track and into high gear. Whether you choose to attain an associate in applied science degree or a certificate of completion, our trained and licensed instructors will set you up in an individual training program that will provide you the education necessary to prosper in this dynamic field.

AT M-TEC, THAT IS WHERE YOUR TRAINING BEGINS

On your way to an HVAC/R career that is as challenging as it is exciting, you will learn the basics of the trade. Safety on the job is number one and M-TEC instructors will show you what you need to make this trait second nature. You will learn trade and construction math and the proper use and care of hand and power tools, along with blueprint reading and basic rigging will give you the educational foundation you need to succeed in the HVAC/R industry.

Your success is our primary goal at M-TEC—when you leave the classroom, you enter M-TEC’s specialized HVAC/R lab, with all the modern up-to-date heating, cooling and refrigeration equipment you will encounter in the field; it’s equipment that you will use for five levels of personal training.

Electronics are a big component in today’s equipment and you will acquire the skills to test and trouble shoot the electrical systems, the supply, circuit and control wiring, used on current HVAC/R equipment. Learn pipe and tubing practices—brazing and soldering of copper, as well as the methods and practices of ferrous piping—skills looked for by employers which will stand you apart from others when you’re ready to enter the trade. And skills you will put to good use once you’re at work in the trade.

Your training at M-TEC will cover everything you need to meet the demands of this diverse industry. You will attain all the knowledge necessary to make you feel competent in the operation, maintenance and service of heating and cooling systems—electric, oil and gas; both hot water and forced air. You will learn air distribution—not just blowers, but accessories such as purifiers and humidifiers; even the properties of air movement and proper air system balancing. You will also learn exhaust methods such as chimneys, vents and flues as well as supply and make-up air, skills more important than ever, considering today’s airtight building practices.

And no trade is more ecologically sensitive than HVAC/R. Concerns about global warming brought a great change to the HVAC/R industry and the way in which refrigerants are handled. You must now be tested and certified to work with refrigerants and your instructors will teach you leak detection, evacuation, recovery and refrigerant system charging. They are skills you’ll need to pass your exam and skills you will use every day in the service and installation of any refrigerant-bearing equipment.

This new-found awareness spread throughout the industry and energy efficiency is now a common goal. You will gain plenty of knowledge of energy conservation equipment and management systems.

Even the simplest HVAC/R equipment can seem complex. Modern systems have an abundance of safety and control devices—switches, sensors and relays that monitor proper function and perform different tasks. M-TEC’s knowledgeable instructors will cover these control functions and components when you learn to troubleshoot and service equipment. You gain real, field-proven skills you could not do without and which are real eye catchers on a resume or application.

The homes and buildings of today are built like never before. With a standard of efficiency and usefulness that can sometimes seem contradictory, it is the job of the HVAC/R technician to provide a level of comfort that can be no less than perfect. Toward that end you will study system design so you can provide the customer with the comfort they have come to expect and which they deserve.

Equally as important as home and commercial heating and cooling, are domestic, commercial and industrial refrigeration. Keeping food fresh, either cold or frozen, for shipment and storage adds untold benefits to our lives. And refrigerant-controlled temperatures are used to extend the life of medical supplies, further making today’s world a safer place. Industrial and medical facilities use refrigerants to control environments and perform processes that often can be called nothing less than cutting-edge and these will all become a source of business and income to trained, professional HVAC/R technicians and installers.

M-TEC’s instructors will walk you through expansion devices, temperature controls, defrost controls and timers, as well as other aspects and components of commercial and industrial refrigeration – knowledge and skills that will give you a greater competitive edge on the job market and open yet another door in the world of business.

To give you one more personal sales pitch, you study water treatment. What minerals are contained in our water and what effect will they have on the boiler systems and appliances in the modern home? How are they best removed? Today’s consumer awareness of health and water quality make this a value-added bonus for both your resume and your pocket book.

Students who continue toward their associate’s degree also receive graphics and computer-aided drafting training, as well as general education classes—additional education to boost their general knowledge or to use for transfer to a four-year university.

The HVAC/R industry is vast and still expanding; the growth of technology leaves no end of that enormous expansion in sight. As you look toward tomorrow and plan your life and career, think about a skilled trade that will provide you with challenge and unlimited potential. And then think about M-TEC.

At M-TEC, your future begins right now.Give M-TEC a call. We can deliver your future today.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BE A SUCCESS IN THE HVAC/R TRADE?

If you can learn the following skills and traits, or if you already possess them, HVAC/R can be the trade that will make you triumph:

• Desire to work in a wide variety of environments.
• Above-average analytical skills.
• Ability to concentrate and watch for small details.
• Willingness to become certified in the handling of refrigerants.
• Relatively fit and in good health.
• Willingness to keep abreast of industry changes and a desire to continue learning.
• Ability to work safely and remain aware of your surroundings. 

Due to advances in technology, as well as increased regulations, a period of expansion is forecast. The HVAC/R industry is a non-traditional occupation for women, but one in which they are successful. The HVAC/R industry is expected to experience above-average growth during the remainder of the decade and can command above-average wages, depending on the type of employment.

For more information about our programs, contact the M-TEC at Kirtland-Gaylord at 989-705-3600 or email us at mtec@kirtland.edu.