Is HVAC Hard on the Body? (Things to Consider)

In modern households, refrigerators, heaters and air conditioners are an absolute must. But most people don’t seem to care about these appliances until they fail or malfunction. 

In that situation, only people with HVAC knowledge can save you. But pursuing HVAC isn’t an easy task and can put a toll on the body. 

Like many people you also may wonder, is HVAC hard on the body? 

HVAC jobs can be hard on your body. They require long hours and sometimes it becomes physical. You also may have to work overtime in heating/cooling seasons. Other than that, everything else about HVAC is positive. It rewards great compensation and jobs are easy to get. You can get work anywhere. 

That was a brief answer to the topic which requires further elaboration. Luckily, for you, we’re here to provide you with as much information as you need. 

Stay with us till the end if you want to know more about HVAC. 

Can HVAC Jobs be Physically Demanding?

The answer is a little complicated. Some of the HVAC jobs aren’t physically demanding at all. For example, the HVAC controls section isn’t hard on the body. 

And there are a lot of desk jobs in the HVAC career path too. Other than that, there are wiring, rewiring, building control boxes, etc. 

These works are part of the installation category. Most of these jobs aren’t hard on your body.

But there are some jobs that can put a strain on your body. For example, jobs regarding boilers and chillers require a lot of maintenance. 

These jobs also involve a lot of movement like climbing ladders or crawling. And you’ll have to do them multiple times until you get it right. 

You may also have to move big compressors or motors by yourself. They’re quite heavy and require physical effort. 

Last but not least, there are some hazards when working on HVAC. If you’re not careful enough, you can hurt yourself. 

But most training programs try to cover as much as possible to provide such knowledge. So you’re good for the most part. 

What Is HVAC & How Do You Become An HVAC Technician? 

This may seem like a basic topic but you’re not alone here. Many people often ask about MRCOOL products being made in China. 

Normally, we call this line of work HVAC since it’s easier to say. But it’s actually called HVAC-R. The H and V in HVAC-R stand for heating and ventilation. 

The AC stands for air-conditioning and the R at the end stands for refrigeration. To be an HVAC expert, you need knowledge and expertise in these 4 fields. 

Together, it means the job of an HVAC technician consists of 4 categories. By the time you finish your HVAC course, you’ll be ready to take on any problem.

Some people also have some confusion about the HVAC jobs themselves. If you’ve browsed enough HVAC forums, you’ll see one repetitive question that stands out.

People often wonder, is HVAC hard to learn?

The answer is both yes and no. HVAC can be hard to learn sometimes if you find ventilation or certain physics hard. But in reality, it’s easier because all HVAC knowledge is practical.

And that’s something you can look forward to. Since most knowledge is practical, you use the knowledge instead of remembering it. 

Another thing that people often ask is, how long does it take to learn HVAC? 

The answer to this question depends on the length of the programs. Some programs are basic and some programs are advanced. Depending on the complexity, it can take 6 months to 24 months. It can also depend on the school. 

The best news is you won’t have a hard time deciding which program to take. HVAC is among those subjects that have an increased demand due to modernization. 

Because of that, the number of HVAC programs is growing day by day. You can also get some HVAC learning books to get yourself started. 

Reading all this, you might be wondering: 

What time do HVAC techs start work?

Your typical technician shift usually starts off around 8-9 AM in the morning. Each technician’s task is assigned by the office everyday. The technicians usually go off to their works according to their assigned tasks. 

We handpicked some amazingly elaborated HVAC books for HVAC engineers that can help you with your job. Here are the top 3 books that we found to be useful for most of our regular readers looking to learn more about HVAC. Here, have a look:

These are some of the best book to help you get into speed with the HVAC basics. They also cover advanced knowledge for anyone looking for a career as an HVAC technician. Check them out!

Are HVAC Jobs Good for You? 

If you’re considering pursuing HVACR jobs, you should learn some pros and cons. Knowing about the positives and negatives can help you decide faster. 

When choosing between 3, 3.5, and 4-ton AC, you’ll need to compare. By doing that, you can easily figure out which one you really need.

That’s why we’ve talked about the pros first. After that, we discussed the negatives.

Factor 1: HVAC Jobs Reward Good Compensation

It’s no wonder that we, the people will be using HVAC appliances for quite some time. Air conditioners, furnaces, and refrigerators are vital in our lives. 

Because of that, you can only expect the HVAC jobs to grow bigger. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says, HVAC jobs will be increased by 26%. 

And that’s around the year 2026. Obviously, you can now guess how demanding this job will be in the near future.

Every day and every month, there are new houses being made. There are also many commercial factories being built. All of this requires HVAC technicians to finalize the ventilation. 

Because of such demands, there are many HVAC companies that offer great jobs. Since there are more jobs, the overall salary is also growing. 

The median annual salary of an HVAC technician is around $50,000. But the top 10% of technicians can earn up to $80,000 and even more. 

Factor 2: HVAC Jobs Are Always Available

Another great positive side of HVAC jobs is that they’re always available anywhere. HVAC skills are extremely valuable and you’ll get work everywhere. 

In the USA, almost all households at least have air conditioners and refrigerators. In the heating season, they often go bad and that means work for you.

For HVAC technicians, some US states are more profitable than others. For example, California requires more HVAC work than Kansas or Kentucky. 

Other than that, Illinois, New York, and Texas have a massive demand for HVAC jobs.  

Factor 3: HVAC Jobs Pay During Training

Another great advantage of pursuing an HVAC job is the training phase. Whenever you decide to become an HVAC technician, you’ll go through hard training. 

Since most of the work is practical, you also earn while you train. Most HVAC companies will pay you at least half of the average salary. It’s a great way to get started!

You will start earning even more as you complete different areas of the HVAC training. When you’re fully one, you’ll be receiving the full salary. 

Many of the readers wants to know “how much do HVAC make an hour?”

An average HVAC technician makes around $20-25 an hour in the US. Quiet decent pay considering the effort and technicalities involved in this line of work.

What Are the Problems with HVAC Jobs?

It’s not always going to be fixing or repairing a mini-split. Sometimes you’ll be facing different challenges and you’ll have to adapt yourself. 

Problem 1: HVAC Jobs Can Demand Long Hours

Unlike other jobs, the demand for HVAC jobs isn’t exactly the same throughout the year. Depending on the weather, there is more or less work to do. 

During summer and winter, there’s a surge in HVAC problems. Most people start running their air conditioners or heaters more. This means more people run into different kinds of problems in that season. 

An average work week of an HVAC technician consists of 40 hours of work. That doesn’t include the weekend and extra hours of work. Peak seasons might call for overtime works, increasing the average work hours.

HVAC technicians often have to work long hours during these seasons. There are more problems, more difficulties, etc. 

Working for such long stretch of hours can put a high toll on the body. Doing some proper stretching exercise can help to alleviate some of the bodily stress.

But don’t worry, you’ll be paid handsomely for your effort. 

Problem 2: HVAC Jobs Can be Hazardous

Some HVAC jobs can possess threats to yourself. HVAC technician sometimes suffers from injuries. 

It’s expected since some of the jobs require them to use heavy tools. While moving such heavy tools or big compressors you may hurt yourself. But if you’re smart about what you’re doing, you can stay unharmed.

Not to mention, hot and cold weather plays an important role as well. By keeping a nice shape and staying fit, you can avoid most colds just fine. 

But occasional fever from working too long in hot weather can happen. But over time, you’ll be used to it and it’ll get easier. 

Those were all the possible advantages and disadvantages of working in HVAC. Simply put, with great training and smartness, you can get the most out of it. 

It can be a little risky sometimes depending on the job. But considering the job availability and the pay, being an HVAC technician is worth it. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Job In HVAC Pays the Most?

In HVAC, being a thermal engineer gets you the most money. Thermal engineers earn around $70,000 to $150,000 per year. Then there are HVAC project manager and AC engineer jobs that pay nicely. They also make upwards of $70,000.

What Are the Dangers of HVAC?

Despite being a high-paying job, HVAC is quite dangerous as it possesses physical risks. HVAC technicians often have to work in extreme hot and cold situations. Because of such exposure, they can develop fatigue, hypothermia, and frostbite. They’re also susceptible to heat strokes. 

Which Is Harder HVAC or Electrician?

HVAC technicians and electrical experts experience almost the same level of workload. Both of these jobs require some knowledge from the opposite side. They’re both more practical than theory; students are taught with equipment. That’s why it can be difficult to prove which one is harder to learn.  

Take Away

That was everything we could deliver on is HVAC hard on your body. Hopefully, this discussion was enough to enlighten you on the matter of HVAC jobs.

For more insight, you’ll need to talk to the HVAC technicians themselves. They’ve been on the field for years and they can give you the best opinions. 

Finally, have a nice day!

Tim David

HVAC tech with over 30 years of experience. Retired and doing repair work on the side around Madison County, AL.