HVAC technician

Briefly explain what you do for a living.

I carry out pipe installations and pipe repairs, as well as pipe maintenance work, in connection with renovations.  I also do household heating and sewerage work, such as installing toilet seats. In 2022, I studied as a cold technician, which is why I have the competence to install air-source heat pumps, for example.

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?

I grew up in the countryside and my father was an entrepreneur in the construction industry. It was clear to me that I wanted a job where I could work with my hands, so I applied to study the plumbing industry.

Describe your typical working day or week.

During a typical working day, I visit 2–4 work sites.  For example, I may install a kitchen tap, after which I will go to another site to service the radiators, and I will do a toilet renovation at a third site.  Sometimes, the tasks can be carried out quickly, while other sites take more time.

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?

I mainly work indoors, but during the day I often get tools from the car. The work site is usually a customer's home, and I arrange the work according to the customer’s timetable. In some tasks, more attention must be paid to protective clothing, such as repairing the sewer.

I usually start work in the morning between 8 and 9 a.m. and go home at 4 p.m. I have a family, which is why I try to work during office hours on weekdays. However, I will answer the phone also in my free time. In addition, I may go to work outside working hours if, for example, the pipes at a customer's house have frozen in cold weather.

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession?

This profession requires adapting to different conditions. Work may be carried out in dirty areas, and it may sometimes be hot or cold. The work requires physical strength, as pipe joints may be stuck or a heavy toilet seat must be carried to the work site. There is a lot of walking up and down the stairs, and most of the work is done while on one's knees.

When you work in the customer's own home, there is some social interaction, and you must be sensitive in that case. An HVAC technician entrepreneur must know how to plan their schedules according to the duration of their work tasks.

What is the best thing about your profession?

The best part of this job is that I can do different kinds of tasks and the work sites change. I also like the fact that I can work with my hands. As an entrepreneur, the best thing is the freedom to choose the kind of work I do. I want to work at people's homes, instead of large construction sites. It is a great feeling, when a job is completed and the customer is satisfied with it.

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?

Continuously changing work sites can also cause stress. A new site may become at a short notice, and plans may change during the day. Difficult working positions are a challenge for the body.

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a HVAC technician?

I can recommend the HVAC sector to other people as well. It is a good idea to start the work with a humble attitude, and you should not, for example, demand your own car at the very beginning. When you first show what you can do, you can later get different benefits from your employer. You have to get to work on time and work hard.

How do you see the future of your profession?

There will certainly be plenty of work for good workers in this field. You may have to make more effort in the future to get a job, but a good reputation is the best advertisement.

Photo: Katja Lehtinen