A HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) project manager is an expert who oversees HVAC installations and replacements. Their responsibilities include planning and designing projects, as well as supervising HVAC technicians at all stages of a job.
Since 87% of American homes use some kind of HVAC system, the demand for trained HVAC technicians is growing with each passing year. Naturally, this makes the position of a HVAC project manager highly attractive to both seasoned professionals and individuals who are yet to begin their career.
In the following article, we will discuss the 3 primary traits all successful HVAC project managers should have. If becoming a HVAC project manager doesn’t interest you and you’re simply looking for more information about modern HVAC systems and where to get one, click here.
Here are the top 3 ways to improve your HVAC project management skills:
1. Get the right education and first-hand experience
There are no hard and fast rules for getting into the field of HVAC project management. That being said, you’ll probably need a background in the HVAC industry to become a project manager, and this means getting the appropriate education and licensing.
Depending on your local state regulations, a HVAC certification program can take 6-24 months to complete. After getting your degree, you’ll be able to obtain your license and start working as a HVAC technician. Once you have at least a few years of field experience under your belt, you can start applying for management positions.
Another option is to obtain a degree in project management. While this enables you to bypass the education required to become a certified HVAC contractor, it’s still highly advised that you go through regular HVAC training.
2. Cultivate the right personality traits
HVAC project managers are rarely required to do any hands-on work. However, since their duties include supervising and organizing jobs, as well as handling tasks such as accounting, marketing, and sales, HVAC project managers need to be considerably more versatile than managers in many other industries.
Here are some skills and traits HVAC project managers need:
Being technologically savvy and able to keep up with technological advancements is extremely helpful in this day and age. This is especially the case in the HVAC industry, as wireless technologies are becoming an integral part of modern HVAC systems.
Being a strong communicator is a crucial skill for managers in every field. You have to be able to understand the needs of the client and explain to them what your team is or isn’t capable of doing.
Problem solving. Unexpected complications can arise at any point during a HVAC installation or replacement job. Devising effective solutions for any problem their technicians may run into should be second nature for a HVAC project manager.
Math. Knowing how to take correct measurements, perform calculations, and estimate prices is a must if you want to be a HVAC project manager. Furthermore, you also have to be able to provide estimates on how long it’ll take to finalize a project.
3. Having related experience is never a bad thing
Having a background as a project manager in other industries can make getting into HVAC project management infinitely easier even if you don’t have any prior experience as a HVAC contractor. In fact, many HVAC project manager job listings cite relevant experience as a requirement in order to apply for the position.
Of course, starting out as a HVAC installer or technician doesn’t mean you can’t become a HVAC project manager or even a business owner later on. It all comes down to what your particular skills are and how you leverage them.
If you have a problem with your existing heating, cooling, electrical, or plumbing systems, United Plumbing Heating Air & Electric is on call to fix it. We also offer quality Encinitas ac repair, installation, and maintenance—that way, you can stop problems before they start.
