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How exposed to AI is a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installer?

Of the 30 tasks O*NET lists for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers, 2 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 24 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
A/C Tech (Air Conditioning Technician)HVAC Installer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Installer)HVAC Mechanic (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Mechanic)HVAC Service Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Service Technician)HVAC Specialist (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Specialist)HVAC Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technician)Refrigeration MechanicRefrigeration OperatorRefrigeration Technician (Refrigeration Tech)Service Technician (Service Tech)
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
30
tasks rated for this occupation
0%
hold a degree, from a survey of 35
357k
people do this job in the US
16 of 50
least protected in installation and repair

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

2
  • Record and report time, materials, faults, deficiencies, or other unusual occurrences on work orders
  • Keep records of repairs and replacements made and causes of malfunctions

Only with software built on top

4
  • Comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area
  • Discuss heating or cooling system malfunctions with users to isolate problems or to verify that repairs corrected malfunctions
  • Recommend, develop, or perform preventive or general maintenance procedures, such as cleaning, power-washing, or vacuuming equipment, oiling parts, or changing filters
  • Schedule work with customers and initiate work orders, house requisitions, and orders from stock

Cannot be sped up

24
  • Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment
  • Study blueprints, design specifications, or manufacturers' recommendations to ascertain the configuration of heating or cooling equipment components and to ensure the proper installation of components
  • Connect heating or air conditioning equipment to fuel, water, or refrigerant source to form complete circuit
  • Adjust system controls to settings recommended by manufacturer to balance system
  • Inspect and test systems to verify system compliance with plans and specifications or to detect and locate malfunctions
  • Repair or replace defective equipment, components, or wiring
  • Install or repair self-contained ground source heat pumps or hybrid ground or air source heat pumps to minimize carbon-based energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions
  • Install, connect, or adjust thermostats, humidistats, or timers
  • Install auxiliary components to heating or cooling equipment, such as expansion or discharge valves, air ducts, pipes, blowers, dampers, flues, or stokers
  • Braze or solder parts to repair defective joints and leaks
  • Lay out and connect electrical wiring between controls and equipment, according to wiring diagrams, using electrician's hand tools
  • Perform mechanical overhauls and refrigerant reclaiming
  • Install expansion and control valves, using acetylene torches and wrenches
  • Measure, cut, thread, or bend pipe or tubing, using pipe fitter's tools
  • Mount compressor, condenser, and other components in specified locations on frames, using hand tools and acetylene welding equipment
  • Install dehumidifiers or related equipment for spaces that require cool, dry air to operate efficiently, such as computer rooms
  • Cut or drill holes in floors, walls, or roof to install equipment, using power saws or drills
  • Estimate, order, pick up, deliver, and install materials and supplies needed to maintain equipment in good working condition
  • Supervise and instruct assistants
  • Lay out reference points for installation of structural and functional components, using measuring instruments
  • Lift and align components into position, using hoist or block and tackle
  • Install or repair air purification systems, such as specialized filters or ultraviolet (UV) light purification systems
  • Repair or service heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to improve efficiency, such as by changing filters, cleaning ducts, and refilling non-toxic refrigerants
  • Test pipes, lines, components, and connections for leaks
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.