This winter the HVAC department received all new equipment to replace the air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces in the shop at Miller Store Road. Students spend several hours a week in the lab and the equipment takes a lot of punishment. After a few years, the units need to be replaced. Repairs keep the equipment running, but students need to work on units as they will appear in the field. New equipment also means staying current with technology; these days HVAC appliances update as often as smart phones. So ATI is enabling their students to stay on top of the latest trends in HVAC technology.
We’re giving the classes great hands-on training with the installation of the equipment. Students get the opportunity to put all of their skills to use, such as pipe brazing, duct fabrication, evacuation and charging procedures, and unit start-up and testing. Having students install the new equipment provides them with experience they can carry into the field and gives them a better understanding of the equipment in the classroom.
David Philpott, HVAC Program Coordinator
