Harford Technical High School

Home of the Cobras

Instructor: Mr. Bonomo

The Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology (HVAC) Program prepares students to apply technical knowledge and skills in order to install, service and repair various types of residential and commercial heating, cooling and refrigeration systems.

Upon completion of the program, students may enter the work force, attend a local community college to receive an A.A degree in HVAC, or continue to a four-year college to study mechanical engineering or other related fields.

An ongoing partnership with Harford Habitat for Humanity allows students to participate in the construction of a Habitat home over the course of each school year; the construction culminates in the dedication of the home to the recipient family, a ceremony in which HTHS students actively participate.

Students who complete this program successfully may receive credit for the first year apprenticeship with the Associated Builders and Contractors, Incorporated (ABC). Students are given the opportunity to take the EPA Certification Exam (section 608), International Residential Code (IRC) Certification, and apply for the Apprentice License. In a recent survey of HVAC contractors, 72% reported that they needed additional workers to meet the increasing demand for qualified service technicians.

All students have the opportunity to work efficiently in teams, learning to install, service, repair and trouble-shoot central air conditioning, heat pumps, oil furnaces, gas furnaces, and electrical heating systems. Students will learn safe use of hand tools, power tools and special tools related to the industry. They will use test instruments to measure airflow, read and interpret system pressures and test and trouble-shoot the electrical systems commonly found in the HVAC field.