HVAC

Did You Know You Could Start Your Own Business After HVAC School? Here’s How!

January 22, 2019

Being a business owner comes with a lot of perks, like the ability to set your own hours and to feel more in control of your career. The HVAC industry is a particularly good field for becoming a business owner. According to Statistics Canada, the demand for HVAC technicians is currently very strong in every region of Ontario, due to the province’s growing population. If you dream of becoming your own boss, read on to learn some of the steps involved in starting your very own HVAC business.

Attend a Good HVAC College and Complete Your Training and Apprenticeship

HVAC is a regulated trade in Ontario, which means you’ll need to complete training, an apprenticeship program and pass the G2 Gas Technician and G3 Gas Technician certification tests. Completing these steps allows you to register as a journeyperson and start your own HVAC business.

However, it’s important to note that becoming a journeyperson takes time—8,280 hours of on-the-job experience and 720 hours of in-school training. Students can view their apprenticeship as an opportunity to learn the technical side of the job, make contacts in the industry and gain a reputation as a dependable and trustworthy technician.

HVAC students at NATS will have the opportunity to take their G3 and G2 Gas technician exams

Blueprint to Success: Develop a Solid HVAC Business Plan

After you’ve earned your HVAC certification, it will be time to start drawing up a business plan. Your business plan is an outline of the concrete steps you will take to turn your idea of a business into a reality. It typically covers such things as working hours, projected revenue, marketing strategy and estimated expenses.

A comprehensive business plan will help you build your HVAC business

Having a business plan is important not only because it gives you a blueprint to follow, but because it can help you raise the capital you need to buy tools, vehicles and equipment when starting out. While you may be able to cover some of these start-up costs yourself, you’ll probably need to get a business loan from a bank to cover the rest. A bank will likely want to see a business plan before loaning you any money.

Gain Clients Through Networking During HVAC College and Beyond

As a new business, you won’t have an established reputation like other companies that have been in business for longer periods of time. In order to attract customers, you’ll need to develop a strategy which will allow your business to gain visibility with your prospective clients.

One way to do this is to reach out to others in the industry, such as connections you made while attending HVAC college as well as during your apprenticeship. Those contacts can help you in a number of ways, like directing you to construction firms that are looking to partner with an HVAC subcontractor and even setting you up with clients they may be too busy to service themselves.

Additionally, don’t underestimate the power of the internet. Word-of-mouth has always been a standard way for HVAC companies to attract new business, and the internet has amplified this, providing prospective customers with lightening quick access to client testimonials, reviews and recommendations about your business. Make sure you are on Yelp, Google My Business and other relevant digital platforms, and always encourage your customers to leave reviews of your business on these platforms. The more positive reviews you have, the more likely you are to attract new business.

Do you want to become an HVAC technician?

Contact North American Trade Schools today and learn more about our programs.

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Skilled Trades

Home Electrical Problems You May See After Construction School

January 15, 2019

Are you considering a career as a maintenance electrician? A big part of the job is servicing electrical equipment and diagnosing problems in a home’s wiring. Particularly when working in older homes, electricians often find electrical problems that, if ignored, can become serious safety hazards.

While there’s a broad range of electrical issues that you may encounter once you become an electrician, the following are among the most common examples.

A Lack of Electrical Outlets is a Potential Safety Hazard

Houses built today generally have electrical outlets that are placed no more than 3.6m away from each other. Older houses, however, may have far fewer outlets than people need, which can lead to two potential hazards. First, the homeowners may have to rely on extension cords, which are hazardous if used improperly. For example, joining multiple extension cords together, attaching them to the floor or wall with staples and powering many appliances with a single cord are all fire hazards that you are more likely to see in homes with too few outlets.

Improper use of extension cords increases the risk of blown fuses and fires

Secondly, a shortage of outlets may prompt some homeowners to overload individual outlets with too many appliances, which can lead to blown fuses and even fires. Once you graduate from your construction and maintenance electrician program, you’ll likely have clients who would like you to install additional outlets into their homes.

Watch for This Sign Indicating That a Home’s Wiring May be Ungrounded

Once you begin your electrician career in construction, it’s important to be on the lookout for whether a home has two-holed or three-holed outlets. A lack of three-holed outlets could indicate a serious safety hazard with a home’s wiring: a lack of grounding. The third arch-shaped hole in modern outlets is designed to connect appliances to the grounding wire. Experts know that the grounding wire is essential because, in case of a short circuit, it ensures the electricity is sent to the earth rather than through a person’s body. While new homes are built with a grounding wire, older homes that lack this safety feature will require some major rewiring work.

Ensure Homes Have Enough Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters After Construction School

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a simple but essential safety device for outlets that are at risk of coming into contact with water, such as outlets located in washrooms, kitchens or outdoors. A GFCI automatically trips if it detects a discrepancy between the electricity flowing in and out of an outlet, as this discrepancy could indicate a person is being electrocuted. By tripping the circuit, that electricity is redirected through the grounding wire into the earth.

You can tell an outlet is GFCI-equipped if it has a ‘Test’ and ‘Reset’ button

Electrical and building codes, which you will learn about at construction school, now mandate where GFCI-equipped outlets must be located in new homes. The Canadian Electrical Code, for example, requires that any outlet located within 1.5m of a sink, outside within 2.5m of the finished grade, or at other points where it is at risk of coming into contact with water, be equipped with a GFCI. If an outlet contains two buttons which read ‘Reset’ and ‘Test’ then it is GFCI-equipped. If it isn’t GFCI-equipped and is close to a water source, it should be upgraded.

Are you ready to become a construction electrician?

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Welding

Make Sure You Have the Gear You Need for Your Welding Career

January 09, 2019

Welding is a fun career not only because you get to work with your hands, but also because you get to work with a bunch of interesting gear. From implements used in the welding itself to the protective gear necessary for keeping you safe and sound on the job, there is a fair amount of equipment that welders will need – or just want – to acquire for their career.

Curious about what you’ll need for your own welding work? Here’s a look at some of the main items that new welders should focus on picking up.

You’ll Need to Get a Good Welding Helmet for Your Welding Career

Welding helmets are iconic for good reason – they keep welders’ eyes and faces safe, and are mandatory on job sites across the country. As a first step in accumulating your welding gear, then, it might be best to go with a good welding helmet.

When choosing a shade, there’s a decision to be made between getting a solid shade and an auto-darkening shade. The former is less expensive, and the latter a bit more useful, since you can see what you’re welding. Odds are, even if it hurts the wallet at first to get the auto-darkening shade, you’ll appreciate having done so as your career progresses, so consider getting the auto-darkening version instead.

A good welding helmet is essential equipment for your welding career

Welding Clamps Are Hugely Important, So Get a Few

Done correctly, welding joins metal together in a way that keeps the finished product strong, durable, and clean. All of these aspects wash away, though, if the metal isn’t kept stable during the welding process. Even the best welder training won’t make up for materials slipping, uncontrollably warping, or otherwise moving out of place.

The solution is to get some good clamps. A few clamps can be enough to keep the material you’re working with secure while you weld, and they should last a good length of time once you buy. If you’re not sure what kind of clamps to get, or what you should expect to pay for a good set, don’t be shy to reach out to the professionals teaching your welding program. With their many years of workplace experience, they will no doubt have some good recommendations to help you pick the right clamps for the job.

You’ll Want Good Safety Clothing After Finishing Your Welder Training

welding career involves a lot of standing in the midst of hot, flying sparks. Since human skin doesn’t take kindly to encountering that kind of thing, one of the most important acquisitions to make after your training is safety clothing.

That means thick gloves, safety glasses, and ideally some sort of body protection. This can be a welding jacket, apron, or bib made of heavy leather, or at the very least an outfit made from natural fibres like wool, leather, or cotton. These are more resilient in the face of high heat than synthetic fibres, which can melt in the same situation.

Safety clothing is best for welders looking to keep themselves safe on the job

Safety should be a top concern of yours in your career, and while welding school will allow you to get plenty of instruction and hands-on practice with all the safety protocols you’ll need to know, it’s important to remember that investment in the right gear is an important element, too. Make sure you get the right outfit to ensure you have a long, productive, and rewarding welding career going forward.

Do you want to get started with a good welding technician training program?

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Welding

3 Exciting Career Paths to Pursue After Welding College

January 08, 2019

If you’re looking for a hands-on career that’s in demand and offers a competitive salary, welding may be a great fit. One great thing about training for a welding career is that you’ll gain skills that can easily be transferred from one industry to another. So, if you choose to attend welding college you’ll have a large variety of career opportunities open to you. Let’s take a look at a few of the most exciting paths you could pursue as a welder.

Many Welders Find Success in the Manufacturing Sector

Manufacturing is among the most popular industries for welders to work in. Since manufacturing is a very broad and diverse field, you can find employment as a welder in many different types of settings. For example, automotive manufacturing, which includes factories where cars, trucks and automotive parts are made, employs many experienced welders, particularly in Ontario. According to Statistics Canada, in Ontario, 18% of welders and related machine operators work in the motor vehicle, body, trailer and parts manufacturing sector, making it the most popular workplace for the province’s welders.

Another popular area where welders can find work is in architectural and structural metals manufacturing. In this sector, welders help assemble metal parts, like window frames, sheet metal, prefabricated buildings and ornamental parts, which are used for constructing buildings and large structures.

Pipeline Welders Work in Remote Areas and Earn a High Income

If you’re the adventurous type and like the idea of working in rugged and remote areas, then you may want to consider a welding career with pipelines. There are more than 840,000 km of pipelines that carry oil and gas across the country. While many of them are concentrated in Western Canada, pipelines stretch across the entire country and extensive pipeline networks can also be found in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

The opportunities for welders in the pipeline industry are twofold. First, when a new pipeline is being constructed there is a large temporary demand for welders. Then, when a pipeline is completed, it still requires a team of welders to maintain and repair it. Because pipeline welders travel extensively and to very remote areas, they are compensated with a higher income compared to welders working in other sectors.

Welding Careers in Shipbuilding Are In High Demand

If you’ve ever dreamed of working on or near a ship, then a job as a welder at a shipyard may be especially rewarding. Fortunately, now is a great time to find employment as a welder in a shipyard. That’s because the federal government is currently investing a lot of resources into shipbuilding thanks to its National Shipbuilding Strategy, which is a 30-year, multibillion-dollar program to renew Canada’s fleet of Navy and Coast Guard ships.

Because of the size of the program, it is likely to lead to increased demand for welders in places that have large shipbuilding operations. In fact, Nova Scotia is projected to have the strongest demand for welders in the country largely thanks to the shipyards located in Halifax. If you’re willing to relocate to the East Coast after welding college, then a career in a shipyard could be particularly promising.

Thinking about pursuing an exciting career in welding?

Contact North American Trade Schools to learn more about our welding classes!

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Skilled Trades

Considering Electrician Training? 4 Common Causes of Electric Motor Breakdowns

January 01, 2019

If you’re considering electrician training, one of the career paths you could pursue after graduation includes electric motor analysis and repair. Electric motors can be found in many places—hair dryers, air conditioners and even huge cargo ships all function with electric motors. When an electric motor breaks down, it’s the job of an electric motor analyst to get it up and running again.

If working with electric motors sounds exciting to you, you may be interested in learning a little about the main causes of electric motor breakdowns. Read on to learn more.

1. How Heat Affects Electric Motors: What Electrician Training Will Teach You

Excessive heat can be extremely damaging to electric motors because it increases wear and tear on the motor’s parts, particularly on the motor’s insulation. Once the insulation has deteriorated, the motor will fail. Overheating can be caused by a number of factors, such as power surges, contamination and simply operating the motor in a very warm environment. In fact, you’ll see that many of the issues causing electric motor breakdowns generally lead to overheating.

Once you’ve completed your electrician training and begin working in the field, you’ll likely find that most electric motor breakdowns you’ll be tasked with repairing will relate to excessive heat.

After electrician college, you’ll encounter many electric motor breakdowns linked to heat

2. Humidity and Moisture Can Corrode the Insulation of an Electric Motor

Humidity or moisture of any kind is not good for electric motors. When moisture gets into the motor, it may cause parts of the motor to corrode more rapidly than they would in a dry environment. Humidity, for example, can corrode insulation and if that corrosion is not stopped then the insulation may become so damaged that the entire motor breaks down.

3. Electric Motors Should Not Operate Above their Limits

Every electric motor has a maximum capacity in terms of the amount of electrical current it can carry. A surge in electricity to the motor can cause both overheating and overcapacity, which reduces the lifespan of a motor’s parts and may eventually lead to a breakdown. Electrician college grads know that a current protector, such as a circuit breaker, is the best way to prevent an electrical overload from damaging an electrical motor, since this will automatically shut down the motor when a surge occurs.

4. Dirt, Dust and Other Forms of Contamination Can Increase Wear and Tear

Electric motors can easily become contaminated with dirt, dust, grease and other particles. After you complete your electrician certification, you’ll likely work on many electric motors that have experienced problems because of excessive dirt and dust. Some contaminants will simply wear down or corrode the motor’s parts or make it run less efficiently. Others may be electrically conductive, which means that they can interfere with the electric current that is running through the motor. Contaminants can also block airflow to the engine, preventing the engine from cooling down and forcing it to overheat. Regular maintenance and upkeep is the best way to reduce contamination-related breakdowns.

Dirt and other contaminants can cause an electric motor’s parts to wear down and corrode

Are you interested in attending electrician college?

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Cabinetmaking

4 Popular Cabinet Styles You’ll Work With after Cabinetmaking School

December 25, 2018

In a versatile field like cabinetmaking, there are many different tasks that go into the creation of your final product—from preparing the layout for wood articles, interpreting blueprints and specifications, and designing templates for furniture production, to installing the cabinets themselves.

Cabinetmakers work with a variety of styles and materials to meet the demands of their clientele. In order to be able to do this correctly, you’ll need to know the benefits and features of the designs you want to use, and how these designs and styles can help your clients achieve the appearance they want to feature in their homes.

Read on to learn about a few of the most common cabinet styles you’ll work with once you start your career.

1. Slab or Flat Cabinets are In-Demand for Cabinetmakers

One of the more recent trends in modern and contemporary kitchen design is a sleek, simplified and almost minimalistic appearance. This means that a popular corresponding cabinet style is slab or flat cabinets. These are the bare bones of cabinets, and as their name suggests, are flat panels typically made of wood or laminate, without much additional decoration.

Once you graduate from cabinetmaking school, some of your clients may request textured doors, which use ripples or other effects to add a little bit of flair to their slab or flat cabinets. Even with the extra design elements, this style requires minimal labor and material to create.

2. You’ll See the Shaker Style Often after Cabinetmaking School

Shaker cabinet doors are among the most common and popular styles of cabinets, and draw their name from Shaker-style furniture, which is primarily known for its minimal and elegant design. This style of cabinet is a classic because it focuses on practicality and utility without much extra fuss.

Shaker-style cabinets are often comprised of five pieces of flat-panel wood, with four creating a frame around the fifth flat door panel. These cabinets are very versatile, and cabinetmakers can use many different types of materials and wood to add their own unique personalization to the Shaker style.

3. Glass Panels and Inserts are on the Rise in Cabinet Design

Glass inserts are generally used in upper cabinets, and serve as a kitchen’s focal point, adding more depth to smaller kitchens. Their decorative capabilities make them a popular option for clients, since they can showcase special items and features instead of hiding them behind a solid cabinet door. These types of cabinets tend to be more expensive than other styles because they are more labor-intensive to craft, and require professionals with cabinetmaking training to fit glass of a certain quality inside an existing frame.

4. Using Cabinetmaking Training to Craft Country and Rustic Style Cabinets

Country and rustic-style cabinets draw from traditional designs to give a kitchen a cozy, comfortable aesthetic. Although this style of cabinet inspires an unpolished, unrefined appearance, cabinetmakers do a lot of behind the scenes work to stain, treat and paint the materials they use. Common building materials you may work with includes knotty wood or hardwood and copper or iron features.

Some clients may request a distressed look, which can be achieved by purposefully rubbing the material of the cabinet or applying milk paint to make it look aged or antique.

Are you interested in learning more about cabinet design, style, and aesthetics?

Contact the North American Trade School for more information about our cabinetmaking courses.

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Skilled Trades

How to Stay Safe During Your Training and Beyond Once You Become an Electrician

December 18, 2018

Electricity is an incredibly powerful energy source, but it can also be very dangerous. That’s why electrician students learn to treat it with respect. Professionals in the field know that when you’re working with such a powerful energy source every day, there’s simply no room for cutting corners or being sloppy—especially when it comes to your safety and the safety of those around you. While electricity certainly can be dangerous, good electricians never put themselves or others at unnecessary risk.

If you’re considering a career as an electrician, patience and hard work will be essential characteristics that can help you stay safe on the job. Read on for some tips on how to stay safe during your training and throughout your career.

Work on De-Energized Circuits Once You Become an Electrician

It’s important for electricians to avoid working on live circuits. The reason is obvious: if you’re working with an energized circuit, you risk being injured. Cutting the power to the circuit will create a much safer work environment and is usually the first thing electricians do on a job. Even when the circuit has been de-energized, it’s crucial to always wear the proper protective equipment, such as safety glasses, insulated gloves and flame-resistant clothing, for example.

Wear Proper Safety Equipment When Working with Electricity

Every electrician understands the importance of wearing the right safety equipment on the job. In addition to insulated gloves, safety glasses and flame-resistant clothing, you should also be wearing industrial safety footwear and a non-conducting hard hat. Not only do you need to use safety equipment during your electrician training and afterwards, but you should also be inspecting and replacing that equipment regularly. Wearing safety equipment that is worn down or broken is about as useful as not wearing any safety equipment at all.

Wear insulated gloves and other protective gear during your electrician training and on the job

Avoid Wet or Damp Workspaces During Your Training and Your Career

Moisture and dampness are no friends to electricians on the job. A workspace that is wet or damp can be very dangerous, since the risk of electric shock is much higher in these types of environments. Good electricians keep their work areas as dry as possible. However, if you are required to work in a space that’s typically damp, such as a washroom, for example, install a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)—a device that helps to avoid electrical shock hazards.

Don’t try to remove liquid from equipment that’s energized when you become an electrician

One crucial tip to keep in mind once you become an electrician, is to never try and remove water or any other liquid from equipment while its energized! You must shut off the power first and unplug the equipment before trying to clean or dry it. Likewise, it’s also important not to touch or attempt to repair any electrical equipment if you have wet hands. Doing so will increase the conductivity of the circuit and likely result in a shock.

Are you ready to take the first step to an electrician career?

Contact North American Trade Schools to learn more about our Electrician Diploma.

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Home Renovation

4 Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them After Home Renovation College

December 11, 2018

Canadians spend a lot of money on home renovations—more, in fact, than we spend on new homes. In 2017, total spending on renovations reached $72.7 billion, well above the $53 billion spent on new home construction. With so many Canadians renovating their homes, the demand for skilled tradespeople to take on these projects remains strong.

To really succeed in your career as a home renovator, it is important that you maintain a high quality standard in your work. Home renovators often find clients through word-of-mouth and, increasingly, online reviews. Whether you run your own business or you work for a contractor, building a good reputation early on is essential to advancing in your career. So be sure to avoid these four common mistakes once you leave home renovation college.

1. Not Having the Proper Permits: Be Prepared in Your Renovation Career

If you’re working as subcontractor, you generally won’t have to worry about pulling permits, but it is an important part of the job if you’re the general contractor. While it can be tempting to skip permits for simple tasks, don’t. The homeowner could be ordered to modify the renovations you made and they may be prevented from selling their home until the problems are fixed. When that happens, they may try to hold you responsible for the costs. Your instructors at North American Trade Schools (NATS) are licensed and have real-world experience, so they are a great resource if you have further questions about pulling permits once you’ve completed your training.

2. Rushing the Job: Good Work Takes Time After Home Renovation College

Once you’ve graduated from home renovation college, you’ll likely want to prove to employers and clients that you can get your work done quickly. Likewise, if you’re running your own business, you may even find yourself with more clients than you anticipated. However, it’s important to get your work done efficiently and not let the work you do suffer because you want to get jobs done quickly.

While you may be tempted to rush projects or to try to cover up minor mistakes because you don’t have time to fix them properly, rushing your work is never a good idea. Clients and employers may be impressed with your speed at first, but they’ll be far less impressed when those rushed jobs lead to leaky roofs and cracked walls.

3. Overcharging & Undercharging: Get the Price Right as a Home Renovator

Knowing how much to charge for your services when you’re just starting a career in home renovation can be tricky, especially if you’re trying start up your own business. If you charge too little, you run the risk of going over budget—which can mean money out of your pocket or an unpleasant conversation with the homeowner about why they will need to pay more. However, if you charge too much, clients will think you’re overcharging them, and they may spread the word that your services are unaffordable. Talk to your colleagues and other professionals in the industry, such as your NATS program instructors, and discuss with them the best way to charge clients based on your experience.

4. Being Underprepared: Expect the Unexpected in a Home Renovation Career

During the demolition stage of renovating a home, you don’t know what you’re going to find under the floors you’ve ripped up and the walls you’ve torn down. Mold, termites and other problems can significantly increase the cost and time of a project.

Dealing with new challenges is what makes working in home renovation so exciting, so when your boss or a homeowner asks you how long a project will take or how much it will cost, be realistic and prepare for unexpected surprises. It’s often better to give a range of possibilities than committing yourself to one figure.

Are you ready to begin your home renovation training?

Contact North American Trade Schools today to learn more about their programs!

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Welding

A Few of The Most Common Welding Techniques You’ll Learn at Welding College

December 04, 2018

Trained welders are in high demand in a wide range of industries, including the automotive, construction, aerospace and manufacturing industries. If you’re looking for a rewarding, hands-on career, then welding may be right for you.

While the fundamental principle of welding—joining two pieces of metal together—has been around for thousands of years, today, welders use a wide variety of techniques. Some processes are preferred for different metals, environments and industries. The types of welding techniques you’ll learn in a good welding training program will unlock a variety of career opportunities. Here are just a few of the techniques that, if mastered, will make you highly sought after in numerous industries.

Stick Welding: A Fundamental Technique for Your Welding Career

Stick welding, also called shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) or manual metal arc welding (MMAW), is among the easiest welding techniques to learn. Mastering this technique during your welding training will make learning more advanced techniques much easier for you.

With stick welding, an electric arc is struck between the base material and the consumable electrode rod (also called the stick). The electrode rod is covered with a flux that, when melted, creates a gas shield and layer of slag that protects the weld from oxidization and contamination.

After completing your welding classes, you’ll have the skills needed to master the stick welding technique

While stick welding is easy to learn, welding experts know that the electrode needs to be replaced frequently, and the process produces a lot of slag—or waste buildup— that must be chipped away afterwards. Chipping away slag is not something many welders enjoy, but fortunately, there are other techniques that get around this problem. Read on to learn about some of these other techniques!

Metal/Inert-Gas (MIG): An Essential Technique for Any Welder

As you progress through your welding career, you’ll grow to  appreciate welding techniques that require less time spent cleaning up slag. That’s where metal/inert-gas (MIG) welding comes in. Similar to stick welding, MIG is fairly straight-forward and easy to learn, and it doesn’t create any slag buildup.

Here’s how it works: a solid-steel wire is fed into the MIG gun, where it then comes into contact with an electrode. When the trigger of the MIG gun is pulled, the wire is melted and a weld puddle is created.

MIG welding is an extremely useful technique for any welding hopeful to know, because it is quick and creates a high-quality weld. It’s also a technique that’s often used in the automotive industry. So if you plan on working in an automotive repair shop or in most manufacturing facilities after graduating from welding college, expect to become very familiar with MIG welding.

Tungsten/Inert-Gas (TIG): A Top Choice for High-Quality Welds

Once you’ve mastered the more fundamental welding techniques, like stick and MIG, you may want to take your skills to the next level by learning tungsten/inert-gas (TIG) welding. TIG produces a very high-quality weld, especially on thin metals. The non-consumable electrode is made of tungsten, which is an extremely strong metal alloy. When a very strong weld is needed, like in aviation and shipbuilding, employers look for welders who have mastered the TIG technique.

If you want to take your welding skills to the next level, TIG welding could open new job opportunities

Professional welders know that TIG is not an easy technique to learn, and the process takes more time than stick or MIG welding. However, that’s why TIG welders are highly sought after by employers. TIG welders are at the top of their trade, so once you master this technique, you’ll unlock many career opportunities for yourself.

Are you ready to begin your welding career?

Contact North American Trade Schools today to learn more about our welding classes!

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HVAC

Going Green in 2019: 4 New Technologies You Might Work with After HVAC School

November 27, 2018

Much of Canada experiences long cold winters and hot, sweltering summers, which is why local homes and businesses tend to use a lot of energy in order to stay warm or cool. All that energy consumption is expensive and can often have a negative impact on the environment. In response, many Canadians have recently begun investing in green HVAC technologies.

Once you begin your career as an HVAC technician, you are likely to come across a number of these exciting new technologies. Familiarizing yourself with more efficient technologies could help you land more work after you graduate from your program and enter the workforce.

Read on to learn about some of the ground-breaking technologies you may work with during your career.

1. The Internet of Things Meets HVAC: Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats allow homeowners to monitor and control their home’s heating and cooling right from their smartphones and tablets. That gives them the power to reduce their energy consumption when they aren’t home. After completing your HVAC technician training, you’ll be equipped with the skills and technical know-how to install different types of thermostats, ensuring you’re fully prepared when clients hire you to install their smart thermostats.

North American Trade Schools will prepare you to install many different types of thermostats

2. Using the Earth’s Natural HVAC System: Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal heat pumps have actually been around since the 1940s and they have long been popular in Northern Europe, however, in Canada, they are less common. Heat pumps use the natural heat within the Earth to keep homes warm and they may be used as either a standalone or a complementary heating system. Thanks to recent Ontario government incentives, you can expect to see and work with geothermal heat pumps in homes after HVAC school.

3. Green HVAC Meets Luxury: Radiant Floor Heating

Radiant floor heating has been around for quite some time, but it has recently grown more common in North America. While luxury items are often associated with having negative effects on the environment, this is not the case where heated floors are concerned. In fact, this luxurious heating system is actually quite energy efficient. Because the heated floor has a larger surface area than a wall radiator, for instance, it generates heat more evenly, and will make a room feel warmer when it is at a lower temperature because of this. Whereas with a radiator, there may be areas of a room that are still cool even when the temperature is set higher.

Once you graduate from NATS, you may be hired to install energy-efficient heated floors for clients

4. The Future of HVAC Technician Training: DeVAP Air Conditioning

You may not see this air conditioning system in homes or businesses for a long while, because it is not yet commercially available, but perhaps you’ll work with DeVAP air conditioning someday. Developed by US government researchers, this revolutionary technology combines the forces of evaporation and dehumidification and could end up cutting energy consumption of traditional air conditioners by a whopping 90%! Once these air conditioners become more widely available, expect them to completely change the way homes and offices are kept cool.

Are you ready to take the first step towards a rewarding career as an HVAC technician?

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