Kent ISD — Juniors Austin Tufts and Keegin Flanagan are explaining the process of refrigeration.
“There are two pipes, one of which is hot and the other is cold,” Keegin said as he touched the two different pipes. “The refrigerant goes through the warm pipe and then is cooled at this device” — he pointed to a valve — “and it reduces the pressure and temperature, making it really cold.”
Keegin pointed to a thermostatic expansion valve, Austin explained; the valve controls the phases of the refrigerant as it goes from liquid to gas, which is how a refrigerator or air conditioner cools.
Keegin, who attends the charter school Next Tech High in Grand Rapids, and Austin, who attends Caledonia High School, are among about 50 students in the Kent Career Tech Center’s heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration program.
The HVACR program, one of the longest-running at the Tech Center since its inception in 1971, is designed to teach students the fundamentals of the industry, according to instructor Jeff DeMeester, a Comstock Park graduate who himself completed the program.
“The trades just seemed more interesting to me,” said senior Saide Zink, who is homeschooled. “I like being hands-on and I like the facility, and I am gaining skills and knowledge I will be able to use for a long time.”
Certified to Handle Hazardous Material
The program is set up on a two-year rotation, DeMeester said. During the installation year, students focus on gas heating and air conditioning, learning mechanical code, planning and installation of systems and job costing, he said.
The service year, students focus on refrigeration and hydronics or boiler systems, learning about system designs and environmental protection.
The goal, DeMeester said, is that students have experience and expertise they can take out into the field.
“One of the things we learned is that the refrigerant is recyclable,” Keegin said. This creates a sustainable program while preventing harmful substances from being released in the atmosphere, he explained.
Because refrigerant is a hazardous material, a person has to be certified to work with it, Austin said.
Through the HVACR program, students who complete the program are able to earn an EPA certification that allows them to purchase, handle and transport refrigerant, DeMeester said, adding this makes the students sought after.
The certification was a big draw for junior Ethan Brown, of Grandville, who hopes it will help him secure a job in the field.
“I think what I enjoy most is furnace and duct work,” Ethan said. “I really enjoy troubleshooting on furnaces. It’s a lot easier than some of the other tasks and it is more rewarding when you do figure it out.”
Learning a Variety of Skills
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, HVACR technician jobs are growing faster than other occupations with a projected growth of 9% by 2033.
“We don’t have enough bodies to fill all the positions,” DeMeester said. He noted some students use the program as a way to explore various career options since it incorporates elements of other fields, such as electrical and welding. “This program can help them figure out what direction they want to go.”
That was the case for Austin, who was interested in becoming an electrician.
“(The Tech Center) does not have an electrician program and this program was the closest I could get to that field,” Austin said. “Now, having taken this course, I am really interested in getting into (HVACR) as a career.”
In fact Austin’s goal is to be an HVACR sales person, which requires a four-year degree, he said. He is looking at entering Ferris State University’s HVAC program.
Because of the different skills students learn through Kent ISD’s HVACR program, it often can be difficult to get into it, DeMeester. Currently, the program has two sections with about 25 students per section.
Keegin said he was aware space in the HVACR program was limited, but his desire to get into the field pushed him to take the first step and apply.
“It was a career I really wanted to learn more about,” Keegin said, adding he has enjoyed the class and working with the other students. “I’m really interested in it. My best friend’s brother works at (an HVACR) place and I am hoping to get in there.”
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