HVAC Career Options for Supermarkets & Retail Stores

A career in the world of HVAC can go many ways. You have many industries to seek out, including residential HVAC services or HVAC services on the commercial side. On the commercial side of HVAC careers, you could seek positions working exclusively at supermarkets and retail stores.

Learn about potential career options as you start your courses so you know what areas to focus on and can lean towards as you near graduation. With a set goal in mind, you can stay motivated and begin the job search as soon as possible. Follow this guide to learn more about the HVAC retail careers and what options could become available.

Grocery Store Refrigeration

A grocery store needs constant refrigeration to keep products fresh and on shelves. Dairy, desserts, frozen food, and meats all need to maintain a proper temperature for the store to sell those items. When you take courses in refrigeration, a lot of the topics will focus on the larger equipment that grocery stores need.

For example, you will learn the operations and maintenance of a walk-in freezer. Many grocery stores keep an extra stock of items inside the freezer and need to ensure the freezers operate correctly.

In a retail career, you may serve grocery stores for emergency and maintenance needs. Through maintenance gigs, you will inspect stores, run temperature tests, and replace parts as needed. Part of the job may include on-call hours for emergency situations. Grocery stores do not want food to spoil and HVAC workers can perform emergency repairs whenever needed.

Big Box or Retail HVAC

Instead of taking on a third-party contract or working for an independent company, you may find a career with a retail store chain. Big box stores may keep their own HVAC workers on staff to help maintain a collection of stores from a specific area. With this job option, you have the opportunity to find a stable career path that keeps you within a certain company.

On a daily basis, you will travel to different stores in a set area and typically have a company vehicle to complete your tasks. The jobs may vary, and you may get sent out on emergency calls when needed. After a while, you will know individual stores and have a proper system worked out to complete tasks and get from location to location.

If you seek a career with routine and stability, this route may be an ideal option. As you search for big box retail career options, consider the benefits associated with the job, including health insurance, vacation options, and other benefit packages.

Remodels & New Store Construction Projects

The retail world constantly evolves, and you could be an integral part of the process. If you are interested more in installations rather than repairs, then you could seek out HVAC jobs in the construction realm.

As populations grow and suburbs expand, new retail locations constantly pop up all over the country. With your advanced training, you have the opportunity to work in new store construction. You will help install heaters, air conditioning, and refrigeration in these retail locations.

Along with the new construction of the buildings, several retail stores may choose to remodel. A remodel could include a new retail business that overtakes a former business or a current retail location that goes through many upgrades and changes. The upgrades could include the replacement of old equipment or a complete change over in parts. With upgrades, t businesses will typically want smart energy products that run better and consume less energy.

Electrical Jobs

When you enroll in HVAC courses, you have the opportunity to take electrical courses through your training. Electrical classes cover a range of electrical components like lighting, outlets, and electrical wiring. If you like the electrical side of work more, then you can lean in on those courses and take on more electrical work.

With the electrical training, you will have many retail job opportunities. Electrical work is important in all aspects of a retail business. Point of sale systems need proper electrical work to operate and ensure registers don't short out. Electrical lighting provides illumination for products and sections in a store. Many chains rely on specialty lighting and signage to showcase branding and unique store designs.

Like the HVAC positions, you could work for an independent company or find a permanent role as an electrician within a retail chain. Typically, the HVAC jobs and electrician jobs are listed separately, but some jobs may include both roles in one maintenance position.

As you reach the end of your classes, you can begin your job search and see what potential career choices you have.

Keep all of these job options in mind when you enroll in classes at the HVAC Technical Institute. We have several courses available and can fully prepare you for a long career in the world of retail. As long as people need groceries, the store will need HVAC workers to keep them running smoothly.