A List of The Best HVAC Books to Master Your Skills

Before elaborating on the top HVAC books to help you master your skills, here’s something you must know. In 2020, the US HVAC market was valued at $11.45 billion. This figure is expected to reach $16.56 billion by 2026. That’s some staggering growth, right?

The truth is United States ranks significantly high when it comes to HVAC systems, thanks to the growing use of air conditioners in the U.S. It’s clearly going to be one of the top drivers for HVAC services—as more than 90% of households have air conditioning equipment, compared to a mere 8% of 2.8 billion people living in some of the hottest regions of the world. 

What does it say about HVAC professionals? That it’s the perfect time to master your skills and turn them into revenue. And the best and most cost-effective way to hone your skills is via leveraging HVAC books. 

These engineering, service, and repair HVAC books provide crucial insights into everything from fixing a heating system to preventive maintenance on an air conditioner. If you want to do your job well, you need these best HVAC books handy.

We know we have you convinced about the best HVAC books, but how do you cherry-pick the best ones? We’ve compiled a list of the best HVAC books to help you get started on your career and succeed. Read on for our recommendations.

5 Best HVAC Training Books

If you’re just starting your HVAC career or want to learn more about the demand for this profession, these best HVAC books for HVAC beginners are a wonderful place to start.

Whether you’re interested in learning how to install heating and cooling systems or just looking to brush up on your skills, these best HVAC books are it.

1. Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning by Andrew D. Althouse

The comprehensive manual and an excellent HVAC repair book, Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning cover the fundamental concepts of HVAC. It also elaborates on various HVAC theories, complex engineering concepts, and the repair procedures needed to locate and resolve HVAC system problems. 

This edition provides specialists with the most up-to-date knowledge on HVAC academics and HVAC technology advancements and the latest information on EPA legislation and regulations regarding refrigerant recovery, recycling, and reclamation. 

HVAC students and practicing technicians will benefit from the complete approach of this text, which provides a firm grasp of all refrigeration and air conditioning components.

2. Refrigerator and Air Conditioning Technology by John Tomczyk 

With a refrigerator and air conditioning technology, 8th Edition, learn the knowledge and abilities required to maintain and troubleshoot today’s sophisticated heating, air conditioning, and (commercial) refrigeration systems. 

This straightforward HVAC book offers in-depth instruction, practical applications, and a solid basis for comprehending today’s HVAC service and repair. 

The 8th Edition discusses the most recent developments in the HVAC industry as well as crucial soft skills that significantly impact customer satisfaction and employment success.

It does so with a focus on sustainable technology in today’s HVAC industry, emphasizing new technologies and green awareness. 

Don’t mistake this for an HVAC theory book. This book contains memorable examples, more than 260 illustrative pictures, and special Service Call features that help you gain the essential knowledge required for career success.

3. Audel HVAC Fundamentals by James E Brumbaugh

You can learn a lot about HVAC fundamentals by reading this HVAC book. James Brumbaugh has won numerous honors. And this guide covers the fundamental principles to comprehend the heating equipment’s operation. 

The thoroughness of this book, with its detailed pictures and explanations, is one of its advantages.

4. 101 Ways to Suck as an HVAC Technician by R Schuster

101 Ways To Suck As An HVAC Technician looks back at years’ worth of amusing, terrifying, and idiotic field anecdotes. You’ll find out how many of these tales you’ve been a part of and what you can do to prevent them.

5. A Textbook of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning by R.K. Rajput

Learn how to maintain and troubleshoot the sophisticated HVAC systems of today with the help of A Textbook on Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning. 

In addition to offering a solid knowledge base with tangible examples, the book provides helpful, hands-on instruction using simple, understandable prose and diagrams.

5 Best HVAC Troubleshooting Books

As an HVAC professional, you need to prepare yourself for whatever problems come your way. These best HVAC books will help you achieve exactly that. 

1. HVAC Troubleshooting Guide by Rex Miller

Rex Miller has tremendous experience in the heating and cooling industry. The HVAC Troubleshooting Guide is a valuable asset to anyone in the heating and air conditioning field. This manual puts a wealth of practical knowledge at your fingertips and applies to commercial, residential, and industrial tasks.

You may learn how to read, understand, and create schedules, mechanical drawings, and electrical schematics by using the HVAC Troubleshooting Guide. This helpful tool can help with daily work and staying current on the newest information, statistics, gadgets, and HVAC troubleshooting tips. Numerous pictures, figures, and charts are present in the book.

2. System Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Procedures by John Tomczyk

A great resource to aid HVAC troubleshooting. This book provides a systematic way to troubleshoot and diagnose air conditioning and refrigeration systems. It covers airflow, refrigerant cycle, suction, and liquid line issues. 

It also covers oil-logged evaporators, undercharges, overcharges, compressor inefficiencies, dirty condensers, and more.

3. Troubleshooting HVAC-R Equipment by Jim Johnson

Troubleshooting HVAC-R Equipment, which Jim Johnson first published in 1995, has since been updated as technologies and procedures have evolved. The information about older machines is what makes this document so significant. You won’t have any trouble fixing newer devices, and you’ll additionally know how to repair older ones.

4. Electricity for HVAC & R: A Guide to Troubleshooting by ESCO Institute 

Few HVAC books are unskippable. And this is one of them—an excellent HVAC troubleshooting book. Eighty percent or more of all service situations include electrical issues. 

The technician can find the knowledge they need in “Electricity for HVAC&R – A Guide to Troubleshooting” to correctly identify electrical problems. In this practical book, you’ll learn about electricity by working through frequently asked questions for each topic.

5. HVAC Control Systems Networking: Basic Configuration and Troubleshooting by Ronnie A. Auvil

Many of the difficulties associated with networked HVAC management systems stem from a few fundamental issues. Non-IT workers may resolve these issues if they have a basic understanding of networking concepts and configurations. This book guides building operators and HVAC control technicians using web-based supervisory controllers to manage their facilities’ HVAC systems.

5 Best HVAC Certification Books

If you’re planning on taking a test for your HVAC certification, which we highly recommend given the ripe opportunity and booming sector, don’t miss out on these best HVAC books.

1. ESCO Institute Section 608 Certification Exam Preparatory Manual for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technicians by ESCO Institute, Jerry Weiss

This is an excellent resource if you want to review the material in preparation for your upcoming instrument test. Many HVAC students have used this manual as their go-to resource for exam preparation because it contains all the questions on the EPA certification test.

2. HVAC Licensing Study Guide, Third Edition by Rex Miller, Mark Miller 

Third Edition, the HVAC Licensing Study Guide contains more than 800 actual practice questions and answers. This will help you give more HVAC exam practice tests and give you all the information you need to prepare for and pass the central HVAC licensing exams.

This user-friendly career-building study tool has vital calculations, job point troubleshooting advice, hundreds of in-depth examples, and details on the latest standards and norms. You’ll also receive all-new troubleshooting information for HVAC electrical components and small motors. Clearly an excellent resource to biome licensed HVAC technicians.

3. The Guide to the NATE-ICE Certification Exams by Robert Featherstone

This study guide will prepare you to ace the HVAC/R NATE and ICE instrument exams. The first section is a thorough study companion that explores various practices and principles. As you move onto the second section, you will have questions covering electrical proposition, EPA instrumentation, interior air quality and safety, tool conditions, and more.

4. Step by Step to Passing the EPA 608 Certification Exam by H. Benetti

This is your go-to book if you need a guide that walks you through every step of clearing the EPA 608 refrigeration exam, including the Core, Type I, Type II, Type III, and universal exams. This is written as a guide to support your exam preparation thoroughly.

5. DeWalt HVAC Technician Certification Exam Guide by Norm Christopherson

This HVAC book is best for preparing you to pass your HVAC certification tests. It provides the information you need to pass the RSES Certification, HVAC Excellence, NATE, ICE, and HVAC Technician Licensing Exams. Its innovative design makes it extremely easy to use for learning and preparing for state-restricted licensure exams.

5 Best HVAC Business Books

Perfecting your HVAC services is not just about brushing up on specialized readings. You should also consider HVAC books that cover pricing models and business fundamentals.

As HVAC contractors/professionals, make sure to include these business HVAC books on your reading list.

1. HVAC Spells Wealth by Ron Smith

Learn how to create, run, and sustain domestic retail HVAC enterprises and destroy the competition with helpful HVAC knowledge, HVAC resources, and examples.

You can get advice and tactics about:

• HVAC Industry Commentary
• Systems and procedures
• The best ways to interact with employees and coworkers
• Sales and marketing
• How to deal with clients
• Basic principles of business

2. The Power of Positive Pricing by Matt Michel

This book is for owners of service (HVAC) businesses who want to learn how to accurately communicate costs to their clients, create service agreement prices, and price their HVAC installations and design work. The advice in these guides can help you position your firm right and be more profitable by providing specifics on sales, peripheral pricing, and overhead expenditures.

3. HVAC Business Book: A Detailed Business and Marketing Plan by Elaina Burdick Wellstead

As the owner of an HVAC business or someone who is thinking about starting one, this HVAC book will help you learn how to attract and retain new customers. It also includes expert advice, examples, and information on how to write an HVAC business plan.

4. Build and Grow Your HVAC Business by Greg McAfee 

Anyone who owns an HVAC business, or wishes to own one, should read Build and Grow Your HVAC Business. You don’t have to be from a particular place or have unique characteristics; you just need to have a strong sense of purpose and tenacity. And this HVAC book will indeed inculcate that in you.

5. Six Steps to Grow Your HVAC Business by Christopher Smith

The Six Steps To Grow Your HVAC Firm is a manual that provides tried-and-true procedures developed over 13 years by hundreds of HVAC companies. You can use these methods to expand your HVAC firm, stop suffering losses, and start making more money. Regardless of the service area, median household income, or local economy, these HVAC concepts have helped many wealthy HVAC business owners across the United States.

This handbook will teach you how to repair your HVAC company’s reputation, correct pricing, change your marketing, hire and train fantastic HVAC employees, and stop listening to the blind guide.

Conclusion

If you’re in the home maintenance business, you know it’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments within the HVAC field, including HVAC fundamentals. Whether you’re just starting a business or have tons of HVAC expertise, the best way to keep your HVAC company on the cutting edge is by constantly learning. 

One of the best ways to do this is by reading some of the best HVAC books available today. These works offer insights into how other people have handled similar problems in their careers so that you can learn from their mistakes—and successes!

Talking about managing your business with the HVAC software solution, then FieldCamp is the best solution that will make it easier for you to streamline all the daily operations in just clicks. From job scheduling to dispatching, creating invoices accepting payments, and reports, you can manage all things in a few taps.