NC HVAC study plan
NC HVAC · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems and Equipment
Map the heating equipment families (furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, electric resistance) and describe the operating sequence of each from memory
Trace the combustion and venting path through a gas furnace and label each safety interlock
Calculate temperature rise, airflow, and Btu output relationships for a furnace using the sensible heat equation
Explain the refrigeration cycle as it applies to a heat pump in both heating and cooling modes, including reversing valve function
Your checkpoint
A one-page hand-drawn schematic of a gas furnace and a heat pump showing components, sequence of operation, and safety switches, self-graded against a checklist
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems and Equipment & Refrigeration Principles and Components
Compare airflow and control strategies across constant-torque, variable-speed, and ECM blower systems
Diagnose common heating complaints (short cycling, insufficient rise, limit trips) by listing likely causes in priority order
Identify each refrigeration component (compressor, metering device, evaporator, condenser) and state its function and typical failure modes
Interpret superheat and subcooling readings to judge charge and metering device performance
Your checkpoint
A 20-question self-written quiz on heating sequence and refrigeration components, scored with written explanations for every miss
Refrigeration Principles and Components & Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems and Equipment
Describe compressor types, lubrication, and the consequences of floodback and slugging
Explain how each metering device type (fixed orifice, TXV, EEV) responds to load changes
Outline refrigerant recovery, evacuation, and charging procedures in correct order with target vacuum levels
Match refrigerant classifications and safety groups to handling and storage requirements
Your checkpoint
A written procedure card for pump-down, recovery, evacuation, and charging that you could follow hands-on without notes
Load Calculations and System Sizing & Ductwork and Air Distribution
Perform a manual J-style block and room load estimate, separating sensible and latent gains
Select equipment size from a completed load estimate and justify the choice against oversizing risks
Size supply and return ducts using friction rate and velocity limits, showing your calculations
Lay out a trunk-and-branch system and mark fittings, dampers, and registers on a sketch
Your checkpoint
A complete load estimate and duct sizing worksheet for a sample 2,000 sq ft house, with all assumptions and calculations shown
Ductwork and Air Distribution & Electrical and Controls
Calculate external static pressure and diagnose high-static causes in a duct system
Explain balancing methods for constant-volume and zoned systems and describe how to set a bypass or dump zone
Read and interpret a low-voltage control schematic for a heat pump with auxiliary and emergency heat
Trace line- and low-voltage circuits through a contactor, sequencer, relay, and defrost board, and state the test point for each
Your checkpoint
A marked-up control wiring diagram with each terminal and component labeled, plus a written troubleshooting sequence for 'no heat' on a heat pump
Electrical and Controls & Fuel Gas and Combustion Safety
Apply electrical safety practices: lockout/tagout, meter selection, and verifying de-energization before work
Test capacitors, motors, and transformers using expected resistance and microfarad values
Identify combustion appliance categories, venting requirements, and draft proving devices
Describe combustion analysis: measure CO, CO2, O2, and stack temperature and interpret the results against acceptable ranges
List the steps for a gas leak check and appliance safety shutoff test
Your checkpoint
A combustion and electrical safety checklist you can run on a furnace, completed with sample readings and a pass/fail determination for each item
North Carolina Building and Mechanical Codes and Licensing Regulations & Business, Contract, and Project Management
Summarize the North Carolina mechanical and building code requirements that govern equipment installation, clearances, and venting
Explain NC licensing board rules on permits, scope of work, and continuing education obligations
Draft a contract scope of work that covers change orders, payment schedule, and warranty terms
Build a job cost estimate including labor, material, overhead, and markup, and compute break-even pricing
Your checkpoint
A sample residential replacement proposal with scope, code references, price breakdown, and warranty language, plus a 10-question code and licensing self-test
Safety and Environmental Practices & North Carolina Building and Mechanical Codes and Licensing Regulations & Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems and Equipment
Apply refrigerant handling, recovery, and recordkeeping requirements to a service scenario
Identify job-site hazards and the PPE and controls for each (electrical, refrigerant, combustion, and ladder hazards)
Complete timed mixed-domain practice sets and review every missed item to its root cause
Restate the highest-risk code and safety rules from memory in a condensed review sheet
Your checkpoint
A full-length timed practice exam scored by domain, with a written remediation list for any domain below 75 percent
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 80 percent on the self-written heating and refrigeration quiz and explain every missed item aloud without notes
Week 4: Produce a defensible load estimate and duct layout where every number traces to a stated assumption or formula
Week 6: Complete the combustion and electrical safety checklist with correct pass/fail calls on all sample readings
Week 8: Score 75 percent or higher in every domain on the timed practice exam, with a written remediation plan for any domain below that threshold