Plumbing vs. HVAC: What Trade Should You Choose?

Pursuing a career as a plumber or HVAC technician may be a good choice if you enjoy working with your hands, learning about technical systems and want career stability. But how do you choose between the two? First, you should know the difference between plumbing and HVAC.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and Plumbing are critical systems that ensure the easy distribution of air and gases within a defined building. This flow of atmospheric gases is vital as they create a conducive working environment for human beings. 

These two technologies provide the best temperature regulatory systems currently known to humankind. HVAC tools are furnaces, boilers, and air circulatory and exchange systems. Examples of tools used for Plumbing include pipe, copper, and iron.

There is still much more to know about the two terms. Stay with us as we are going to discuss the comparison between HVAC vs. Plumbing. 

Differences Between HVAC And Plumbing

Both systems are critical in a household or building. While there are similarities in many ways, here are a few differences between the two approaches:

HVAC

This system ensures the easy and adequate distribution of ventilated air and gases around the building and the atmosphere. Oxygen, as we know it, is one of the most necessary atmospheric gases as it's necessary for every aspect of human survival. Oxygen also serves as the primary food for the brain.

Effect Of A Good HVAC System 

The human body also makes proper use of oxygen in diverse aerobic activities. Poor or contaminated air and gases can slowly or rapidly hurt the body in many ways. Gases can increase body-level toxicity and disrupt the usual way people function. That is why having the best HVAC system present at all times can save you a lot and promote life. 

Research has shown that proper ventilation has many health benefits, including preventing several diseases such as asthma and allergies. One primary use and advantage of ventilation and HVAC systems is Temperature and Air regulation. 

What To Consider When Installing HVAC Systems

The average temperature that is conducive to people differs from place to place. Residents in places like the United States are used to lower temperatures than in places like Nigeria. So the HVAC installation process will differ based on country location.

Residents in a much hotter temperature need a colder room to aid their everyday performance compared to those living in a low-temperature environment. Also, when installing an HVAC system in any country (Whether hot or cold weather), factors such as airborne diseases are considered significant.

Disease Check

There are certain diseases that prevail under a low temperature, and there are also certain microorganisms that thrive in hot temperatures. So keeping these things in mind is a perfect way to ensure that you install your HVAC system correctly and that only purified air circulates the building.

Plumbing

Plumbing generally includes installing and connecting pipes around the building to ensure that air and gases circulate in the household or building.

One of the critical factors affecting Plumbing is the breakage of pipes and rusting of iron. When this occurs, it can lead to the loss of essential gases or water substances that are supposed to circulate in the building.

There is hardly a modern-day home these days that doesn't have a plumbing system installed. If there still exists, such a home would be hard to find. 

Plumbing is now one of the most significant installations in a home; it's even as important as building, painting, and plastering the house or building.

Three central plumbing systems are potable water, sanitary, and stormwater drainage.

Potable Water System

Like the name sounds, the potable water system helps to distribute/convey quality water around the building. This water is safe for drinking, bathing, cooking, laundry, washing dishes, etc. 

In most homes, a borehole or channel pumps the water from a water system to every part of the city. Effective measures (filtration, testing water quality) are always in place to ensure this potable water's stable production.

Sanitary Water System

The sanitary water system helps remove disposable, unclean, or unfit water from the building and store it where one can remove it. This kind of water is unsafe for drinking or serving other household purposes, so the building eliminates it.

Recently, the government in countries like Israel has started to take this disposable (even sewage) water and turn it back into drinkable water. While they successfully removed and separated germs and toxic substances from the water, those kinds of water are yet to be generally accepted by the public.

Storm Water System

The stormwater system mainly channels rainwater away from a particular region or manages the rainwater in an area so it doesn't lead to flooding. This system is essential and highly recommended in areas prone to flooding. Gutters and other stormwater systems are the best for saving areas from flooding.

Similarities Between HVAC And Plumbing 

Here are a few similarities between HVAC and Plumbing: 

• They both help in the distribution of gases around a building.
• Both systems can help in temperature regulation.
• Both systems can help in Air regulation.
• Both systems are highly advantageous to humankind.

Career Path: How to Become a Plumber or HVAC Technician? 

HVAC and Plumbing are two great career paths individuals can start up. One good thing is that people would always require these services as long as building and construction is concerned. Humans can hardly do without properly ventilated systems, heating, and air conditioning systems in homes and offices, making this career one with a constant flow of clients. 

The average US salary for a plumber and HVAC officer is around $56,000 annually, making this job the perfect fit for many. According to statistics, they'll be a 14% increase in the demand for plumbers before 2028. 

This demand will increase due to every country's high number of yearly real estate projects. This can be coupled with the fact that more and more businesses and factories would keep launching as societal growth continues.

Interested individuals can efficiently work as self-employed and under similar companies providing such services. Since there is a global need for HVAC and plumbing workers, anyone can do this kind of business locally and internationally.

Summing Up

HVAC and Plumbing are different regarding working settings and duties; what's important to note is that they are both in high demand and valuable.  

Plumbing vs. HVAC – Which is More Difficult?

HVAC appears to be easier because licensing equipment is lacking in some states. Because it also has a cleaner nature, it looks like a superior option. Whatever you choose as a hobby or a profession depends on your skillset and choices.