American Standard Helps Identify the Best HVAC Techs
HVAC technicians are there when homeowners need them, whether during a regular service call or in an emergency such as a winter or summer storm. Most of the time, a service tech’s skills, troubleshooting ability, and knowledge are unseen—as they work up on the roof, beside the house, or in the attic or basement to get the equipment performing optimally.
The second annual ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship (SHNC) spotlights those talents in a unique way, with several months of competition leading to a CBS Sports Network-televised final among the top HVAC techs in the US and Canada. (Watch the 2022 ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship on YouTube.) As one of the championship’s headline sponsors, American Standard isn’t just highlighting the industry’s top talent—it’s helping increase overall visibility for the skilled trades as a career.
The HVAC Tech’s Route to Victory
The SHNC competition includes two categories: professionals with more than three years of experience who are both EPA-certified and Licensed Technicians, and HVAC apprentices with less than three years of experience. What does it take to reach the national championship?
- Round 1: The first stage is an online digital quiz, sponsored by American Standard, that tests participants’ HVAC knowledge. This part of the competition began on March 1 and runs through July 31, 2023.
- Round 2: In August, the 76 pros and apprentices who scored highest on the quiz will receive an at-home kit—putting their practical skills and workmanship to the test.
- Final round: The top 15 professionals and 15 apprentices, determined by the results of the second round, will compete on October 28 at the Tampa Convention Center. In addition to an all-expenses-paid trip to Tampa and VIP prize packages, finalists have a shot at more than $100,000 in cash and prizes—including $25,000 for the winning apprentice and $40,000 for the top professional. The event will be featured on CBS Sports Network, with the broadcast date to be determined.
“Being called the best HVAC tech in the country is mind-blowing to me,” says Mack Shwert, who works for Homeserve USA in Woburn, Massachusetts and won the 2022 competition. “I still can’t believe I’m called that—this work is just something I do day in and day out. Making it to the final rounds in Tampa was enough for me—to come out on top was a bonus. The whole experience was wild.”
Building Awareness in the Skilled Trades
SHNC is part of the Elite Trades Championship Series, which also includes national competitions in the automotive, electrical, and plumbing sectors. While the events are designed to identify the top performers in their industries, the underlying mission is even more important: building awareness for tradespeople and the vast number of career opportunities. Among all the skilled trade sectors, HVAC is being hit particularly hard by the labor shortage in the US—in fact, industry statistics indicate that about 85,000 jobs are currently unfilled. As a sponsor of the ServiceTian HVAC National Championship and founder of training initiatives such as Trade Warriors, American Standard is helping aspiring technicians go farther in their careers—and developing the next generation of HVAC pros that homeowners can rely on.
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