Houston HVAC distributor Century Air Conditioning Supply Co. was founded in 1973; it celebrated its 50 years in business last year. Originally, Century A/C Supply focused exclusively on selling parts and supplies. In 1986, Century acquired the RUUD line of equipment which established Century as a full-service distributor for the HVAC industry. Today, there are 13 branches in and around the Houston area. The distributor’s corporate philosophy centers around being easy to do business with and having well-stocked warehouses. When you visit a Century A/C Supply branch you will find friendly, knowledgeable employees eager to get what you need and get you back to the jobsite. If you have a difficult HVAC problem to solve, a complex job or need commercial equipment, Century A/C Supply is there to help. Many employees speak Spanish to better serve clients who prefer speaking their native language. Training was offered to customers from the very beginning. Century A/C recognized an opportunity to help technicians develop their skills and teach them about emerging technology. While the training began casually with a few techs standing over a condenser, it has grown to be a mainstay in the Houston market.

We sat down with Michelle Bridges, vice president, multifamily housing at Century Air Conditioning Supply to hear more about its training center. 

The Wholesaler: Please describe your HVAC training programs’ structure and content. How do they balance theoretical knowledge with practical skills?

Michelle Bridges: Century A/C Supply has a wide variety of training programs to meet the many needs of our customers. Everything from basic EPA 608 certification exam review for newbies, to installation and troubleshooting for multifamily, to advanced equipment commissioning and even business courses to help contractors grow their own successful businesses.

Training sessions vary in length from as little as 90 minutes to as long as two-day boot camps. While most are held in Century A/C Supply’s John Burg Hands-On Learning Lab, some are available on Zoom and others are held in strategic locations like local trade schools or on jobsite.

With a wide range of training offerings and client needs, the Century A/C Supply training department has a few basic requirements that every training session must meet. Each session must contain industry best practices, be relevant to both the contractor and equipment, and able to be applied immediately that day.

We at Century A/C Supply try to avoid purely theoretical classes in favor of ones that balance theory with practical applications. Adult learners like to participate in training rather than sit passively, so trainings are designed with opportunities to ask questions, work scenarios, draw conclusions and participate in hands-on demonstrations.

TW: Are your programs accredited and do they provide industry-recognized certifications?

MB: Century A/C Supply provides several accredited training sessions, including a review class and testing for the EPA 608 certification. Review is offered both in English and Spanish, and in-person as well as via Zoom. Testing is only in-person at any of our local Houston area branches. 

Many of our courses designed by Rheem/Ruud are accredited for continuing education credits for both the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and for NATE. Century employees a NATE-certified instructor.

In addition to our own trainings, the Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Association (TACCA) regularly holds continuing education training in our facility. Century also provides space to a company who helps folks study for the TACL exam.

TW: Describe your training center’s facilities and how they replicate real-world HVAC situations. And who are the teachers?

MB: Century A/C Supply’s training facilities have come a long way in our 50-year history. The first dedicated training room was little more than a closet; today, Century has a beautiful, state-of-the art facility. 

The classroom has projectors with drop-down screens, desks with working PCs and comfortably seats 60. The hands-on learning lab seats 24, has a projector and drop-down screen, four functioning furnaces, six working systems (including heat pump and zoning) and a mini-split station. Equipment ranges from cutting-edge to slightly older to accommodate all levels of learning.

If that is not enough, we also have three commercial package units and a test bench in the warehouse to power up any other component or system. Everything except the installed equipment in the John Burg Hands-On Learning Lab is on wheels so we can change the configuration of any room to match the training.

John Burg is a Houston HVAC legend who anchors the training team. His wisdom and sense of humor provide a learning experience like no other. Century A/C Supply has three other trainers who teach everything from multifamily to residential and commercial, and offer technical support to Century’s contractors. Guest instructors enhance the course offerings and select courses are offered in Spanish as well as English. 

TW: What is the extent of hands-on, practical experience in the training? Do you offer live project or on-site training opportunities?

MB: Century A/C Supply has a three-part philosophy regarding technically supporting our clients. We have classroom/lab instruction, telephone technical support and site visits in the field. The trainers participate in all three because each element supports and strengthens the other two. By spending time in the field, our trainers have practical knowledge and have walked in our clients’ shoes. By teaching in the lab, they are up-to-date on the most current industry and equipment information. By taking tech support phone calls, they understand today’s challenges and how best to fix and prevent them. 

Century A/C Supply is passionate about hands-on training and facilitates it whenever possible. We offer copper brazing and aluminum soldering classes with torches to perfect field skills. Installation classes include actual refrigerant recovery, evacuation and charging. The new SEER2 equipment requires a second look at existing duct systems, so we have airflow and duct design classes. With the introduction of Bluetooth controls, we have live, working Bluetooth equipment as well as live commercial controls and commissioning opportunities. 

Most of the training takes place in the John Burg Hands-On Learning Lab because of the variety of available equipment and the ability to control the learning environment. Century does offer limited on-site training to customers and in unique situations that cannot be replicated in the learning lab.

TW: What technology and equipment are used in training? Are they aligned with current industry standards?

MB: The air-conditioning industry has been anything but static in the past few years. 

Century A/C Supply has up-to-date residential SEER2 equipment installed in the hands-on lab. Working heat pumps, zoning and Bluetooth systems allow contractors to learn and experiment in a training environment. New multiple-stage equipment and variable-speed inverters require additional knowledge and skill that can be quickly gained on live equipment. Commercial contractors can work with variable-frequency drives and other high-tech commercial controls.

Century A/C Supply has begun A2L refrigerant training in anticipation of the arrival of equipment later this year. We have developed our own mechanical and electrical diagnostic app for our multifamily customers to assist in learning these vital skills. 

Instructors use a variety of presentation methods while training in the John Burg Hands-On Learning Lab and classroom . Crisp, vivid presentations are augmented with video and live demonstrations to capture the content and the attention of the learner.

TW: Who typically enrolls in your programs? Are they mostly industry newcomers or experienced professionals seeking advanced training? 

MB: Century A/C Supply has a wide variety of people who attend classes. We have folks just entering the industry who take entry-level classes such as the ABC’s of AC and the EPA 608 exam review course.

Most of Century A/C Supply’s training is for existing customers who are enhancing their skills, broadening their knowledge or learning about new technology. This would include our multifamily clients, licensed residential contractors and techs as well as commercial contractors.

Century A/C Supply offers some classes that draw in business owners, executives and engineers. We offer something for just about everyone in HVAC.