Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic

Full Job Description

AC Equipment Mechanic position is located in the Engineering Service at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL.

This position performs a variety of tasks involved in the upkeep and maintenance of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.

In accordance with Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, this position requires a current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA approved Universal Certification.

Copy of certification required at time of application. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position.

Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire.

Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated.

The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Major Duties:

The Air Conditioning equipment Mechanic performs a wide range of work involving installing and recognizing the cause of faulty refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and making repairs on large systems that provide for a variety of air conditioning functions such as heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying, cleaning, filtering, and circulating.

Duties include: Calculates airflow and the pressure-temperature characteristics for different systems; locates and repairs faulty equipment swiftly in order to reduce inoperative time to a minimum; locates trouble before dismantling and makes repairs which insure proper functioning after assembly.

Performs complex repairs such as installing and fitting connecting rods, crank shafts, piston rings, bearings, and bushings; overhauling valves by adjusting or replacing gaskets, springs, floats, diaphragms, valve fittings, seals, and couplings; and aligning motors and flywheel drives.

Checks out the refrigeration cycle of a variety of commercial and industrial systems to locate and check elements such as those that control low side and high side pressure; the temperature of the cooling units; the temperatures of the liquid and suction lines; and the running time of the various mechanisms.

Examines equipment components visually and audibly for the probability of leaks; and performs prescribed test procedures and explores probable reasons for equipment failure.

Identifies faulty equipment causes and makes repairs on large systems that provide for a variety of air conditioning functions such as heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying, cleaning, filtering, and circulating.

These systems use a variety of methods of air conditioning such as mechanical compression, vapor compression, absorption, and steam jet or air cycle. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 3:30 PM to 12:00 AM Wednesday-Sunday Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD02036A Physical Requirements: The work requires carrying of equipment, tools and testing devices that seldom weigh over 50 pounds.

Most of the equipment can be reached from the floor or from ladders.

Occasionally, platforms and scaffolding re needed to reach parts of the systems such as fans, electrical and water lines and duct work.

The incumbent is required to stoop, stretch, bend, kneel and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions.

Working Conditions: The incumbent is regularly required to work out of doors on the roofs of buildings exposed to extremes of temperature and inclement weather.

Regularly exposed to indoor temperature extremes and required to work with high pressure steam, high pressure water and hot water.

Regularly required to perform duties which involve potential exposure to oxygen depleting refrigerant gases, dangerous chemicals, harmful vapors and harmful fumes.

Noise levels in the work areas can be high, sometimes requiring the use of hearing protection equipment. Regularly exposed to the possibility of bums, cuts, bruises, scrapes and falls.