HVAC Install Lead
JD Precision
You will be taken to the employer's application page. Listing expires September 5, 2026.
Job Description
Performance Pay • Year-Round Work • Lead a Crew
JD Precision is looking for an experienced HVAC Install Lead to run installation jobs from start to finish. The Lead Installer is responsible for the proper installation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, leading and training their installation assistant, and ensuring every installation is executed properly to code and industry standards — all while delivering a 5-star customer experience from start to finish. We offer amazing benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, a 401(k) with company matching, 6 paid holidays, paid vacation, and great training. Join our team of dedicated professionals today!
Responsibilities
- Create a customer experience that exceeds the expectations set by the SRM or Comfort Advisor
- Install HVAC systems including furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, ductless mini-splits, and ductwork per minimum standards and installation manual requirements
- Lead and train the installation assistant on site, ensuring safe and efficient work
- Communicate professionally with customers before, during, and after installation, ensuring the customer is fully prepared to operate their new HVAC system upon completion
- Ensure the customer's home is fully protected and cared for during the installation process
- Perform thorough start-up and testing of installed systems to ensure proper operation; complete and sign the Safety, Quality, and Assurance Report
- Complete and sign the Job Site Hazard Analysis Report (JHAR) before beginning work; adhere to all safety procedures and use protective equipment as required
- Complete pre-install, safety, and post-install checklists accurately
- Maintain accurate records of work performed and materials used; upon job completion, call in to the Project Management Team to communicate issues and/or replenishment needs
- Collaborate with team members and project managers to complete installations on schedule
- Stay current with industry standards, building codes, and licensing requirements
Requirements
Qualifications
- At least 2 years of HVAC installation experience
- EPA Certification
- Exceptional communication and customer service skills
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Ability to work in tight spaces such as attics and crawlspaces, lift 50 pounds, push, pull, carry or maneuver heavier items, and occasionally work from heights of 15 feet or higher
- Valid driver's license and insurable driving record
- Must be 18 years of age or older to apply
Working Conditions
Regularly works in indoor/outdoor elements with extreme variation in temperatures. Climbing, heavy lifting, standing, stooping, bending, crouching, kneeling, sitting, and reaching are required. Must have good visual acuity to see and focus close, at a distance, and with normal peripheral vision and depth perception. Willing to work hours outside of normal work schedule if needed.
What Most AC & HVAC Job Listings Don't Tell You
General overview for this role type; specifics vary by employer.
HVAC in Texas requires a state license at the company level, and technicians who handle refrigerant need EPA Section 608 certification. Many shops also want NATE certification for higher pay. You can start as an installer helper or entry technician and grow into diagnostics and system design. Pay is often hourly with strong overtime in summer, and service techs frequently earn commission or spiffs on repairs and system sales.
Seasonality drives this trade in Houston. Summer is brutal and busy, with long days, attic heat, and heavy on-call rotations when systems fail. Winter shifts toward heating checks, maintenance plans, and install backlog. New hires underestimate the physical toll of attic and rooftop work in extreme heat. You drive a stocked truck, carry gauges and recovery gear, and stay ready for after-hours emergencies. Steady demand and a shortage of skilled techs keep the field open to anyone who shows up and learns fast.
What to Expect Day-to-Day
General overview for this role type; specifics vary by employer.
A service tech starts with a dispatch list and a truck loaded with common parts. You roll to no-cool calls, check the thermostat, measure refrigerant pressures, test the compressor and capacitor, and inspect the coil and blower. You explain the fault, quote the fix, and get approval before the repair.
Maintenance visits fill much of the shoulder seasons. You clean coils, change filters, flush drain lines, and check amperage so a system does not fail in the next heat wave. Install crews spend the day setting condensers and air handlers, running line sets and ductwork, and brazing connections. Customer trust matters because many repairs are invisible to the homeowner. You document readings, photograph the work, and close the ticket in the field. Expect heat, ladders, tight attics, and a lot of driving between calls, balanced by the satisfaction of restoring cool air on a hundred degree day.
What AC & HVAC Jobs Pay in Houston
Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area (HVAC Mechanics and Installers).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area. Median is about $28.34/hr.
Becoming a Licensed HVAC Technician in Texas
HVAC contracting is licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and the license is held at the company level by a certified technician. Anyone who handles refrigerant needs federal EPA Section 608 certification. Many employers also value NATE certification, which raises pay. You can start as an installer helper with no license, earn your EPA card early, and build toward the ACR technician and then contractor license through documented experience and exams. Summer overtime is common while you climb.
Career Ladder and Pay
- 1 Install Helper / Entry Tech $47,029/yr
Assist installs and maintenance while earning EPA 608 certification.
- 2 Service Technician $58,947/yr
Diagnose and repair systems solo. NATE certification lifts pay.
- 3 Lead Tech / Comfort Advisor $73,902/yr
Handle complex diagnostics, system design, and replacement sales.
- 4 Install Foreman / Estimator $73,902/yr
Run install crews and bid residential and commercial systems.
- 5 HVAC Contractor $83,117/yr
Hold the state license and run your own heating and cooling company.
Licensing paths and timelines are general guidance for this trade in Texas. Confirm current requirements with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation or the relevant state agency.
More AC & HVAC Jobs Near Houston
Your Job Search Toolkit
Free tools, prefilled for ac & hvac roles.
Was this job page helpful?
Looking to hire instead?
Find verified AC & HVAC businesses in Houston →