Mr. Gallus

HVAC

TMr. Gallus started the heating, ventilating and air conditioning program at Prosser Career Academy from scratch and has mastered the art of producing viable graduates for employment or post-secondary education. Mr. Gallus’ HVAC Program is one of only two in the entire state and is recognized as the exemplary model upon from which to build. The HVAC industry is a worldwide enterprise, with career opportunities including operation and maintenance, system design and construction, equipment manufacturing and sales, and in education and research. Unprecedented, students gain 2-years of work experience earned from time invested in Prosser HVAC, giving them that edge sometimes needed when entering the Electrical Apprenticeship Program.

Equipment to work in the HVAC shop to prepare the students to work with real tools and know what to expect.

Students whom choose this vacation are strongly urged to not be on the work program during school hours. Consistent attendance is needed for the successful transition into this financially viable career. Students must be ready for a progressive rigorous HVAC educational training that is college level in a high school setting. Perseverance and good attitude is a must. “Are you up for the challenge?”

Specifications:

• As Sophomores the students will run through 3 foundations areas. First, students will learn to make a robot that they can take home. In its resurrection, students learn, in a scaled down version, the finer aspects in creating ductwork for an HVAC installation. Second, students make a copper tubing frame in which they can decorate and also take home. In the process of the frame’s creation, students learn how to measure, swage, cut, ream, fit, solder and braze copper tubing as used in both refrigeration and air conditioning. Third, students work with 120 volt electrical boards in which they learn how to wire series and parallel circuits used not only in HVAC but in many wiring tasks throughout a home.
• As Juniors the students projects become immediately more demanding. Students learn how to complete an entire forced air furnace installation. This includes the furnace, conduit and electrical work up to the breaker panel, natural gas line installation, and total ductwork design, fabrication and installation. Afterwards, students continue on with a furnace change-out which includes due transitions. Students learn how to invoice and bill for installations and service as the curriculum continues into the maintenance and servicing aspects of heating.
• As Seniors the students learn central air conditioning installation and service. Throughout the year, students take 3 National Certifications, one being their HVAC EPA License as a Universal Technician (mandatory for most employment opportunities). Students begin their own business halfway through the year making money while going to school. Invoices, business cards, and advertisements are all created in shop. Students progress to 90+% efficiency furnace installations, maintenance and service. Soft skills and employability skills are taught throughout the curriculum along with the finer aspects to customer service as an owner and/ or technician of an HVAC business. It is by far the most challenging year.

Students working outside the shop to gain experience in real life work.

Mr. Gallus’ students become Nationally Certified in Heating, Electricity, Air Conditioning Technology, along with their National Certification in R-410A and finally their EPA license allowing graduates to work anywhere across our nation. A vast majority of Mr. Gallus’ seniors start their own business by the end of their first semester allowing an hourly income unfathomable by a 17 or 18 year old. Not only a teacher, but also licensed as a stationary engineer, Mr. Gallus understands the industry from many perspectives which gives him insight on how to best educate high school students for real world applications and careers in the HVAC world.