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Trade course · HVAC-R & building-systems techs

HVAC & Refrigeration Training for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration for treatment plants — chemical rooms, wet wells, MCC rooms, labs and boilers on digester gas.

HVAC & Refrigeration Training for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants is an online, self-paced course from TRYeTECH Academy covering psychrometrics, the refrigeration cycle, air handling, hazardous-space ventilation, heating, chillers and hydronics, controls and building automation. It has 10 modules and 70 lessons — about 150 hours of study — and every lesson combines narrated slides with Key details, pre-task checklists, troubleshooting scenarios, hands-on practice labs, worked examples, quizzes and flashcards.

Start free lesson: HVAC for Water & Wastewater Plants, Module 1 Lesson 1Create account
  • 10 modules
  • 70 lessons
  • ≈150 hours
  • ≈15 CEUs*
  • Online, self-paced
Illustration of a packaged rooftop HVAC unit with condenser fans and service panels

Who this course is for

Starting out

For HVAC-R apprentices, building-maintenance staff and operators responsible for plant ventilation. Every term is explained in plain language, each lesson opens with a pre-task checklist and the scenarios build safe troubleshooting habits from day one.

Experienced & licensed

For licensed HVAC-R technicians, facilities supervisors and mechanical engineers. You get code and standard references, numbers you can use in the field, pro-level scenarios and tracked active hours for CEU/continuing-education records.

What’s included

Practice labs in this course

Course sequence: HVAC for Water & Wastewater Plants

2 numbered courses, 150 hours in total. Take them in order — each one prepares you for the next. Download the two-page sheet for any course.

  1. HVAC Foundations: Safety, Psychrometrics, Refrigeration, Air & Hazardous-Space Ventilation

    Foundation · 75 hours · 5 modules · 35 lessons · 15 3D simulators

    Everything you need to understand how plant HVAC works: codes, heat and moisture, the refrigeration cycle, air distribution and ventilation of classified spaces.

    • Work safely on HVAC equipment: LOTO, refrigerant release, wet-well and chemical-room atmospheres.
    • Navigate the 2021 Virginia USBC (IMC/IFGC/IECC) and NFPA 820 requirements for plant HVAC.
    • Use sensible and latent heat equations and plot processes on the psychrometric chart.

    Download the HVAC 101 course sheet (PDF)

  2. Heating, Hydronics, Controls, Corrosion & Maintenance

    Advanced · 75 hours · 5 modules · 35 lessons · 15 3D simulators

    Boilers and furnaces, chilled- and hot-water systems, building controls, corrosion-resistant design and the maintenance and troubleshooting skills to keep plants comfortable and safe.

    • Explain combustion air, venting and backdrafting for gas-fired heating equipment and troubleshoot an ignition sequence.
    • Analyze hydronic loops: flow, delta-T, pumping arrangements and low delta-T syndrome.
    • Evaluate chillers (tons, kW/ton, approach) and cooling towers (range, approach, cycles).

    Download the HVAC 102 course sheet (PDF)

Course outline

10 modules · 70 lessons · about 15 hours per module. Lesson 1 of every module is free with an account.

  1. Module 1: HVAC Safety, Codes & the Plant HVAC Trade

    Module 1 · 7 lessons · ≈15 h

    What an HVAC technician does at water and wastewater plants, why ventilation and conditioning in those buildings are life-safety equipment, and which Virginia codes, NFPA, ASHRAE, OSHA and EPA rules govern the work. The module builds the safety habits every later module relies on: lockout of every energy source, refrigerant and 608 compliance, hazardous and corrosive atmospheres, fuel-gas and hot-work safety, the…

    You will be able to:

    • Describe the plant HVAC technician's role and why ventilation in plant spaces is life-safety equipment.
    • Identify HVAC systems in headworks, wet and dry wells, chemical rooms, boiler rooms, MCC rooms, labs and remote stations.
    • Explain how the 2021 Virginia USBC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, NFPA 820, ASHRAE standards, Ten States, OSHA/VOSH and EPA 608 fit together.
    • Apply OSHA 1910.147 lockout/tagout to RTUs, AHUs, exhaust fans, chillers, boilers and unit heaters with multiple energy sources.

    Lessons

    1. HVAC at water & wastewater plants Free sample
    2. Hazardous energy & electrical safety for HVAC work
    3. Refrigerant safety & EPA Section 608
    4. Hazardous & corrosive atmospheres
    5. Combustion & fuel-gas safety
    6. Tools, instruments & PPE
    7. Documentation & work management

  2. Module 2: HVAC Fundamentals & Psychrometrics

    Module 2 · 7 lessons · ≈15 h

    The physics every plant HVAC technician uses daily: heat and energy, the psychrometric chart, airflow and pressure, heat-gain load estimates for process buildings, hydronic and steam basics, electricity for HVAC equipment, and how to read drawings and schedules. Every concept is tied to real water and wastewater spaces such as MCC rooms, pipe galleries, wet wells and chemical rooms, and every hands-on task starts…

    You will be able to:

    • Explain heat, temperature, sensible heat, latent heat and specific heat, and convert between Btu/h, tons, kW and hp.
    • Describe conduction, convection and radiation and apply Q = U x A x dT to plant building surfaces.
    • Define dry bulb, wet bulb, dew point, relative humidity, humidity ratio, enthalpy and specific volume and locate them on a psychrometric chart.
    • Plot sensible heating, cooling and dehumidifying, humidifying and mixing processes and calculate mixed-air temperature and outdoor-air fraction.

    Lessons

    1. Heat, temperature & energy Free with account
    2. Psychrometrics
    3. Air properties & airflow
    4. Heat gains & loads at plants
    5. Hydronic & steam fundamentals
    6. Electricity for HVAC technicians
    7. Reading HVAC drawings & documents

  3. Module 3: Refrigeration Cycle & Refrigerants

    Module 3 · 7 lessons · ≈15 h

    How the vapor-compression cycle moves heat, and how refrigerants, oils, compressors, metering devices and accessories make it work in the RTUs, splits, mini-splits and chillers that cool plant control rooms, MCC rooms, labs and offices. The module builds from saturation, superheat, subcooling and the P-h diagram to EPA 608 and AIM Act refrigerant management, A2L handling, leak testing, evacuation and charging, and…

    You will be able to:

    • Trace refrigerant through the evaporator, compressor, condenser and metering device and name the state change and pressure side at each point.
    • Use the pressure-temperature relationship to convert gauge pressure to saturation temperature, and explain where it does and does not apply.
    • Calculate superheat and subcooling and explain what each reveals about evaporator feed and liquid supply.
    • Read a basic P-h diagram and compute refrigerating effect, heat of compression, heat of rejection, COP and mass flow.

    Lessons

    1. The vapor-compression cycle Free with account
    2. Refrigerants & oils
    3. Compressors
    4. Metering devices
    5. Heat exchangers & system accessories
    6. Leak testing, evacuation & charging
    7. Refrigeration troubleshooting

  4. Module 4: Air Handling, Fans & Ductwork

    Module 4 · 7 lessons · ≈15 h

    Module 4 follows the air through a plant building: air handlers, rooftop units and make-up air units, the fans that move the air, and the ducts, dampers and filters that carry and clean it. You will learn to keep MCC rooms clean and positive, chemical rooms and headworks negative, and corrosive exhaust contained, then prove it with pitot traverses, capture hoods and balancing. The module ends with a safe, systematic…

    You will be able to:

    • Identify the components of an AHU, RTU and make-up air unit and explain what each does in the airstream
    • Select corrosion-resistant construction (coated coils, stainless, aluminum, FRP) for H2S and chlorine exposure
    • Explain when and why exhaust-heavy plant spaces need tempered make-up air, and size the heating load
    • Compare FC, BI, airfoil, radial, plenum, axial and FRP fans and match each to a plant application

    Lessons

    1. Air handlers, RTUs & make-up air units Free with account
    2. Fans
    3. Ductwork & dampers
    4. Filtration & gas-phase air cleaning
    5. Air distribution & space pressurization
    6. Testing, adjusting & balancing (TAB)
    7. Air-side troubleshooting

  5. Module 5: Ventilation of Hazardous & Process Spaces

    Module 5 · 7 lessons · ≈15 h

    How to ventilate the plant spaces that can kill or corrode: wet wells, dry wells, headworks, chemical rooms, odor control systems, labs, battery rooms and electrical rooms. Learners apply the 2021 IMC (Virginia USBC), NFPA 820, ASHRAE 62.1, Ten States Standards and OSHA, compute ACH, purge, H2S loading, hood and heat loads, and test and troubleshoot ventilation safely.

    You will be able to:

    • Explain how IMC Chapters 4 and 5, ASHRAE 62.1, NFPA 820, Ten States Standards and OSHA each govern ventilation of plant process spaces.
    • Calculate required CFM from air changes per hour and space volume, and estimate pre-entry purge time using a mixing factor.
    • Distinguish continuous ventilation that can reduce NFPA 820 classification from intermittent pre-entry ventilation that cannot.
    • Specify and verify airflow-failure monitoring that proves air movement rather than motor operation.

    Lessons

    1. Ventilation requirements Free with account
    2. Headworks, wet wells, dry wells & pump stations
    3. Chemical storage & feed rooms
    4. Odor control systems
    5. Laboratory & special ventilation
    6. Electrical, MCC, VFD & control rooms
    7. Ventilation testing & troubleshooting

  6. Module 6: Heating Systems

    Module 6 · 7 lessons · ≈15 h

    How water and wastewater plants keep pump stations, chemical rooms, process buildings and digesters warm: unit heaters, infrared, make-up air, boilers, electric heat and heat pumps, chosen for corrosive and classified spaces. The module covers gas ignition and controls, combustion air and venting, boiler safeties and hydronics, digester gas heating, combustion analysis and systematic heating troubleshooting, always…

    You will be able to:

    • Select heating equipment for plant spaces, including classified, corrosive and remote freeze-prone stations.
    • Calculate envelope and ventilation heat loss and size electric or hydronic heaters for a pump station.
    • Explain standing pilot, intermittent pilot, direct spark and hot-surface ignition sequences and their safeties.
    • Measure flame rectification signal and inlet and manifold gas pressures safely and interpret the results.

    Lessons

    1. Heating at plants & stations Free with account
    2. Gas-fired equipment
    3. Boilers & hydronic heating
    4. Digester gas (biogas) heating
    5. Electric heat & heat pumps
    6. Combustion analysis & efficiency
    7. Heating troubleshooting

  7. Module 7: Chillers, Cooling Towers & Hydronic Systems

    Module 7 · 7 lessons · ≈15 h

    How plant cooling actually gets made and moved: chillers, cooling towers and fluid coolers, hydronic pumping and piping, and the split and ductless systems that protect MCC, VFD and SCADA rooms. You will size loads with real plant numbers, run the water-balance and Legionella side of towers, maintain chillers and loops under EPA 608 and ASHRAE 188, and troubleshoot head pressure, flow and freeze problems — always…

    You will be able to:

    • Compare air-cooled and water-cooled chillers and scroll, screw, centrifugal and absorption compressors by capacity, efficiency and plant application.
    • Calculate chiller load, tons, kW/ton, COP and EER from log-sheet data.
    • Use evaporator and condenser approach temperatures to detect fouling, low charge and non-condensables.
    • Explain cooling tower types, range and approach, and why a tower cannot cool below the wet-bulb.

    Lessons

    1. Chillers Free with account
    2. Cooling towers & evaporative equipment
    3. Hydronic piping & pumps
    4. Split, ductless & DX systems in plant buildings
    5. Process & equipment cooling
    6. Hydronic & chiller maintenance
    7. Cooling system troubleshooting

  8. Module 8: HVAC Controls & Building Automation

    Module 8 · 7 lessons · ≈15 h

    Controls decide whether plant HVAC actually protects people, equipment and processes: they prove airflow in wet wells, purge chlorine rooms, keep MCC rooms cool and pressurized, and stop coils from freezing. This module builds from control loops and 24 V circuits through plant sequences of operation, DDC/BACnet/Modbus and VFDs to commissioning and troubleshooting, with OT cybersecurity and lockout of every energy…

    You will be able to:

    • Explain open- and closed-loop control, setpoint, deadband, differential and P/PI action.
    • Select and verify temperature, RH, pressure, airflow, CO2 and gas sensors for corrosive plant spaces.
    • Choose fail-safe positions for valves, dampers and fans in plant HVAC systems.
    • Read 24 V and 120 V ladder diagrams and identify safeties wired in series.

    Lessons

    1. Control fundamentals Free with account
    2. Thermostats & low-voltage control circuits
    3. Sequences of operation for plant spaces
    4. DDC & building automation
    5. VFDs on fans & pumps
    6. Controls checkout & commissioning
    7. Controls troubleshooting

  9. Module 9: Corrosion, Energy & the Indoor Environment

    Module 9 · 7 lessons · ≈15 h

    Plant air is hard on equipment and people: hydrogen sulfide and chlorine destroy coils and electronics, galleries sweat, remote stations freeze, and ventilation never gets a day off. This module covers corrosion classes and defenses, energy management that never trades away safety ventilation, indoor air quality and comfort, humidity and freeze control, standby resilience, and commissioning that proves it all works.

    You will be able to:

    • Explain how H2S, chlorine and chlorides attack copper, aluminum, steel and electronics in plant HVAC equipment.
    • Classify an electrical or control room with ISA-71.04 copper and silver coupon results (G1–GX).
    • Select corrosion defenses: siting, pressurization with gas-phase filtration, coil coatings, stainless, FRP and PVC-coated materials.
    • Calculate kWh, kW and dollar savings for higher-efficiency equipment and VFD fans using EER and the fan laws.

    Lessons

    1. Corrosion of HVAC equipment at plants Free with account
    2. Energy management
    3. Indoor air quality & comfort
    4. Humidity & condensation control
    5. Freeze protection & winterization
    6. Emergency, standby & resilience
    7. Commissioning & retro-commissioning

  10. Module 10: HVAC Maintenance, Troubleshooting & Professional Practice

    Module 10 · 7 lessons · ≈15 h

    This capstone module turns system knowledge into reliable plant practice: building condition-based preventive maintenance programs in a CMMS, troubleshooting systematically, and diagnosing the electrical and mechanical faults that stop HVAC equipment at water and wastewater facilities. Plant case studies, contractor and licensing requirements under Virginia DPOR, EPA 608 and the 2021 USBC, and professional ethics…

    You will be able to:

    • Build a condition-based PM program using ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 180 concepts: inventory, tasks, frequencies, condition indicators and records.
    • Rank plant HVAC assets by criticality (consequence x likelihood) and set PM intervals, redundancy and spares to match.
    • Organize PM routes, meter-based work orders and failure codes in a CMMS and track PM compliance.
    • Apply a systematic troubleshooting sequence: safety first, verify the complaint, gather data, compare sequence of operation, half-split, fix root cause, verify and document.

    Lessons

    1. Preventive maintenance programs Free with account
    2. Systematic troubleshooting
    3. Electrical troubleshooting of HVAC equipment
    4. Mechanical troubleshooting
    5. Plant case studies
    6. Contractors, specifications & licensing
    7. Professional practice & course wrap-up

Editions & standards

Prepared with AI assistance. Training only — verify against the code editions your building official enforces, NFPA 820, EPA refrigerant rules, your facility’s safety program and manufacturer instructions.

Access & pricing

Purchases are completed securely in the Academy portal after you sign in; the price shown at checkout applies. Team and utility seats: support@tryetech.com.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the HVAC for Water & Wastewater Plants course for?

It is written for two groups at once: HVAC-R apprentices, building-maintenance staff and operators responsible for plant ventilation get plain-language explanations of every term, and licensed HVAC-R technicians, facilities supervisors and mechanical engineers get code and standard references, field tips and harder scenarios. No prerequisites are required.

Can I try it for free?

Yes. Lesson 1 of Module 1 opens without an account. A free account unlocks Lesson 1 of every module. Full access unlocks every lesson, lab, flashcard deck and certificate.

How many hours is the course, and does it count for CEUs?

Plan on about 150 hours (≈15 hours per module across 10 modules and 70 lessons), roughly 15 CEUs at 10 contact hours per CEU. The Academy records your active study time and issues module certificates with contact hours; whether they count is up to your licensing board or employer.

Which code and standard editions does it follow?

The course is written to: 2021 IMC/IFGC/IECC (Virginia USBC) · NFPA 820-2024 · ASHRAE 15/34/62.1 · EPA Section 608 & AIM Act · OSHA/VOSH. Each lesson cites the edition it uses. Always verify against the editions your authority having jurisdiction or regulator enforces.

Does it work on a phone or tablet in the plant?

Yes. The course runs in any modern browser on a phone, tablet or desktop, follows your light or dark setting, is fully keyboard accessible and keeps your place between devices when you are signed in.

Do I get a certificate?

You earn a module certificate when all lessons in a module are complete and the module quizzes average 80% or better. Each certificate lists your active study hours and a verification code anyone can check on the Academy site.

How do I buy full access or seats for my team?

Create a free account, then choose full access in the Academy portal. Utilities and contractors can contact support@tryetech.com for organization seats and verified email-domain access.

Start with a free lesson

See how the course works before you create an account — Module 1, Lesson 1 opens right away.

Start free lesson: HVAC for Water & Wastewater PlantsCreate account

* CEU estimate at 10 contact hours per CEU; credit is subject to approval by your licensing board or employer.