Free Heat Pump Maintenance Training Coming to Terrace This September

2 minutes ago
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Gitga'at housing and maintenance staff have the chance to build hands-on skills in heat pump operations and maintenance, at no cost.

BCIT's Zero Energy and Emissions Buildings Learning Centre is bringing its Practical Heat Pump Operations & Maintenance Training for Housing Teams to Terrace from September 21 to 25, 2026. This fully funded program is designed specifically for housing maintenance staff and community maintenance teams working in or with Indigenous communities.

Why It's Worth Your Time

As more homes in our communities are equipped with heat pumps, having local staff who can confidently operate, inspect, and maintain this equipment makes a real difference. This training helps build that capacity right here at home. Participants will:

Learn to spot small issues before they become costly problems
Strengthen communication between housing teams, supervisors, residents, and service contractors
Get hands-on practice with real equipment, tools, and portable mock-ups
Understand exactly what non-trades staff can safely handle — and when it's time to call in a licensed HVAC professional

What the Training Covers

The program totals 45 hours of learning, delivered in three parts:

Introduction to Heat Pump Systems (in person, 5 hrs) — system types, major components, controls, and basic operation and maintenance
Preventative Maintenance and Inspections (in person, 28 hrs) — hands-on inspection practice, routine maintenance tasks, safety, and knowing when to escalate an issue
Operations, Documentation & Maintenance Practices (online, 12 hrs) — inspection records, maintenance documentation, and communication

Graduates also have access to monthly coaching sessions for six months after training wraps up, to help reinforce what they've learned on the job.

Who Should Attend

This training is best suited for housing managers, maintenance coordinators, building operators, and community maintenance teams responsible for residential homes or small buildings with heat pump systems.