Meriden HVAC business owner finds fulfillment through career in trades

MERIDEN — Juan López discovered a career as an HVAC technician with guidance from Wallingford Adult Education and today runs his own business.

As the name suggests, Year-Round Mechanical provides heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services to residential and commercial customers throughout the year along with minor electrical and plumbing repairs. 

This time of the year, many customers call for air conditioner tune-ups. López also gets numerous calls around the fall for furnace tune-ups, said the 27-year-old business owner and Meriden resident, who has worked in the HVAC field for nine years.

Looking back at the decisions that led him to pursue this occupation, López, born in Mexico, says “everything happens for a reason.” As a high school student, he was disappointed not to graduate with his class, he said, but through adult education he met a guidance counselor who introduced him to the trades.

Becoming an HVAC technician appealed to him because the work is year-round. López attended Bristol Technical Education Center and was the recipient of scholarships that allowed him to purchase tools, he said. One of the teachers there introduced López to a company where he worked until he opened his own business. 

“Everything just kind of fell into place,” López recalled.

‘Feeling of fulfillment’

He said that prior to opening his own business he was already doing side jobs and knew a lot of people in the area.

“Over the course of the years I started meeting people and one customer referred me to another,” he said. 

The work gives him a “feeling of fulfillment,” Lopez said.

“When you are walking into an elderly customer’s house or somebody that hasn’t had heat and you’re able to get their heat up and running, it’s just a good feeling,” he said.

Most of López’s customers are Spanish speaking and about 90% are referrals.

Building trust

Lopez feels being able to speak Spanish has helped him build trust with customers.

Tom Wetmore contracts López’s services for Wetmore’s two businesses based in Cheshire, The Heritage Group and TFW Properties. Wetmore likes to work with López, he said, because sometimes tenants can be impatient. López deals with them in a calm way, helping to reduce panic, Wetmore said. Wetmore described López as “always accessible” and “knowledgeable.”

Ignacio Cardenas said he has been a customer of Year-Round Mechanical for about eight years. He said López is committed to his job and clients.

Maintenance

López recommends people call an HVAC professional if their units have not been examined in a while. A lot of the issues he encounters in HVAC systems have to do with lack of maintenance, he said.

López noted people should keep an eye on systems that have an air filter since they have to be replaced from time to time.

For new homeowners or those who are thinking about buying a house, he recommends finding out the type of HVAC system their home has and what type of maintenance it needs.

Year-Round Mechanical is looking to hire a licensed HVAC technician or apprentice in the near future. To contact Year-Round Mechanical, call 203-843-4579.

Reporter Karla Santos can be reached at [email protected].