Out in the field, the job description may say HVAC service technician — but the reality is far more layered. Beca Ralston, a technician with Hurlburt Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, no two days look the same. With just over five years in the industry, the work blends technical skill with problem-solving, communication and a steady commitment to helping homeowners feel comfortable and confident in their systems.
A typical day includes diagnosing issues, performing repairs and handling routine maintenance on heating and cooling equipment. But just as important is the time spent talking with customers. It’s a role that requires both hands-on expertise and the ability to build trust at the kitchen table.
Like many in the trades, Ralston’s path into the industry wasn’t planned. A chance encounter while working at The Home Depot turned into a career opportunity and, ultimately, a calling. Since then, the job has delivered its share of challenges from physically demanding installs in tight spaces to the everyday unpredictability that comes with service work. Still, it’s those moments in the field that often leave the biggest impact.
How many years have you been in the industry:
I have been working in the industry for five and a half years.
What is the typical day on the job:
Diagnosing, repairing and annual maintenance on heating and cooling systems. talking to homeowners about longevity of their systems and answering questions they may have pertaining to the equipment.
What is a job you’ll never forget:
I worked on a furnace tune up in Lawrence, Kansas. It was an older woman who couldn’t handle stairs very well and her home was all stairs. She’d had a Walmart grocery order delivered and I brought it up into the kitchen for her and helped put them away. She’d asked me to change a light bulb for her and, of course, I did it. We sat and talked and she cried because it was the kindest thing anyone had done for her in a long time. I realized my job wasn’t just furnaces and air conditioners, but also showing kindness and connecting with the customers we see on a yearly basis.
What is your favorite piece of equipment:
Torches, because of the fire.
What is the most challenging job you’ve worked on:
When I replaced a flex duct line inside of a tunnel for a few hours.
What got you involved in this industry:
The job kind of landed in my lap one day while I was working at The Home Depot. I had just moved to Lawrence, Kansas, and I helped a man load a pallet of mulch. He offered me the job and taught me everything I needed to know.
If you could change one thing about the plumbing industry, it would be:
If I could change one thing about the HVAC industry, it would be making it not possible for people without proper licensing and training to purchase equipment and parts.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve heard or came up with:
The way to lift an AC with a dolly. They showed me how to strap it to the top of the dolly and use body weight to lift it back — less back pain in the long run.
If you weren’t working in the industry, you would like to:
Be a firefighter/EMT.
Crystal ball time. What is your outlook for the plumbing industry:
My outlook for the HVAC industry is to keep doing it. I enjoy the work, meeting new people, solving problems and the connections you make.
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Would you like to see someone with your company in From the Field? Send your suggestions to Cory Dellenbach at editor@plumbermag.com.
