Derek Kowalski
HVAC Service Technician
3417 Lakeview Dr, Grove City, OH 43123 · 614-555-0172 · Valid Ohio driver's license, clean driving record
Summary
EPA 608 Universal and NATE-certified HVAC service technician with 9 years in the trade, including a four-year UA apprenticeship. I diagnose and repair gas furnaces, heat pumps, split systems and rooftop units up to 25 tons for homeowners and light commercial customers across Central Ohio.
Work Experience
HVAC Service Technician
Buckeye Comfort Services · Columbus, OH · April 2021 – Present
- Run 5–7 service calls a day on residential and light commercial equipment (Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman), including rooftop units up to 25 tons
- Diagnose ignition, airflow and refrigerant problems with Fieldpiece SMAN gauges and a Fluke 116 meter; 92% first-time fix rate in 2025
- Cover a 1-in-4 week on-call rotation for no-heat and no-cool emergencies across Franklin, Delaware and Licking counties
- Present repair options and maintenance plans from ServiceTitan on a tablet; signed up 180+ maintenance club members in 2024
- Mentor two first-year apprentices on brazing, nitrogen pressure tests and evacuation to 500 microns
HVAC/R Service Apprentice – 4-Year UA Apprenticeship
Mid-Ohio Mechanical Inc. (UA Local 189) · Columbus, OH · August 2017 – March 2021
- Completed the UA Local 189 apprenticeship: 8,000 on-the-job hours and 900+ classroom hours in refrigeration, controls and piping
- Worked alongside journeyman technicians on chillers, boilers, RTUs and VAV systems in schools, offices and retail stores
- Installed and started up Mitsubishi and Daikin ductless mini-splits and 96% AFUE gas furnaces
- Turned out as a journeyman HVAC/R service technician in March 2021
Installer Helper
Shelby Heating & Air · Grove City, OH · June 2016 – July 2017
- Helped install furnaces, A/C condensers and sheet-metal ductwork in new-construction homes for two local builders
- Loaded the truck, staged equipment and cleaned up job sites at the end of each install
Training & Education
HVAC/R Technician Certificate
Tolles Career & Technical Center – Adult Education · Plain City, OH · 2015 – 2016
- 900-hour program: refrigeration cycle, electrical controls, gas heat, sheet metal
High School Diploma
Grove City High School · Grove City, OH · 2015
Technical Skills
Equipment : Gas furnaces, Heat pumps, Split systems, Ductless mini-splits, Rooftop units up to 25 tons, Boilers
Tools & Software : Fieldpiece and Fluke meters, Combustion analysis, Brazing and soldering, ServiceTitan, Smart thermostats (ecobee, Honeywell)
Licenses & Certifications
- EPA Section 608 Universal Certification — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2016
- NATE Certified – Air Conditioning and Gas Heating Service — North American Technician Excellence, 2022
- OSHA 10-Hour Construction — OSHA, 2017