The 16 Best HVAC Books For Professionals in 2024

As with any industry, the best and the brightest have one thing in common. They’re never satisfied with the status quo and seek out new information to sharpen their knowledge and expand their skills. Reading industry-related books and publications can support this goal.

We’ve put together a list of the essential HVAC books to read in 2024. These titles present a range of information, from the basics to advanced HVAC concepts. No matter where you fall in your career, these books will support your professional development goals and contribute to your company’s success.

HVAC Books for Beginners

Those early in their careers need a firm command of the basics of heating and air conditioning technology before they can feel confident in their work. The following books can help them get up to speed:

Electricity for Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning, by Russell E. Smith

This book touches on electricity, including electrical circuits, components, and troubleshooting. You’ll also learn about refrigeration and air conditioning system technology. The reviews suggest it would be a great resource for those new to the HVAC industry and looking to explore electrical concepts.

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, by Bill Whitman

As the name suggests, it helps readers understand refrigeration and air conditioning systems. You’ll learn about refrigerants, compressors, and evaporators. The same goes for installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. This title is recommended for beginners in the HVAC industry who want to broaden their knowledge.

The Professional HVAC Technician, by Ned Hart

There’s a lot you can learn from people who’ve worked in the field for decades. This book provides a refreshing and honest look at common challenges encountered on the job and how to overcome them. For visual learners, it features photos of real-world problems and insights into how they were resolved.

System Performance: Maximizing Energy Efficiency in Heating and Cooling, by Randy Petit Sr., Earl Delatte, Turner Collins, and Erik Rasmussen

This training manual contains four sections: air flow, critical charging, psychrometrics, and combustion analysis. After reading it, you’ll gain insights into the best practices, techniques, and procedures necessary to impact HVAC system efficiency.

5 Books on HVAC Design

HVAC design is its own discipline and is important to performance, efficiency, longevity, and other factors. Crack open these HVAC training books to expand your knowledge base:

Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, by Andrew D. Althouse, Carl H. Turnquist, and Alfred F. Bracciano

Presented in textbook form, this book details refrigeration and air conditioning principles and practices. You’ll learn about refrigeration cycles, heat transfer, psychrometrics, and system design.

HVAC Systems Design Handbook, by Roger W. Haines and Douglas C. Hittle

Pick up this book for detailed instructions on designing and installing HVAC systems. Expand your knowledge of load calculations, duct design, equipment selection, and control systems. This book would benefit anyone interested in system design and installation.

HVAC Design Manual for Hospitals and Clinics, by ASHRAE

You probably know that HVAC design varies across residential, commercial, and institutional settings. For example, designing HVAC systems for healthcare facilities requires certain standards and procedures. Technicians need to understand the basics of infection control, humidity control, and patient comfort, all of which this manual covers.

High-Performance Building Design, by Francis D. K. Ching

Pick up this title if you want to learn about the relationship between sustainable building design and HVAC systems. It’s a helpful read to better understand how better HVAC design can support energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and occupant comfort.

HVAC Controls and Systems, by Peter E. Dorgan

Add this one to your shortlist to expand your knowledge in the areas of design, installation, and maintenance of HVAC control systems. You’ll learn about sensors, actuators, controllers, and communication protocols, all of which are important to system design and installation.

5 Books on HVAC Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Whether you’re a veteran tech or new to the trades, these books will make great companions:

HVAC Troubleshooting Guide, by Rex Miller and Mark Richard Miller

This book would be helpful to HVAC technicians at all stages in their career. Inside you’ll find nuggets of wisdom that can help with troubleshooting residential, commercial, and industrial HVAC systems, among other things. This 1,000-page resource would be a helpful addition to any professional’s library.

Technician’s Guide to HVAC Systems, by Gary K. Skimin

Read this guide and you’ll walk away with a keen understanding of the operation and maintenance of HVAC systems. Specifically, you’ll learn about important concepts like:

• Refrigeration, heating, and air conditioning basics
• Resolving common HVAC problems
• Best practices for preventive maintenance
• Safety procedures

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Troubleshooting Handbook, by Billey Langley

It’s rare to find information about in-depth electric and electronic controls in one book. The author breaks down the basics of control operation, adjustment, troubleshooting, installation, and use. You’ll also expand your knowledge base in safety procedures by reading this HVAC textbook.

System Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Procedures, by John Tomczyk

As a new to the field tech, this manual is a must-read for step-by-step diagnostic and troubleshooting techniques. It can help you build your confidence as you diagnose air conditioning and refrigeration system problems.

HVAC Systems: Operation, Maintenance, and Optimization, by Samuel C., Monger

Pick up this book and get ready to go on a guided tour of the various HVAC systems and their intricacies. The helpful drawings and examples bring the concepts to life. You’ll learn how to test systems and optimize them for performance. It’s great because it breaks down engineering concepts in a way that’s easy to digest.

Advanced HVAC Books

Intellectually curious technicians know they must devote time and energy to reading. Even the most experienced tech was once an amateur. That said, here’s what the pros have on their bookshelves:

HVAC Controls and Systems, by John I. Levenhagen and Donald H. Spethmann

Look to this resource to understand how HVAC systems work and how to troubleshoot them. This book takes you on a journey through HVAC controls and systems, including temperature, humidity, and air quality control. It’s also a great way to grow your knowledge of design and operation of HVAC equipment.

Principles of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning in Buildings, by John W. Mitchell and James E. Braun

HVAC systems are complex feats of engineering. With that in mind, students and engineers interested in HVAC system design might feel drawn to this title. Be sure to take advantage of supplemental material found online that’s helpful for current and future equipment design engineers.

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