72420 – Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics
Lead statement
Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics install and maintain oil, coal and wood heating systems in residential and commercial buildings. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main duties
- Read and interpret drawings or specifications to determine work to be performed
- Lay out oil burner heating system components and assemble components using hand and power tools
- Install oil burner components such as thermostats, motors, piping and safety devices, and connect to fuel supply, ventilation and electrical system
- Test installed unit and adjust controls for proper functioning
- Troubleshoot and repair malfunctioning oil burners, and their components and controls
- Install, maintain and repair coal and wood heating systems
- Perform scheduled maintenance service on oil and solid fuel heating systems.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school and training courses or a vocational program is usually required.
- Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program ora combination of over four years of work experience and industry courses in heating systems installation and repair is usually required for trade certification.
- Oil heat system technician trade certification is compulsory in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified oil heat system technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Example job titles
coal furnace installer · forced air furnace installer (except gas) · furnace installer and repairer (except gas) · furnace maintenance mechanic (except gas) · furnace repairer (except gas) · furnace repairman/woman (except gas) · heating system mechanic · furnace mechanic (except gas) · stoker erector · heating technician · solid fuel heater installer · wood burner installer · oil and solid fuel heating mechanic · oil burner installer · oil burner servicer · oil burner technician · oil furnace installer · solid fuel heating installer · wood burner maintainer · wood furnace installer · wood-burning appliance installer · wood-burning system installer · oil burner installer and repairer · coal furnace installer-mechanic · heating systems servicer · heating systems installer · heating mechanic · heating systems technician · oil burner maintainer · oil burner repairer · oil burner mechanic · residential oil burner mechanic · residential oil burner installer and servicer · heating service mechanic · oil burner mechanic apprentice · oil burner apprentice
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $20.00 | $27.00 | $40.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $19.00 | $25.00 | $38.00 |
| Quebec | $21.26 | $28.00 | $38.00 |
| Ontario | $20.00 | $27.78 | $38.00 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.