How to become an oil and solid fuel heating mechanic
Official title: Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics
Also called: Heating mechanic, Heating technician, Oil burner mechanic, Oil burner repairer, Oil burner servicer, Oil burner installer, Oil burner apprentice, Oil burner maintainer, Oil burner technician, Oil furnace installer, Heating system mechanic, Heating service mechanic
Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics install and maintain oil, coal and wood heating systems in residential and commercial buildings. They are employed by heating systems installation and service companies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main tasks
- 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
How to become one
Completion of secondary school and training courses or a vocational program is usually required. Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or A 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.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Red Seal trade. Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience and industry courses in heating systems installation and repair is usually required for trade certification. Red Seal endorsement is available. Apprenticeships are run by each province and territory.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $52,650 a year The middle half earn $45,825 to $64,350.
- About 2,100 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 2,400 are projected by 2033. (+14.3%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Appliance servicers and repairers
- Electrical mechanics
- Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
- Other small engine and small equipment repairers
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Questions people ask
How do I become an oil and solid fuel heating mechanic?
Completion of secondary school and training courses or a vocational program is usually required. Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or A 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.
How much does an oil and solid fuel heating mechanic earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $52,650 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $45,825 to $64,350.
Is an oil and solid fuel heating mechanic a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 14% by 2033, from about 2,100 to about 2,400 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an oil and solid fuel heating mechanic?
Usually not. Only 4% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Red Seal trade.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03