About This Career

Installs, repairs, and maintains mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster Maintenance/Operations pathway.

A person in this career:

• Records maintenance information, including test results, material usage, and repairs made.
• Disassembles and repairs mechanical control devices or valves, such as regulators, thermostats, or hydrants, using power tools, hand tools, and cutting torches.
• Lubricates wearing surfaces of mechanical parts, using oils or other lubricants.
• Installs, inspects and tests electric meters, relays, and power sources to detect causes of malfunctions and inaccuracies, using hand tools and testing equipment.
• Calibrates instrumentation, such as meters, gauges, and regulators, for pressure, temperature, flow, and level.
• Tests valves and regulators for leaks and accurate temperature and pressure settings, using precision testing equipment.
• Records meter readings and installation data on meter cards, work orders, or field service orders, or enters data into hand-held computers.
• Turns meters on or off to establish or close service.
• Shuts off service and notifies repair crews when major repairs are required, such as the replacement of underground pipes or wiring.
• Installs regulators and related equipment such as gas meters, odorization units, and gas pressure telemetering equipment.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Requires getting into awkward positions
• Lighting is either extremely bright or inadequate
• Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Exposed to conditions such as high voltage electricity, combustibles, explosives, and chemicals more than once a month
• Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel