Anyone here do HVAC???

trav

trav

New member
Im a SR. in HS and was thinking about a career in HVAC, and was wondering if anyone here does it and could just tell me about it, pay (if you dont mind), job info, all the basic info. Thanks.
 
Trav, While I'm not in the business, I have a half-brother that is and he's been in it for about 40 years. He's always busy in Central Illinois and has his own repair, installation, and contract service business.
He's always on call and seldom gets out of town unless he has a competitor to take emergency calls. Most of his free time is in the Spring and early Fall as AC problems always crop up in the hot weather, and Heating problems always crop up when the weather gets cold. Job security is pretty good in his area.
He started in a small 3 man shop (non-union) and when the owner retired 10 years later, he and the other guy bought and split the activities, customers, and leaned on each other for a few years.
Get a good Technical School for a background and keep up with the updates...
 
When I retired about 3 years ago from a union job my rate per hour was about 56 dollars a hour and about 16 of that was benefits and the rest was in the envelope meaning what I bring home before taxes.

But I did and still do my own thing installing units and ductwork.
If you’re a small company and can find steady work the money is crazy.

Look ay it this way Sears will charge about 3000 dollars for a typical heater only replacement
(Change out) I can do it for about 1700 and the material for the job counting the a new heater will run you about 550 for every thing and your looking at a 4 hour job most of the time. So before taxes and insurances your take for the 4 hours is 11 to 12 hundred dollars.
I charge 100 dollars to come out and look at a unit that has a problem and need service that will cover the first ½ hour witch most jobs take to fix then you add on parts and material.

And yes you give the brakes to though who need it if it a hard working Joe with a family or a mother with kid then you charge only what you need to make to get bye. Many jobs you eat just to help someone out. But if there’s a 100,000-dollar car in the driveway THEY PAY.
Nothing is better then charging doctors out the$$. But it all really about being far and with time you will learn who to take care of and whom not when it comes to charging for your time

no i cant spell but i can make money /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I'm a electrical contracter and we can always use new apprentices. the industry is booming and we need more recrutes to keep up with the amount of work. here in wyoming the methain feilds are booming with thousend and thousends of new wells being drilled new power plaints being built and distabution lines in planning. come to wyoming if you wont into the field and talk to the J.A.T.C.
if you are a journeyman electrion looking for work come here we can't fill all the jobs with such a low population base to start from.
and to top it off we got great hunting and calling with lots of public land.
excuse the spelling and such but wyoming is full of oppertunity
come on in and stay we need more help
 
ok guys thanks for the great info, i think im gonna do it, just one more question i gotta figure out, tech school, or airforce???
 
either school is fine but the airforce may be the better bet. ANY military training is looked on favorably by prospective empoloyers. I have been in the industrial maintenance field for 20 years and have numerous certifications ie, welding, electrical, plumbing/pipe fitting, sheetmetal fabrication, carpentrey and others. I just wish I had the time to get certified in HVAC. Several places wont even allow you to change a fuse on an AC unit unless you are certified. Every one I konw of that has HVAC training has never been want for work.
 
Trav
You sound like a smart fella so I want to give you a little divergent advice for you to think about.

Work with your Mind, not your body.

Ive been involved with the industrial world for longer than I care to admit right now and if I could find something else to do I would do it in a hot second.

Most of the mechanics, HVAC, plumbers and such that Ive met over time have some premature physical ailments. Brought on by the type of work they do.
 
TRAV-I too am an HVAC engineer. I've been in the field since 1985, and have never been without work. There is alot of work in the HVAC trade other than installs and service- After doing service work I now am an operating engineer(big building type)and work for the county in the Seattle area. All large buildings, hospitals, co-gen, lots of different areas to branch out into, all need our trade. Money is decent in my opinion. EC
 
Trav,
I hat to say it but I really think you are better off
Calling your local union or fitters and getting on the list for the test.
I have hired many guys out of schools and such.
And they are up on theory but lack hands on skills. I truly believe that you would do better starting at the bottom as a helper and working your way up the ladder with a local Company. Your going to start at the bottom after tec school anyway. Most guys love having a guy that interested in learning as a helper.
And good mechanics’ are quick to teach.
The more you can do the less he has to do.
So it’s smart for him to teach you as fast as he can. Ask lot of question. And work hard,
make him wont you as his main guy.

Start calling your mechanical union today!
Let them pay you as they teach ya.

I wish you the best pal and if you ever get in the field of HVAC and need to ask something just let me know.

And ya I had 2 knee replacement at the age of 40. but all is good
 
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George makes a good point, trade school is ok but on the job experience is better, if you can get it. In school you will get at best 6 to 10 hours of practical experience a week. On the job it should be 40 hours. You will pay for the school while being a helper you get paid. Tackdriver and smoker are giving you a good look of the down side of construction. I worked it for many years and most of the people I worked with were looking for a way to eventually get out of the trades.
 
I'am a union t- bar guy and have worked with the "sparkys" and "tin knockers" for many years. I got my job from the newspaper many years ago and the 60-80K/ year isn't so bad, but it's the benefits that make it worth so much more.

If you can work with your hands and are mechanically inclined pick a skilled trade and go with it.

Michael
 
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