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Message
HVAC job/career opportunities
Posted on 1/27/17 at 5:44 pm
Posted on 1/27/17 at 5:44 pm
My son is going to graduate in May and is thinking of pursuing the two year HVAC course. I know that there are a few of you guys here. Any advice, encouragements, or discouragements that you could offer?
15
Posted on 1/27/17 at 5:44 pm to High C
Righty tightly, lefty loosy
On a serious note, a friend of mine who was surely college material started his own electrical company after 4-5 years apprenticeship and does very well now in his late 30s.
On a serious note, a friend of mine who was surely college material started his own electrical company after 4-5 years apprenticeship and does very well now in his late 30s.
This post was edited on 1/27/17 at 5:57 pm
Posted on 1/27/17 at 5:46 pm to High C
Don't inhale mold
Posted on 1/27/17 at 5:46 pm to High C
Lockout tagout
Posted on 1/27/17 at 5:48 pm to High C
People will always need a/c/heat
Posted on 1/27/17 at 5:51 pm to High C
Where is your son located? What school is going to attend?
Posted on 1/27/17 at 5:52 pm to cas4t
I'm not an HVAC man but know quite a few of them. It is extremely competitive. It seems that every small town and of course every city has multiple schools. The guys that I know who really do well learn both HVAC work and electrical. If he wants to get into that sort of thing I'd strongly advise plumbing. It's rediculous what those guys charge and will be charging in the future. It's tough but the money is there. Hope that helps. Good luck to you and yours.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 5:55 pm to High C
The real money comes later if he's able to open his own business.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 5:56 pm to patnuh
quote:
Righty tightly, lefty loosy
Not always
Posted on 1/27/17 at 5:56 pm to High C
Work is hard, hot from attics, itchy from insulation. Try to go straight to commercial and start as a helper and learn to be a chiller mechanic. A solid commercial tech will make in the upper 20s or 30s per hour. Residential sucks and I will never do it again and it don't pay nearly as well.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 6:02 pm to JJBTiger2012
quote:
I'm not an HVAC man but know quite a few of them. It is extremely competitive. It seems that every small town and of course every city has multiple schools. The guys that I know who really do well learn both HVAC work and electrical. If he wants to get into that sort of thing I'd strongly advise plumbing. It's rediculous what those guys charge and will be charging in the future. It's tough but the money is there. Hope that helps. Good luck to you and yours.
I agree with all of this, though HVAC is still a solid career. Another problem with it is that he'll frequently have friends asking him to fix their AC's as a favor. Thing is, that can make for a solid side business. Do some freebies, then have those friends recommend your son to their friends whenever issues arise.
Also, have your kid look specifically into HVAC controls. Less competition, less dirty work, possibly more pay (though limited "side job" opportunity).
LINK
This post was edited on 1/27/17 at 6:05 pm
Posted on 1/27/17 at 6:03 pm to Cajun Invasion
quote:
Work is hard, hot from attics, itchy from insulation
Tell him NEVER EVER was up in warm/hot water after this!!!!! Always use cold water. Warm water open up the pores on you skin and when you are trying to wash off the insulation you are basically pushing it farther in!!!
Posted on 1/27/17 at 6:57 pm to High C
Tell him to go into commercial hvac tech path or in commercial controls field. As someone who works in this field, they will always be needed and can make large amounts of $$$ with a good work ethic.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 6:57 pm to High C
He is going to start off being a grunt working a lot in hot attics doing duct work. i did it its rough but it pays off
Posted on 1/27/17 at 7:04 pm to High C
As a twenty year broken down HVAC mechanic let me suggest he pursue an electronics degree and go into the controls side of the industry. Tote a laptop and meter and a screwdriver instead of torches and vacuum pumps and all that
Posted on 1/27/17 at 7:11 pm to High C
plumber, not HVAC
commercial plumbers can name their price
commercial plumbers can name their price
Posted on 1/27/17 at 7:13 pm to tunechi
quote:
People will always need a/c/heat
There was a time people would say that about big blocks of ice for the icebox and firewood.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 7:16 pm to High C
Also check your local plumbers and pipe fitters union hall for an apprenticeship program. I did a five year program that taught plumbing welding pipe fitting and Hvac. I went to school two nights a week for five years. Raises every six months. I topped out at 26.00 an hour in 2001. I am a manager now due to a back injury.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 8:42 pm to High C
Encourage him to work in the Industrial Hvac side of this field. He will be trained properly and will learn so much more. Tell him to go talk to Johnson Controls. Residential work will make him old quick. Just my 2 cents.
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