Tech School, After Retirement???

[seagiant]

Hi,
Looking at taking a 6 month HVAC Course, at my local Tech School.

They have a good HVAC Teacher, I hear, and might go look into it?

Anyone, done this before?

Not really wanting to go back to work, but this will give me all the Certs, I need to buy Freon, and teach me the basics?

Have studied HVAC on my own and can do basic troubleshooting, but can not buy Freon to go into all of it!

 

[Aaron_W]

I think it is fairly common for people to acquire skills after retirement. Potential for second careers, part time work or simply to increase skill for personal use.

I started taking classes at the local community college shortly after retiring. I've taken welding classes, and I started to go through the automotive repair program they offer, but Covid put that on hold and I haven't gotten back to it. Lately I've been taking art classes.

All for personal use, I have no intent of using any of these to start a second career. I stay plenty busy using my career skills to get enough part time work to keep up with my hobby expenses.


If the effort of an HVAC program is worthwhile to you, I say go for it. Worst case you can be a very knowledgeable backseat driver when you hire an HVAC guy to work at your house.

 

[Snapped-off]

You can get your 608 cert with a couple days of study. No reason to go to school unless you really want to.

 

[Buckaroo5]

To buy refrigerant, you just need an EPA 608 Cert. I did that on line and got my EPA 608 Universal Cert last January - did it through SkillCat and cost me $10. Took the online course over 5 or 6 days and then the on-line, proctored test. I learned some doing it and am planning to do at least two mini-split installs in the near future. To be licensed in Ohio, among other things, you have to carry insurance and I am not interested in doing HVAC professionally so not taking that route. I did use it to get a commercial account at Supplyhouse.com.

https://www.skillcatapp.com/epa-608-certification-online

Concerning post-retirement Tech education, I say do it. After I retired I went back to our Community College and got an Associates Degree in Automotive Technology - got my automotive AC Automotive EPA Section 609 Cert at that time. It is good to stay busy!

 

[seagiant]

AC Automotive EPA Section 609

Hi,
Do you now need a 609 to buy the newer Auto Freon, not the 134A?

 

[jjrbus]

I went to the trouble to get a certification and no one asks me for it when I buy refrigerant. I buy online and have it delivered to my house.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

When I went to automotive school at the community college there was a guy there who was retired and just wanted to learn more about cars because he enjoyed restoring them. I don’t see anything wrong with it.

 

[Buckaroo5]

Hi,
Do you now need a 609 to buy the newer Auto Freon, not the 134A?

You need the 609 to buy large quantities of 134a, I think over 2 lbs. I believe same for 1234yf. Under 2 lbs, you don't need the cert. If you are interested, the 609 cert is much easier to get than the 608. Open book test and they send you a cert....

Section 609: Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling Program - ASE

The ASE Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling Review and Quiz is an EPA-approved program that meets Section 609 regulations. This is a lifetime certification.

ase.com

Also - you ought to look at SkillCat for 609 cert, don't know but they might have it. The do have a lot of HVAC courses you can take on line so that might interest you, too.

 

[Tundra1]

To buy refrigerant, you just need an EPA 608 Cert. I did that on line and got my EPA 608 Universal Cert last January - did it through SkillCat and cost me $10. Took the online course over 5 or 6 days and then the on-line, proctored test. I learned some doing it and am planning to do at least two mini-split installs in the near future. To be licensed in Ohio, among other things, you have to carry insurance and I am not interested in doing HVAC professionally so not taking that route. I did use it to get a commercial account at Supplyhouse.com.

https://www.skillcatapp.com/epa-608-certification-online

Concerning post-retirement Tech education, I say do it. After I retired I went back to our Community College and got an Associates Degree in Automotive Technology - got my automotive AC Automotive EPA Section 609 Cert at that time. It is good to stay busy!

I buy from supplyhouse.com with a basic account from time to time. Does commercial account give you a good discount?

 

[Buckaroo5]

I buy from supplyhouse.com with a basic account from time to time. Does commercial account give you a good discount?

It is a small discount...like 5% or so but you get free shipping which is expedited. Also, if you need to contact them, you have a different number. So it is not huge but their prices are pretty low to begin with. I like doing business with them.

 

[Torque&Recoil]

I was going to type - just get the online cert if you are only going to fix things for yourself - but others beat me to it ! I almost did that myself, but for some reason (lazy, I guess) I didn't follow through.

Anyway, absolutely nothing wrong with taking classes and learning something new as a retiree. Let me say that differently. I think taking a class and learning something new is a great idea !

 

[Firebrick43]

People have already covered the 608 (same with 609 cert). I have been having classes with 10 and 12 year old sons and they will be taking their 608 here in a few months.

Since we were installing a mini split I bought 1733817263 isbn "Inverter Mini Split Operations and Service Procedures" by Craig Migliaccio as a text book for them. He also has workbooks to go along with the main book.

Great theory of operation and how each component works. Plus he has a ton of companion videos on youtube. He also has a central AC book as well.

​

 

[toolmiser]

There could be tuition discounts for seniors.

 

[Torque&Recoil]

IDK about trade schools, but toolmiser is dead right about senior discounts for college courses. Free to audit classes at both major state universities in my area. Heck, it's "Audit" so you learn whatever you learn, don't worry about tests. I keep planning on doing it, but other sh** keeps getting in the way.

 

[Snapped-off]

You need the 609 to buy large quantities of 134a, I think over 2 lbs. I believe same for 1234yf. Under 2 lbs, you don't need the cert. If you are interested, the 609 cert is much easier to get than the 608. Open book test and they send you a cert....

Section 609: Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling Program - ASE

The ASE Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling Review and Quiz is an EPA-approved program that meets Section 609 regulations. This is a lifetime certification.

ase.com

Also - you ought to look at SkillCat for 609 cert, don't know but they might have it. The do have a lot of HVAC courses you can take on line so that might interest you, too.

I can buy any gas with just the 608.