I need some advice! (HVACR)

[bmwaits]

Hello all,

I've been a member for a while, and have thoroughly enjoyed the advice given to others. Here's my debacle:

I'm interested in starting a new career in HVACR. I've looked at a couple of schools, and I've found one that I'm content with.

Is this a good enough field to spend the money/time on school, and is there a need for HVACR techs/specialists/handyman?

Anyone in the field currently, please give me your personal experience in this area, and any advice. Thank you in advance!

 

[Pappa Ugg]

Move south.... preferably a humid area like the Gulf Coast where HVAC techs are in much more demand. I'm not a tech but I do manage 20+ techs that perform maintenance and repair. Schools will teach the basics which is needed but hands on experience is must for a good tech.

Good luck...

 

[Fastback]

FWIW I have Three plumbers in the family that are always looking for work, and one friend that does HVAC commercial and he still gets many many hours. YMMV

 

[Travis E.]

I do some HVAC work but never went to a school. I don't mind it but would not like to do it full time. I do have 2 friends that spent time and money to go to school and were employed by reputable A/C companys after they graduated. They both learned more after 3 months of working than in school. Both of them quit after less than 2 years. One of them did building refrigeration and the other repaired chillers for soda machines and refigerators.
In Southern California there are always jobs for HVAC people. A person with experience would have no problem finding a job out here.
Have you looked for jobs that require the schooling you are looking at?

 

[bmwaits]

Have you looked for jobs that require the schooling you are looking at?

I don't necessarily think they are looking for someone with a particular amount of school, just experience. I have no experience. And as far as I know, no one is going to hire someone without experience in a field like that. I've always been interested in that type of work. So, attending a school is going to give me some experience at least to get my foot in the door to start. It will be 60 weeks of school.

Move south.... preferably a humid area like the Gulf Coast where HVAC techs are in much more demand. I'm not a tech but I do manage 20+ techs that perform maintenance and repair. Schools will teach the basics which is needed but hands on experience is must for a good tech.

Moving south at the moment isn't an option. I do like the south though!

I know there are jobs here in Central Indiana. This school is very hands on too. I know you're always going to learn more in the actual field, but the school is pretty good about physically showing you what you need to know.

 

[Cast Iron Nuts]

Im currently self employed in the ventilation trade we run a full fab shop and do some refrigeration and natural gas work. Here is my suggestion find a company in your area let them know you want to learn a trade and you would be willing to start at a wage slightly below apprentice wages and work your way up from there.If you are hard working and quick to learn believe me you will find a spot within the company fast.

Why waste money on school when you can be getting paid to learn. The advantage to this way is if you decide that the trade int what you wanted then you can move on from there without having put the money and time out to go to school.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Move south.... preferably a humid area like the Gulf Coast where HVAC techs are in much more demand.

It goes both ways...the first cold day of the year, it's pretty much a guarantee that every HVAC tech in Minneapolis is working overtime. It's one thing to lose your a/c on a hot day, but when it's below zero and the furnace goes out you don't have a lot of choices.

 

[bmwaits]

very very good point Cast Iron Nuts. I will definitely do some homework on this before I get into debt.

 

[Eggman]

Although doing the learning "hands on" with a reputable company is a good thing. I know that a majority of companies in the St. Louis metro area won't even look at your resume if it doesn't have a diploma/certificate of graduation from a school and an EPA certification. When you do choose to go to an HVAC/R school, make sure that the class hours are not more than the hands on hours. (50-50 split).

My $0.02

Eggman

 

[rickairmedic]

I have been in the HVAC trade going on 20 years. I got in the old fashioned way . I answered an add looking for a driver when I was a youngster . The job was for an HVAC company down in Fla they had a tech who ( knew what he was doing ) but liked to drink ( after hours ) and had lost his license . I did more than drive him around I watched , helped and learned . My wife and I now own an HVAC company and life is pretty good . I will tell you it is a field where you need to be very good at money management . There are very good days and there are very bad days in this industry . You need to be able to stockpile money while the getting is good so that when things are slow ( and in our area they get slow ) . You will be able to survive the slow times . I would see if any of the schools you are looking at offer an apprenticeship program with any local companies as that will also help you get your foot in the door with a company. Kentucky licensing is differant from Indiana . There are alot of areas in Indiana that dont even require an HVAC license in Kentucky you can get your masters within 4 years if you can pass the tests .


Rick