Where have all the good techs gone?

[bfarrell]

It's getting really hard to find good Commercial HVACR service techs anymore in the DC Metro and surrounding areas. Phones are ringing off the hook with service calls and new clients wanting work done, not to mention the regularly scheduled PMs that are due. I just don't understand it.
The pay rates here are probably close to the highest in the country, the benefits are just as good,employers are willing to pay BIG sign on bonuses, and bend-over backwards to keep their employees happy, The area is growing so fast it's hard to keep up with the new street names. New buildings going up daily, and more potential customers moving into them.

I get the feeling that the younger generations are not interested in doing Skilled Labor, of any kind. (If it can't be done on a computer, it's not worth doing.) Who is going to fix their air conditioning when we have all retired? Their keyboards cant replace a compressor.

[ryan_the_furnace_guy]

Good tech checking in here. Would love to give commercial a try. Unfortunately, I am not in your area and not looking to relocate.

To answer your question "where have all the good techs gone?" The good techs are experienced and are already employed elsewhere. You will need to entice them to move from one job to another. Good techs aren't just walking out of tech school. Good techs take years in the making and most are employed. You need to actively recruit.

[makinmoney]

It's getting really hard to find good Commercial HVACR service techs anymore in the DC Metro and surrounding areas. Phones are ringing off the hook with service calls and new clients wanting work done, not to mention the regularly scheduled PMs that are due. I just don't understand it.
The pay rates here are probably close to the highest in the country, the benefits are just as good,employers are willing to pay BIG sign on bonuses, and bend-over backwards to keep their employees happy, The area is growing so fast it's hard to keep up with the new street names. New buildings going up daily, and more potential customers moving into them.

I get the feeling that the younger generations are not interested in doing Skilled Labor, of any kind. (If it can't be done on a computer, it's not worth doing.) Who is going to fix their air conditioning when we have all retired? Their keyboards cant replace a compressor.

Are you offering something, like an opportunity?????????

[ckone180]

I am right here!

[texas cooler]

Location, location, location.

[bfarrell]

Are you offering something, like an opportunity?????????

I'd love to talk to anyone that is serious about it.
More info at budfarrell@comcast.net

[bfarrell]

Near Northern VA?

[bfarrell]

Good tech checking in here. Would love to give commercial a try. Unfortunately, I am not in your area and not looking to relocate.

To answer your question "where have all the good techs gone?" The good techs are experienced and are already employed elsewhere. You will need to entice them to move from one job to another. Good techs aren't just walking out of tech school. Good techs take years in the making and most are employed. You need to actively recruit.

I know, I've been at this for 26 years now. I finally found an employer that treats their people as partners, not #s on a time card. I also know that the DC area has a not so good reputation as being one of the "Best Places to Live" but the areas around DC are not bad at all. Our company doesn't do any work in DC anyway. I have recruited a couple of guys, but we need more. One of the worst ways to loose a good tech, is to burn him out. Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt. And, I believe the whole industry needs more dedicated, knowledgeable, hardworking techs, now and in the future.

[market-tech]

The shortage of techs, I believe, is a nationwide problem.

I think just about every commercial company in Arizona is looking for techs.

I'm not sure what is going to happen in the future. There is definitely a problem locating good technicians and it's only going to get worse.

[ryan_the_furnace_guy]

The shortage of "good techs" is in direct correlation to the number of employers looking for "good techs". More and more employers are seeking "revenue earners" (AKA - parts changers, salesmen) instead of "good techs" (AKA - proficient, integrity). Also, more and more good techs are being punished and pushed out because they do not generate the revenue that the other type of tech does. It is no coincidence that there is a shortage of good technicians, in fact, it is a self-imposed dilemma by greedy business owners who care about nothing BUT the bottom line. It sets the tone for our entire industry.

[hnic772002]

I live in PG county right outside of DC and I have been trying to break in to the industry, but everytime I lookin in to the paper they want techs that have atleast 5 years experience and I ask myself how do I get the experience if no one will hire you to get the experience. Where is your company located at and how much are you starting guy out with that is just starting out and what type of benefits are you offering?

[bfarrell]

I live in PG county right outside of DC and I have been trying to break in to the industry, but everytime I lookin in to the paper they want techs that have atleast 5 years experience and I ask myself how do I get the experience if no one will hire you to get the experience. Where is your company located at and how much are you starting guy out with that is just starting out and what type of benefits are you offering?

Our company has hired techs from the building maintenance field, with some good results, as long as you have some good troubleshooting skills, knowledge and some experience of the refrigeration circuit, are willing to learn, take company sponsered classes, and are customer service oriented. Our techs work as a Team and are constantly helping each other out. The company covers the entire state of VA, which is divided into 4 areas, each having it's own team of 4-7 techs, depending on the work demands. Our home office is located in Altavista near Lynchburg. Techs operate out of their homes and company provided vans, techs are paid for travel to and from the 1st & last calls minus 1/2 hour.
For more info see: http://richmond.craigslist.org/trd/372652115.html

[secorp]

I am getting burned up this year just like every year this time. the roof top units here in Florida are a real bear and sap the life right out of you. not to many guys will do this type of work, me included, I often wonder what the heck am I doing this for.:confused:

There is no shortage of techs, there are dumb arse bosses however. the guy I am working for now is a PM for constuction and treats service like it's a service for the installers. If I get a no cool call they will have to wait until the next day if I am doing some install work for him. trying to build up the service like the owner wants but just can not get it done, service and install really are two different beasts, the idiot I work for now like all the others before him think they are the same and just need to work togethor. when I do install work for him I do not get to charge service rates but install rates, stinks.

These hot roofs he does not care to hear about just get it done and do it faster, even though I am charging by the hour? WTF

I am ready to go looking again and move on to the next guy. FOR THE RECORD I have never quit the job YET! just the boss.:rolleyes:

whew I feel better now, purge............steam.........:D

[bfarrell]

I am getting burned up this year just like every year this time. the roof top units here in Florida are a real bear and sap the life right out of you. not to many guys will do this type of work, me included, I often wonder what the heck am I doing this for.:confused:

There is no shortage of techs, there are dumb arse bosses however. the guy I am working for now is a PM for constuction and treats service like it's a service for the installers. If I get a no cool call they will have to wait until the next day if I am doing some install work for him. trying to build up the service like the owner wants but just can not get it done, service and install really are two different beasts, the idiot I work for now like all the others before him think they are the same and just need to work togethor. when I do install work for him I do not get to charge service rates but install rates, stinks.

These hot roofs he does not care to hear about just get it done and do it faster, even though I am charging by the hour? WTF

I am ready to go looking again and move on to the next guy. FOR THE RECORD I have never quit the job YET! just the boss.:rolleyes:

whew I feel better now, purge............steam.........:D

I don't know how you guys do it down there in FL. Between avoiding heat exhaustion and dodging thunderstorms all day long I can imagine it would be hard to get anything done quickly and done right at the same time. My hats off to you guys.
Interested in relocating to Virginia?

[secorp]

I have been in Florida since I was 17, forgot what snow looks like or how to work a gas valve, oil burner, or cad cells. for me it's Florida tell I die I guess.

It was 94 the other day and 106 on the roof, couple that with 50 plus hour weeks and man I start thinking really seriously about a career change. plus I am 45 now and employers I think are starting to look at that as a bad thing.

[market-tech]

Virginia is an awesome beautiful state. Spent time there many moons ago in the military. I think it was Prince William County, Warrenton Manassas area.

Been hitting it hard all my life, looking at 54 in a few weeks, done everything from residential to supermarkets and industrial.

Currently lead tech for supermarket service.

Main problem I see is a catch 22 for both employers and employees. My current scale and situation with the home I own creates a losing proposition for relocation etc.

Go from a $800 mortgage payment to a much larger mortgage payment but the wage is either the same or less, with higher insurance costs (homeowners and medical) etc.

I was looking a while ago to relocate but it turned out to be a losing proposition, especially in the current housing market.

[engineerdave]

I get the feeling that the younger generations are not interested in doing Skilled Labor, of any kind. (If it can't be done on a computer, it's not worth doing.) Who is going to fix their air conditioning when we have all retired? Their keyboards cant replace a compressor.



That's the problem right there. The shortage is Industry Wide, not just in DC. Increase the compensation...Industry Wide. That will attract more young blood to school / apprenticeship.

Bottom Line.....? Money talks.

[chaard]

Well, I haven't talked to the wife yet, and don't have much towards moving expenses, but my wife wants to live by the beach and I am now looking for another job.

I'll send you a resume. Maybe we can come to an agreement.

[ckone180]

Main problem I see is a catch 22 for both employers and employees. My current scale and situation with the home I own creates a losing proposition for relocation etc.

Go from a $800 mortgage payment to a much larger mortgage payment but the wage is either the same or less, with higher insurance costs (homeowners and medical) etc.

I was looking a while ago to relocate but it turned out to be a losing proposition, especially in the current housing market.

This is the biggest problem I have heard of. It is hard to find employers who care about the quality and ethics, more worried about their bottom line. I the market I serve, if you have the best techs, you charge more. They do not seem to lose any of the market, instead it creates a solution for the problem.

[MichaelPaladin]

Yes there is a shortage of Techs, last article I read about it was the HVAC field was short somewhere around 250,000 Techs nationwide over the next 5-10 years or so. Recruitment is the key, start hitting the high schools near the end of the school year. Not sure how the OP's company operates, but having a few "floating" helpers around, might be a good way to introduce new people to this field. And from what I've seen personally in helpers, usually if they last over 6 months, those are the ones you want to take under your "wing" so to speak.

Also to the OP, I've seen your trucks around but not as much in teh Roanoke area. Maybe I'm just missing seeing them.

[Ammonianite]

Where have all the good techs gone? Sounds like a Van Halen tune. They probably went to the same place that the "good times " went to.

But seriously, I cannot understand all the talk about a technician shortage when companies continue to treat their technicians as if they were "a dime a dozen"? There must not really be a tech shortage if companies still want to pay low wages and benefits and get the "best" people. What tech shortage?

Kids are jumping all over the HVAC industry. Why we had a local tech school drop their HVAC program because there was so much interest in the trade.
Who wants to sweat, get cold, get stuck with long hours and get yelled by a red-faced supervisor with garden hose veins bulging from his neck?

[secorp]

There is no shortage just bad low paying owners. I agree.:D

Ever hear of the shortage of over paying owners!

[thoglow]

* Valid Drivers License
* EPA Certification
* Be Drug Free
* Experience with refrigeration, chillers, and energy management a plus.
* Team Player Attitude
* Residential techs wishing to make the change to commercial are welcome.

We offer an Excellent Benefits package including:
* Unlimited income potential
· Health Insurance
· Dental Insurance
· Short and Long Term Disability
· Life Insurance
· Paid Holidays
· Paid Vacations
· 401K w/ Company Contribution
· ESOP
· Professional Uniforms
· Employee Assistance Program
· Education Assistance Program
· Employee Referral Program $1500.
· Sam’s Club Membership
· Safety Incentives
· Bonus Program including substantial sign-on bonus
· Annual Reviews
· Company Vehicle to drive home
· Cell Phone w/ Two Way Radio
· Extensive In-House Training Program


Man if I still lived back there I would be all over that.I've been at this
sence 95.The west coast sucks.If it wasn't for my mom that still lives
here I would still be back there.Oh well.Good luck.

[absrbrtek]

There is an extreme shortage of qualified techs and it will only worsen as the years roll along. The young kids nowadays don’t want to perform physical labor for the wages our field generates. Why should they when there are multiple jobs out there where they can sit at a computer and crunch numbers for comparative wages and benefits. Let’s face the facts, this industry plays hell on our bodies both mentally and physically with a lower than deserved compensation.

There are multiple other trades that don’t require the skill sets or the knowledge we need to know in order to perform or jobs proficiently. Looking at the trades around here, the carpenters, welders, tinners, electricians, masons and all the other skilled trades make more money and have better benefits than the HVAC service technicians. They only need one skill to perform their jobs, yet we need to know just about all of their skills to due ours. Hell the laborers make a better wage for pushing a broom than a HVAC tech. Geeze now there’s a skill, sweeping the floor and removing garbage.

Employers are another huge issue. The majority only care about the bottom line, the shareholders or other owner’s interest. While I understand fully that you need to turn a profit in order to keep the doors open, it seems that greed sets in. Rather than raising the hourly rates to entice new blood in the field by increasing wages and benefits, the companies would rather keep their hourly rates low for fear of losing a client. Most companies sell quantity over quality in order to keep the bottom line up. I can see this bringing new techs into the field.

Our hourly wages have not increased with inflation over the years. Training is non existent. Technicians are expected to know everything about anything with little or no company support otherwise the tech is deemed to be unknowledgeable of the trade. Technicians are expected to learn on their own time or face falling behind as technology advances in giant leaps and bounds. This is no way to promote an industry.

JMHO

[Ammonianite]

It sure does seem like the industry, as a collective whole, continues to shoot itself in the foot and then bemoan the self-inflicted injury. it is as if the mindset is stuck in a previous time period when there was great abundance. They are either in denial or they have some heavy rationalization going on.
Obviously, there are exceptions as evidenced by statements here on HVACTalk. Some companies do "get it". Unfortunately, those seem to be few and far between. There is a trend in this area that seems to echo the "dime-a-dozen" HVAC theology that a lot of companies posess. Now, a lot of companies will take any warm body off the street and train them to do HVAC.

[cracker]

((I am ready to go looking again and move on to the next guy. FOR THE RECORD I have never quit the job YET! just the boss. .))
ouote secorp


For the record too, I have quit the boss, not the company, They can't see pass there HUMMER payment.

[HVAC9900]

It's getting really hard to find good Commercial HVACR service techs anymore in the DC Metro and surrounding areas. Phones are ringing off the hook with service calls and new clients wanting work done, not to mention the regularly scheduled PMs that are due. I just don't understand it.
The pay rates here are probably close to the highest in the country, the benefits are just as good,employers are willing to pay BIG sign on bonuses, and bend-over backwards to keep their employees happy, The area is growing so fast it's hard to keep up with the new street names. New buildings going up daily, and more potential customers moving into them.

I get the feeling that the younger generations are not interested in doing Skilled Labor, of any kind. (If it can't be done on a computer, it's not worth doing.) Who is going to fix their air conditioning when we have all retired? Their keyboards cant replace a compressor.

OK so what kind of pay rate do you have there?
In DC When I was a service manager we paid from high 20' to mid 30's plus bennies vaca etc.
Treated my techs well and were able to (barely at times) keep up with the growing business.

[cg2]

Where have all the good techs gone? Sounds like a Van Halen tune. They probably went to the same place that the "good times " went to.

But seriously, I cannot understand all the talk about a technician shortage when companies continue to treat their technicians as if they were "a dime a dozen"? There must not really be a tech shortage if companies still want to pay low wages and benefits and get the "best" people. What tech shortage?

Kids are jumping all over the HVAC industry. Why we had a local tech school drop their HVAC program because there was so much interest in the trade.
Who wants to sweat, get cold, get stuck with long hours and get yelled by a red-faced supervisor with garden hose veins bulging from his neck?

Actually, its Pete Seeger, recorded by peter paul and mary

Where have all the goodtechs gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the goodtechs gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the goodtechs gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?


©1961 (Renewed) Fall River Music Inc
All Rights Reserved.

[Ammonianite]

You're right. I recently pulled up a black and white video on YouTube for the song "Where Have All the Good Times Gone." It looked as if it was from the Sixities. Van Halen evidently did a cover version. I was surprised that they were not the original artisit(s). I had never heard the original before.

[bfarrell]

Well, techs with experience of 5+ years generally 30-40/hr plenty of OT, all the benifits, guaranteed 40 hrs all year, paid training, we have a $1500 sign on bonus each for new techs and the referring tech.(not a bad deal) safety bonuses, and a great christmas bonus. Great support from management and partners. Interested? We're intervewing now in Northern VA, Richmond, and Va Beach areas. Call 434-444-2084

[HVAC9900]

Well, techs with experience of 5+ years generally 30-40/hr plenty of OT, all the benifits, guaranteed 40 hrs all year, paid training, we have a $1500 sign on bonus each for new techs and the referring tech.(not a bad deal) safety bonuses, and a great christmas bonus. Great support from management and partners. Interested? We're intervewing now in Northern VA, Richmond, and Va Beach areas. Call 434-444-2084

They can't complain about your pay/bennies package, sounds very good. That's d be a long drive for me, am in Atlanta(moved here after DC)- know anyone down here that's worth working for? Or are you thinking about expanding here?

I know a few people up your way , will let em know about you.
Good Luck

[nesc522]

Well, techs with experience of 5+ years generally 30-40/hr plenty of OT, all the benifits, guaranteed 40 hrs all year, paid training, we have a $1500 sign on bonus each for new techs and the referring tech.(not a bad deal) safety bonuses, and a great christmas bonus. Great support from management and partners. Interested? We're intervewing now in Northern VA, Richmond, and Va Beach areas. Call 434-444-2084

You have got my interest. My wife is getting cold feet about going back to Georgia. I would have to look at how the cost of living(house and etc) compares to the Boston area. Tim

[mark see]

i am in dayton ohio, and jobs are hard to find and pay is low, i still have 3 classes to finish my certificate program at sinclair comm. college. i am epa certified universal and working for a very small residential company that is so slow that we have been passing out flyers in neighborhoods to get hours. the biggest problem i see with this industry is that no one wants to take on new guys, they would rather complain that they cant find good people. with over 50 % of the techs in this business being over 50 yrs of age ( according to school ) some body had better start breaking in newer people. how can i get that magical 5 yrs if no one will give you a chance. i would love to re-locate out of here to pursue a better situation in a better town, not just for me but my family as well. dayton is awful. is any one willing to take on a hard worker, that is drug free, spotlessly clean license, epa cert, has tools, and years of plumbing exp as well ? i am looking for a company where there is opportunity to learn, and grow.

[ryan_the_furnace_guy]

i am looking for a company where there is opportunity to learn, and grow.
when you find it, take me with you please:D

[HVAC9900]

You have got my interest. My wife is getting cold feet about going back to Georgia. I would have to look at how the cost of living(house and etc) compares to the Boston area. Tim

Cost of housing in the northern VA area is astronomical- 500K for a shack.
Outstate VA is much better. Watch for crime in Newport News especially- oh and don't buy a dog from a Michael Vick relative either.....
Traffic in No VA is godawful, and one of the main reasons I moved to Atl- people here think traffic is bad, but it's a lot better than DC.

[maddfridge]

gents

from the time i have been on here there are no good tech JUST EXCELLANT TECHS

You are all excellant because you share knowledge no one can be good at al
aspects of hvac all input is excellent which means in my book you are all excellent

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ALL YOU EXCELLENT TECHS


:cool:

[markj]

contact me at vwmark25 at hotmail.com. I have an entry level facilities maintenance position open requiring plumbing and HVAC skills.
NW Ohio.

[desroches]

over worked under payed in most of canada is the problem here.
i have done refrigeration since i was 15, now i am 29, where i lived b4 the work was so slow that i actualy just prety much gave up on the trade and when't and worked at a car dealer as a service advisor. i did that for 3 months untill i couldnt do it anymore and had to relocate in order to get by.
pretty sad really a guy has to leave his familey and friends to get payed what he is worth.
right now i am living in fort mcmurray, alberta canada
the wages here run about 36.50 to 43 a hour, 40 hour weeks.
i get 800 a month for living, but there is almost no overtime however i can work as many hours as i want for stright time. witch i am still trying to decide if i should keep doing "its like your screwing yourself if you do and your screweing yourself if you don't if you want to put a little extra cash in your pocket"
if you look at the wage differances in differt parts of the world it really makes sence why there is a shortage, people end up in the same situation as me.



i would also like to b!t(ch about our wages compaired to differnt trades, were as our trade entails indepth knowledge of so many other trades plus our own. yet we are not getting as much money as them let alone the same wage as them.
that in my opinion is because we don't have the numbers in our unions to get our point acrost. because there is a shortage, so its kind of a a dubble negitave. there is a shortage and there isnt enough people that care and untill it gets so bad that johnny costomer can't get his work done they will not reconize.......

i think you guys see my point, so i see no need to finish my rant.

[desroches]

Originally Posted by mark see
i am looking for a company where there is opportunity to learn, and grow.




when you find it, take me with you please:D



When you find it see if they have room for me aswell.
just because i can do service work doesnt mean i do not want to learn more.
i want more training dammit! :D

[Ammonianite]

Yeah. Whatever happened to training? Not too many places seem to offer in-house or seminar-style training anymore. Is this part of the "dumbing down" of our trade? The desire for ever-increasing profit margins means that it is most beneficial for the tech to be a salesman and a parts changer.

[sabre11134]

a majority of the better techs have left the field due to being overworked and underpaid. In the past one company i worked for would give us 25 dollars for christmas and the service mgr would get a check for 30,000 dollars for a bonus.too many cheap owners force out good techs.

[secorp]

A)There are a lot of shops that will not hire you if you are over 50.
B)There are a lot of better jobs with better benifits and hours.
C)When you get to be 50 you are less willing to work 80 hours.
D)When you train someone, they replace you eventually.
E)service managers are not what they once were.
F)Year end bonuses are becoming a joke.

[hvacmatthew]

My instructor speaks highly of the field and of the great opportunities and benefits he's always experienced (and that we'll get to experience). He's worked for fancy hotels, etc. Maybe it just depends on your location.

[idontgetit]

That "top pay" always equates to 50 to 70% of journey level pay?
That under "benifits" is overtime listed?

Not knocking the OP here, don't even know them. Just speaking in general. His pay rate for his area are at the top end of the scale. Overall though, as an industry, significant efforts to keep wages down are in place.

Seems that about the time "flat rate" came into being, pay has all but stalled and in more cases than not, has gone DOWN. There are one heck of a lot of companies out there that consider 18 bucks an hour TOP or EXCELLENT pay, even too much pay when in reality it is about half of what it should be!

I was in an interview onetime not so long ago and at first I literally started laughing at the guy and then I got kinda pissed about it. More than 15 years proven commercial experience, more than a few certifications, normal apearance, making over 24 an hour at current job with provided insurance and this joker tells me how badley they want me etc and comes up with an offer of 16.20 and hour and 595 a month cost for health care insurance! I laughed about it and said it was not even close so he gave me the "what will it take speech" and When I told him to double his offer I thought he was gonna have a heart attack!

I always find it Ironic, Company A pays 30 an hour and charges 200 for a job, Company B pays 20 an hour and charges 400 for the job, but it is always company B owner who screams about how he is not making any money and is going broke etc.

Not all owners are like that, but it certianly seems to be leaning that direction more and more. Merit shops have pay disparities that are off the chain. I have seen guys doing the exact same work and be 10-15 an hour different in pay!

So to answer the OP's question, some techs just flat out quit all together because they got real tired of fighting for every nickle. Cost of living has not dropped in years, but the salary for qualified techs has not followed the 4 to 5% to keep the tech whole either.

[Trublshter]

I don't know about some of the other Techs that are my age , ( 50 ) I've been doing this since I was 18. I skipped out of the trade for 9 months or so trying to get into controls to explore new challenges and ended diving back in the game. I used some of the free time to build my lower back and knee strength. Apparently I did'nt do enough. I've been back in now for 4 months and it's back to the chiropractor for me. I have been real fortunate that where I work now I can get additional muscle help when I need it cause they actually try to look out for their techs. I find I get along better in warmer temps. This is truly a young mans' game. As another person earlier stated seems like there is not a lot of people interested in doing this work and that's a real shame.

[Poodle Head Mikey]

You used the term: Good Tech

Could you expand on that a little bit for me please? PErhaps detail a bit of what it is that would make someone a Good Tech. Attributes, abilities, characteristics, etc.

And just to help me more - maybe some counter-point to what would make someone a Not-good Tech.

Thanks!

[chaard]

Where have all of the good techs gone?

They're in Joplin,Mo.!

Just moved this weekend from St. Louis. I love my new house. I'll have to post pics.

Will miss the Comfortech show this week.

Don't have internet till Thursday. I'm surfing on other's wifi networks now.

Will update later.

[Ammonianite]

Good tech- concientious about job performed; quality/pride-driven; values a job well-done; interacts well with customers and co-workers;
seeks training opportunities on own (since many companiesno longer offer) to become a more knowledgeable and efficient technician

Bad tech- just there to get a pay check; lucky to get 30-40% effort out of individual; just slap the thing together and if it runs 30 seconds after you fix it, it's fixed; would rather talk on cell phone and/or text message girlfriend than talk with customer; would not attend training class if offered (8hours on the clock is enough, or perhaps too much)

[secorp]

Good tech- concientious about job performed; quality/pride-driven; values a job well-done; interacts well with customers and co-workers;
seeks training opportunities on own (since many companiesno longer offer) to become a more knowledgeable and efficient technician

Bad tech- just there to get a pay check; lucky to get 30-40% effort out of individual; just slap the thing together and if it runs 30 seconds after you fix it, it's fixed; would rather talk on cell phone and/or text message girlfriend than talk with customer; would not attend training class if offered (8hours on the clock is enough, or perhaps too much)


Damn it man....I am both a good tech and a bad tech.:D

[Chillerbuilder]

I went to work at a service company about 20 years ago because they wanted someone to help build and install a hydrocooler they sold. They sold it not even knowing where they were going to get it. The day after the unit was in operation I was told that I wasn't needed anymore. One of the techs told me it was because I was "too old". That is where all the good techs go, out the door. This field is one where the longer you are in it, the more you know. Why companies don't use the older people to train and troubleshoot is beyond me. All they worry about is chargeable hours and then get upset when they have to turn down work for lack of help.

[DeltaT]

All the good techs are out on their own in 1 to 5 or so man shops cause that is the only way we can not only survive but do quality, skilled work. But you already knew that.

[robc in WI]

I'll try to keep this short. 94 year old house, ductopus hack job 12 year old installation. Upgrading ductwork, adding central air, high efficiency gas furnace. First 2 bids from local big name HVAC "stores", one was the president of the company (good reputation etc..) Nice guys, both came across as salesman and were clearly pushing top of the line. Bids were jaw droppingly high. Third bidder came tonight and I knew him from some duct work he did for our kitchen re-model. Very down-to-earth fellow. Based on what I have learned spending hours reading on this and other forums he clearly knew his stuff. He explained how the heating system in my house had evolved over the years and how the ducting was fundementally wrong and that a high end variable speed furnace would never operate the way it was designed to, the other bidders didn't offer anything like this. He methodically explained how he could make the heating/cooling much more efficient and more importantly more comfortable. He grew up in a heating/cooling family and after 25 years started his own business so he could do things "the right way" vs the way the larger businesses were doing things. He fabricates ALL of his ductwork and to quote him "installs systems as if it were my own house" His quote for a Tappan (he is a factory auth.dealer)2.5 ton AC w/10 year all parts warranty was less than half the high bidder. I suspect that techs/installers like him are a vanishing breed and I feel fortunate to have contacted him.

[r404a]

Cost of housing in the northern VA area is astronomical- 500K for a shack.
Outstate VA is much better. Watch for crime in Newport News especially- oh and don't buy a dog from a Michael Vick relative either.....
Traffic in No VA is godawful, and one of the main reasons I moved to Atl- people here think traffic is bad, but it's a lot better than DC.



What do you mean that there is crime here in the East end of "Bad Newz"?

[cracker]

a majority of the better techs have left the field due to being overworked and underpaid. In the past one company i worked for would give us 25 dollars for christmas and the service mgr would get a check for 30,000 dollars for a bonus.too many cheap owners force out good techs.

So True------The last POS magget Service manager did you one better, came x-mas 2005, gave all of us a $20.00 bill and said thanks, company gave him 20k, then one of his ba#l sucker came to me and ask me to donate my 20 for a present for him------EFF OFF I said, People can't understand why I dislike owners, and company's so much, MacDonal'd food wrapers get more respect than there Techs today >>>>

[desroches]

I'll try to keep this short. 94 year old house, ductopus hack job 12 year old installation. Upgrading ductwork, adding central air, high efficiency gas furnace. First 2 bids from local big name HVAC "stores", one was the president of the company (good reputation etc..) Nice guys, both came across as salesman and were clearly pushing top of the line. Bids were jaw droppingly high. Third bidder came tonight and I knew him from some duct work he did for our kitchen re-model. Very down-to-earth fellow. Based on what I have learned spending hours reading on this and other forums he clearly knew his stuff. He explained how the heating system in my house had evolved over the years and how the ducting was fundementally wrong and that a high end variable speed furnace would never operate the way it was designed to, the other bidders didn't offer anything like this. He methodically explained how he could make the heating/cooling much more efficient and more importantly more comfortable. He grew up in a heating/cooling family and after 25 years started his own business so he could do things "the right way" vs the way the larger businesses were doing things. He fabricates ALL of his ductwork and to quote him "installs systems as if it were my own house" His quote for a Tappan (he is a factory auth.dealer)2.5 ton AC w/10 year all parts warranty was less than half the high bidder. I suspect that techs/installers like him are a vanishing breed and I feel fortunate to have contacted him.


this is why.... it doesnt sound like a very fun job for a tech, and if its a bid job it is very likely to lose money on it.
thats why it is bid high from the people that don't need the work and bid low from the people that do need the work :P

[robc in WI]

Sorry beg to differ, this guy has more work than he knows what to do with. It's all about doing quality work, word of mouth vs TV ads and billboards. It's about selling his products without the 50% (or more) mark up that the Bryant/Trane dealers are pushing. This is a city of 12,000 not LA or Houston. He has a much smaller overhead than the big boys, a true enthusiasm for what he does, and a committment for service. He spent an an hour and a half inspecting the house (I have already ripped out all of the ductwork in the basement) explaining the work he was proposing, and taking measurements. The Lennox dealer charges $45 for a visit and a bid, this guy had 3 bids/home visits scheduled AFTER his normal work day. He told me and my wife that his bid would make us smile and I have no doubt that it will. I'd like to add that I have been a service tech (fax/copiers) for a large company for 18 years and I have seen many changes (none good) in the last 5 years mainly in the training area and the way we are told to do service calls. I'm sure it's similar to what's happening in the HVAC field.

[hvacguy1179]

The sad fact is if look at the hours work compaired to the gross pay. We do not make a good living especially when you take in to account the bad backs, bad knees, and various other physicals problems that go along with being a tech. I love my industry and will do anything to stay in it. However I am going to school so that I can "No I do not need lift that 4 inch steel pipe into place." I would rather trouble shoot DDC controls or mental work.

[JBM1000]

Tulsa Ok, good pay, low cost of living, good selection of owners whom treat techs right, great traffic flows compared to DC-LA-Seattle-Dallas-etc. Centralized area of parts houses, Quick Trip convenience store on every block. Just passed Bill 1804-see ya latter illegal aliens after November ST!! :) ;) :D :D :D :cool:

[bustawrench1]

Bad tech- just there to get a pay check; lucky to get 30-40% effort out of individual; just slap the thing together and if it runs 30 seconds after you fix it, it's fixed; would rather talk on cell phone and/or text message girlfriend than talk with customer; would not attend training class if offered (8hours on the clock is enough, or perhaps too much)


I hate to say this, but you hit the nail on the head. I just left a job where 2 guys were expected to kill themselves 80-90 hrs a week to clean up after a bunch like this.

It seems to me to be a management thing, if guys get away with a little, then they're gonna try for a little more, and if no one (read that management) stops them, then pretty soon they're convinced they can do whatever the heck they want. Sad thing is, they're right.

[r404a]

There are multiple other trades that don’t require the skill sets or the knowledge we need to know in order to perform or jobs proficiently. Looking at the trades around here, the carpenters, welders, tinners, electricians, masons and all the other skilled trades make more money and have better benefits than the HVAC service technicians. They only need one skill to perform their jobs, yet we need to know just about all of their skills to due ours. Hell the laborers make a better wage for pushing a broom than a HVAC tech. Geeze now there’s a skill, sweeping the floor and removing garbage.



Our hourly wages have not increased with inflation over the years. Training is non existent. Technicians are expected to know everything about anything with little or no company support otherwise the tech is deemed to be unknowledgeable of the trade. Technicians are expected to learn on their own time or face falling behind as technology advances in giant leaps and bounds. This is no way to promote an industry.

JMHO



Abs,
First, I address your second quoted paragraph. Nothing could be said better and it is a sad state of affairs. You take that about little or no company support and add that to the fact that the manufacturers are regularly screwing us all everyday and it always falls in our lap.

Now, going to your first paragraph....LOL you are right but you know somewhere deep in your mind you wouldn't to be pulling wire for more pay when there is a Centrifugal somewhere out there out on "Unit failed to accelerate" and it is 95 degrees outside, 90 degrees inside....we are all adrenaline junkies...or just nuts, doing this as a job.....