How is Vegas?

[Tech07]

Just was wondering how it was working in the field in Vegas? Stay busy for the most part? Pay scale is decent in general? Thinking about relocating there still and needed some feedback. Thanks!

[Senior Tech]

Move to Vegas and you'll be eating outta dumpsters in not time :D

[lolson]

Move to Vegas and you'll be eating outta dumpsters in not time :D

or shot

[Tech07]

From my understanding Vegas has one of the strongest economies in the country. You'd also think it would be one of the top demanding cities for HVAC like Phoenix,AZ , considering it's in the desert region. So.Cal has a good field, just too exspensive to live in.

[little john]

just go up there and start doing some interviews. I worked there a summer doing construction and it was ok.

you just learn where to live like any other place to fit your budget

there is a high demand for hvac guys.

[acbandit_328]

Just was wondering how it was working in the field in Vegas? Stay busy for the most part? Pay scale is decent in general? Thinking about relocating there still and needed some feedback. Thanks!

Vegas is great. I've been here for 2 years doing commercial. There are alot of companies that don't know what they are doing. That makes it easier for us to get new accounts. Pay varies. Look for a commercial only company and interview with a few. It's hard to find a good company. We are a good company and we have problems finding good techs in Las Vegas. The good ones are taken.

Good luck.

[Coolmaniac]

Have a friend who worked there, main thing I remember him saying is take lots of buckets.

Why you may ask?

Because if you set your hand tools on the unit, they get too hot to pick up. So they keep em' in a bucket of water. Have to change the water in the buckets occasionally too. Just repeating what I was told. Anyone know a wild man by the name of Lenny?

[Tech07]

I am in the Union and work for a commercial company in San Diego currently. Been in the field for about 5 yrs and have a sufficient amount of knowledge. I'm not !SUPERTECH! or anything, but I know my job and perform well I think. I work well with others and am a big time people person and always like to have a good time on the job and not walk around with a poker face who has jumped on the corporate ladder. It's all about backing each other up and being tight nitched and not throwing each other under the bus. That's my mentality.

[Tech07]

Ahahahaha ain't putting my PROTO and SNAPON tools in a bucket of water! maybe some cheap $1.00 Harbor Freight chinese made beater tools ahahaha.



Have a friend who worked there, main thing I remember him saying is take lots of buckets.

Why you may ask?

Because if you set your hand tools on the unit, they get too hot to pick up. So they keep em' in a bucket of water. Have to change the water in the buckets occasionally too. Just repeating what I was told. Anyone know a wild man by the name of Lenny?

[acmanhoney]

3/4 of my tools need batteries nowadays....see pic

[Tech Rob]

I am in the Union and work for a commercial company in San Diego currently. Been in the field for about 5 yrs and have a sufficient amount of knowledge. I'm not !SUPERTECH! or anything, but I know my job and perform well I think. I work well with others and am a big time people person and always like to have a good time on the job and not walk around with a poker face who has jumped on the corporate ladder. It's all about backing each other up and being tight nitched and not throwing each other under the bus. That's my mentality.

Ever considered Tampa or Orlando, Florida? You'd fit in pretty well with the guys I work with/for. We're union as well.

Good luck wherever you end up. Vegas seems like as good a place as any.

[acbandit_328]

Ever considered Tampa or Orlando, Florida? You'd fit in pretty well with the guys I work with/for. We're union as well.

Good luck wherever you end up. Vegas seems like as good a place as any.


If you do decide to come to Vegas, send me an e-mail. I can tell you which companies to interview with and which ones to stay away from.

[freddy-b]

I know this is off topic, But I was told awhile back that they release O2 into the ventilation systems of casinos to get people feeling good and lively and ready to gamble. Is this true? or just BS?

[acmanhoney]

I know this is off topic, But I was told awhile back that they release O2 into the ventilation systems of casinos to get people feeling good and lively and ready to gamble. Is this true? or just BS?

heard it also and heard it was b.s

[freerider]

Not true. Co2 level in the exhaust air is monitored and more outside air is brought in to keep it below 1000 ppm. Get much above 1000 ppm and people get sleepy.

[steves4]

Just was wondering how it was working in the field in Vegas? Stay busy for the most part? Pay scale is decent in general? Thinking about relocating there still and needed some feedback. Thanks!

Vegas is a wonderful place to visit but make sure that you really want to live there. With the casinos open 24x7 there has to be plenty of HVAC / controls opportunities. When you go on your interview make sure that you schedule enough time to include a house hunting session.

My wife had a great job opportunity in Vegas a couple of years ago but we decided that the lifestyle / quality of life was not for us. Lots of gated communities, very small lots, crowded, everything within reasonable commuting distance was over developed, etc. Check out the growth numbers carefully. The Realtor we were working with told us about all the people moving to Vegas. With a bit of research we also found out the lots of people leave Vegas each year also.

You may be very happy there. But, go into the move knowing all that you can. If the career opportunity is good, and you like the lifestyle, go for it.

[Tech07]

I appreciate it Steve. I'm not like the average person that has gone to Vegas and only knows the strip and nothing more. I've gone out there quite a few times within the last couple of years and have done and seen things all over Clark County. We go to Lake Mead, Mt. Charleston, etc. I like the new suburbs of Henderson and understand the quality of life there. I'd just live normal life and stay away from the Casino life. Ain't my cup of tea at all.

[steves4]

I appreciate it Steve. I'm not like the average person that has gone to Vegas and only knows the strip and nothing more. I've gone out there quite a few times within the last couple of years and have done and seen things all over Clark County. We go to Lake Mead, Mt. Charleston, etc. I like the new suburbs of Henderson and understand the quality of life there. I'd just live normal life and stay away from the Casino life. Ain't my cup of tea at all.
As you have found out there are lots of really unique things to do and see beyond the strip. It sounds like you are going into the opportunity with open eyes and looking at it as the package deal that it is. Best of luck with your interview. Let us know how it works out for you.

[Tech07]

Gonna do some more research before my wife and I set anything in stone. I know a handful of commercial companies out of So.Cal that have branched out in Vegas recently. Plus the union in Vegas is a lot stronger than ours. Our benefits are garbage here. Plus housing is more affordable there than the state of Californicate! It's funny when I tell people about Vegas, they say "There's too many weirdo's there and it's wild" Umm Southern Cal has 10 times the amount of nutty, fruity and crazy people ahahahaha

[ericnyc]

I'm thinking vegas as well...def. commercial though.

[coves]

I'd never be able to live in that area because of the lifestyle:D but I always wondered what it'd be like to do in-house HVAC for one of the big casinos. They must have a multitude of interesting things to work on. Any thoughts?

[Tech07]

Lifestyle? Dude thats only just on the strip. the whole city is not sleaze ball gamblers with no agenda in life. The rest of the city outside of the main strip is a normal city. People see the tourist area's in Vegas with the typical Casino's and condem the rest of of the city. Vegas pays more for HVAC techs then just about all states in the country, besides California 2nd behind it. The West Coast is the best part of the country to be a HVAC tech, because the work is more stable here, because we have no harsh weather year round, including no snow and hardly any rain and always sunny.








I'd never be able to live in that area because of the lifestyle:D but I always wondered what it'd be like to do in-house HVAC for one of the big casinos. They must have a multitude of interesting things to work on. Any thoughts?

[superfittertech]

just stay on the left coast & leave the rest of the country to others. personally I lived & worked in San Diego (union shops) for 20 years & you can have that. I enjoy 4 seasons, work year round cause if you're good you will anywhere, have a much better life for me & my family. Plus the pay & benefits are much better than so cal. The union here is also 10x stronger than any union in Vegas or San Diego. Research it yourself. the city that I live in has relativily the same population as San Diego with 50% less crime & alot better schools.

[Tech07]

Whoa whoa ahahaha, I wasn't talking about crime,schools and city profiles dude. I don't know where all of this came from ahahaha. I was just referring to stable work because of good weather and how Nevada and So.Cal pay is good compared to most places.....sheesh :) Journeyman pay is almost $40.00 an hour in the LA area. I highly beyond doubt that Minnesota pays that, being a largely unpopulated state in the far north.









just stay on the left coast & leave the rest of the country to others. personally I lived & worked in San Diego (union shops) for 20 years & you can have that. I enjoy 4 seasons, work year round cause if you're good you will anywhere, have a much better life for me & my family. Plus the pay & benefits are much better than so cal. The union here is also 10x stronger than any union in Vegas or San Diego. Research it yourself. the city that I live in has relativily the same population as San Diego with 50% less crime & alot better schools.

[marvin]

for myself i wouldnt want to live or work anyplace else. vegas has been real good to me BUT i wouldnt recommend it to anyone raising a family.
used to be great but times have changed & sad to say not for the better.

[superfittertech]

Whoa whoa ahahaha, I wasn't talking about crime,schools and city profiles dude. I don't know where all of this came from ahahaha. I was just referring to stable work because of good weather and how Nevada and So.Cal pay is good compared to most places.....sheesh :) Journeyman pay is almost $40.00 an hour in the LA area. I highly beyond doubt that Minnesota pays that, being a largely unpopulated state in the far north.

In Minnesota (twin cities journeyman pay is $35 per hr 90% of all svc fitters are foreman or above & that's at least $38 per hr. LA area may pay those rates, but I know that San Diego doesn't. 230 is a weak union at least as far as service fitters go. They have no apprenticeship program & no real training.
Enough said.

[breeze101]

Vegas is ok because its cheaper to live in than soutern california. Like steve mentioined the small lots, over development and never ending traffic really take away the quality of life in this place. Its a great time to buy a house that s been forclosed on and the banks trying to get rid of. Just saw this little tidbit of news break ...

http://www.yahoo.com/s/857627

oh and watch out for the home owners associations in the developments ... im not allowed to park my work van in front of my house ... i find stickers on the window telling me its gonnna be getting towed.

[Tech07]

Right on man...I'm happy for you...more power to ya! :)






In Minnesota (twin cities journeyman pay is $35 per hr 90% of all svc fitters are foreman or above & that's at least $38 per hr. LA area may pay those rates, but I know that San Diego doesn't. 230 is a weak union at least as far as service fitters go. They have no apprenticeship program & no real training.
Enough said.

[Tech07]

Is it alright raising a family in the far suburbs? Henderson for example?








for myself i wouldnt want to live or work anyplace else. vegas has been real good to me BUT i wouldnt recommend it to anyone raising a family.
used to be great but times have changed & sad to say not for the better.

[Coolmaniac]

oh and watch out for the home owners associations in the developments ... im not allowed to park my work van in front of my house ... i find stickers on the window telling me its gonnna be getting towed.

The things that associations keep finding to ***** about continues to amaze me. You gotta know whoever keeps complaining about the van, or the one who made up the rule, would find it the most beautiful thing in the world. If they'd been waiting a few days to get their busted A/C fixed in summer, and found it parked at their place.