is it worth it?

[aux]

Hi,
I have a question for all the guys who have Hvac jobs.

When you graduated was it worth it? were you able to find a good job?

This past monday I started school for Hvac installation at Dunwoody technical college in MN and I'm second guessing this decision. I feel like this feild of work isn't all that specialized and that the schooling is all the same. I've heard all of this hype about how hvac workers get good pay and can install things that really require a lot of technical skill. But it seems to me that if you give anyone the ducts and a building code book to install in a residential home, along the knowledge of aspect ratios that it won't take a whole lot of knowledge to do something like this. I'm not looking for a career that requires rocket science but it seems like you could show someone how to do this job in 2 weeks instead of 2 years.
So basically what I'm asking is why do Hvac installers and service techs get good pay when the job isn't all that complicated?

[bootlen]

Only one way to find out. Drop out of school and see how much you learn in 2 weeks in the field.

Your first lesson will be how easy it is to make a mistake by dropping out of school.

Your second will be how little you know about HVACR.

There will be many more, most of which would have been covered in class had you not dropped out.

[bb]

I suggest that you do some reading here on this site and see just how complicated it can get.

Try to answer some of NormChris's questions...

I would highly recommend that you follow through with the 2 year plan for your education.

It only makes sense in this trade to first learn the fundamentals of theory which encompases a wide area of knowledge.

This is not to say that you can't work in the field as you are going to school. That would be my preference if I were you.

[MadeinUSA]

You have done an excellent job in your post of writing the job description of our number one enemy in this field.

Your description is of a PROFESSIONAL HACK. Hopefully you have a great instructor, and not an ex HACK teaching your class, and you will find in short time there is so much more involved than just a blower pushing air.

[fitter638nyc]

Not complicated. Bro I could not think of a job more complicated. Think about a HVAC/R Tech is a : Plumber,Pipefitter,Electrician,Operating Eng,Iorn Worker,Rigger,Welder,Mechanics Etc.
Have you ever seen a set of prints for a Chiller/heat system?
We wiring controls that most Electricians can not.
We pipe thing that plumbers can not.
Go to school and deal. Keep your mouth closed ears open and learn ever thing you can.
We have 2 many hacks out there as it is we dont need any more.
A tech is a person that nerver stop learning A hack know just as much as he needs to get Himself into Sh-t.

[Edited by fitter638nyc on 09-14-2004 at 06:12 PM]

[BaldLoonie]

Stay in school! When I wanted to enter the field at an advanced age, I was advised to learn in school then get out and work. Good advice. I went to Northeast Metro, which really wasn't a good program, but still managed to learn and get some hands on in the lab. Dunwoody has a great reputation. Graduate with good grades and you'll be set for a good future. This industry needs sharp, well trained techs. This stuff is getting so sophisticated (aka complicated) that the average tech is going to struggle in the future.

[appltech1]

So, are ya still interested in the handyman profession or will it be school? 25K> or 60k< if you'er any good>LOL Bwah hahahhaha Bwahahahaha :D

[NormChris]

aux, I graduated from Dunwoody back in 1973. It was a great school then and I hope it has not changed. You need to stay in school. Have a conversation with Denny Stenquist. You know Denny he is one of the instructors. A good guy.

If you think this is not a complex profession you need to stick with it longer. You are just getting the fundamentals right now and you just started. It gets more complex and if you want to do techncial stuff and like troubleshooting you picked the right profession. Hang in there.

Norm

[NormChris]

During my first month at Dunwoody my lab partner quit to go to work as a house painter. I always wondered what happened to him. Do you want to be like him?

I remained in the program. Spent 3 to 4 hours every night in the books. Then spent 6 to 8 hours every Saturday in the books. Learned everything I was told to learn. Turned down my friends when they asked me to party with them. Lost my friends but kept to the books. Not one of those friends amounted to anything. Was it worth it? YOU BET! I would do it again and work even harder! I'll not bother telling you my career history but it was well worth it.

Norm

[air1]

Why would you go to school to become a installer? I can understand going to school for Service but not an installer. Your better off joining a union to learn how to install and lay out duct work. Try the Sheet Metal workers union.

The reason it pays well is because it's hard work and most people don't have what it takes to do it. Try crawling around a hot attic full of fiberglass insulation during the summer. Or in a crawl space with the spiders and snakes.

It's not all bad. The job does have its rewards but it certainly has it's down side.

You sound like a smart guy. Become a service tech.

[contactme_11]

Originally posted by fitter638nyc
Not complicated. Bro I could not think of a job more complicated. Think about a HVAC/R Tech is a : Plumber,Pipefitter,Electrician,Operating Eng,Iorn Worker,Rigger,Welder,Mechanics Etc.
Have you ever seen a set of prints for a Chiller/heat system?
We wiring controls that most Electricians can not.
We pipe thing that plumbers can not.

Amen

[NormChris]

Originally posted by air1
Why would you go to school to become a installer? I can understand going to school for Service but not an installer. Your better off joining a union to learn how to install and lay out duct work. Try the Sheet Metal workers union.

The reason it pays well is because it's hard work and most people don't have what it takes to do it. Try crawling around a hot attic full of fiberglass insulation during the summer. Or in a crawl space with the spiders and snakes.

It's not all bad. The job does have its rewards but it certainly has it's down side.

You sound like a smart guy. Become a service tech.


Over 30% of the Minnesota sheet metal union installers are out of work right now.

[refrtech]

Originally posted by aux
Hi,
I have a question for all the guys who have Hvac jobs.

When you graduated was it worth it? were you able to find a good job?

This past monday I started school for Hvac installation at Dunwoody technical college in MN and I'm second guessing this decision. I feel like this feild of work isn't all that specialized and that the schooling is all the same. I've heard all of this hype about how hvac workers get good pay and can install things that really require a lot of technical skill. But it seems to me that if you give anyone the ducts and a building code book to install in a residential home, along the knowledge of aspect ratios that it won't take a whole lot of knowledge to do something like this. I'm not looking for a career that requires rocket science but it seems like you could show someone how to do this job in 2 weeks instead of 2 years.
So basically what I'm asking is why do Hvac installers and service techs get good pay when the job isn't all that complicated? WOW you are so ignorant to the world !!! You really have no clue ! I personally don't install duct work and never have so I can not speak as a duct guy but, I would love to see someone like yourself come to work with me and I would bet you your house you would not be able to figure out even a simple problem to most techs , and I don't know shiat compared to most of these guys on this site !! Someone like yourself may want to call Roto-Rooter, I heard they are hireing !! Have a good life :) jacka$$

[NormChris]

Originally posted by refrtech

Originally posted by aux
Hi,
I have a question for all the guys who have Hvac jobs.

When you graduated was it worth it? were you able to find a good job?

This past monday I started school for Hvac installation at Dunwoody technical college in MN and I'm second guessing this decision. I feel like this feild of work isn't all that specialized and that the schooling is all the same. I've heard all of this hype about how hvac workers get good pay and can install things that really require a lot of technical skill. But it seems to me that if you give anyone the ducts and a building code book to install in a residential home, along the knowledge of aspect ratios that it won't take a whole lot of knowledge to do something like this. I'm not looking for a career that requires rocket science but it seems like you could show someone how to do this job in 2 weeks instead of 2 years.
So basically what I'm asking is why do Hvac installers and service techs get good pay when the job isn't all that complicated? WOW you are so ignorant to the world !!! You really have no clue ! I personally don't install duct work and never have so I can not speak as a duct guy but, I would love to see someone like yourself come to work with me and I would bet you your house you would not be able to figure out even a simple problem to most techs , and I don't know shiat compared to most of these guys on this site !! Someone like yourself may want to call Roto-Rooter, I heard they are hireing !! Have a good life :) jacka$$

Be nice! He has not even completed his first class so how would he know what our profession has to offer? We need to encourage new talent not attack and drive them away.

Why not post all the possible specialties available to this guy after he finishes school? Show him all that our trade has to offer. It sure has served me well.

Norm

[air1]

Originally posted by NormChris

Originally posted by air1
Why would you go to school to become a installer? I can understand going to school for Service but not an installer. Your better off joining a union to learn how to install and lay out duct work. Try the Sheet Metal workers union.

The reason it pays well is because it's hard work and most people don't have what it takes to do it. Try crawling around a hot attic full of fiberglass insulation during the summer. Or in a crawl space with the spiders and snakes.

It's not all bad. The job does have its rewards but it certainly has it's down side.

You sound like a smart guy. Become a service tech.


Over 30% of the Minnesota sheet metal union installers are out of work right now.


Another good reason to become a tech instead of an installer.

Most HVAC help wanted ads on the west coast are for installers. High turn over rate because it's such hard work. Their seems to be a shortage of installers in the west.

[refrtech]

Sorry Norm :) maybe a little harsh but... it erks me to no end when people think since we wear a blue collar we are idiots that did nothing in life !! I love it when people act soooo suprised to hear that a good technician can make more $$ than they themselves ever will !!!! Sorry aux I bit before I thought, but please do yourself a favor and do a little research before you spout ignorance with nothing to back it up .

[Shophound]

Stay in school, study both installation and service.

I know one thing...I got a little more than two weeks invested to be able to work on something like this:

http://pic12.picturetrail.com/VOL431/789398/5133498/65793607.jpg

You don't get the confidence you need to work on equipment this size or even larger by getting cold feet and simultaneously not fully exploring and pushing for all the opportunities that are possible for you in this field.

Hmmm...what skills might you need to tackle a job on a system like this? Electrical and electrical controls, plumbing, refrigeration, computers if it is DDC, mechanical, diagnostic, troubleshooting...

Sounds like a well-rounded occupation to me! By being in the building maintenance trade in addition to HVAC work I can also frame walls and roofs, wire a structure, shingle, install and finish drywall, millwork, trimwork, floor tiling, acoustic ceilings, lighting, build cabinets, etc. And I've actually used some of these skills in HVAC work as well!

If you stick with anything long enough, you pile on enough skill and experience to make your life's work interesting and your depth of employability a lot more significant than by flitting from career path to career path.

[hvac45]

I started school in the air force, the first couple of weeks I was bored to, then we started actually learning things like electrical, soldering brazing, then trouble shooting, man I was hooked. That was 1972. I still love this trade, install or service doesn't matter, I have done both, in order to be a really good tech, you have to understand air flow and design. Along with the normal service stuff. The more you know in this business the more you work. Just about the time you think you know it all, it changes, new designs, new refrigerants, ect.

[Ammonianite]

. . . and then there is the idiosyncrasies of ammonia refrigeration. Like excitement? Xtreme HVACR? Stay in school and get the fundamentals, find a good company and a good mentor to bring you along- it won't be long until you reap the rewards.