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Originally Posted by MikeVDS

I never said you don't need anything else to be a good tech, but I do know some very smart people who do not work in the trade who I know would do a better job than many techs I know. Why? Because they will do their research and do it properly, looking up all the codes and talking to the right people, they will spend days on what takes an experienced guy hours to do.

You make a good point. Also, one of the major motivators for that group is that it's their own home and they want the job done right knowing that no shortcuts will be taken. (However the combination of motivation, time and aptitude probably represents a small subset of the population.)

Mechanical ability and the correct training and experience is what makes a good tech.

You remind me of the guys I've met over the past 15 years or more that say I have common sense and I don't need anything else. They do their thing, then I redo what they have done.

True, I do mean mechanical ability, but I've found people who have common sense and work in the trades have that common sense translate into mechanical ability. Also many people who think they have common sense really don't, especially the ones who are commonly saying they have it. Have you ever met anyone who didn't think they had common sense?

I never said you don't need anything else to be a good tech, but I do know some very smart people who do not work in the trade who I know would do a better job than many techs I know. Why? Because they will do their research and do it properly, looking up all the codes and talking to the right people, they will spend days on what takes an experienced guy hours to do, and if they do have trouble with a step they will get someone with the proper knowledge to help them out.

I'd also have to add to your list of mechanical ability, proper training, and experience. I know guys with all three who are worthless. You also have to have the desire to learn and admit when you're wrong. The people with that combo wipe the floor with most techs, myself included. I know guys with 30+ years of experience like that, who are great and I learn something from them almost each time I work with them. I also know guys missing one or two of those things who have 30 years and I wouldn't trust them to change a thermostat.

Originally Posted by pctech

hows life in payson
aint seen any videos on youtube from ya in a long time.

I don't think he's back. Look at the date of that post.

good to see you back shawn

hows life in payson
aint seen any videos on youtube from ya in a long time.

Originally Posted by PaysonHVAC

BWAH HA HA HA! No doubt! LOL!

BTW. Why remove the link? Why are the people on this forum so damn worried about any Tom Dick or DIY that may WANDER in here that we have to inconvenience ourselves? Put the link back! I wanna see this one!

don't get too much diy here. when its 105 outside and wifey sends em up in the attic to see why the blower's not coming on, they usually can't breathe that 150 degree attic air long enough to get to the air handler. so much for an "easy" trade!!! i'll tell ya whats easy, standin around watching some body else work.

I don't mind the DIY, most of the time they are afraid to mess something up anyways. For the most part, they at least hump the unit to the attic for you and run the wires. If they have the wrong size wires you tell them the right size and they'll do it again. Its kind of a pain going back and forth with them sometimes. They will do most of the brainless work for you; ex: flex runs. The ductwork can be sketchy sometimes if they tackle that, but it's usually one or two peices and flex all over. That can be easily changed. You still have the technical/mechanical to make your money on. They submit and you get paid.

Originally Posted by MikeVDS

I'm sorry, did I insult you saying that something that YOU have difficulty with is actually easy? Since you're name-calling I can only assume that's the reason. All the good techs I know also feel it's easy, some of which ran their own businesses for many years before retiring. To be a good tech, sure it takes many years of experience, but just to be able to do the job, safely and clean, not too bad for most people willing to put in the effort. I think this board is hilarious that most of the "pros" think their knowledge is something secret and they are protecting others by guarding it. When I first started in the industry I met many people (I would like to use another word but I'll refrain) like the people on this board, who guard their "knowledge" tightly. Luckily I met other people who were willing to share knowledge. There are tricks that make things easier, but most of the time a $10 per hour tech who can read a wiring diagram and had a 8 hour class on the refrigeration cycle can fix the problem with enough time. Sure it would take him ten times as long (if not more), and will probably make it harder for the next guy to work on it, but it's not rocket science. The people I know who talk like you guys and try to keep things secret, generally are actually not very good at their jobs, are grumpy old men, and are self concious that they will be replaced by the new guys one they realize things aren't that difficult, and have a better understanding of physics, plcs, modern EMS systems, etc. I don't know that's the case, but the people with similar attitudes that I've run across are like that. Most are actually foreign too and have difficulty communicating with people. Does that sound familiar?

What you are calling common sense is actually mechanical ability.

Mechanical ability and the correct training and experience is what makes a good tech.

You remind me of the guys I've met over the past 15 years or more that say I have common sense and I don't need anything else. They do their thing, then I redo what they have done.

Haha. Yep. I don't come here much but I thought I'd reply. No issues. I think people are hilarious.

maybe he has issues!

Originally Posted by MikeVDS

I'm sorry, did I insult you saying that something that YOU have difficulty with is actually easy?..........

Wow! did you really come back to this thread a year later to start s**t !?

Originally Posted by m-cooling

you sir are an idiot.I've heard different descriptions of hvac work and EASY is'nt one of them

I'm sorry, did I insult you saying that something that YOU have difficulty with is actually easy? Since you're name-calling I can only assume that's the reason. All the good techs I know also feel it's easy, some of which ran their own businesses for many years before retiring. To be a good tech, sure it takes many years of experience, but just to be able to do the job, safely and clean, not too bad for most people willing to put in the effort. I think this board is hilarious that most of the "pros" think their knowledge is something secret and they are protecting others by guarding it. When I first started in the industry I met many people (I would like to use another word but I'll refrain) like the people on this board, who guard their "knowledge" tightly. Luckily I met other people who were willing to share knowledge. There are tricks that make things easier, but most of the time a $10 per hour tech who can read a wiring diagram and had a 8 hour class on the refrigeration cycle can fix the problem with enough time. Sure it would take him ten times as long (if not more), and will probably make it harder for the next guy to work on it, but it's not rocket science. The people I know who talk like you guys and try to keep things secret, generally are actually not very good at their jobs, are grumpy old men, and are self concious that they will be replaced by the new guys one they realize things aren't that difficult, and have a better understanding of physics, plcs, modern EMS systems, etc. I don't know that's the case, but the people with similar attitudes that I've run across are like that. Most are actually foreign too and have difficulty communicating with people. Does that sound familiar?

Originally Posted by m-cooling

yea I should'nt have called him names but it was a bonehead comment
common sense can't help you and reading books can't help you.
years in the field and doing the same tasks over and over is how you know how to do it.

common sense can't tell you where to set your oxy regulator.and ace/ regulator

Don't the gauges self destruct 30 seconds after you put it in the truck? The ones I buy always seem to.

Nope.

And sometimes they think it looks easy to install what ever is being installed.

Originally Posted by beenthere

I agree with you.

Thats why I posted the gofer coment.

nothing wrong with being a gofer at all. thats how you get familiar with names of tools and materials.
gofer or groundman is easy sometimes. I always liked being groundman.
we call "groundman" the one who makes sure the guys in the air on a lift or whatever have what they need.

I agree with you.

Thats why I posted the gofer coment.

Originally Posted by beenthere

Maybe where he works.
They give him all the easy jobs. Go for this, go for that. ROFLMAO

yea I should'nt have called him names but it was a bonehead comment
common sense can't help you and reading books can't help you.
years in the field and doing the same tasks over and over is how you know how to do it.

common sense can't tell you where to set your oxy regulator.and ace/ regulator

Originally Posted by m-cooling

you sir are an idiot.I've heard different descriptions of hvac work and EASY is'nt one of them

Maybe where he works.
They give him all the easy jobs. Go for this, go for that. ROFLMAO

Originally Posted by [B

MikeVDS;1938825]Installing new refrigeration systems is easy for people who use common sense.[/B] Legally, you still need your EPA license if you need to add refrigerant. If you have the tools, it's probably going to be easy for you. This will not put anyone out of a job. There are plenty of people who do not want to do it themselves, and who'd be better off doing overtime at their job and paying someone who has experience. Also, if you don't have the tools, it's probably not worth buying the equipment just to do your own home.

I wish we had more people who did things themselves. Too few people spend the time to learn new things, which is why people kill themselves.

you sir are an idiot.I've heard different descriptions of hvac work and EASY is'nt one of them

Originally Posted by Catpower

I like the DIYer's, when they screw something up, they always ask how much will it cost to fix the problem, and when I tell them it would have been about a hundred before they jacked with it, but since you screwed it up,now it's gonna run about a thousand.

It's even better when the wife is present to watch them squirm

Used to have a sign hanging on the wall in my old shop. I loved it!

"Rates:
$50/hr
$75/hr if you watch
$100/hr if you help
$150/hr if you tried to do it first and couldn't."

Originally Posted by midhvac

I once had a fellow walk up to my van when he saw the "Ice Machines" lettering on it. He looks at me, shakes his head and says "Aw man, ANYBODY can fix an ICE MACHINE!"

This knucklehead probably fixed a water line leak and thinks he's a freakin' expert now.