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started at 20 now going on my own keeping my fingers crossed

I had no clue what I wanted to do. I enjoyed working with my hands and problem solving. My Dad told me to get a trade under my belt so I would always have something useful to fall back on. He started out as a tin banger. He recommended HVAC and I had no clue what that meant, I had no clue how a house stayed warm in the winter or cool in the summer, I thought that magic thing on the wall projected comfort. At 17 I completed a youth apprenticeship program in grade 12 that confirmed for me that this was the trade for me. Been in the trade now for just about 9 years. Haven't looked back.

I think I was 16 and did HVAC grunt work in the day and played drums in recording studios and bands at night so sleep was not an option mostly! Did both until 2004 and retired from the music scene. Why HVAC if you toured in music a lot? AH-insane or just have a passion for it I guess. Now at 58 it is my main income.

Well; I really 'started', in the sense that I was curious enough to ask questions about refrigeration theory, when I was about three or four years old.

I never lost that curiosity / amazement about refrigeration and I guess I still haven't. In fact; it's worse now than it was when I was four years old. <g>

It was hard in some ways but it was soon easy in some ways too because I realized early on that most people don't know very much about it. Climbing the ladder? I am still climbing - I hope anyway. <g> But I know that's not what you are really asking.

After about four or five years I started to ask for the 'impossible work' and then would never give up (or ask my office for help <g>) until it was fixed. I used to call all over the world on my own dime for information - I never told the office anything about all my 'research'. And it was all on pay-phones - no cell phones or internet in those days. <g> I guess when I figured out that the impossible work was actually the easiest - as no one could even question me - was when it became 'easy'. When I became the man-of-last-resort it became me or nothing. <g>

And it's doesn't take long before all the other guys at your company 'get lazy' - knowing that they can just do all the easy stuff and the rest will fall to you - and you get more and more indispensable. <g>

What do you do now and how long have you been doing it? What did you do before the HVAC Career idea came to you?

PHM
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Originally Posted by n warden

Was wondering what age you guys started out doing hvac and how hard and long it took to climb the ladder?

Started a 2 year HVAC/R pre-apprenticeship course in college in 2005 when I was 19, landed a job the summer after I graduated with the same company i'm with today. 27 now, fully licensed reefer & A/C mechanic with gas license. Much better career choice than the roofing/moving/factory jobs I had the 2 years prior, after finishing highschool. Love the trade I'm in and the pay keeps my pockets buldging.

Started at 16. Still in it 30 years later.

well i am 24 now i started working for companys when i was 21 been doing it since i was 17 i am still climbing the ladder

I started learning in 1986 when I was 20. I was a maintenance operations supervisor for a large company. The district maintenance supervisor, an old man, took me under his wing every time he came to my center to do HVAC/R work. Soon I was working on RTU's, Ice machines, and restaurant equipment with the frequent Residential units when a co-worker's or family members, or friend of a friend's A/C unit wasnt working. I still do light commercial and am starting into residential this year.

Just now getting my start at 31 years old.

Kind of a fluke. I wanted to be an Air Force Para Rescue. The recruiter said I wasn't old enough at 17. He said I could choose about anything else on the list. My best friend's dad had a small mechanical. I choose A/C figuring he would hire me when I got out of school. I joined in Nov 1978, I think they called it early enlistment, in the California Air National Guard. I was still in high school. Graduated early in Jan, my senior year. Left for boot camp in Feb 1979. AC&R Specialist. The school was in Wichita Falls, Texas. We were bussed from San Antonio to WF the same day a EF5 tornado hit Witchita Falls. Arrived to our dorm, to find all personell hunkered in the first floor hallways. All of us were scared to death. The tornado didn't hit the base, but tore up the town. We spent our first week helping in town with rescue & clean up. 35 years now, and still enjoying it.

Started at 13 in the summers at my dad's company..by the time I graduated I was doing change outs...it's was really funny when I was 18 and I had a 50 year old helper. We got some funny looks when we told the client who was in charge! At 33 now, I still get crazy looks when I tell them I have 18 years in!

I started when I was 9 years old helping my dad

Been swinging wrenches since I was a kid, motorcycles and cars. Then, worked as an auto mech from 16-18, right u to the day I went to boot camp. 10 years in the Navy.

Went to school at 28, and did residential for as little over a year and a half. Been doing commercial/industrial since. 34 y/o Journeyman now.

Chase

Started at 16 in 1984 we had a great vo-tech program in high school.
I am an industrial/commercial service tech,I was service manager for a decent sized shop years ago when in the military with anywhere from 3-8 guys under my wing at a given time.
I decided young I would rather work on machinery than techs personal lives.
Good luck.

Just got indentured as a reefer at 46. Mind you, I've been a j-man plumber for 10 years.

Went to community college and started at 21 in the field. Thought this would be great getting to work where it is warm in the winter and cool in the summer Boy was I wrong.

First post. jemair2

Started at 39 for sears gave them 15 yrs and own my own business for last 2 yrs

Started summers at age 15, went to the trade school class in highschool, then full time at age 17 after graduation and going to a trade school to complete. Are those mechanical Code classes worth going to for your journeymans? Pretty sure i will qualify in the next year

I was 8 years old. Started working for my father's company riding with him in the summers. Been in the industry ever since... 28 years.

41, after many years working other construction trades. My elbows can't take the hammering anymore.