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Originally Posted by billygoat22

In past yr or so, due to different things like econemy, getting good employees, turn over, whatever, things have been feeling a little rough on me.

To be specific, seems I've become the cleanup guy for everyone else's screwups, in the last 6/7 weeks have been sent out on Fri, when not on call, about 4/5 times. this happens at 3/4/ even 5 in afternoon. Last one took 5 hrs to straighten up.

And its not just Fridays, got a few last week, one at 3 to go out and get a new install running.
Maybe I need some perspective here? If the mistake maker gets sent home and I to fix it, I am getting paid. But then, I feel they being rewarded by going home on time, and I get punished by being peprived on personal time, family time, etc, constantly.
Just to add, awhile back, one of our tech reps commented that I was "pretty much pulling the whole load in service over there.." when he asked how things were going.

Feeling a bit resentful of this setup. maybe a bit whiny, or what? Maybe a bit of burnout, ask for get off when time to get off on at least one day week?

thanks

Sounds like you could start your own biz and these guy's would go belly up, or give you a ton of work!

Originally Posted by Capz

I don't know how I did it, but I must of stepped in s***, found a great job in this field with good pay. No dispatchers, no service manager, I set my own schedules. Just me, my Amex card & the operations manager, 28 commercial kitchens work & AC in all of the buildings. Some package AC but mostly split systems. Walk-ins, reach ins, etc. Some electrical & plumbing repairs too. They supply an old but very serviceable Ford truck with a cap and my tools & torch.

I'm the go to guy too mainly cause I am the only guy. This can become over whelming at times but I like the challenge. It prevents boredom. Some locations 2hrs apart And most of my equipment & buildings are 20-40 years old have been abused due to lack of proper PM maintenance, lots grease and some previous repair work. The attic work is brutal and not really possible to replace air handlers unless full remodeling is in the budget. The company trusts my knowledge & judgement in regards to how & what needs upgrading vs. what I can/can't repair. My biggest issues right now are the ancient R22 AC units and no way to change air handlers. So I am getting to know R438A. I feel for you guys having to deal with a shops full of big talker guys with BS and lousy work ethics & skills.

I add to my bag of knowledge daily. I only wish I had a helper!

Well you see, you have it made being the only one. Half of my frustrations are dealing with the other techs. It does sound like a lot of work for one person however.

I don't know how I did it, but I must of stepped in s***, found a great job in this field with good pay. No dispatchers, no service manager, I set my own schedules. Just me, my Amex card & the operations manager, 28 commercial kitchens work & AC in all of the buildings. Some package AC but mostly split systems. Walk-ins, reach ins, etc. Some electrical & plumbing repairs too. They supply an old but very serviceable Ford truck with a cap and my tools & torch.

I'm the go to guy too mainly cause I am the only guy. This can become over whelming at times but I like the challenge. It prevents boredom. Some locations 2hrs apart And most of my equipment & buildings are 20-40 years old have been abused due to lack of proper PM maintenance, lots grease and some previous repair work. The attic work is brutal and not really possible to replace air handlers unless full remodeling is in the budget. The company trusts my knowledge & judgement in regards to how & what needs upgrading vs. what I can/can't repair. My biggest issues right now are the ancient R22 AC units and no way to change air handlers. So I am getting to know R438A. I feel for you guys having to deal with a shops full of big talker guys with BS and lousy work ethics & skills.

I add to my bag of knowledge daily. I only wish I had a helper!

I am quickly becoming used to being the one that stays late, and so is the wife. I finished up a job today around 2pm and called the office, dispatch said thats it for today. I was so excited. Of course 5 minutes down the road I got another call, sorry but we need you. While at the new job, another call, how much longer? you need to go so and so when you leave. Thats okay, Every extra hour I work now is one less I will have to work at the end.

That old Paula Cole song..."Where have all the cowboys gone?" Shift the lyrics a bit and that is what is singing in my head when I say.."where have all the good techs gone?". Been singing in my head for nearly 10 years, sad to say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPR108kwNo4

Originally Posted by Mike19

Don't you mean after Technician X changed the same txv 3 times, put the filter/dryer in backwards, pulled the wires off the pressure switches and hooked them back up wrong, and added 12 extra lbs of refrigerant.

This one if I remember was an electrical issue. Bundles of wiring running from the main control panel all the way 20+ feet to the VFD compartment. Took 1/2 hour to figure what I was dealing with. And nearly 10 hours of crawling and squeezing to find and fix.

Can't tell you how many..."can't get this to braze!" at 5pm on a Friday. Show up to find a Technician X with 9 or 10 little remains of silphos on the ground and a mound of braze on a suction fitting of a compressor. Pray that he did not goober the fitting. Patiently advise Technician X that copper doesn't like to braze to a steel fitting with 15%....start prepping fittings head down to truck to get the flux and 45% silver, thinking that I will have him braze this fitting and he can get this job wrapped. Getting into the truck and look over to find Technician X with his tools and handful of equipment quietly pacing at 95mph towards his van. Ask whats up?.....get the long comatose "WWWHHHHHUUUUUTT?" back as a reply. "I am grabbing the 45% and we are going to knock that joint out together, that's what." "Ooohhh, welll, I told so and so that tonight, and this weekend, I have the kids. I have to get home to meet the EX when she drops them off".

Now believe it or not, I have a teenage daughter and a teenage son, I have a wife, I have fatherly duties, I want to go home on a Friday and maybe get a Redbox or two and just zone out with the family....but instead..I am stuck hauling my torches, nitrogen, gauges, vacuum pump, refer, tools on to a roof. Call the Mrs....don't need to say anything, she knows that call at 6pm on a Friday. She is not happy...so I set there working on a unit, flustered, mind not in right place, re-occuring sound of phone clicking as the wife hung up on me in my head, not thinking and set my arm down on that F@#$ hot suction line...you can hear it sizzling and smell it just before your brain gets the signal from the nerves that you better move that arm....damage is done.
Burned, upset wife....leak check with nitro and find the liquid line fitting, Technician X, brazed on is now leaking, too

Thank God, the business parking lot was empty or my wrench would have bounced off a few hoods and gone through someone's windshield.

Stand there at the edge of roof with a cigarette, feeling a blister forming on my arm, looking at the empty parking lot, see my wrench out there reflecting the last bit of light from a setting sun...and still wondering, "where have all the good techs gone?"

Originally Posted by Joehvac25

Then whoops the meters locked up lol

They'd have to shut the mains coming in, we don't have individual meters!

Originally Posted by ryan1088

This reminds me of a few that work in my shop. In the mornings they sit around and talk about their problem calls which is mildly entertaining but equally as sad. It goes a little something like "I've changed the flame rod, gas valve, igniter, and the control board and the son of a to work." We'll by now you basically have a new furnace, it should be running right??

Then whoops the meters locked up lol

Originally Posted by ryan1088

This reminds me of a few that work in my shop. In the mornings they sit around and talk about their problem calls which is mildly entertaining but equally as sad. It goes a little something like "I've changed the flame rod, gas valve, igniter, and the control board and the son of a to work." We'll by now you basically have a new furnace, it should be running right??

Think of it this way. Once every single part has been replaced, the unit should run quite reliably for many years.

Originally Posted by Mike19

Don't you mean after Technician X changed the same txv 3 times, put the filter/dryer in backwards, pulled the wires off the pressure switches and hooked them back up wrong, and added 12 extra lbs of refrigerant.

This reminds me of a few that work in my shop. In the mornings they sit around and talk about their problem calls which is mildly entertaining but equally as sad. It goes a little something like "I've changed the flame rod, gas valve, igniter, and the control board and the son of a to work." We'll by now you basically have a new furnace, it should be running right??

slctech- Big units take big time, I suppose. It seems plenty of guys like commercial for a rest from some res customers. All that extra hassle would put some edge on it for me.

seems everyone here have the same sentiments on excellence.

Was at Walmart Sat and heard two older ladies talking about how young kids thought they were going to start out w/good money, didn't understand working way into it.

Originally Posted by dlove

.. every Christmas we spray paint knee pads...and Award the "Golden Knee Pad award" to the most deserving.

Hahaha I love it!

Originally Posted by slctech

Now, instead of a cute AC capacitor, the call comes in on a monster Ipak that another tech, Technician X, is working on. It just seems as though he has been just standing there looking at it for the last 8 hours. Apparently, Technician X, has ANOTHER kids soccer game to go to. Owner pleading, could you please go wrap it up...pretty please, need cooling by morning?

Don't you mean after Technician X changed the same txv 3 times, put the filter/dryer in backwards, pulled the wires off the pressure switches and hooked them back up wrong, and added 12 extra lbs of refrigerant.

Originally Posted by billygoat22

In past yr or so, due to different things like econemy, getting good employees, turn over, whatever, things have been feeling a little rough on me.

To be specific, seems I've become the cleanup guy for everyone else's screwups, in the last 6/7 weeks have been sent out on Fri, when not on call, about 4/5 times. this happens at 3/4/ even 5 in afternoon. Last one took 5 hrs to straighten up.
And its not just Fridays, got a few last week, one at 3 to go out and get a new install running.
Maybe I need some perspective here?

Feeling a bit resentful of this setup. maybe a bit whiny, or what? Maybe a bit of burnout, ask for get off when time to get off on at least one day week?

thanks

Want a Career in the HVAC/R field, make 60k to 90k a year, without all the running, and have a home life to boot? Become a Stationary Engineer! I was in Your shoes many years ago, and made the change, and Never Looked back for it!

Wayne

It is nice to know I'm not the only one who feels like the "clean-up-guy"

Originally Posted by ryan1088

You know what's funny is we don't sell anything. Our job is to maintain and repair only, but he's just that guy. A suck who has to run and tell everyone how smart he thinks he is....

.. every Christmas we spray paint knee pads...and Award the "Golden Knee Pad award" to the most deserving.

Originally Posted by ga-hvac-tech

Sounds like a sales-tech...

You know what's funny is we don't sell anything. Our job is to maintain and repair only, but he's just that guy. A suck who has to run and tell everyone how smart he thinks he is....

Originally Posted by slctech

...."where have all the good techs gone?"

Your in this position like so many of us that live here on this site...you care about your trade, you are hungry to learn more, on your own time you have continually educated yourself, you refuse to give-up, you research into the night, reading and saving every stupid manual, and you live for the next challenge.
Most of us are loyal to our employers and care about the success of our company and our customers, this is why we will sacrifice our families, health, and sanity for what we will never feel like is enough money.

We are all up against a generation of lazy kids. A great majority of this younger generation has no work ethics, no instinctive inner will to better themselves, no internal drive to see what is over the next mountain, and if they are not required and baited with coffee and donuts to attend certain classes, they would never go. They are growing up in a disposable culture, if it don't work, throw it away and get another. We all grew up darning socks, changing tubes in the TV, rebuilding engines, killing ourselves with a garage door springs, McGyvering about everything, and just about fixing everything....we were forced to become mechanically and electrically inclined. Our fathers were terribly hard working men and we followed in those footsteps with PRIDE.
I am tired, too.

Well said, I have been in the trade a long time.. learned a lot on my own and took any job i could, to learn more or work OT...growing family, bills..did side work to keep up... I have worked for owners and big companies..and i rather work for owners..at least they care to some degree.. and when you find one that does really care hang on to them.. you found a diamond in the rough..

Its hard, bust your butt while your young, and you miss out on the family stuff, vacations weekend fun... don't bust your butt and you lose out on experience and money. Its that balance that's hard to figure out...But I can say for sure if your not happy with what you are doing, discuss this with your boss or owner. If that doesn't help start looking for a new job...because one thing for sure if your not happy, more money will not help...

Originally Posted by ryan1088

We have a guy here that's just like you described. If he has a bowel movement, he's in the bosses office telling him about it. If he ever figured out something, yet again he's in the bosses office. Comes in late for lunch and quitting time while the boss thinks he's out "over-achieving", he actually stops and talks cattle with one of his buddies. Just funny how it all works.

Sounds like a sales-tech...

Originally Posted by mason

Man slctech, I read this at 5:00 this morning and almost teared up, I feel ya.

Ryan,

The pay situation can really get under your skin. That and when you spend a 1/2 hour walking someone through diagnosing a txv they can't figure out just to walk into the shop and hear them explaining to the manager how THEY solved it with no mention of your assistance.

All I can say is you're not alone, don't let it effect your job though, keep doing excellent work and things will balance out one of these days.

We have a guy here that's just like you described. If he has a bowel movement, he's in the bosses office telling him about it. If he ever figured out something, yet again he's in the bosses office. Comes in late for lunch and quitting time while the boss thinks he's out "over-achieving", he actually stops and talks cattle with one of his buddies. Just funny how it all works.