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Who exactly is Big Blue, JC or UTC?

Originally Posted by jimmytee

I'll agree, pays to not be limited. The last company I worked for I was doing everything from fractional horsepower refrigeration, rooftops,rack refrigeration to chillers. Now I'm back to doing mostly chillers,RTUs, and building controls along with IT room work. Got to love the clean server room work on Lieberts. Comfortable

Sounds like a day in my life.

Large tonage chillers beets all worked for big blue 25 years worked on all large manufacture chiller then went to private side doing better.

Originally Posted by TheChillerMan

You can make six figures as a chiller tech in the Chicago area. Controls makes less.

But even being a chiller tech isn't good enough. Today you need to be a "super tech", a guy that can overhaul a centrifugal one day, and work on a rooftop unit the next. The more equipment you can work on, the more marketable you are.

I'll agree, pays to not be limited. The last company I worked for I was doing everything from fractional horsepower refrigeration, rooftops,rack refrigeration to chillers. Now I'm back to doing mostly chillers,RTUs, and building controls along with IT room work. Got to love the clean server room work on Lieberts. Comfortable

I know that around my area , it is hard to find seasoned well trained and experienced techs. I'm talking light to heavy commercial/industrial. Yeah ,chillers and controls.

You can make six figures as a chiller tech in the Chicago area. Controls makes less.

But even being a chiller tech isn't good enough. Today you need to be a "super tech", a guy that can overhaul a centrifugal one day, and work on a rooftop unit the next. The more equipment you can work on, the more marketable you are.

Originally Posted by Smile7777777

I need HVAC technicians to fill openings in Houston, Austin and San Antonio Texas need to be self motivated and job oriented

Alright, cool, thanks for stopping by...

I need HVAC technicians to fill openings in Houston, Austin and San Antonio Texas need to be self motivated and job oriented

Controls (Building Automation) is more of a lifestyle than it is a career.

Originally Posted by ALCcntlTECH

Completely agree I was an HVAC mechanic before controls. Controls isnt that cushy of a job there's a lot to know and learn everything from networking to computer to correct sequence of hvac operation

That;s what I want to do. I got background in computers already. I built my first pc when I was 13 yrs old. A damn AMD k6-2 450mhz with Epox motherboard and 64mb sdram. ROFLLLLL, I read the forums and guys in the field don't even know what the hell is a com port. A friend of mine last year got a 16 seer Trane installed. It had that hyperion XL air handler and I came around to install a tstat that had humidity control. When I slided out where the thermostat wires were connected all I saw was 2 or 3 medium to big size circuit boards. Those circuit boards looked like pc motherboards to me and the dip switches were just like dip switches you see on motherboards when adjusting or overclocking processor speeds. I have a friend who works for a big hospital and he was telling me about the VAV systems at work and how through the software controls he can see everything. I hope I can hook up with one of these companies.

If we are talking about strictly the most money on a yearly basis w/o being and owner or president. and not working uber OT
1. Commercial sales
2. Chiller mechanic 500-1000+ tons (union)
3. Chillers 500 tons and down/ large tonnage unitary systems (union)
4. Supermarket refrigeration (union)
5. Controls technician/ programmer for large company/ Siemens, JCI, ALC etc.

The future will be in retro-commisioning and retro engineering. Much of that will land in the lap of the controls guys, but as others have eluded, just knowing the computer side wont be enough. The guys that get a firm grasp of how a building functions and can rebuild a control scheeme around that are priceless and will only get more valuable. Chiller mechanics make good money, but the trouble is that more and more buildings are being built and retrofitted away from large tonnage equipment. There will allways be a market for that, but the share is not going up, but down. Especially the centrifigal market. More and more buildings are using screw, recip, and scroll machines instead. I dont mean to burst bubbles, but centrifigals are going to be like pneumatics in 15 years. They will be around, but not planned into new buildings save a few.

Lead sales technician with a residential company in a high cost of living area.

Computer Room A/C!

Originally Posted by HighTekk^

Couldn't help but to agree with you. The best control tech engineers were mechanics first, tops off, hands down a given. However there were many computer type guys that seemed to grasp the hvac fundamentals pretty good when designing automated systems I've run across from time to time.

Completely agree I was an HVAC mechanic before controls. Controls isnt that cushy of a job there's a lot to know and learn everything from networking to computer to correct sequence of hvac operation

Originally Posted by Jay_T

Everyone I run into also wants to be a controls tech it seems. My take on it is they DO think it is a cush job and they really have no idea. They won't last. A true controls tech/HVAC system tech, a guy who can develop logic with the experience and knowledge of how a system will act and react will always be in demand. Some of the best control techs I have ever worked with, have had some other type of HVAC work experience like service or military.

Couldn't help but to agree with you. The best control tech engineers were mechanics first, tops off, hands down a given. However there were many computer type guys that seemed to grasp the hvac fundamentals pretty good when designing automated systems I've run across from time to time.

Originally Posted by Lightning_Boy

I have to agree with previous comments, chillers and controls seem to pay the best. Industrial refrigeration can pay very well too.

Longterm I think chillers will have better job security, controls will be flooded with people in 10 years. (Seems like everyone I talk to wants the cushy controls jobs...)

When I got out of high school they said the same about the IT field in general and me going to college for that degree would be a waste of time because I wouldn't be able to find a job. Now 15 years later it's still the fastest growing and largest market in every industry, every corner of the globe! Needless to say I'm in school now for that degree. Automation industry filling up and being flooded? I think not. To me that's like saying you could have too much money. Jump on the ban wagon now and you won't feel left in the dust in the next 10 years when everything in the hvac industry is automated...

Originally Posted by marter

Someones gotta keep those big fake boobs from sweating

Lol... And I need to put in an application.

Someones gotta keep those big fake boobs from sweating

Originally Posted by Lightning_Boy

I have to agree with previous comments, chillers and controls seem to pay the best. Industrial refrigeration can pay very well too.

Longterm I think chillers will have better job security, controls will be flooded with people in 10 years. (Seems like everyone I talk to wants the cushy controls jobs...)

Everyone I run into also wants to be a controls tech it seems. My take on it is they DO think it is a cush job and they really have no idea. They won't last. A true controls tech/HVAC system tech, a guy who can develop logic with the experience and knowledge of how a system will act and react will always be in demand. Some of the best control techs I have ever worked with, have had some other type of HVAC work experience like service or military.