Originally Posted by
Executioner
Ok guy's! chill out grab a beer take a swig and settle down a bit:D
First off I'll say my response here while serious is not intented as insultive.
That being said
A refrigeration tech can log 37hrs in july one week then 60+ the next and that phone IS ALWAYS ON!!!! weather or not your on call, reason being WE are always on the job, if a co worker gets swamped being on call and one comes in thats near whear you live he mey give you a shout for help to lessen the load.
You may say "well I'm not on call" BUT! when your swamped nobody will help YOU. Calls will come in at 2,3,4 am for a Walk in and you need to get up and go! Ther are B.S. calls...customer hasn't cleaned the condenser in 3 yrs and compressor is smoked on a friday night, "Well sorry but I'm not going to be able to get one tonight" They will live and learn.
In 20yrs I have diagnosed problems with units that have closed bussiness's due to the repair being unaffordable to them.
I've been on a roof TOTALY confused,frustrated,and just plain ready to walk away. Bottom line is. With A/C YES people are upset and hot, in some situations the business will close early from it.
In refrigeration you have literally thousands of dollars at stake and possible the businness's very future on your shoulders.
You have customers that will not blink at the bill, and ones that will want to give you a pizza to shave $100 buck's off:rolleyes: still some will blame you for their problems cause they have to pay for lost food and your bill, and yet sometimes you walk away with a paid bill happy customer and a free meal:D
You will have days that your waking up and going to bed in the dark having spent 12+ hours at work and your family was sleeping when you left and also when you get home, for days in a row.
If you like to schedule things FORGET about refrigeration!
If you love not knowing whats going to happen next,when,whear or for how long.....WELCOME aboard! as far as pay...Well let's just say on sundays I get around $50 and hour, during the week I'll say that I can buy an average case of beer per hour.
Depending on company,region,demand $8 an hour up to $20+ per hour with up to triple time on holidays.
How good do you want to be? THAT IS what will determine your hours and pay. Good tech's are cherished and treated/payed well. not soo good get the **** jobs and long hours.