Interested in HVAC

[Mario6099]

Hello, I am currently 24 and interested in getting my HVAC credentials. I would like to know how in demand hvac technician are in the state of California prefrently in county of Los Angeles.

As well as would it better to go to a technical school like wyotech or a community technical education center like LA trade tech?
any input would greatly be appreciated and thank you in advance.

[hvac wiz 79]

get in the field as a helper before anything ... hate to see you waste time & $$$ in schooling to find out hvac isnt for you .... its a great career & passion for the trade would make the sky the limit

[Lightning_Boy]

Hey Mario,

I would strongly recommend working as a helper with a few companies this summer to get your feet wet and see if you think this trade will appeal to you.
The company I work for seems to hire a lot of guys from the local Wyotech school and all of them I've spoken to said school helps a little but the real learning has been on the job. None of them felt the $12,000 fees were worth it.

I would say that if you truly enjoy messing around with all things electrical, mechanical in nature this trade could be for you. If you don't have a natural curiosity about how things work you may do okay in this trade but struggle to excel in it.

[Mnfreeze]

get in the field as a helper before anything ... hate to see you waste time & $$$ in schooling to find out hvac isnt for you .... its a great career & passion for the trade would make the sky the limit

I agree 100% and with lighting boy. Take their advice, seriously.

[akelesis]

as a helper always try to keep notes on things your lead guy does and why he does it and dont be afraid to ask questions. i always carried a note book with me detailing every job i go to and what eactly i did that day. and then write things down and read up on your books weekly. good luck

[dlove]

conceptually thinking the HVAC Trade and/or Blue collar trades like Electrical, plumbing ect. will be in high demand and will continue going into the 21st century. During the 90's with a lot of people turning to computers jobs and stressing college and Factories closing or going over seas. Many of the trades were affected by people not going into these fields. Now Many companies can't find good help and I'm not just talking about service companies. So IMO, having a trade skill will be worth its weight in gold. I would branch into GEO-thermal, solar, DDC controls. Etc..

[ChrisTechMech]

Great field to be in IMO. I've been in the trade for only 5 years now and have learned a ton. I always enjoyed math, science, and art in school and I get to use all of them. If you're detail oriented, you'll do great, but there's a place here for people that aren't quite as detail oriented too. I love running service, others prefer installation. I got to do both and still enjoy working with the installers from time to time. If you don't really want to deal with customers a ton, commercial work or installation may be for you. If you're a real people person, you can really go anywhere. If you decide this is for you, there's a ton of variety to choose from. BTW... coming on to an HVAC forum and asking us if HVAC is a good career is a little humorous to me. We're a bunch of guys talking about work after work. Once my head hits the pillow, I'm thinking about work. Maybe I'm just obsessive, but I know quite a few guys in this trade like me. I enjoy what I do and I think about it a lot. Another thing, even when work is slow in other trades, we can usually stay busy enough to put some food on the table.

[akelesis]

ChrisTechMech

i do agree with all your points. too bad parents dont realize that nowadays they want to push their teens into IT. and such i bet parents are afraids kids nowaday dont want to get dirty! I dont get it. i play with toys all day long gauges, vacuum pumps, motors furnaces and other neat stuff!

toys are great even after work. trucks, snow moblies, guns and boats!

[GroundSquirrel]

Getting a job as a helper in HVAC can be good and bad. I hire helpers to be attic rats which can be a big turn off in the dead of summer. You can be digging, cleaning or be a gopher as a rookie. Don’t get me wrong, I believe everyone should pay their dues in this field and scurrying thru an attic is one that does not have a lot of appeal to most. Even Techs with years in the field need to go into attics, dig, and clean to perform jobs. You can have great satisfaction finding the problem and correcting it. Sweat soaked shirt, get the customer cooling, and you have to leave for the next call. One of the best parts of the day is when you get home and can jump in the shower…
One more thing: Depending where you live or the Company you work for some companies cannot keep techs busy during the off season. ALWAYS save when times are good because you will need it when times are slow!