question ladders

**ezwider** · 11-01-2006, 05:21 PM

whats up, i had a question about the hvac trade, is there alot of ladders involved in the work, like high up on roofs all the time because i dont want to get into this trade because i dont like being on ladders, i mean is that alot of the job or part of it, or is there jobs that can be done with out climbing up 20 feet in the air, small ladders souldnt be a problem , thanks alot

**dhvac** · 11-01-2006, 05:24 PM

i have a 20 foot lader thats as high as i go if its higher then that i sub it out

now we do 99.99% resi so there is a lot more ground work when i did do comercial work i was on a ladder everyday and hated most of it

most of that will be determined by where you work and who you work for

**coolwhip** · 11-01-2006, 05:26 PM

This trade does require that you climb ladders. All the trucks out there have ladder racks on them. A commercial outfit will generally do more climbing than a residential one.
If your serious about the trade, then it will make you get over that fear quickly.

**beenthere** · 11-01-2006, 05:31 PM

That will depend what part of the trade your in, and with the area.

Resi oil service doesn't do alot of ladders.
Resi gas, you have alot of furnaces in attics.

Commercial, RTU says it all.

Some areas, Resi a/c units are on the roof as a normal thing, other areas you seldom find a resi unit on the roof.

**keepitsimplestupid** · 11-02-2006, 08:27 PM

Don't look down.

**tinknocker service tech** · 11-02-2006, 08:45 PM

just look up
from changing filter to going on roofs you will spend time on a ladder like it or not it is a big part of the trade

**nickellhead** · 11-02-2006, 09:44 PM

if you take a refrigeration job than no ladders are involved but step ladders thats working on appliances

**amickracing** · 11-02-2006, 09:52 PM

On the install side of things, most of you're time you'll be on a 6' ladder, and the occasional 10' ladder. Throw in a few occasions of the extension ladder (20' is what I carry, and it does 99% of what I need it to do). Once you get into the commercial side of installs then you'll most likely be on man lifts (much more fun than a ladder!).

In the service side of things it'll depend on where you live. In my area (smallish town, only 80k in our area) you'll rarely ever need a ladder for resi, all basements and one level houses with the occasional attic system. Commercial, a 20' ext ladder will do almost everything, but a roof hatch and/or fixed ladders are rare in this area, but the buildings aren't all that big either.

For what it's worth, I HATED hights when I started (oddly enough, my 1st job was in a manlift, and we were regularly 20'+ in the air). Now I don't mind them, but I do respect them.