To all you young guns

[techreptdh]

Just a little unsolicited advice to anyone thats listening. Learn all you can in this field whenever you can. Don't ever put away your books. At 50+ years of age I'm just getting into aspects of this trade that keeps me up all night. Things like DDC ,airflows, chillers. Don't let opportunities to learn new things pass you by.Learn while your young. Believe me , its much easier.

[AcDOCnTRAINING]

When I compare everythibg I know with everything I don't know, the only thing I do know, is that I know nothing.

Learning is a life long class!

[contactor]

Here is advice to all the old guns. Learn from your journeymen and apprentices about new stuff.
Old gun here.

[whec720]

I don't know nearly as much as I should in this trade, but I do know one thing; always stay in learning mode.

[hvactech13]

I am resigned to the fact that I learn new things every day, but I will still die before I know everything.

[maxster]

this site has been the biggest reality check for me on what i have come across,and never even seen over the years.the source of info here is self generated by all the older guys with all those tricks and how to do it right,and i like hearing about the latest stuff out even though i will never see it.you need to be strong in your tonnage range and accept new ideas from the young guys coming in to stay in that LEARNING MODE..and not to slip into that AARP?????KNOWING MODE????of wax on and wax off BS.i remember when TRANE flipped their chillers from the TC-1s on the returns to the solid state modules(W7900) and then to the (UCP-1/UCP-2) on all the stuff ......older guys were scared of the sight of LEDS,and backing away from the units.the young guys were the ones in my face on start-ups asking tons of questions

[Kelly T]

I have 25 years exp. and I never stop learning just about everyday i'm hit with something i've never done before or never worked on, what I teach my students*I teach HVAC for NCCER and I teach in the company I work at in house* if you don't know the *&^% you are doing , look like you know what the *&^% you are doing, they ask does that work, I smile and reply i've been faking it for 25 years , even though I know and they know I have not been faking it , it does get their attention and then they start asking questions,
1) the only dumb question is an unasked one
2) What we do in our field is man made and engineered it has to be taught it is an aquired knowledge
3)An individual never stops learning in our field it is an everchanging world and never stops changing
4) pay attention to everyone you work with, above and below you no one is dumb, the best information comes from the least expected places, I've had helpers bail me out at times , there is no shame in this
5) Always listen to your customers they don't know how to fix their equipment but they do know how it normally works, 95% of the time they will give you the answers if you just listen to them
6)If you ever get stumped on a job or project *I call it tunnel vision* go back to the basic's 98% of the time you will find the answer there

well that is my 2 cents worth anyway hope it helped at least one person on this wonderful site

[Shophound]

Three keys to success in this trade:

1) Understand the refrigeration cycle forwards and backwards

2) Understand electrical theory, circuits, and applications forwards and backwards

3) Understand airflow and air distribution forwards and backwards


Oh, and one more...reason over emotion. If your brain fogs over trying to solve a problem, back off awhile, take a break. Blows me away how well that works. You come back later and the answer slaps you in the face. Alongside, asking for help is never a reduction of one's HVAC manhood.

[whec720]

Three keys to success in this trade:

1) Understand the refrigeration cycle forwards and backwards

2) Understand electrical theory, circuits, and applications forwards and backwards

3) Understand airflow and air distribution forwards and backwards


Oh, and one more...reason over emotion. If your brain fogs over trying to solve a problem, back off awhile, take a break. Blows me away how well that works. You come back later and the answer slaps you in the face. Alongside, asking for help is never a reduction of one's HVAC manhood.

Words to live by. That should be posted in every shop.

[Executioner]

The best learning tool I've had over the years were pm's and replacing parts diagnosed and ordered by expierenced tech.'s
I've replaced MANY compressors over the years and I remember carrying a wiring diagram of the different types of compressors.

Now after let's see...about 20 years I can replace and wire them in my sleep.

[tunnel_rat]

Words to live by. That should be posted in every shop.

And if you think you know it all, be assured that you don't. Really, it's OK.

If you don't learn something every week, you're probably not working enough....

[crackertech]

Three keys to success in this trade:

1) Understand the refrigeration cycle forwards and backwards

2) Understand electrical theory, circuits, and applications forwards and backwards

3) Understand airflow and air distribution forwards and backwards


Oh, and one more...reason over emotion. If your brain fogs over trying to solve a problem, back off awhile, take a break. Blows me away how well that works. You come back later and the answer slaps you in the face. Alongside, asking for help is never a reduction of one's HVAC manhood.

Those are word's to live by.

[hvac248]

after 22 years I have never stopped learning,and everyday I see work done by those who who have stopped. There will always be work for good mechanics.:

[beachtech]

and back when the earth was flat and i knew everything

i spend so much time working to get experience. reading to expand my knowledge. and trying to pick brains on this here website!! i might have worked 5-6hrs today for a paycheck, but have worked since i woke up to leaarn all i can about my trade. after all, HVAC is a way of life how many other trades take thier work on call? not many.

[HVAC2B]

and back when the earth was flat and i knew everything

i spend so much time working to get experience. reading to expand my knowledge. and trying to pick brains on this here website!! i might have worked 5-6hrs today for a paycheck, but have worked since i woke up to leaarn all i can about my trade. after all, HVAC is a way of life how many other trades take thier work on call? not many.

I'm 27 also and pretty new to the trade.I am addicted to reading and learning hvacr,but I prolly will never come close to knowing everthing I want to know

[AcDOCnTRAINING]

Three keys to success in this trade:

1) Understand the refrigeration cycle forwards and backwards

2) Understand electrical theory, circuits, and applications forwards and backwards

3) Understand airflow and air distribution forwards and backwards


Oh, and one more...reason over emotion. If your brain fogs over trying to solve a problem, back off awhile, take a break. Blows me away how well that works. You come back later and the answer slaps you in the face. Alongside, asking for help is never a reduction of one's HVAC manhood.

Very well said, true words of wisdom!