HVAC techs BC canada, HVAc good carrer?

[lortech]

Hi all,

I am currently looking for a steady career that does not have the seasonal flucations as a auto mechanic or requires 25,000-50,000 in tools to work in my trade.

I have been in the transportation trades in the past and recently done some telecom. The telco work does not pay squat if its only network cabeling ect plus the fact it required huge amount of travel clear across the province.
The thing with telco installs....is it never brakes to the same frequency as mechanical equipment such as hvac. That means that there will always be more work in hvac.

I want to know what the outlook for hvac techs are in Vancouver BC and does it require the same physical effot as a auto mechanic. Im not young anymore and more mid life.

I am looking for a few things if this trade offers it.

1. Job stability. Want to work year round with little chance of layoffs.

2. Educations opprotunities to move up the ladder. Can a HVAC move into
engineering?

3. Will there be a shortage of HVAC techs in the comming years?

4. How are hvac techs paid? by the hour? by the install? What is the
average wage for some one entering this field?

5. What are some of the best hvac schools in bc?

I decided against training as power engineer, millwrite, and other areas. Often, these jobs are in tiny towns way outside of vancouver bc.

Thanks

Lortech

[timebuilder]

I'll let my Canuk friends like Doug find this post and give you more particular info.

Generally speaking any trade that does not allow guys to walk in off the street is the way to go nowadays. I had over 30 ASE certs, and most of the guys I worked with in the shop could barely hold a conversation if it didn't involve giant tires or giant mammaries. I don't call that a lifetime job, or at least, not one that I would want.

Mike Holmes has an entire movement in Canada because so few young people want to go into the trades. He has a point. Someone has to fix all this stuff, and it has to be done right.

So, unless you have a slap shot that can get you spotted for the Maple Leafs, I'd say go with HVAC.

Good luck from the son of a Mountie.


http://www.nbcc.ca/Files/Documents/M...andoutACCC.pdf


.

[indy2000]

i suggest you take the pre-apprenticeship here http://www.jarts.bc.ca/

All your answers and more will be answered.

I took it and was hired 3 months later, couldn't be happier with the new career.

If you have the desire and drive to be the best, and willing to learn on your own time, by hanging out with the elders......... the trade will reward you with more than enough work. and great $$$$

[fv_tom]

Hi all,

I am currently looking for a steady career that does not have the seasonal flucations as a auto mechanic or requires 25,000-50,000 in tools to work in my trade.

I have been in the transportation trades in the past and recently done some telecom. The telco work does not pay squat if its only network cabeling ect plus the fact it required huge amount of travel clear across the province.
The thing with telco installs....is it never brakes to the same frequency as mechanical equipment such as hvac. That means that there will always be more work in hvac.

I want to know what the outlook for hvac techs are in Vancouver BC and does it require the same physical effot as a auto mechanic. Im not young anymore and more mid life.

I am looking for a few things if this trade offers it.

1. Job stability. Want to work year round with little chance of layoffs.

2. Educations opprotunities to move up the ladder. Can a HVAC move into
engineering?

3. Will there be a shortage of HVAC techs in the comming years?

4. How are hvac techs paid? by the hour? by the install? What is the
average wage for some one entering this field?

5. What are some of the best hvac schools in bc?

I decided against training as power engineer, millwrite, and other areas. Often, these jobs are in tiny towns way outside of vancouver bc.

Thanks

Lortech

You need tons of tools and I would suggest it requires more physical effort than being an auto mechanic.

[fletch]

Yes, it requires more physical effort then an auto mechanic but it also pays better. You get what you earn.

[fletch]

I am looking for a few things if this trade offers it.

1. Job stability. Want to work year round with little chance of layoffs.

- Year round work is weather permitting, spring and fall are the slow times and should not be considered steady work. Too cold for AC, Too hot for heat=slow weeks that may not be 40hrs
-don't forget the economic climate, just ask the boys down south how slow it can get: dismal times there

2. Educations opprotunities to move up the ladder. Can a HVAC move into
engineering?

-2 different schools with 2 different educations, but a mechanical trades background would be an asset if you want to go into engineering

3. Will there be a shortage of HVAC techs in the comming years?

-HVAC tech could be a plumber, steam/pipefitter, or refrigeration mechanic
-there will be a shortage of plumbers and fitters average age of local 170 must be in the later 50's and may even be in the early 60's
-average age of a refrigeration mechanic would in the 40's not a good future and i believe local 516 already has a lot of apprentices out of work. I hear alot of their guys are slow due to being an el nino year(warm winter)

4. How are hvac techs paid? by the hour? by the install? What is the
average wage for some one entering this field?

by the hour
-Contact UA local 170 (journeyman wage for plumber or pipe/steamfitter is around $35hr plus benefits like medical and pension)

-UA local 516 (journeyman wage for refrigeration mechanic is around $41hr plus benefits like medical and pension. I believe their pension is between $6 to $9hr into their own plan)

I made just over $100, 000 last year but I doubt this year will be close to that. Don't forget you must do on call but it is paid at double time rates. At least in the UA.

5. What are some of the best hvac schools in bc?

Contact Local 170 or Local 516 they both should have in house schooling or BCIT

It is a good career, but you must budget for the slow times(most don't) and it very hard to get started for a contractor that wants to TRAIN you rather than exploit you for cheap labour.

Hope this helps you out. Good Luck!

[indy2000]

malfunction oops

[JimStreet]

I am looking for a few things if this trade offers it.

1. Job stability. Want to work year round with little chance of layoffs.
Can get a little slow during periods where weather is mild, ie spring

2. Educations opprotunities to move up the ladder. Can a HVAC move into
engineering? HVAC is huge in terms of the areas you can go into. Yes engineering is a possibility.

3. Will there be a shortage of HVAC techs in the comming years?
We were told a few years ago that there would be a big shortage with all the baby boomers retiring. Not sure how true this is.

4. How are hvac techs paid? by the hour? by the install? What is the
average wage for some one entering this field? Paid by the hour. If you're in the union, its probably the highest paying trade around, except for maybe the elevator mechanics

5. What are some of the best hvac schools in bc?
Go to Jarts. They are run by the union, so you have a beter chance of getting a job. BCIT is not considered as good and you may not get the same job leads.

I decided against training as power engineer, millwrite, and other areas. Often, these jobs are in tiny towns way outside of vancouver bc.

Thanks

Lortech[/QUOTE]

[lortech]

indy200,

I did not know jarts had a introductory hvac program. Only if I knew! Is it even possible to work for a company with a mechanical background? I used to be in the aviation and automotive trades at one time. I signed up for the entry level jarts program for public but that does not start until October

[indy2000]

yes

[dalec]

this industry is very seasonal. just ask all the mechanics that are not getting
their 40 hours a week, and its been that way for months with some companies

as far as school goes, jarts or bcit. they are both private money grubbing
businesses. jarts started out with the intention of being better than bcit
but after interviewing with a couple of non-union contractors who stated
they had apprentices go to both, they implied they prefer bcit.

the members of 516 are getting screwed because the union is using training
money to subsidise the apprentices during the school, both union and non-
union apprentices. thats money that should be used for journeyman upgrade
courses that used to be available.

all that aside i think it is still a great trade but no guarantees of permanent,
full time work from anyone. and most non-union companies are matching
what the union contractors pay, so a guy could almost just hop across
the fence to whatever employer is keeping the guys busy.

oh yeah, as far as the 'pension' which is an individual rrsp plan controlled by
the union. guys on the lower mainland get $6/hr. i think the island guys are
higher because the last contract they wanted all the raise on the rrsp whereas all the lower mainland members put it on the wages.

[nick982002]

this industry is very seasonal. just ask all the mechanics that are not getting
their 40 hours a week, and its been that way for months with some companies

as far as school goes, jarts or bcit. they are both private money grubbing
businesses. jarts started out with the intention of being better than bcit
but after interviewing with a couple of non-union contractors who stated
they had apprentices go to both, they implied they prefer bcit.

the members of 516 are getting screwed because the union is using training
money to subsidise the apprentices during the school, both union and non-
union apprentices. thats money that should be used for journeyman upgrade
courses that used to be available.

all that aside i think it is still a great trade but no guarantees of permanent,
full time work from anyone. and most non-union companies are matching
what the union contractors pay, so a guy could almost just hop across
the fence to whatever employer is keeping the guys busy.

oh yeah, as far as the 'pension' which is an individual rrsp plan controlled by
the union. guys on the lower mainland get $6/hr. i think the island guys are
higher because the last contract they wanted all the raise on the rrsp whereas all the lower mainland members put it on the wages.

Most accurate and best post so far

Good luck your going to need it let me know if you need any tools

[puzni]

Have you attended JARTS Institute?

I am on a waiting list at BCIT for HVAC with co op program, but have been contemplating on attending Jarts re apprentice program to speed up the process. Does also anyone know what is the starting wage for HVAC apprentice in BC?

Thanks

[wundumguy]

Non union compensation packages vary widely from one company to another. Union compensation packages for HVAC related trades: plumber, pipefitter, refrigeration mechanic and sheet metal workers in BC can be found in their collective bargaining agreements. Click on the agreement that covers the trade you intend to pursue:

http://www.clra-bc.com/collectiveagreements.html.

[tyreman]

this industry is very seasonal. just ask all the mechanics that are not getting
their 40 hours a week, and its been that way for months with some companies

as far as school goes, jarts or bcit. they are both private money grubbing
businesses. jarts started out with the intention of being better than bcit
but after interviewing with a couple of non-union contractors who stated
they had apprentices go to both, they implied they prefer bcit.

the members of 516 are getting screwed because the union is using training
money to subsidise the apprentices during the school, both union and non-
union apprentices. thats money that should be used for journeyman upgrade
courses that used to be available.

all that aside i think it is still a great trade but no guarantees of permanent,
full time work from anyone. and most non-union companies are matching
what the union contractors pay, so a guy could almost just hop across
the fence to whatever employer is keeping the guys busy.

oh yeah, as far as the 'pension' which is an individual rrsp plan controlled by
the union. guys on the lower mainland get $6/hr. i think the island guys are
higher because the last contract they wanted all the raise on the rrsp whereas all the lower mainland members put it on the wages.

Pretty Accurate
and in southwestern ontario its pretty slack for the most part
Most are non union

[eddiegoodfellar]

Seems to be a couple guys from BC on here so I'll ask.
What are some of the best companies to work fro in BC?.By best I mean provided the best training for new techs.

[indy2000]

Im not sure you can post specifics like that.

[eddiegoodfellar]

Im not sure you can post specifics like that.

I did not know it would be a problem sorry.
If anyone has any info they would like to share

E-mail addresses not allowed in posts.

You may put it in your profile.

Thanks

[fv_tom]

From my own experience I would suggest that working for a smaller company that does a variety of work you will learn more because you will have more hands-on experience than say somebody who works for a large company that specializes in one area (like strictly commercial HVAC or supermarket refrigeration).

[puzni]

I know you get Gas B ticket with HVAC. I know you can get a plumbing ticket.
Can HVAC tech get electrical ticket? How does HVAC tech get the permission to wire compressors and HVAC units? DO you hold a limited electrical ticket as an HVAC?