What's going on in the HVAC industry?

[42yrs exp]

I live in Northeast Philadelphia and have been in this business for a very long time (over 44 years). In May of 2004 I went in my own business (Big Mistake). It seems there are about about 20 HVACR trucks within a Five mile area of where I live. Is everyone and their Grandmother going in this business?

I can't believe how many trucks I see in this business.What about some of the other areas. Has anyone else experienced this mass enterance to the HVAC business. What's going on?
Are there no other jobs out there? With so much competition
how do these guys make a living. GOOD GRIEF!

[berad]

My area is like this to. Contractors don'tpay the greatest in my area, but techs see the tickets they bring back to the shop and figure they might as well go to work for themselves and collect the entire amount of the ticket instead of just their hourly pay. As you stated, big mistake. There is much more to it than it appears on the surface as you found out. So as a result, many of these guys go back to working for a shop. It seem like companies show up and melt away just like the winter snow around here.

[rockdean]

Why didn't you notice the trucks when you worked for other people all those years?

[cool-blew]

I've noticed that as well, about 5 new guys on there own just this month. Maybe the state makes it too easy to get licensed!?

We have about 60-80K living in our county, and we have about 60 HVAC companies now.

[beenthere]

Now you know why your boss was always cranky.

We're in PA, anybody can call himself an hvacer, so you'll have lots of competition.

[oilman]

You know what the problem is with this business? It's too easy to get into. You need a business that requires a large piece of equipment, etc. That keeps out everyone and his brother.

[bluetooth751]

Same situation in our area HVAC guys pop up everywhere.

Be patient they will soon be out of work. Also as the industry becomes more technical it becomes more difficult for just anyone to aquire the skills.

[andserco]

[i] Be patient they will soon be out of work. Also as the industry becomes more technical it becomes more difficult for just anyone to aquire the skills. [/B]

I would have to disagree-- there will always be parts and equipment changers............

[splus]

The state i live in does not require anybody to take a test or anything to get into the business.Every time a factory moves over seas the janitor and maint. guy go into the hvac field.

[bornriding]

This is one reason that I ( & my wife ) work alone.
If you ever get a good tech or get a good tech trained, he will invariably leave you, go into his own business, and become your competition. Will even take some of your customers with him.
Have seen 7-10 new businesses start up here in the last 5 years. At least three are now out of business.

[coolwhip]

As long as you provide dependable quality service, word gets around and the phone will ring. Here in the metro detroit area there are more companies than carter has pills. No worries though, the hacks will be sifted out.

[robertee]

HVAC is just like any other business that is easy to enter. Too many bad ones making it hard for the good knowlegable worker to compete. How does the home owner know what he is getting? They need knowlege. This forum provides a great service for home owners so they can question the contractor about what he provides. If the home owner has an idea of good work practice and can have it put in writing he may get one of the good HVAC people.

[mike d373]

The school I went to about 10 years ago had 30 new students per class. Now I heard they're booming and have over 125 per class.

They haven't found a way to ship our jobs to India yet.