New Guest
I started in this trade in 2004 at Bellingham Technical College where I got my Associates in Applied Science. From there I worked all over western Washington doing everything from new commercial installs, to commercial service, to residential installs, to residential service.
I worked for a large company for (they got red M's on there truck, but two have that, so it'll keep you guessing) almost six years before I decided to pack up the family and try it out here in Boise helping my father-in-law start-up his new business (who also part-owned the previous company I worked for in Washington). Actually, kind of a funny story, because I don't think he every imagined what would happen that day he first brought me in for an interview and decided to hire me. What can I say, I had a thing for dispatchers and the owner decided to make his daughter one. Long story short, I married her and now am working for father once again out here.
Once I was out here my father-in-law and me had been working on getting a job with Micron Technologies (the family business would always be there and would survive without me), because it was a great HVAC R opportunity. For those of you who don't know (I didn't), Micron is the second biggest producer of computer memory in the world. Since February I've had the opportunity to be a permanent contractor in the refrigeration department for Micron Technologies.
Crazy place to work. Everything from centrifugals to air cooled screws to Edwards 40/80 chillers to things that you have never seen (or me).
Anyways, I'll probably be here a lot surfing the sites wide base of knowledge for help or posting about stuff that maybe nobody else has seen.
Regular Guest
Hello to all, I have been in the HVAC field right at 2 years. I became EPA certified and thought I knew what I was doing but had know idea. I have been reading several post here and am now trying to get my pro membership. I have especially enjoyed the tools forum. I find life is easier with the right tool for the job and have learned a ton about the digital gauges in the tool forum. I have since purchased the ak 900 and the blu vac. Can't believe I waited so long to do so. Thanks in advance.
New Guest
Hi,
I'm brand new to this site!
I finished tech school about 9 years ago. It is was about 50/50 books to hands on, so I feel quite fortunate compared to some schools I have heard about.
We learned, in depth, building systems-mainly refrigeration, electrical, boilers, and ventilation.
I went on to become a refrigeration engineer and power engineer. I worked in health care, maintaining the boilers and chillers for a local hospital. I did that for a few years before moving to an insurance company to do the same thing. The job was great, but I wanted to expand my horizons. I started taking insurance classes and building code classes and eventually I became a licensed building inspector. I inspected buildings for years until I decided to start my own air conditioning business.
It has been great! I would love to network, share ideas, and troubleshoot amongst people with a similar passion for refrigeration!
Howdy! My name is Boh.
Regular Guest
I have found this site to be perfect for all types of hvac knowledge. Someone here has probably tried it or knows someone who has. It is fantastic.
Howdy to you Boh.
My name is Mike.
Regular Guest
Hey Cool Tech,
I'm a little over an hour south of you (if you are where I think you are). I have my universal certificate and was just inducted into Local 42. I am attending school and it is through Gatlin, is the course you teach through them as well?
Nice to meet a local!
Roy
Regular Guest
Hello, I worked 3 months residential and now I currently working graveyard at a casino. I mainly.vacuum vents and get chance to trouble shoot and fix things,but I have hard time figuring out some of low temp problems. I work with guy that been there.18 yrs as Hvac tech but doesnt even know how hook up guages. He leaves before.first shift guys get to work so I got explain everything and I get the heat. No one helps me, so I am asking for ur guys help to be better than these guys a master. The.casino is great place for experiance deal with various unit big chillers to lowtemp. I did not know that I am expected to be master straight out of school. Believe me I want to be a master
Membership Chair/ARP Committee / Professional Member*
What casino? AC? Vegas? Where?
PHM
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Originally Posted by temper13
PHM
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When faced with the choice between changing one's mind, and proving that there is no need to do so, most tend to get busy on the proof.
Regular Guest
Im here in AZ, dont or cant say name of casino. Just could use some advise/help to better improve my skills
Membership Chair/ARP Committee / Professional Member*
I'll tell you as soon as they will let me. Otherwise I get yelled at.
PHM
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PHM
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When faced with the choice between changing one's mind, and proving that there is no need to do so, most tend to get busy on the proof.
Regular Guest
Man is it hot. Sometimes I wish I had an air conditioned suit to wear up in the attic. I have a fan that I plug in but when it is blowing 120 degree air at me it feels like it is not helping much. They did not teach me about this part of the job in school.
Membership Chair/ARP Committee / Professional Member*
I put a white Cool/R roof on my house.
Now on a 100+ degree day my attic is less than 80º.
Maybe you should switch to selling metal roofing?
PHM
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PHM
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When faced with the choice between changing one's mind, and proving that there is no need to do so, most tend to get busy on the proof.
Professional Member*
Come to WI
All the ductwork and equipment is in basements.
Professional Member*
Hahahaha yep!Come to WI
All the ductwork and equipment is in basements.
I'm glad most of our systems here in Il. are in the basement as well, and that goes for winter too, it gets pretty cold up there in the attic around here!
For new construction, I have to do (or should say had since new construction is dead now) more attic systems than I wanted too for the second floor on the bigger homes.
For add on systems in an attic, the first thing I did was get the furnace or air handler in place with coil, condenser set, drain, power etc. And let that sucker blow wild in the attic while spotting the holes and running the duct. It made it SO much more manageable up there in the summer.
Professional Member*
HVACRoy:
I'm about 25 miles SW of Akron and My son and I will be teaching at the Wayne County Schools Career Center. I see that you're just south of Mt. Vernon. They had some nasty storms a little over a week ago and we had to replace the walk-in cooler compressor and one of the three 5 ton AC condensers @ Pizza Hut there - both knocked out from electrical problems (3 phase getting hooked back up different than the original phasing to scroll compressors = compressors not happy. One was still running and the noise was almost unbearable).
Good to hear from you Roy.
Backfire1:
The right tools are a definite must in this industry. If you haven't already, check out Appion.
We have been using there equipment for quite awhile and love it! The TEZ8 vacuum pump is awesome. Also check out posts here and youtube, etc.. about using 1/2" vacuum hoses from your pump to the system - this and using Nylog will cut your vacuum times by 50% or even more. Some of my other fav's are Knipex, Fieldpiece, Fluke and Klein.
BTW- the BluVac is awesome.
Sorry, I forgot to write: "My name is Scott"
Regular Guest
Hey Scott,
On the 3 phase, did they switch two leads? I know blower motors, etc, will reverse direction when this is done, so were the compressor trying to run backwards?
I bet this was a mess to fix. Too bad I didn't run into you before, I work in Mt.Vernon currently and would have stopped by to check it out.
I was in town when that storm hit (6/29 at about 5pm) and it was awesome. The wind sounded like a jet engine at times.
Nice to meet you man, see ya around!
Roy
Professional Member
Backfire, I hv some guys that bring a cooler with some freezepak vests they help cool ya down and as they thaw out they rotate new packs from the cooler...I believe the vests run a couple hundred but bring some relief and maybe you could sell management on offsetting some costs as they will improve the install teams productivity and thus increase profit margin...
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Regular Guest
Hey Scott,
Yea, I just order some 1/2 inch hoses and the brass adapter so that I can utilize my bluvac. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I start to order new tools. When the Fedex truck shows up I can't wait to get my new tool and start working with it. My new tools give me a pep in my step at work. As you can tell I love a good tool that does what it was designeed to do with good reliability and accuracy.
Regular Guest
Hey Scott,
Yea, I just order some 1/2 inch hoses and the brass adapter so that I can utilize my bluvac. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I start to order new tools. When the Fedex truck shows up I can't wait to get my new tool and start working with it. My new tools give me a pep in my step at work. As you can tell I love a good tool that does what it was designeed to do with good reliability and accuracy.
Regular Guest
Yea, I use a wet towel sometimes and throw it around my neck but sometimes I get that dizzy feeling were I know I have to get down and take a break. I guess this heat wave we just had put a whipping on me seemed like every service call had me in the attic.
Regular Guest
Here in NC I am not that lucky to have many basements here. Most systems are in the attic or under the house with a very small crawl space. Maybe I need to move to WI. Take care and enjoy those basements.Come to WI
All the ductwork and equipment is in basements.
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