SERVICE TECHS , ARE YOU A FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK SITTING ON THE BENCH ?

[Dowadudda]

I see conversations on here about being fast on a service call. Fast. Get it Done. Hurry. Hurry.

It's wrong. This is not a production line in an auto plant. Technicians are being raised these days in this environment of hurry up, get it done, hurry hurry. And where has it gotten the trade? One could argue nowhere.

Fix it right the first time, what ever it takes. If your leadership and culture are right, and there is accountability for performance ( is it fixed right ), you won't need all this other stupid bull.

It's shameful what residential contractors have turned the trade into at that level. Light Commercial fast approaching that.

[jpsmith1cm]

I see conversations on here about being fast on a service call. Fast. Get it Done. Hurry. Hurry.

It's wrong. This is not a production line in an auto plant. Technicians are being raised these days in this environment of hurry up, get it done, hurry hurry. And where has it gotten the trade? One could argue nowhere.

Fix it right the first time, what ever it takes. If your leadership and culture are right, and there is accountability for performance ( is it fixed right ), you won't need all this other stupid bull.

It's shameful what residential contractors have turned the trade into at that level. Light Commercial fast approaching that.

I fought that mentality and WON.

Our area had devolved into the run, run, run mindset an it was killing us.

I slowed down, did it RIGHT and the service calls started drying up.

It's great, now. Yeah, stuff still breaks, but not nearly as often.

[Tommy knocker]

I fought that mentality and WON.

Our area had devolved into the run, run, run mindset an it was killing us.

I slowed down, did it RIGHT and the service calls started drying up.

It's great, now. Yeah, stuff still breaks, but not nearly as often.

Steady all year is better then feast or famine.

[Nytefog]

Looking for a Tech in Central NJ for mostly residential work.

PM meet for more information.

[jpsmith1cm]

Steady all year is better then feast or famine.

[John Markl]

Steady all year is better then feast or famine.

That's certainly true in the reefer world, but in places like Texas, HVAC IS seasonal, and I don't care who you are or HOW you run your business....that's the way it is.

If you're working 40 in the winter, you'll be hustling 60+ in the summer. If you pull 40 in the summer, you're gonna be eatin' Ramen Noodles during winter.

[jpsmith1cm]

That's certainly true in the reefer world, but in places like Texas, HVAC IS seasonal, and I don't care who you are or HOW you run your business....that's the way it is.

If you're working 40 in the winter, you'll be hustling 60+ in the summer. If you pull 40 in the summer, you're gonna be eatin' Ramen Noodles during winter.

It's true of HVAC almost everywhere.

In Western PA, AC is summertime, windows are open in spring and fall and heating calls in the winter.

I'm happy to be a refer guy and pull 40 year 'round.

[Milk man]

That's certainly true in the reefer world, but in places like Texas, HVAC IS seasonal, and I don't care who you are or HOW you run your business....that's the way it is.

If you're working 40 in the winter, you'll be hustling 60+ in the summer. If you pull 40 in the summer, you're gonna be eatin' Ramen Noodles during winter.

I'm glad you put this in writing. Some people, business owners, need a refresher course.

I'll take care of you in the summer. You need to be there in the winter for me. If not, don't count on me next summer.

[timebuilder]

We are looking for a few good men , if you are tired of being layed off in November and re-hired in March we are the Company to work for .We are located in the Katy Area and service Katy and N/W Houston .
The right candidates will have great communication skills , be skilled in Residential service , be EPA Certified , Registered with the state , R410A certified and competant with newer high SEER A/C systems ,
The candidate MUST have the desire to earn in excess of $80K per year . We hold a BBB A Plus rating and BBB award winner 3 years running.we are building a new shop and growing ,
Background check required Drug test required Clean driving record mandatory
Skill testing required.
HIRING TECHS WITH 2 TO 10 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE , PAY HOURLY FROM $16 TO $25 PER HOUR PLUS COMMISSION FROM 3 % TO 5 % OF INVOICE TOTAL ( EQUIPMENT SALES OR SERVICE SALES ) BE PREPARED TO EARN FROM $ 40, 000.00 TO $100,000.00 PER YEAR .( If you are happy making less than $ 40,000.00 a year please do not apply for this position .)
Feel safe and secure driving a newer full size Van , be prepared to work in a high stress environment , wear company uniform , On call schedule which will require weekend work on rotation ,
Extensive Technical and sales Training by industry leaders
BENIFITS
1) Aetna insurance ( we pay 50 % of your premium )
3) Dental available
4) Life insurance available
5) Vision insurance available
6) Tool purchase plan , any industry related tools that you need we will buy for you and you can pay back via payroll deduction
7) Training provided by leading industry experts weekly
8) Company smart phone with 2 way radio provided
9) We provide full uniform
10) You are covered by workmans comp insurance
11) Year End bonus
Call Leonard now at 832 493 3456 Or Email to robinair@sbcglobal.net

Okay, I hope my response can shed some light for you.

I am already playing for another team (in PA) and I am beyond the draft. That said, for an experienced tech, I believe your base pay is low, and a high stress environment based on sales is not a technician job. It's a sales job. Been there, done that.

Not long ago, I had an interview with another commercial company. I met all of their requirements, and then some. Background check, PA child safety cert, the whole nine yards, since they do work in schools. They asked me what I expected in money, and my response was in line with what I had been told by others is indeed within the company pay scale.

I received a nice boilerplate email about how they will continue their search. One friend thinks it is age discrimination. I can't tell.

What I can tell you is this: the guys who really see themselves as techs generally work in the commercial environment, and the ones who want to make money selling humidifiers to old ladies work in residential. There are some few companies who are exceptions, I'm sure.

During my interview, the subject of future employees, 10 or 15 years from now, came up. We agreed that there would be very few guys who will want to do the work we do. Some call that a "shortage." It is not.

In aviation, they often talk about a "pilot shortage," as if there will not be enough folks able to fly airplanes. That is not true, and the truth applies equally to HVAC.

You see there is never a shortage of workers.

The IS a shortage of workers who are willing to do the job for the pay being offered to work under those circumstances.

Right now, you have an ad posting that extends far beyond your local area, in an effort to recruit workers. My position is that if a company offers the right pay for the job and working conditions there is NEVER a shortage of workers!!

So, 10 or 15 years down the road, we will see 80% immigrants doing trades work, for perhaps ONE generation at the most, and their children, like the children of today, will realize that they can make just as much money writing apps for the iPhone as they can spending 50 hours a week in attics and crawl spaces, and the guys that like to diagnose and fix, instead of sell, sell, sell will be working in commercial, and looking to leave retail or residential behind them. Like me.

I hope that helps to give you a new perspective.

[mallron]

That sounds horrible. I'm so glad I stopped doing residential work when I was a fourth year apprentice!

My thoughts EXACTLY!!! And I stopped doing residential before I ever joined the union!

[mallron]

Okay, I hope my response can shed some light for you.

I am already playing for another team (in PA) and I am beyond the draft. That said, for an experienced tech, I believe your base pay is low, and a high stress environment based on sales is not a technician job. It's a sales job. Been there, done that.

Not long ago, I had an interview with another commercial company. I met all of their requirements, and then some. Background check, PA child safety cert, the whole nine yards, since they do work in schools. They asked me what I expected in money, and my response was in line with what I had been told by others is indeed within the company pay scale.

I received a nice boilerplate email about how they will continue their search. One friend thinks it is age discrimination. I can't tell.

What I can tell you is this: the guys who really see themselves as techs generally work in the commercial environment, and the ones who want to make money selling humidifiers to old ladies work in residential. There are some few companies who are exceptions, I'm sure.During my interview, the subject of future employees, 10 or 15 years from now, came up. We agreed that there would be very few guys who will want to do the work we do. Some call that a "shortage." It is not.

In aviation, they often talk about a "pilot shortage," as if there will not be enough folks able to fly airplanes. That is not true, and the truth applies equally to HVAC.

You see there is never a shortage of workers.

The IS a shortage of workers who are willing to do the job for the pay being offered to work under those circumstances.

Right now, you have an ad posting that extends far beyond your local area, in an effort to recruit workers. My position is that if a company offers the right pay for the job and working conditions there is NEVER a shortage of workers!!

So, 10 or 15 years down the road, we will see 80% immigrants doing trades work, for perhaps ONE generation at the most, and their children, like the children of today, will realize that they can make just as much money writing apps for the iPhone as they can spending 50 hours a week in attics and crawl spaces, and the guys that like to diagnose and fix, instead of sell, sell, sell will be working in commercial, and looking to leave retail or residential behind them. Like me.

I hope that helps to give you a new perspective.

Great line! But i've been skewered by a few resi guys here as being an "arrogant commercial guy" for stating basically the same thing. We'll see what happens here.

[rustneversleeps]

start one in Ohio.

[TheChillerMan]

Look lets face it. Residential work is the minor leagues. Class A minor league. Any yahoo can do residential work out of the trunk of his car. I've seen it.

Now commercial work is triple-A.

Chillers is major league.

Don't like it? Work hard, learn more, and move up the ranks. I did.

[toocoolforschool]

I guess arrogance is a requirement to work on chillers EH?
Most of the chiller BIG LEAGUE guys I have worked with are pompous sob's.
It is also good to keep in mind that everyone does not have the same opportunities as others, we still live in a very predudiced and materialistic society.
I have nothing but respect for anybody that has worked hard for what they have but it really doesen't matter what you work on as long as you are happy doing what you do and make a living out of it.

[Tommy knocker]

I guess arrogance is a requirement to work on chillers EH?
Most of the chiller BIG LEAGUE guys I have worked with are pompous sob's.
It is also good to keep in mind that everyone does not have the same opportunities as others, we still live in a very predudiced and materialistic society.
I have nothing but respect for anybody that has worked hard for what they have but it really doesen't matter what you work on as long as you are happy doing what you do and make a living out of it.

Not a requirement but it helps I disagree with him though. I know a lot of resi guys that are damn good and could grab a chiller by the horns if the oppertunity arose. Likewise most "chiller" techs couldn't walk up to a new variable speed condensing furnace being used as aux heat for a variable speed heat pump on a 2000 sqft home. At least not without a manual and a few hrs to read through it. That's me at least. Not to proud to say so either. I have "come up through the ranks" and spend most of my time on industrial systems now and I'm pretty good at it but the resi side has left me behind. The systems today are way more complex then the systems I cut my teeth on and I would be lost for a time if I had to go back to it.

[ADillon]

I know chiller guys who couldn't service a resi heat pump if their life depended on it. I was just at Johnson Controls in OK taking a commercial commissioning class with a bunch of 'chiller guys'. The guys had to take some of their tests three times before they could manage a passing grade. Major league my ass. Saying that you're a major league tech just because you work on chillers is giving yourself way too much credit. But i guess when no one is willing to give you any, you have to make yourself feel good somehow....

[toocoolforschool]

It really comes down to where you want to specialize in, or even if you want to work union or non union. I worked in a shop in Wilmington CA. that was non union that worked on everything from screw compressors to minisplits. Nowadays most companies don't want to spend money on special trianing unless they are connected to the manufacturer. I choose my destiny but I don't look down on others because of what they work on or where they work, that would be very narrow minded. Some people have special skills in chillers and some with residential units, I'll tell you though that one will never stop learning in this trade and if one does it's all over.

[timebuilder]

On the other hand, I know chiller guys who could teach a class in residential heat pump service.

My my point is to ask," why are you in the particular section of the market where you're working now?"

Are you there to diagnose and repair, or are you there for a sales opportunity?

[timebuilder]

Since I'm not texting my response from my dumb phone, I'll extend my remarks.

I'm sure that there are many great, skilled, and ethical residential guys working in the trade. Many of them are Pro members here.

That said, the business model does not reward technical expertise in residential, because the rewards are commission based, and there is no incentive to diagnose and repair when your Co can have two guys show up the next day to install a brand new system. There is a big Co advertising on the Philly stations who talks about how many trucks he has, and how fast he can install a new system in cold weather.

Not a word about how fast a broken system can be repaired. That is not his mindset.

If you want young guys who are smart to enter this trade, then you have to figure out how to reward those smarts, otherwise, the trade will become populated with BS'ers. More so than it already is today.

[tiger man]

Look lets face it. Residential work is the minor leagues. Class A minor league. Any yahoo can do residential work out of the trunk of his car. I've seen it.

Now commercial work is triple-A.

Chillers is major league.

Don't like it? Work hard, learn more, and move up the ranks. I did.

Not to be a dink, but if commercial guys and chiller guys are so great, why do i see some o them on this forum asking us lowly resi guys how their bryant evolution furnace operates, instead of reading the manual, or product data. With the new technology out for controls for modulating funaces and condensing boilers, there is plenty to learn in resi.