Am I too old?

[Hilt]

Hi all,

I need your opinions. Please be blunt/truthful.
I am looking to get into the HVAC business. I would like to do residential work...new installs, service, duct work...whatever.

I have 22 years military engineering experience.
I have an HVAC certificate from my local community college. I have my 608 Universal cert.

Here is the kicker...I'm 61.
I am a healthy 61...but still...61.

If I go into an interview for a job with a local shop, am I going to be laughed at or looked at like I'm crazy?

Sincerely,
Hilt

[Answer-Man]

You're never too old, but age does present some potential concerns, issues, maybe problems. The two biggest problems you'll have to face is:

1. How long are you going to work as it may take several years to get where we want you, then you'll retire

2. You say your healthy, but can you really do the physical work day in and day out? That's what they hire newbie with low experience for, Hauling loading climbing pulling pushing holding stuff over your head to install...

If you want to start at anything other than "Gopher" labor, the biggest thing is you need to be able explain what you are capable of doing and offer experiences that are applicable to the HVAC trade.

Most of the guys I know that did HVAC in the service were proficient, you need to be able to explain how you experience fits into HVAC.

A 608 Cert provides you very little.

Do you have a HVAC Cert from a Community College also? If so this will help

Good Luck

[Hilt]

Thank you...those are all valid concerns.
I would envision doing this for 8-10 years. Maybe.
I can do the physical work...but I will really feel it the next day for sure. Not like when I was 20.
I do have an HVAC cert. from school.

Thanks again for the opinions and thoughts.

[jbhenergy]

Service is a lot easier on the body for the most part. installers are lugging 200# outdoor units and 150# ahu/furnaces around every day. service i pull a blower motor that weighs 20# max.

But service takes a lot longer to learn but it sounds like you might have a good head start from your military.

I say try it. If after 2 months your beat up and cant do it, your allowed to walk away from it.

[WAYNE3298]

You can definitely get too old but at 61 you have a lot of time left assuming your physical and mental health holds up. You have to be honest with yourself on both counts and not rationalize.
I doubt on interviews that you will be laughed at but they will be looking for a sincere desire in you to work and will want to make sure you have the drive to accomplish your goals. At your age you need to convince them you have the skills required to do the job you are applying for. I wouldn't want to hire a helper at age 61.

[Answer-Man]

When I was younger even in my late fifties I would do all the physical stuff I would see the sun come up most days from my truck and work until after dark. After all the years of abuse to the knees and hands, arthritis is making a big difference on how long I can work each day. I'll be 65 in two months. I said I was going to retire this year but Covid and stock market ups & downs have convinced me need to wait until next year. While I still plan on remaining active, like work part time. I want to be healthy enough to enjoy being retired.

Again good luck in your new adventure

[pageyjim]

Many companies will shy away from hiring someone your age but that doesn't mean that nobody will. As was previously stated service is a lot easier on the body but takes longer to learn. Some of the larger companies that tend to push sales may take a chance on someone like yourself and send you out on maintenances with a little training. Your age can come across as experience and be helpful. Just use it in the right way. Many homes can use an upgrade with IAQ such as humidification, dehumidification filtration upgrades etc. Not to mention servicing their equipment water heater etc. This may be the best fit if you have good customer skills. This is probably the fastest way to make decent money starting out also.
Some may call this being a "sales tech" but it can be done in a way in which you serve the customers, your company and yourself well. That is up to you. It also won't stop you from learning technical skills along the way.
This is a possible way that you could use your age to an advantage in the hiring process.

Good luck!

[Juan Madera]

Perhaps a good entry point that is not too stressful is a maintenance department at a large company, casino, hospital etc. Pay will not be as good generally, but I have one guy working for me that is 75 and still going strong.

[Bazooka Joe]

MD, guessing oil is still big? If so avoid a job with a company that does a lot of oil work and especially on hydronic systems. Air Handlers, OD A/C units and furnaces are light compared to a wet based cast iron boilers as an example, PM those are OK but replacement or on new residence installs oh boy...Dems are heavy.

[BBeerme]

Here's the way I look at it, 1st, what did you do in the military?

Next, how mechanically inclined are you? Do you already have lots of tools because you like to work on things? Do you like to take things apart? Do you know how to test volts and resistance with a meter? Do you already on a meter?

[Prison dog]

Try getting into Government service, State, County, City or Service contract. They like folks over forty and there is someone always willing to help when your in a jam and you need answers fast. You work at your pace and there's usually not a lot of pressure about meeting dead lines.

[rquave33]

Hell my dad still does this everyday at 65 I think and we had an old mraine that was like 80 work with us one summer guy got around better then some 20 year olds....HVAC is hard work lots of attic/under houses....if you don't have a lot of HVAC experience I would be hesitant to hire you for more the grunt work and would be worried you couldn't keep up In an 130f attic if you are not uesed to it...call a few shops and ask around

[Unlimited1]

engineering pays more than HVAC, I'm not finished with my courses for Mechanical Engineering but thats what i will eventually move into...minimum salary is $55k most mechanical engineers i know are making 85K and up with full benefits and retirement..with only a 40 hour week...

[Hilt]

Thanks for all of the input. I think I am really past the point of starting a new career.
I think it is wise to just use my education and experience to work on my own stuff...maybe help friends.
I could also try it part time maybe and see how I feel.
Anyway, thanks again for all the thoughts.
Hilt

[pecmsg]

Look into stationary engineer openings. Hospitals and commercial building are always looking.

https://www.iuoe.org/our-locals/find...oe-local-union

[chiller mekanik]

It depends on where you apply. I'm in the large tonnage market and I have a reputation for hiring older (seasoned) techs. Some say that my shop is where old techs go to retire. But anyway, I'm a perfectionist and I prefer people that are careful. I steer away from overconfident people that create more problems than they solve. Some mentioned an on site job like a in house crew for a hospital or something like that. I for one, if I were still running the streets would not want a job like that. I like moving around. But you can sell this. You're not too old and when you find the right manager, he'll hire you and won't look back.

[lzenglish]

Hi all,

I need your opinions. Please be blunt/truthful.
I am looking to get into the HVAC business. I would like to do residential work...new installs, service, duct work...whatever.

I have 22 years military engineering experience.
I have an HVAC certificate from my local community college. I have my 608 Universal cert.

Here is the kicker...I'm 61.
I am a healthy 61...but still...61.

If I go into an interview for a job with a local shop, am I going to be laughed at or looked at like I'm crazy?

Sincerely,
Hilt

NO, You are Not Too Old! You just need to pass the Physical Requirements (like everyone else), for Me to hire You. Now this is just Me, and as you know, every Employer has His or Her own opinions as to who they hire. SO, Thank You for Your Service to Our Country, and Go Out There and Get It! "All the Best to You"

LZ....

[rexp]

Interesting question Hilt. I am 63, have earned BSEE and MSEE degrees and have been designing scientific instruments for the same company for the past 27 years (search for licor, I work with the environmental side of things). My dabbling in HVAC & refrigeration started with the disgusting service I was able to get for my geothermal HVAC system. The service techs never did get liquid in the evaporators during cooling, and before I knew better one of them brazed a line trying to stop a leak without first recovering the charge. He built this volcano looking pile of braze before he was done. A few years later the compressor seized.

I ended up studying & getting the 608 card, and replacing things myself. Dangit - we shouldn't have to do things this way! Maybe us old farts just do things differently.

Anyway, my suggestion would be to look into teaching. With the dismantling of the excellent Industrial Arts programs that our schools once had, they are starting to come back in places. Many of the 2 year colleges have stepped up and offer great programs in a variety of industries. A quick search of positions available at the local college might spark some interest, maybe going there to take a tour and discussing how you can "give back" will put you in a more favorable position.

Good luck, and please post how you progress. I can't be the only old guy who has considered the same....

[jackrussell]

Age is just a number! I've been out of school since the mid seventies and went back years ago to get my HVAC/R ticket. At 60 years old it was actually a real eye opener. But having a second trade makes finding employment that much easier in this crazy world. I should have gotten into refrigeration 40 years ago as it's a trade that is always changing and never boring.

[BaldLoonie]

Our lead installer is 62, can outrun the young'ens. We have 2 techs in the lower 60s, 2 mid 60s that just retired for health reasons. I'm mostly desk jockey but do go out occasionally. I'm 62 and a heart patient.