Put it this way...

In a plumbing trade you learn to do plumbing.
In an electrical trade you learn to do electricity.

In an HVAC trade you learn to do HVAC, plumbing, electricity, and sheet metal, just to name a couple.

Which one do you think you should do?

 

DLZ got it right, if your thinking about a trade in one of these fields. when you get into HVAC you learn a lot about multiple Blue collar and white collar trades.

after a few years working in an HVAC you can decide what trade turns you on and go after it. But you have to be willing to learn as much as you can. the good the bad and the dirty. Personally, I hate plumbing and car repair.:gah:

 

I guess it depends on were you live. In ma were i live i cant really touch plumbing or electrical before the disconnects. I believe in some states hvac does everything. It would only help me to add either plumbing or electrical to my skill set since its more i can offer and be paid for. In other states it maybe worthless since your supposed to do it anyway.
My point is i will never really learn plumbing or electrical. I have to add to get it. Someothers will be able to pick up those skills on the job and have them naturally get them, its just a metter of time.

 

When folks want electrical work, they call an electrician, when they want plumbing, they call a plumber. When they want to stay comfortable, they call a HVAC person. Who do they call the most? Yep, you guessed it...the HVAC person. There are a lot more laid off plumbers and electricians than HVAC guys. IMO anyway...:.02:

 

hvac/r hands down!
No other trade can compare to our wide range of job opportunity!

I have went to a customers house one time where she had trouble with her furnace and i mentioned her light in the basement was not working, i figured out that her light switch was faulty so i told her that i may have one in the truck, installed a new light switch and fixed her furnace. things happen like that sometimes, you cant really ask a electrician to do the same thing can you? nope. Hvac/r rules

 

my customers have no problem asking me to do elec. or lite plumbing but
wont ask the sparky or plumber to look at their a/c unit.
i welded up a gate the otherday & have to go back out to look
at a/c next week

 

Hvac most definitely

 

I agree that I would always want to end up doing HVAC. I work for a HVAC/Plumbing company. I am a very experianced HVAC tech (20+ yrs boilers, furnaces, heatpumps etc), but only an apprentice level plumber.... I mostly do waterheaters and waterpipes.

But... If I was 18 again and starting out knowing what I know now..... I would go to school and start out as a electricion first for a few years and get my electrical licenses first, with the plan to switch over to HVAC after a few years. Or better yet find a company that does electrical and hvac. Around here the electricions have WAY more political and legal "juice" and we have to hire them on almost every install anyway now. Having an electrical license and being able to pull permits for electrical and hvac is/would be a HUGE asset and advantage. You would be very valuable and if you ever struck out on your own, you would save a fortune and be more profitable. Besides alot of service work is electrical anyway.

 

I have a journeymans card in HVAC and Electrical as well. Worked in the field as both. I personally liked doing electrical better than HVAC work but I didn't work as your standard electrician. Since I started in HVAC I knew control wiring better than the majority of electricians. I was sent to do nothing but control install, motor, pump and VFD work. I suspect in the HVAC trade you will learn more about circuitry than the majority of electricians.

I think if I had to do the type of work the typical electrician does I wouldn't have liked it. There realy is some truth to the saying two wire hook it up four wire f it up.

Honestly decide which type of work you would prefer. If you like control work and circuitry persue a career in industrial automation. I don't see the point in going forward as a residential electrician but if you like go for it.

 

Plumbing IMO

 

One of my teachers told me that 85% of HVAC problems are electrical. Of course, he was the guy teaching the electrical class.

 

I can see that being true, granted i do all hot and cold side, and on a given week i may grab my gauges twice a week

 

That instructor is correct. The first thing out of my tool bag is the I-Driver, with a 4" long Irwin 5/16 nutdriver.

The next thing is the multimeter.

The point is that these units will only become more complicated, and that means more processors, boards, wire, and schematics.

The electrical license is about the NEC and the IRC. Of course, none of that teaches you about circuitry. There are electricians out there that only understand switches and receptacles.

Go to a radio shack and get one of their project electronics lab kits.

Something like this. Look how inexpensive this is, too. There are many brands, and you can search around online to find the best deal. BUT, it is a GREAT way to learn about circuits and why they work.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3814337

 

To work ALONG WITH HVAC, I'd go with electrical. You'll use that knowledge much more.

If it was INSTEAD of HVAC, or as a backup career, I'd go with plumbing. Plumbing leads much more to problem solving, and making a distraught customer happy.....which, like HVAC, is a big emotional driver for many.

Comparatively, very little electrical work consists of "saving the day" for someone....unless you're into heavy controls work or something of that nature.

:.02:

 

Plumbers and electricians are one trick ponies. Service techs can and will do all things

 

They all go hand in hand if you think about it. I work for a company that does it all. i may install one day. service the next do some plumbing or electrical. I never know one call from the next. I like it that way cause it keeps my day interesting.

 

In the UK you get a plumbing licence with your gas licence, but they work with hydronics a lot. Might become more prominent in North America as our energy prices reach current European levels.

 

I could never be a plumber.......eewww........I like chewing my finger nails!:grin2:

 

The biggest difference with Plumbing and Electrical from HVAC/R is there is a big gap in the work they specialize in. Many plumbers and electricians will only do residential and never set foot in a commercial setting. Some will work on large commercial projects and only run water pipe or pull wire. Most HVAC/R guys are more well rounded in their training.

With that said though I have worked with some Plumbers that have their A gas tickets that have to teach the sparkys the low voltage control circuitry. I have also seen a Electrician trying to dumb down an explanation of how to wire a light switch to a plumber.

A plumbing company that specializes in geo, solar, boilers, steam and gas fitting will have an easier time doing HVAC that a residential guy that cleans drains.

Most electricians struggle with control wiring. If you get into a company that does controls your transition would be a lot easier than some guy that pulled wire for 4 years.

 

Plumbing is just a vast area of knowledge Plumber for sure!:.02: