The nerve of a man wanting more money,vacation and benefits. Most of these owners take more vacations then anybody and get upset when you need to take off. This industry has become very greedy. SALE SALE SALE!!

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

I think that’s why you’re going to see more techs become business owners 🙂

@DigitalRecollections

Жыл бұрын

But at the same time some people are Delusional about what they’re worth..it’s like listing a 2001 civic with 200k miles for 30k and putting NO LOWBALLER, I KNOW WHAT I GOT

@obama7325

Жыл бұрын

@@DigitalRecollections bro i do everything im supposed to do i sell a lot and i still make shit i barely afford my rent lol im only still working because knowing whag i charge clients for stuff if i make even a small business ill make a ton.

@anthonyspadafora1384

Жыл бұрын

@@NewHVACGuide Lets face it, when you have employees you now have paid holidays, sick days, workmen comp, health insurance, matching 401ks and the list goes on. When you are alone, there is none of that. My wife works at a local courthouse so I am on her Health insurance. I have several friends that we cover for each other when we vacation or are sick. I have had several employees in my life and honestly it is a lot of stress, In this business your employees are not like Amazon employees, they are much closer. You go to their weddings and parties. The stress of keeping everyone busy so they don't get laid off is a lot more stress, for me anyway. So working alone for me is a big stress relief. I can be much choosier . If I bid a job in the suburbs with a driveway right up to the garage with the unit on the same level and a supply house is only a half mile away. I will get that job, the larger shops will never beat me. But then when I worked in Commercial, Industrial I knew mechanics that were just mechanical geniuses but you could never let these guys out in public much send them to a residential customers home. LOL Like the old saying...You can dress them up but you can't take them out.

@hvacrnortheastern2110

Жыл бұрын

Why complain go get other job we aren’t sales people we are in high demand highly payed nowadays in any trades .

I was an hvac tech working for a large company, and I really wanted to make it work. I finally became frustrated enough to leave it behind as i was not being trained on equipment that I was being asked to work on, specifically heat pumps. I had learned the cooling side on my own, from hooking up my gauges to understanding su cooking and superheat etcetera, and beyond. I drew the line on mini splits and heat pumps. I didn’t want to cause more problems due to my lack of knowledge, and have a homeowner have to replace systems because of it. And, i was being asked to train new techs coming into the field to do what i was not comfortable doing. I had asked for help and had been up front with my lack of knowledge with these systems. On top of that, the lack of communication and support was devastating to me, and when asking for help, it was always apparent that doing so only aggravated management. And finally, being a tech is now synonymous with being a salesperson. Selling equipment, selling parts, selling contracts, all the while being expected to keep up the pace with the maintenance and service calls. The only time I heard the words “you are a great tech and great techs are hard to find” was during my exit interview, followed by the words “if you ever change your mind come back”. It’s not for everybody, and not everybody is for it, but, if the industry wants to find and keep good techs, the industry is going to have to change its approach to how they treat their techs and what they expect of them. Great techs may not be great salespeople, and that should be perfectly fine. Nobody asks a great salesperson to be a great tech, if they did, there would be a shortage of great salespeople too. And speaking from a technicians standpoint, it’s sad when a tech who really wants to do the job and learn the trade feels more pressure to get out than to stay in it, and where it’s sad for the hvac companies, it’s just as sad if not more sad for the techs who give up on doing it. Just my experience.

@jdms1eeper

Жыл бұрын

I 1000% agree with you! It’s a shame that I have every NATE, cert and have a masters with 20 years experience, making as much or less than commission sales techs doing the trade 2-6 years. I would have been in a better position, not learning everything and caring and missing time with my family by just starting as a salesman instead

@staymelting833

Жыл бұрын

I agree with everything you said! At this point I’m fed up, what did you switch too if you don’t mind me asking?

@isscotty2hotty

Жыл бұрын

@@staymelting833 I switched to a position working for a manufacturing company fixing machinery, it’s better than what was happening with the hvac work I was doing, though I don’t know if I’ll stay. Really hoping to find work I love doing

@adamlamb1441

Жыл бұрын

I've been an HVAC tech for 13 years and experienced a similar situation you described above. I recently switched to a smaller company started up by some former coworkers and it's been so much better.

@isscotty2hotty

Жыл бұрын

@@adamlamb1441 that is awesome!

What is your definition of over priced? My company charges service calls $100 dollars an hour. On top of that, they make a lot of money on the parts they replace or fix. I did the math and my company really makes about $180-$250 an hour for an average week per employee. Yes, I know there is taxes and overhead. Is $50 an hour really a lot of money to ask for? Really? Taxes are mostly based on profit. The more they pay employees, the less they also pay in taxes. Companies expect to make all this money and get offended when the employee wants a good wage... that's why people start their own company... my brother started his own and within 5 years, he bought a big house, 3 cars, a boat, a camper, etc.... the secret is to pay good and make DECENT money off a LOT of workers; thus, growing a huge company and keeping the good workers from quiting. Stop this entitlement over employees. They deserve an awesome life too.

@NewHVACGuide

Ай бұрын

You definitely have a lot to learn about payroll taxes. However, I understand what you’re saying and agree that employees deserve an awesome life!

I’ve been at it 33 years, mostly commercial/industrial. I’m 52 and my company has not sent me to one school in 5 years. I’ve had two raises in nine years of service with this company. I travel all the time and I provide in-house training for our techs. If I hit the numbers, they can all kiss my ass.

@panamacitybeachbum

8 ай бұрын

Yep..all about the Benjamins.

When I started I got paid very little, every tech didn't want me because they had to teach me. I worked 2 years non stop not a fricking day off was never absent used my own paid car to do jobs as well as bought my own tools. Spent $6,000 out of my own pockets that I didn't have just to do my part. at the end of it the company was supposed to pay me a $5,000 bonus for my hard work yet they only have me $1,500 and kept the rest. Gave work vans to those who didn't do shit didn't help me out who spent 2 years non stop helping them out working 7 days a week doing between 10 to 17 hours shifts a day doing installs in a high demand company did I learn yes but for what they didn't want to pay. It's not that they are asking unrealistic money it has to do that if rent for a 1 bedroom is $1400 I'm not gonna ask you for $10 hour I've done my part now it's your turn as an employer to pay me a living wage if you want a dedicated employee like me stop blaming the new upcoming techs for your greed it's not our fault you want to be a millionaire in 1 year of opening a business. You charge an average of like $8,500 for a residential system install and you have me do all the install and at most want to pay me $20 an hour me doing everything hell no.

I agree with everything you said. The one thing I would add is that for about the last 15 years the kids entering the workforce not only need trained on HVAC but also weren't familiar with basic tools. I grew up working on my bicycle and stuff. These people played video games and never picked up a screwdriver except to change batteries in something.

@in-textbaptist4947

Жыл бұрын

In a generation where fathers stepped out, and mothers used screens to raise their kids, can you blame them?

@xalfonzx2648

Жыл бұрын

Not all of us gamers are worthless. Us gamers make the best service techs due to problem solving or objective drive inside video games. Currently I do both install and service at my company. I grew up playing Xbox and Nintendo. Not all graduates are good even with army backgrounds. Just saying.

@javencronin6503

Жыл бұрын

I am who you are talking about, I get what ur saying but quit with the generalizing, a lot of us pick shit up very quickly if taught correctly. Took me very little time to get my shit together with little knowledge about the trade

@user-te3qq1rb7u

Жыл бұрын

That's a pretty interesting point I haven't thought much about but makes a lot of sense now that you bring it up. I have noticed that quite a bit as well. I always helped my dad work on cars and stuff around the house as a kid and then worked on my bikes, ATV's, and eventually Jeep and trucks as I became a teenager. I had a really solid mechanical aptitude entering the trade even though I had close to zero knowledge of the technical aspects of HVAC. It becomes incredibly daunting to teach a fresh apprentice field skills when they can barely figure out how to use a wrench.

@ohiopat8517

Жыл бұрын

@@javencronin6503 After someone showed you which end of the screwdriver to use

I started hvac school during the lockdown. My neighbor kid started a CNC program at the same time. Two years later I'm half way through the 12 classes and unemployed. My neighbor kid is making $25 an hour plus overtime. I asked for $16 an hour but now I'm ready to take $13 an hour. When I apply for apprentice I'm expected to not only have ALL 5 certifications from 12 or 15 classes but NATE and additional certifications AND experience. I'll be lucky to make $50k to $60k with overtime working for someone else in 5 years. My neighbor kid says he can make $60k now with overtime. Do your research before you pick a career. This is a low paying one for most people and it destroys your back and knees. The only thing paying less is carpenter. I should have chosen plumbing or electrical. Twice the money or more.

In trade school now. After watching this, I appreciate my instructor even more. He drilled wiring schematics into us within the 1st couple months. I can wire a thermostat easily and I’m not even in my second semester. Thanks Delco

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

@HVACNoLife

Жыл бұрын

You have no idea how many people in hvac/ refrigeration can't read a diagram. Just being able to puts you a step above everyone else. Next step is to learn how to trace when you don't have one. Continue to progress. We need people like you.

@SJJtech

Жыл бұрын

@@HVACNoLife yes I’m learning that the trade school or apprenticeship program you choose really makes a big difference. I lucked up and chose a really good one.

@loganmmordh

Жыл бұрын

Graduated trade school and 10 months into residential HVAC. What I wished I did more in trade school was brazing, I brazed a lot in trade school, so I was ahead of other helpers, but if you can practice brazing in tight areas. That’s a hard skill

Being in the printing trade for really high-end graphics for 40+ yrs there is no better learning than "on the job" with a journeyman that's really good professional. I went threw an 4 yr apprenticeship + 2 yrs of trade school and bar none I learned most from a journeyman that was the best in the bay area. He taught me the tricks of the trade super cool guy everything came so easy for him I will never forget my time with him.

I'm an HVAC tech and it comprises more than just one trade and I expect to be paid for my skills and experience. I've had my fair share of crappy clients. And I have clients who treat me really well, so if people don't like my price, they can go elsewhere. A lot of my work comes from stuff that's been 'fixed' elsewhere and by the DIY crowd. There are farmers on my client list with cold rooms and when they call me with a problem, I help them check the basics over the phone and sometimes the problem is someone fiddled with the thermostat. That way, I don't have to go out, and the farmer isn't charged PLUS he feels he has a part to play. If you can't afford the technician, you can't afford the technology.

I’m considering leaving HVAC behind, really wanted to make it a career. The work life balance seems hard to manage and working in machine shops before starting at $20 an hour but in HVAC starting at 17$ and not advancing is killing my drive

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

I think we've all had that conversation internally a time or two.

@timrob0420

Жыл бұрын

Dude, stick with it. I’ve been doing it 6 years, last year I made over $130k. In this trade you get out what you put in. Study on your own and take learning in your own hands and you will go far. Keep grinding man.

@matthewshaw4475

Жыл бұрын

Man we all started at low wage, I am a service manager now after 18 years of the trenches, I moved a few companies to make better wages and I learned in the field. You are never gonna make 25 to 30 at the start, you need the years.

@scottm3552

Жыл бұрын

@@matthewshaw4475 I started at $25 n hour and asking for $5 dollar raise and am going to get it. Here in Colorado.

@EA91HVAC

Жыл бұрын

Stick to it I hit six figs as 3rd year apprentice in a 5 yr apprenticeship program through union lol.

I agree with you 100%. These old timers don’t want to do this anymore. It’s wear and tear on your body and mind. Most of them are realizing that life isn’t all about work, work, work. I came to a realization of this very quickly as I observed these old timers as an apprentice. I appreciate everything I learned from each and every one of them, but the main lesson was longevity. As techs we need to work smarter and protect our body more than anything. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we must protect it at all cost. As young business owners we need to set an example to these youth and influence them to pursue our trade. They are being influenced by pure evil and it can’t be any more clearer, especially with what is happening today.

@weslindsey5909

Жыл бұрын

You lost me on this one.

@cozyairhvac9676

Жыл бұрын

@@weslindsey5909 its okay. Not everyone understands.

@JAWmankato

Жыл бұрын

You’re a rather arrogant person. I’ve been doing this shop for 40 years and bet I can run circles around you any day.

@cozyairhvac9676

Жыл бұрын

@@JAWmankato brother I’m sorry you feel that way. In no way shape or form was that my intention. I would expect you to run circles from someone who’s got 20+ years on me. I’m talking the ones who can’t run circles anymore. Give me the same amount of time and experience and I bet I’d run more circles than you’d ever even dream of.

100% great informational video! I am a HVAC/R technician and installer, I agree with it being hard to find good workers but it’s also hard to find a good company to work for. I’m out of the St.Louis Missouri area and I’m lucky to be with a great employer who also pays well with benefits but I also experienced the nightmare companies as well. Keep up with the great videos

I've honestly worked with several senior techs who refused to share their knowledge with upcoming techs. For fear they would be replaced. Now some have passed away other's retired and never passed on their knowledge. The company that I currently work for has no interest in developing apprentices.

@fly5027

Жыл бұрын

Stay in that textbook.. focus on the refrigeration cycle understanding it is key, then troubleshooting units.. whenever you in the field... Follow those wires in the unit look at where they come from and where they're connecting to... Your textbook will give u the troubleshooting steps if your senior techs won't

@Jack-bs7cy

Жыл бұрын

Did maintenance showed the other maintenance guy how to get his EPA. Got demoted almost immediately. When I left the company the other maintenance guy called me to ask if the large line was supposed to be hot or cold.

@hyrumbliss5811

Жыл бұрын

Then they have no interest in growing their business.

@hyrumbliss5811

Жыл бұрын

The plumbing aspects of HVAC are pretty intricate as well. That is one trade that incorporates aspects of all the main trades. Electrical, plumbing, carpentry and the refrigeration technology.

@ericmcdaniel4029

Жыл бұрын

@@hyrumbliss5811 exactly

I was making no money in residential. Constant sales mentality. Went commercial refrigeration. Make more money then I know what to do with. If you are not afraid of working and learning then go commercial. Best decision I ever made.

@Paco1994k

Жыл бұрын

By commercial refrigeration you mean fixing up convenience store and Super Market coolers?

Biggest problem in trades is lack of companies who allow you to learn from senior techs. 4 Companies I've been through so far and each one has never offered training, shadowing or support of any kind. Told them directly I wasn't trained on a certain piece of equipment, each time they answer , " I was thrown in the deep end myself.. just use the internet". When it takes longer to diagnose they turn around, " why the hell did it take you so long, do you not know this stuff!?" ... Like I told you a few hours ago...

@scottm3552

Жыл бұрын

Comapanies want their techs smart enough to do the job but dumb enough to not exceed.

@sloppyjonuts9162

Жыл бұрын

Same I gave plumbing a shot. Horrible experience both 2 companies the second place I worked at I had to drive a guy around he had no license & DUI & just got out of prison..I learned a few simple things & to be honest it’s not worth it ..I’m thinking hvac will be better but I doubt it

@gregboy5944

Жыл бұрын

Finally someone said it 👍

@MikeBarbarossa

Жыл бұрын

I'm 40 years experienced with state master's lisence . Was trying to find HVAC work part time, for semi-retirement. Endless companies wanted to hire me full time overtime with truck, hit the streets and knock out service orders. No one was interested in part time. They all want the perfectly trained and capable tech full time ready to go or nothing

Griffin, I think you hit the nail on the head with this video. I'm a retired Boomer after 40 years in the industry. Towards the end of my run I was tech support for our field techs. I saw the drop off in folks that did not want to turn wrenches but wanted to press buttons in a comfortable environment. They wilted in the Louisiana heat. I've gone from pneumatics to DOS and relays to solid state and had to relearn several new refrigerants during that time with centrifugal and large commercial units. Started out in residential. I see the trade is in good hands with folks like you out there.

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

Thanks pal! Can you send me an email? I’d love to pick your brain on some of the things you’ve seen in your career!

Problem is also now days companies are being bought out and are not looking for techs they are training sales folks. Real techs are sent on warranties calls, while sales techs are sent on customers with older equipment with problems.

@TheGhettoLobster

Жыл бұрын

This is exactly what happened to the company I used to work for

@billderby1527

Жыл бұрын

@@TheGhettoLobster Same here. In the Dallas area this company has purchased at least 4 mid size old established companies. The very large parent company is out of Louisiana. Sale, sales, sales is what they want from techs.

@kevinfinnerty3754

Жыл бұрын

I am what they call at my company a “warranty tech” and everyone else gets to sell new units all day and stay clean. It’s a joke what this trade has come to

@billderby1527

Жыл бұрын

@@kevinfinnerty3754 At least you're not living your life ripping off people especially the elderly

@timcarson1645

Жыл бұрын

Is there a problem with that? Why should a customer have a inefficient unit, jacking up their utility bill, throwing money at a furnace to replace parts when we all know another part is going to break on a older unit. Why, so they can say my unit is 20 years old and I’ve replaced everything.? You’ll save money in the long run by replacing, getting a great warranty and adding value to your home. Replacement is fine I do t understand why everyone wants to keep fixing a old unit, is it ego?

I get payed as an engineer but rely mostly on my hvac exp/self taught knowledge. Easily 45/50 dollars an hour. If I were to get on as a full tech running a truck I’d have to beg for 25 an hour. Marketplace is broken

The biggest flaw in this industry is the lack of flag hours. Auto mechanics in the US typically get paid flag hours per job. So a job bid for 4 hours , if they finish in 2, they get all 4 hours. Makes it easy to make lots of hours and great pay and motivates you to work hard and complete jobs time effective. This should be industry standard. If you make hourly company pay and no commission , and a large compressor changeout on an intellipak is bid for 8 hours , and I finish in 5 , I only get 5 hours pay, and then have to hurry and load all my shit up and go bust my ass up and down roofs running another call just to make my 8 hours for the day. At that point , I might as well sit on my ass for that last 3 hours and milk the clock so I’m not getting taken advantage of. Either way the job is already paid for and approved and the company is making 8 hours labor regardless of wether or not you finish early. Hvac companies like to take advantage of this and run good techs into the ground. Most great techs around my area wind up taking more laid back positions or going Union to escape from this.

@marinermerrill3884

Жыл бұрын

I don’t agree with that at all. Pay structured like that encourage shotty work and no quality in workmanship. Just saying.

@adamlamb1441

Жыл бұрын

I am union and have dealt with that exact type of management. They would keep the quoted hours secret or tell you it was quoted for 5 when it was really quoted for 8. With a better company now that has transparency and motives other than greed.

@octaviocarrillo5954

Жыл бұрын

I worked in automotive for 10 years and the flat rate/flagging pay system is what most technician hate about the auto industry. It’s not ideal long term and only benefits the lower tier techs/parts changers and the company. If you’re a knowledgeable technician you’ll get screwed left and right while the parts changers are making good money doing repetitive gravy work while simultaneously damaging their body trying to beat “book time”. I now work in the material handling industry and I’ve learned there is no perfect pay structure. I loved working in automotive but would never go back to flagging hours. Most people that haven’t worked in that system don’t realize that the hrs keep getting cut back and aren’t the comfy hrs you are used to getting in other industries.

@marinermerrill3884

Жыл бұрын

@@octaviocarrillo5954 exactly. Techs end up hurting themselves and rushing to get the job done. What they don’t realize is that when guys rush and get faster and faster companies start trimming down the hours on itemized jobs over time. Pretty soon that 8 hour job that took you 5 working at a comfortable pace that you now get done in 4 hours to get the 8 hours of pay that company will learn to just bid 4 hours so you have to rush every single time just to barely break even. My first job as a plumber was peicerate work like this and it was killer on my body.

@wisenber

Жыл бұрын

@@octaviocarrillo5954 " It’s not ideal long term and only benefits the lower tier techs/parts changers and the company." The experienced techs I know seem to suggest otherwise, especially the ones that do transmission work.

5 month ago, I was quoted an reluctantly paid $500 to have a capacitor replaced on my single story roof top unit, which took about 10 minutes. I have 2 - 2.5 ton units and both are the original units, 25 years old. The tech also told me that the condenser motor needs to be replaced because it was leaking oil. He just ball parked the condenser replacement at well over a $1,000. To me this is highway robbery and and not looking to get screwed again so I started to learn about HVAC. I only need to learn about my units. So far, I have replaced all the capacitors and the condenser fan motor. Your right with the prices going higher and higher its now to my benefit to learn to do things myself and when I do it myself I know it wasn't just slapped together, I take my time and do a good job. I live in Las Vegas NV and the company was Johnny on the Spot. It's one thing to find a good HVAC Tech, but then to find one that doesn't screw you; I'm not sure the two coexist in my area.

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

Hi Tim. How much money do you think you have saved by doing everything yourself?

I'm in a trade school right now. While I am learning a lot of new things about the trade, most of the practice units that we have are broken. Our professor stated that the school does not want to pay to get those units fixed. Sometimes I just feel that I am just wasting my time and money attending this school. Also, I want to work for an HVAC company, but sadly the companies that I applied to are requiring at least a year of schooling.

@loganmmordh

Жыл бұрын

How are you applying? I did zip and indeed with minimal success Then I Google mapped hvac contractor and went to each company’s email and applied directly

@loganmmordh

Жыл бұрын

Much better results with the second one

doing this for 9 yrs now i can honestly say trade school was a waste of time. i started in the field greener than green and didn't go to hvac school until 2 yrs later. i learned more working in the field those first 2 yrs than i did in the 2 yrs in the classroom. One of the biggest issues i see with new hires is a lot of companies expect to be able to instantly throw them in a van and them be able to do any job they are given which is very intimidating IMO. You see a lot of guys who are afraid to work on stuff because the expectation is you better not mess it up. Sometimes the best way to learn stuff is to do it wrong the first time but companies don't see that and either want to admonish you in front of the other employees/customer or even just fire you. There is no allowance for a learning curve anymore everyone is expected to come straight from trade school with the knowledge of a 20 yr. field tech. Most companies won't even interview you if you don't have a minimum of 5 yrs in the field. So I don't see the problem as there isn't enough techs it's companies have to high of a standard during the hiring process and don't want to spend the time properly training these guys the right way.

@BabyKMoney

Жыл бұрын

Yup I started super green 3 and a half years ago. Now I’m lead install and make 28 an hour and $125 per install so on average I’m about $33-$39 an hour and I’m 22! and definitely worth it. My installs are top notch, I’m young, knowledgeable, and willing to get better and learn more!

@hgn1832

Жыл бұрын

@@BabyKMoney what state ?

@BabyKMoney

Жыл бұрын

@@hgn1832 Maryland

Employers are expecting these young guys to know stuff. But they don't want to train this guys. I love training people.

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

It’s fun to watch someone who trained grow as a pro

I moved from mechanical to controls, and all of this you mentioned is the reason I left the mechanical side. The building automation side you get good pay, benefits, and work is way less physical.

@KSWKREW

Жыл бұрын

I also got a job in Building Automations straight out of community college without any experience in mechanical hvac other than what I had learned in school. I agree with all your points , and would add it is the best of both worlds as far as being hands on with hvac systems along with a fair amount of computer work.

@alanlacosse8850

3 ай бұрын

Any advice on how to get into that side part of the industry and any learning resources? That's where I wanna be eventually

Problem with my state is the min wage for a licensed tech has not gone up yet min wage hit $15. So, trying to convince a kid to start in a trade for $16 an hour vs flip burgers for $15 an hour you can see why they don’t get to the trades. At least where I live.

@robertlyman9789

Жыл бұрын

I have thinking that too for a long time! Not to mention those that don’t wanna work at all

I am one of those great technicians and now that I’ve been doing this for so long and do it very well you’re exactly right if they don’t want to pay they’re pretty much done for I don’t wanna hear from them.. But 95% of my customers are not only happy with me. They are in love with me because I deliver and educate.

I have been an hvac technician since 1990 and I agree with much of what you said but even though I am very good at what I do and I always try to go the extra mile for the customer we sometimes still get bad reviews because of the way the office talked to them on the phone or they had to wait or were too expensive or they didn’t like the salesman or whatever and I really got tired of the 24 hour on call so about 5 years ago I switched to a company that does commercial and industrial only and I won’t have to be on call anymore once I turn 52 next month!! But I am still friends with my old employer as a matter of fact my son started working for them as soon as he graduated from high school and he will be starting an apprenticeship with the union next spring so I’m trying to do my part with recruiting young people and yes they didn’t grow up the same way that us older people did as far as using tools everyday from a young age, but they are much more technical than us and the hvac field is too with BAS and even homes with the internet of things, so I think we’re going to be ok !

I own a small hvac mini split buisness and its basically me, my mentor, and my best friend. Everytime I tried to expand wasnt worth the hassle. I was working more making less. So many of these big companies charge like 5k to 10k more than me and do shitty job. I get all my work from word of mouth. Ive had to give a few customers their money back for being assholes. I got enough work to be able to be picky at this point.

As a tech that hasn't been in it a long time.. part of the issue is tied in with the older fellas that know it all leaving. New tech shows up and home owner is kinda like "well are you sure you know what you're doing?" You don't want to say no cuz, duh. You don't want to say yes cuz then if you fuck up it's also against your company.. training won't teach you everything. The older guys been there and fucked up already and learned what not to do. Yeah the backyard mechanic mentality sucks too cuz then you get to figure out what was done.

Thanks Griff I'm just starting to listen to your education about finding a good contractor

Have been doing HVACR for 31 years and I am done with this industry, starting my new maintenance job at an automobile factory! I have to travel farther to get parts or order parts and wait to finish the repair when years ago you went to a local parts distributor which there are none in my county any more and fixed the unit the same day. Now we are changing refrigerants again this will only complicate things even more. Speaking to the lack of qualified young workers 25 years ago our school systems discouraged average students from pursuing a “trade” at votech centers pushing them instead to take computer programming related courses at the high school while only sending the behavioral disorder or BD kids to trade schools and now here we are, we have a lost a whole generation of skilled trade’s workers. Too much indoctrination in education these days they don’t spend enough time on the fundamentals and don’t get me started on the common core math 🤬

Most of the guys I've seen coming in to the industry couldn't find their butt with both hands and a map, absolutely clueless and no common sense and all of them over rate themselves just to prove they aren't what they advertised. So disappointing! As for as fixing DYI stuff, won't touch it. You'll always be the bad guy because of the price you'll charge. Did it once and the guy guy cried about it after he was quoted and the work was done saying "well, it only costs this much for me to buy it". The response is, and now it's not working and I have to fix the mistakes you made so if you want to save the money then learn to fix it. No problem with me, my AC works great!

I started working for a commercial refrigeration company in 2016 while attending tech school at night. Learned absolutely nothing in school. It was all experience. The main problem I experienced early on was experienced techs not willing to teach newbs.

@Alex-jo2oi

Жыл бұрын

I feel like it really depends on who you learn from... I felt like this with numerous techs and then one day it clicked with a tech. I was picking up everything that they were putting down.

@Alex-jo2oi

Жыл бұрын

@@scottm3552 that’s true af

@scottm3552

Жыл бұрын

@@Alex-jo2oi I deleted and posted an actual comment check it out.

@Alex-jo2oi

Жыл бұрын

@@scottm3552 seen. All true. Nobody is book smart enough to grasp the theories behind it. They just replace parts without realizing or figuring out the root cause of the issue. It’s really not that hard. People are just stupid.

@scottm3552

Жыл бұрын

@@Alex-jo2oi and they want to pay these little fck tards more than me, i asked for a raise within first 8 months of working for a company because im the only qualified tech even working there lol. im sick of it

I have had two hvac projects since buying my house 2 years ago. I ended up doing the projects myself because after waiting multiple months for the contractors to commit, I needed to get the project done! Crazy the times we are in. The guys that string you along are the worst! Just give me an accurate answer! Untimately, the projects turned out great and i learned a lot about my systems but kind of sad that's my only option.

Good channel. Thanks for your efforts recording, editing and publishing.

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

Thanks pal

Been HVAC for 16 years and just got out the field to work on CNC machines. This trade is a greedy joke, equipment is low quality, trane sucks, the business owners are greedy. And the good techs should be paid better, take care of your employees, it's a high demand speciality it's not mowing fucking grass. A good experienced tech wanting 30 to 35 an hour is not too much to ask. Also the entitlement of many of the customers is disgusting, sorry can't get to everybody at once people, use your dam brain and have a backup like a window unit or two until we can get there. Yes the home owner has to pay, if you don't like it, learn how to do it your dam self. So glad to be out the field. Much happier now. Also don't miss having to be a folded up pretzel to work on a unit that is in a stupid place where it's almost not serviceable.

I tried very hard to get on with an hvac company but no one would ever hire me. I went on did apartment maintenance for awhile now I work for a university. Hearing some of the horror stories from other techs has given me comfort in the path I've chosen. I'm almost 38 and don't ever see myself working for a company. Maybe I missed my chance but I guess I have to be OK with it going forward.

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

Sorry to hear that. Sometimes God had a better plan for ya. 🙂

I went to MIAT in Michigan. The issue is that these schools need to meet certain requirements in order to be accredited. In an example they teach us how many btus and kw it takes to boil water. But we never wired up a thermostat. I spent an entire week for 8 hours a day draining and refilling a boiler system. Which was very helpful, then in the next class I did heating calculations that had no effect on my knowledge. The instructors would love to sit there and have you just work on units all day. Blame the state because they treat trade schools like colleges and turn them into regular colleges, ruining the experience.

I have an extreme interest in HVAC. Not in the "field" per say however I have taken refrigeration classes and obtained my EPA Universal earlier this year. In my early 30s I just do not believe I could match my current wages/benefit package working for a local HVAC company. Going out and opening my own business llc is the only way I see it ever working. Skilled labor isn't cheap & cheap labor isn't skilled.

@bobboscarato1313

Жыл бұрын

You should go on your own; make sure to learn as much as you can and be sure to be well capitalized; join trade groups etc. and get involved with local community groups which will help grow your business. etc.

@cd1772

Жыл бұрын

Not interested in the field, but want to open your own company? Sounds a little confusing man. Kindve like saying you’re interested in books and want to start a publishing company, but have no interest in reading or writing. There’s only so much you can learn on paper. You won’t have grasped 5% of the knowledge you will obtain with hands-on experience. In saying that, most companies are run by ignorant jackoffs, so statistically you would have a very high chance at success with that attitude

@joshsansone5113

Жыл бұрын

@@cd1772 i believe you may have misinterpreted. I wrote I have an extreme interest in HVAC. Then what I meant was although I am not in the field currently per say I did go out on my own and take classes and obtained EPA. I believe my point being is if the money is not in the HVAC field as a competitive trade how can someone be attracted to it? I currently make six figures. I find it highly unlikely a local HVAC company would hire me for anything around that. I don't know very many people to consider drastic downgrades in their professional work. When considering starting my own company doing HVAC which I seem to enjoy I also foresee that as challenging to match current wages/benefits. Mainly just responding to the video. Local companies won't pay enough. Is the risk of starting a company worth the effort in the end for my particular situation. I personally believe any trade(s) apprentice should be in the $28/hr range with decent benefits and a tech to be making $40/hr +. Of course this can vary depending on locale. Josh makes great points in the videos. The schools are set up to make money. Honestly you can learn more about HVAC by watching AC Service Tech videos online. You need great local companies willing to invest the time/money into apprentices and put them with great teachers. They need to be taught to troubleshoot, understand what the system is doing, understand cause/effect of symptoms. I personally see too many newer techs who would be unable to adequately troubleshoot yet their company is paying or commissioning them to sell NEW equipment and or service memberships. It takes money to make money. As I stated before I am early 30s and college was always pushed. Getting into the trades wasn't that big of a talk when I was in high school. However if young men/women can take a high school class or vocational school get employment into trades into an apprenticeship and have their school paid so they making $40+ an hour I am all for it. Those individuals will be making 80k+ with a little OT and no school loan debt. There is a worker shortage across the country. Supply and demand. I know of a job local that is start pay around $16/17/hr with a six year wage progression up to $32/hr. Said employer is losing employees faster than they can hire because similar work in the area is now starting $22-28/hr. People are leaving for those Companies. Other companies are offering better benefits, better work schedules/hours etc. The ones not competing will be left behind struggling. Companies need to focus on finding quality people and invest in retaining those individuals.

@rosewoodsteel6656

Жыл бұрын

@@cd1772 "..most companies are run by ignorant jackoffs, so statistically you would have a very high chance at success with that attitude" Now that's funny!

Yeah, this is why I just like knowing how to do things myself. At this point, I have a small armory full of tools, I know the basics of framing, how to wire a house, how to hang and fix drywall, trim carpentry, etc. Hell, I could make my own cabinets from scratch, if buying prefabricated cabinets weren’t cheaper. Plumbing and HVAC are the only real gaps in my knowledge, but even then, I get the gist of it. And, yeah, there is a shortage of people in the trades. The electrical company I work for doesn’t have enough lead electricians, and it’s a pretty big company and a lot of the helpers just kind of see it as a job, not necessarily as a career. They’re only trying to get good enough to help, not necessarily good enough to eventually take up reins, themselves. It’s gonna be interesting to see how all of this plays out as boomers continue to retire, and gen x’ers start to retire.

Y’all hitting the nail on the head, these stories sound just like my experience

Most of my customers are wealthy and have large complicated estates and that include their factories, office building and homes. Being most of the time the 4th or 5th contractor to look at the same on going problem(s) mainly with their high tech expensive equipment they ask me why they can't seem to find anyone who knows what they are doing. My answer is always the same...and that is "it's your fault" that there are very few highly skilled techs in most any trade anymore. So I ask them at their last family/friends reunion/holiday with a lot of people sitting around when the discussion comes to the future of their kids, kids kids and grand kids as to a career field do they, the adults, advise these kids of theirs to look into the mechanical trades as a career as it offers security, good pay, many opportunities and a great sense of accomplishment. The room goes dead with the overall silent agreement among them that to work with ones hands out in the field in harsh atmosphere is for second class type of people. Not one person or group has ever tried to correct my statement. Our "new" world, for the most part, looks down upon anyone who is not college degreed or who is working with their hands and minds outside of a desk job. And it's not going to get any better..but it probably won't have to with the ever increasing use of mini split as the answer to modern day air condition and heating which is now being promoted heavily to the DIY crowd.

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

Well said pal

@ajalbrecht9956

Жыл бұрын

Yeah but they still can't put them in right they don't know how to weigh in the charge or vacuum pump them down

@thebluelunarmonkey

Жыл бұрын

And every desk job can be exported to another country where labor is cheaper. For IT, countries like india and brazil are hotspots because - in India, US corporations can pay IT professionals $12,000 USD a year. You can't outsource an HVAC job. One thing you can mention in the next party is "That 120K year job you have now, can be done in india for 12K"

In Michigan hourly pay for techs is getting phased out. On commission I make 75-80k a year. Residential service. 22 yrs old, 2 years field experience.

My thoughts - former chiller tech, trade is an interesting combination of gritty "meat and potato's" work where physical strength is needed combined with technical knowledge where knowing how to navigate thru the programs on your laptop is a must This combo is not easily found as those who do the grunt work often do not want to learn the tech side, while those who can whiz thru a computer program do not want to pick up anything heavy

My old manager used to stress how useless a lot of guys outta trade school were, I learned on the job and I'm glad I did.. I've been doing this for a few years now but with a shortage of techs sometimes smaller offices gotta do it all and you'll either sink or swim when it's time to put in some work. This job kicks me in the balls sometimes but I love it.

I'm soooo glad i found this video. I'm currently in Trade school for HVAC and i graduate next year August. I'm very worried because we don't get a lot of lab time in my school and the professors are constantly rushing us through courses and everything, whenever i tell them too slow down, I'm always made fun of and everything but I don't care, i want this career and I'm trying to be the best technician possible. My GPA is currently very high but i know that doesn't matter because my experience level is very low. And its not like I'm not willing to do the work, I just never get the opportunity to do the work at school. i was thinking of trying to get a part time job to get some in field experience but unfortunately most companies here in Maryland want experienced guys or HVAC Masters. Also, its hard to work with my schedule currently because I'm still working a full time job on top of school. I'm very worried when i graduate that i wont get a opportunity to work or at least hold a job long enough to grow as a technician because I don't know a lot in the field. I'm just hoping when I do find a job, that I find a company or guy, is willing to work me and understand that the school didn't get me in the lab a lot to practice but i am willing to learn and work hard. It just sucks like you said because I took out loans for this shit and I feel like my money is going down the drain because i need more experience while I'm here in school so i can ask questions and stuff. I just found your page today and you just got a new subscriber, i don't know if your going to see this, but if you do, please any advice to me. I'm 33 if that matters.

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

Hey pal. This video might help: kzread.info/dash/bejne/YqtlttCxdpO5gNY.html

@bill944

Жыл бұрын

No matter how well you do in school it just prepares you to be able to make heads or tales out of what's happening in the field. I graduated with a perfect GPA at the top of my class and was constantly doing research when I got off of work and on the weekends. Always ask questions, read installation manuals for furnaces, A/Cs, thermostats, anything! Knowledge is power and gives you confidence. Customers can smell the lack of confidence a mile away and if you don't have confidence in yourself, they certainly won't either. Fake it till you make it. Great KZread channels are HVAC School and AC Service Tech LLC. Best of luck! BTW, I was 41 when I changed careers and got into HVAC, you got this!

@maness2112

Жыл бұрын

Don't expect to be spoon fed with hvac knowledge. Know your weak areas of knowledge and skills and attack them.

@MrToppDeck

Жыл бұрын

@@bill944 Thanks Bill. I'm coming into HVAC from land surveying, switching careers as well. Are there any specific installation manuals you would recommend reading

@MrToppDeck

Жыл бұрын

@@maness2112 Thanks for the advice

I was the untitled supervisor, I cleaned up everyone’s mess in new construction. Made sure we passed inspection and darling with city and county inspectors. Did tech and repair work. Sheet metal. Installs of all types. I left because I couldn’t get more than 19.00 a hour. No thanks. When I left it took 9 guys to do my job. Now the company lost three major contracts with builders.

I hear a lot of complaining in the comments about greedy companies and everyone deserves to be paid, well, heres the facts. No one deserves anything, and you are not owed anything, or entitled to anything. Running a company in the trades is MUCH more costly than people think. Insurance, licensing, workers comp, benefits, accounting, vehicle costs, shop/office costs, invoices, taxes etc. all have a cost. No, your boss isn't making $100hr on your labor like some comments mention. Also, a lot of owners are operating on credit. Living a lifestyle over what they can actually afford. Ive seen this time and time again. Around here we are on a 5-10 year cycle. Very rarely are trades businesses in business for more than 10 years simply because of poor money management, and living lifestyles they can maintain. There's really only one way to make good money in the trades. Which is to start your own business and stay out of debt. Starting out learn all you can, get licensed and do your own stuff. You wont make good money working in a small business because there's nowhere to go, your boss is the owner. In a larger company realize that its 99% likely it is being run on a razor line budget. All they will care about is trying to collect money from customers to pay their investors. Ive seen investors money spent on vacations, cars houses and seen the huge lawsuits that ensued. Be very careful if you work for a big company as everything isn't always as it seems. If just starting out, learn all you can and if you are really interested in making more money start your own business. Unfortunately this is just where we are in the trades. Figure out the game and play it.

To all hvac techs: avoid Apartment Maintenance. You will be treated as someone desperate for a job. You will not be recognized for the hvac skills you have, though you will be required to have EPA certification and sometimes an HVAC license! You may have 10 years experience in HAC, but an 18 yr old girl in the office with no experience, a leasing agent, anyone in the office will be your BOSS!! You will be treated as a "field worker", because those in the office "work with their brains" instead of their hands. Every stuffed shirt from corporate looks down on you, "if you could do better you wouldn"t be here. You will be on call 7 days a week. You must be required to know approximately 30 skills including plumbing, carpentry, tile work, make ready, painting, glass work, high voltage area lighting, electrical, appliance repair of all kinds and you will be paid terribly, starting at 12 hr! DON'T DO IT. Your 20 year old manager will make more than twice what you do!!, with no skills whatsoever!

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

Hey pal. Send me an email with your contact info. I’ve got a question for ya 🙂

Im wrapping up my first year in hvac, my goal is service tech, but Im starting in install. I studied online instead of in person, which helped me alot because I completely understood the complicated stuff like subcooling and the 4 basic components of refrigeration cycle (in residential anyway) on my very first day, but I lacked any sort of hands on work and I was kind of thrown to the wolves with my first job using any kind of power tool. Things are alot less shaky now that I can practically install an entire system, but my concern is changing from install to service. I feel like employers are somewhat willing to train helpers in install but are very reluctant to even consider service training. The company I work for is going downhill in general, so now im just wondering how long I should wait before I try to switch companies.

@kevinvega1572

Жыл бұрын

Good job man !! Wish you the best my advice to you take it or leave it , it is to stay in the install side until you learn how to install by yourself then move to service. Reason being is once you really start taking off and start making good money and your next store neighbors start calling you for work yes you will go and servixe whatever it is but if they’re better off with a new one then trust me your going to want to be the guy that installs the new one not only is it a real nice pay day but they also become your customer

@joeymccomas1053

Жыл бұрын

Learn the installs and move to service. That jump is easier said than done. Personally I’ve never had to deal with that. The company I work for does it all so I learned it all kinda at once. Very challenging to do that because there’s so much info to learn but we’ll worth it. Studying on KZread will help you so much getting into service but the rest of the knowledge will come from older techs and just simply what you learn and see out in the field. Don’t be nervous or let that challenge scare you. You’re gonna screw up. Just expect that going in and learn from the screw ups and don’t repeat them. When I was new, I destroyed a brand new $5,000 compressor for a rack. Wanna talk about nervous hahaha

@billj4859

Жыл бұрын

Don't wait. Put out feelers now. Find a company where you can possibly start as an installer but make it clear you want to move to service.

Since you brought up training, I attended 1050 classroom hours at Haney VoTech in Panama City, Florida. during the early 1990's to be a HVAC tech. All that time, and didn't get ANY training on heat pumps, or split systems. They had me repairing residential refrigerators and window units. MAYBE, if i'd stayed ANOTHER year, I might have gotten to the blocks that would have been useful in the trade. I saw they were hosing me and dropped out. I learned enough to be dangerous. Companies would hire me, and then fire me as I was useless for most everything. I stuck it out and learned from my field experiences, and became a skilled tradesman over time. I would venture to say most people would have given up with what I went through.

Agree a lot with what was covered in the video, but there's another problem in the industry related to training. As a lead HVAC mechanic and I love sharing the knowledge and wealth, but sometimes I just don't get the opportunity to do it even when I have a willing and able helper hungry to learn. There's always a ticking clock in keeping up with schedules and such. When you add to that the lack of good help and experience and dwindling interest in the trade, you end up with smaller crews, less help and more time pressure to get jobs done in a timely manner. Most days I simply do not have the luxury of slowing a job down, explaining something to a helper and then letting them jump in and try to do it themselves. It just takes too long. Most days if I do eat lunch, it's with a sandwich in one hand and a wrench in the other. I would be coming home to a cold dinner 7 or 8 pm every night if I were to try to make the time to properly train a helper. Even on days when we make good time and finish up early, the pressure for me to get on to something else is always there, because I'm the only experienced installer. I'm the only one who can fabricate sheet metal. I was the only one for a while who could install water heaters. I'm the only one certified to do a generator Maintenace. I'm the only one outside of our lead tech and estimator who can swap out a control board, a blower motor, or a humidifier... We just don't have the manpower and experience to spread the load around and take the time to focus on training. There's just never enough time or help.

I think it also has to do with many people are hearing that every new hires that does get hired in with many companies are getting stuck working in attics. Many are afraid due to hearing it’s very hot and humid, getting stabbed by roofing nails, falling through the ceiling.

I appreciate everything you've said. I'm a newer tech and I truly feel you spoke the truth about being educated and I've had to become an apprentice of a guy that has 30 years. I'm staying humble willing to learn and I'm 58 years old but love the business and everything about hvac/r Great Stuff and on point.

You sound like a good Boss but I’ve been a technician for many years and I know everything from residential to commercial. The problem I see with companies especially small ones is that they don’t pay well and they treat employees like like slaves. Everything is good when you’re busy but as soon as the season slows down then you start seeing their true colors. I stop volunteering and doing extra work for them. If they fire me I have a million places to go but they still have me here because they know I’m the best 😂!!!!

I’m 22 years old and an hvacr tech who specializes in commercial refrigeration, it’s amazing how little I’ve learned in school and learned more so from other techs and on the field as well as my resources, I think that’s another thing wrong with the field. Also it’s kind of messed up how older techs treat you since you’re younger and they think all younger people are useless but get surprised when you actually know your shit, well I mean I do have a buddy who never had experience with basic hand tools and I can’t imagine him as an apprentice, which he is lol

@staymelting833

Жыл бұрын

In the same boat as you being 21.

Installed for two years. A year of that as a lead. But to alot of companys that wasn't enough. Couldn't get another company to complete to take me on to complete my skills. The owners of those companies wanted perfect techs that knew everything so the could drink coffee all day. And the company I did work for wanted me to take vacation when it got cold not when my kid had summer vacation.

Your one hundred percent correct i feel, see and gone through exactly what your saying. Glad im not crazy for the path im going

I agree with 100% with you about more people that are good starting their own business and keeping it lean on purpose

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

It’s become competitive and ambitious people are finding a way

Last 10 years was crucial for HVAC trade when variable speed technology was introduced for residential side of the trade

I'm a 69 year old woman, an artist no less, trying to understand something about HVAC systems before I choose a contractor. Lots of expletives are going through my mind right now as I realize how complex this stuff is. What chance do I have of knowing enough to know enough. But here's the thing. Just listening to all these youtube guys - this guy in particular - and reading the threads from all of you does fill in some gaps. At least I have some vocabulary, and a few questions to ask, and the key red flags. Thanks to you all -

Best advice I can give any new HVAC tech or anyone in trade school trying to get in the trade. Is learn your electricity and wiring. It's a lot to take in at first but, learn the basics and build on it. Eventually fixing electrical components will be as easy as changing batteries in a tv remote.

I agree with your assessment of where things are headed for the industry, as an HVAC tech myself I have struggled over the years to find a good company to work for. I eventually found my way to the government because the pay is excellent and benefits are outstanding and the work life balance is far better. The greed of homeowners wanting immediate 24/7 service at an affordable price makes companies push their guys beyond reasonable expectations in order to compete with their competition and techs eventually get burnt out. I feel that the trade needs to re-shape how home owners think about service and learn that they will have to wait for good service. I also feel that equipment has lead many to leave the trade as I have found no brands to be truly reliable especially with the higher efficiency units you can almost guarantee a critical failure within the first 2-5 years. I plan to open my own practice to continue to be up on new residential tech and make maximum profit while also remaining working for the government where my bases are covered. Will be very interesting to see where things go in the next 5 years or so.

@staymelting833

Жыл бұрын

What do you do in government if you don’t mind me asking? Considering making the switch myself

@kevinmonty1400

Жыл бұрын

@@staymelting833 HVAC Mechanic WG-5301. Look it up on USA jobs. make and account and set alerts to notify you of positions available in your area. 5300 series jobs are HVAC Mechanics, Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanics, Boiler Techs, and a few other titles may vary depending on the base. Helps if your a VET- I am not but they are lacking help in mechanical trades because of some of the points discussed in this video so they opened a bunch of direct hire positions in my area to get support. Also look for 5600 series jobs- DDC Controls Technician will be titled something like Electronic Controls or HVAC controls. Of course the government has its own problems but your guaranteed a steady paycheck all year and better benefits then any company downtown (that I know of) and honestly better hourly rate most likely. You will have to adjust to the pace as your not gonna be moving like you would be running calls to earn money, for some this is hard to adjust to but you get used to it when you realize you feel better physically, mentally, and your a part of your own family again.

@ownlanedavo1167

Жыл бұрын

@@kevinmonty1400how much experience would someone need to start? I haven’t had any luck getting into a company.

In my community college/HVAC school i learned alot, got straight A's, graduated with honors, passed ALL offered NATE ICE exams with all high passing scores, all the information is in the book people are you kidding lol. Experience is gained on the job, knowledge in the books. Most people skip the books. All the losers who dropped out said you learn it all on the job. All the losers who couldn't pass the NATE exams didn't pay attention in school. I was the only person in the 2 years i was there passed the NATE exams and graduated with honors. I saw it first hand, people are stupid, our society has been dumbed down very badly, god has been removed from the schools and at home, people just cant pick up simple stuff or what seems simple to a good tech. Everyone wants to sit on the toilet and jerk off all day, and if you want me to work for you........ i want 40 n hour and im willing to relocate. tankkkk youuu.

@hostileaks4495

Жыл бұрын

You're not going to get 40 an hour any time soon. The book stuff is okay but being able to troubleshoot and fix problems in the field is where the money is. Most people will hire a guy with experience over a honor roll student.

I speak from experience, here’s the fact 1. Companies don’t want to hire inexperienced people this lead to a gap in age and experience of techs. This left the industry fill with tech on the way out with no replacement because companies didn’t want to train anyone. 2.pay! The pay over the years hasn’t increase enough where it’s worth it now a days an Hvac apprentice make as much as a Starbucks employee. Before I lend my first job I been on hundreds of interviews and they all like me but all said the same thing, we’re looking for someone with experience After I got experience and was look for a new job they all said the same things again, We can’t pay you that much, then a few months to a year later they reach back out asking me am I’m still look for a job? No! The pay compared to cost of isn’t as good as they say. Then you have these companies with their toxic micro management philosophy And no matter how bad it gets they won’t change direction until they’re under staff due to tech leaving because of their policies How many companies ask techs how happy are they working here?

Spot on comments. I am one of those who just does not want to hassle with employees. We have raised an entire generation to resent criticism and advice and avoid any kind of labor. Why should I carry them? It's not worth it. I make enough for myself, and that's probably the level I will stay at.

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

I have a friend who intentionally is staying small. His margins are good and has less stress

@bill944

Жыл бұрын

Can't say that I blame you. I'm a technician, not a babysitter.

Hit the nail on the head. I agree with everything you said. Well done

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

Thanks pal

I think many blue collar jobs are going to have to go to a apprenticeship setup. Get paid a much lower wage but you get to learn the trade. Companies are going to have to lure people that way, why pay thousands for a piece of paper, or learn a trade and get paid while learning. Hoping people just show up wanting these jobs is just not going to get it done. I work in the automotive trade and it's getting hard to find people to fill positions. Not only that but where I work is government fleet and were struggling to get applicants.

I work as a ac mechanic for a hospital. It's not bad. Today I am just cleaning fan coil units in stair wells. I make 52k a year right now I got 398 hours or PTO. I only do residential for family and friends.

On the school part. I’d love to eventually be a teacher at a local votech (vocational school) but the state typically has a set itinerary that you have to teach which is hot garbage usually

@hvacrnortheastern2110

Жыл бұрын

You are absolutely correct l am a substitute HVAC teacher at a local trade school l see the literature NCC change over the years not for better l try to go back basics learning HVAC . l think we need more HVACR companies & unions get involved with all trade schools of getting better result .

As someone who went to trade schools after leaving the army (about 3 years ago) the problem with the trade schools is not that they aren't teaching them it's that the kids aren't taking it seriously and learning what they need to at the school. During covid we had limits on how many could be in the lab at a time, I got put on a list to be called when someone didn't show up which happened all the time several of us got 2-4 extra labs a week, the company I work for hired 2 kids 1 that graduated before me and 1 with me and now several years later they are still working PMs and I have been a service tech since shortly after I was hired. The one that graduated before me does some service work now too and everything you tell him is in 1 ear and out the other, I tell him the same things multiple times a week, every time he calls me for a refrigerator troubleshooting first question I ask is are the fans running and he always says yes, but a lot of the time they aren't. Earlier today he called under counter cooler 50F and iced up, he defrosted it and called me, told me what happened, I asked what the frost pattern looked like, he said even I asked are your evap fans running, yes, I told him might be a low charge, check compressor amp draw and if it's low pierce into the system (r290 unit) and call me back if you need. 5 minutes later I get a call, 1 of my evaporator fans isn't running... do you think that's the problem... Sorry for the rant but I don't think the problem is the schools (some of them maybe) it's the people they are getting are not treating this as a serious career. Also on the ride customers thing, both at my day job and my side work I give 2 warnings then I leave and my boss supports that, I get your frustrated but you're not taking it out on me I have more than enough work I don't need your business as much as you need me to fix your heat.

@weslindsey5909

Жыл бұрын

Ima have to adopt these two warnings thing. Although i haven't had too many shit customer lately, I've been lucky. I had one earlier this year, which basically called me and my worker stupid for not wanting to do a dangerous install. I told him to fuck off went home wrote his ass a check and came back handed it to him and grabbed my equipment. Ended up cussing the dude out cause he wouldn't stop bugging me as i was taking my equipment back. Like bruh you sint worth it i already gave you a fucking deal. Then you wanna insult me and my guy cause we dont wanma hurt ourselves on your job. Have fun paying some rookie at a big company 10k more to get a shittier install. And waiting another 2 to 4 months because of supply chain bullshit.

@keldon_champion

Жыл бұрын

@@weslindsey5909 ya I don't have too many customer that treat me that way, the last one I had was at this bar for a cheap pile of crap avantco refrigerator. The unit had a leak that one of our techs fixed which was warranty and covered by the MFG, about 6 months later the unit had a compressor fail under warranty, the MFG sent out a new compressor to be replaced, all done no big deal, but this was just a few weeks before the warranty expires and the MFG wouldn't cover replacement of the cap tube with the compressor (usually a good idea to change it because they get plugged with crap) I offered to change that as well if the customer would pay for it they declined, skip to 5 months later warranty is expired and the unit is not cooling, customer is all bent out of shape saying this is my fault and the unit must be leaking because I did a bad job, I tell them if they relax I'll look at it and if it is my fault I'll warranty it but they need to stop, they calm down and I go about troubleshooting, system is high pressure on the discharge side and a vacuum on the suction. The cap tube is restricted, which is definitely not the fault of my workmanship, no warranty so MFG isn't covering it either, I tell the customer and they loose their shit and start insulting me saying how can this not be my fault, I asked them to calm down so we can work this out and he told me I'm just a retard and if I don't fix it right now he will sue us, and Avantco, and the restaurant store he bought it from for scamming him (he hasn't paid us anything all prior work was under MFG warranty).I asked him to calm down or I would leave, he said I'm an idiot and I'm not allowed to just leave, so I told him to enjoy his broken refrigerator we won't be back and left, my boss backed that 100%, they are now black listed in our call center as a hostile customer so we won't even accept warranty work at their location.

I’m a 40+ semiretired HVAC&R tech many of us are just physical worn out and broken, not helping are increasing regulation, people not paying for services, the abundance of scam artists, … not to mention the general lack of diagnostic skills

I live and work in southern Virginia.been at over 33 years and all for the same small family owned business.its just 10 including office and workers. We mainly do residential,light commercial.worked in the field for 30 years and over that time have had many helpers,apprentices.i mainly did installation/sheet metal.we are still doing our duct work with quality custom metal trunk lines.all those years I have never had a helper stay in the trade and make something of himself.they want to make top pay and not put the time in or master there trade. Then we get a good young guy with good work ethic and knowledge,we train and invest in them only to lose them to the large commercial companies who can pay the high salaries.you can’t really blame them for leaving because it’s so much more money.but it sure does make it hard for the smaller companies. When my generation retires I don’t know where the workers are going to come from.

@anthonyspadafora1384

Жыл бұрын

We have a company here called Carpenter Steel. They are a producer of stainless steel. They are hiring licensed plumbers. 47 dollars an hour, medical, every holiday, overtime and they match your 401k up to 8% with a year end bonus of 10% of your yearly salary. They still can't find plumbers!

@cd1772

Жыл бұрын

Im on year 7 of residential hvac. Furnaces, AC’s, tankless’ etc. Have you ever considered that it’s hard to find apprentices that’ll stick around just because the job sucks cock? It’s not that hard to imagine that the younger generation wants more out of life than a dusty mechanical room, especially when most of them can make the same amount of money working at their local Dairy Queen. Between the copious amount of dust, insulation and glue/primer we inhale, those kids who decide to leave the trade will most likely end up with a 15 year longer lifespan than those of us that stay. You make it sound so fuckin glorious, when really you’re just delusional

@anthonyspadafora1384

Жыл бұрын

@@cd1772 My advice to you is get out. If you don't enjoy what you're doing then by all means get out. Hard to believe you have been working at this for 7 years and you don't enjoy it.

@cd1772

Жыл бұрын

@@anthonyspadafora1384 you make it sound like people not liking their job is uncommon lol. Especially as time wears on and the novelty of your work wears off. Soon as opportunity knocks I’m running for it. Until then, it’s hauling out old equipment out of people’s houses and hauling in new equipment

@xslabcabxhearsex

Жыл бұрын

@@cd1772 it is a hard job and is hard on your body.someone new to the trade can go work at Dairy Queen but what kind of future is in that job. I try to tell the young guys to look at the big picture and the time they will be making great money and always be able to find a high paying job where ever they go.

Definitely an "owner" perspective. I get it. What about holding these trade schools accountable? Community college instructor argued with me that there's 2k btu/ton. There's no new quality techs because their trade schools are garbage. Furthermore, young techs primarily avoid questioning their sr guys. No questions means no knowledge gained. It's cool if you're 30 and you don't know it all! Ask questions! You can make a good living here. And it takes a lot of energy to be good. These guys need mental health days.

Most techs make like 20 an hour in my area. That's an average of helpers and more experienced. How is anybody in an urban area gonna live off that?

@7002217

Жыл бұрын

I had told that same thing to my manager and he told me that I should budget my money better

Very insightful Josh. Seen the same. Thx

been active in the trade for over 50 yrs, my family owned a small sized hvac business, we figured the average length of employment, even if we trained in house , averaged five to seven years. Now if you take into consideration my length of time in this service industry, I started at a time when things were technically very basic to today. the amount of technical knowledge one has to acquire due to the hi degree of technical change is the one thing that has kept me in this trade and the speed of change is one of reasons good techs leave.

@robertlyman9789

Жыл бұрын

Finally get comfortable with things, then the Gov changes it up, again!

I started in the trade working with my dad when I was 13 I’m 39 now and the one thing that is getting old is being on 24hr call it would be nice to in there is an end in sight

I agree. I’m keeping my business small intentionally. I could grow but I’m fortunate enough to do install and repairs as a business owner. I’m not just an operator. But GOOD employees are hard to find. This new equipment is so frustrating. Hard to follow x at times on this inverter technology and it seems nothing going to get any easier. New refrigerants coming and inverter will replace all the psc equipment eventually. Getting more and more expensive.

The inflation situation also as a country I think is a big factor why some of these newer employees will continue to want more money. I passed by a McDonalds sign the other day saying they pay 18 an hour to start. That's what the entry level expectations are at these days.

The company didn't want to send a kid with the guy that fixed everything cuz he just didn't want to deal with the kid

Hooked up my first set of gauges in 1978. Passed Carrier tech classes 1,2 and heat pump. For many years now, So many companies run techs on a commision pay/job basis. A simple job, Say cut 2 wire by the condenser. The commision tech is not going to make $10 for the call. Also company Loyalty is mostly gone. Cool weather here in the south, Park your truck, For days sometimes. No calls. And there is a lot of Cheap labor alsp. Good luck.

Many folks with the proliferation of Mini-Splits will venture to install systems themselves. Results may be disastrous but they'll try! It's gonna happen!

Private hvac companies dont care about your complaints. Its all about what you bring in ticket wise or install profit. I worked for 3 years in hvac, and im not impressed about retention in residential. I've invested alot in tools to be just treated like a disposable worker. And i consider myself one of the good skilled workers. I took my time to learn from guys older than me. And i am blessed to have those three friends that took the time to show me. The business model for resi is like car sales and comfort sales bs. I am taking a break and start my own business. I worked commercial and ive seen alot of layoffs and retirees that knew the equipment left and techs that are left struggle or call contractors. I think the goverment should continue pumping money into this stem career cause essentially you can be a mechanical technology technician which is a high degree of technicians that work with automation hvac plumbing small electrical systems. Robotics is going to take the job market to a new height and cause some strife as well.

You mentioned peoples pay not catching up to inflation I'm getting some people grapple with me over their bill and threaten to leave as a customer and so on when we did our service nicely and reasonably priced. What to do ?

I think I had an epiphany, about HVAC techs when I found out how much they hated my G14 Lennox Pulse furnace, in the mid 80's, just because it operates differently than any other furnace. The more I learned about it, I found what an amazing furnace it is. I have an Aerospace technical background and a neighbour in the HVAC trade, so I kept it going for more than 30 years until the heat exchanger finally went on it. Then believe it or not I found an unused Pulse furnace, a G21, and had my licensed neighbour install it after we wrestled it into the basement. My neighbour's buddies still badmouth that unit, but I have a store of parts and I expect I will be done around the same time that furnace croaks.There aren't a lot of DIY people that would study something like that, like I did. I still get a lot of fun explaining to my neighbour's beer chugging pals, who are in the trade, how it works. With the electronics going into the newer equipment, they still don't seem all that interested in learning about how things work. I think that is how to attract new blood into the HVAC business. Sell it as high tech industry, invest in ongoing training of techs and pay them what they are worth.

I was in the HVAC trade for 33 years and simply got tired of breaking my back. Crazy long hours working in extreme heat or cold weather conditions. Being expected to be on call and work on weekends and holidays in addition to working 60 hours a week. But what really got under my skin was the way HVAC companies are so self destructive and make problems for themselves and then dump them in the lap of their employees to fix them. It's almost like the owners and managers would ask each other every day "How can we shoot ourselves in the foot today? 🤪 I worked for seven companies over the years and EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM OPERATED LIKE THIS. I left that trade a year ago and am working doing something else. I hope I NEVER have to return to that garbage.

A 'real tech' is born. Really. Just like successful Artists and Musicians, training just bring them to the top. If you don't have it, then they will just muddle thru. I blame 'no child left behind' caused a shift in the education titles. My Navy electronics schools used to be worth an AA in the civilian side. Before I retired, My job (by description) now required a BS. HR wouldn't even look at my resume because I did not have one. (Hint: Navy ET is not all about tiny circuits. Ny Radar gad water cooling, Dry air injection,Large Motors and a 3T antenna that stayed level) We learned to troubleshoot because we were in the middle of a Ocean (and there was no Internet)

@thebluelunarmonkey

Жыл бұрын

I was in the Air Force and one assignment over 30 years ago, I was the programmer for CCAF (Community College of the Air Force), where you got your AAS (Associate in Applied Sciences) transcript. Seems like one project I worked on was to finally start giving the other services AAS diplomas. For many military jobs, 4 years should equal a bachelor and 6 years a masters, easily. While I did get my bachelor in accounting while still a staff sergeant, the civilian bachelor really didn't prepare me to WORK as an accountant, even thou I grad with honors. My USAF tech school actually did prepare me to work as a programmer.

I am looking at Fujitsu 15lzas1 system for my 1000 sq ft home and wondered what you think of this. Thanks, Michael...

I’m not sure what you mean by top dollar. If anything the way the economies going, food, gas, ect.. the average tech can’t be making the wages that employers have been paying the last 15 to 20 years. Second, the attribute lacking in most younger trade techs across the board is self initiative and the drive to work hard. And I definitely agree that the newer technologies, especially for the older generation has been a challenge. Senior techs with thirty to forty years of experience don’t want anything to do with a lot of these electronic driven comfort systems.

Schools are definitely there to just take your money. I also think students pay less attention in class because they think KZread will save them. I also think there are less people working for companies (being self employed) and not reporting/keeping a LLC license to avoid the taxes.

True man. I’m HVAC tech and there’s lot of work for me to do out here because of the lack of quality work that’s done around here , when I go on service calls homeowners are very impressed from me doing what I’m supposed to do when I go a little above and beyond , man i work my tail off but I take pride in my work and it always shows , 2.5 years in and people treat me with respect like I’ve been doing 10 years .. some customers can be hard at first but when they realize I’m actually benefiting them they change up the attitude

Ill just do my own. I had one come in for a quote and he disconnected the igniter in my furnace and sabotaged the main blower and it almost burned my house down had to put it out and he sabotaged the exhaust fan to run all the time. So i will do my own work

A good trade school is getting harder to find as well. I have an apprentice fresh out of school that can explain cfcs, hcfcs, break down the different blends, but graduated without knowing how to change the oil in a vacuum pump.

@weslindsey5909

Жыл бұрын

Lmao 🤣

@panamacitybeachbum

Жыл бұрын

I spent 1050 HVAC classroom hours at Haney Vo-Tech, Panama City, Fl. in the early 90's and never received any training for heat pumps. They decided students must complete load calculations before being allowed to progress to the heat pump training block. I quit once I figured out that school was more interested in keeping me in their classroom as a cash cow instead of training me to become a skilled HVAC service tech. Had to go through two useless blocks of window units and refrigerators. Window units are like disposable butane lighters, no money there. Refrigerators are for appliance repairmen not HVAC techs.

I had to really really dig to find the guys that are in business for themselves. They are a little cheaper because of less overhead but they are so busy they can’t take on new customers. I’m so very close to move from maintenance to HVAC. Just because I can’t find anyone reliable to replace my units. I seem to know more then techs coming in to give me quotes.

@NewHVACGuide

Жыл бұрын

Crazy. A lot of the folks “giving quotes” have never held a screwdriver, but they’re good at selling, so companies hire them.

I agree nowadays you have people making money on social media, KZread, Instagram etc. Plus the pay for hvac/ plumbing is crap now.

Yah this is kinda the same argument heard it before. I've been in the trade 10 years and love it but sadly it's tough to be a tech and other lines of work seem really appealing

Greedy employers have been a problem since way back when I started in machine shop, they knew the jobs were scarce and could underpay...this mentality carried over to the construction industry until I joined a union, and it still wasn't what I thought it would be.

i just retired last month 45 year service in florida im glad i missed the cold you guys will be busy for weeks lol