Serious Advise...HVAC career

1691 Views 12 Replies 6 Participants Last post by yuri, Jun 12, 2009

ashton

Discussion Starter · Jun 10, 2009

Hey Guys,
I was hoping some of you can give me your thoughts on an HVAC career. I am a business professional and love working on this kind of stuff. I have often thought about going into this area but never took the first step.

Any thoughts or comments are greatly appreciated...

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Home Air Direct

· #2 · Jun 10, 2009

Sure....Why Not?

Everybody should do work that they enjoy. Although, like everything else, it will stop being enjoyable when it becomes work.

Hook up with a local community college or trade school and get trained and get going. Having a business head is good. There are many contractors who are good at what they do, but are terrible at the business of running a business. It is best to get your feet wet in the employ of an established contractor, and don't get in too big of a hurry to be your own boss. I have seen hundreds of techs and installers who jumped into the fire too quick and got burned.

Also, the grizzled pros may give you a darker side of their business. Listen to them, but in the end, it is your dream, your life. Do what makes you happy. Feel free to holler at me anytime you want to talk about this. I am not a pro in the technical sense, but I have sat in a seat that has afforded me the opportunity to observe and interact with hundreds of contractors. I have seen great success and total failure.

Good luck to you.
Jay

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yuri

· #3 · Jun 10, 2009

It is a fairly good paying career if you are REAL good at it. Not an easy job as it is physically demanding. Working in attics at temps up to 120 deg F or more or -40 in the Winter etc. Requires very good logic skills and flexibility with your family etc. Lots of long hours. Can be either a feast or a famine, 10 hrs a week or 100 hrs when real busy. Any job is work and work is no fun for anyone I know. Send me a PM private message (click on my user name) if you want more specific info as I don't want to sound negative here or write a novel.

Good Luck:notworthy:

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Yoyizit

· #4 · Jun 10, 2009

ashton said:
Hey Guys,
I was hoping some of you can give me your thoughts on an HVAC career. I am a business professional and love working on this kind of stuff. I have often thought about going into this area but never took the first step.

Any thoughts or comments are greatly appreciated...

See if your local library has or can borrow books for you on Employee's and Employer's rights [unless you want to be self-employed].
Nolo Press publishes some of these.

Employers want to know:
Can you do the work?
Will you do the work?
Are you desperate?

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beenthere

· #5 · Jun 10, 2009

Remember, as a profession/job. Working on an A/C or furnace on the weekend or holidays, is not an option. Its what your required to do.

It can be very enjoyable. And at other times. Drive you insane.

Need to be able to communicate with the genreal public at 1:00 PM, and at 1:00AM.

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Home Air Direct

· #6 · Jun 10, 2009

beenthere said:
Remember, as a profession/job. Working on an A/C or furnace on the weekend or holidays, is not an option. Its what your required to do.

Need to be able to communicate with the genreal public at 1:00 PM, and at 1:00AM.

If you have a propensity toward "Crisis Management" you will be fine. Air conditioners, Heat Pumps and Furnaces are like shoe laces....they only break when they are needed. The upside of that, is that can also be very profitable if marketed correctly. You have obviously figured that part out with a $1,500 labor charge to change out (3) run caps.

I always said, when the Bush Admin got all tangled up with their FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) after Katrina, they should have cleaned the slate and hired a bunch of HVAC Contractors :thumbup:

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beenthere

· #7 · Jun 10, 2009

LOL, I'm not the one with a $1500.00 labor charge for 3 caps.

I'm high, but not that high. :no:

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Home Air Direct

· #8 · Jun 10, 2009

beenthere said:
LOL, I'm not the one with a $1500.00 labor charge for 3 caps.

I'm high, but not that high. :no:

No....not you Been. I think Ashton had something like a $1,600 quote to change out all his run caps. That would even make the "One Hour" guys gasp

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yuri

· #9 · Jun 10, 2009

Not caps, "Phase Shifters!!" Thems spashialty parts and you can charge more for dem.:gun_bandana:

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HiTechHeat

· #10 · Jun 11, 2009

HVAC Career

A career in HVAC can be rewarding, frustrating, confusing, challenging and satisfying all at the same time. But the one thing that stays constant is the fact that if you do good, reliable, quality work you will always have a job.

Mike
HiTech Heat, LLC
www.HiTechHeat.com

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ashton

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 12, 2009

Hey Guys..I really appreciate all of your thoughts and comments.
I am a business professional and make a good living. Yes I want to be independent and work for myself but I also want to have something to pass down to my two boys. I am mechanically inclined, have business experience and like working independantly. I dont have any grand ideas about how "fun" being up in an atic or crawl space in summer or winter would be...

How did you get started in this industry? Was it by choice or just a job? If you have kids would you try to get your kids to follow you?

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beenthere

· #12 · Jun 12, 2009

ashton said:
1. How did you get started in this industry? Was it by choice or just a job?

2. If you have kids would you try to get your kids to follow you?

1. It was interesting at the time, so I went to trade school for HVAC.

2. No, I want them to do something else.

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yuri

· #13 · Jun 12, 2009

1) Didn't want to end up in a manufacturing plant like my Dad. Figured using my brains is better. Dad did mechanical work also and I helped him a lot. Almost became a pharmacist. Almost chose it as it seems easy and clean. Mechanical background swayed me to this biz. I like what I do most of the time and it is interesting. Get lots of exercise with it.

2) Pass your boys some cash for university and get them to become mechanical engineers. Challenging, pay is great, lots of work for them.

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