Thought HVAC Techs made good money, what happened

Right now people are holding money close and not doing maintenance or repairs on accesories.
Employers laid Guys off because of the economy and are waiting to see what the winter brings.
There are a lot of good traimed men out there to choose from now so employers low ball them to pass the savings on to their customers.
Just wait soom some of the customers waiting are going to have major break downs all at once an the HVAC tech is gonna be the king again.
Kind Regards
Ray
P.S I'm in the same boat as you and thinking about doing some thing esle.

....depends on where you are working quite honestly. And being in the field for 3 years isn't that long. Sure you can make your money on crazy overtime, but that's only if you are working a sustained job. Best to be the most knowledgeable guy where you are. Get to know what is going on in your area, and the best place to find out is in the supply house. Make good with those guys and they may pass along some gems for you in the long run.

HVAC is becoming more specialized now. Instead of seeing a service co. fix everything, they are servicing only chillers, or recepts, etc. Get a very broad knowledge base by taking from the guys on the job and you will find your niche. Chiller guys make the most money.

Like I said 3 years is still very new in the business, my husband has been in 10 yrs and recently left one of the top 3 because of the money issue. In the end, if a company (any company) isn't going to take care of you - and they know you are the go-to guy, best to have others in your area know you are the go-to guy by the quality of your work; you'd be surprised how quickly someone else will be willing to pick you up.

All the best to you.

I am at two and a half years in the HVAC industry and unemployeed at the moment.
I am 47 and have worked in the service sector all my adult life.
I loved my start to this bussiness working for Service Experts but made the wrong choice in leaveing because of no men above me with expirence after an upper management firering.
The Guy I went to work for started the service department and moved on 20 years ago when service experts took over.
I thought I would have gained alot of knowlege working for him instead,I lost my confidence due to his abusivenes.
I have a lot of certifications now but no employment.I just press on.

Raymond, my suggestion to you would be to look for a position in the maintenance department of a hospital, or college system, etc. You may be able to get on with a nice outfit with steady work. With 2 years, you are still an apprentice, so no you aren't going to make top dollar in this economy - especially if you have a family to provide for. Top dollar goes to journeymen, and specialist - but this is the case in any profession.

Look for ways to keep your skills fresh, read the HVAC forums like (hvac-talk.com)for what other techs are working on right now and keep your head up.

Also check the HVAC job sites!

I have been doing residential hvac service for 6 years & just got laid off. I was told the economy was bad & they had no choice. I noticed employers are looking for people that do refrigeration, installs and commercial. I am having a hard time finding another job. After trade school I went into service for this company. Hopefully things will pick up soon

Dan72 in Roselle, Illinois said: I have been doing residential hvac service for 6 years & just got laid off. I was told the economy was bad & they had no choice. I noticed employers are looking for people that do refrigeration, installs and commercial. I am having a hard time finding another job. After trade school I went into service for this company. Hopefully things will pick up soon

I can relate, I am in the same position. Here is A couble web sites that you might try, they specialize in HVAC,plumbing and electric jobs only. www.mepjobs.com, www.hvacagent.com

I hear all of you and appreciate the reply's . Seeing how some of you are unemployed i guess i can't wine too much. I will work 50 to 70 hrs a week no matter what time of the year it is and for doing this for only 3 years and making over 20hr i guess isn't bad just thought we would be making lots more.Am trying to get to commercial just taking a while so ya i guess just keep pressing on

I hear all of you and appreciate the reply's . Seeing how some of you are unemployed i guess i can't wine too much. I will work 50 to 70 hrs a week no matter what time of the year it is and for doing this for only 3 years and making over 20hr with commision on top i guess isn't bad just thought we would be making lots more.Am trying to get to commercial just taking a while so ya i guess just keep pressing on

hvac tech 12 in Concord, North Carolina said: I can relate, I am in the same position. Here is A couble web sites that you might try, they specialize in HVAC,plumbing and electric jobs only. www.mepjobs.com , www.hvacagent.com

I signed up for those sites about a month ago. Thanks for the links though.

Koocoojoe in hooksett, New Hampshire said: I hear all of you and appreciate the reply's . Seeing how some of you are unemployed i guess i can't wine too much. I will work 50 to 70 hrs a week no matter what time of the year it is and for doing this for only 3 years and making over 20hr with commision on top i guess isn't bad just thought we would be making lots more.Am trying to get to commercial just taking a while so ya i guess just keep pressing on

That's pretty good for 3 years. I was on performance pay with my last job. I would like to get into commercial work too. Im going to take the test for the pipefitters in february

Koocoojoe in hooksett, New Hampshire said: I got into this field being told and thinking that HVAC techs made good money. What happened i have been in field for 3 years and always stride to be best of the best and work hard at it but still don't make nearly what i thought i was going to.
REALLY WHAT HAPPENED!!!!! No one can live with out an HVAC guy so we should be making awesome money or atleast more than them guys sitting at a desk(no offense to any of you that do sit at a desk)

Koocoojoe, Welcome to reality. I've been in this business for over 33 years, It was a great business and would still be if we didn't need customers. People will spend $50,000 plus for a car but balk at spending anything for an HVAC system; they all think they should get a system for $2,000 to $2,500 and until all business owners start working together instead of cutting one anothers throats and stop giving it away it's not going to change. These guys who give it for what the customer will pay have no idea about operating a business or what it cost to stay in business, these guys aren't around for long but another is there to pick up the slack.
Then you have the scabs who work out of the trunk of there car, stealing the parts from there employers van for side work at a fraction of what it should cost while making 100% profit. The employer takes these losses into account and that reflects on your wages. You think the salary sucks where you are, try North Carolina where $12.00 an hour is GOOD money; I was making that 25 years ago in NJ.
GOOD LUCK!

well, i live here in San Antonio, TX and i graduated school with universal EPA and certified HVAC tech and i can't even get a job. i heard the same stuff but they don't want to pay hardly anything or they want all this experience. how can i get experience if no one will hire me? uh duh. and if your honest like myself, pfft then forget it. everyone is corrupt to make money around here. well, good luck on your decisions but it sux down here too.

One would think in this business employment wouldn't be an issue. This business has always had its ups & downs but I have never seen it this bad.
Good Luck and hang in there.

To be honest especially in Massachusettes the HVAC residential field is not properly regulated. So now with a bad economy we have unqualified plumbers and electricains who think they are installers and repair techs. low balling us and stealing work form hard working guys like myself, and since they have no idea on how to price a job or rpair work they end up doing it for free. All we can do is either push our quality work and service to the homeowner and hope these low lifes screw so bad up home owners and builders will open their eyes and realize cheaper is not always better. So try to work hard sit back and let these morons screw up and us the qualifeid HVAC techs will be there to charge our time to repair their mistakes

Overton210 in Fentress, Texas said: well, i live here in San Antonio, TX and i graduated school with universal EPA and certified HVAC tech and i can't even get a job. i heard the same stuff but they don't want to pay hardly anything or they want all this experience. how can i get experience if no one will hire me? uh duh. and if your honest like myself, pfft then forget it. everyone is corrupt to make money around here. well, good luck on your decisions but it sux down here too.

Yes sir, I agree with your statement. Times are tough! I have over 10 years verifiable field experience with multiple certifications ie,.. Nate, Epa, Registered with the State of Texas, Trade School Certification, Manufacture training seminar certifications, and I am still having trouble finding a good paying job. Most companies squeal over a $20.00 per hour asking, but they charge 85-90 per hour for their techs to run calls plus the cost of the parts!

My father is a maintenence engineer and I am supportive of all the hard work HVAC professionals do in the economy so this post is not a rip on the profession. I am not an HVAC technician, but I do have a question.

I know someone who is a partial owner/partner in an HVAC company and is the wealthiest person I know. He bought a multi-million dollar house, sends his kids to private school, and has luxury cars as well as vacation property, yachts, and expensive vacations. Is this for real? Can someone who is a part owner at an HVAC company really be that wealthy or do you guys think its a scam/fraud operation?

Sure it's for real. There's alot of money to be made in HVAC, just not in NC. I'm originally from NJ with over 30 years, the average salary there is 25 to $30 an hour; down here they pay what I was making in the mid 80's in NJ but yet they charge almost as much down here as up there... what's up wit dat?

The biggest mistake owners in this business make is they buy multi million dollar homes, boats, cars, etc. another words they live beyond their means, a couple of bad seasons and that's that. HVAC is a weather driven business and as fast as you have it can be taken away.

I here what you guys are talking about and until recent decline in job market the trade has been pretty good to me once I paid my dues there is no way you can expect to make real money within the first 3 to 7 years it does not work that way in any trade and even once you have experience there is no promise of longevity I have been in the trade almost 23 years and was recently layed off but prior to that i have made an average income between 78k to 105k a year if you are going to be in this industry you must be well tooled and diversified a strong word of advice you need to be able to install any type of equipment and service it as well most guys go to trade school and learn the basics get out and think they should be making senior tech pay with in the first couple years not very realistic you must stay the course or find another trade but remember with out paying your dues you will just in the same boat differnt trade

I must say that is good advice.
But I must also say at 47 years old and only two and a half years experience in HVAC it is hard not at least be getting $24.00 an hour on Long Island.
Especially knowing that I have a lot more mechanical experience in other service trades such as aircraft maintenance, plus twenty years in service with Xerox corporation also customer skills that a young guy out of trade school just dose not have plus seminars and training in management and just plain maturity.
Times are bad everywhere in every industry right now and I am looking every day for a job that I have certified and trained for after being layed off like you.
I must say though this can be a very physical job at times and the pay just for that should be at a higher level not only the fact that most people can barely screw a light bulb in never mind trying to figure out why their heating or cooling system is not working.
That is why it called a skilled trade.
Regards to all
Ray
Here's a fun heat pump video for you guys.
click the link www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHjge6YatZg

very informative, i am 31 and have been in the const.trades for 15 + years and finally stepped up my game & went to school a accredited 6 month tech school, now I will state that there are a few that lack costomer service and straight up common sense. I am one that has been amongst all trades and have a wide array of knowledge I intended to get a hvac-r degree so I could further climb the managemnt ladder in the hospitality ind. I am just offering my advice! If you think you got the cust. skills & your not a scum bag it is the way to go, even entry level can earn 23-26hr. (w/other all aroung skills) & with experience can jump into higher positions. Screww working all your life use this as a stepping stone to elevate your career, I have back issues & this is my 5-10 yr. plan. So working the residential field may be good for exp. but I do believe that you will get now where unless you own your own company like the guy was talking about earlier.Just some advice I am in las vegas so the hotels are a little more forthcoming with money, (it takes a miracle to get into some though) Dont settle with a meager residential job & hope to get anywhere with it!oh & not all fresh out of school guys are bad, just like any crowd there are few bad & a few good!

I'm just ending my first quarter in HVACR. I should be through in another year and a half I'm relly enjoying it compaired to what I was studying (drafting technology). I live outside of Atlanta. But would like to move to Charlotte or Chattanoga. What should I expect if I can even get a job money wise? I pretty sure my teacher will help my fine something. He is a really nice guy and has worked with a lot of different companies and left on good terms. He is still a Supervisor at one company. But I;ve never really talked to anyone about this (money)except with a friend who does this, but he sits behind a desk. Also what is the best region for this job? If anyone could help me out I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
ABB 4 ME

i hate scab small mom and pops hvac companies. i work for one and teh guy's a rip off. we never tripple evacuate our AC lines, even if it's raining and humidity's up the roof!! and now with refrigerant 410a which is prone to acidity due to humidity!! god i hate my boss!! we're so small i'm the only employee, i work about 30 hours a week, 4 days a week if lucky, no benefits, no paid vacation or holydays or anything, yet he charges as much as the honest bigger hvac companies....
he knows nothing abuot refrigeration, i had to explain to him what superheat is. lol i'm not kidding!!! he's the kind of guy that charges a system by feeling both lines and once one's cold as a frosty beer and the other as warm as oven fresh pizza slice then he closes the valve!! half @ssed work!!! we have maintenance contracts, and i'm instructed to not waste time doing teh actual maintenace!!! the guy's a sales man!! we've replaced systems that are just 10 years old for no reason!!! instead of replacing that capacitor we change both the motor, and the blower((sales sales sales)) and also replace that inducer motor, even though it had nothing to do with the ibm capacitor !! anyhow, even as small a company as we are, the guy makes tons of money, i can tell by where he lives, what he drives etc...

i need a job so i'm screwed.

Well Mr. ABB 4 ME, I have not been on the fourum for a while now but I still read the replys, I live in Concord ,NC which is around 20 to 40 miles N. of Charlotte, depending on what part of charlotte you go to, it is a large city. but anyway just wanted to give some insight I STARTED MY FIRST hvac job in 2006 while being in night classes for HVAC-R with a company in charlotte I took a test and was hired at 14.00 hr. I would say an entry level posistion here would be 14.00 to 16.00 depending on the company. thre is more profit margin for employers in the residential market. You could do well in several years with a good company. but most residential companys here pay their techs hourly rates plus commission wanting you to push products that is not necessary but do thicken your wallet.Commercial companys pay more on the hour but controls are more complex IE.. PNUEMATICS, HYDROLICS, VFD DRIVES, VAV BOXES,ECONOMISERS ETC.And you can make more on the hour starting out but your not going much higher than the rate you start at. Right now is a bad time here to be looking for work. I have been out of work since Sept.and still looking. to give you an idea about the market here I went to a job fair last week for just 1 co. present and waited in line for 9 hours. hundreds of others were turned away due to so many people there. this one co. had 500 posistions to fill and around 5000 showed up.SEVERAL hvac companys have laid people off.

igor Isamov in Spokane, Washington said: i hate scab small mom and pops hvac companies. i work for one and teh guy's a rip off. we never tripple evacuate our AC lines, even if it's raining and humidity's up the roof!! and now with refrigerant 410a which is prone to acidity due to humidity!! god i hate my boss!! we're so small i'm the only employee, i work about 30 hours a week, 4 days a week if lucky, no benefits, no paid vacation or holydays or anything, yet he charges as much as the honest bigger hvac companies....
he knows nothing abuot refrigeration, i had to explain to him what superheat is. lol i'm not kidding!!! he's the kind of guy that charges a system by feeling both lines and once one's cold as a frosty beer and the other as warm as oven fresh pizza slice then he closes the valve!! half @ssed work!!! we have maintenance contracts, and i'm instructed to not waste time doing teh actual maintenace!!! the guy's a sales man!! we've replaced systems that are just 10 years old for no reason!!! instead of replacing that capacitor we change both the motor, and the blower((sales sales sales)) and also replace that inducer motor, even though it had nothing to do with the ibm capacitor !! anyhow, even as small a company as we are, the guy makes tons of money, i can tell by where he lives, what he drives etc...

i need a job so i'm screwed.

IT WILL COME BACK TO HIM SOMEDAY. especially without doing a tripple evac. on 410a refrigerant. that oil soaks moisture like a straw. try going to www.hvacagent.com

I am in awe, I do not care for employer's like that! but it is the uneducated beer can tech that allows people like that to prosper! guys that think they can train people with out the technical side of the trade, get real!! seriously, stick to drywall and painting! you cannot kep thinking that the work you people do actually fixes the problem ( same problem with the auto industry) yea the unit is full of refridgerant (it is not called freon you shmucks)and it might blow cold air but 2 weeks down the road, you didnt check youre pressures did you, oh yea i knew that compressor was going bad, yep! you guys are the running joke at my school! thanks for being the punchline! I guess in the end that when you guys go through and mess everything up, us real techs will actually go and do the proper repairs, maybe check for super heat/subcool, check low/high side press. uh, check fla,lra, yea actually use a meter and not a beer can in the other hand to determine the proper temp of the discharge/liquid line, actually grab that discharge line it works better! Ya know, this is a real forum so real techs are probably reading this, to those of you i just needed to vent.The last few employer's man, some of the employee's /old timers that don't need a meter! you know.... well this is a great way to vent, thje north Carolina guy probably feels the same way, as far as the triple evac. even if you did do that he wouldnt let you go back to get the l.line drier anyways so the system would get contaminated in a few months so... keep fighting the good fight and keep posting, maybe employer's will read this and start to understand that they could get a good name hiring the guys that actually care about they're work! Good luck with the economy & finding work! even the desert is a little slow but not bad.

skman78 in Henderson, Nevada said: very informative, i am 31 and have been in the const.trades for 15 + years and finally stepped up my game & went to school a accredited 6 month tech school, now I will state that there are a few that lack costomer service and straight up common sense. I am one that has been amongst all trades and have a wide array of knowledge I intended to get a hvac-r degree so I could further climb the managemnt ladder in the hospitality ind. I am just offering my advice! If you think you got the cust. skills & your not a scum bag it is the way to go, even entry level can earn 23-26hr. (w/other all aroung skills) & with experience can jump into higher positions. Screww working all your life use this as a stepping stone to elevate your career, I have back issues & this is my 5-10 yr. plan. So working the residential field may be good for exp. but I do believe that you will get now where unless you own your own company like the guy was talking about earlier.Just some advice I am in las vegas so the hotels are a little more forthcoming with money, (it takes a miracle to get into some though) Dont settle with a meager residential job & hope to get anywhere with it!oh & not all fresh out of school guys are bad, just like any crowd there are few bad & a few good!

I am looking to get into the HVAC field. Can you tell me which trade school and what it cost you to complete the course?

WOW...that was a loooooooong sentence Scott!

SCOTT in Merritt Island, Florida said: I here what you guys are talking about and until recent decline in job market the trade has been pretty good to me once I paid my dues there is no way you can expect to make real money within the first 3 to 7 years it does not work that way in any trade and even once you have experience there is no promise of longevity I have been in the trade almost 23 years and was recently layed off but prior to that i have made an average income between 78k to 105k a year if you are going to be in this industry you must be well tooled and diversified a strong word of advice you need to be able to install any type of equipment and service it as well most guys go to trade school and learn the basics get out and think they should be making senior tech pay with in the first couple years not very realistic you must stay the course or find another trade but remember with out paying your dues you will just in the same boat differnt trade

I am 30 years old I decide to get into the hvac/r trade graduated with a universal e.p.a certification about a little over a year ago. After i finished school had a hard time finding a job in the field, bills were backing up so i took the first job smoking, working a at refridgeration supply house for about a year got layed off. Been out of work since the month of march looking to get into a company for sometime now but it seems to me that most company's are only hiring experienced tech how can i get my foot in the door.

HW Eastmond in Wilmington, North Carolina said: Sure it's for real. There's alot of money to be made in HVAC, just not in NC. I'm originally from NJ with over 30 years, the average salary there is 25 to $30 an hour; down here they pay what I was making in the mid 80's in NJ but yet they charge almost as much down here as up there... what's up wit dat?

The biggest mistake owners in this business make is they buy multi million dollar homes, boats, cars, etc. another words they live beyond their means, a couple of bad seasons and that's that. HVAC is a weather driven business and as fast as you have it can be taken away.

Amen to that

Im thinking of taking hvac classes in the fall.The pay in hampton roads is great.Any suggestions from you heavyweights.

well, i might not be a heavyweight, but i do know this... from being in the field for 9 years... you gotta start from the bottom to know if you like the trade or not... it's hard and UNREWARDING work in the beginning. i my self did new construction for about 3 years, running duct in new homes,, and it's not easy work, and did about 3 more years doing RETROFITS which is way harder work.... pulling out old oil and coal furnaces out of basements and attics and replacing them with natural; gas furnaces... so that includes running gaspipe in tite CRUMMMy crawl spaces and attics.... nasty hard work... i hate every bit of it.. and i've been a service tech for about 3 years... physically the work's not as hard, but you do need to have some brains to read and interpret wiring diagrams and electrical ladder diagrams and a good understanding of the refrigeration cycle and know how to interpret pressures, temperatures, subcooling and superheat of refrigerants into what they mean and what is the problem with the system and why it's not working... so it takes a lot of logic and understanding of how things work in order to do an orderly pricess of elimination as to WHAT THE PROBLEM IS with the heating/cooling system....

schooling's definately a good start if you want to be a good service tech.... but i do know a lot of people just don't have the brains to uderstand the mechanical and electrical theory behind the trade and the brawn to work hard in tighte attics and crawl spaces, give it a shot, i think it's a good trade. if you know what ur doing u'll never be out of work and u'lll be able to demand a decent wage since it's really hard to find guys that have both brains and brawn for the trade and know what their doing, i my self make about 50 grand a year and I WERE A GOOD SALES MAN... which i'm not... i would prolly be making twice as much and working half as little..

micmike78 in Suffolk, Virginia said: Im thinking of taking hvac classes in the fall.The pay in hampton roads is great.Any suggestions from you heavyweights.

Get into commercial, it's more money and you won't have to put up with morons such as the one above from Kernersville, NC.

Good Luck!

Worked in hvac for 12 years.The thing I have noticed is that things
need to change but honestly I dont think they are.The only way that
it would is if a real set of industry standards are set.Basicaly we
are in a trade where any body with a pulse can be an ac tech.Think about what if all it took to be a doctor was an office and a shingle
what shape would medicine be in?It would be where it started guys selling snake oil out the back of a wagon.I think nate certification
was a half hearted attempt to make some minimum standard.In the old
days trades paid better due to union membership having to go thru a apprenticeship so on.Some of our competitors dont even have a service department just a installer with no idea of what he is doing.However he knows just enough to make a sales pitch.

Until there are real standards not a 1 day test or rubberstamp from some local code requirement for you to be a hvac tech or
installer expect more of the same.

1st off, if you're so intent on "doing the right thing" then do it! you're the tech it's up to you...not the salesman...not the company... but you!
If you're as good as you say, than start your own business and put everyone else out of business. Personally, I think you like hearing youself talk.
FYI, systems aren't designed to last nor will they last 30 years, so stop blowing smoke up my butt!
I have over 30 years in this business, what about you?

i stand by what i said. there's a lot of truth in what i just said. if it happened to bother you it's prolly cos you're one of these people who's all about quick quick quick who gives a damn. ask just about any installer and they will agree with me, VACCUM PUMP?>? WTF?? . i could almost asure you 90% of people don't do their job as they should. i keep reiterating, YOU MUST TRIPPLE EVACUATE.... it doen'st take long and it's the right thing to do, however nobody does it. i'm told to not waste the time doing that, in fact we don't even have a functioning vaccum pump. and yes, AC compressors((compressors)) are made to last 30 years or more if you install them the way the factory would, and maintain them by keeping them clean((good air flow on both ends)) and charge them once they happen to lose some of their charge. they're basically a refrigerator, refrigerators are factory CHARGED and vaccked prior beign charged and their compressors will last well over 20 years if you replace starting relays and switches that break over the years etc etc. an air conditioner operates only thru the summer and a great majority of them tend to have compressor burn outs in about 10 years due to acid build up, dirty air filters that lead to compressor flooding etc etc etc... i say we need a REAL enforcer when it comes to these things. if you dissagree ur definately one of these RIPP OFF DUMMMIES. you're messed up bro.

Koocoojoe in hooksett, New Hampshire said: I got into this field being told and thinking that HVAC techs made good money. What happened i have been in field for 3 years and always stride to be best of the best and work hard at it but still don't make nearly what i thought i was going to.
REALLY WHAT HAPPENED!!!!! No one can live with out an HVAC guy so we should be making awesome money or atleast more than them guys sitting at a desk(no offense to any of you that do sit at a desk)

I agree fully I was also in the field for 3 years and thought i was in such a great job/career. At the end i was over worked under paid so i decided to get my cdl license and now im making real money with just 1 year of experiance. P.S. im making more then guys with 5 years in the field.

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igor isamov in Spokane, Washington said: i stand by what i said. there's a lot of truth in what i just said. if it happened to bother you it's prolly cos you're one of these people who's all about quick quick quick who gives a damn. ask just about any installer and they will agree with me, VACCUM PUMP?>? WTF?? . i could almost asure you 90% of people don't do their job as they should. i keep reiterating, YOU MUST TRIPPLE EVACUATE.... it doen'st take long and it's the right thing to do, however nobody does it. i'm told to not waste the time doing that, in fact we don't even have a functioning vaccum pump. and yes, AC compressors((compressors)) are made to last 30 years or more if you install them the way the factory would, and maintain them by keeping them clean((good air flow on both ends)) and charge them once they happen to lose some of their charge. they're basically a refrigerator, refrigerators are factory CHARGED and vaccked prior beign charged and their compressors will last well over 20 years if you replace starting relays and switches that break over the years etc etc. an air conditioner operates only thru the summer and a great majority of them tend to have compressor burn outs in about 10 years due to acid build up, dirty air filters that lead to compressor flooding etc etc etc... i say we need a REAL enforcer when it comes to these things. if you dissagree ur definately one of these RIPP OFF DUMMMIES. you're messed up bro.

Your rediculous editorial doesn't bother me at all, my work is done right..Triple evacuate lol.
You never answered my question of how long have you been doing hvac?
When evacuating what micron range should you be at?
When charging what is sub-cooling and when do you use this method?
How do you do sub-cooling and what is the range?
What is superheat and when do you use this method?
How do you do superheat and what is the range?
When brazing how do you prevent the copper from flaking?

I live in Charleston WV. I do commercial work. We would would love to find experienced chiller and control technicians. The money is excellent. Casto Technical Services.

have 18 years of hvac install experience 16 as journeyman ,w/about 10% service mixedn in. Been laid off since June. feeling too old to be crawlin around attics &crawls. would like to crosstrain over to communication wiring hvac/alarm/etc. any ideas on job availability preferably on the commercial end. Don't want to start out rock bottom, wages wise. Any advice will be appreciated.

wow things are suckin everywhere,wow.i can relate to the gentelman from san antonio.i use to work with Carrier company in south alabama,they have guys that have been there for yrs and only get paid peanuts,its real.i remember making estimates for a reefer unit that the price was very but very large and for simple stuff.
the company makes big bucks and tech. nothing.
sometimes i wish i could have a shop and do work for all of this customers that get robbed by dealers.

peanuts! no shiste! i think that's true of any trade or industry. workers will be paid worker wages!! skilled workers get paid skilled worker wages, either way it's wages, the boss makes the bucks that's how it works. last job i installed for my boss cost this lady 7,800$ tax included. sure she got a tax credit and some rebates from the local power company,, it was this rheem 2 ton air conditioner w/ a 10 foot lineset, 2 ton coil, and a 60kbtu 90 percent furnace and about 20 feet of 2 inch pvc for the exhaust, plus a little bit of sheetmetal work for a plenum, and no wires to run, the job was in an attic though, it took me 2 days mostly by my self. i did the math it, it might've cost him not even 3000 woth of equipement and materials, (1200$ furnace, 700 ac unit, 200 for coil plus misc)) sure you can bla bla bla about overhead costs etc. it's good to be the boss. i wanna be the boss. i think the only way you can make money is if ur a really good tech and do service work sidejobs.

Igor, simply put, your an idiot, and have no idea what it takes to own and operate a business.....employees like yourself only make our jobs as owners more stressfull.

Wow, alot of whining and "who's smarter" going on in here.. lol
Bottom line is that times are a little tough right now. You're not going to become "rich" being in the HVACR field. BUT... it's better than working at Taco Bell isnt it? If you have some common sense, work hard, take pride in your work and treat people right, there's no reason (under a normal economy) why you can't make between 40,000 and 60,000 a year for residential, and anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 in commercial. These are very broad ranges, but you have to remember there is no "standard" wage for this field. It all depends on location (what state and area you're in) and who the employer is. Also remember guys, if you become a good heating and air guy, that opens ALOT of other potential jobs in the industrial maintenance field. TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT YOU DO!!!!!!

hvac tec

i will start taking classes in dekalb tech,associate degree in technology.thank u guys for your advice

It is such a shame to see a valuable industry such as the HVAC/R field so unregulated. In my situation, I was laid off (permanently) from the automotive industry. As a consequence, I returned to college in order to fatten my resume and in hopes of a better career. I went to East Central College in Missouri and, utilizing my prerequisites obtained in getting my B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Missouri Rolla, was able to push the envelope and obtained my HVAC/R one year certification as well as my Associate of Applied Science degree in HVAC/R in 1.5 years. I also tested and passed my EPA 608 Universal, HVAC Excellence Electrical, HVAC Excellence Electrical Heating, HVAC Excellence Air Conditioning, HVAC Excellence Heat Pump, and HVAC Excellence Gas Heat certifications. (These are a little tougher than the NATE certifications). I also received the R410A Safety certification that is "required" by most manufacturers for warranty work by technicians. Now bear in mind that I have an engineering degree, I worked as a chemical analyst for a subsidary of Monsanto, and was an electronics technician in the Unitied States Coast Guard. For all this hard work, I was only offered one position in the HVAC/R field for $12/hr and on call status as needed. What the F&*%$? As a result, I have made the decision to form my own LLC business here in south Denver and do my own thing. There is nothing difficult about this field if one understands the theory of operation of these systems. As stated earlier, "superheat, subcooling, sequence of operation, FLA, LRA, etc. I was absouletly amazed that during the one interview I did have, The lead technician had no idea what I was talking about when discussing the importance of the superheat measurement. I cut the interview short. I could not imagine working under a so-called lead tech like that. I have seen the newer Panasonic systems out there at 23 SEER. This systems will never be worked on by uneducated beer-in-hand tech

Great place to vent. I have been working in the field since I was 18 and now Im 32. I have been to tradeschool back in the 90's and saving up tools and things and now I have two service trucks and no employees. I would say that I am in the 90% range in techincal knowledge of the hvac techs in the area by my interaction with them over the years. The thinng that gets me the most is the sales thing. Many companies have sales people that I know I could never compete with on people skills. I have lost bids many times to a snappy, well dressed sales guy that is bidding an inferior product and twice the cost. And the thing is that the customer believes thier b.s.....makes me want to bang my head against a wall. I guess I could take comfort in the thought that they will get what they paid for, but that dosent put any money in my bank account. I would say sales is over half the battle in the hvac field and it's somthing I have to work on. Although I could never lie to a customer, and thats a roadblock that most salesman dont have.

First off it doesn't matter what equipment you're pushing or how big or small you are or how you're dressed, what does matter is your attentiveness to there need.... listen to them....take notes....let them build the system not you, take the time this will help ease the sticker shock and them shutting you off.
I have over 35 years in HVAC from tech to management to owner and now retired from it.

I feel ya! I have been in the field for almost twenty years, and I just bearly make over $22 an hour, when I can find work hear in saint louis. It's been a cruel fantasy. But the real villians are the company owners, they rake in millions while they pay little to nothing to the service techs. Then they only hold onto a precious few, while firing 30 to 40 people every year. Then start the process over again the next year. If I could go back in time I sure would not have chosen the heating and air conditioning fantasy, about how the baby boomers were retiring and how I would be in high demand and make over $100,000.00 annually!!!