HVAC (job advice)

nordic97mist · 05-27-2012, 10:57 PM

My uncle keeps telling me to go into HVAC but i never really wanted to be a heating/ac guy lol. Kind of a long story as always but starting to take him up on his advice about getting into that field. Im having knee problems right now so im looking at insurances to find out whats wrong with it blah blah. Once its all ready to go im thinking about going into the Army Reserves and go into their 91C mos which would cover HVAC training. Anybody know what the pay is like on the civilian side? I've done some research but figured i'd ask some local guys what they might know about it. Thanks again for any help

1 Slow Z · 05-27-2012, 11:03 PM

Talk to Hal (LXtasy) I'm sure he'll talk you out of it.

AverageJoe · 05-28-2012, 07:35 AM

Just join the army full time.

94zson · 05-28-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AverageJoe

Just join the army full time.

Careful Joe, you might be labeled an asshole like me!

yota · 05-28-2012, 08:33 AM

i grew up working for my family's hvac business... unless you can handle 120* attics, houses so close to the ground you can barely fit under the floor joists, spiders, snakes, working off of a ladder, and generally busting your balls at work all day, every day for 8-10 hours i feel like you should pass... MOST people can't/won't work like that in the civilian world and based on your past threads about your employment i doubt it will be a good fit for you

quit pussy footing around the army thing... either join or don't... neither option (hvac or army) will ever make you rich, but both can make for a comfortable living financially... at some point though, you have to pay your dues and do all the shitty stuff, be it college or starting at the bottom in a career, if you ever want to get anywhere in life

LXtasy · 05-28-2012, 08:37 AM

$10-$3x range. All depending on years of experience, certifications, what your speciality is in the hvac field, and company you work for.

If you have knees issues now, it will only get worse unless you land a gravy job. Honestly the hvac has its ups and downs. I have been doing it for 12+ years and am wanting to get out of this field but that is for my own reasons. It is a seasonal trade. If the weather is blistering hot or a frigid cold there will be work. But usually the winter/spring time area it slows down. One last thing, tools, consider it an investment. Dont buy crap as you will purchase same tool multiple times.

nordic97mist · 05-28-2012, 11:25 AM

Thanks for the advice i'll keep all that in mind

Derek · 05-28-2012, 01:17 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrcY6...e_gdata_player

ShawnBoyMoody · 05-28-2012, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrcY6...e_gdata_player

Lol. Rep!

csikx · 05-28-2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yota

... at some point though, you have to pay your dues and do all the shitty stuff, be it college or starting at the bottom in a career, if you ever want to get anywhere in life

Amen.

AverageJoe · 05-29-2012, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrcY6...e_gdata_player

greengp · 06-01-2012, 07:52 PM

HVAC can be hard but you'll get used to it. If you can handle hot attics and tight crawl spaces you'll be ok. But if you cant I would not recommend it. Also, you have to have good balance somethings you will be in attics with no cat walks or anything to walk on besides the ceiling joists.

Chillerman · 06-01-2012, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nordic97mist

My uncle keeps telling me to go into HVAC but i never really wanted to be a heating/ac guy lol. Kind of a long story as always but starting to take him up on his advice about getting into that field. Im having knee problems right now so im looking at insurances to find out whats wrong with it blah blah. Once its all ready to go im thinking about going into the Army Reserves and go into their 91C mos which would cover HVAC training. Anybody know what the pay is like on the civilian side? I've done some research but figured i'd ask some local guys what they might know about it. Thanks again for any help

I've been doing HVAC now for over 26 years. I started in residential, moved to light commercial with the same company, then moved into heavy commercial/industrial. I work on anything from a 1 ton mini-split to a 2000 ton centrifugal chillers. Screw machines and absorption along with VFD's are in the mix as well. Cooling towers, controls and pumps, and the list goes on.

If you cant stand tight hot places, this trade is not for you. You will work very hard to be successful. Once you get 7-10 years under your belt, get with a good company, then the sky is the limit on income. An HVAC tech can make anywhere from 30K to 100K a year depending on their level of experience, and their willingness to work.

If you can get with a company that sticks with commercial/industrial work, then the highs and lows of the seasonal crap that the residential companies deal with is alot less. Work load is generally more steady through out the year. Overtime is generally more predictable, however you will work your butt off in the summer months no matter who you work for.

I do have bad knees from the years of residential I did, which is one reason I moved to the area I work in now. The trade has been good to me, but I have worked my ass off to get where I am today.

Matts94Z28 · 06-01-2012, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chillerman

I've been doing HVAC now for over 26 years. I started in residential, moved to light commercial with the same company, then moved into heavy commercial/industrial. I work on anything from a 1 ton mini-split to a 2000 ton centrifugal chillers. Screw machines and absorption along with VFD's are in the mix as well. Cooling towers, controls and pumps, and the list goes on.

If you cant stand tight hot places, this trade is not for you. You will work very hard to be successful. Once you get 7-10 years under your belt, get with a good company, then the sky is the limit on income. An HVAC tech can make anywhere from 30K to 100K a year depending on their level of experience, and their willingness to work.

If you can get with a company that sticks with commercial/industrial work, then the highs and lows of the seasonal crap that the residential companies deal with is alot less. Work load is generally more steady through out the year. Overtime is generally more predictable, however you will work your butt off in the summer months no matter who you work for.

I do have bad knees from the years of residential I did, which is one reason I moved to the area I work in now. The trade has been good to me, but I have worked my ass off to get where I am today.

Ever mess with our coolers here at GEL?

Chillerman · 06-01-2012, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matts94Z28

Ever mess with our coolers here at GEL?

About 9 years ago when James Brown used to work there under George. We used to do alot of work out there. They have always price shopped everything. I replaced a compressor on one of the walk in coolers back then.

Matts94Z28 · 06-01-2012, 11:55 PM

Sounds like them. Lol

nordic97mist · 06-03-2012, 06:38 PM

I ended up helping a family member who does HVAC, replaced a unit. Its not too bad but it wasnt under a crawl space or up in an attic lol. Applying for a welding job so waiting to see what happens with that

05-27-2012, 10:57 PM	#1
nordic97mist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 306	HVAC (job advice) My uncle keeps telling me to go into HVAC but i never really wanted to be a heating/ac guy lol. Kind of a long story as always but starting to take him up on his advice about getting into that field. Im having knee problems right now so im looking at insurances to find out whats wrong with it blah blah. Once its all ready to go im thinking about going into the Army Reserves and go into their 91C mos which would cover HVAC training. Anybody know what the pay is like on the civilian side? I've done some research but figured i'd ask some local guys what they might know about it. Thanks again for any help __________________ Inked For Life!

05-28-2012, 08:33 AM	#5
yota Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Va Posts: 1,049	i grew up working for my family's hvac business... unless you can handle 120* attics, houses so close to the ground you can barely fit under the floor joists, spiders, snakes, working off of a ladder, and generally busting your balls at work all day, every day for 8-10 hours i feel like you should pass... MOST people can't/won't work like that in the civilian world and based on your past threads about your employment i doubt it will be a good fit for you quit pussy footing around the army thing... either join or don't... neither option (hvac or army) will ever make you rich, but both can make for a comfortable living financially... at some point though, you have to pay your dues and do all the shitty stuff, be it college or starting at the bottom in a career, if you ever want to get anywhere in life __________________ 1999 Trans Am 2007.5 Dodge Mega Cab Cummins

05-28-2012, 08:37 AM	#6
LXtasy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Summerville, SC Posts: 9,564	$10-$3x range. All depending on years of experience, certifications, what your speciality is in the hvac field, and company you work for. If you have knees issues now, it will only get worse unless you land a gravy job. Honestly the hvac has its ups and downs. I have been doing it for 12+ years and am wanting to get out of this field but that is for my own reasons. It is a seasonal trade. If the weather is blistering hot or a frigid cold there will be work. But usually the winter/spring time area it slows down. One last thing, tools, consider it an investment. Dont buy crap as you will purchase same tool multiple times. __________________

05-28-2012, 11:25 AM	#7
nordic97mist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 306	Thanks for the advice i'll keep all that in mind __________________ Inked For Life!

06-01-2012, 11:55 PM	#16
Matts94Z28 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Summerville Posts: 12,039	Sounds like them. Lol __________________ Charleston Performance Solutions 4560 Rivers Ave. N. Charleston SC 29405 843-225-1142 https://www.facebook.com/CharlestonPerformanceSolutions www.facebook.com/Selepack

05-27-2012, 11:03 PM	#2
1 Slow Z Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The end of the rainbow! Posts: 968	Talk to Hal (LXtasy) I'm sure he'll talk you out of it.

05-28-2012, 07:35 AM	#3
AverageJoe Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Summerville Posts: 1,683	Just join the army full time.

05-28-2012, 01:17 PM	#8
Derek Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: West of the mutha f**cking Ashley Posts: 1,784	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrcY6...e_gdata_player

06-01-2012, 07:52 PM	#12
greengp Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ladson, SC Posts: 117	HVAC can be hard but you'll get used to it. If you can handle hot attics and tight crawl spaces you'll be ok. But if you cant I would not recommend it. Also, you have to have good balance somethings you will be in attics with no cat walks or anything to walk on besides the ceiling joists.

06-03-2012, 06:38 PM	#17
nordic97mist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 306	I ended up helping a family member who does HVAC, replaced a unit. Its not too bad but it wasnt under a crawl space or up in an attic lol. Applying for a welding job so waiting to see what happens with that __________________ Inked For Life!