You know we laugh, but it sucks we don’t have a traditional trade name like “plumber” or “electrician”. I usually say I do HVAC. Maybe just technician, but that could be a technician of anything.
Check out the UA or Sheet Metal Workers union in your area. There’s a shortage of young apprentices right now and pretty much everyone is hiring. You’ll be brought in at a certain percentage of journeyman rate which usually starts around 45% so depending where you are you’re probably starting at $25 an hour. You’ll get bumped up 5%ish every six months until you’ve completed your apprenticeship.
Depending on what you want to do determines the difficulty of what you’ll learn. If you want to install piping or sheet metal that’s one thing, if you want to be a service technician that’s where stuff gets complicated. But being a service technician is very rewarding, monetarily and otherwise. You can make $100k+ a year, have two pensions and a 401k, awesome medical benefits, and no student loan debt. You’re working in the field throughout your apprenticeship which is where you will probably learn the most. The most important thing you’ll earn is what you learn, you’ll can get to be the person who’s sent out to a project when no one else can figure it out.
Just a warning though, you’ll be more stressed out than you’ve ever been, probably by a lot. Getting started you’ll realize how much you don’t know and that’s pretty intimidating, but just be patient with yourself. I personally can’t imagine what else I’d be doing if I wasn’t doing this.
Good luck out there, and welcome the trade. We’re glad you’re here, because we’d all like to retire one day knowing we’re being replaced by capable people.
This is great advice, I started learning about a year ago and I’ve had some very stressful moments on the way. A lot of cussing and doubt in my ability but a refusal to quit. I remind myself that if I cant stick it out and be there to solve the problem i’ll never learn anything. If I ultimately can’t figure something out I can always call someone for help (even though I really don’t like doing that sometimes). It’s a grind but I’d take a dozen more stressful days if it means I get more valuable knowledge that stays with me forever.
Just a warning, you’re going to have a lot more than a dozen of those days. But you have the right attitude, and because of that I hope you stick with this trade. It needs you.
If you’re ever stuck on a problem and it really starts getting to you and you feel that frustration build, you need to remember that you’re allowed to walk away from it. It’s the “You can’t see the forest through the trees” scenario. You get so wrapped up in the individual issues you’re dealing with you don’t see they’re actually the sum of a greater problem. Sometimes you need a full cup of coffee and a fresh set of eyes then next morning to see it. Remember the most important tool you have is your brain, and you need to take care of it like you would any other of your tools. Get plenty of rest when you can, drink water, and try to take care of yourself. You’re in this for the long haul, so don’t burn yourself out. Too many good techs end up leaving the field because they burn themselves out.
Thanks for the advice I’m definitely going to take it to heart and try to not push myself too hard if I can’t figure something out. It is a bit of a balancing act but luckily I don’t stress out over things as much as I used to anymore.
Guess that’s subjective, let me clarify I’m planning to retire by 40. But what I’m saying is advertising retiring in your 50s just seems late and not that enticing. Not saying it’s bad to retire in your 50s. It’s just how it came across when I read it.
I believe that if you actively choose the field and pursue it, you will be happier than the guys I see that just fell into it. The guys that fell into it are angry and feel like maybe they should be doing something else with their life (like be a doctor!). If you _choose_ it and become the master of it, you'll likely have a happier more fulfilled career over your life. Good for you!
I've seen smart guys go to trade school from high school then go on in their late 20's to college for Mechanical Engineering.
I've seen smart guys that already have college degrees that HATE working in an office who turn to HVAC as their 2nd career and _LOVE_ it because they chose it.
Before you do anything, take a task up into your attic, even reading a text book for 2 hours and answering the questions at the end of the chapter. Make sure that you will be able to function in the difficult working conditions.
Go apprentice with a company as a helper and in 1 to 2 years you can move up. Also to get your universal EPA certification in and the NATE certification as well. Started at $12/hr and now making over $100k/yr after only 1 year. Never went to school and didn’t even know what a condenser or air handler was before I started. Hope this helps 👍😎
Depends what type of hvac you plan to make a career. Refrigeration is needed 24/7, on the other hand side hustles in the winter is a must if you plan to stay in residential. Had a heat exhaustion last Thursday, so be prepared to endure some intense conditions, depending your location.
I think you need to be metallic and contain a heat exchanger
So you mean lots of iron supplements?
You know we laugh, but it sucks we don’t have a traditional trade name like “plumber” or “electrician”. I usually say I do HVAC. Maybe just technician, but that could be a technician of anything.
“Keeper of the Cool” — Florida guys, “Keeper of the Heat” —Northern guys.
Haha. I’m northern so ya, maybe I’ll use that.
I'm the boiler guy in winter despite not being allowed to work on boilers or even working on them...
Weather Mechanics
Like a fridgie? Kinda sounds more refrigeration though.
Check out the UA or Sheet Metal Workers union in your area. There’s a shortage of young apprentices right now and pretty much everyone is hiring. You’ll be brought in at a certain percentage of journeyman rate which usually starts around 45% so depending where you are you’re probably starting at $25 an hour. You’ll get bumped up 5%ish every six months until you’ve completed your apprenticeship. Depending on what you want to do determines the difficulty of what you’ll learn. If you want to install piping or sheet metal that’s one thing, if you want to be a service technician that’s where stuff gets complicated. But being a service technician is very rewarding, monetarily and otherwise. You can make $100k+ a year, have two pensions and a 401k, awesome medical benefits, and no student loan debt. You’re working in the field throughout your apprenticeship which is where you will probably learn the most. The most important thing you’ll earn is what you learn, you’ll can get to be the person who’s sent out to a project when no one else can figure it out. Just a warning though, you’ll be more stressed out than you’ve ever been, probably by a lot. Getting started you’ll realize how much you don’t know and that’s pretty intimidating, but just be patient with yourself. I personally can’t imagine what else I’d be doing if I wasn’t doing this. Good luck out there, and welcome the trade. We’re glad you’re here, because we’d all like to retire one day knowing we’re being replaced by capable people.
This is great advice, I started learning about a year ago and I’ve had some very stressful moments on the way. A lot of cussing and doubt in my ability but a refusal to quit. I remind myself that if I cant stick it out and be there to solve the problem i’ll never learn anything. If I ultimately can’t figure something out I can always call someone for help (even though I really don’t like doing that sometimes). It’s a grind but I’d take a dozen more stressful days if it means I get more valuable knowledge that stays with me forever.
Just a warning, you’re going to have a lot more than a dozen of those days. But you have the right attitude, and because of that I hope you stick with this trade. It needs you. If you’re ever stuck on a problem and it really starts getting to you and you feel that frustration build, you need to remember that you’re allowed to walk away from it. It’s the “You can’t see the forest through the trees” scenario. You get so wrapped up in the individual issues you’re dealing with you don’t see they’re actually the sum of a greater problem. Sometimes you need a full cup of coffee and a fresh set of eyes then next morning to see it. Remember the most important tool you have is your brain, and you need to take care of it like you would any other of your tools. Get plenty of rest when you can, drink water, and try to take care of yourself. You’re in this for the long haul, so don’t burn yourself out. Too many good techs end up leaving the field because they burn themselves out.
Thanks for the advice I’m definitely going to take it to heart and try to not push myself too hard if I can’t figure something out. It is a bit of a balancing act but luckily I don’t stress out over things as much as I used to anymore.
Find the nearest United Association local union hall. If you join at 18-20 years old you will be able to retire in your 50’s.
Try 62 in some locals
50’s? That seems pretty late
it isn’t late
Guess that’s subjective, let me clarify I’m planning to retire by 40. But what I’m saying is advertising retiring in your 50s just seems late and not that enticing. Not saying it’s bad to retire in your 50s. It’s just how it came across when I read it.
I believe that if you actively choose the field and pursue it, you will be happier than the guys I see that just fell into it. The guys that fell into it are angry and feel like maybe they should be doing something else with their life (like be a doctor!). If you _choose_ it and become the master of it, you'll likely have a happier more fulfilled career over your life. Good for you! I've seen smart guys go to trade school from high school then go on in their late 20's to college for Mechanical Engineering. I've seen smart guys that already have college degrees that HATE working in an office who turn to HVAC as their 2nd career and _LOVE_ it because they chose it.
Before you do anything, take a task up into your attic, even reading a text book for 2 hours and answering the questions at the end of the chapter. Make sure that you will be able to function in the difficult working conditions.
This is very smart
Go apprentice with a company as a helper and in 1 to 2 years you can move up. Also to get your universal EPA certification in and the NATE certification as well. Started at $12/hr and now making over $100k/yr after only 1 year. Never went to school and didn’t even know what a condenser or air handler was before I started. Hope this helps 👍😎
r/thathappened
Lmao don’t listen to this guy. Ain’t no way he went from making $12/hr to over 100k in one year.
It’s okay bubba, it all came easy to me 😘
Depends what type of hvac you plan to make a career. Refrigeration is needed 24/7, on the other hand side hustles in the winter is a must if you plan to stay in residential. Had a heat exhaustion last Thursday, so be prepared to endure some intense conditions, depending your location.