Heating and air conditioning - Thinking About This Trade

Author

Thinking About This Trade

Jason Lombardi

2005-10-27, 11:21 pm

Hello all,

I am thinking about transitioning from my current trade into the HVAC
field. Can anyone here tell me the following:

1. Where are the good trade schools at? I am in the Sacramento, Ca
area. How much should I expect to pay for the school?

2. How long should one go to trade school for the field?

3. What, if any, certifications should one strive for?

4. Are companies that hire people direct from trade school training
them or just throwing them to the wolves?

5. What can a new tech expect as far as wages and benifits?

6. Are there any companies that pay their techs commission?

7. What are the downfalls of the HVAC trade?

8. What should one "watch out for" as far as employers go?

9. Ballpark figure, how much do the required tools for the HVAC trade
cost?

Thanks for all of your assistance,

J. Lombardi

Jake

2005-10-28, 12:21 am

Jason,

I can't speak to the HVAC trade because I'm in the electrical trade...
but I can tell you some things about the trades in general....

1. This is no get-rich-quick scheme. To get good at a trade, it takes at
least 6 years and sometimes as long as 12. Unfortunately, the money is
not much above what you could make in some menial job until you get the
skills you need.

2. Employers offering all kinds of things abound... but be very wary of
those that promise a helper-cum-apprentice decent money for at least a
couple of years in... good employers will 'cherry-pick' people from
schools and people right off the street. No-one can afford to pay a
newbie much money... so the key is finding a employer that will teach
you something.. which is where the real value in your job lies. If you
can learn the trade... then you have the potential to earn a good
living. Working for a hack is not gonna do that for you.

3. Work values and the ability/desire to learn trump all. If you go to
work for someone, and exhibit the 'tendencies' of a good tradesman...
quality work, dedication to your craft, and always curious and eager to
know something new... employers (with the right attitude) will be
ecstatic and reward you.

I have no idea what your motivation is in seeking a new career... but
remember this: Trades work is not a mail-order, send your money and show
up type of credential.

If you're gonna be successful at it, you've gotta be in love with what
you do, you have to enjoy every minute of it (ok, not always), and you
have to strive to understand every facet of each machine you're working
with and master it.

The money is secondary... but it will come if you are the type that has
right attitude... and you'll be very happy.

So... the question is... why do you want to be a tradesman?

Jake

Oscar_Lives

2005-10-28, 2:21 am

#3. If you get a Minion Express card, you won't need any certifications.
You will be so cool that everyone will want you, even beautiful women will
be throwing their panties at you.

"Jason Lombardi" <TechGuy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:j7v2m1h2jdmvmg9je2gp5baabkt5jmu60j@4ax.com...
> Hello all,
>
>
> I am thinking about transitioning from my current trade into the HVAC
> field. Can anyone here tell me the following:
>
>
> 1. Where are the good trade schools at? I am in the Sacramento, Ca
> area. How much should I expect to pay for the school?
>
> 2. How long should one go to trade school for the field?
>
> 3. What, if any, certifications should one strive for?
>
> 4. Are companies that hire people direct from trade school training
> them or just throwing them to the wolves?
>
> 5. What can a new tech expect as far as wages and benifits?
>
> 6. Are there any companies that pay their techs commission?
>
> 7. What are the downfalls of the HVAC trade?
>
> 8. What should one "watch out for" as far as employers go?
>
> 9. Ballpark figure, how much do the required tools for the HVAC trade
> cost?
>
>
> Thanks for all of your assistance,
>
> J. Lombardi
>

Carolina Breeze HVAC

2005-10-28, 2:21 pm

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:50:21 GMT, "Oscar_Lives" <nospam@nospam.net>
wrote:

>#3. If you get a Minion Express card, you won't need any certifications.
>You will be so cool that everyone will want you, even beautiful women will
>be throwing their panties at you.
>
I like panties.... Mostly I like to look at myself in the mirror with
them om

Unfortunately my wife is over weight so I have to "steal" them from my
neighbors wife!!

Jabs

2005-10-28, 3:21 pm

Jason,
I entered this industry in December of 1975 and I can tell you that what
Jake explained to you in his reply to your question(s) is very good advice.
As a matter of opinion, I believe his reply to your question(s) is probably
one of the best I have ever read. However, he didn't mention that things
today are a little different. Today, the number one thing you need to learn
in the HVAC trade is how to sell. If you learn how to sell, you will do
very good in this industry.

I didn't say I like it, I'm just telling you how it is.

Jabs

"Jake" <jkelleyus@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:XEg8f.483071$_o.137061@attbi_s71...
> Jason,
>
> I can't speak to the HVAC trade because I'm in the electrical trade... but
> I can tell you some things about the trades in general....
>
> 1. This is no get-rich-quick scheme. To get good at a trade, it takes at
> least 6 years and sometimes as long as 12. Unfortunately, the money is not
> much above what you could make in some menial job until you get the skills
> you need.
>
> 2. Employers offering all kinds of things abound... but be very wary of
> those that promise a helper-cum-apprentice decent money for at least a
> couple of years in... good employers will 'cherry-pick' people from
> schools and people right off the street. No-one can afford to pay a newbie
> much money... so the key is finding a employer that will teach you
> something.. which is where the real value in your job lies. If you can
> learn the trade... then you have the potential to earn a good living.
> Working for a hack is not gonna do that for you.
>
> 3. Work values and the ability/desire to learn trump all. If you go to
> work for someone, and exhibit the 'tendencies' of a good tradesman...
> quality work, dedication to your craft, and always curious and eager to
> know something new... employers (with the right attitude) will be ecstatic
> and reward you.
>
> I have no idea what your motivation is in seeking a new career... but
> remember this: Trades work is not a mail-order, send your money and show
> up type of credential.
>
> If you're gonna be successful at it, you've gotta be in love with what you
> do, you have to enjoy every minute of it (ok, not always), and you have to
> strive to understand every facet of each machine you're working with and
> master it.
>
> The money is secondary... but it will come if you are the type that has
> right attitude... and you'll be very happy.
>
> So... the question is... why do you want to be a tradesman?
>
> Jake

geoman jr

2005-10-28, 9:21 pm

"Carolina Breeze HVAC" <steve@carolinabreezehvac.com> wrote in message
news:57k4m15okt6706fnopjhe9ar6rau7sgth2@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:50:21 GMT, "Oscar_Lives" <nospam@nospam.net>
> wrote:
>
> I like panties.... Mostly I like to look at myself in the mirror with
> them om

>
> Unfortunately my wife is over weight so I have to "steal" them from my
> neighbors wife!!

Don't think I would have fessed up to that lol :-)

gofish@gonefishin.net

2005-10-28, 10:21 pm

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 19:51:22 -0400, "geoman jr" <mwalk2@comcast.net> wrote:

>
>"Carolina Breeze HVAC" <steve@carolinabreezehvac.com> wrote in message
>news:57k4m15okt6706fnopjhe9ar6rau7sgth2@4ax.com...
>
> Don't think I would have fessed up to that lol :-)
>

Go back & check the headers. That post was spoofed. Look at the newsreader,
Forte Agent. Now go back and chec a few posts WE KNOW came from CB.

TURTLE

2005-10-28, 11:21 pm

<gofish@gonefishin.net> wrote in message
news:u6h5m152mrp84tlol3u9olrsgeioma4tce@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 19:51:22 -0400, "geoman jr" <mwalk2@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> Go back & check the headers. That post was spoofed. Look at the newsreader,
> Forte Agent. Now go back and chec a few posts WE KNOW came from CB.

This is Turtle.

Thanks for telling me this for I did not think anything about it as being out of
his style but when you told me this. It is good to know about the copy posting.

TURTLE

~^Johnny^~

2005-10-29, 12:21 am

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:27:15 -0700, Carolina Breeze HVAC
<steve@carolinabreezehvac.com> wrote:

>On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:50:21 GMT, "Oscar_Lives" <nospam@nospam.net>
>wrote:
>
>I like panties.... Mostly I like to look at myself in the mirror with
>them om

>
>Unfortunately my wife is over weight so I have to "steal" them from my
>neighbors wife!!

Sometimes, when I go to a rave, my vest slips down.

So, I have to...

.... -(scroll down)-

....

.... -(wait for it)-

....

....adjust my trance vest height.

--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

~~~~~~~~
"There's no trick to being a humorist when you have
the whole government working for you." -Will Rodgers
~~~~~~~~

Carolina Breeze HVAC

2005-10-29, 6:21 am

>
> Unfortunately my wife is over weight so I have to "steal" them from my
> neighbors wife!!

Obvious lame XXX attempt from someone we all know and hate in here...

Aint me...

TURTLE

2005-10-29, 11:21 am

"Carolina Breeze HVAC" <steve@carolinabreezehvac.com> wrote in message
news:LtG8f.1$ap1.216@eagle.america.net...
>
> "Carolina Breeze HVAC" <steve@carolinabreezehvac.com> wrote in message
> news:57k4m15okt6706fnopjhe9ar6rau7sgth2@4ax.com...
>
> Obvious lame XXX attempt from someone we all know and hate in here...
>
> Aint me...

This is Turtle.

What is this We ----- You got a mouse in your pocket ?

Also if it ain't you then what does the real Steve think about it.

TURTLE

Oscar_Lives

2005-10-29, 12:21 pm

>
> Unfortunately my wife is over weight so I have to "steal" them from my
> neighbors wife!!

My wife is overweight too. Unfortunately, her panties are still too tight
for me. :-(

Bill

2005-10-29, 1:21 pm

In article <0oL8f.21990$ty1.3490@bignews1.bellsouth.net>,
"TURTLE" <turtle4aire@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> This is Turtle.
>
> What is this We ----- You got a mouse in your pocket ?
>
> Also if it ain't you then what does the real Steve think about it.

Dry up weasel. We need any slobber from you we'll drop our pants.

--

A Professional is someone who does a good job even when they don't feel like it.

TURTLE

2005-10-29, 1:21 pm

"Bill" <bill@hvac.com> wrote in message
news:CMM8f.73350$Hs.60968@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com...
> In article <0oL8f.21990$ty1.3490@bignews1.bellsouth.net>,
> "TURTLE" <turtle4aire@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> Dry up weasel. We need any slobber from you we'll drop our pants.
>

This is Turtle.

What's Paul going to think you dropping your pants for someone else ? Watch out
he may cut you off.

TURTLE

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