Hello all, I’m a high-school senior that’s been accepted to a two year program in hvac at penn tech. I know nothing about this field of work but I am Interested in getting started. I was going to plan to shadow or possibly help out over the summer with a company so I could get a feel for what I am getting into. Would it be smart to go to a trade school for this field of work? It’s quite expensive so I’d like to know if this is a smart move for work after the two years of trade school. Thanks!

Coming here to complain and hopefully some advise.

Started my first HVAC job about 7 weeks ago after completing HVAC school. Walked in today and was "let go". Up to this point I received 0 complaints and thought I was getting along with everyone.

Manager called me into his office and said they were letting me go because I "didn't ask enough questions and didn't seem motivated". Now, we were only doing preventative maintenance, simple stuff you learn in school. I knew much of what we were doing, but the few times I didn't know I would ask about it. I'm also a pretty quiet person. Normally, if I have nothing interesting to say I won't say anything. No problem interacting and conversing if someone wants to talk. I think this is where the "unmotivated" part comes from. I always did what I was told without complaint and if I knew what needed to be done I would do it without needing to be told. But I was told I was so "unmotivated" that one of the guys I rode with told management he never wanted to work with me again. I was just so stunned by this. I try to remain a polite person. Talking shit about others, making vulgar jokes, constant complaining just isn't my thing.

The part that really pisses me is they knew I had my first child over the weekend and just fired me out of nowhere.

Well, that's my rant.

and other lies customers have told me

I’m newer to service work. My first thought was overheating, I checked filter, checked blower, checked for heat exchanger cracks. Thing is running like a champ. Any thoughts?

Sup duds Anyone has worked with this device? I have a problem with the EEV doesn't open , recognize all the sensors but the valve stay in 5% SH is in 20.5 approximately and the display doesn't show any alarm , I'm really have no clue with this one so maybe one good man here can lend me a hand

I am currently researching different HVAC manufacturers - looking for account opportunities. Who do you guys use? Any recommendations? Or ones I should steer clear from?

I currently have a bs in mech eng & an associates in utility eng. since graduating I’ve been in the power industry as a distribution engineer. I would really like a career change though. I was looking to hvac engineering or some type of hvac sales engineer. Does anyone have experience in any of these positions or recommendations? Thanks much!

I am getting ready to start an apprenticeship with zero experience (something everybody in this sub told me was impossible) in Kentucky and I have to pass a pre employment drug screen, obviously. But in the employee handbook I had to sign, it also mentions random drug testing at the company’s will. Has anyone here experienced that? In your experience, do these companies actually do random drug testing, or is it only if something like an accident occurs or if someone seemed under the influence? I just like to smoke a little weed on the weekends and I don’t want to miss out on an entire career path because of something that shouldn’t even be an issue to begin with.

Has anyone ever installed a Navien hydro furnace? Got a project coming up and they are thinking this furnace option. Just curious on performance, ease of install, long term maintenance, ease of repair. General stuff basically.

I am traveling for work and the Holiday Inn I'm staying at actually cleans the ptec filters. You guys look of the filters in your hotel rooms?

Was wondering if any of you know about a place in the GTA area, more specifically Hamilton region, that has in house guys as a Local 787 member? Been in the field pushing 10 years and am looking to transition to an in house position.

I’ve been in the Resi field for about a year now. Started as a tech for a company that works with home warranty. The company is very sales focused and they push you to talk the customer into getting a system directly from them instead of dealing with home warranty. I don’t have a problem with selling I’m just tired having to play this game with home warranty. Anyways I’m thinking of leaving fairly soon but I feel like other companies won’t give me a chance at being a tech because of only having a year of being a service tech. I also thought of maybe going back to college where I got my HVAC certs and maybe getting an associates degree in HVAC. The college also offers building automation classes and also offer a cert in that. I was thinking about getting the degree in hvac since it will give me a credit of 1 year towards my c-20 and also having the building automation cert so I can expand my options in the field. Btw I paid nothing for my hvac certs because of financial aid and don’t expect to pay really anything for the degree and building automation cert. I have no debts, still live at home with parents, im 20 years old, have over 30k saved from my 1 year of being a tech. Some questions I have are: how is the building automation field like in socal? and How was the transition from residential to building automation?

Last post was locked because either I’m not in the trade, I asked a question/non trade related question, (it was a disconnect for a 5 ton heat pump) or I’m JUST a home owner. Thought I’d find a cool picture to help prove that I belong here. Is this good or nah?

me and my dad are both tech him having over 30+ years in the trade but neither of us actually service our own units. we have service contracts with customers and do a routine service on their units before summer and winter. but at the end of the day i never feel like servicing my own unit. last time i serviced it was probably a year ago (unit not cooling correctly). i never even feel like cleaning the filters or changing them.

Hello everybody this is my first post on this subreddit. I'm currently 18 years old and I graduated high school last year and I'm thinking of making the jump from community college to becoming a HVAC apprentice at this nearby union who does 5 year apprenticeships with schooling.

I've been thinking about this trade for the last couple months and it seems pretty promising and it's becoming something I think I could enjoy once I get into it. Pretty much nothing in college peaks my interest and I'm leaning more towards trade school because of the career to become of it and also wanting to learn skills to work with my hands that will help me someday in the future when I move out and see where life takes me.

Don't get me wrong though, I tried with college and I'm pretty sure it just isn't for me, also I can't imagine myself working in any type of desk job, I feel like I would hate my life that way. I also like the fact that HVAC is an honest career that doesn't keep me stuck at a desk and instead I'll always be moving. Anyways, I'm seeking honest advice on anything I should educate myself on before I make the jump or anything I should be aware of about the trade that isn't often talked about.

Any feedback is welcome!

Can someone help me understand why guys would stick to residential instead of going commercial? I’ve worked through it all started as a residential install helper moving into a service tech spot for the residential company then after a year moving to commercial. When I moved commercial I started as a helper and moved my way up commercial install,controls tech and ending that company after 9 years as a commercial service tech. Now I’ve moved on to industrial chiller tech where I plan on keep moving up and I have switched to the union side of things so far Union seems good but what I’m trying to get at is why would someone want to not challenge them selves moving up the ladder. Maybe it’s not for some people if they are comfortable? But since I’ve started in the trade 11 years ago I’ve went up about $35 more dollars an hour and everyone likes money just curious on how others think 💭 n this?

Here's the quick of it. I'm going to change out my system and relocate it. If I don't pull a permit on my own house, can it affect my sale(if I ever do) years down the line?

Any personal experiences? I Hate giving the government money in general, for my own home. In FL.

I was on a maintenance call for two 2 stage carrier units from 2011. They are the ones that preceeded the carrier infinity variable speed units I believe. So when I was there I took amp draws and noticed that the LRA was higher than rated. I recommend a hard start kit for both units. Customer approved, I installed them. Both units seemed to be operating when I left. Lo and behold, I get a text from out answering service saying that both units have "malfunctioned" or "exploded." Great. They end up requesting the opinion of other tech from our company (understandable) and he calls me saying that the terminals have blew out on both Compressors. Before anyone asks, yes they were wired correctly. Our senior tech confirmed my wiring. I had an issue with this specific brand of start cap before but in that instance the capacitor popped and smoke came out but no damage was done to any major components. It was installed correctly that time as well. Boss said we're switching brands now lol. Guess I'm learning to replace a compressor (x2) tomorrow. I guess I'm just ranting but also want to know if anyone else has been through this. I feel terrible for doing this to the customer but I genuinely thought I was helping them. Our senior techs think it was just the brand. I've also heard now that some people don't install them on 10+ units cause it can cause issues. Idk man I just feel embarrassed and am not looking forward to facing the customer again tomorrow.

what other work do yall do for residential besides check ac and install furnaces?

I have been working for the same guy for 10 years now and have been essentially trained and brought up from no experience with him.

It's just a mom/pop operation and I have been their only steady reliable employee as others have come and go, they have let me take the work van home for 8 of those years and have generally treated me pretty good and paid me well though I have always been miserable in the trade.

Hated it day one and thought it would get better nope, only hate it more and every AC I service and furnace I install I hate it a little bit more so I started training myself in coding and game design and contracted myself out SUPER cheaply to a couple company's in the evenings.

One of them just offered me a full time position and I'm taking it. I feel bad as we are just entering busy season and have a buttload of work lined up but if don't take this opportunity I'm not going to forgive myself I just don't know how to do it the best. Just offer 2 weeks? Seems rough after 10 years.