HVAC Refrigeration Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What kind of career can I have with a refrigeration/HVAC degree? My dad keeps saying he wants me to get into that field because it’s going to keep growing because everybody needs cold food. I’m not sure I want to get into a field just to fix refrigerators though?

Answer: Median hourly wage-and-salary earnings of heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers were $18.11 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $14.12 and $23.32 an hour. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $11.38, and the top 10 percent earned more than $28.57. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers were: Hardware, and plumbing and heating equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers $20.53 Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance 19.95 Direct selling establishments 19.12 Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors 17.46 Electrical contractors 16.74 Apprentices usually begin at about 50 percent of the wage rate paid to experienced workers. As they gain experience and improve their skills, they receive periodic increases until they reach the wage rate of experienced workers. Heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers enjoy a variety of employer-sponsored benefits. In addition to typical benefits such as health insurance and pension plans, some employers pay for work-related training and provide uniforms, company vans, and tools. About 14 percent of heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers are members of a union. The unions to which the greatest numbers of mechanics and installers belong are the sheet metal workers International Association and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada.

Question: What's a better job---HVAC/REFRIGERATION Technician or an ELECTRICIAN??? I have a friend who is debating between the 2 jobs..he likes both..but he's not sure what is a better career path (he is looking for something that is better financially long term or something he will stick with until he retires). If anyone has any advice or preference on why one job is better than the other, please let me know. THANKS!!!

Answer: Electrician, IBEW Journeyman Wireman, is better. HVAC Techs can be in the heat and dust a lot, bad for your health. Good luck..

Question: What's a better job HVAC or Commercial Refrigeration? I'm thinking about going to school for HVAC but am considering specializing in Commercial refrigeration because I think it might be more pleasant and profitable.

Answer: My brother-in-law did just that, and he works in Commercial Refrigeration. It's in high demand, has excellent pay and generally good working conditions. For 20+ years he worked for a grocery store chain, installing new equipment or repairing equipment. It's good, stable, high-paying work. My suggestion would be to get the Commercial Refrigeration training if you possibly can. Then if you decide to go back to HVAC you always have that option.

Question: are UK qualifications In hvac and refrigeration recognised in the USA ? I have experience on industrial refrigeration and air con splits and also heat pumps , i hold all city and guilds and safe handling certs , would these be valid in the USA

Answer: It depends a lot on which State you wish to practice. Most States recognize the National certification tests ( I believe they are administered by the EPA. I took them many years ago.) for the handling of refrigerants. However, some States recognize only their own tests. Florida is one and I believe California is another.

Question: how does a refrigeration system work, assosiated with hvac? in the order the components work and what they do

Answer: There are 4 components of a refrigeration system. There really isn't a "starting point" because it is a contiuous cycle so I'll start with the compressor. Inside of the system, is a refrigerant, usually R-22 for home systems and R-134a for cars. In the compressor, the refrigerant is compressed to a high pressure, meaning that the gas molecules are closer together. This makes the refrigerant rise in temperature, which is counter-intuative to refrigeration, so the next part of the cycle is the condenser where the refrigerant is cooled (either by the air or cooling water, depending on the size of the system) but the pressure is kept constant due to the uniform size of every part of the condenser. Now the refrigerant is basically at room temperature, under alot of pressure. The next step is the diffuser nozzle, or expansion valve. In this step, the refrigerant's pressure is reduced by flowing from an "pipe" with a small diameter, to one with a larger diameter. The reduction in pressure causes the refrigerant to become cool (think about how propane tanks are always colder than the air outside) (One other note: The reason that refreigerant is used instead of water is that in this cycle you need the refrigerating substance to be a gas, and water is a liquid at cool temperatures). Now that the refrigerant is cold, it passes through an evaporator which is similar to a condenser. The difference is that the function of the evaporator is to transfer heat from the air that you want to cool INTO the cold refrigerant. By transfering heat into the cold refrigerant, the air loses heat (The refrigerant and air try to obtain a common temperature) and thus becomes cold, and is blown into whatever apperatus (be it a freezer or air conditioner) as cold air. So simple, lol.

Question: I want to be an hvac apprentice where should i look? i am in college get my cert for hvac and refrigeration i live in ontario where should i look?

Answer: College job resource center. Join the union. good luck..

Question: seeking facility managers in LA County to provide PM quotes for their commercial HVAC & Ref equipment? If you are a Facilities / Warehouse Manager in LA County seeking quotes for your commercial HVAC & Refrigeration Preventative Maintenance, please reply back and I will provide my contact information to provide a free quote. Thank you!

Answer: "A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood." -General George S. Patton, Jr.

Question: Can I make good money in the HVAC industry? I am already an electrician, mechanic, and hydraulic tech and I'm looking to get my refrigeration evacuation liscense.

Answer: Probably. The HVAC companies actually steal employees from each other - very competitive! There are even "signing bonuses" in some markets. If you have the skills, go for it. Chances are good that the employer will pay for your training and even the licensing exam. And, this kind of job won't be off-shored, either... Good luck!

Question: career options hvac and PLC programing $$? Hello I started working at a food processing plant as a luber and now im a 22yr old maintenance mechanic with about 2 yrs of experence during the time I learned to repair appliances (which has now become my side business) and I also attended a tech school to learn hvac/ refrigeration and now im about to be almost done with the program, this summer I plan on looking for a new job but have now got a new interest in learning plc's programming, what can expect if I decide to pursue this career as far as pay scales and work expected?? does it compare to the refrigeration, hvac/building automation trades?? Im also learning about real estate investment and invesment in general on my free time(books and radio) and would like to one day soon not have to work any more however, I have learned that I need to have enough working capital to achieve my dream of financial independence any input would be great Thank you Simon

Answer: Stay in the service industry.......try to get your union card and masters status in HVAC.......you may be able to start your own business.......good income for good people.......stay out of real estate.........starvation..............good luck........

Question: How do you get into the HVAC field ? I've been looking into it and right now I have two options. A community college for two years and get an associates degree. The other is a trade school for 14 months and you get 4,000 hours towards your MA refrigeration license. What is the better option. Or is there another option out there ?

Answer: I think you can go to northwest trade school, you may not start out making much, but you can get decent raises over time.

Question: Really want the job (HVAC)? I really do want a job in the HVAC/Refrigeration trade. I took a pre-apprenticeship course with a good local school specializing in the trade, have some knowledge of motor controls and a very good understanding of electrical. I've been out to some interviews with no call backs so i thought that the school may not be enough, especially since i have no mechanical experience not even at home on cars or anything like that. What can i do? I'm a very hard worker but saying that in an interview doesn't do much at all since it's just talk. If you can think of anything i could try or do to help my situation it would be appreciated. Thank you. Through the school i went to i got transportation of dangerous goods and the CFC ticket. I also have a valid drivers license. All the certification you need to work in HVAC...right? I am looking to become a first year apprentice. I'm not a certified HVAC technician yet.

Answer: Have you tried the smaller companies? My husband started working in HVAC at a small company that only had a few employees. The pay was low and the hours sucked but he got his experience. Also, you need certification. Go take the HVAC test. (sorry, I don't remember the name of the actual test!)

Question: HVAC Skin Contact Wit Hot Shot? (Refrigeration - HVAC) i my right hand came in consistant contact while i was on a roof top unit for a medium temperature walk in cooler. the charge was heavy for the length of pipe which was filled with hot shot refrigerant. its been 2 days now and my hand keeps getting worse, my boss said its like a burn (where it blisters) but like i said its getting worse. anyone have this?

Answer: go see a doctor

Question: Question for people in the HVAC field ? I just started at a HVAC trade school in MA. The schools big thing is that when you are done with the 14 month program you get 4,000 apprentice hours towards the 6,000 you need for your MA refrigeration license. My question is are the 4,000 hours that big of deal as they make it out to be ?

Answer: Yeah, because it would take you at least two years to get 4,000 hours if you worked consistently 40 hours a week. If you were to get hired at a HVAC shop the same day an another person got hired, but he or she didn't have any schooling, you would still be 10 months a head.

Question: Im a HVAC tech and was wondering? I was wondering if any of you other techs know of a good web site i can go to and brush up on some comercial refrigeration info. Been a while since tech school, and i want to refresh on some things for a new job.

Answer: I know that there are videos and books out there you can buy. You might try amazon.

Question: What is a "sonic air compressor"? It is used in HVAC industry not music.? It is used in Refrigeration and/or air conditioning. Need resources about its history, how it works, and what it looks like. It is to write a paper. Thanks.

Answer: Are you thinking of a scroll air compressor? I don't think there is a device named sonic air compressor.

Question: Where is a good 'salary finder' website for Australia? For instance, where can I find the average salary for Registered Nurse, HVAC / Refrigeration mechanic, teacher and the like? Thanks in Advance ...and 10 points to the best answer! Whoooopie! BEn

Answer: Each state has their own awards and pay rates. But in the instance of a RN they can be covered by several awards. Bigger companies such as Woolworths have their own AWA's which are very hard to track down rates, some other big companies can be under a Federal award, also not so easy to find. In New South Wales its the Office of Industrial Relations http://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/ If you google "Award wages in (state)" you should find the other states as well. This is all about to change over the new few yrs with the Rudd Government making big changes to awards and bringing everything to a Federal level.