r/HVACschool

Share your early experiences of starting out in HVAC 

I started an apprenticeship with a local company, they helped me get my epa 608 universal, nate certification and are currently in the process of helping with my osha 10

They recommend to skip trade school as they had put it, I had "common sense" and to apply for training programs in a nearby city, to learn specifically how to work on units, but I'm starting work with them part time on call, only had a few days working on the field with them, mostly shadowing, but the occasional electrical component replacement is what they mainly do to help and to practice with, aside from grabbing tools, checking breakers, testing wires from inside/outside the house, minor things so far but it's only been a few days, again

It's so far a pretty fun gig, I wish I got more hours but even as they said, I need more hands on experience

Are there any pointers I should take note of for future reference with my hopefully new career?

Just wanted to share this in case it helps someone. A lot of people don’t realize this, but local workforce programs may be able to help pay for schooling. It's worth checking with your local unemployment office, workforce development office, career center, etc. even if you already have a job.

Does anything exist that would activate a separate fan or even an intake for the HVAC unit when conditions were correct?

Mostly when the sun goes down and the temperature outside is cooler than inside and especially when it’s cooler than you would want to run air-conditioning, the fan could bring air from lower part of the house from outside and put it into either the attic or the actual house depending on the humidity. Definitely would not want to bring in a lot of humid air, especially if the air conditioning were running during the day already and had it under control. Also do not want to have to open windows and then shut them again where it could be monitored by a thermostat and Automated. I also like the aspect of getting some fresh air one it is efficient to do so.

If you had proper outdoor thermometer, indoor thermometer and humidity sensor it would seem you could automate this with some smart devices, yet I have never seen this standalone or even on a smart thermostat.

If so, please indicate what device or sensor and even what type of fan works best with it and definitely where to put it and how to configure it best.

Finishing up HVAC school now and already working as a helper. One thing I learned fast is school gives you the basics, but the real learning starts once you get hired and start working. A lot of stuff didn’t fully click for me until I saw it in real houses with real problems. Still learning every day, but definitely glad I got into the trade.

Hello everyone, I've been in the trade for about 7-8 years now. I'm getting around to taking my Qualifier exam and and looking for some help and pointer. I bought all the books and have been studying. I'm wondering what is the best areas to study and lock in on. Also wondering if any of the prep courses and exams help at all, I don't really want to spend another $250 on the prep but if it helps and I can pass my first time then I will. I'm based out of Wisconsin if that helps. Thank you!

I need some advise on this please . Looking to change my career at 47 and I want to start HVAC at himark
Evening classes. I did not complete my high school in Canada but have it from a different country . Is it too late to start and what advise can you give me please I would appreciate it

Im 17 a junior in high school we have like 2 weeks left of school that's it. I take Anthis (Leave school to go to basically school about HVAC) for HVAC and I go to this after high school in the morning for 3 periods. I got a lot of awards/certifications, I got my EPA 608 universal, OSHA10 certification, Skills USA participate. Im taking my future in HVAC, next year im taking Anthis HVAC again but the ICE version (Leave to go do a HVAC related job), im going to be gone all the days instead in class on a internship for WMI in Fort Wayne Indiana (HVAC Commercial). So I'll go to high school as a senior next year for 3 periods then leave to go do my job/internship at WMI. I start June 1st this summer and I already explained how it's gonna work next year with schooling.

There was a brief of everything, so now my questions and I just want to learn, how to be the best at this job and make that money. It would be nice to get some tips on what I should do now/in my future. And just tips on what to do in my free time to learn new things/tips.

My stepdad works at WMI and he's a high up im not 100% sure what he does all I know is he travels and highers/fires people and he's part of the Union Hall 166 a high up there. But he told me the first like 6 years im just going to have a shovel in my hand and that's all and just don't talk much and just use your ears.

Doing my exam in a week just wondering what i should study and things that could help me a lot for the exam.