focuschivvy

thinking of getting a trade behind me, and air conditioning takes me fancy whats the pay like? is there constant work? would you recommend it?

cheers

Twellsie

iTrader: (1)

yeah i have A/C in my office

SteveB

iTrader: (3)

You mean in buildings???? I looked into it earlier this year, applied for a couple of trainee jobs, never got an interview so gave up and now retraining as a diamond driller/sawer etc

Turbo-Beal

I would say its definatly a trade to get into. All the companies i know in the building maintinace industry a screaming out for good refrigeration engineers. If you play your cards right you can name your price. What are you thinking of getting into? Air conditioning or the refrigeration side? IMO i would go for refrigeration as its more technical and generaly better paid.

cozzfather

iTrader: (1)

ian sibberts the man who knows about ac on here, he owns his own ac company so is probably the best person to ask

focuschivvy

cheers buddy i was looking into becoming an air con engineer to be honest, but the refridgeration sounds like its the one to be in by the sounds of it

foreigneRS

i was in the automotive a/c business for 12 years and have recently started with a company servicing and installing building a/c and refrigeration (lose the d if you write any application letters or you'll never get anywhere )

i believe there will always be a demand for this work, especially with the regs changing in the next few years, and not just in this country but jobs in the whole world. i'm hoping it will take me to NZ or oz in the future

BlairM

I'm an estimator for ductwork ventilation which is along the same lines - money's shite at my current firm but I'm constantly looking for a step up elsewhere.

AC guys do seem to have a relatively easy job and good pay though from what I've seen.

focuschivvy

thats what i like to hear

GARETH T

whats changing then mate?

ian sibbert

I'd assume Nick was talking about F-GAS....legislation that will be enforced on engineers, A/C complanies and end users....

I've been in the A/C game since 1989, if you get some decent training you'll never be out of work...ive worked with loads of guys who have gone all over the world looking after A/C, dubai, UAE, Aus and even one lad who now works for the Sultan of Bruni....lol...

Dont be fooled though like a lot of trades people think they can make a fast buck, the installation of splits can be done by monkeys and diagnosis is a lot easier now than it was, but people who understand refrigeration systems thoroughly will do very well...average basic wage for a Tech/Service end is 25 - 30K but they make considerably more in overtime, especially during the summer....

We are lucky we have some really goos work and good staff, two of whom are specialist water chiller techs....

The scope of A/C is vast, from single splits, VRV systems, Bulk Air Handling, Process Cooling, Humidity Control, Ground & Air Sourced Heat Pumps, etc etc....

With the rise in Gas prices we are installing more and more heat pumps as a primary heating cycle, with Domestic Hot Water systems now becoming available the industry is growing all the time....

I cant think of many people who got into the game and later regretted it...

Ian

GARETH T

sounds like a growing industry,,, maybe im in the wrong line of work!

xrmalin

ive just started working for an a/c company as a trainee installer ive been doing it for 6 months now and im picking it up pretty quick its like most things if you have a good trainer then its doesnt take aslong to pick it up. like ian's said splits are easy and it'll take a matter of months to learn how to install them but ive just moved on to vrv systems which is more complicated as your feeding to various units instead of just one indoor unit.
i'd deffinatly say theres a scope to travel round the world doing installs as all the best to go are hot so they all need a/c.

focuschivvy

how much do you get for being a trainee mate? what qualifications did you need to get that?

Redeye Jedi

DITTO!! Who do you work for?!

As you say, AC fitters have it easy really and the money is handy for fitting (it is in Norwich anyhow!)...

kiddie

Would like to know this aswell. Do you need to put yourself through a course first or can you approach an employer and then learn on the job?

BlairM

We're a rare breed.. I work for a company called Speirs, we're in Scotland so you probably aint heard of us. Mainly work for smaller heating engineers (my boss has fell out with the larger ones like Balfours mostly..)

focuschivvy

up

foreigneRS

if you were to put yourself through a few courses first, like refrigerant safe handling, brazing etc, then you might stand more chance of getting a job. but some employers will put you through all those practical courses. you will need a fundamental knowledge of the refrigeration cycle theory though, usually to NVQ level or something. i have a degree in mechanical engineering so i'm covered already.

kiddie

Would this course get me in the door with an employer?
http://www.techniquetraining.net/cou...on/tacr10.html

focuschivvy

i was looking at that last night, quite costly but might be worth it

foreigneRS

i would think so, it looks quite comprehensive and has the main things like refrigerant handling and brazing

climatecentre (like build centre and plumbcentre) also run courses

http://www.climatecenter.co.uk/climt/index.html

kiddie

Cheers I'll have a look