I’m trying to decide if I should do plumbing vs HVAC...

Did you do hvac or plumbing?

That's how it goes, you're not going to be spoon fed the knowledge. I usually don't have the guys they put under me doing shit beyond fetching tools. I did give advice and tips/tricks to the few that dove in.

Both. They also tried to throw me out with the electricians too but I declined. Majority was plumbing, the usual shit like water heaters, A/C and heater replacements etc.. All of it was service work and not new construction. Wisconsin offers two different licenses.

You either do the 5 year with schooling to become a journeyman that can work new construction

OR

You can work on the job for 1000 hours with a shop that does service work and test for a restricted journeyman license. The restriction is that you can only do service work with it, but honestly can still make over 100K after the 1 year or so apprenticing. You can get your Master after testing and getting another thousand hours too, and at that point opening a shop is more viable. But that's strictly for here in Wisconsin.

Youre a shitty teacher then. You probably dont have a clue what youre doing to begin with.

>source: been a plumber for 23 years

I never expected spoon feeding for information, but after fucking up a pipe and flooding a basement with over two inches of water I would've expected more help.

The other issue with the shop I worked at is a majority of the guys didn't even have licenses.

Which one did you like better? Is hvac more lifting heavy shit? I have a bad ankle which worries me. Im a truck driver now but trying to get out of that

where you from? If you are in the southern US, HVAC for sure

My dad is an HVAC. They are desperately needed everywhere and there are retards in the bunch, so if you're good, you can easily clear 200k in a few years. For the past 20 he's been in a paper mill sleeping in his office and putting out the occasional issue.

Honestly plumbing was more my speed, but if you get stuck with a water heater full of deposit you will be lugging something very heavy up flights of stairs. Again though mileage may vary and I would encourage you to explore both. The more you know the better off you will be.

Yea i’m in the south. Why do you say that?

I’m not sure how i’d go about trying both but that’s a good idea. What did you go to school for both of them? Where I am it’s either one or the other unless I just apply to an apprenticeship and try it that way before blowing all my money on the school.

Plumber makes more and it's easier to Starr your own business once you get a license. Gotta have a high tolerance for poo, tho.

I was going for my restricted journeyman license no schooling required for that here. Just apply for an apprenticeship with some shop and go from there, don't waste money on schooling when they will usually pay for it.

I read they don’t get paid that good. I heard plumbing was better because of the whole stigma attached to it. What country are you in?

Air conditioning in the southern states, especially during summer, are constantly going out. People pay good money for repairs and literally every house will need them at some point

Thanks for the advice. What is the interview like when you applied? I have no blue collar skills or experience other than truck driving.

Sat down with the GM of the shop. Asked me if I was mechanically inclined and had ANY experience in anything trade related. Said yes to the inclined and no to the trades. Got hired within' like 5 minutes. Super chill but obviously they were desperate for people.

Are most plumbers assholes to work with?

I think I just got stuck with a sad bunch of individuals. There were a few great plumbers at the shop and I always had beers with them after work and whatnot but I never got paired with them hardly at all for any sort of training. Would've been a lot better if I had been.

I never try to hide from them what i'm doing, i usually prep everything ahead of time myself. If you have brain isn't completely mush you can figure out what's needed and how to approach a job. Hence the few. I tried teaching the first three guys they gave me, but holy fuck. First guy plays with his phone while i explain how to do the work. Second was shit for brains, i had to stand over him and spoon feed his ass. Third was a smart ass who constantly was telling me "why are you doing that? that's not how you do it. are you sure that you did it correctly. The third one quit after two months. Went to work at a walgreens from what i heard. I stopped trying after that.
>9 years heavy duty diesel mechanic

How about the hvac guys? Are they pretty chill? Also what do you mean you worked in a shop? I thought they drive to houses and stuff to do work.

Im kind of a slow learner, I would never play on my phone while working or trying to learn. Some people just don’t put in any effort I guess.

Well prior to starting the day everyone came to the shop and grabbed everything they needed, such as resupplying trucks or grabbing the first few jobs worth of equipment to install. Spent alot of time waiting at the shop or running in a service truck to gather supplies.

The HVAC guys were all younger (20-40) and they definitely enjoyed what they did and helped me learn A LOT more compared to the plumbers.