Best Of
Re: Burner technicians -what’s going on in this industry?
I had a different experience. During HS, my father got me a job working for him, cleaning all the bathrooms at night in a 16 story building, taking out the trash, painting, re-lamping light fixtures, unclog toilets, cleaning the old Federal boilers. I loved it.
But the old man insisted I go to college. He said, do you think I like working for "the man"? I am wholly dependent on him, his ability to run his business, his moods…If he says jump, we jump. We have to lick his boots. We have no education and we are limited. We can't go wherever we want. But, if you graduate from college and decide to come back to this, it is YOUR decision. At least you have a choice in the matter and a degree that let's you walk if the situation is't right. Unlike us-we're stuck here.
It's the American dream , really. To have your kids do better than you. So, I don't slam a college education. I am better for it in so many ways and I still clean boilers and unclog toilets. 'Tis my choice.
SlamDunk
Re: ? actual difference between hot water heaters from supplyhouses and big box stores
For commercial, as long as you installed it correctly, per manufacturers instructions, and the issue lies with the product itself and not the install, I would politely direct those calls to the engineer or the individual who specified the equipment. Most jobs like that have all kinds of stipulations stating what the installer is responsible for and equipment selection is generally not one of them. They would call that "design build" or something similar. You may need to have a sit down with them to explain what your responsibilities are in the matter, and that if a service call falls out of line with that they may need to pay your hourly rate. If you signed something stating a 1 year warranty for your workmanship, politely point out to them that equipment selection does not fall in as part of your "workmanship" you did not specify the unit. The Specifying engineer has generally worked into their price some buffer for dealing with this kind of call, the same way you work in some extra to cover your mistakes (if made) there is no reason you should have to provide free labor for a problem that someone else should be dealing with.
GGross
Re: Estimated life expectancy?
nother Burnham bites the dust!!
@AdmiralYoda 10 days-10 years?? Its a Burnham I will give it 9 days.
Re: Burner technicians -what’s going on in this industry?
Out here in the West the FFA is still very common in public schools, teaching welding, mechanics, animal husbandry etc. My 16 year old, daughter, is welding already.
Re: Experience I had with a boiler tech and what I learned along the way.
Not many people like you seem to be left. It's a shame that so few technicians who make a living doing this share your qualities.
Re: Burner technicians -what’s going on in this industry?
We attended the HVAC Tactical Awards at AHR and were in a room of 300+ young people who are passionate about working in the trades and spreading the word. Many of them have large followings on social media and use these tools to educate and get the word out about opportunities in the trades. They are reaching other young people where they are. The awards were for things like "Picture Perfect Install," emphasizing taking pride in the work. Dan Holohan was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. This event sells out each year and is filled with so much enthusiasm for the trades.
In this panel discussion from AHR, HVACR company owners discussed how they are recruiting. They're going to all of the career events at high schools, offering extensive training, and getting creative and recruiting from other industries. One panelist mentioned that he gets a lot of employees from Xerox who do hands-on work fixing copy machines.
And Bryan Orr recently launched The Grit Foundation ( ) with the mission to bridge the skills gap and teach kids the trades through camps.
Re: Started smelling "sulfur-ey" odor in the house.
Close the air band till the fire looks ok and the test for smoke. When you get a #1 smoke open the band slightly (make small adjustments) until you are just getting 0 smoke, take a Co2 you should be around 11-12.5%. Then open the air band a smidge until you drop the co2 about 1%. Then recheck the smoke.
Re: My first time using a purge valve after reading Pumping Away
Those 3 way valves with the drain are great after the water meter too, you can use them to drain the system at the lowest point or shut off the system with access to water through the drain depending on how you position the 3 way valve.
mattmia2
Re: Burner technicians -what’s going on in this industry?
The UA and the local I belong to has been trying hard to up there game in the training area. It used to be that the UA was plumbers & pipefitters only and they looked down on HVAC service and oil burner work. No longer they have embraced it.
I am not sure they have made a lot of progress with it but they are trying.
I have been out of touch since I retired from working and stopped teaching.
I do have a code update class to go to this Saturday to keep my Gasfitters license. (why I keep it I don't know but I can't let it go) but I will try and find out what is happening with training
Re: Bosch Greenstar Combi with excessive exhaust / Intake condensation
Well, Ironman, I think I owe you lunch. As I was disassembling the flue connector, I could feel water above it and the rust didn't line up. I'm guessing the installer twisted the top adapter and broke off both inspection ports. When I tried to loosen the plugs, I could feel them just spinning When I got it apart, they were both broke. From what I can tell, this is where the condensation was coming from. I'll know tomorrow when I get it back together.
TroyMn