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A Silly Idea?

Hello, Seems to me that Heating Help has for a long time attracted the finest minds in the hydronics industry. Also, it's undisputed that finding qualified help is getting harder, steadily. So, a thought came to mind: Why not make a branch of HH whose job is to educate the next generations of technicians? Here we have the platform and the experience to make it happen. Seems that students should pay for the opportunity and that HH and the teachers should be getting paid to provide this service. Perhaps teachers could simply be paid by the useful posts they make. Tapping the multiple perspectives present in our community, could expose students to a range and depth of knowledge that really is unavailable anywhere else.

What you think? Is this a silly idea or might it be a way to be useful and make HH even harder to stay away from? :D

Yours, Larry
Rich_49

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,159
    I don't think it's a silly idea at all. Certainly I have learned more from visiting the Wall and batting ideas back and forth with the great folks here -- from all over North America -- than I ever could have otherwise.

    Certainly Dan's seminars and books have been enormously helpful.

    But.

    There's always a but, isn't there? I have a suspicion that it would be an administrative nightmare. Still let's see what others -- particularly @Erin Holohan Haskell ! -- have to say.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Paul48
    Paul48 Member Posts: 4,469
    A Heating Help Tutor? I think it's a good idea. It would take a bit of ironing out to get it going. I don't think it would work in an open forum setting. Let's face it....everybody has their own way of doing things. It might become a bit unsettling for a student to referee a battle between pros. Something else to consider , is, if you charge for a service, there are certain legal responsibilities.
    Rich_49Gordy
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,018
    Always looking for a way to share knowledge and especially attract new, young talent, good thinking.

    Lots of strong opinions amongst the tradespeople, there is no one correct way to design and pipe hydronics, so that could get tricky.

    I think HH works well as it is, plenty of opinions and advice generously shared.

    Some contractor shops tutor high schoolers and I see Uponor has started a mentor program.

    HeatSpring and others have pay to play options.

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    Solid_Fuel_Man
  • Rich_49
    Rich_49 Member Posts: 2,766
    I have been told previously that a few of the go rounds I have had with others actually made some folks think about things they otherwise would not have . Unfortunately that productive type of banter is frowned upon all too often in today's society , open debate is far too often taken the wrong way . As if there is a wrong way to communicate
    You didn't get what you didn't pay for and it will never be what you thought it would .
    Langans Plumbing & Heating LLC
    732-751-1560
    Serving most of New Jersey, Eastern Pa .
    Consultation, Design & Installation anywhere
    Rich McGrath 732-581-3833
    GordyCanucker
  • Erin Holohan Haskell
    Erin Holohan Haskell Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 2,276
    Thanks @Larry Weingarten for proposing this idea and for helping us explore new ways to combine technology and education to help the next generation and the industry.

    And thanks @Jamie Hall, @Paul48, @hot rod, and @Rich for sharing the great feedback.

    I'll think this over and follow along as others share their thoughts as well.
    President
    HeatingHelp.com
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    Might be a great idea to have a "Talk to a Pro" button where for some rate you can buy 15 minute increments of consulting time on a specific issue/problem. Distribution of revenue could be worked out between HH and the Pros.
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    I truly believe that if one is inspired enough to be apart of the industry they can receive bountiful knowledge here.

    ,, The spirit of some discussions has indeed promoted rethinking of what is, and maybe what should be. I have always enjoyed productive banter even if it sometimes hi jacks a thread a little. Moments of opportunity must be seized for further discussion, analyzation, and education.
    CanuckerRich_49
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,018
    Like Paul mentioned, if you charge a fee for consulting would that require E&O or liability insurance?
    There are contractors here that offer consultation in their byline, they would know about liability and potential legal issues.
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Rich_49
    Rich_49 Member Posts: 2,766
    All of Langans consultation and designs are backed by our E & O clause . It is always amazing that many contractors do not even know of such a thing . Makes it easier to get skeptical contractors to install exactly as you say because they think they'll own it . Once they find out that they'll be paid for anything which does not work when done exactly to your specs they usually jump right on board .

    I think anyone interested in participating should have a usable E & O clause in their insurance policy / ies . I would not guess HH would require assumption of any responsibility for steering
    You didn't get what you didn't pay for and it will never be what you thought it would .
    Langans Plumbing & Heating LLC
    732-751-1560
    Serving most of New Jersey, Eastern Pa .
    Consultation, Design & Installation anywhere
    Rich McGrath 732-581-3833
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 6,831
    Not silly at all Larry. Mad Dog
  • unclejohn
    unclejohn Member Posts: 1,833
    Kinda like Uber for boilers. We could put a price on each post and the poor sot with no heating or cooling would then pay for the best advice. The problem being how to you get beer out of your computer.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,452
    It would be a great Idea. Not sure if the "kids" will go for it. They want instant answers like Google. I teach at the union hall. It's all I can do to take their phones from them during class.
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    edited January 2018
    Funny how all that lurk have an insatiable appetite to problem solve steam, and hydronic for free.........i don’t think it’s about the money. It’s the love of the art. An artisian only knows.
    CanuckerRich_49Solid_Fuel_Man
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,272
    Hello, Thanks for your responses! I know this idea would be a LOT of work to figure out, organize, and implement. There are lots of moving parts. People need to be compensated for contributing while at the same time students need to understand they are getting something of value that likely isn't available elsewhere. Some pluses of using this on-line platform are that it's very well known and respected; done right, it would let students and teachers participate when it works for them; and I'm confident that the students that finished the course/s would have bragging rights and be more hire-able. No doubt there are ways to start small and see how it goes, but the problem this industry faces of not enough qualified people coming into the trades isn't being solved by the status quo.

    Mentoring, tutoring, e-classroom, or e-Wetstock; seems all could work. I don't know how to get beer from the computer yet, but likely that's best done AFTER answering the questions!

    How would you tap the vast know-how here to help out our industry and HH? And how would we attract the students? I imagine a HH education would be far cheaper and quicker than college, yet allow one to get or create an equally well paying job.

    I teach the trades, as do many others here and I'm happy to put my time where my mouth is to see if HeatingHelp.edu can be made to happen. Might be fun!

    Yours, Larry
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796

    It's all I can do to take their phones from them during class.

    This! Same applies to when they're supposed to be working.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting