Beckett burner classes question

seized123

I am thinking of signing up for a couple of Beckett's one-day classes on burner stuff up in Mass. Anybody have any experience with these? They offer Basic Burner and Advanced Burner Training (each one day, I assume after you take the basic you can take the advanced) and Electricity and Controls.

If yes, how hands on is it, and is it worth traveling all the way up there when they offer some free online stuff that looks good? (If it is very hands on, then online would probably be no substitute, better to do than just view.)

STEVEusaPA

Where are you located? They do them in many places.

Steamhead

If you're in New England, check out George " @Firedragon " Lanthier's classes which are held at the Beckett Training Center in Sturbridge/Fiskdale, MA:

http://www.firedragonent.com/

And @Alan R. Mercurio does training at the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association's facility in Middletown, PA (near Harrisburg):

https://papetroleum.org/education/

You can't go wrong with either.

seized123

Thanks for the comments. @STEVEusaPA I’m in Southern NY.

@Steamhead both those look great, but the PA one is too far, too long, and way too expensive for me, Firedragon is too long and probably too expensive. In contrast, this would be only three days at $140 a day, and I can stay for almost free in Mass. It’s given where the Firedragon Academy is, so maybe the same people teach it. Obviously I’d learn a lot less than the 1-2 week courses.

AlanWornham

Good Morning I am the Trainer at the Beckett classes. 

The Basic is very hands on and we build and set up burners with F heads, V heads and L heads. 

In the Advanced class we know how to replace parts. We concentrate on learning why we are replacing them and becoming a better technician rather than a mechanic. 

STEVEusaPA

AlanWornham said:

Good Morning I am the Trainer at the Beckett classes. 

The Basic is very hands on and we build and set up burners with F heads, V heads and L heads. 

In the Advanced class we know how to replace parts. We concentrate on learning why we are replacing them and becoming a better technician rather than a mechanic. 

^^^One of the best. You can't go wrong.
Alan, would you recommend these classes for a non-tech wanting to learn how to work on their own equipment?

AlanWornham

STEVEusaPA 
no we work with technians in the field. We are not a beginner trade school style school. 

STEVEusaPA

AlanWornham said:

STEVEusaPA 
no we work with technians in the field. We are not a beginner trade school style school. 

I think the OP is a HO.

WMno57

Steve, You just couldn't leave it alone could you?
You guys interested in my opinion of the average HVAC field tech in terms of their intelligence and trouble shooting abilities? I'm guessing not interested. Never the less, it is what it is.
This is why I DIY.
Who will be the next DIYer Wallie to buy a combustion analyzer?

STEVEusaPA

WMno57 said:

Steve, You just couldn't leave it alone could you?
You guys interested in my opinion of the average HVAC field tech in terms of their intelligence and trouble shooting abilities? I'm guessing not interested. Never the less, it is what it is.
This is why I DIY.
Who will be the next DIYer Wallie to buy a combustion analyzer?

What are you whining about? I think the OP is a homeowner. I asked @AlanWornham if these particular classes are only for technicians. Wouldn't the OP want to know this information before paying for/showing up?
There are plenty of internet/youtube sites to show a homeowner how to work on their burner, if they so desire.

WMno57

Steve,
My take on this is you are trying to cause problems for someone who wants to attend a class and become more knowledgeable. You crossed that line for me in your follow on post when you outed him as a HO.
As for calling me a whiner, I'm more of a counter puncher. I grew up in an age where that was allowed. Little late in the game for me to change now.

Erin Holohan Haskell

@STEVEusaPA and @WMno57, please stop arguing with one another.

STEVEusaPA

Why was my post deleted and not his?

HVACNUT

How do you "out" someone as a homeowner? I didn't know it was supposed to be a secret. Does HOA not mean what I think it means? 

I don't think anything was done maliciously here. Like I don't recommend a "HO" to check Sid Harvey's for a part, because Sid Harvey's doesn't deal with the public. Same same.

Whether you're dealing with a homeowner or another tech, if they don't have the instruments to verify things, then we have no direction to lead them towards a resolution. You go to the doc with an issue, and he or she wants lab work done on you. You can't follow up and be sitting in the exam room if you don't have the labs results yet. 
If the homeowner has all these instruments, and can show us the lab results, then we can proceed. 

If it makes anyone feel better, I waited 3 hours on hold with Navien when I was told later there's a "members only" backdoor number. 3 hours for a 30 second fix that is mentioned nowhere in the manual. 

Erin Holohan Haskell

STEVEusaPA said:

Why was my post deleted and not his?

@STEVEusaPA I explained this in my private message to you. I asked you both to stop and respect site rules. You kept arguing, so I deleted your post.