Since we all know where everyones from

eddie grierson_3

I am 25 and I started riding with my grandfather in the work truck when I was 4, so they tell me. They said I was walking around in crawl spaces when they were on there knees. I had a wagon I would go back and forth to the truck for the guys. A couple customers used to joke with my grandad about child labor laws.

Unknown

What about ages , and how long you've been in the trade

I am an old and battered 33 , and been installing for almost 17 years . My lower back hates me for it .

Glen

It's not my age -

it's the ageing process that ticks me off! Started in construction 1973, apprenticed as plumber 1976-80, Interprovincial plumbing TQ 1980, Interprovincial Steamfitting/Pipefitting TQ 1990, Grade A Gas (Industrial)with Electrical Endorsement 1998. I've been low man - high man, union organizer, dabled in politics, trades instructor and community s... disturber - now boss of my own kingdom. Had color in my hair until my oldest daughter hit puberty - will be 50 this year - and loving every bit of it. That about covers it -

antman

Me

Lets see, I am 37, been doing this just a bit over 19 years. Recieved my first Master Plumbers license in 1995, been in business for over 7 years now and it is a love/hate relationship, Don't know how i'm going to do it for another 20+ years, But, I can't wait!!!

Ant




To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Paul_6

I was just ruminating on this today

with one of the guys at work. I will be 42 in april. I have been doing this in one form or another since 1977. My father was a carpenter, and he was really good friends with a plumber and all the sons were the "shared labor pool". It's funny how we get to where we are somtimes. If you are a young man with a lot of time on your hands on a construction site you can watch many people do things, and learn much along the way. My dad had a great ( although he didn't know it ) apprenticship program for this trade. because he would loan me out to other tradesman and they would teach me things along the way. So if you are a seventeen year old, with a fifteen pound sledge hammer in your hand beating out a concrete slab to make a trench for a footing so you can put in a new load bearing wall, suddenly the heating and airconditoning trade doesn't look so bad. If the next week it's a little slow so you find yourself building catch basins on the side of the road, with the guy who's putting the subdivision in, so pop can get to the next house lot, boilers begin to look really good. I have been with the current company I work for since 1986. There is a road behind me, and a road ahead of me. I will learn somthing new every day that I travel it. Paul

Steve Minnich_1

42 going on 62

22 yrs in the trade.

About 8 operations--2 on my neck.

2 more needed on my knees.

Luckily, I don't work in the field much anymore.

Steve

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

tombig

Since we all know where we've been, what's say we think about where we're goin. '76 HS grad,Mech.Eng. wannabe.Ughh. Weld shop fab/install for 8 yrs overlapped w/hvac. Laid off, picked up side work, still humming along no bigger than I was 15 yrs. ago and loving it.

steve gates

May 9th

1993. Mothers day is when I started. Just 6weeks short of 42. Spent the previous 25 in the food bizz.

This is our 5th anniverary as Gates Radiant Heat and Plumbing. Hope to get in at least another 15 or so.

Ilove this stuff.

Took 3 weeks off last year. Never had more than two before.

I can go on and on and on...

Unknown

63 years old

been doing this stuff since 1957. Actually started on coal systems as a boy of 12 in 1952, worked for a coal company and went on truck to do delivery and service on coal boilers in south western PA. It was my job to carry the bucket of good coal to start up systems for the season. Coal was delivered into coal bins in basement down a shute into the basement area set aside for storage. If you could not get the shute to the window we used wheel barrows or buckets.

Glenn Harrison

Young punk here

31 years old. Started my 13th year in the trade in January.

I have the elaborate hydronic heating and chilled water A/C systems in my old church to thank for creating my interest in the HVAC field.

Glenn Harrison Residential Service Tech

Althoff Industries Inc. Mechanical and Electrical Contractors

Crystal Lake, Illinois

eleft_4

you only get older

HEY Ron,

Don't knock your self, when I met you I thought you were in your mid 20's. you will be going strong as long as you keep active, I know this works because I am twice your age and still ticking (G). Keep it plumb, level, square, and your work area clear..... things go smoother as you Know.

al

Jamie Pompetti

youngest wet head so far!

I'm 28 years old & I've been doing HVAC since I was 12! I guess that's what happens when your dad has his own Heating & Cooling business. I remember being in middle school and working with my dad on the weekends when all my friends where in little league. I thought I hated this business after high school so I decided to go to college. Got an associates in business, a bachelors in finance, and a minor in economics. Although, the old man talked me into go to trade school @ night while in college. After that I worked selling Insurance for about 3 months and decided I was much HAPPIER with a wrench in my hand.


This business may not make me a million dollars but it will make me enough money to make a million dollars!

Jamie

Wayco Wayne_2

48 years old

Started working Summers as a Helper for back in 1974 for Dependo Refrigeration while I went to College majoring in Elementary education. Came out of college and started trade school just to fill the time until I decided what to do next. It was a lucky break. I found I had an affinity for this kind of work and really loved helping people out. I've only had 2 surgerys (1 knee and 1 shouldr)and am still in the field although I am known to hand off on the big pipewrench jobs until my shoulder heals completely from the last surgery.

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Herb

'Ole Lonely

Started in the family propane business at 14 riding with the men delivering tanks to the cooking /waterheating accounts, cleaning the warehouse, helping the repairmen. Went to college got a degree in History and Psychology. Came back to the business to work that summer after school to earn some cash and here I am 32 years later running the business. We added a Maytag Home Center 10 Years ago and since then I've been called "ole lonely" since I bear a likeness to Maytag's pitchman. I've trully enjoyed the discussions and offering my knowledge of LP gas. Thanks! Herb Gibbs @ Gibbs Gas Service, Livonia NY

Mike T., Swampeast MO

39 years

Have never done any one thing exclusively (even Marines kept me moving to the next problem). Have been building since six (brick & wood bookshelves in my room), winning art contests since kindergarten, repairing office machines/appliances/printing equipment since ten or so.

Astronauts and the IBM repair man were my heroes in childhood. Early passion was model HO trains--mechanics, electricity, woodworking, metalworking, art, painting, designing, modeling. Great hobby for building useful skills.

Have lived in Swampeast (Southeast) Missouri majority of my life, but am reasonably well-traveled.

Bill NTSG

I'll be

47 in a few months. In 1958 I rode in an oil truck with my dad when I barely two. When I was 13 I installed my first heating system in a house my dad was rehabbing. I have never gone back to see it but I suppose it can't look much worse than what I see in most basements. I worked with my dad summers since I was 15 and have been doing something in the plumbing , heating ,a/c or fuel oil business ever since. Twenty nine years and my lower back really hurts

David Sutton

39 yr

been at this thing 20 yrs. been with this co. for 15 yrs now ggod group of guys we have, .....David

Joe Grosso

36 years old

and feel like I have been doing this my whole life.That is because I have.started with my grandfather and father at age 9 going on the oil truck and carrying the tool box to customers basements.Did this on weekends summer vacation and any day that I was off from school until I was 18 and started full time and went to college at night.I laugh sometimes when I here guys in the 40s or 50s they have been doing this 20 plus years.But I love every minute of it

joel_14

age

33 been doing it all my life. Helped dad as a little guy. Through high school i owned and ran a lawn mowing company and light landscape biusness, but still worked after school in the winter with him. Sold the mowing company and bought a nissan turbo z car with the money and a big diamond for my high school sweetheart (still have both!)and been doing this ever since. 1 knee surgery, blown out disc but haven't had them fixed yet ,i've been putting it off as long as possable.

Boilerpro_2

Will be 37 soon

Started out at 4 or 5 doing maintenance and repairs at my parents' rental properties. Went to Architecture school at IIT in Chicago and got my professional degree (5years minimum)plus another year as a City and Regional Planning Master degree seeker. With IIT also being an engineering school, us architecture majors got a whole mix of engineering thrown at us.... structural, mechanical and electrical. Starting out looking to be a general contractor, but interest in energy consulting grew. Got married about this time, moved out to the middle of nowhere (or everything)...Amboy, Illinois. Eight years ago nobody cared about energy consulting, and as I explored this field, began to wonder why everyone wasn't using hot water heating systems. Since the energy consulting gig didn't work out, got into hydronics full time, and that is all I do. No plumbing (several good plumbers around)and no forced air. Cover all or portions of six counties, with customers 50 to 60 miles away. Two things I've learned, if you even have the faintest knowledge of steam systems you can name your price and the same comes a close second for hot water. With steam boiler replacements, I have a 100% win record for bidding...often because there are no other bids. May be reaching the point where I can't do all the work myself this year. Met the right people along the way to steer me to the knowledge I needed, and the folks here just keep that going! Thanks to all!

Boilerpro

kevin_5

I'm 37; doing radiant for about 5 years

Doing plumbing work off and on about 10 years or so, married 10 years (that's like 70 years for her!) 3 kids.
Not many guys doing radiant here, but pretty hard climb to sell it as well. Kevin

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Paul Rohrs

36, wholesale for 14 years, radiant for 5

I was born on the Mississippi river and one year my friend Huck and I made a raft and.....


Okay, I actually got out of the Army (8th Infantry division-Germany) and started for a wholesale part time while I went to college, kept getting better and enjoyed it and my capacities grew to include radiant and hydronics, now I have the luxury and opportunity to designsell full time. I also have the added blessings of doing business with the (previous post) contractor Kevin from Kenesaw. It is also why I like doing what I do. Let the Home Depot's and Keyspans give the industry a black-eye, contractors with integrity and desire to "build a better mousetrap" raise the standard of radiant heating and hydronics, and I want to be a part of that.

Paul

[Deleted User]

Welll shunny...

Been doing it for 25 years, half my life, . I'll let you do the math if you want to figure out how young I'm not.

ME

jay_3

going on 37

been in the wholesale business for 25+ yrs. started out sweeping floors and stocking shelves. i've been promoting
radiant htg in our neck of the woods for the past 4 yrs w/
much success! i'm known more as a "controls" guy than as a
"wethead"... for now.

Jackchips

56

and been involved, mostly plumbing, since 1968. Gave up my business in 85 and have done engineering, designing and now estimating since.

One of the best things I did was put my wife, Linda, through college (couldn't get the in-laws to reimburse me). I've been the "husband behind every successfull woman" as she is the president of an international company.

Mad Dog

Mad Dog is..............................................

35 Married two kids....18 years in the trade got a four year college degree somewhere in the middle..it was good to leave the trade full time for a few years....get a good perspective on tings!!!!! It ain't an easy business, but I do love it...Mad Dog

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

jim f

i am 31 and have been in the trade 13 years

jim f

i am 31 and have been in the hvac trade for 13 years

Dan Law

Ages

Well, lets put it this way - the first guy I worked for kept Delco Remy hot wire relays in stock cause the new ones were "no damn good!" Another marker? He had accounts with working belt drive, methyl chloride refrigeration systems - in a resturant!!

48 yr old - been doing it for 30 years this year. Parts guy-> serviceman -> service manager-> owner. Can't imagine what else could keep me wanting to go to work every morning like this field. Every day you get a new puzzle to work out - and people pay you to do it! If you do it right, you get to be their hero to boot. WHAT COULD BE BETTER??!!!!

John Abbott

54

and still running 33 years in the trade.

John

Andy N.

30 going on ?

30 years old but have been in the trade for 13 solid years. helped my dad out when I was a kid. I'm a licensed plumber, CCCDI inspector, Med gas and cfc certified, I have a passion for Hydronic and steam heat. I also teach apprentices in my free time. Getting ready for my 2nd back surgery in 3 years though. Still I love this trade and can't imagine doing anything else.

nice to meet you all

Andy N.

Al Letellier

how old????

I'm 54 years young. I'm a fourth generation plumbing and heating guy and started out as a boiler brush around ten years of age..used to go on calls with dad and my great grandfather taught me to caulk lead joints at 12...wiped my first lead joint that year too....have been doing heating since 1971 and wish I had started with this trade,but I really enjoy being able to do both.....so many pipes and so little time!!!!!!!

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Jeremy

29

Turned 29 in November. Been involved in the HVAC and plumbing trades for 14 years. April 1, 2003 will be my 3 year anniversary of self employement. It aint easy at times but ALWAYS interesting.

B. Tice

April 16

I will turn 40. Started riding in oil trucks in 1977, worked my way up the ladder from there. Self employed 18 years in oil burner service.

molly

age: 28, work:going on 10th yr

I'm third generation plumber/burner tech. First lady in the family to go into the business though. Most of my injuries and ailments are self inflicted usually due to a weekend of thrashing on my mountain bike.

Andy Morgan_2

ow! My aching back!

> I am an old and battered 33 , and been

> installing for almost 17 years . My lower back

> hates me for it .

Andy Morgan_2

ow! My aching back!

I'm 26 years old. Been in and around the trade since I was born. When I was 2 years old, I crawled under the kitchen sink and took it apart! I guess that was the start of my career!! Believe it or not, I went to college for instrumental music education, but I think my calling was in the family business.

Andy Morgan

R. Morgan Mechanical, LLC

Thom Masse (a rookie)_2

Age is a state of mind.

I'm 39 (1st anniversary), working in Barrington, RI. Been in the trade for 4 MONTHS! But have done plumbing and heating as a Maintenance Mechanic for 20 yrs. Finally got it together and went for the licenced apprentice.

Steve Ebels

Old is a relative thing (Steve Ebels)

I just turned 46 the 20th of January. I share that birthday with my twin daughters. My wife gave them to me on my 20th birthday. We didn't have a clue that we were having twins. Talk about a surprise birthday present.

I grew up in our family's small town hardware/grocery/general store. Worked there until 1995. (Store was started by my great grandfather in 1920.) At that point with our traditional merchandise trade being taken by K/Wal-Mart, Lowes, Home despot and the like, I could see that our family business was not going to support my mom, 3 brothers and sister any more.

My wife's whole family has been in the heating trade (scorched air mainly) for 3 generations and one of her cousins was quitting the installation/service side of things to concentrate on just custom tin work. (The guy is an artist with sheet metal) He offered to just turn his business clientele over to me if I would just get them out of his hair and handle the installs and service. BOY!, did I learn quick!! Talk about jumping into the deeeeeepppp end of the pool! Anyway, I now have one of my sons and another man who work full time with me plus a couple part time guys. I also have control of the wholesale side of the heating business in our family's operation. BTW, WE NOW SELL REMS PIPING TOOLS IF YOU NEED ANYTHING??!!!!?? Nice stuff. Drop me a line if you'd like a catalog.

Sorry to be so long winded, but........Now you know the rrreeesst of the story.

rick in Alaska

still new

I'll be 45 in two months. Only been working on heating systems for ten years, so I still consider myself a newbie. Just can't seem to get enough information to satisfy my curiosity about this stuff (especially up here) , and the more I know, the more I realize I am still a long way away from knowing all I need to know. It will be fun to see how this business shakes up in the future.
Rick in Alaska

Arthur

I'm 62

> I am an old and battered 33 , and been

> installing for almost 17 years . My lower back

> hates me for it .



Started firing boilers in 57 casually then full time in 60 got my 1st class stationary steam engine cert in 63 then ran a turbine for a few months until I got bored with sitting reading a book most of the time and started in the trade of heating installations in 64,got my advanced trade in HVAC 72,Got my Gasfitters certificate in 77 and started my own business and been doing Mechanical services ever since. Mostly low pressure hot water radiator installation with Hot Air furnace both gas and oil installation and servicing. Our work involves fixing/installing domestic stoves/heaters/DHWC/school heating/toilet ventilation/commercial boilers etc etc.
Married 72 she died 88 remarried 93 Have 2 kids a married daughter 30yrs and son 28yrs old, alas no grandkids yet although my new wife has 4 (but they call me granddad