refrigeration/aircon tech

GS608 · 06-02-2009, 11:52 AM

hey guys, just wondering if anyone here is a qualified aircon/refrigeration tech? how do you find it?
I'm still in year 12 and looking for an apprenticeship, been looking at plumbing and electrical and now this, how would it compare?
What sort of subject requirements are there to get into refrigeration?
also how does the pay compare to plumbing/electrical?
any other info you could give us would be great
cheers

Jesk · 06-02-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR-CHIEF

hey guys, just wondering if anyone here is a qualified aircon/refrigeration tech? how do you find it?
I'm still in year 12 and looking for an apprenticeship, been looking at plumbing and electrical and now this, how would it compare?
What sort of subject requirements are there to get into refrigeration?
also how does the pay compare to plumbing/electrical?
any other info you could give us would be great
cheers

I'm not yet, but thats all gonna be covered in my mechanic apprenticship, ill have cert 2 in automotive air conditioning which will qualify me for everything from the basic regas to complete install of a new system, for me its just picking the right elective subjects while im at trade school

hannem · 07-02-2009, 12:00 AM

HI,
Have you given any thought on to which part of the trade you would like to concentrate on. Like sparkies, plumbers, mechanical fitters they can do domestic,small industry/large industry.

I work in a large chemical plant and we have our large dual stage refrigeration package that is used to cool our process, it is serviced by a mob called Gordon Brothers who designed and manufactured it. These guys specialise in industrial stuff and maintain refidge units that cool warehouses (among others) that sort of big stuff.

These guys are on call out and if we have a problem we just call and out they come. They are available 24/7 so plenty of overtime and call out money is available to them. They always seem to be busy and the work always seems to be there.

Do you have any preconceived ideas of what you want it to be like or where you would like to spend most of your time. Might help with getting some more specific answers for you.

C'mon you fridgies start typing.

Cheers

Wally · 07-02-2009, 12:04 AM

Plumbing isn't in the same league as electrical or refrigeration. There are a lot of electrical guys in the trade, there are vastly less qualified refrig mechanics. A dual apprenticeship is the best of both worlds, but be warned, there are some pretty heavy concepts to learn if you intend to do it right.

Both trades are governed by agencies; the electrical by the state safety department of Qld and the refrig by the Feds.

Plumbing is a lot easier, but obviously there are lots of regs because of unsavoury health issues, which involves the local government (councils) and the state govt. The trade is rife with contractors who charge for non perfromed work (who in their right mind is going to watch someone play with sewer repairs) , thus a wonderful oportunity to make a fortune.

And yes I have several trade qualifications and tertiary qualifications.

GS608 · 07-02-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hannem

Do you have any preconceived ideas of what you want it to be like or where you would like to spend most of your time. Might help with getting some more specific answers for you.

C'mon you fridgies start typing.

Cheers

cheers mate, yeah im not too sure yet, probably commercial like pubs/bottle shops (cool rooms in places that need em)

or even air con systems in schools/hospitals and that sort of area, would be a lot more interesting than doing housing.

Wally: Thanks mate, i had looked into electrical and spoken to a few apprentices and they've all said if they had the chance to go back they would have done plumbing instead as apparently there is a lot of bs to go through, haven't spoken to too many fridgies as they're pretty rare, thats why im thinking it'd be a better trade to look into, less tradies = less competition but also less chance of an apprenticeship.

Is there decent money in being a fridgy? say 30 years old, family etc would it be an alright wage to get by on? obviously nothing like the $2k a week some plumbers and sparkys take home but anything near it?

cheers,

Airmon · 08-02-2009, 01:55 AM

The good thing about Aircon is that you can easily pick up the skills to become an electrician and vice-versa. A few blokes I know are Aircon and Fridge technicians working at a medium company, they do repairs, installs, inspections, nothing huge as there are only 3 of them but they enjoy it. My brothers an electrician at a large company and is looking to move into Aircon.

Has its cons though. Installing an airconditioner in someones roof on a 40odd degree day is not the greatest.

Wally · 08-02-2009, 10:02 AM

Rates are very similar for sparks, fridgies and pipies. The beauty of aircond is they frequently recquire fault finding, so it punctuates the mundane. Domestic aircond is the poor man's side of the trade, but good for foreigners (jobs on the side) when you want a bit of spending cash; typically done on a weekend for a friend of a friend.

The mines are typically looking for sparks, even better dual tradies, rather than just fridgies.