Editor’s note: The following remarks were made regarding the “Is HVAC Becoming a Plug-and-play Profession?” article, written by Joanna Turpin, published May 23, 2016, in The NEWS.
PLUG-AND-PLAY? NO WAY!
The simple answer is: No.
The equipment we are installing and servicing is more complicated, especially from a serviceability standpoint.
You and I keep hearing about how hard it is to find skilled (even semi-skilled) workers in the HVAC industry. The real reason why younger people (and their parents) are not attracted to our HVAC industry is lousy working conditions. Often times [those conditions] are really lousy.
Why would any young person who is highly educated in technology want to work on highly technical machines and/or systems located in one of the 21-plus “no-no locations for mechanical equipment?” They may get sold on the idea of doing so for a while, but soon the physical demands become unattractive or even painful enough to make a person look for a nicer, cleaner, more comfortable working environment.
In general, Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) members just don’t get it. The National Association of Home Builders members and architects don’t get it, either. All of those people continue to do what has always been done. They all continue to permit mechanical equipment to be put in poor-to-lousy locations. These lousy locations are cramped for space, physically demanding to get to, extremely hot or cold, and/or dangerous.
By the way, the next time you communicate with an HVAC industry educator who teaches about the electrical and electronic aspects of HVAC, please ask them a question: Why do you or why do you not use an oscilloscope as a teaching tool?
Alex Walter
Denver Furnace and AC
Aurora, Colorado
Publication date: 9/5/2016
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