iAmCam

Hey I'm considering entering into the HVACR industry as a career. Although I'm a little confused on what a Refrigeration mechanic actually does and what he doesn't do...

Do refrigeration mechanics only work on the "refrigeration" side of it or are they licensed to do any electrical/plumbing/gas parts of it too, or would a electrician do electrical, plumber do plumbing, gasfitter do gas? Do refrigeration mechanics do their own electrical and plumbing? Or would I have to get extra trade tickets to be certified to work on electrical?

Also when ductwork needs to be run say in residential or commercial settings, who actually installs the duct work? Is it sheet metal workers, or the HVAC guys? Do you have to be liscensed to do ductwork and sheet metal work?

BigMikeB

It all depends at where you live.

thom

Refrigeration work always requires a federal license.

Other licensing by state law.

iAmCam

Yes I know you need a license. But once I got a Journeyman refrigeration mechanic ticket, am I able to do electrical/plumbing on the system too? Or am I just authorized to do the refrigeration side of it?

HeatPro

Come to New Jersey, put an ad in the paper to repair HVAC - no license needed. Join a few thousand others - and sell driveway surfacing, siding and any lot leftovers ...

randomkiller

Not really, you can't do plumbing tie ins, or electrical work in NJ without proper licenses.

__________________
"If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Ronald Reagan

randomkiller

You need a contractors license and an EPA cert. to work in NJ, if they don't turn them in.

__________________
"If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Ronald Reagan

HeatPro

To sell new equipment and use credit sources you do, as well as insurance. Repairs can be done with no licenses in NJ. Buying refrigerant requires EPA cert, but there are plenty that will play with refrigerant as the world is now 'get away with what you can while you can' which includes going 20-30 mph over the speed limit wherever. Not to recommend it; but facts is ...

thom

well, iAmCam, you still haven't told us what state you're in. In my state (NM) you need a license to do anything.

A journeyman license will let you do the work the license is for. A contractors will let you contract to do the work your journeyman license is for.

So, to do refrigeration work as a contractor you need A) federal refrigeration license B) journeyman hvac license C) HVAC contractors license. You can contract for work you don't have a journeyman license for so long as you have the contractors license. That can be a challenge in electrical and mechanical because you can't get a contractors license without 2 years experience as a journeyman.

BigMikeB

I would be the 1st guy to turn in a handyman for using freon without a cert., I have turned in other contractors for dumping gas into a system they know is leaking. Including my last boss.

HeatPro

That's the purpose in the EPA regs with leaking ref content over 50 lbs. Penalties of 5 years and $15,000 is possible. As most DIY's are going to be working on their own systems holding less than 5 lbs, it would be interesting to see the result of the report - or even to get to see them do it. DIY's can buy charged condensing units from the web or local supplier. Surely, working nearby on the neighbors unit at the same time is a possibility; though more frequently on a mall roof.