December 15th, 2008 by admin
With the sagging economy comes concern about the stability of the HVAC/R industry. Is it still a lucrative business? How stable is it? Is it better than any other trade?
While we can’t necessarily comment to the industry as a whole, we can give some insight on our experience with it. It would be irresponsible for us to suggest that this industry has not experienced some effects of this economic slowdown. This coupled with a relatively mild summer in Phoenix has impacted contractors.
What does this mean for the RSI graduate? The reality is that our graduates continue to find work upon graduation at a respectable rate. It may take them longer to find employment than it did a few months ago, but they are finding jobs nonetheless. That’s an important thing to understand about this industry. While the trade is not immune to economic changes, there is a certain permanence to it.
Think about it. How long do you think people will go without a/c in the summer or more important now, heat in the winter? Even when the money is short and bills are long, these things have become a necessity to our way of life. Our buildings today are built the way they are because of sophisticated climate control systems.
Let’s take it a bit farther. Where have you gone lately that there has been no refrigeration unit of any kind? Unless you spend your days camping in the mountains, probably nowhere. Even then the camping supply store had it when you bought your extra matches because you forgot them. Refrigeration is not just a nice thing to have it has become a way of life. Medical facilities must have it. Restaurants and grocery stores must have it and keep it at certain temperatures to meet safety and health standards.
All of these systems must be serviced. There are no workarounds or options. If systems are not maintained equipment failure and public safety are at risk. Economic situations certainly have an effect on our lives, but isn’t it good to know that there is a career out there that can help you and your family weather the storm?
November 7th, 2008 by admin
You would have to live in a cave for the last 5 years if the terms “green” and “sustainability” have not been in your vocabulary somehow, even if it is with skepticism for some. There’s no denying the impact these subjects have today in just about every area of our lives. But what does it mean to the HVAC/R industry? Are technicians being trained to address these issues properly? How do we approach this in our training at RSI?
Glad you asked. Interestingly enough, the industry doesn’t have to address it the way people might think, and RSI has been on top of these issues with students for decades. Now, before you start rioting in the streets and get Al Gore to call me, read on. Over 20 years ago, lawmakers passed legislation that required all HVAC/R technicians working with refrigerants to be certified. RSI was one of the first institutions to offer EPA approved certification to its graduates and students, and still provides this opportunity as part of its programs today. This means students are presented with not only the technical requirements for servicing units, but the legal requirements for the proper handling of ozone depleting refrigerants (CFC’s).
The interesting part of HVAC/R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration) equipment is that while it becomes more efficient as technology advances, the basics of servicing and maintaining this equipment does not change radically. The new requirements for more energy efficient air conditioning units affect the energy usage but do not drastically affect the electrical or mechanical design in most cases. The way an air conditioning unit works today is very much the same as the way it has worked for the last 40 years. Just like, the way a washing machine works is the same as it has been, it’s just more energy efficient today making it better for our environment.
RSI is teaching the same fundamental information after all of these years with the understanding that the equipment may become more efficient, but the basics are still the same. What could malfunction in the equipment are the electrical or mechanical components, both of which are an integral part of RSI’s curriculum. This means the RSI trained technician is capable of servicing the newest, most environmentally friendly equipment. But here’s the catch (and you knew there was one), that same technician is also trained to service equipment that has been installed for many years, and believe it or not there is a lot of it out there. That’s the beauty of the HVAC/R career, it’s versatile. It’s not like vehicles where there are special shops just for imports; there aren’t special technicians for new equipment. RSI trained technicians have the fundamental knowledge to work with it all.
So back to RSI graduates and sustainability, RSI is one of the largest HVAC/R schools in the country in terms of graduates each year, and has been completely dedicated to this industry for over 43 years. RSI attributes its success to graduates that are well trained HVAC/R technicians that deal with environmental issues every day. Graduates are meeting the demands of stricter regulations and advanced equipment while also meeting the needs of the consumer for efficiency and cost effectiveness. That’s sustainability.
October 8th, 2008 by admin
One of the great things about RSI instructors is their depth of experience and background, not just in the HVACR industry, but in other areas as well. Ed Hergert has been an instructor for several years and is an RSI graduate from the early 70’s. Check out this link to see how he was involved as an advisor for this awesome equipment:
http://www.proteusblue.com/
See Ed’s bio at the bottom of this page:
http://www.proteusblue.com/about.html
September 8th, 2008 by admin
John Gardner, eminent scholar and statesman of the Eisenhower era, put it succinctly, “Any society that values its philosophers more than its plumbers will find that neither its ideas nor its pipes will hold water!” We’re all in this together!
Most societies in the world today feel it is essential for pipes to run, toilets to flow, showers to drain, and sometimes, most importantly, houses to be livable. Of course, we need doctors, firemen, police, banks, and other services, but these entities all rely on something much deeper. The doctor is not able to perform surgery if he does not have functioning water, air conditioning, and electricity just to name a few. This is why a medical surgeon’s practice is nothing without those around him. In a profession like HVAC/R, society is nothing without its technicians.
Just like in hot locations of the world such as Kuwait, Egypt, Texas, and others, the HVAC technician is desperately needed. Phoenix has a constant demand every year for people in this industry, and technicians find it easy to take a financial advantage of this situation. In many local HVAC/R companies, it is common for an average technician’s salary to be in the range of $60,000-$70,000. In some cases, it’s lower, and in some cases, much higher, but the consistency of a legitimate cash flow can be as attainable as one’s ability to be a hard working individual. Allow RSI to give you the training that you need in order to expand your potential as that hard working individual. Check out RSI’s website for information about a career in HVAC/R and what it can do for your future.
August 20th, 2008 by admin
We always love hearing from our graduates, thank you to all who read and respond to our blogs! Success stories of women in the industry are limited, even though women have amazing opportunity, just like Nancy Herzer, who responded to our last blog. Here is another success story about a woman in the HVAC/R industry, supporting her family, with a high-paying career: sheila-condon-story.pdf
