I own a business and have a masters license in Md. other licensing includes Pa., Del, Nj., Va., D.C. Although I still maintain a small residential customer base, years ago I focused the business onto commercial, industrial, some government work, as well as other areas of expertise. I hold several professional licenses and certificates. I encourage my employees to gain as much diverse technical knowledge as possible and I will fund them. I base progressions on continued job related education.

Although several have disagreed with me on this forum, I am an advocate of helping people fix and maintain their own equipment if they want to. As long as they are cautioned and are aware of the dangers, I personally see no reason to hold back information. I agree, there are some people who shouldn't even look in the direction of an A/C unit. But I have found many folks who just need a little coaching to diagnose and resolve simple and intermediate problems. Since there are many ways to skin a cat, I try to gauge my answers according to the tone of the post. There are many I won't even respond to because I can tell right up front there is no way that person should even wind a clock.

For me, I like this forum because it's real, customers have questions and guys that have some knowledge take time to answer questions. Every other forum is either too strict of what can be asked or it is too much diy.
This forum most people have questions about their A/C installation quotes, What to look and shop for, which for them this forum can help or help confuse the consumer even more. Sorry

I mean for christ sake All we want is a round about general price. Why does it have to be so secrete?? ahh Not here on this forum and that's why I'm here. Real people with real questions that no where else you get an answer for.

I for one do not know it all, I learn every day here. Actually I like to win the lotto and forget what I know about this stuff! LOL

I started in the field back in 88 changing filters,
Then went to college got a degree in Business Management, HVAC and Construction Building.
1996 I became a HVAC Florida Registered Contractor

Late in 2000 I moved from Fort Walton to Jacksonville as my biz partner continued to run the A/C business there.
I thought I was a hot shot contractor but I found I didn't know squat!
In 2000 I was hired by a hospital to be the supervisor and run the Energy Management zoning computer system over 200 systems with god knows how many zones I also programed the Electrical monitoring Computer system, and Security System. At the hospital, I took care of all the Controls from Pneumatic to DDC. Everything you could think of was at the hospital. Deep cascade Freezers to regular A/C's, chillers, boilers, everything. My office was actually the old morgue. Didn't see any ghosts either! I guess I needed to be a plumber! go figure :(

I was only going to spend 2 years at the hospital but end up spending almost 7 years learning. Back in 2005 I upgraded my license to be Florida State Certified and then In 2006 I removed myself from my original contracting business (left it to my biz partner in Fort Walton) and opened up another A/C business in Jacksonville with another guy. 2007 I left the hospital to go back full time into the contracting business.
Right now, Like you 'Energy Rater 1'
I'm becoming certified in home energy rating.
I've pass all the RESNET Testing but I have to take my Class 1 lab test later this month to become Class 1 certified. but to be honest I have no interest in rating. I only want my duct systems to be top notch.

My strength for this forum, is zoning and heat pumps, I worked a lot in gas but little in 95% efficient furnaces. No need in the area I live in. Ground Geo Thermal I'm a newbie, Water Source I worked and installed many as a tech back in the early 90's.

To this day I'm a Fighting General, I got some knowledge but I am also in the attic like today modifying duct in a 120F to 130F attic heat. I've read a lot of books, manuals, and whatnot, gone to all of tech training but books and that sort of stuff is boring. I like to be the Chuck Yeager and fly the machine until it breaks.

My interest now is solar stuff, I have no clue on Photovoltaics but it is interesting.

What is real interesting is VY Canis Majoris.
I mean when we can fit a million earths into the size of our Sun then take a Billion of our Suns and fit it into VY CM. That is just huge!! but that's for a different forum. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: My Business

I am not a professional in the field. I have gathered some knowledge through this forum and others, and from real life, and find it practical to share that knowledge to help others on this site. I enjoy learning new things from the pros here.

A heating manufacturer signs my paycheck and I also go in the field.

I agree that this forum is friendly to the common man, but this forum could certainly update the way it portrays its posters.

Thanks for the replys.
Ryann..you are a great help...there have been times
when I thought about posting model numbers for you to
look up for me! Yeah..I get lazy sometimes!

Maryland Irisman, folks disagree, and on such a wide range of experience and opinions I'm frankly suprised it doesn't happen more often! I think its great that reward your workers for education, so many don't want the workers to know more than they do.

Well well, ClassicDave..we are wearing one of the same hats!
I hear you loud and clear about the best duct systems.
We have all been on jobs where you could see the ducts choking the system to death. I've never understood why so many companies sell great equipment and do great installs
and leave bad ductwork in place. Ductwork is my thing. I've learned where it leaks, how best to seal it and can usually reduce duct leakage to 10%..5% if it is all acessable and I really hurt myself!
One of my energy rating clients with breathing problems had
duct wrap inside his return..with the fg facing into the return. It had probably been that way for 20 years.
I took the ductwrap out..and used ductboard with the foil facing into the return to seal his return. He immediately started breathing better,and called to say that his filters are not filthy when he changes them every month. These are the things that make me like my work.
I'm hands on myself. Read it in a book...ok, but do it one time and it is mine. By October I'll have dropped 15 lbs in various attics..you know what I mean!

Baymee...I've wondered what part of the world you are in.
What change to the forum would you make? Pro status?
I don't see that GW makes many changes.

BTW...what happened to MrHvac? I haven't seen him around for a while.
And I thought that Darrel would answer this thread also.
He always has good stuff to share.

thanks again for posting everyone.

and have a nice weekend.

mrhvac got burned out, but I do hear from him on occasion.

Changes I'd make: On every other forum there are statistics about a user's posts and the "join" date. While the number of posts does not guarantee credibility, it does suggest the length of time and involvement in the forum. There are forums where I might ask a question on an unknown topic, and I take into consideration these statistics.

There is no edit button. How many times have you wanted to edit?

My part of the world is PA. While I am trained and certified in the A/C world, I don't work in that field, so I don't answer questions about A/C. That limits my participation to general heating questions. I spend a lot more time in the Lawn Mower section of this forum, as a mechanic and on another forum as a manufacturer's rep.

I do like the general nature of this forum. You don't often have confrontations here with other pros about the glass being half empty or half full, like on other forums. And you don't have the arrogant types who become offensive to the DIYer. I've been a DIYer since 1970 when I enlisted and have empathy for other DIYers.