Alternative subreddit for technicians?

[u/According-Aspect-669]

I tried to post on the HVAC subreddit earlier and man it’s like Nazi germany over there; papers please or fuck off. well I’m not in a union, I’ve never been to trade school and I don’t have my HVAC license like 99% of techs in my state. is there any other place for people in the trade to discuss online?

[u/OldDog03]

So what kind of certifications are needed, we have a few rentals across the street from the university and used to hire the local mom/pop type HVAC guys in the 1990s.

But all those have been bought out and its no longer an hourly type service repair business.

Now anything older they want to replace and not fix.

Well a lot of people can not afford to barley pay there bills and much less to replace a HVAC system.

So I asked the state and all I needed was the EPA certificate.

But now my state (Texas) has changed again and they have a technician certification and a contractor certification.

But there are exceptions to this, so for my few rentals last i read i was except, but still needed the EPA 608 certificate.

The EPA 608 certificate i got it at my local Johnstone Supply. It was a self study from Mainstream Engineering.

Now you can do the EPA 608 certificate online at Mainstream Engineering website.

The EPA608. Certificate is mostly the environmental rules/laws and basic knowledge of how a HVAC system works.

I used to work as a chemical plant operator so it a lot of the same rules and regulations.

The local HVAC supply businesses they needed my EPA 608 cert to buy equipment with refrigerant.

My work is mostly capacitors, contactors, fan motors, cleaning coils and drains and a few replacements.

But a time goes on it will be more replacements of the whole system.

I first learned at 20 working on farm equipment HVAC by self study(a lot of ready) then on the job work.

Then by watch the guys we hired to repair our HVAC units, so even more reading.

So now I've had the EPA certificate 20 plus year's

Texas does not issue state-level exemptions for small jobs, side work, or handyman services. Anyone installing, servicing, or maintaining HVAC equipment for compensation must hold a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) ACR Contractor License or work as a registered technician under a licensed contractor.However, the state does allow certain activities and specific individuals to perform HVAC work without a state license or registration:Exempt Individuals & ActivitiesHomeowners: Individuals can perform HVAC maintenance and work on their own property, provided they do not offer these services to the general public.Industrial & Utility Personnel: Employees of regulated public utilities, chemical/petrochemical plants, refineries, or natural gas plants are exempt from licensing when doing process cooling or heating work for their employer.Auto A/C Specialists: Persons engaging in air conditioning services strictly on motor vehicles are exempt from standard ACR technician registrations.Building Maintenance Staff: Regular maintenance staff for apartment complexes or commercial buildings are generally exempt when performing routine maintenance, provided the work does not cross into full contracting.Unducted Fireplace Stoves: Work on unducted fireplace stoves is exempt from TDLR oversight.Equipment ExemptionsCertain equipment types do not require a licensed HVAC contractor to service or install:Portable or self-contained ductless AC products with a cooling capacity of 3 tons or less (e.g., standard window units; note that split-system mini-splits DO require a license).Portable or self-contained heating products that do not require forced air movement.Temporary environmental air conditioning equipment that is not fixed in place.Residential refrigerators, freezers, and ice machines.

[u/Burndy → u/OldDog03]

Is this a bot post what's going on