The following remarks were made regarding the article “Train Like HVAC Pros, Leave YouTube for the Rookies,” written by Angela D. Harris, technology editor of The NEWS, published March 25.

Too Many Parts Changers

The article is spot on regarding the benefits of five-minute training sessions, and YouTube.

Online training itself is not quality training for HVAC and other industries. At best, it can only provide the “theory” and “butts on chairs” training that is needed for many professions. The interactive exercises, however, cannot compete with true hands-on training and experience.

Short online sessions may be good for sharing some new information, or to introduce new technology, but only when the learner has a good knowledge base and experience in the subject matter to begin with. As for YouTube — well, there are certainly some good instructional videos, but, there are far too many that provide misinformation, poor workmanship, poor industry service/installation practices, and, unfortunately, the rookies (not knowing better) take it as gospel. Truly, online training and YouTube are some of the major reasons our industry has so many parts changers and very few good diagnostic technicians.

Larry Steffes
Technical Analyst/Trainer
Appliance Service Group
DTE Energy

The NEWS wants to hear your thoughts. If you have any comments concerning our articles or other topics related to the HVAC industry, submit them at www.achrnews.com/NEWS-letters for possible inclusion in the Letters: Feedback From Our Readers section of the magazine.

Publication date: 4/29/2019

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!