Mike PleziaInside service technician, Clark Associates · Commercial Equipment, HVAC, and Refrigeration professional

The Tech Who Never Gets Better #hvac #tradetips #newtech

3 Sept 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:01

In this brief mentor‑style video, the speaker addresses new HVAC tradespeople, emphasizing that years on the job do not automatically translate into better skills. He explains that many technicians repeat the same habits learned in their first year, ignoring evolving refrigerants, codes, and equipment. The core message is that professional value comes from intentional, continuous learning—reading code updates, watching training videos, and actively engaging with manufacturer representatives. Each year should add new knowledge to a technician’s toolbox rather than merely adding another line on a résumé. The speaker encourages listeners to adopt this mindset and pass it on to others.

Chapters

Hey, are you new to the trades? Here's something you may not know about experience. You'll meet techs with 15 years on the job who aren't actually 15 years better than you. Experience isn't the same as growth. Some guys learn everything they're going to learn in year 1, then just repeat it for the rest of their career. Same habits, same shortcuts, same excuses for skipping the new code updates or ignoring the system types they don't feel like learning. Don't repeat year 1 15 times. The trade keeps changing. Refrigerants change, codes change, equipment changes. And the techs who stay valuable are the ones who keep learning right alongside it. It doesn't take much. Read the update. Watch the training video. Ask the manufacturer rep a real question instead of nodding along. Every year should add something to your toolbox, not just another year to your resume. Staying sharp is a choice you make on purpose, not something that happens automatically with time. Now that you know, you can help someone else know.