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Is Your Shop Air Conditioned? Considering It?

Joe Marconi
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vbtoytech Apprentice

vbtoytech

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I have an offer for $6 more an hour at an independent with no air conditioning.  No thanks.  I didn't get a degree and master certified to be miserable all day.  That said, heat affects some more than others.

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willydmax Apprentice

willydmax

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I installed a 2 ton mini split in my shop last August and it couldn't quite keep up so installed a second one a month ago and now it's awesome. I also use them for heat in the winter so it's a win all the way around. My shop stays cleaner as well with no wind blowing leaves etc in. I think I get more done with the AC and am not as tired at the end of the day. I'm just a one man 2 bay shop.

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JimO Collaborator

JimO

Posted
Posted

I have had a/c in our shop and offices for over 25 years and it was the best thing we ever did. I am in NJ and it gets very hot and humid here in the summer, the a/c makes life bearable. I have been in business for 50 years and my two techs have both been with me for over 40 years each and maybe that is one of the reasons they have stayed with me. The last 3-4 weeks have been very hot and our a/c does struggle to keep the shop area comfortable. Opening bay doors frequently and bringing in vehicles that have been baking in the sun only adds to the heat load. My guys are very good about quickly moving vehicles in and out of the bays which helps. They will also complete small jobs (that don’t require a lift) outside rather than bringing the vehicle into the shop which also helps minimize heat gain. I try to fill every bay at the end of the day so we start off the next morning with bays and cars cold. The a/c runs day and night otherwise we would start the day with a hot building that is unable to catch up during a hot day. With everything we do to minimize heat gain there are some days that the shop does get uncomfortable for a few hours in the afternoon but it is always better than not having a/c. 

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vbtoytech Apprentice

vbtoytech

Posted
Posted
On 8/14/2022 at 10:39 AM, Joe Marconi said:

Wow, thanks for sharing that! Could you expand on what is important to you in the workplace?  It would great to get your perspective. 

Individual computer and 2 lifts for your masters.

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bantar Community Regular

bantar

Posted
Posted

No AC.  The shop is a wind tunnel when there is wind blowing, but on those days when it is still, it was bad.   Last month, I just installed a 12' Big Ass Fan along with two 24' Spot Big Ass Fans.   The guys like these.

bantar Community Regular

bantar

Posted
Posted
11 minutes ago, xrac said:

One of the reasons we do not have air conditioning is our shop is well insulated so the exterior sun doesn't heat us up very quickly. We have no exterior windows so basically only our overhead doors.  The way our shop is laid out it is positioned east to west with one large overhead door on each end.  90 percent of the time we have a prevailing southwesterly wind.  Consequent;y we have great air flow through the shop.  Our shop is amazingly comfortable except during days of high humidity and temperatures above 85 degrees.  Fortunately that is usually only 40-60 days during the year.  We do have large fans to move air as needed.  Most of the time we are fairly comfortable.     

Must be nice.    We just exited quite a heat wave.   We were at 103-105 for about 2 weeks straight.   We installed the fans during this heat wave.   I've been telling people that it's made a big difference.  We went from being in an Oven to being in a Convection Oven!!!  😁   Once it dropped back to under a 100, it was pretty nice.  

The way our shop is laid out, our work takes place away from the sun.  I have heavy insulation on the roof, so the shop stays at the outside ambient temp.  We really appreciate the wind tunnel effect until it gets cold, such as 70F. 

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    • Joe Marconi
      The Toolbox is Last to Leave, First is the Heart
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      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.

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