HVAC Technician Retired | 45+ Years in the Field
I’ve been doing this since 1977.
Not reading about it. Not writing software to analyze it. Actually doing it — crawling into attics in July, troubleshooting furnaces at 2 a.m. in January, pulling permits, running gas lines, and figuring out why a heat pump that should work perfectly… doesn’t.
I started in the trades in 1977. Over the next four-plus decades, I worked on residential and commercial HVAC systems primarily out of Vancouver, Washington, where I ran my business for most of my career. I was licensed in both Washington and Oregon, and earlier in my career I also worked in Illinois.
In the early years I did it all — commercial rooftop units, light industrial, multi-family. In the last twenty years of my career, I focused entirely on residential: the homes where real families live, and where a broken furnace in February isn’t an inconvenience, it’s an emergency.
What I Did for a Living
I spent the first five years of my career working for established contractors, learning the trade from the ground up. After that, I ran my own mechanical contracting business for the next 40 years. That meant I wasn’t just a technician — I was also responsible for hiring, licensing, code compliance, and standing behind my work with my own name on it.
Over the course of my career I worked on:
- Gas furnaces and forced-air systems of every make and vintage
- Heat pumps — both air-source and the quirks that come with them in cold climates
- Ductless mini splits, from early-generation units through modern inverter systems
- Central air conditioning, air handlers, and zoning systems
- Gas line installation and underground service runs
- Indoor air quality: filtration, ventilation, humidity control
If it moved air or burned gas in a home, I’ve probably worked on it.
My Licenses and Credentials
I held the following licenses and certifications during my active career:
- EPA 608 Universal Certification — Federal certification required to purchase and handle refrigerants
- Oregon LHR30 — Limited Heating, Cooling, and Refrigeration Contractor license, State of Oregon
- Oregon CRE9 — Restricted Energy Contractor license, State of Oregon
- Licensed Contractor in Washington State
- Completed all required continuing education throughout my active career
Washington and Oregon both implemented stricter apprenticeship and electrical certification requirements for HVAC contractors in the early 2000s. I was grandfathered into those requirements based on my years of documented field experience — a recognition of time actually spent doing the work, not just passing a test.
I am now retired and have chosen not to renew these licenses, as I am no longer taking on clients. I share this background so you understand where my advice comes from.
Why I Built This Site
When I retired, I kept getting asked the same kinds of questions by neighbors, family, and anyone who found out I’d spent my career in HVAC: “My furnace is making a noise — is that serious?” “Should I replace my thermostat before winter?” “The salesperson said I need a whole new system. Do I really?”
I built Home Heat Problems to answer those questions honestly, in plain language, without trying to sell you anything you don’t need.
Most HVAC content online is written by people who have never held a manifold gauge set or diagnosed a heat exchanger crack. It’s written to rank on Google, not to actually help you. I’m not interested in that approach.
Every article on this site comes from real field experience. I know what actually fails, what’s worth fixing, and when it’s time to call a professional. I also know how to explain it to someone who just wants their house to be warm.
A Little More About Me
I’m based in Prineville, Oregon — high desert country, where winters are cold and summers are hot, and HVAC systems work hard year-round. My wife and I live here in retirement, and this site is my way of staying useful.
My son Eli helps me keep the technical side of the site running. The writing and the opinions are all mine.
If you have a question that isn’t covered on the site, use the search bar — chances are I’ve written something relevant. I’m not able to diagnose your specific system remotely, but the articles here will help you understand what you’re dealing with before you call a tech.
Thanks for reading.
— Chad Peterson Retired HVAC Contractor | Vancouver, Washington & Prineville, Oregon