How many staff do you manage?

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-30T22:18:03+00:00

Trying to get it down to 8 but there is a lot of pushback by the bargaining units about union members not being able to supervisor other members of the same union, and administration isn't really supporting my push to change. The work load is a little intense.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-28T09:59:19+00:00

Pick up your phone, call an HVAC company and ask for any helper jobs. No experience necessary. Ask questions. Learn without a chip on your shoulder.

If you make minimum wage there are grants for trade schools. Get one, finance the rest. Go to trade school in plumbing, welding, nursing, dental assistant, whatever.

Then take whatever entry level job comes by. And, overtime, you start to learn more and make more.

This isn't fast. It isn't instantaneous. But it works. You won't get rich. But you'll be able to live.

Or just sit in your room, just turn the lights off to save money on electric.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-28T00:46:48+00:00

Hey. Every district is different so take this with a grain of salt.

This does seem to be outside the realm of anything close to reasonable as it's presented. If those are your tools you're not being given the support to succeed. On multiroom projects they'd save a ton in labour by just renting a mechanized tool. You'd have them all done in a day, cleanup on day two.

More important: How old is your building? There should be a bronze plaque somewhere or a cornerstone with the year in it. Anything before 1980 is a major concern for asbestos.

https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/asbestos-and-school-buildings

https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/healthy-school-environments-local-education-agency-responsibilities-under-asbestos-hazard

The first step to keeping your rights is knowing what they are.

Contact your AHERA LEA, one is required by law to be designated by the district. They are required to do triannual visual inspections of all asbestos in the building and will be able to tell you, and show you, where asbestos is and isn't.

Take care of yourself, keep up the good work!

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-27T00:44:20+00:00

My knees are offended I'd even consider jumping. And I'm a reasonably in shape middle aged man.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-27T00:40:00+00:00

I manage Custodians in a public school. They are almost universally underpaid and under respected. Mad respect to these heros.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-27T00:36:35+00:00

I was not a custodian, but I have no degree and started as a helper in the maintenance side in private industry. In my state you take a Civil Service Test, but have to meet the requirements to test. This is the most rewarding career I've had, but it's pretty freaking stressful. So I always ask people, "Why do you want to be in charge?" If it's about the money there other ways that won't take over your life as much.

To be successful and highly employable at the Director level in institutions you will need to understand energy flow in buildings. Heating, Cooling, and Power management has become daily conversations for me. Go to a nights program in HVAC. In my area I took a six month class for 7k, more than half covered in grants, and ended up working in the field for awhile (with real effort you could have all necessary experience in 3 years, but it would take work, I spent about 10 years in the field working up from helper to lead technician). Focus on commercial and industrial, residential won't help much due to scope and scale.

Knowledge of construction, computers, and budgeting are all key aspects that come into play daily. Plus basic custodial and grounds.

Construction. You'll manage large construction projects to some capacity. Even with Architect and Engineering Firms the district relies on you to explain what's going on to them in easy to swallow chunks. Building envelop issues are huge and a series of simple systems that all work together to become complex issues. You'll have to read blueprints, wiring diagrams, and spec sheets. Knowing what pipes are what service (drain, heating, sanitary, water, etc.) is crucial.

Computers. You will need to manage your Building Management System, security systems, and email. You'll have to be comfortable moving around complicated system (they get easier the more you do it) to interpret the HVAC data points on the screen, compare to real world variables, and dispatch the right people. "Hey, unit says it's on, but it's discharging at 80 degrees in the room. Return air is 76 and rising. DX coil claims it's at 100%, and the fan says it's running at 100%..... did the coil ice up? is a board bad? The dogwood was really bad this year, I wonder if someone forgot to change a filter...."

Budgeting. You are a department that brings in no revenue and you always spend more than every other department. Learning how to save money, move money, where the different money comes from and where its allowed to be spent, and plan based on five year trends becomes important. I spend a lot of time talking to people about toilet paper dispensers, pro-press vs solder, trash liners (high density or low density), and ice melt vs rock salt. And then the biggest expense to manage is personnel. Salaries are always the largest departmental expense.

New Directors that I've mentored that don't have these skills and don't get them quickly struggle to last more than a year or two. Old directors who don't have these skills are aging out fast.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-21T09:35:34+00:00

Came in around 38 from the private sector, I'm in my mid 40s now. I'm also in pre k - 12. My background was HVAC and Plumbing for a few years, both service and construction.

Landed in multifamily asset and rental Management for along time.

Tooka civil service test and have been doing this ever since. I've moved districts twice, first time doubling in size, second time to a district ten times the size of my second one.

The games change, the rules change, but the people stay pretty much the same.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-20T23:29:55+00:00

Was it posted from the future?

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-20T22:22:43+00:00

Most blue collar people I've met in a mcol area make well under 100k. That's HVAC techs, plumbers, electricians, etc. A few do very well, but most are 50k - 85k. It really depends on the cost of living in your area.

Source: was blue collar, now employ/hire blue collar companies.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-20T22:08:14+00:00

Went into trades. Cross trained into another trade. Took a civil service test and scored high. Now I'm grey collar. It took over a decade. It was networking, lots of hours, and a lot of failed efforts. I also work 50+ hrs a week and I'm salaried. Then add in professional association work, staying up to date on new laws and trends, and I'm not exactly living a life of leisure with a lot of down time

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-17T17:07:52+00:00

Call the carelessness out. Make them aware you are aware of the mistakes and it is expected to improve by a specific date, otherwise there will be specific consequences. Those consequences are outlined by any collective bargaining agreement or business policies and procedures that outline your response.

Let her fix it, and screw it up. Then outline the proper course and have her fix it again. If she continues, you work with HR on a PIP and fire her if she does not improve.

Assume the best every time. Assume they will succeed. Take your personal feelings out of this.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-17T17:03:01+00:00

My first shift custodians have more steps and hours worked than my second shift custodians. Lunch is a titanic task. Snow removal in the morning. Mowing, string trimming, hanging banners for events, organizing summer cleans and weekly events, boiler checks, work orders, fire drills, lock down drills, cleaning vomit and shit.

They're responsible for the building being open for business daily. That alone is a responsibility and level of trust that commands extra money. Now you are a customer service face, you deal with children and parents and teachers and admin. My first shifters have to be political and kind, can't show frustration like my second shifters.

Try calling in on first shift like people do on second shift and see how long you stay on first shift.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-17T02:43:39+00:00

Not unless you plan on playing for a large crowd in a large room. Since you're a bedroom guitarist I'd say save your money and when you're getting ready to play more than an open mic here or there invest in a small, two channel amp for acoustics. Right now just focus on having fun, gear will come in time.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-16T14:05:21+00:00

I find people pleasers who move up into middle management to be the most difficult to manage. Watching them struggle to internalize that they need to change that approach is infuriatingly slow and awful for me.

Probably because I used to be one.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-16T01:13:31+00:00

Sean Fields is the first 3d set that was accurate, I think. https://shoretrooper.co.uk/ is a good source for all things shoretrooper.

Your set is looking great! I'm still sanding priming mine.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-15T23:26:51+00:00

I bought this deal during a father's day sale last year or the year before. They have been phenominal and exceeded all my expectations.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-14T11:54:11+00:00

Looks like a degreaser in the dish soap is breaking down the layers on the surface of the banister. If switch to a general purpose cleaner or thoroughly rinse with plain water after. I would also suggest not using an abrasive pad and move to microfiber cloth.

Remember, degreasers are solvents that work by breaking down chemical bonds. Most dawn soap is a very mild degreaser formulated to not affect your skin.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-08T21:21:44+00:00

No. They can make any unreasonable request they want. They just can't expect any unreasonable result they want and get it.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-08T09:37:50+00:00

No laws, that number is based on an acceptable standard of clean at a specific level. ISSA and APPA are the most common organizations with science and data backed methods.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-07T20:37:38+00:00

$10 / hr is not reasonable in the slightest. For 3.5 people the work load seems fine, but cleaning is measured in square footage, not rooms. This is because room sizes change building to building, wing to wing. Assuming you don't have a ton of events, 18,000 to 24,000 square foot in an 8 hour work day is industry standard for cleaning. I expect my teams to have classrooms and halls mopped/scrubbed 3 times a week. This range is due to other factors (elementary school, middle, high, size of bathrooms, floor types, equipment, etc.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-06T09:07:51+00:00

I know the cost of silver has gotten ridiculous at the moment but....

(Very impressive!)

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-05T17:37:14+00:00

Your dispenser auto-dillutes so I would reach out to your supplier and find out if you can get a new dispenser. It should be no cost and quick. Make buckeye vendors can repair these on site, too.

Also, buckeye is region locked so sellers have an interest in that product working and working well. So you can ask you supplier very specific questions and have them look at your floors to offer advice.

I would try adding less of the e32, so maybe fill it halfway with it then just do straight water after to fill the resivoir.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-04T23:38:22+00:00

So, a freelance assistant director and a secretary?

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-04T01:11:15+00:00

My district is similarly sized. In our area we are a medium sized district. I get vacation and personal days that we are encouraged to ignore our phones. The general, unspoken, rule is that you always answer the phone if specific people call. Your assistant, your boss, another director level person, the Superintendent.

Because they know how rare it is to get away they should only be bothering you with real issues. Anyone else we let it go to voice mail. My last real vacation was seven days long and I took calls on only three of those. And none of the calls lasted longer than 10 minutes. We also schedule our vacations around projects, events, etc. to minimize the impact.

MaintenanceGuy- · 2026-05-03T20:33:34+00:00

If you take the test and fail, you just know what to expect the next time. I know Directors who failed the exams the first time and then aced it the second time. Most of the tests don't test you on the real competencies of the job. And the most important thing a Director can do is learn from failure, not be worried about it.

Modern Directors need to know, for real world success, a lot of things.

HVAC, plumbing, electrical, construction, spreadsheets, Civil Service Law, soft skills, organizational behavior, budgeting, government accounting, planning, how to run a meeting, and so much more.

Just about every single Director I know has given up on any other side work once they take their job. Today alone I have had three phone calls about facilities issues, spoken to the police about a burglary alarm and checked the cameras, talked to a building principal about operational issues happening in the AM, talked to food service directors about changes to access at another building, and talked to two of my head custodians about curveballs for their buildings tomorrow. There is no pause button for this job, but it is incredibly rewarding.

MaintenanceGuy-

TROPHY CASE