Finding Purpose Through People and the Trade
Rodolfo Vargas never set out to become an HVACR technician, but like many in the trade, his journey started with a single opportunity and grew through persistence, passion, and people.
Originally from Elgin, Illinois, Rodolfo moved to McKinney, Texas in 2012 with his wife and children in search of more opportunities. But before that move, HVACR wasn’t necessarily part of the plan.
After high school, Rodolfo was working in factories until he ran into an old friend who was doing HVAC work. “I had no idea what air conditioning even was,” he laughs. “We didn’t grow up with it, just opened the windows or took cold showers.”
That all changed when he went on a ride along on a service call. He was hooked and soon enrolled in a local HVAC program to earn his EPA certifications. Since then, he’s continued to build his skills, even going back to school after moving to Texas to learn about heat pumps, something he’d never encountered up north.
Helping Others, One Job at a Time
Today, Rodolfo splits his time between managing maintenance at apartment complexes and running his own HVAC business on the side. While the hands-on work keeps him busy, it’s the people that keep him going.
“Knowing that I’m helping somebody, that’s the part I love,” he says. “I’ve worked on facilities with kids with Down syndrome and autism, and I remember just changing a filter or fixing a part and thinking, I’m doing God’s work. It’s a weird thing, but that’s how I felt.”
That sense of purpose extends to his volunteer efforts as well. Rodolfo and his family regularly give back through events like Alzheimer’s walks, and he’s especially passionate about using his skills to support underrepresented parts of the HVAC industry, like the apartment maintenance world.
“My goal is to help bring the apartment industry up to speed,” he says. “We’re often behind on tools, training, and product knowledge. I want to change that.”
Choosing Safer Solutions with Viper
That same drive to learn and improve is what led him to Viper products. “I saw a video of the owner, John, talking about if there is a lemon scent or some type of scent, it might be covering up other chemicals. And I thought, everything we use smells like lemon. That really made me think.”
Rodolfo doesn’t just use Viper products, he’s a big advocate for them, especially when it comes to using NSF-registered coil cleaners that have been extremely helpful in his work in apartment complexes.
“If we’re gonna be around the kitchens in the apartments, we need to be using the right products. People don’t always know what’s out there.”
After trying Viper, Rodolfo stuck around not just for the products, but for the people sharing knowledge and backing each other up.
“I like how you guys talk about the products, educate us on the products. All that plays a big factor for us in the field. You know, it gives us more knowledge.”
Learning, Sharing, Connecting
Rodolfo has become a familiar face in the HVAC community on Instagram, sharing his work, asking questions, and offering encouragement to other techs. He didn’t expect social media to be such a big part of his life.
“I was against social media at first,” he admits. “I’d take pictures for myself, but I didn’t think anyone would want to watch my work.”
The more he shared and engaged, the more support he found from other techs.
“It’s like having your own personal tech support. You ask, and someone’s there to help. It can be very beneficial.”
For Rodolfo, social media became more than just a place to share – it became a place to learn, connect, and give back.
Why He Keeps Showing Up
When asked what keeps him going after more than two decades in the trade, the answer was simple – helping people and helping his side of the HVAC industry evolve.
“The apartment industry is kind of behind, so my goal is to bring them up just as quick as other field techs.”
Rodolfo’s commitment to supporting his family and community is clear: “I’m just grateful and thankful. Sky’s the limit, if I want it, I’m gonna go get it.”
We’re proud to celebrate Rodolfo Vargas as our August Tech of the Month.
Follow @justwork_hvac to see his work, share in his passion for the trade, and be part of his growing community.