What makes a good commerical tech?

[samp]

Was wondering if you guys might have some insight to this vary general vague question? What make a good commercial tech? I am currently strictly residential but would like to move into a commercial in house mechanics position. What kinds of information should I be reading up on?

-SAMP

[gruvn]

If you have good refer and electrical theory and practicle experience with them, then I would start by learning some basic popular system designs like VAV, the different types and how they are designed and controlled , the benefits of one verse another, boiler systems, piping and controls. Some IAQ, then get used to everything being bigger and more critical.Takes some time but it comes, if you apply yourself.

[Shophound]

gruvn's advice is good...if you get some VAV (variable air volume) knowledge and experience down, you've bumped up your marketability in the commercial service field. Concurrent with understanding VAV boxes and distribution ductwork would be an understanding of VFD (variable frequency drive) air handlers, since many VAV systems (if not most) use VFD's on the indoor blower to maintain a consistent static pressure within the ductwork as the various VAV boxes open and close. With VAV's you'll need to understand minimum and maximum airflows, the differences between fan powered and non fan powered VAV's, whether the VAV uses electric reheat, a hot/cold deck configuration, or hydronic reheat, or no reheat.

Have you also considered working around chillers? Many in-house positions hire what are often called stationary engineers or central plant operators (which is what I do) to monitor, operate, and maintain chillers, chilled water circuits and equipment, cooling towers, pumps, etc. Chillers operate on the same basic principles as a resi unit, but on a much larger scale. Each particular type of chiller, be it a centrifugal, recip, or screw have their own quirks peculiar to that configuration, such as the problem of "surging" on a centrifugal chiller which wouldn't happen on a recip chiller. You would need to know why centrifugal chillers can surge (and what a "surge" is) and what can be done to prevent it, and why surging is bad.

The textbook "Refrigeration and Airconditioning Technology" is not a bad overview book to get you introduced to commercial systems. In fact, I find it more relevant to commercial HVAC than the much celebrated "Modern Refrigeration and Airconditioning" text. The former book includes service call scenarios a commercial tech might encounter, which can help you see what you might actually run into on a call.

[flange]

to be a truly good commercial tech you must be almost fearless. you will run into many pieces of equipment that you have never seen before. you will run into growling mad building managers and tenants and you will have both of these when you least expect it. you must have the guts to be confident in your ability, to troubleshoot and repair something that before the day you had never seen, and to let the person looking over your back that you are not intimidated by them. you must also posess a personality. in addition you must have every skill necessary to keep up with the ever changing industry while never getting a big head. once you finally realize all that it takes to be truly good at this thing you are in too deep to look back.

[bku46]

Get yourself a good hammer

[chillerguy2002]

doh, Flange is scaring you and me....but he is OK with that and I almost agree with him.
It is a simple learning, add "certification" type of process.

It all depends what you are trying to take care of, get online and study the building codes or "steamfitters" as to what is required.

For your state, city, building does it require a license?

Man, there are so many ways of upgrading yourself here, moving on when you do, then dealing with what "flange" talked about!

"shophound" (interesting handle) said to look at standard VAV systems, which are easy to learn, and chiller applications...would agree with this. The best i've found is at Carrier design manuals, but they are old, but they are really good. got any specific quetions?, I'll definitely answer

Scott

[flange]

that wasnt meant to scare anyone, but its the reality at least in our geographic area. i spent many years working for honeywell and as everyone knows we were Factory trained. this only meant that we drove around in honeywell trucks and wore their shirts. our local branch was the guinea pig for many of the new products coming down the pipeline and saw things before they were available for general sale. our factory training consisted of one phrase...."stay there on site and figure it out, then you will know for the next time". We were the commercial group, but i along with a couple of other chosen were exposed to systems that definatley were not commercial and had received no training on whatsoever. for example i was given a contract on a facility that reclaimed contaminated dirt. the control system was some european industrial system that didnt follow any logic that we would use here. their schematics made no sense. the burner was operated with high pressure gas roughly 15 psi. the gas line going to the burner was eight inch steel pipe. since i was a "factory trained tech" i was qualified to work on this. each time there was an issue, i though about wearing diapers on relighting the system .

[Paul Pippin]

I like the term "fearless" and that is the key. You will see many things that you have never seen before and you may not entirely understand. Step back take a look at it, determine what its purpose is, then figure out how it operates. NEVER LET A MACHINE BEAT YOU!

[lord of the screws]

Diversity,sometimes you have to go from a 1000 ton chiller to a water source heat pump to a vav rooftop in one day.

[service guy]

3 ton straight A/C or 100 ton Package rooftop the refrigeration cycle is still the same!!!! Get good with the schematics that will make or break you!!

[r404a]

Flange hit it...right on the "flange"! This guy could not be more correct! Everything he said is right on the money and I really identify with it. If you are strictly residential now, you are used to know it all homeowners. That is great, but wait until you meet a know it all maintenance man. They are a breed unto themselves. I don't mean to knock them; if they are good maintenance techs, they are worth their weight in gold. Be nice to them and find out which ones know their equipment and which ones don't. Diversity is a big thing. Your residential experience will be a big plus or any experience, really. I think that it is a good move to make. Good luck.
r404a

[r404a]

Samp,
just reread your post. If you are going inhouse, you will be able to narrow down your brushing up. If you have air dryers onsite, bone up on them, or chillers...so on and so forth. I think being inhouse has its own set of issues, but being on the road is a different beast all together.

good luck and tell us how you like it



r404a

[samp]

Well guys, thanks for all the info. Right now I am moving forwards toward a commercial license here in the state of Mass. My long term goal is to eventually go inhouse once I have some good experience on the commercial side. I like my present company but they are basically a 95% residentail company and don't think they will shift enough of there work towards commercial side. They want to grab a piece of it but lack experience on all sides. So I am left to grooming myself and filling my brain with as much info as I can in order to gain some compentancy. Whereby I can make a move to my next shop to call home for a while.

-Samp

[ozone drone]

Ummmm, being able to fix commercial equipment?

[jogas]

An in-house mechanics position is different than running service. A good general knowledge is needed of HVAC to look good in the interview. But If you want to really impress a potential employer you'd like to work for, try to find out before the interview what equipment he has on site and really study up on that type and brand of equipment.
Any new hire in an in-house job goes thru an orientation/learning process. You're not going to know everything the site has going in. Realize that and don't let it trouble you.
As a foreman, when I am asked to size up a new hire, I'm looking for certain things.
An apparent natural mechanical ability.
An inquisitive mind capable of, and eager to learn.
Well groomed, courteous, pleasant to talk to.
Apparent ability to handle pressure.
There are other things, but if a guy has these, he has a good shot at succeeding in this field.
My 2 cents,
Jogas

[hvac_czar]

Originally posted by samp
Well guys, thanks for all the info. Right now I am moving forwards toward a commercial license here in the state of Mass. My long term goal is to eventually go inhouse once I have some good experience on the commercial side. I like my present company but they are basically a 95% residentail company and don't think they will shift enough of there work towards commercial side. They want to grab a piece of it but lack experience on all sides. So I am left to grooming myself and filling my brain with as much info as I can in order to gain some compentancy. Whereby I can make a move to my next shop to call home for a while.

-Samp

Hey Samp,

Where are you in MA? This "commercial license" you speak of, is it the MA refrigeration tech license? For most any in house position you will need it first. If you need pointers, ask away... it is BIG on practical knowlege of larger commercial systems. I would also encorage you to not limit yourself to an in house position, there are opportunities in commercial service here that offer fantastic wages and an exiteing learning curve.

[hvac3901]

Not being afraid to ask questions, know when your over your head, know your limitations, and be an outside the box thinker. These will carry you to success in all your endevours.

[twcpipes]

It is not my place to try to redirect your decisions on a new move but I will offer some facts you may or may not have thought about:

In moving to commercial in-house, how do you intend to learn everything required to work on your own immediately without having the technical background not published in books nor the additional tools the in-house company may not have but are required? When a commercial piece of equipment goes down there could be 100 people with no a/c and not just a residential family. Also the people skills become much higher.

But what if you went to work with a commercial company and learned that side of the business until you felt qualified to be out there on your own especially with in-house work?

I should think there are some commercial companies that would love to have a "hungry for knowledge" worker that would be an asset. Later, if you found you didn't like working for a commercial service company you could then change and would be much more qualified to work for an in-house company on your own. Although I have to warn you that if you are any good at all, a service company will offer more overall challenges than any in-house company ever could.

Good luck in your future no matter what you do.
tom

[samp]

Guys,

Some of you are reading to much into my post but I do appreciate the comments though. Yes I am doing residential now but in a few more years I am interested in moving to another larger company which focuses on commercial service only and will do that probably for a length of years until either a better in-house opportunity comes up or I get tired of working for a contractor and want to come from out of the rain (if you know what I mean).
Currently I have my apprentice card here in Mass and have schooling and some hours towards a refrigeration license which my company pays for. I know that every place is different with the many different types of equipment out there that’s why I said it was a general question to get some insight on what the average tech should be familiar with.

Thanks,
Samp