Crossing Over From Residential ???

[top-notch-tek]

I would like to eventually within a year or so - cross over into commercial HVAC...

You can check my profile to see a little bit about my knowledge level - it is just easier than rewriting it all down.

I have a pretty good grasp of residential and would like to keep it at that and move on.

From all you experienced 'commercial guys' I would like some advice on what a fella like myself can do to appeal to potential employers in the commercial end of things...

Any advice is appreciated.

1. any classes or seminars ???
2. any certifications ???
3. etc ???

top-notch-tek

[ozone drone]

Tek,

Here's a couple of routes you can try.

1. Apply with the factory Trane agency in you area...They hire people willing to learn.

2.Carrier and York's service people are in the pipefitters union, If there's more demand for service guy's than the hall has available to fill the demand ..then you have an opportunity (depending on how many years experience you have) to enter the union at a a journeyman level, rather than go through the apprenticeship program. Put your head in the door at your local hall and talk to the business agent

3. Apply at the local Johnson Control's branch. They have a mechanical service side as well as the automation side. Some of their branches use pipefitter labor and some are non union. If you have any savvy at all with building automation systems and computers ... that with your hvac skills might get your foot in the door

4. Apply with large mechanical contractors ...they usually
have a "start-up" department and being a helper there will get you exposed to the bigger equipment.

5. I know a guy who worked maintenance at a college and he did so well learning the automation stuff there that Johnson Controls ...hired him away.

That's a start anyway Tek....good luck

[stevehvac]

Move to NC and i'll help you cross over

I"m in the commercial retail end and the customers demand a lot. Only 60% of your time/energy goes towards the actual AC units. What I look for is smart, clean cut technicians who can handle working by themselves,follow the paperwork/call in proceedures, and have good people skills.

On the mechanical side everything is just bigger. You have a lot more controls and safeties in each circuit. 80% of the time the problem is in the low voltage somewhere. Reading a wiring diagram and tracing out wires is something you will need to be comfortable with.

[coastline]

i agree most problems are electrical must have patience and good ability to read schematic's// for the most part things are just bigger become familiar with hot gas bypass and unloaders// staging if you plan on working with anything bigger than a 15-ton /multiple safety's, lockouts, ability to adjust tx valves and and yes more patience// when you get small leaks or other repairs sometimes they have to be done after hours you cant just shut down a 60 ton rtu and fix a small evap leak in the middle of the day// compressors no longer way 50lbs plan on cranes 600lbs for a 30 ton hermatic and please be familiar with charging procedures

learn pneumatics// vav systems // ddc controls // and whatever you can

and dont waste your time trying to satify 100 people in the same office at the same time

[seaboard]

Originally posted by stevehvac
Move to NC and i'll help you cross over

I"m in the commercial retail end and the customers demand a lot. Only 60% of your time/energy goes towards the actual AC units. What I look for is smart, clean cut technicians who can handle working by themselves,follow the paperwork/call in proceedures, and have good people skills.

On the mechanical side everything is just bigger. You have a lot more controls and safeties in each circuit. 80% of the time the problem is in the low voltage somewhere. Reading a wiring diagram and tracing out wires is something you will need to be comfortable with.

I agree, in the Virginia and North Carolina area, we'll hire guys like you and start with PM's and go from there. The refrigeration theory is the same. On the electrical side there are a lot more safeties. It takes all kinds though. I've seen residential guys that wouldn't bat an eye about crawling under any house on his belly but wouldn't want to pick up a 32 ft. extension ladder.

stevehvac, Did you see the Tom Hanks movie called "The Ladykillers" where the guy suffers from IBS?

[2seasons-employed]

Originally posted by coastline
i agree most problems are electrical must have patience and good ability to read schematic's// for the most part things are just bigger become familiar with hot gas bypass and unloaders// staging if you plan on working with anything bigger than a 15-ton /multiple safety's, lockouts, ability to adjust tx valves and and yes more patience// when you get small leaks or other repairs sometimes they have to be done after hours you cant just shut down a 60 ton rtu and fix a small evap leak in the middle of the day// compressors no longer way 50lbs plan on cranes 600lbs for a 30 ton hermatic and please be familiar with charging procedures

learn pneumatics// vav systems // ddc controls // and whatever you can

and dont waste your time trying to satify 100 people in the same office at the same time

try not to kill yourself for the convienece of the dept, managers in bldg facilities like hotels, and casino's cause its usually not for the better of the hotel, just for themselves and then you hav to change it back to where it was the following day or hotflashed whim, and it is usually unappreciated anyways, you cant win! he he so you just smile and lie and say " I will get right on it, or let the smoke out and put it on back order!

[hoozdis]

....commercial to be ALOT more physically demanding and you will be buying more tools too! Just work smart and hard, it will come quicker than you think...good luck