We talk about the differences between projects work and service in the HVAC/R trade and which might be for you.
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and find our handy calculators at https://www.hvacrschool.com/
Alright, let's talk real quick about the difference between service and installation or projects, and I kind of put installation projects together now a lot of people have a sense that one is better than the other. The truth is that they're, really just different installation and projects do tend to be more physically taxing, and so that has to be said right off the bat. If you're going to be installing ductwork or running copper or doing any sort of fabrication, then there's going to be a significant physical element to that we're a service while it does have some physicality to it, is not going to have near the physicality. Generally speaking, that you're gon na get in the installation and project side of things as far as mental strain service does tend to have more mental strain, and that comes along with you know, having to solve complex problems and all that which a lot of us are Actually, you know it's what we like about the trade, but the other side of it that that isn't.
It is a mental strain. Is that you're forced to interact with people and be responsible for outcomes more often, and so as an example and service you're, often making decisions yourself? It's not a manager, saying hey, install this job according to the plans in many cases in service, there are no plans. There may be some specs guidelines, training that sort of thing, but you run into circumstances that aren't you know directly outlined in a book or in a guide, and so you have to make calls a lot, especially when it comes to the diagnostic side, meaning figuring out Exactly what's wrong with the system, so when you have to make it when you have to be the one who makes the call who says this is what's wrong with this piece of equipment and then you're wrong, which will happen happen on occasion that can create some Mental stress and strain and when you have to talk to a customer about what's wrong with their equipment and tell them that it may be a day before they can get up or whatever the case may be. There are some some strains: emotionally they go along with that, let alone the fact that in service there is, you know, an on-call cycle, so you're generally gon na have to work at night or on weekends periodically and an installation and projects.
Generally, your schedule is a little more fixed, although in there's no segment of our business, that's that isn't prone to some seasonality. So you know there are gon na be seasons that are busier than others and the project and installation side. It's just going to depend on how busy your company is, how many projects they have lined up on the service side. It generally has a lot to do with weather, so, for example, on the air-conditioning side, when you have a hot summer day, you're gon na probably work a pretty long day and there's not necessarily going to a time that you know that you're going to get off, Whereas on the projects and installation side, there tends to be more clarity about that and not to say that it won't be a late night to get a job done. Every now and again there tends to be a little bit more clarity about when you're going to be able to get home at the end of the day. So some people really appreciate that about the projects and installation side also, it bears noting that sometimes there's a disconnect between installation and projects, meaning doing new construction or retrofits or those sorts of things and the add-on and replacement technician so, especially in residential, often you'll, have Guys who are trained to replace equipment, but they still have a lot of the same skills that service techs. Have some companies call these retail technicians or need a system replacement, technicians or whatever the case may be, and they still have a lot of the same skills of customer interaction and customer service because you're in a customer's home any time you're working in a home with A with a customer you got to have those customer service skills and those become very important. Those technicians tend to have some of the same requirements as a service TAC, but they have a little bit more fixed schedules because you generally know how long an installation is going to take, and so there's not so much variability, whereas with a service technician.
You're generally doing whatever service calls come in in a specific day, day or night, and so you're pretty much gon na be working some pretty long days when you're very busy and when you're very slow you're, not gon na work as much and so again there is Going to be some of that in all segments, but on projects and installation there's going to be less variability, but more physicality, more necessity to do things physically and then on the service side. There's gon na be more mental strain a little less. You know physical strain on your body, and so what ends up happening in a lot of cases is people when they're young they'll start off on the project side, and then they slowly move into the service side. Caveat is when you go into service customer service communication.
Writing/Reading, all those things become more important if you do start in the project side, because you like that you, like the workmanship, how things look and feel and work more than you care about the technical side, which is the. Why and the customer service side. I would still encourage you to grow in the customer service side and some of those service skills, because they're very likely may come a day where you're going to appreciate having those skills when you want to transition to a less physically demanding job but again to kind Of pin this down the people, who tend to be really good at installation and projects tend to be. The term I use is a workmen.
They like how things look they like doing things very neatly, and they they focus on their efficiency, whereas technicians on the service side, they Genda generally tend to be better with customer service and with solving problems so figuring out solutions. They tend to be more technical versus mechanical. A good example of this is, I was always a more technical person. I've always enjoyed solving problems and using the more technical tools meters gauges, those sorts of things. I've never been especially good with a duck knife or with working with sheet metal, those sorts of more tactile things. I don't have a good eye for what level is where, as good installers and project people, they tend to prefer those more physical tools, a saw or a metal break, or something like that versus the more technical tools like the meter or the gauges. So it's good to know which one you are and it's not to say that you can't transition from one to the other, but there is commonly a transition that is at least attempted at some point. Once you get tired of the physicality of the install side of things where a lot of people try to move into service, but if you're going to try to do that, you do need to develop those more technical skills and some of that customer service side.
All right we'll get you on the next video.
follow the money.
company I work for pais residential $40
commercial refrigeration $50/hr.
I a 608 certification need to install a factory charged helium compressor unit ? Service area Barrhaven??
as an AC company, are you responsible for hooking up the electric to NEC specification or do you leave it the homeowner to fix afterwards? Are you in Nepean ?
Installers please blow out your drain lines on them change outs so the service guys don’t have to go back behind you. And if you are a service guy getting call backs or someone has to go back for you because you only clear drains with a vacuum you need to go back to installing.
The cover photo for this video led me to believe Bergmann would be in this video. I feel cheated.
I did installation from 1988 till really I’ve not officially gotton out of it until recently. I try to stay strictly to service repair and the occasional change out.
Although I’m only 22. Having been in a bad car accident and my body not agreeing with me, I definitely prefer the service side of thing. Besides I find it more enjoyable to diagnose and think for myself rather than follow a plan
Great job explaining and your right. Service area Kanata??
Don’t forget the difference between commercial and residential.
Got my epa test on Tuesday, really looking for universal to mess with low and high pressure systems.
Meth and more meth.
Brian is spot on with the fact that installs are more taxing on your body. I've done both, started as a technician, and after some 7 years off the industry, I took a job as an installer. Probably one of the best decisions of my life, actually. You get to see more of what goes on, and if your goal is is be a very efficient and knowledgeable technician, it helps to know how the Installation process goes.
Was an install helper for about a year doing mostly changeouts. Went over to the service side and quickly got put in my own truck. Now im on call for the summer. And ill tell ya, this on call stuff is a killer. I dont mind overtime, i just wish i knew when it was coming. Thinking about trying to get back into install but im sure i dont have enough experience in most companies eyes to run a truck on my own. Any advice from you guys?
Good tech is has to be good installer.
But we all cool 😎
Oddly I learned more diagnostics 12 years of it first now I’m trying to get install practices just takes longer to install when you aren’t used to doing it every day practice 👍/ I feel ya on the mentally taxing part worth it when you fix something very satisfying worst feeling when you can’t fix a problem right away and have to come back with parts or have to plan for 2-4 hr repairs if all goes well you have to account for saying hey I can fix this or hey it’s not worth it , it’s ktime to replace the unit which is a pain cause many people think you are just trying to get sales for units when it’s really a worn out system lol great video! Sorry for side tracking great video👍 Are you in Barrhaven ?
Highest paid guy at my company is actually an installer. Been doing it 25 years and he is a magician with the work. Makes our techs lives much easier because when we have to work on our systems he installed everything is where it should be. Dont knock installers.
Best way to install copper pipes for minislip system behind walls in a apartment
I'll be happy to get a job doing anything in this trade. I'm in my second semester of school.
Which pays more or does knowing both make u more valuable… Are you in Orleans ?
All of my employees were Service and Install… Everybody that wanted to only be one or the other honestly wasn't nearly as valuable. My employees were paid better than any in my area because of their flexibility.
My instructor in school always says "work with your mind, you are not a laborer" but for me I rather learn to install and put in the work then go to the service side. That's makes sense to me. 🙂
Fresh out of school and personally feel more comfortable doing service over installation. I hope I get more installation work to get the fear of doing it off of myself lol. Guess it’s all in my head Service area Ottawa??
Hey, Man. Can I ask you some questions? Fields like Plumber, Carpenter, welder also belong to skilled trades. I think this kind of field, if you get 5 year or 10 year experience like that, you will know most of it and get used to it even though you have to continue education to follow evolving technology, but it is not that intensive compare to HVAC field.
What I am gonna ask is that HVAC filed is really vast ocean you must not stop learning if you have to compare to plumbing, carpenter like different trade?
For some, these diversities can be challenging and charm at the same time, but I do not want to have mental strain studying whole knowledge even after I got 5 and 10 years of experience. You know what I mean?
I am person like who pursues efficiency. If I got paid almost same as a 10 year experience worker whether I belong to hvac, plumbing or carpenter, Why would I have to consume my whole time and energy struggling to learn and study lots of stuffs like that.
This is not IT filed, but I think it's like IT sphere demanding physical pressure at the same time.
Hope you got my point. Your kind advice will be helpful with determining my path.
Thank you for reading.
I can do both. I like service way more but my installs look awesome also. I know installs drain you physically and service drains you mentally.
Install beat me up for the past 10yrs. hope to jump into service soon
can you check us out thank you
Great explanation i loved it the way of speech also excellent but where my personal request to you which is talk slowly because asian peoples couldn't get your sentance when you speech was fast and yeah iam a indian 🇮🇳 so that's why iam requested 🙏🏼
In larger outfits, the division between installers and service techs, can be at times very comical. This was a good video and brought back some funny memories.
I’m blessed to be both mechanical and technical I’m a service tech now but I can build some great transitions and things if that nature and I enjoy doing things like that truth is there is more money in service especially when you get into commission based income
How do I even get my foot in the door? I graduated HVAC school almost 4 months ago, and most places I go to either want someone with 500 years of experience or don’t even give me the time of day. How am I supposed to even get experience if I can’t even get in? This is becoming very frustrating and demoralizing. Starting to wonder if going to school for this trade was a huge waste of time and money.
I love this video. Just mention what is happening to me. I started being a Mechanic and fell in love with sheet metal and fiberglass jobs, then I started doing change out and new installations, and I also fell in love with that, then I started making emergency service calls and I realized that I am also good doing that. but I still like to do ductwork… I really enjoy all your videos Service area Orleans??
30yr in I know a good installer makes a good tech and problem solver I'm both still not perfect that's why I love it
I'm contemplating which trade I would like to do and I'm stuck between electrician and hvac. I'm a female and have a small frame and don't have a ton of upper body strength. I like the idea of install because I like my schedule to be set and not getting home late at night, but it seems rather physically demanding. Any insights?
The worst thing is to work for a small family business where screwups are defended by being related, crap like brazing without nitrogen purging and especially be wary where service dispatch is done by people having never been in a van doing service for a year. Are you in Kanata ?
The company for whom I work is small. There’s five of us on the HVAC side, residential is all we do. My experience level is twenty years. I attended UTI to learn service and my first employer put me on installation for a few weeks. Then I rode with one of the senior guys for a few weeks to get the basics of maintenance and service. Within three months I was in my own van running maintenance and service solo while helping on installations. My manager at that time encouraged (I use this description loosely, because Marines have a unique way of encouraging 😆) me to learn as much as possible to make myself more valuable/marketable. Over the years I have learned most aspects related to all three areas; including sheet metal fabrication, pipe fitting, electrical, and carpentry. It is possible to achieve high proficiency in all three areas, but the ability to master all is rare.
I wouldn’t say service is better than install, just smarter
the thumbnail looks like a guy with really skinny arms
Went to school for service but currently a install apprentice
I went to school for being a tech. I got a job at an install company Air Technology. Now I just do hvac service and repair.
Your emails help me to keep up with a lot of aspects of tech work.
You learn on installation, you make money on service, hopefully not fixing installations. All techs should start out in installation, work their way up to service. Learn equipment that their shop installs
I start school next August for residential HVAC technician. I’m 20 yo, and I’m super exited because I love problem solving. Any tips on how to get a head start in learning some?
great vid thx
You are good teacher sir, I learn from your video thank you
Bryan what is your take on guys like myself that went straight to service from maintenance. I have always been service oriented. The issue I have now is my install skills are poor. I lack the sheet metal skills that most guys would have learnt while being an installer. Now I want to go backwards and learn the necessary skills on the install side but my employer doesn’t want to pay my wage to tag along with a lead installer. I wish there were more videos online showing sheetmetal. The only thing I can think of is going in on my days off and tag along with a good installer.
When I first broke into HVACR, I worked for a small commercial contractor for 3 years learning all facets to the trade. I then split off to work for a bigger commercial/industrial company that was strictly service/maintenance only, I thought I’d really enjoy it since I did when working for the smaller outfit, but the grass was not greener. At my former company I would start at 4am-5am and would be off no later than 1pm. Now I’m on-call, swamped with mental stress, and sometimes working very late. I am now starting a new job as a HVACR Mechanical Pipefitter for a large non-union shop, and probably will never work in service again.
I remember when I first started out as a junior. I was put as a helper to install. Almost noone liked to work with me because I was slow. I'd still be outside doing the condenser while the senior was already getting his ductwork and coil done. I took alot of time to make sure everything was square. I was kind of slow with the hefty tools now that I think about it. I've been told on more than one occasion that this trade maybe isn't for me but I had a door open for me elsewhere and became a service technician. I excelled in my studies, gained confidence from my superiors to be flyed out and trained and I'm doing pretty well. Better than the bubs that put me down. I don't ever see myself going back to an installer or a residential tech. I love the commercial side.
Install first…..service later. Walk before you run. Its the best way
Honestly the differences are kinda self explanatory lol.
Brian. I really enjoyed this post. I listened to you last night on HVAC shoptalk. I had a question and I don’t know if you answered it because you guys are way past my bedtime. Here’s the question. With all that you do. How do you find time to be a Dad for your 10 kids?