What are the differences and similarities between commercial and Residential air conditioning and refrigeration? We explore the traits and requirements for each.
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I'm glad that you're interested in a career in HVAC, our heating, ventilating, air, conditioning and refrigeration, and one of the things that you have to decide really early on in your career, is what segments of the industry do. You want to focus in and there's a couple different ways to break it up: there's installation and service. Some people go into sales, but specifically today I want to talk to you quickly about the difference between residential commercial and briefly we're going to talk about industrial and the reason why you need to know. That is because it's very important for you to know your own interests in your own inclinations and your own skills, so that that way you end up in a portion of the industry that suits you and that's not to say you can't start at one and move To another, it's not to say you can't get experience in one that will translate to the other.

A lot of the principles are the same: residential, commercial and industrial. If you learn about electrical diagnosis, for example, that will translate the basic refrigeration circuit air flow. All those things will translate from one to the other, with some slight adjustments to it. First thing that you're going to notice is that most trade schools really focus on residential and light commercial and there's a good reason for that.

Residential and light commercial make up a really large percentage of the marketplace. And so of course, if you're going to be trying to create a workforce, you want to create a workforce for the majority of the jobs that are out there, and so a lot of the skills that will be learned in a trade school are going to apply To a residential and light commercial type of application, which means that, for the more complicated systems, more complicated, larger control systems that go along with commercial and industrial, a lot of that training is going to happen both from a combination of on-the-job, training and also training from Manufacturers themselves, but let's talk a little bit about the skills that are gon na, be necessary for you to actually be good at your job and to see if it's gon na be something that's enjoyable for you. First off, let's start with residential in residential, a big portion of it if you're gon na plan on getting into service. Even if you don't start off in service, if your goal is to get into service, making repairs on air conditioning systems, main communication and customer service are gon na, be a really big piece of that.

It's just part of the job. Most service technicians are expected to have conversations where they educate the customer about what's going on with their system as well as talk to them about prices and expenses, which is kind of a touchy subject. A lot of us aren't natural at having conversations about money, people and so as a service technician. You're gon na be required to do that.

If you don't have strong interpersonal skills, then you may want to look at a different segment of the industry or you may want to develop those interpersonal skills. Your essential service technicians tend to have a pretty big disparity in what they can make, because a big factor in what you're able to make as a residential service technician is. How good are you with people, because people who are good with people lead to more sales, which means you're more valuable to the company? It's somebody who's constantly running into trouble with customers and co-workers aren't gon na work well in residential because it's gon na come up. All the time and residential you tend to will do many more small jobs.
So there you have a lot more customer contact. There's a lot more opportunity for conflict, whereas in commercial and industrial you tend to be on longer jobs for longer periods of time, larger equipment. There's less opportunity for some of those conflicts to occur, so if you're, not good with people in residential may not be a fit for you. There's one caveat that I have to add in there on the residential side.

Is that many people start in residential, but it's on the projects or an installation side which is a very different part of the trade? When I talk about the trade, I tend to focus a lot on service, but there is a whole other opportunity with doing the residential new construction side. It is not customer heavy, it is very workmanship heavy in it tends to be fairly physically taxing. So a lot of people will start there when they're young and then they'll develop into some additional skills and then eventually move into service. That's a very common path, but what has to change going from installation and projects on the residential side to service is that you do definitely have to have those strong interpersonal skills as well as conflict resolution.

You've got to be able to resolve conflicts, resolve issues when people are upset on the commercial side, there's not nearly as much of the customer service element to it, but there is a lot more on the technical and a lot more on the mechanical side, you're generally Working with larger, more dangerous machines, you have to be very attentive, and if you make mistakes, the costs tend to be much greater, and so, generally speaking, those who go into larger commercial types of service jobs tend to be more technically adept. The benefit is, is that if you're more of an introvert person type of personality, where you don't like to interact with people all the time, then commercial is generally more suited to that sort of personality. You don't have to deal with as many conflicts, it's more you and the equipment. The downside is, is that if you're not a talented technician, then you and the equipment can be a problem because you're not going to have as much support generally speaking, you're often left sort of on your own in the commercial environments and you're expected to solve very Large and very difficult problems in certain circumstances in general, with commercial you're, going to usually travel more in between jobs and you're, usually meaning the distances will be greater and you're, usually gon na spend longer periods of time at a single job.
Often you may go back to the same facility many days in a row, or you may be at that facility for months at a time, in some cases, depending on the sort of work that you do with that being said, introverts who prefer the workmanship elements of The trade are generally more suited for commercial and extroverts who enjoy the customer service aspects, and the interaction side of it generally tend to be better suited for residential, not that you can't do one of the other, regardless of your skill, but it's just a matter of Finding the fit that suits you, another key thing is, of course you have to find a company that fits you. Obviously, you may run into certain circumstances where you're doing residential, because you're happy with the company that you're wet through you're doing commercial because you're happy with the company, regardless of your core preferences. As far as the type of work that you're, that you're gon na be doing - and that's okay of course, but I would encourage you to think deeply about what part of the industry that you're getting into. Oh, I also want to finish off and mention.

Industrial is essentially like commercial, only even more so so the equipment tends to get even larger and instead of cooling, people or say product in a commercial environment like maybe a grocery store or convenience store a restaurant where we may be cooling, food and industrial. What you're doing is you're cooling heating, the humidifying controlling the conditions for an industrial process, usually for manufacturing something in a lot of cases, and so that's a even more mission critical application. In a lot of cases, the dollar amounts are very high, and so the value is great for somebody who's, talented, but the stakes are also very high. Any time you go into this larger, more complicated equipment, you really can't afford to make as many errors, and so the training becomes more important and it's important to be that type of person who enjoys the details, who actually likes the trade and likes learn, not to Say that you don't need to keep learning, even if you work in residential, but on the residential side, having a good personality does cover a multitude of sins.

So, frankly, you can be somebody who is a little more outgoing, maybe not quite as nerdy and can still get by pretty well on residential, just because the equipment doesn't generally tend to be as complicated, hopefully found that helpful, we'll see in the next video.

47 thoughts on “Commercial vs. residential hvac/r”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars RAPSTAGRAM says:

    Buy $Shib coin

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Brendan Conley says:

    I do commercial restaurant equipment and 1 thing that I think is important to point out is skill floors. I can say enough how much higher the minimum skill needed for commercial is over residential, I only got 2 months fresh out of school before I was out on my own, on call, and expected to be able to walk up to a piece of equipment like a bakery oven, or proofer that I have never seen before and not only figure out how it works but why it's not working, there are people in my office who have been doing this for 10+ years who see types of equipment they have never worked on. That's a tall order for someone right out of school and I don't think it is a challenge most new techs would be ok with, also it is the reason my company has such a high turn over.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars killerbam123 fish says:

    21 years old, been doing residential for 5 years and making a move into commercial. I’m an extrovert and less technically skilled but hopefully I can make this transition with a high level of skill. I’m starting at 33 an hour in 5 days, testing with the union tomorrow. Wish me luck!

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars AJ says:

    I've been a residential lead Installer/serviceman in Arizona for a year now and already hate the job. I think it's time for a change to commercial or something where I don't need to be in attics all the time and handle customers 24/7. I'll happily take a pay cut at this point if it just means I can work a little less, spend time with my family more, and not break my body as much.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sam Cummings says:

    FIND A MANAGMENT THAT FITS YOU! Culture is everything. Do you want WE or I?!

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Potion says:

    Start in commercial instillation Monday, can’t wait to learn

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Gandhi Flores says:

    I am in a residential company and i love my coworkers and supervisor but I hate having to be so careful around other peoples stuff and always having to sell stuff I think after I finish this internship I will move to commercial

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Michael James says:

    I’m staring out with the trade as an apprentice with a company that does mostly commercial work. Is it better when you’re starting out to get into residential or commercial?

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Brooklyn Papii says:

    I guess I’ll start with residential till I get comfortable enough to get to commercial.

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ezequiel Crespo says:

    Just got into an apprenticeship on windsor locks ct hopefully I can do my time on residential and learn all I can from this so I can move to commercial and industrial and refrigeration Are you in Barrhaven ?

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Michael Costello says:

    Im 6 foot 4 inch so residential attics do not appeal. Got reported for drinking coffee in a commercial office block canteen so you always have to watch out for the office dick. Maybe i need to go industrial if i venture back to this line of work. Service area Nepean??

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Michael Costello says:

    Thanks

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Nevyn B says:

    Is it possible to transition from a 313D license to a 313A license without having to start over as a first year apprentice ? Asking from Ontario Canada. Service area Orleans??

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Matt Dunn says:

    I currently work commercial but am leaning towards residential. I’m a bigger guy, don’t like working in small spaces, and I really don’t like ladders and have had multiple experiences where I almost fell off of the ladder when getting onto it from the rooftop here in snowy upstate New York. I also took a residentially focused course and I miss interacting more with people

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Nate Walker says:

    Just say resi is for fucktards

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Andrew Jackson says:

    Don't pick one…do it all, you'll never look for a job. Ive done residential, commercial, fab and industrial. Install and service. Sales the entire time as well. It's all heating n a/c….

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Francisco Ramos says:

    I started on commercial which I love chillers and boilers and pulse boilers

  18. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Greg Mercil says:

    I’m just barely starting out, and I feel that commercial is the best fit for me. But currently it looks like my only way in is residential. I gotta start somewhere I guess.

  19. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Henry Litton says:

    I have a problem in pipe sizing Can you help me it is very useful in installing split type of ac Are you in Kanata ?

  20. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars D Gresham says:

    No one mentioned working for yourself in residential or commercial/industrial. Has anyone tried? What were the obstacles? What were the benefits?

  21. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Refrigeration Technology says:

    Started in light commercial refrigeration. Went to school for basically residential straight cool ac. Switched from reefer to commercial installs and duct work.
    Then went to building management and chiller maintenance but Corona. Bug shut that down. Now in residential service.. with all I have seen I miss commercial .
    either way I'm trying to learn the measure quick app. Thanks

  22. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mike John says:

    Please make videos about 2020 Tesla Hvac makeup HVAC business how will affect our business?

  23. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Gary Dever says:

    I do commercial hvac lots of rooftops exhaust fans MAU’s and cooling towers and I would love to see a good video on belt driven power transmission. Maybe cover the entire spectrum such as setting tension, belt sizing, alignment, motor mounts, sheaves, shafts, pulley, bearings, greasing, the list goes on and I believe it is such an overlooked piece of the puzzle and most technicians don’t really give it much thought. Are you in Ottawa ?

  24. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Colt 45 says:

    I started on new construction track home install then moved onto commercial installations. Now I work at a casino and really have all aspects of hvacr. Chillers, vavs, all types of refrigerators, ice machines etc. its alot!

  25. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Francis Ogbonna says:

    I love Residential HVAC

  26. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Diego Hernández says:

    I am starting to study residential Are you in Nepean ?

  27. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars sealed secure says:

    30 yrs old, 3rd yr apprentice, making $29 an hr on the check as apprentice.Milwaukee,WI, local 18. Commercial HVAC . Love the trade👍👍👍💪

  28. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars C Paul says:

    What I like about commercial, no joe crisara sales tactics or nexstar

  29. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Brad Morrison says:

    I’m on my waiting list for HVAC school and want to go to commercial/restaurants

  30. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars TNT_PKK says:

    great info except discussing quite a bit between introvert and extrovert. Maybe focus more the differences between the industries instead of personalities

  31. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jay S says:

    My top 3 reasons for going commercial
    1. No sales
    2. Minimal crawlspaces and attics.
    3. Easy access to bathrooms

  32. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars TechFive says:

    I started residential install. In fl it was 99% time in tight attics. I was much younger then. I absolutely hated it. I remember having to crawl under mobile home with 3" rain water to run new tstat wire. Lead tech handed me a paper suit. Oh thanks lol

  33. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ruben Cruz says:

    Ammonia tech …….

  34. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Gacha CRINGE says:

    I was in residential for almost two years and recently changed to commercial/Industrial.

    Residential was really fun and taught me a lot. Every house had an issue and I got to learn so much just by following the "Why".

    Commercial/Industrial so far is very different. Much more emphasis on workmanship and deadlines. I loved talking to people but love problem solving more. So far I am happy with the change.

    Just make sure you are ready to work.

    Good breakdown imo

  35. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Super Nova says:

    I'm a commercial guy. To me there's nothing worse than tiptoeing around homeowners nick-nacks and worrying about every little smudge while trying to do my job.😡

  36. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Robert J Hanney says:

    A multitude of sins! Haha

    That's KJV bro are you a Baptist too? Service area Ottawa??

  37. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars C Paul says:

    Also with sales, nexstar and Joe crisiara is complete BS. Ms Jones, you need a new voltage Absorption system and your air distribution pump system has a electromechanical fault. 3000 Dollars to make correction…F that shit, complete scam

  38. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars C Paul says:

    Nexstar sucks Service area Barrhaven??

  39. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars C Paul says:

    Residential sucks. Complete joke. Also to much sales.

  40. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars David Pearson says:

    Love the info and I have question, is the formula for finding cfm with electric heat 3phase the same as residents single phase

  41. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars MARLON says:

    I do Supermarket Refrigeration and our service techs aren’t trained to be salesman like residential guys we like to repair coils and make the equipment last as long as possible

  42. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars tinymanthebeast says:

    I do commercial HVAC. I would like to do industrial HVAC.

  43. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Tbone B says:

    How would a student graduating with a degree, get a job in a commercial or industrial setting to start with little to no experience?

  44. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Running Coyote says:

    Industrial?

  45. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ejohnfall says:

    Some good information and advice

  46. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Reefer Tech Mark says:

    I needed this video! Haha! I am currently a Reefer Tech of 10 years and looking for a change. I have been leaning towards commercial/industrial seeing as I’m always by myself anyway as a road technician. Thanks for the video! 👍🏼

  47. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Andreas Beelich says:

    Those are sweet headphones, who made them?

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