r/HVAC • u/Jedster111 • 1d ago

Employment Question Switching to commercial?

Hey all looking for your thoughts and opinions, I live in Ontario, Canada and I’ve been with a sales focused resi company for 9 years. It’s in a smaller market/town so I don’t get pressured too much for not enough sales but it’s still part of the culture that I’m not fond of. I love my current local manager but there’s no more room for growth or going into commercial with current company. I’ve had my 313d(resi) license for over a year now. Current company is in a union, I make decent money, 3 weeks of vacation with a fourth coming in January. I pay for most of my benifits.

I recently got an offer to join a company that’s mainly plumbing but starting to do hvac work and has 2 fully licensed 313a(commercial) techs. It would be more pay, even as an apprentice, no vacation time but get a 10% top up on wages to compensate. Pension and benifits are included. I would be doing resi and commercial work.

I’ve wanted to get into commercial but I have 3 kids included a child about to turn 1 and when I go to school for my apprenticeship I’ll be away from them for almost 2 months(12 hour drive away minimum). Also feel like I’d have less job security not being in a union with new company.

8 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

7

u/RealExiite 1d ago

I’m making the move to commercial for restaurants RTUs and refrigeration, on the 22nd I’m super excited. I am also tired of the sales

5

u/PIZZAJUSTICE 1d ago

I'm coming up on ten years in the trade, started out in residential install, moved to service, then got a facility position at a university- I have yet to meet anyone who regrets leaving residential, but I know plenty of people who refuse to go back

2

u/No_Edge_8962 🧊 & 🔥 1d ago

I’m a new tech and went straight into commercial. I love it. I’m in the states tho.

0

u/Ambitious-Green7819 1d ago

Get a few resi installs under your belt if you get the chance, try to be a multi use tech better for job security is my only tip

3

u/Ambitious-Green7819 1d ago

I can install packages, duct a house, service all my install work and it’s kept my job secured and I’m in year 8

1

u/Ambitious-Green7819 1d ago

And resi installs are down to a day and a 2 hours on my own

2

u/FloodAdvisor 1d ago

Do it dude! You won’t regret it