Diversifying into HVAC/R

By Jenny Yu.  

Learn how to add HVAC/R to your list of services to grow your business. 

Every trade needs more skilled labor. In this MetalTalk™ episode, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Greg Guse of Malco Tools to discuss the basics of HVAC/R systems in the building envelope and how contractors can diversify their skills to include HVAC/R. As the director of engineering at Malco Tools, Greg brings a wealth of experience to the discussion. He has a background in automotive engineering, design and mechanical engineering and now heads New Product Development at Malco Tools. With extensive experience with HVAC/R systems, Greg was the perfect person to share insights on how contractors can grow their skills and opportunities in the field.  

The benefits of diversifying  

In today’s workforce, there’s seems to be a dip in the number of people in the trades, whether that’s because of an aging workforce, lack of vocational training or decline of interest. Greg noted this as a challenge and as an opportunity for current contractors already working in metals and roofing to diversify their skills and secure more work.  

He stated, “To have the capability to say, ‘I can diversify. I'm already at this job site,’ your cost structure is already lower than [the competition] because they're going to have to bring a contractor out to do that sheet metal work, and they might not be the tech-savvy person that's going to go do the furnace install, so now they're bringing another contractor out for that.”  

Adding HVAC/R to your list of services makes you a more attractive option for property owners who would rather have one trusted expert leading the charge of all projects and renovations.  

Easing into HVAC/R 

Learning a new skill can take resources and time, so why go through the trouble? For those with sheet metal experience, adding HVAC/R to your skillset is easier than you might think. 

“It's not way outside the realm of what you've already been doing,” Greg shared. “You work with customers to figure out what they need, make sure you got the duct work right, work on the layout a little bit. But once you have that, it's not that much different than working with the roofing or the architectural that you're doing from an overall sheet metal standpoint.” 

Apart from already having the basic skills needed to be successful at HVAC/R system work, roofers and metal contractors likely already have the physical tools to make adding this service a smooth process.  

Greg said, “A lot of these tools cross over. A lot of how you do the seams are self-explanatory. If you know how to do one, you can work with the other.” 

Licensing and training 

So, how does one officially get into the HVAC world? Licensing, for starters. 

“You are going to want to make sure you're licensed to operate in your state and region,” Greg stated. “There are different requirements for different regions, even on what equipment can be installed in the different areas, all things that you'd have to work with your local area on.” 

For those specifically wanting to work with refrigerant, Greg noted, “You need to become 608 certified as well so you can order refrigerant, so you can work with the systems.” 

Furthermore, Greg and Heidi offered some specific programs for hands-on training: 

• North American Technical Excellence (NATE) 
• HVAC Excellence, where Greg teaches 
• SkillsUSA 

Overall, if you have the opportunity to grow your business and add another source of income? Why not. 

Read the transcript, Listen to the full conversation or Watch the whole webinar to learn more about the HVAC/R systems and how to add these services to your business.