Corporate Overlords Screwing Up My HVAC Install Crews

Man, it's finally hit the fan here. The company I was with went full corporate a couple years back, and somehow I ended up running the whole install division. I manage 6 two-man crews, plus all the new construction site planning and meetings, inspections, and most of the air balancing for the outfit. On top of that, I handle sales calls for changeouts and ductwork quotes that come in off the phone, plus blower door testing and every damn condensation or moisture issue that pops up. Been in the Carolinas my whole career, and no field help from my GM, who's pure service side and can't even quote right. I've begged corporate for backup tons of times, they just say 'we're working on it.' Today some suit shows up for group photos of the guys for the website, I tell him I need one crew out ASAP for an emergency Trane unit fix from this morning's GM screwup, and he hits me with 'you work for him.' Threw my company phone across the warehouse, FML.

Don't let corporate push you around like that, or you'll burn out in a year. Seen too many good techs quit over it.

I wasn't on call today but the boss didnt answer at 4:30am so the customer called

Fuck corporate. They're ruining the trades, turning us into cubicle slaves with toolbelts.

Same here, managing installs without backup is a recipe for mistakes on zoning systems.

Proud of you for not punching the suit. I once told one to crawl in the attic himself and feel the airflow.

Never take photos during a rush job, it just delays everything and pisses off the customer more.

Switch to Housecall Pro for better scheduling, it might help track crew availability without begging corp.

Hit 10 years managing my own small HVAC crew last month, best move was ditching corporate BS entirely.

How many hours a week are you pulling with all that? Ever thought about going independent?

Feel you brother, same overload here with no help on service calls.

Man, that sucks. Corporate suits don't get the grind of pulling ducts in 100 degree attics.

It's non stop, 60+ hours easy some weeks.

Ugh, the air balancing alone should be a full time gig, not piled on top of installs.

Corporate takeover is killing small ops, forcing us to do twice the work for same pay.

Yeah, and they wonder why turnover is through the roof in install depts.

Totally get the burnout, been there myself after a few corporate mergers.