Smart homes blur the lines between skilled trade workers in HVAC, electrical, and plumbing. Modern technology forces an interaction among these trades more than ever before. Home appliances and many plumbing fixtures require electricity to operate, so even plumbers and HVAC technicians must understand at least the fundamentals of an electrician’s job (and vice versa).
This continued advancement in technology poses an interesting question: Can you be a jack of all trades? That is, can you be a plumber, electrician, and HVAC technician all at once?
The short answer is yes—especially in the service sector. Many residential service contractors provide plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and sometimes even additional trade services. The long answer is that, like anything else, acquiring more than one set of skills takes time. Let’s dive into what this means.
Most trade workers are to some extent the proverbial jack of all trades. Look inside the toolkits of any trade worker and you’ll find wrenches, hammers, pliers, and other basic tools used in all trades.
Trade workers tend to have high mechanical aptitude and understand at least the fundamentals of other trade work. Some residential service contractors may send an HVAC technician to handle a routine plumbing call, for example, but they reserve their most experienced technicians for complex jobs.
Many jurisdictions require licensing for different trades. In these cases, a cross-trained technician must prove competency in every licensed trade before being allowed to work on those jobs.
This may require substantial time and experience, but it’s not impossible. The longer you work in a trade, the more you get exposed to other disciplines and the more familiar you become with their work. You can also take advantage of training provided by employers and their suppliers to learn more than one trade.
The new construction field often involves repetitive tasks, making it harder for workers to gain enough varied experience to pass licensing exams in multiple trades. For maximum productivity, construction contractors typically assign workers only to tasks they’re already skilled in.
In contrast, residential service contractors reap great rewards from cross-trained technicians. Cross-training eases dispatching burdens and helps balance out seasonal fluctuations, especially for HVAC work.
Expanding your skill set can significantly increase your value to employers and boost your earning potential. It also opens the door to:
If you’re ambitious, go for it. Whether you start as an electrician and pick up HVAC later, or begin in plumbing and explore electrical systems, there’s a clear benefit to broadening your knowledge base.
From a business standpoint, cross-training makes sense. The customer base for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services overlaps heavily. The more services a company can offer, the more business they can secure with the same customers, all while using the same marketing efforts.
Whether you’re just starting out or already working in the trades, now is the perfect time to expand your expertise. Cross-training in HVAC, plumbing, or electrical work not only makes you more competitive, it also opens the door to new opportunities, higher earning potential, and greater job security.
Not sure where to begin? Discover your strengths and find the trade that fits you best by taking our career quiz.
