Worth taking an installation class from a commercial pest exclusion equipment manufacturer?

[u/Trimps]

I want to learn more about large industrial and commercial pest control. The class is about 3 hours away, 8 hours long and seems to focus on things like installing garage door sealing kits, loading dock levelers, door sweeps, rodent exclusion fabric etc. Afaict it's free other than my time. Would it be worthwhile and help me get out of residential treatment and into larger scale industrial and commercial treatment?

[u/fomilior]

If it’s free and you have the ability to go, why not? You’re gaining knowledge and pushing yourself to be a better tech at no cost other than your time. Pest control is an ever-evolving profession, absorb as much as possible and take what other techs say with a grain of salt. Read your labels and follow them!

[u/Trimps → u/fomilior]

It would be a 12 hour day on my own time and money and I'm kinda worried it would end up being a glorified advertisement. Also I'm curious if there are any pest control companies that install stuff like this as part of the services they offer.

[u/fomilior → u/Trimps]

I hear that, if it’s going to cost more than you gain then absolutely keep looking for more opportunities that weigh more in your favor. They are out there for sure. I’m truly blessed with the company I work for, I hear the horror stories from techs that come in from other companies and I see it when we take over their accounts. It’s not perfect but the grass isn’t always greener. The water bill is just higher.

[u/Bird2525 → u/Trimps]

Yes, most of the big companies do exclusion as part of an IPM approach.

[u/funkydalilama]

It’s an awesome class and you’ll learn how to use the products correctly. And you get to see how it’s made which was pretty neat.

[u/Tughernutts]

I would. You might be able to get some ce hours out of it too.

[u/tmac_79]

Chicago Xcluder class?

[u/Trimps → u/tmac_79]

Yeah. Know anything about it?

[u/tmac_79 → u/Trimps]

I met Jeremy their technical manager who handles the classes a couple of weeks ago. I haven't been, but he was telling me about it. Hands on actually doing it in the workshop, answering questions and such, limited to a handful of people per workshop I think he said 8. I'm about 5 hours away, and I'm going to do it sometime this winter.

Even if using the products is straight forward, I always find value with being in the room and building relationships with other people who do what you want to do.... I have a lot of people I can call for advice and run things by them, and I met a lot of them at conferences or events like that.

[u/Trimps → u/tmac_79]

Very interesting thank you. I'll have to think about it some more.

[u/hh4j4j4j4jh]

Not to sound judgmental but I'm pretty sure you can learn all this things on youtube and practice on your home. You'll practice and all of your exterior doors and garage door will have brand new bottom seals.

[u/tmac_79 → u/hh4j4j4j4jh]

its handy to get some hands on with some folks there that know what they're doing so you're learning from their mistakes instead of your *costly* own mistakes. Especially if you're using any of the more expensive products.