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The 20 Best HVAC Apps for Every HVAC Technician
February 13, 2019
Kindra K., Marketing Coordinator
Thanks to smartphones, we have access to a wealth of information and tools right in the palm of our hand. Apps have completely revolutionized many industries, from ridesharing to academics to banking. The HVAC industry is no different. As an HVAC technician, it’s important to have your physical tools with you to diagnose and resolve issues. However, virtual tools are just as crucial and can help you enhance your business by allowing you to solve problems more efficiently in the field.
So what are HVAC Apps? Simply put, HVAC Apps are applications available on either Android, iOS or both operating systems that allow HVAC techs & business owners to troubleshoot problems they may encounter in the field, as well as streamline their day-to-day business needs using a tool like Housecall Pro. Below you’ll find the 20 best HVAC apps that can help you learn HVAC concepts, troubleshoot problems you may face in the field, and calculate loads so you can make accurate choices about furnace or A/C unit size. These apps can help both amateurs and seasoned pros, so read on for an in-depth look at the HVAC apps that’ll help put your new HVAC business on the map.
The HVAC Apps We Cover:
Housecall Pro is the best software for managing and growing your HVAC business. Our automated payment, service agreement and marketing features give your business maximum efficiency and build customer loyalty. Learn more and start free 14 day trial now.
HVAC Learning Apps
If you’re new to the HVAC field, it’s important to be committed to becoming an expert and that means you need to absorb all you can about heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. HVAC software allows you to brush up on essential knowledge so you’re better able to handle and resolve issues out in the field.
As an aspiring HVAC technician, you’ll need to have a wide breadth of knowledge and be able to answer questions such as:
What is a sling psychrometer and what does it measure?
What’s the difference between an air conditioner and a heat pump?
What is one element you don’t have to consider when you’re completing an outdoor unit install?
If you’re not sure what the answers are to those questions, have no fear. The apps below will cover those questions and many more.
Even if you’re a professional who has been working for years, there’s always new technology and equipment to learn in the industry. Below are some of our favorite HVAC apps to keep you updated and knowledgeable.
Suggested Reading: The Best HVAC Learning Apps to Help You Level-up Your HVAC Career
1.) HVAC Flashcards by BH Inc — Cost: $4.99
Download: iOS
Best for: “Studying HVAC technology & theory”
This app is a great tool for studying for the HVAC exam and may even make the process a little more fun. It’ll help you gain better understanding of HVAC technology, terms, and theory.
HVAC Flashcards covers major areas of the HVAC exam including:
Air distribution and balance
Gas heat
Heat pumps
Refrigeration concepts
Controls
Electric heat
Features:
Access to over 1000 pre-made flashcards with essential terms, equipment, and concepts
Statistics for cards and games you play plus a study-tracker
Schedule for reviewing flashcards to help keep you accountable
Customization of flashcard color and text color for a user-friendly interface
Text-to-speech technology
Offline download available for offline studying so you don’t need an internet connection to learn
How to use:
Choose between four modes: Study, Listening, Quiz, and Matching
Study statistics to monitor how well you’re doing among different categories
Simply follow the directions on the screen to flip between flashcards
2.) The Dictionary: Complete HVAC Dictionary Free — Cost: Free
Download: Android
Best for: “Studying HVAC terms”
This app serves as a quick reference guide for HVAC terms and concepts. Enjoy learning about more than three thousand terms with expert descriptions covering heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. This is great for both professionals and those just beginning their HVAC careers.
Curious what parameters make a leak Class IV or Class V? Need to know the difference between an axial fan and a centrifugal fan? Done. With this HVAC app, you’ll have all of the definitions you could want in one convenient place.
How to use:
Type in your HVAC term right into the search bar
Add bookmark to save the term for easy reference later
3.) HVAC Practice Test — Cost: Free
Download: iOS
Best for: “Various study modes”
Get ready to crush your HVAC exam. This HVAC app boasts thousands of up-to-date questions, tracks your progress for every single question, and optimizes your ability to memorize concepts and terms. You can even challenge your friends to see who has the most HVAC know-how.
Instead of one mode where your brain gets bored, your mind is stimulated by multiple learning modes.
How to use:
Choose between different featured modes: Study, Slideshow, Matching, Memorize, and Quiz
Based on your progress, the app will quiz you daily on categories that need more attention
Flip between flashcards, test your knowledge with a timed, multiple-choice test, or review your overall knowledge progress
Challenge friends to HVAC knowledge quizzes
4.) HVAC School — Cost: Free
Download: Android
Best for: “Curated information from HVAC professionals”
If you’re an Android user, this is one of the best HVAC learnings apps you can get. It will help current HVAC technicians keep their knowledge base current and assist those aspiring techs to learn all they can.
Features:
Tune in and listen to the HVAC School podcast, an informational podcast about changes in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems you should know about.
Read technical articles by professionals in the industry to bolster your understanding of concepts, equipment, and theory in the industry.
Use the HVAC calculators integrated within the app to gain a broader comprehension of common HVAC mathematics concepts.
How to use:
Use the dashboard to search through different categories: Tech Tips, Podcast, Tools, and Search
Look up HVAC terms, listen to an industry podcast for insider knowledge, read articles on HVAC theory, and utilize HVAC calculators
5.) HVAC Test Pro 2019— Cost: Free
Download: Android
Best for: “practicing 1000+ test questions for HVAC exams”
If you would like to learn all the HVAC industry required knowledge, this app provides a comprehensive coursework with thousands of test questions and study materials.
Features:
1000+ test questions provided by industry experts in the following related fields: HVAC Introduction to Monitor System
In-app analysis to assess your industry knowledge strengths and weaknesses
Track your progress in detail for every test question
Daily calendar to help you review your studies
Offline mode available
Text to speech feature available
In-app dictionary to check for terminology
How to use:
Choose the coursework that works the best for you. The curriculum will take you through a complete overview of HVAC knowledge.
You can use quizzes, flashcards and listening modules in the app to study and track progress.
The detailed scoring system allows you to know where you need improvements on.
6.) My HVAC Events— Cost: Free
Download: Android
Best for: “Knowing which HVAC trade shows or other events are happening at what time and where”
Attending offline industry events allows you to learn about new HVAC industry trends and technologies. You can also connect with other HVAC business owners and professionals.
Features:
Personalized schedule of events you would like to attend
A list of HVAC events
Social media
Speaker information
Event attendee lists
Logistics
Event materials
How to use:
Download the app to see a list of HVAC industry events and trade shows taking place.
Choose the events you would like to attend and create a personalized schedule.
Learn the event details.
Click to see all the best HVAC trade shows taking place around the nation
HVAC Troubleshooting Apps
As an HVAC technician, you have an incredibly important job: fix sometimes critical issues that affect customers’ enjoyment and comfort of their homes. Here are some common problems you might face on a typical service call, depending on your particular location:
Common problems faced on an HVAC service call
Heat pump won’t shut off
The actual temperature doesn’t reflect the thermostat
High electric bills
Heat pump is blowing cold air
Steam coming from outdoor unit
Cold and hot spots within the home
Overly noisy indoor unit
Strange odors around unit
Hot water runs out too quickly
Those are just a few common HVAC issues but you never know what your day in the field will hold so it pays to be prepared for anything. Below are some of the best HVAC troubleshooting apps you can confidently diagnose and fix a problem.
Suggested Reading: The 5 HVAC Troubleshooting Apps Your Competition Doesn't Want You to Know About
7.) iManifold — Cost: Free
Best for: “Calculating HVAC/R system performance”
The iManifold App is a convenient troubleshooting tool that calculates HVAC/R system processes as well as performance. Using user input and dynamic, live system data, you’ll be able to easily hone in on any issues. With over 40 selectable refrigerant options and equipment options, the iManifold app can be customized for your specific HVAC/R needs.
For advanced options, you can upgrade to iManifold Report Pro, Charge & Airflow Report, and Mechanical Inspection to take your HVAC business to the next level.
How to use:
Calculate HVAC/R system performance by inputting variables directly into the blank fields
Look up equipment information, system profiles, and troubleshooting guides
8.) HyTools — Cost: Free
Best for: “Hydronic calculations”
HyTools by IMI Hydronic Engineering delivers a handy, intuitive hydronic calculator app for HVAC pros. This isn’t just any app, it was built by industry leaders in hydronic distribution systems and temperature control, IMI Hydronic Engineering International SA. More than 100,000 projects all over the world and years of experience helped to build this app so you know you’re getting the best, most accurate information.
Need to make a unit conversion? Confused about pipe sizing? Find all the answers you need with this app designed with the HVAC professional in mind.
Features:
Pipe sizing
Unit conversion
Hydronic calculator (input two values and get the answer)
Power – flow – temperature difference
Flow – valve setting – pressure drop
Flow – Kv/Cv – pressure drop
Dirt and air separator pressure drop calculation
Valve sizing and presetting
Radiator power estimation (panel as well as column)
Run-time selection of localization and run-time selection of language
How to use:
Input values into the empty fields to find common HVAC calculations
Use answers to guide any necessary corrective actions or to determine replacement needs
9.) Refrigerant Slider — Cost: Free
Best for: “Pressure-to-temperature refrigerant conversions”
This app comes from the engineering experts at Danfoss who specialize in refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, motor control, and machinery.
If you’re looking for an app that acts as a quick, efficient pressure-to-temperature refrigerant converter, this is your app. The Refrigerant Slider covers 69 different types of refrigerants including natural ones. You’ll be able to dive into a world of refrigerant knowledge thanks to this app’s in-depth description of different refrigerant types.
Features:
View Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) of refrigerant materials
Ability to switch between AR4 and AR5 values according to European F-Gas regulations
App built according to NIST Refrigerant Properties and uses Antoine equations for conversion
See both dew and bubble point for refrigerants
Switch between Metric and Imperial units
How to use:
Using the left side of the screen, a slider will help you determine the pressure or temperature reference
Using the right side of the screen, you’ll see the pressure and temperature in exact measurements
Type in a specific pressure or temperature reading and the slider will give you instantaneous answer corresponding to your input
10.) Test and Balance/Commissioning Calculator — Cost: $9.99
Best for: “Pressure-to-temperature refrigerant conversions”
If you’re an HVAC technician out in the field, you will want to be prepared with the right knowledge. And with HVAC issues, that means you must have various formulas and mathematic equations close at hand at all times.
The Test and Balancing/Commissioning Calculator has common calculations you may need when you’re out trying to fix different HVAC issues.
How to use:
Find Cooling MBH Calculation: By using inputs of altitude, CFM, entering and leaving dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures, this calculator determines the work performed by the cooling coil in total, sensible, latent MBH, tons of cooling and condensate gallons per hour.
Find Water MBH: By using the known GPM and entering and leaving water temperature, the calculator will tell you how much heat is transferred into water.
Find Sheave Change: Helps you determine the necessary sheaves and belts to either add or subtract to the fan RPM to get to the correct CFM. It also determines the required BHP for change, the length of the belt, and delivers both motor pitch and fan pitch diameter.
Find Heating MBH Calculation: Utilizing the known altitude, CFM, and entering and leaving dry bulb, the calculator will deliver the sensible heating load data.
Find Humidification: Using the known altitude, CFM, and entering and leaving dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures, the calculator will tell you the work being reintroduced into the air stream. For example, “steam pounds per hour,” “total MBH,” and “gallons per hour”.
Find Traverse Points: By inputting the duct size and whether or not there is an internal liner, this calculator will give you location points to perform traverse in ducts, both rounded and rectangular.
Find Psychrometric Properties: Delivers all psychrometric property data from any dry bulb and wet bulb temperature of air at any given altitude.
Find GPM: Determine the GPM based on one of the combinations below:
Known Cv & ΔP (PSI)
Known design ΔP of fixed Orifice, Design GPM, Actual ΔP (PSI)
Known design ΔP of fixed Orifice, Design GPM, Actual ΔP (Ft)
This is one of the pricier apps on the list, however, it’s also one of the most comprehensive pieces of HVAC software.
11.) Heating & Cooling HVAC Assist — Cost: Free
Best for: “Searching the ideal HVAC tools and replacement parts during a job.”
This tool is especially helpful to HVAC technicians who are out in the field. After running a diagnoses for a customer, you can use this tool to find the most optimal parts and tools to use and replace.
Features:
Find real-time availability of the parts and tools you need for a job
Find AHRI matched systems with on demand pricing (AHRI)
Match warranties to products both when you are in the office or out on a job (WARRANTY)
See a list of inventory for HVAC equipments (PARTS LIST)
View Specifications, wiring schematics, installation checklists and more for all your heating & cooling needs (DOCUMENTS)
Identify heating and cooling locations in a specific radius (BRANCHES)
Push notifications available
Turn-by-turn real-time GPS feature
Flashlight feature during service (FLASHLIGHT)
How to use:
This app contains easy tools and information on industry related equipments.
Sign in to view item prices and see real-time availability.
Scan the library for the parts you need and different alternatives.
HVAC Load Calculation Apps
The load calculation is how you determine the right size furnace and/or air conditioning unit for a client’s home that properly balances heating and cooling needs. When the HVAC industry was in its infancy, technicians would make an educated guess to ascertain the heating gains and losses for a given property. Usually this number was derived from the actual size in square feet of the home and it wasn’t necessarily an accurate number. Because HVAC companies needed to make sure the unit would be big enough for the house, they usually erred on the side of caution and installed a bigger-than-needed unit.
A too-small unit in a house that doesn’t properly balance cooling and heating losses means that the unit won’t effectively cool or heat the house. A unit that’s too large for a space or property, however, isn’t great either. A too-large unit results in hot and cold spots throughout the house.
The HVAC industry changed radically when the Air Conditioning Contractors of America was formed. The organization came up with standardized ways to calculate a home’s heating and cooling losses involving complex mathematical equations. Unfortunately, doing those calculations by hand meant a lot of time and effort was expended.
In the modern HVAC world, apps and software do the mathematical heavy lifting. Here are some of the best HVAC load calculation apps to make sure your service responds to your clients needs.
Suggested Reading: The Best HVAC Load Calculation Apps to Make Sure You're Constantly Providing Top Quality To Your Customers
12.) HVAC Load Plus — Cost: $24.99
Download: iOS
Best for: “Sizing cooling and heating units”
HVAC Load Plus is the perfect companion when you’re out in the field. It’ll allow you to size cooling and heating units, show those results to the client, and email the data to your home office to analyze the information further for more insight. Plus, you’ll save time by inputting data in the field and returning to your office for a more thorough analysis.
Features:
Weather for more than 1000 cities in database
Data for hundreds of construction types for ceilings, windows, doors, floors, roofs, and more
Additional input variations such as number of people, number of bedrooms, ventilation airflow, and more
Ability to download a full HTML report of all data including a spreadsheet attachment
Easily transition from Imperial to Metric units
Equipment location services
Bonus module: HVAC Quick Load – will allow you to perform rule-of-thumb heating and cooling load calcs based building type, square footage, and the number of people
How to use:
Create and store an unlimited number of projects – plus, you can copy existing projects to new projects for simple recycling of data
Use calculator and report feature to see a full breakdown of the cooling and heating load report which includes further breakdown by opaque load, window load, skylight load, ventilation load, infiltration load, and internal load contributions
13.) Duct Calc Elite — Cost: $6.99
Best for: “Calculating ductwork sizing”
Duct Calc Elite helps you make the most of a customer’s HVAC system. Duct sizes that are too small means that the entire system has to work more to keep the property heated and cooled to comfortable temperatures. Conversely, if the duct size is too big, the velocity is compromised so you might not be able to feel it at all through the vents.
To calculate ductwork sizing, you’ll need to know the following:
Square footage of the home
Square footage of each individual room
Cubic feet per minute
Duct’s sizing friction loss rate
Or, you can simply rely on the Duct Calc Elite which does all the work for you. This useful HVAC app boasts an intuitive, user-friendly interface so you can enter values for each calculation with total confidence.
Features:
Duct Size by Airflow mode
Duct Size by Dimension mode
Pressure Drop mode
How to use:
Use the included calculator to find the following:
Duct dimensional units: inches, centimeters, or millimeters
Airflow units: cubic feet per minute, cubic feet per second, cubic meters per second, or liters per second
Velocity units: Feet per second, feet per minute, or meters per second
Pressure loss unit: inches of water per 100 feet or Pascals per meter
Duct material type: aluminum, concrete, fibrous glass duct liner, flexible duct-metallic, galvanized steel, PVC plastic pipe, smooth liner, spiral steel, or uncoated carbon steel
Air temperature: Fahrenheit, Celsius, or Kelvin
Elevation: feet or meters
14.) HVAC Check and Charge — Cost: Free
Best for: “Refrigerant charge calculations”
HVAC Check and Charge from Emerson Climate Technologies delivers on-site refrigerant charge calculations for air conditioning applications.
Features:
For use with R-22, R-410A, R-32, R-407C and R-134a
Airflow calculator
Superheat calculator (non TXV)
Subcooling calculator (TXV)
How to use:
Technician chooses subcooling, superheat, or airflow setting
Enter the specific system temperature with latent and sensible environmental loads
Resulting calculation is the proper system charge
Final value tells you whether or not the charge amount should be altered
15.) HVAC Duct Sizer — Cost: $5.99
Best for: “Ductwork sizing”
This is another highly-rated duct-sizing app for both Android and iOS users. Essentially, it’s a virtual version of a traditional duct sizing measurement tool.
How to use:
Find Size by Airflow: Choose the total airflow in CFM (or L/S), the aspect ratio and either velocity of air or the friction loss per 100 feet (or 30 meters). The resulting calculation delivers both exact and rounded estimations of height, width, and diameter dimensions, the equivalent diameter (for rectangular and oval ducts) and the calculated velocity and friction loss.
Find Size by Dimensions: You can examine an existing duct system by punching in the present duct dimensions and either the airflow or velocity numbers to arrive at the calculated duct friction loss.
Add in custom parameters:
Duct shape: rectangular, oval, round
Duct material type
Duct roughness
Air temperature
Air pressure
16.) Area Duct HVAC — Cost: Free
Download: Android
Best for: “measuring and identifying the are of air ducts”
This app is catered towards HVAC technicians that are out performing a job and installing heating and cooling systems.
Features:
Easily accessible .CSV file uploads
Determine and compare duct fitting shapes (rectangular, round, rectangular elbow)
Fill in measurements of diameter and length of a specific duct to create the most optimal fitting
How to use:
Upload your duct measurements to the app and have it stored for easy access.
Measurements can be saved as .CSV files and be sent to other team members.
HVAC Business Apps
If you own your own HVAC business, you know how important it is to stay organized. With clients, multiple technicians, ongoing projects, emergency calls – HVAC businesses are known for being dynamic, busy organizations. So, it’s important to ensure that you have all your bases covered with regard to scheduling, clients, and project progress.
For example, you can make it easier for potential customers to go about hiring an HVAC technician to fix a heating, cooling, or refrigeration issue by allowing online booking through social media and review sites. You may also want to consider a business app to help you digitize all the important information you’re dealing with day to day like client information, messages, projects, schedules, employee messages, and more. For all of your HVAC business needs, HouseCall Pro is the app that’ll help streamline your workflow and build your company.
Beyond streamlining your business operations, using an HVAC business app makes the world a better place. Drop the use of extra papers and sticky notes that end up in landfills, making this software a top choice for those that want to shape a greener and more sustainable HVAC trade.
Suggested Reading: The HVAC Business Apps That Will Help You Stay Ahead of Your Competition
17.) Housecall Pro — Cost: Free Trial
Best for: “Managing your HVAC business”
If you’d like an app that does it all, look no further than the Housecall Pro app. This app will serve as your business hub where all of your business-critical matters are in one convenient location. Message clients when you’re on your way, dispatch technicians based on proximity to clients, allow customers to pay with their credit cards for instant payment, send out automated emails without marketing services – there’s truly no other app like it.
Don’t waste your time half-heartedly trying to market, let us handle that for you while you focus on higher-value tasks that are important to your business.
How to use:
Use the intuitive dashboard to navigate to each category and section to carry out your essential HVAC business tasks:
Online Booking
Schedule and dispatch
Custom invoicing and estimating
Payment
Instapay
Live map
Service agreements
QuickBooks Online
Automated marketing
Messages to clients
Pay by credit card, cash, checks
Send jobs to employee calendars
Set recurring jobs
Send notes and photos while on a job
Send invoices via text
Sync data to secure cloud
Set employee permissions
Export customer data and job information at any time
Looking for a payment platform for your HVAC company? Check out our comparison of Clover vs. Square.
18.) Quickbooks Accounting: Invoicing & Expensing — Cost: Free-trial
Best for: “accounting management tool to see invoices, payments, profit and loss”
This app is frequently used by business owners to streamline the accounting aspect. You can easily manage the money side of your business and generate financial reports within the app. Housecall Pro also integrates with Quickbooks Online to synchronize financial information from one software to another without double-entry.
Features:
Create new invoices
Manage money flow
Detailed payment information
Track sales
Determine profits and losses
Preparation for tax forms
Add and edit customer information
How to use:
Create and account and upload accounting information to QuickBooks Online.
Organize and add new payment information to keep track of invoices.
Review transactions and generate financial reports.
19.) Mailchimp— Cost: Free
Best for: “simple way to manage email marketing”
Mailchimp is known as an easy tool to manage all aspects of email marketing. On top of that, you can also use Mailchimp as a campaign management tool and oversee social media account insights.
Features:
Create, send and manage emails
Start email automations
Manage campaigns
Track email open rates
Segment lists for seasonal or specific area promotions
Tag subscribers who are more engaged and target these people in the future
Integrate with other social media channels
The "explore" section of Mailchimp allows you to learn more about email marketing skills with educational content.
How to use:
Create and account and navigate through the dashboards to build new email campaigns and send out emails.
Manage and track the results with Mailchimp reporting feature.
Manage other campaigns and content besides email marketing.
20.) Asana— Cost: Free
Download: Android
Best for: “Setting up tasks, reminders, to-dos and record ideas”
Asana is a convenient organization tool to group your tasks in logical order. Your other team members also have the ability to communicate with one another to stay on the same page.
Features:
Create tasks, to-do lists, reminders and record ideas
View all the upcoming to-dos for the team
Create and manage the progress of different projects
Have due dates, details and attach files for tasks
Comment feature allows team members to raise questions if clarification is needed.
How to use:
Create and update tasks
Add team members to tasks and assign due dates
Synchronize Asana with G Suite to have the same calendar notifications, tasks and emails.
HVAC Apps for every project
HVAC apps aren’t the only way to get a job done right the first time, but they’re a helpful tool to make the most of your time, knowledge, and skillset. As an HVAC technician, you’re tasked with the important job of making sure people’s homes are comfortable. Using apps like Housecall Pro helps make your business more efficient and responsive. Tackle each HVAC job with the confidence that comes from knowing you have all the information you need right in your pocket.
Housecall Pro is rated the #1 software to run your HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Carpet Cleaning and other home service businesses. Our features allow you to schedule and dispatch jobs, get booked online, send invoice and receive payment within minutes whether if you are in the office or out in the field. This comprehensive software can help you grow revenue by 30% in one year and save up to 500 hours a year. Join all the other successful home service businesses who have already started and try Housecall Pro for 14 days free today.
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