Top Mobile Applications for HVAC
Redefine technician’s work with HVAC apps!
HVAC Apps: HVAC is one dynamic industry. The use of HVAC systems is increasing exponentially in the consumer as well as industrial market. On the other side, companies are also facing tough competition in the market. There are new service delivery challenges. The HVAC professionals are expected to deliver qualitative, quantitative and effective outcome.
There is a strong need for the organisations to ensure that they have the most competent technicians in their team. These technicians are responsible to deliver quality services. They can bring higher profitability in every call. But, an HVAC service technician’s job is not as easy as pie. In fact, it’s a tough nut to crack whether it’s residential or the industrial sector. Embracing opportunities with caution is the key.
What does a typical day look like for an HVAC technician?
A technician in the HVAC industry has the perks of enjoying a variety of tasks. Considering different operations like installation, maintenance, repair, replace, inspection and checks, it is an adventurous job. A technician may not expect the same tasks in a day. Many technicians choose to specialise in particular segments like air conditioning, boilers, etc.
Consider a general situation where an HVAC technician’s day begins at the office. He collects his schedule and task details. Next, he needs to check stock and gather the required tools to accomplish the allotted tasks. The technician sets out to different locations. He visits the customer’s residential/industrial site, checks the equipment and completes the necessary installation, repairs, and service. The technician makes note of the completion and/or activities. Then, he moves to the next location. At the end of the day, he comes back to update the status to back-office systems.
Amidst all this, a technician must ensure a high level of customer service. He must aim for highest first-fix rate and lowest repetitive visits for a single task. The technician is swamped with tasks and customers. Also, his day should be as productive as possible. And to make that happen, a business or a self-contracted technician should seek the help of technology. HVAC apps offer a great help.
The ‘App’ Culture!
In this era of digital transformation, we are familiar with the mobile applications. It promotes paperless approach to the work. Mobile applications tailored to the HVAC industry play a key role in simplifying a technician’s work. Presenting our favourite HVAC apps-
1. Complete HVAC Dictionary
It is one of the basic apps that a technician must use to learn about the HVAC terminology. It serves as a quick and easy reference guide for the subject areas of HVAC. The application includes 3000+ terms. It contains a detailed description of specific heating, ventilation, and air conditioning terms. The beginners can use this application to get used to the actual terms used in HVAC industry. It is also helpful for the technicians to upgrade their knowledge. A technician can also search and bookmark certain terms on the application. It is available for Android users.
2. HyTools
IMI Hydronic Engineering’s HyTools app is dedicated to hydronic calculation tools. As mentioned in its description, the app includes functions like Hydronic calculator, Valve sizing and presetting, Dirt and air separator pressure drop calculation, Radiator power estimation (panel and column), Radiator valve sizing and presetting, Unit conversion, Pipe sizing, Unit conversion, Run-time localisation selection (24 regions) and selection of language (16 languages). Thus, complex hydronic calculations become easy, accurate and convenient. It is available for Android and iOS users.
3. HVAC Professional Formulator
The HVAC Professional Formulator is a one-stop destination including 200 formulas, 18 charts, and the complete International Mechanical Code. It frees a technician’s time wasted in browsing multiple apps for doing calculations and conversions. The app provides an easy way to quickly find the formulas for all HVAC components. The technician can search and mark formulas as favorites and access recently used formulas. It also allows saving formula results and e-mailing them. The app includes conversions for boilers, airside, piping, chimneys, refrigerators, etc. The app is available to iOS users.
4. iManifold
The iManifold App provides calculations for HVAC/R system performance and makes use of the user inputs and live system data to troubleshoot the issues. The companies can personalise the application for various HVAC systems in the industry. Currently, it covers 40 selectable refrigerants. It comes with features to calculate superheat and equipment profiling options. A technician can use this app to fix the issues faster. One of the best advantages of using this app is it allows live data input from the user.
5. HVAC Equipment Locator
Carmel Software developed this app for HVAC businesses. It is a dedicated application to track the location and manage maintenance records of the consumers HVAC equipment. The app makes extensive use of GPS coordinates. The equipment-related information is entered into a central database. It includes the location, nameplate, pictures and maintenance data. The GPS coordinates pinpoint exact location eliminating the need to hunt it later. It provides the ability to add, auto-synchronize and customise data. Technicians can download all the information with authorized access. It is available to iOS and Android users.
6. Refrigerant Slider
Refrigerant Slider by Danfoss is a pressure-to-temperature tool for complex calculations at the service location. It is one of the user-friendly HVAC apps for the technicians involved in the refrigeration tasks. At present, it is compatible with more than 80 different refrigerants. It also includes information about Global Warming Potential (GWP), Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP), class, oil type, chemical blend, and CAS number. The developers are adding more refrigerants and variants. The technician can view dew and bubble point for each refrigerant. It is available to iOS and Android users.
7. iTouchVision’s HVAC platform
It is a custom-made solution to address the concerns of an HVAC business as a whole. This all-in-one platform consists of a self-reporting app for the customers. They request services or report issues. Service desk is for the back-office administrators. It enables scheduling and dispatching jobs to the technicians based on priority. The core of the package is the Mobile Worker application for the field technicians. It enables them to send and receive job updates, auto-route, offline feature for safety, knowledge base for quick help and seamless synchronization. In a nutshell, it is a handy app to reduce non-productive tasks.
Effortless. Efficient. Empirical.
The number of people opting for HVAC careers is increasing. Also, the demand for the products and excellent service is on a rise. In such a situation, the HVAC companies need to understand the role of the digital channel shift. They need to train and recommend some amazing applications, pay for it if required, and help them deliver flawless results. In turn, HVAC apps will help to increase revenues. If a technician is well-trained and up-to-date, customers are more likely to retain.
Burn your bridges with the traditional methods. We also recommend few of these HVAC apps for the aspiring technicians to learn the ropes and become proficient in their work. It is an uncomplicated way to reorganise a technician’s routine activities, produce efficient outcomes and create an empirical service delivery model for the business. Let the HVAC apps help you anytime, anywhere!
