The top HVAC troubleshooting apps on any tech's phone or tablet are amazing tools for cutting diagnostic and repair times, making customers happy and maximizing the profitability of every service call. These HVAC troubleshooting apps are available for Android and iOS and can be purchased and/or downloaded from app stores like Google Play and iTunes. Here are the 8 best troubleshooting apps for HVAC and what sets them apart.
To make the most of these apps, we recommend following this 5-step plan:
By following this process, you'll soon have a toolbox of HVAC troubleshooting apps that make work-life easier and more productive. Let's take a closer look at each app's features and cost.
HVAC Buddy is an award-winning suite of tools and a library of information at your fingertips. According to our research, it has an 80% approval rating among users. The app includes specs on 70+ refrigerants, TEET/Airflow calculations, superheat and subcool tables or manual calculations, diagnostics for various issues, and more. It's also the #2 favorite app among ACHR News readers. The company offers additional useful apps like Load Calc and Duct Calc. HVAC Buddy costs $9.99.
AC Troubleshooter provides quick troubleshooting guides for both technicians and homeowners. It covers issues like no heat/poor heat, no cool/poor cool, noise, leaks, and includes BTU/hour calculations. The app is free.
HVAC Duct Sizer is a comprehensive app for sizing ducts. It allows sizing by airflow or dimensions, provides a range of duct size options, supports designing with various duct shapes, converts rectangular dimensions to equivalent oval and opposite, and calculates by duct material. Calculation results can be emailed for hard copies. The app costs $5.99.
HyTools is one of the best apps for those working with hydronic boilers and systems. It offers a hydronic calculator, various pressure drop calculations, sizing for valves and pipes, radiator power estimates, conversions, and support for multiple regions and languages. The app is free.
iManifold focuses on refrigerants and provides quick, reliable calculations for HVAC/R system performance and troubleshooting. It covers 40 selectable refrigerants (90% of applications), automates data saving for cloud subscribers, and generates reports easily. The app is regularly updated with new refrigerant information and is free.
Designed by industry leader Emerson, HVAC Check & Charge is a free instant mobile charge calculator for HVAC/R applications. It can quickly and accurately calculate R-22 and R-410A charges, select Subcooling, Superheat or Airflow for calculations, and help determine if the current charge is correct or needs adjustment based on the derived data.
Airflow Balancing Meter is the perfect field companion to the popular ABM-100 airflow anemometer. By plugging the meter into the headphone jack, you can get instant readings. However, the app doesn't work in about 25% of devices due to jack-related issues. It's free to try with the anemometer.
HVAC Equipment Locator uses GPS to guide service techs to the exact location of equipment scheduled for service or that sent a repair notification. The app stores maintenance data, allows customization of input screens, stores information for unlimited system components, can be quickly updated with service information, and stores photos, spec sheets, and other useful data. It's free.
To optimize productivity and maximize profits, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the apps you choose and use them properly. By following the 5-step plan and sharing this guide with colleagues in the HVAC industry, you'll be well on your way to success.