When it comes to HVAC tools, technology is improving faster than ever before. If you’ve been using the same tool for a year or two, chances are there’s something better available now. That’s why HVAC companies and technicians should always be on the lookout for new and improved tools that can make work easier, more efficient, and improve outcomes for customers.
BONUS: smart HVAC tools can make technicians more efficient and productive, which helps companies facing a labor shortage. While smart tools do cost more, the investment can enable new technicians to do more advanced work sooner, and ultimately make them more likely to succeed.
Here’s what to look for when shopping for the best new HVAC tools.
What makes modern HVAC tools so smart?
Connectivity
When all HVAC work was done manually, the most important qualities in a tool were durability and ease of use. While those are still essential, today’s smart HVAC tools need to do more. Smart tools connect digitally with smartphone apps, databases in the cloud, as well as other tools and systems.
More connectivity means greater efficiency and more information when and where it’s needed. (We’ll discuss this in more detail in the next section.)
Design
Modern HVAC tools are becoming smaller and lighter all the time. The difference might seem minor when looking at one individual tool. However, with all the tools a technician carries, lighter tools can significantly reduce the weight of the tool bag, decreasing stress-related injuries. Also, smaller tools mean techs can carry more and have what they need at their fingertips.
Ergonomics are improving as well, with tools that are engineered to reduce discomfort, fatigue, and risk of injury.
Convenience is also increasing with the availability of more cordless devices. Running long extension cords into crawl spaces and up on rooftops is not only time-consuming, it can also be dangerous.
With the prevalence of higher-efficiency HVAC equipment, such as VRF systems, tighter tolerances are required for installations and repairs. These can be difficult to achieve with manual tools, and modern tools with better precision can prevent return visits for problems like leaking flare nuts.
Safety
Worker injuries cause problems for technicians, employers, and customers alike. Smart HVAC tools can help prevent them, with features like locking power cords, sealed components, and A2L compliance for use with modern refrigerants.
Smart HVAC tools: 5 ways they improve field service
1. Efficient & effective measurement and monitoring
When HVAC tech tools come with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, technicians can monitor and measure what’s happening with a system from a distance.
Remote monitoring capabilities make it possible to diagnose a problem even before sending out a technician to repair it. That means companies can send a technician with the right skills (and the right equipment and parts) to fix it quickly and efficiently. Monitoring can even help spot a potential problem and repair it before the customer experiences any downtime (which is a great way to earn trust and build long term relationships).
Digital measurement tools can save a great deal of time for technicians on a job. They can measure what’s happening with pieces of equipment in different locations (such as indoor and outdoor units) without having to be physically standing in front of each item. They can also quickly identify the component causing a problem in a large system.
2. Data-driven diagnostics
Modern HVAC tools can perform calculations, provide alerts when measurements are outside of the expected range, and even provide analysis of the instrument’s readings and make diagnostic recommendations.
All the measurements recorded by digital tools can be logged in a database in the cloud. That creates a detailed historical record of the work done on a system. That information can be viewed by a technician before tackling a new work order, which can help inform diagnostics, system optimization, and even decisions about equipment replacement.
3. Consistent, quality work
With digital tools that precisely record the details of a technician’s work, such as torquing tools, you can ensure that every task is done properly every time. That reduces callbacks for problems caused by technician mistakes.
Also, service managers can review tool data online to monitor technicians’ work and identify who might need more training.
4. Help training new technicians
In the past, it was tricky to teach certain skills to new technicians because it involved subjective descriptions of how to do the work. How do you describe how much to tighten a nut? Over time, experienced technicians know if it’s right by the feel. However, digital tool data makes it easy for new technicians to know if their work is exactly right.
Plus, if an inexperienced technician is having trouble, they can share measurement data remotely with a more senior staff member and get assistance solving the problem, without the need to send another person to the job site.
Tool apps even provide helpful video instructions to teach new techs exactly how to use the tool to perform a task.
5. Customer documentation
Having detailed records of work completed can be extremely valuable for communicating with customers. You can show “before” and “after” measurements as evidence of the work completed and problem resolution.
Having that data also reduces your liability for problems that show up after you leave the customer site, because you can prove the state of the system upon completion of the job.
More helpful advice for HVAC companies & service technicians
Check out our resources for helping HVAC companies manage and grow their businesses, and for service technicians to build successful careers in the industry.
HVACR Career Connect NY was created to promote the exceptional quality-of-life benefits of a career in HVAC and Refrigeration service, and also to provide a clear path for getting started in the profession. In doing so, we serve as a resource for employers in the New York City metro area to find and hire smart and capable new technicians. We also serve as an educational resource to support business growth and to help service technicians succeed in their chosen profession.
Learn about technical careers in the HVAC & Refrigeration industry, how to get hired and tips to build your career.