As technology continues to advance, more and more industry mobile applications are becoming available for smartphones and tablets. These mobile apps can be valuable tools for HVACR customers, contractors, distributors, and manufacturers.

Here at The NEWS, we will be spotlighting several of these mobile apps each month. If you have an app you would like included in the App Zone, please email jenanesi@achrnews.com.

Bitzer’s Refrigerant Reference Tool

Company: Bitzer U.S. Inc.

Platform(s): Apple, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices

Release date: September 2012 (v. 1.6.2)

Cost: Free

Available for download: Apple iTunes, Google Play Store, and Blackberry World

Description: The application is an intuitive saturated-pressure temperature-reference wheel that focuses on the most common refrigerants found in a/c and refrigeration systems. Instead of scrolling through many refrigerants rarely used, this app provides users with the ability to customize and arrange their options by selecting the refrigerants that they most commonly use. This P-T app boasts the ability to use imperial and metric units at the same time. It also includes altitude adjustment for various elevations and bubble tables for refrigerants with glides.

User quote: “(It) works perfectly on Droid X. Keep it updated with the newest refrigerants and it will stay on my home screen.” – Review on Google Play

Portable Cooling Mobile Website 

Company: Atlas Sales & Rentals Inc.

Platform(s): Apple, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices

Release date: 2013

Cost: Free

Description: Atlas Sales & Rentals, a national distributor of portable cooling and heating equipment for nonresidential use, introduced a mobile website with comprehensive product information. The mobile site will launch automatically when viewers go to www.atlassales.com on their smartphones or tablets. A tap-to-call button allows the user to connect automatically to the nearest Atlas location. Atlas recommends turning on the “use your current location” function on the mobile device for best results. The mobile site includes easy-to-access information on Atlas 1- to 12-ton portable cooling products. It also allows the viewer to request a quote, initiate a live chat discussion, or view a map of Atlas’s 30 full-service company-owned locations nationwide.

Developer quote: “Contractors who need portable cooling fast can just press the tap-to-call button and be connected automatically to the nearest Atlas location. The site includes easy-to-access information on our portable cooling products, including features, benefits, and full specifications.” — Clark Michel, vice president, Atlas Sales & Rentals Inc.

EzyZone System Design

Company: Arzel Zoning

Platform(s): Apple and Android tablets

Release date: May 2013

Cost: Free

Available for download: Apple iTunes and Google Play Store

Description: The EzyZone app guides contractors through the entire zoning layout process and helps them select the correct components to complete the job based on equipment type, duct access, and dimensions. It produces a home comfort plan contractors can share with their customers, explaining how the home will be divided based on lifestyle, usage patterns, and comfort expectations. A quote is calculated using suggested list cost and estimated labor time for each part. A bill of materials is generated by the contractors’ application specifications which can be emailed to a designated purchasing agent for ordering.

Developer quote: “While there is a distinct need for more comfort in homes, oftentimes zoning goes unmentioned by many contractors. The EzyZone app is a great in-field sales tool that gives the contractors the necessary resources to feel confident in making the offer and closing the deal with all their homeowner customers.” – Jenn Laughlin, national sales manager, Arzel Zoning

ComfortConsultant

Company: Nordyne

Platform(s): Apple iPad

Release date: January 2013

Cost: $499.99

Available for download: Apple iTunes

Description: Homeowners can use the ComfortConsultant app to answer questions about what they desire out of their new HVAC system. The app then recommends a system based on their input, but lets the homeowners slide their selections up or down to see what a more- or less-efficient system does to their bottom line. Pricing is displayed upfront, and contractors can choose to show the financed price or a flat-rate price along with all of the rebates the system may qualify for. ComfortConsultant comes preloaded with equipment, but contractors can choose which units and IAQ products to display. Six different branded versions of the app are available: Maytag, Broan, Frigidaire, NuTone, Tappan, and Westinghouse.

Developer quote: “Homeowners shop for a new HVAC system maybe once or twice in their lifetimes; they can quickly become overwhelmed. By adding transparency to the process and putting homeowners in control, ComfortConsultant helps the contractor quickly create a partnership of trust.” – Carol Baker, vice president of marketing, Nordyne

Daikin eQuip

Company: Daikin Air Conditioning Ltd.

Platform(s): Apple and Android smartphones and tablets

Release date: April 2013 (v. 1.5)

Cost: Free

Available for download: Apple iTunes and Google Play Store

Description: Daikin eQuip is designed for both smartphones and tablets, and places information in your hands quickly and easily for all of your on-the-go needs. Whether you’re a Daikin partner, dealer, engineer, or just interested in Daikin products, you can use this app to search for information related to Daikin AC, download your most often referenced documents for quick and easy future access, and send information via email or text message for immediate sharing. You can use Daikin eQuip to view technical specifications, system compatibility, error codes, system configuration details, technical documents, a spare-parts database, additional refrigerant calculations, marketing materials, Daikin University course listings, a unit of measurement converter,
and more.

User quote: “It covers all the common models of Daikin. Engineering data, product specifications, and an operation manual are also included. Highly recommended.” – Review on Google Play

HVAC VFD

Company: Techlite Enterprises LLC

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Release date: May 2013

Cost: Free

Available for download: Apple iTunes and Google Play Store

Description: This app allows the user to access 300-plus name-brand HVAC variable-frequency drive (VFD) manuals. The selected VFD manuals are automatically saved to a mobile device after download. The user can request VFD manuals that will be emailed to the user and added to the next update. Brands include: ABB, ACH Tech, Allen Bradley, Avtron, Baldor, Bardac, Cutler Hammer, Danfoss, Emerson, Honeywell, Toshiba, Yaskawa, and many more.

Developer quote: “Techlite Enterprises applications are great tools for the service technician. The HVAC VFD app allows technicians to have hundreds of manuals in their pocket — it beats relying on stacks of manuals piled up in their service trucks.” – Dan Ginn, RSD Total Controls

Publication date: 7/29/2013

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