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 complete our online submission form. If you have any questions, please email jenanesi@achrnews.com.

HRAI – Members App

Company: HRAI

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Updated: December 2014

Cost: Free to download

Where to download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/HRAIMembersApp

Description: The Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) has released its first mobile app for HRAI member contractors. This tool helps member contractors reach out to HRAI wholesalers through their smartphones and tablets. The app locates HRAI member wholesalers in a given radius (in kilometers or miles) from the location of the device. Results may be viewed in a list format or by map place markers.

Quote: “The wholesalers division was excited to develop this new tool to aid contractors in connecting with credible HRAI wholesalers.” — Caroline Czajko, manager, wholesaler and manufacturer divisions, HRAI

FAST Parts Mobile Tech

Company: International Comfort Products (ICP)

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Updated: December 2014

Cost: Free to download

Where to download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/FastMobileTech

Description: The FAST Parts Mobile Tech App provides up-to-date information on FAST parts and supplies for ICP HVAC and refrigeration equipment or aftermarket parts. FAST Parts is a supplier of quality parts, supplies, and accessories to distributors who sell and service heating and cooling equipment manufactured by ICP and is a part of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp.

Quote: “The free Fast Parts Mobile Tech app turns most smart devices into mobile HVACR parts stores, helping you locate the parts you need quickly and conveniently.” — Tom Austin, manager, marketing, FAST Parts, ICP

Healthy Home iAQ

Company: Field Controls LLC

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Updated: January 2015

Cost: Free to download

Where to download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/HealthyHomeiAQ

Description: This app, designed for both end users and contractors, gives users the knowledge and tools to improve IAQ. The app lets homeowners learn the facts about IAQ, diagnose the air inside their homes, and uses the system selection tool to build a custom Healthy Home System™. For contractors, the app is the ultimate tool for educating, demonstrating, quoting, and selling IAQ. Use it to educate the homeowner on why they need better IAQ and how a Healthy Home System works. The app helps contractors stay in touch with customers while helping customers set up email reminders that go straight to the contractor so they’ll never have to think twice about changing a filter or lamp again.

Quote: “One of the problems I see with IAQ is it hasn’t been defined yet. With this app, a consumer can download it and do a lot of neat stuff. But, for a contractor, it’s a complete selling tool.” — Skip Carney, spokesperson for Field Controls

groov View 

Company: Opto 22

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Updated: August 2014

Cost: Free to download

Where to download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/groovView

Description: groov View is Opto 22’s groov mobile operator interface. Browser-based groov makes it simple to build, deploy, and view effective operator interfaces for a system on a mobile device. The app requires no plugins, coding, or programming. groov View helps reduce user distractions for the operator interfaces built with Opto 22’s groov. It reduces distractions compared to browser-based monitoring and control, focuses user attention on the human-machine interface (HMI), and is optimal for OEMs using an Android or Apple device as the user interface to equipment.

Quote: “So awesome! This is a lot easier than having to use the built-in mobile browser. It’s so great that I can control all my project gadgets from my mobile phone.” — Matthew Taylor, Google Play review

Geothermal Glycol Calculator

Company: TTherm Geo

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Updated: July 2014

Cost: Free to download

Where to download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/GeothermalGlycolCalc

Description: Now updated and available for Apple and Android devices, the Geothermal Glycol Calculator app enables users to conveniently calculate glycol concentrations for geothermal systems. The app can calculate earth-loop volumes, radiant-loop volumes, the amount of glycol needed to achieve proper desired protection level, and the amount of pure water to add for overprotected systems. It also converts concentration percentage to freeze point and can calculate the amount of non-100 percent glycol to be added for the desired protection level.

Quote: “My new favorite app, and it was free. I have always dreaded the calculation to adjust antifreeze concentration, converting from volume to mass, and then hitting a moving target only to have to convert back to volume — such a pain. With this app, I punch in three simple numbers, and it is done. Thanks, guys; this is great.” — Scott Jones, iTunes review

mHelpdesk 

Company: mHelpdesk LLC

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Updated: April 2015

Cost: Free to download; paid subscription required

Where to download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/mHelpDesk

Description: mHelpdesk makes it easy to keep track of field service calls and repairs. Use your mobile device to update the status of jobs, create estimates, email invoices, record payments, track time and materials, capture photos, manage contacts, schedule appointments, and sync with a device’s calendar using GCal integration. It can also manage service calls or trouble tickets, keep track of work orders, create estimates and invoices, track time, email PDF invoices, keep track of payments, facilitate collaboration with team members, and more.

Quote: “As a Locksmith dispatcher, this app has helped me tremendously. It’s very user-friendly, and [it has] a very powerful system for invoicing, estimates, and payments. The only thing I would add is the ability to create purchase orders.” — Philip Nuanes, Google Play review

Publication date: 4/20/2015

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