23 Best HVAC Tools You Should Have as a Professional

Greek philosopher Archimedes once said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” Such is the power of tools.

Thus, your HVAC technicians also need to have the right set of tools to make them faster, safer, and more efficient in what they do.

But relax; you don’t need to buy every tool out there in the market. Having only some HVAC tools in your tool bag will do the job for you. And to make this easier for you, we have compiled a list of the best HVAC tools that you must have.

HVAC Safety Tools

Safety first. You know how dangerous providing any HVAC service can be. So it is imperative to ensure the safety of your technicians with this HVAC equipment:

1. Gloves

You may come in contact with many sharp objects or hazardous chemicals every day. So, working with your bare hands means inviting unwanted consequences such as cuts, burns, and other injuries.

Thus, use appropriate gloves as per the type of work you are performing.

For example, leather gloves are ideal for handling sharp or heavy objects, while rubber gloves are best for working with electrical components.

2. Goggles

As HVAC service techs work with various tools and equipment, dust, debris, and other particles can get into their eyes, causing them irritation or injury. So wearing safety glasses is essential for protecting their eyes.

Now, understand that not any glasses will do. The safety glasses should be made of high-quality shatterproof material.

3. Respirators

Respiratory problems are common in the kind of environment you work in if you are not careful about protecting your lungs. But with your technicians equipped with respirators, you need not worry about it.

While purchasing them for your team, consider the type of substance being worked with. And ensure that they fit around the nose and mouth properly to prevent any dust or harmful gas from entering.

4. Hard hats

Next in our HVAC tools list is the hard hat. It is necessary to protect the head of an HVAC technician from falling objects.

Hard hats are designed to absorb the impact to minimize the injury that may have otherwise happened.

5. Safety shoes

It won’t be very wise to allow your staff to use any footwear because that means risking an injury. So add to your safety essentials a pair of “safety” shoes for all your HVAC techs.

But what’s so special about them? They are slip-resistant and have reinforced toes to prevent injuries.

Pro tip: Make safety the first priority of your HVAC business. For this, you can make it mandatory to wear all the above equipment while providing any service.

Now that you have dealt with safety let’s move to…

HVAC Essential Tools

These are the tools that you cannot afford not to have, as you will need them every working day to perform your tasks. So here is a list of those essentials in our HVAC technician tool list:

1. Screwdrivers

What do we move toward when we need to remove or tighten a screw? It’s a screwdriver. It is important for installing and repairing various devices, such as air conditioning units.

They come in a variety of sizes. So make sure that your team has a toolkit with a screwdriver of every size.

2. Pliers

Pliers are handy tools that can be used for a variety of tasks such as: 

• Bending and cutting wires
• Tightening nuts and bolts
• Gripping small parts

There are several types of pliers available for your convenience, including needle-nose pliers, diagonal pliers, and slip-joint pliers. 

3. Wrenches

To tighten and loosen nuts and bolts on an HVAC system, you will need wrenches.

These also come in various shapes and sizes. Thus consider using adjustable wrenches and socket wrenches.

4. Multimeter

Another essential HVAC tool is a multimeter – which is used for diagnosing electrical problems in HVAC systems by measuring voltage, current, and resistance.

Thus, your HVAC technicians should have a multimeter in their toolkits to ensure that they can accurately repair any HVAC system.

They come in both versions – digital and analog. And some are even equipped with temperature and humidity sensors.

5. Refrigerant gauges

These are used to measure the pressure and temperature of refrigerants in HVAC systems. Depending on your daily work, you can go for digital or analog versions of refrigerant gauges.

Having these in your toolkit with ensure that your team can accurately identify refrigerant-related issues.

With the essentials covered, we will now get more technical by suggesting software to efficiently run your HVAC business.

HVAC Tech Tools

HVAC businesses these days rely on a variety of software to manage their operations and improve their efficiency. So these are the HVAC tech tools that you should have for your business:

1. Accounting software

Any business runs on finances, and thus, it is essential to track its expenses with accounting software. A typical software of this type allows you to

• Track the incoming and outgoing of money
• Manage payments
• Generate financial reports

There is a lot of good accounting software in the market. But we recommend that you go with QuickBooks.

2. Invoicing software

Creating professional invoices for your clients is a must to look professional these days. Thus, use reliable invoicing software which shoulders everything from sending invoices to automating payment reminders.

Do you know that InvoiceOwl also syncs with QuickBooks to make it more convenient to handle your numbers?

3. Route planning software

Since your HVAC technicians will always be hitting the road to provide services, you can make it more organized with route planning software. This will:

• Reduce your travel time
• Decrease your fuel costs
• Provide timely customer service
• Assign appropriate techs to appropriate tasks

Thus, route planning software like UpperInc is a smart move to save your resources.

This software is essential for HVAC businesses looking to improve their operations and efficiency. So, investing in these can give you benefits of value many times over. Got it? Now, let’s move to our next set of HVAC tools.

HVAC Specialty Tools

As evident from the name itself, these are specialized tools designed for specific tasks related to HVAC. Here are some of the top HVAC specialty tools that every technician should have in their toolkit:

1. Ductwork tools

Want to install, repair, and maintain ductwork systems? Then use the following ductwork tools:

• Duct cutters: These are heavy-duty cutters designed to cut through sheet metal and other materials used in the ductwork.

• Crimpers: Crimpers are used to join pieces of ductwork together and create a secure seal that prevents air leaks.

• Seamers: Seamers are used to bend sheet metal into a specific shape. They are commonly used to create flanges and seams in ductwork.

• Duct sizers: HVAC specialists use duct sizers to determine the ideal duct size for a particular area. This is crucial to make sure the system is correctly balanced and generates enough airflow.

2. Combustion analysis tools

These tools are used to measure the efficiency and safety of combustion appliances like furnaces and boilers. Some of the most commonly used tools are

• Combustion analyzers: They are used to ensure that the system is operating efficiently and safely. How? By measuring the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gasses in combustion exhaust.

• Draft gauges: Draft gauges measure the pressure differential in combustion systems. This ensures the system is properly ventilated and combustion byproducts are being safely vented.

With these tools, HVAC technicians can perform their work more efficiently and effectively. This leads to improved service delivery and customer satisfaction.

HVAC Power Tools

These are electrically-powered tools. Here are some of the top HVAC power tools that you should have in your toolkit:

1. Power drills

It is hard to imagine an HVAC technician without a power drill. It is for a wide range of tasks like 

• Drilling holes for mounting brackets
• Installing screws

There are several types of power drills available, including corded drills and cordless drills. However, cordless ones are more popular as it allows more flexibility and ease of movement on the job site.

2. Power saws

Power saws are used for cutting various materials such as metal, wood, and plastic. Out of the various types of saws available, HVAC technicians mostly use

• Reciprocating saws
• Circular saws
• Jigsaws

3. Power snips and shears

Power snips and shears are used for cutting sheet metal and other materials used in the ductwork. Using this makes the task easy and precise.

Electric snips are used for cutting through metal sheets, whereas electric shears are preferred for thicker materials.

4. Power vacuums

HVAC technicians often work in dirty and dusty environments. So having a powerful vacuum can help keep the job site clean and safe. Some of the most commonly used power vacuums for HVAC work include

• Shop vacuums: Shop vacuums can handle large volumes of dust. They are often used to clean up after cutting and drilling work.

• HEPA vacuums: HEPA vacuums capture small particles and allergens. This makes them ideal for HVAC work, where dust and debris can cause respiratory issues.

So these were the HVAC tools list that you absolutely need to check off to efficiently run and grow your business. But we are sure that you still may have some questions popping into your head. So, at last, let’s tackle them.

Recommended: How to Prepare an HVAC Business Plan for Rapid Growth?

Conclusion

You know that it is impossible to run an HVAC business without tools. But on the other side, don’t just rush to buy any tool out there. In fact, just sticking with the list above is also enough. 

So how about starting to check off the list with an item that is free – InvoiceOwl?