Top HVAC Tools Every Technician Should Have in 2023
All great service techs should have a wide range of products in their tool bag to safely and effectively tackle any HVAC system problem. Any HVAC/R technician can attest to the fact that having the right tools for the job makes a huge difference, this article mainly covers HVAC special tools.
Refrigerant Leak Detector
A refrigerant leak causes the level of refrigerant in your HVAC system to fall below what it should be. This will make your system incapable of cooling efficiently. You can try to do it the old fashioned way and look for leaks with your own eyes, but the leak detector can make everything easier for you.
Infrared refrigerant leak detectors are some of the most popular refrigerant leak detectors that are used by day to day professionals in the HVAC industry. These types of detectors scream quality and with quality comes long lasting and dependable tools.
Manifold Gauge
Manifold gauges are an extremely common HVAC tool, they can measure refrigerant pressures on the low and high side of an HVAC system and analyzes the A/C cooling properties to help with troubleshooting and to make sure the system is working properly.
Don’t get an old-school analog version. Digital Manifolds are more expensive but worth it because they do the calculations for you. This not only saves you a lot of time, it also prevents errors from manual calculations. You simply put your gauges on, put on clamps and temperature sensors, and you see all the information you need on the screen. Some models will even provide troubleshooting tips based on the readings. Some connect to apps on your phone to help you see what’s going on with the system.
Refrigerant Scale
The refrigerant scale is used to measure the quality of the refrigerant when filling the system
This is useful when adding refrigerant to an air conditioning system, as a specific amount or threshold needs to be met in order to effectively maintain the temperature in the designated space.
Vacuum Pump
The vacuum pump is used to extract the system vacuum, as an HVAC technician, you will frequently remove moisture from cooling systems. To perform this task, a vacuum pump is essential.
A vacuum pump removes air and moisture from the system before the system is damaged. The deeper and more complete the vacuum, the more moisture is removed, and the likelihood of system complications caused by unwanted water or other contaminants is reduced.
Thermometers
A fundamental part of being an HVAC technician is dealing with temperature regulation and control. So, naturally, you will need a thermometer to do your job effectively. Modern thermometers are digital, compact, and highly accurate.