About
Why make the HVAC Decoder App?
I am the owner of an HVAC company and we do a lot of change out. I came to the realization a long time ago that when doing a change out you should always try to stay with the same size unit unless the homeowner has a complaint about its cooling capacity. That way when the unit is replaced you don't have to worry about the customer complaining that it does not work as well as the old unit.
The problem is there are so many name brand units, and they all use different codes to represent the size of the unit. It has gotten better in the last few years with the manufacturers placing the BTU rating in the model number and sticking to per ton size. So, for most recent units, you can find a couple digits that are divisible by 12 and that will give you the tonnage.
However, this does not always work, and then you’re stuck trying to figure out the correct size. This means you will have to call the supply house and wait on hold. When you finally get to talk to counter sales, you wait for them to look it up and hope they are not guessing. The other option is to try to google the model number, provided you have internet access on your smartphone. Then you must search through pages and pages of people trying to sell you parts or equipment to try to find the spec sheet.
Why spend $9.99 for the app?
If you're a business owner, you can save valuable time and instantly know the exact size and specifications of equipment, even when it’s a brand name you don't sell. It's also valuable if you have someone entering data for your sales or marketing that is not familiar with model numbers.
If you're an HVAC salesman trying to do an apple for apple comparison of your competitor’s proposal and they have number you’re not familiar with, you can check your equipment against their given model number to give the correct quote. There is nothing like losing a quote because you quoted a variable speed furnace that cost $1500, and your competitor quoted a standard unit that cost $700. Knowing every other company’s model numbers is not possible without this app.
If you're a homeowner, the best way to protect yourself is with knowledge! Knowing your unit’s size and capabilities is very important. The HVAC Decoder App will help protect you against bait and switch sales. Model numbers hold lots of information that is needed to replace and repair your unit, and, with the HVAC Decoder App, all that knowledge is at your fingertips.
If you're a home inspector, your reputation is everything. The HVAC Decoder App is your ace in the hole; you'll always know a unit's age and specifications, and you can confidently assess a home's HVAC system with just your phone! The HVAC Decoder App's speed and convience just can't be beat.
Free Updates!
The HVAC Decoder App has residential and commercial HVAC equipment data from many manufacturers already in its database. It does not have them all as of yet, however, with more and more people using the app and reporting missing data, the database is becoming more complete all the time. I update the database with this reported missing data by researching the data and adding it to the database as often as possible. I also work on the search engine to make sure it finds the data in the database if you mistype or omit the some of the data. The updates are always free, so when I put out a new version you will get notified to download the update to your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or PC.
Credits
- Creator - Charles Cope
- Project Manager - Charles Cope