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.
EMS App
Company: ecobee Inc. (Toronto)
Platform(s): Apple, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices
Release date: February 2013
Cost: Free
Available for download: Apple iTunes Store and Google Play
Description: With the ecobee EMS App, customers can create a custom watch list of thermostats to quickly keep tabs on priority spaces and locations with repeat issues. The alerts list summarizes all current issues and maintenance actions, allowing customers to address problems immediately. Customers can view weather reports remotely. Additionally, the app provides customers with visibility into each of their ecobee thermostats and enables them to make simple adjustments to ensure their facilities are comfortable when occupied, saving energy and money when they’re not.
User/Developer quote: “The EMS App allows users to be more responsive to their tenants, employees, and customers. It helps them identify and address problems quickly, decrease the number of unnecessary and expensive on-site service calls, and increase their overall efficiency.” — Stuart Lombard, president and CEO, ecobee
Bell & Gossett System Syzer
Company: Xylem Inc. (Morton Grove, Ill.)
Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices
Release date: January 2012
Cost: Free
Available for download: Apple iTunes and Google Play Store
Description: The System Syzer App is based on the novel plastic wheel calculator designed by Bell & Gossett’s Gil Carlson. The System Syzer performs several critical calculations, including calculating the friction loss and velocity through various pipe types and sizes based on existing fluid conditions, and calculating the relationship between fluid temperatures, system flow, and heating/cooling load. It also shows the relationship Cv (flow coefficient), flow, and head, and accounts for fluid properties. A pipe-length/pressure-drop tool interfaces with the other calculators to show the relationship between pipe length, friction loss, and total head loss. A bundled Circuit Setter®/Triple Duty Valve calculator is very useful during the design phase to help predetermine valve settings. Out in the field, it determines flow through the valves based on pressure-drop readings.
User/Developer quote: “This is a good app — a must-have. (It’s) easy to navigate and much easier than carrying around the wheels.” — Robert (iTunes review)
Glasfloss
Company: Glasfloss Industries LP (Dallas)
Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices
Release date: January 2013
Cost: Free
Available for download: Apple iTunes Store and Google Play
Description: The Glasfloss air filtration mobile app provides helpful product and performance information for the HVAC professional. The app contains product data sheets and other technical information to assist in product selection and product comparisons in the field.
User/Developer quote: “The Glasfloss filtration mobile app was developed to provide useful performance data for the HVAC professional on the go.” – Doug Lange, marketing manager, Glasfloss Industries
Contractor Estimating and Invoicing Tool
Company: Joist Inc. (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices
Release date: May 2013
Cost: Free
Available for download: Apple iTunes Store, Google Play, and www.joistapp.com
Description: Joist is a new tool that allows contractors to estimate, invoice, and manage projects from an iPhone, iPad, Android device, and the Web. It calculates estimates on-site, builds a list of commonly used items to quickly create estimates and invoices, prints or emails estimates and invoices on the spot, converts estimates into invoices, records payments immediately, manages and stores client information, and exports data into an accounting system. It also allows contractors to use their company logo for professional-looking estimates and invoices.
User/Developer quote: “I love using this app for quotes and estimates. It makes it easier in the field to do instant professional quotes. This is a must-have for all contractors, large or small.” — Patrick Gibbs, Legacy Concrete (Tyndall, Manitoba)
Venstar Skyport
Company: Venstar Inc. (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices
Release date: May 2012
Cost: Free
Available for download: Apple iTunes Store, Google Play, and www.venstar.com
Description: The Venstar Skyport Comfort Control App allows HVAC contractors to remotely monitor and control up to 100 locations over the Internet using Venstar’s Skyport Cloud Services. It allows the user to instantly access up to 100 commercial locations; easily monitor and control comfort settings at multiple buildings and office locations, including monitoring room temperature, supply air temperature, outdoor air temperature, run-time hours, and more; view incoming alerts via email on preconfigured notifications, such as important updates on the health of the system or simply if the inside temperature has gone above or below pre-set limits; monitor thermostat information, including system run times and current usage for each thermostat at all locations; view a pictorial display of the current weather and weather forecast for all thermostat locations; schedule holidays for up to 365 days each year including reoccurring unoccupied days so that the thermostat can be changed to unoccupied settings during those periods; prevent unauthorized use by auto-screen lock or set-point limiting; and send text messages from the mobile device to the thermostat display, such as reminders and notes.
User/Developer quote: “Using Venstar’s free mobile app, HVAC contractors and installers are empowered to remotely provide customer service for Venstar’s ColorTouch thermostat with Wi-Fi Key. This lets them remotely troubleshoot issues from virtually anywhere there is a Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, or Internet connection.” – Steve Dushane, president and CEO, Venstar Inc.
Metraloop
Company: Metraflex Inc. (Chicago)
Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices
Release date: January 2013
Cost: Free
Available for download: Apple iTunes Store and Google Play
Description: The new Metraloop® smartphone app puts a Metraloop expansion joint in your hand. The app lets engineers and contractors quickly see the total width and height dimension of a Metraloop. The user selects the fitting, the pipe size and the amount of movement, and the overall height and width dimensions are displayed.
User/Developer quote: “Metraflex regularly gets requests for overall dimensions of its Metraloops. With such a large variety of Metraloop expansion loops, available in different pipes sizes, end fittings, and capable of different movements, it can be hard for contractors to keep track of the exact installed size of a Metraloop. This makes it quick and easy.” – Zeke Bochenek, vice president of sales, Metraflex Inc.
Publication date: 6/24/2013
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