This guide covers 50 of the best HVAC tools that service techs need to provide high-quality service to customers. Our list and descriptions of the best HVAC tools solve even the most complex HVAC problems as efficiently as possible and give your customers a highly professional service and experience.
The list is broken down into two main categories:
1. Manual and calculation tools that HVAC service techs need to do their work:
Essential HVAC tools (e.g., pliers, nut drivers, gauges)
HVAC tools for safety (e.g., gloves, safety goggles)
2. Software tools to run an HVAC service business — including marketing to get more leads, accounting, payroll, and dispatching, along with tools to help techs in the field do their job more efficiently and profitably.
The list of essential tools focuses on the manual hand tools and calculators every HVAC tech needs on the job, and the list of software tools is made up of those ServiceTitan has designed to help business owners manage and grow their HVAC businesses. As a tech, you can ask your manager about software tools that will help you do your job more efficiently.
We’ll start with the manual HVAC tools list, with gear that service techs need to provide the most professional customer experience.
Note: Need help to manage and grow your HVAC business? ServiceTitan offers a range of software tools to streamline call booking, scheduling, marketing, sales, and more. Click here to get a demo.
Essential HVAC Tools
1. Screwdrivers and Nut Drivers
Make sure you have a range of screwdrivers in different sizes and with extensions so you can maneuver really small screws and work in tight spaces. In addition, you will of course need a complete set of nut drivers in your tool bag.
Plan to spend: $10–$70
Buying Options: Amazon (Craftsman), Amazon (Klein Tools), Home Depot (Milwaukee)
2. Pliers
An HVAC tech needs to be ready to handle most sizes of wires, bolts, and pipes with a full set of pliers. Get small, medium, large, and needle-nose pliers. You will also need an insulated set of pliers for durability and longevity.
Plan to spend: $15–$70
Buying Options: Amazon (Black and Decker), Amazon (Irwin), Home Depot (Husky)
3. Hammer
Of course, every HVAC technician needs a standard-size hammer for various uses on the job. We suggest a lightweight hammer with an easy grip and fiberglass construction for convenience and durability.
4. Flashlight/Headlamp
HVAC service techs always need a reliable flashlight to accurately assess heaters and air conditioning. Headlamps also come in handy to keep your techs’ hands free when working in dark spaces.
Plan to spend: $10–$100
Buying Options: Amazon (Energizer), Amazon (Gorilla Grip) , Home Depot (Milwaukee)
5. Wrenches
Any complete HVAC tools list includes a wide range of wrenches, from fixed and adjustable to crescent and pipe wrenches. Keep small, medium, and large wrenches in your HVAC toolbox to handle any job, as well as pipe wrenches to loosen pipe connections.
6. Cutters
Metal and tubing cutters (such as tin snips) are essential HVAC tools to cut through anything on the job. We suggest starting with a smaller set in the beginning of your HVAC career, such as quarter-inch or half-inch cutters, but add a wider set of cutters as you progress to handling a wider scope of projects.
Note: A wire cutter can be bought with a wire stripper as an all-in-one tool (e.g. Klein Tools).
Plan to spend: $10–$40
Buying Options: Amazon (Klein Tools), Amazon (Irwin), Home Depot (Milwaukee)
7. Drills
A cordless, battery-powered drill is another essential tool that gives your service techs more versatility. Keep a charging battery in your toolbox so your techs never run out of drill power while on the job site. We recommend a cordless drill with at least 24 volts and various bits.
Plan to spend: $30–$200
Buying Options: Amazon (Black and Decker), Home Depot (Ryobi), Home Depot (Dewalt)
8. Gauges
When it comes to air conditioning tools, refrigeration gauges or manifold gauges are must-haves for service techs. Gauges are used to measure the pressure of different types of refrigerants and determine whether there’s a leak in the system. Multiple sets of gauges may be needed, as techs’ careers progress and they sharpen their skills.
Fieldpiece is a popular brand for gauges among many HVAC professionals.
Plan to spend: $40–$100
Buying Options: Amazon (Mastercool), Home Depot (XtremepowerUS)
9. Extension Cords
Extension cords are tool kit basics for HVAC techs to plug in electric tools when working onsite. Look for a long, thick cord that’s not too bulky to transport. We suggest 50 feet as an optimal length.
Plan to spend: $12–$50
Buying Options: Amazon (Woods), Home Depot (Yellow Jacket), Home Depot (Husky)
10. Staple Gun
Keep a staple gun on your HVAC tools list to secure joists and foil lines for increased air flow, and to properly assemble ductwork.
11. Tape Measure
A tape measure is an essential HVAC technician tool. It will be in use daily for measuring walls, pipes, hoses, and everything in between, so make sure you buy a good quality one that’s 25 feet long.
HVAC Tools for Safety
Protecting your service techs’ health and safety on the job, as well as your HVAC customers, is a top priority. Here are some specific safety items to include on your complete HVAC tools list.
12. Gloves
Buy a pair of durable, nimble gloves that are thick enough to protect your hands, but allow enough dexterity to hold screws and smaller tools. HVAC service techs wear gloves every day, especially as Personal Protective Equipment during challenging times.
Plan to spend: $15–$30
Buying Options: Amazon (Mechanix Wear), Amazon (Gorilla Grip), Home Depot (Milwaukee)
13. Masks
Wearing masks while performing HVAC work also provides personal protection for your techs and customers. Make sure your techs keep a stash of masks in their trucks to use for every job.
14. Goggles
Safety goggles protect your eyes from metal and dust debris. Some goggles or safety glasses with magnification also allow techs to see smaller parts of the job for better accuracy and efficiency.
Plan to spend: $15–$20
Buying Options: Amazon (Dewalt), Amazon (3M), Home Depot (Scotchgard)
15. Ear Muffs/Plugs
Using power tools in close proximity and closed quarters puts a huge strain on your ears and your hearing. Protect your ears with industrial-strength ear muffs or plugs.
16. Protective Shoes
Working on ladders all day, and in other people's homes, requires your service techs to be prepared to negotiate various types of terrain. Make sure they’re equipped with a pair of heavy steel-toe work boots that won't slip and protect their feet in case something heavy drops on them.
Advanced HVAC & Air Conditioning Tools
These HVAC tools fall into the category of more advanced and expensive but are important nonetheless. HVAC companies typically provide these specialty tools to help keep their customers’ HVAC equipment in good working order.
17. Core Removal
HVAC tools such as a core removal tool come to the rescue in many cases. When dealing with broken cores, this tool assists your techs with removal and replacement.
Plan to spend: $20–$80
Buying Options: Amazon (Wadeo)
18. Coil Fin Straightener
A coil fin straightener helps to clear debris when air conditioner condenser coils get dirty, clogged, or twisted. Service techs use this air conditioning tool to straighten and clean the coils to improve heat exchange (hex) and air flow. These air conditioning tools are inexpensive and extremely useful.
19. Thermometers
Temperature control matters the most in the HVAC industry. Invest in a digital thermometer that’s portable, effective, and long lasting to follow your state’s regulations and deliver awesome customer service.
Plan to spend: $20–$70
Buying Options: Amazon (UEi Test Instruments), Home Depot (Klein Tools)
20. Manometer
An HVAC technician uses a manometer to measure system air pressure in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Available in analog and digital, it can also check airflow and pressure in ducts and across filters and coils.
Plan to spend: $35–$80
Buying Options: Amazon (Klein Tools), Home Depot (UEi Test Instruments), Home Depot (REED Instruments)
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21. Multimeter
This tool also acts as a safety device. When working near electrical hazards and live wires, it’s important to test for safety. Keep a multimeter in your toolbox to test for the presence of electricity and to check voltage.
Plan to spend: $20–$40
Buying Options: Amazon (AstroAI), Amazon (Klein Tools), Home Depot (Milwaukee)
22. Saw
HVAC contractors consider a reciprocating saw blade, such as the Sawzall, to be the best saw to cut through materials in most HVAC jobs. Durability is crucial, and the Sawzall stands the test of time. The blades need to be replaced regularly to avoid dull blade use.
Plan to spend: $20–$40
Buying Options: Amazon (Dewalt), Amazon (Black and Decker), Home Depot (Milwaukee)
23. Caulking Gun
A dripless caulking gun allows you to seal air ducts and fill holes where needed. Keep your caulking gun in good working order to avoid future messes.
24. Pumps
Your HVAC vacuum pump needs to be powerful enough to remove any moisture from the lines.
Plan to spend: $60–$200
Buying Options: Amazon (Vivohome), Home Depot (XtremepowerUS), Home Depot (Milwaukee)
25. Nitrogen Regulator
A nitrogen regulator acts as a pressure control valve. It reduces highly pressurized gas or liquid into a more usable form. Without a nitrogen regulator, the high pressure allows the gas or liquid to be released all at once.
26. Leak Detector
HVAC service techs use refrigerant leak detectors to confirm areas with moisture. This device acts as a tester to identify the source of a refrigerant leak.
Plan to spend: $25–$200
Buying Options: Amazon (Fieldpiece), Home Depot (UEi Test Instruments), Home Depot (Triplett)
27. Refrigerant Scale
A refrigerant scale is used to measure the weight of the cylinder in a refrigerant cylinder. This helps HVAC techs accurately measure the weight of refrigerant when carrying out refrigerant recovery during repairs and replacements of air conditioning units.
28. Psychrometer
Psychrometers measure and rate the airflow and air mixtures. The psychrometer also measures relative humidity.
Plan to spend: $25–$80
Buying Options: Amazon (Fieldpiece), Home Depot (General Tools), Home Depot (Triplett)
29. Hand Seamers and Snips
Hand seamers give your techs the power to bend or flatten sheet metal by hand. Snips allow them to easily cut sheet metal to size. Once again, insulated grips make both jobs easier.
Plan to spend: $25–$60
Buying Options: Amazon (Irwin), Amazon (Klein Tools), Home Depot (Wiss)
30. Crimper
A crimper allows techs to wrinkle certain types of metal to make them conform to the next section of piping.
Plan to spend: $25–$60
Buying Options: Amazon (Klein Tools), Amazon (Wirefy), Home Depot (Malco)
31. Flaring Tool
Flaring tools allow HVAC techs to make a mechanical joint that joins or seals copper tubing. Sometimes used in tandem with swaging tools, HVAC technicians can create a flare connection and connect tubes to one another or to other fittings.
Yellow Jacket is a popular brand for flaring and swaging tools.
32. Awl
HVAC techs use the awl to score sheet metal so they can cut it straight. Awls are also used to punch holes in sheet metal, wood, or sheetrock when necessary.
33. Thermal Imaging Tools
HVAC technicians need to diagnose complex problems for clients based on very general information. Thermal imaging cameras, an essential HVAC tool, enable techs to accurately identify and fix the root causes in short order.
Plan to spend: $250–$500
Buying Options: Amazon (Rigid), Home Depot (Klein Tools), Home Depot (Vevor)
34. Flushing Solvent
As refrigeration lines age, obstructions within the line become more likely. Keeping a flushing solvent on hand helps to quickly clear contaminants from the line and keeps your customers’ appliances working as efficiently as possible.
Plan to spend: $25–$40
Buying Options: Home Depot (Pioneer), Home Depot (Purafilter 2000)
HVAC Calculator Apps for Techs in the Field
35. ServiceTitan’s HVAC Load Calculator
No matter which HVAC app you choose to use to streamline your workflow, you’re definitely going to want to bookmark this handy ServiceTitan HVAC Load Calculator.
An easy-to-use online calculator quickly gauges the BTU range for any particular dwelling. It factors in the interior square footage, amount of windows, and it even considers your region’s climate. This HVAC load calculator makes it easy to determine the HVAC system your customer needs, so you can present them with the best solutions for their situation.
36. ServiceTitan HVAC Duct Calculator
Give your techs an easy-to-use and free tool to calculate duct size by airflow or by dimensions by directing them to the ServiceTitan HVAC Duct Calculator app. It helps them quickly size a range of duct sizes or focus on one HVAC duct run, while out on a job.
ServiceTitan’s duct-sizing HVAC app is a digital alternative to the traditional manual Ductulator. Our HVAC duct-sizing app allows you to input multiple parameters to find sizes that fall within the friction loss bounds.
37. HVACR Fault Finder
The HVACR Fault Finder troubleshooting app makes it easy for your techs to problem-solve compressor electronic system failures. You can choose to enter a flashing “alert” code or use the “tap” feature to identify the code from the electronic module. The code gives you access to its interactive troubleshooting guide, which they can browse for tips and tricks to solve the problem. HVAC Fault Finder also gives you electronic product manuals and videos to help discover and then solve the problem at hand.
ServiceTitan’s 13 Software Tools to Run an HVAC Service Business
ServiceTitan’s HVAC software helps automate your business for better efficiency and communications. Online scheduling, dispatching, estimating and invoicing takes the pain out of running your HVAC business.
Additional ServiceTitan tools, such as Marketing Pro, Phones Pro, and Pricebook Pro, also help HVAC companies grow more leads and boost their net profit.
Below, we briefly introduce ServiceTitan’s HVAC software tools:
38. Call Booking tool: Our call booking tool is a cloud-based phone system, which helps HVAC businesses streamline and speed up their call booking process.
39. HVAC Marketing tool: Our home services marketing tool was designed to help you grow your HVAC business faster by generating more leads.
40. Memberships & Contracts tool: With our service agreement tools, you can easily convert single visits into regular contracts and bring in more revenue.
41. HVAC Scheduling tool: Our scheduling tool makes it simple to schedule HVAC visits in advance.
42. HVAC Dispatching tool: Our dispatching tool helps you send your HVAC techs to each of their jobs on time.
43. HVAC Payroll & Timesheet tool: Our payroll tool helps you effortlessly manage payroll and pay staff correctly.
44. Mobile App & Tablet: Our field service app makes it easy for customers to order, buy, and pay for your company’s HVAC services with a simple tap, click, or swipe on a mobile tablet.
45. Free Business Valuation tool: Our Service Business Valuation tool shows how much your local HVAC business might be worth if you consider selling it.
46. ServiceTitan's SEER Energy Savings Calculator: With our SEER Energy Savings Calculator, you can show customers how much they can save on energy bills with a new, more efficient HVAC system.
47. Invoice Generator tool: With our Free Invoice Generator Template, you can eliminate paperwork, streamline invoicing, and give customers a convenient digital invoice they can pay on the spot.
48. ServiceTitan’s Labor Rate Calculator: Use our Labor Rate Calculator to figure out how much it costs to employ HVAC technicians at your company.
49. ServiceTitan’s ROI Calculator: With our ROI calculator, you can easily discover your profit potential by evaluating metrics for average tickets, number of daily calls, booked appointments, estimates, and jobs sold by HVAC technicians.
50. Service Business Grader tool: With our Service Business Grader Checkup, you can quickly discover how your HVAC techs and dispatchers stack up by evaluating average ticket sales and other key metrics.
Check out our guides and lists of best electrician tools and best plumbing tools.
ServiceTitan: Manage and Run Every Aspect of Your HVAC Business with One Software Platform
Having the right tool kit is essential to successfully growing your HVAC business. Manual and calculation tools are clearly a must for every HVAC tech, but adding ServiceTitan’s home service software will also help you organize and succeed in:
Call booking
Scheduling
Dispatching
Invoicing
Marketing
Advertising
Lead generation
And more
To find out more about how ServiceTitan can help you manage your HVAC business, schedule a free demo here.
ServiceTitan HVAC Software
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive HVAC business software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and achieve growth. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000+ contractors across the country.
