ContractingBusiness.com readers were polled and listed their Top 10 favorite apps for mobile devices.
Top Contractor Apps
ACCA Today
developed for Air Conditioning Contractors of America
iphone app: http://bit.ly/accaiphoneapp
Android app: http://bit.ly/accaandroidapp
ACCA has released a free, Android version of its popular ACCA Today iPhone app. ACCA Today provides a direct link to industry news, profiles, and interviews with successful contractors, marketing and management techniques, technical tips, and more. Available at no cost to ACCA members.
HVAC Buddy
by Kevin Burandt / No charge
http://bit.ly/hvacbuddyapp
Use HVAC Buddy to enter refrigerant, temperatures, and pressures. The math is done for you to display superheat or subcooling target, actual, and difference. Use temperature and pressure sliders to see what happens in real time when these values change.
HVAC Duct Sizer
by Carmel Software / $6.99
http://bit.ly/carmelductsizer
Allows the user to quickly size one HVAC duct run or a range of duct sizes. User can specify the total airflow in CFM, the aspect ratio, and either the total velocity of air or the friction loss per 100-ft. The results include both the exact and rounded height and width (or diameter) dimensions and the calculated velocity and friction loss.
HVAC Formulator
by Multieducator / $4.99
http://www.multieducator.net/formulator/hvac.html
HVAC Formulator contains about 200 formulas that can expedite calculations. Sections include air change, airside, boilers, Btu conversions, ductwork, energy values, heating design, heating requirements, humidity, loads, pumps, steam, temperature, waterside systems, conversions, and area calculations.
BuildCalc
by Ben Askren / $19.99
http://bit.ly/buildcalc
After eight months of development and testing by pros from around the world, BuildCalc 2.0 has more function and more answers with less complexity, less hassle, and less confusion. Tired of having to press and press and press buttons to get the results of a calculation? BuildCalc 2.0 puts an end to this. For all advanced functions, you get all of your results in list form with just one or two key taps. Rather than having to write those results, all advanced functions allow users to save results —as many times as needed. Users can do a calculation today and two days, two weeks or two years later, it’s still saved in memory.
Converter (unit conversions)
by Architechies / $.99
http://bit.ly/converter_app
Converter helps you with units you encounter in your everyday life. Convert from feet to yards to meters to miles with only a few taps. Converter handles 76 measurement units of eight common types, including length, weight, temperature, speed, data, volume (including common cooking units like teaspoons), area, and time.
GoodReader
by Good.iWare Ltd./ $4.99
http://bit.ly/goodreaderPDF_app
GoodReader is the super-robust PDF reader for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
It has earned its accolades by the way it handles huge PDF and TXT files, manuals, large books, magazines, and renderings of 100 mb and more with great speed. The ability to mark-up PDFs opens up new doors to GoodReader users who can now use typewriter text boxes, sticky notes, lines, arrows, and freehand drawings on top of a PDF file.
Schlage LiNK
by Crayon Interface / $6.99
http://bit.ly/schlagelink_app This application allows homeowners to remotely monitor their doors and grant entry to their home from anywhere in the world. Key features include:
- Control Schlage LiNK locks and other Z-Wave devices with an easy to use interface
- Set temporary codes for safe and easy guest access to your home
- Real time security camera viewing with snapshot capture
Lennox
by Lennox Industries / No Charge
http://bit.ly/lennox_mobileapp
The Lennox® Mobile gives access to Lennox Residential HVAC products and dealers. This app allows users to:
- Have instant access to the closest Lennox® Dealer
- Calculate how much a Lennox® heating or cooling system can save in energy costs
- Save preferred products and dealers
Superheat
by Dan Berry / $4.99
http://bit.ly/superheatapp
Superheat is a refrigerant charging calculator for the iPhone/iPod Touch. This easy-to-use application allows you to choose between two refrigerant types (R410A and R22), and will calculate the proper charge by choosing wet bulb, dry bulb, and vapor pressure and temperature.