Articles and reviews targeted towards HVAC or air mechanical technicians.Articles and reviews targeted towards HVAC or air mechanical technicians. Knife Reviews, Cutting & Chisels Color Coded Aviation Snips Handles – Use the Right Snips Aviation snips are the go-to tool for cutting sheet metal. They can typically handle up to 18 gauge CRS (cold Milwaukee Straight Cutting Aviation Snips Review I have a secret. I’ve actually been using the Milwaukee straight cutting aviation snips for over 4 years Wrenches, Drivers, Pliers & Socket Reviews Klein Multi-Bit Screwdriver Lineup Expands Klein Multi-Bit Screwdriver and Multi-Bit Nut Driver Options Expand with a Focus on Specific Roles Klein is constantly Klein Heavy-Duty Nut Drivers Review With all the power tools running around and the lightning pace that cordless tools are setting, it can FilterSnap AC Filters by Mail Review When FilterSnap contacted us about reviewing their service we weren’t sure if that was up our alley or

They can typically handle up to 18 gauge CRS (cold rolled steel) or 22 gauge SS (stainless steel). I’ve actually been using the Milwaukee straight cutting aviation snips for over 4 years now. I just never bothered to review Continue Reading Klein Multi-Bit Screwdriver and Multi-Bit Nut Driver Options Expand with a Focus on Specific Roles Klein is constantly on the lookout to help electricians save Continue Reading With all the power tools running around and the lightning pace that cordless tools are setting, it can be tough to get excited about hand Continue Reading When FilterSnap contacted us about reviewing their service we weren’t sure if that was up our alley or not. After some consideration, however, the getting Continue Reading When I was a kid, my dad helped me “conquer” my fear of heights by taking me on antenna jobs with him. We’d climb multi-story Continue Reading Adjustable wrenches (commonly referred to by the brand name Crescent Wrench) are a staple in tool boxes around the country.

These are popular among the trades, Continue Reading Lighting has absolutely exploded in the tool industry the past few years thanks to the falling cost of LED chips. These light emitting diodes Continue Reading Test and Measurement Reviews New FLIR MR176 Pairs Thermal Imaging with a Moisture Meter FLIR is expanding their thermal imaging expertise into tools for contractors, remodelers, MRO, and HVAC Continue Reading Tool Reviews by Tool Tytan Coat and Seal Duct Sealant Designed for Use in Wet Conditions The chemical geniuses at Selena USA have come up with another innovative product Continue Reading66 years of expertise built into every tool. Well-engineered refrigerant recovery equipment, HVAC vacuum pumps, HVAC hoses and refrigerant gauges for your exacting standards. Refrigerant management systems, refrigeration gauges, vacuum pumps and more - get to know the reliability and time-saving advantages of YELLOW JACKET products. Ready to step up your HVAC game?

Check out our training videos and learn how to work smarter, faster and more efficiently with YELLOW JACKET tools. Everything you need to do the job right. Download the 2015 YELLOW JACKET product catalog. It’s your ultimate resource for the ultimate HVAC tools. Yellow Jacket University is a site that’s wholly dedicated to all things HVAC/R. ac dc power supply circuit diagramFrom training to equipment education, you won't want to skip these classes.best ac unit for garage10 Must Have Tools for HVAC Studentsbest split ac units in india Most HVAC schools will provide students with a list of the tools that they need – often prior to the first day of class. You may be able to purchase some of these tools on your own, or, in fact, buy them through your school.

As pointed out on the required tool list for the HVAC program at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska, however, a valuable tool is not based on price alone. “A good tool with proper care will last years longer than a cheap tool and will pay for itself many times over,” it is noted on the list. Obtaining a needed tool kit for any HVAC program can run you hundreds of dollars if not more — at Northeast, it is noted that students will often pay between $1,400 to $1,500 for all of their tools, but some programs do provide students with kits or some tools upon graduation. Below is a short list of some of the many tools you may be required to purchase for an HVAC program. Safety Glasses that protect your eyes are an essential. Not sure what kind of protective goggles to buy? Grainger provides a detailed list of things to look for in safety glasses, ranging from lens coatings to lens colors. An anti-static coating on safety glasses, for example, can help keep particulates and dust from being attracted to your lenses while an anti-fog coating helps prevent fog from forming in high-humidity environments.

You can also read about the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards for glasses, including the ‘basic’ or ‘high’ categorizations. Glasses that do meet the ‘high’ standard should be marked “Z87+” while those that meet only the ‘basic’ level must have a warning attached. Grainger may also be a great place to start your shopping, offering 172 search results featuring 2,053 products under the search term ‘safety glasses.’ Work Gloves may seem like an obvious purchase as they can help protect the hands from injury (which could occur during sheet metal duct installation or an other HVAC activity), but that also provide a protective covering. You can purchase any number of brands from related websites. ActivArmr, for example, offers a HVAC glove providing advanced dexterity for work with snips, screws and sheet metal, an enhanced wet/dry grip, and superb cut protection. (You can even watch a video about the gloves here). Superior Glove Works also offers a variety of HVAC gloves made of different gauge-knits and different materials, ranging from a nylon/stainless steel knit to a Kevlar knit with Micropore Nile Palms.

Be sure to understand the ANSI rating before making a glove purchase. Right hand, left hand and straight snips, which are used for cutting sheet metal, should be on the tool list for any HVAC program. discusses what brand of snips are the best with mentioned names including Lennox, Midwest, Malco and Wiss. You can buy your snips individually or in a 3-piece set. (As a side note, there is even a magazine called ‘SNIPS’ that provides content and information for those in the sheet metal works and HVAC market). A digital thermometer is a necessity for school and also on the job and comes in a wide variety of styles, including pocket-knife and folding-pocket style. You can also find dual temperature thermometers, digital solar-powered thermometers and digital remote thermometers. Johnstone Supply has more than 46 products listed among its digital thermometer options while Grainger also provides a large selection. Depending on the features, these thermometers can be expensive (sometimes upward of $200 to $300), so checking out eBay for thermometers could be an option as could seeing what brand instructors recommend first.

A combination wrench set and/or crescent wrenches will be imperative to your job. Other types of wrenches that also may be necessary include an Allen wrench set, a refrigeration wrench, or an open-ended wrench, which has U-shaped openings at either end. These wrenches are important in applying torque to turn an object, such as a nut or bolt, or sometimes even in preventing these objects from turning. provides a break down of 21 different wrench types that are available and supplements these descriptions with pictures. Klenk Tools offers a wide variety of wrenches as does EMC of adjustable wrenches on its website. Flathead and Phillips screwdrivers will be required for school, but the decision whether to buy a few individual screwdrivers or full sets is up to you. You can even find mixed sets that feature both flathead and Phillips types as well as screwdrivers that come with insulated handles or that are double-grip, four-in-one or racheted. Check out Harbor Freight Tools for a wide selection.

Of course, flathead and Phillips screwdrivers are not the only ones available on the market. As an article on eBay points out, many additional types are available, ranging from Pozidriv to Torx. Pliers should never be forgotten, and what your school requires or what may be helpful on the job can vary based on your preferences and what you are doing. On its list of HVAC tools, York Tech, in Rock Hill, S.C., requires students to purchase a pair of lineman’s pliers, needle nose pliers and tongue-and-groove pliers. Ask around or turn to hilmor, which is among the companies offering lineman’s pliers to help cut or twist wire. Also, JPCCatalog offers Irwin long reach pliers. A voltmeter of some type will be required at school, often as a volt, Ohm, or amp meter or combination thereof. A clamp-on multimeter or other types of electrical meters, as available at Home Depot, may also do the trick, but talking to other students or colleagues or seeing what an instructor recommends could be the best course of action.