The Best New HVAC Technician Tool List

This list is meant as a reference to your start in the HVAC industry. For new HVAC technicians, we have compiled this list based upon our own experience in the trade. Whether you are just starting out in the trade or you are an experienced technician, we believe these tools remain useful throughout your career. I am sure there are plenty of tools we have left out. If you have any recommendations, please comment and we would love to continually update this list to make it the best tool list available for all levels of the trade. Thanks for reading!

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Hand Tools

• Klein 8-in-one hvac screwdriver - $27

  • This versatile screwdriver can strip down and put back together almost any piece or part of a residential HVAC system. We cannot recommend this tool enough. What makes it HVAC oriented is it's 1/4" and 5/16" magnetic head as well as it's Schrader valve removal bit. Always remember to take out those Schrader valve before brazing... and definitely remember to PUT THEM BACK IN!

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• Wire Stripers - $8

  • Wire Stripers are an essential component in the tool bag of many trades people. These allow you to splice, cut, and strip most wire out there. Pretty self-explanatory. Be sure to get a pair that can strip 18-gauge wire as plenty of thermostat wire is 18-gauge.

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• Side cutters - $15

  • Side Cutters are helpful when cutting through thick power cables, cutting through flexible duct inner liner, and if you need to cut back some thermostat wire. Also, very useful on zip ties. However, if you do continue down our list of the best HVAC tools, we will feature a zip-tie tensioner/cutter tool. The tensioner is essential for getting a secure zip tie on your supply/return takeoffs/boots.

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• Lineman’s - $24

  • Linemans are there when you need to cut through something beefy. I'm talking that 8-gauge power cable going to your outdoor unit or your indoor unit heat strips. Linemans are great at gripping as well. A real versatile tool that provides you with confidence when your side cutters just can't cut it.

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• Screwdriver Set - $21

  • The screwdriver. Probably the first tool many of us have ever used. Screwdrivers have their place in every field of construction from the at home DIYer to the GC building the next ThunderDome. Everyone uses one. It is no different in the HVAC industry. Although we love our Klein 8-in-1, it can't always get the job done. Sometimes you need a longer and narrower head to fit into tight quarters. Other times you may need a big flat head to pry something open. I have seen many a technician uses a flat head and a hammer on some hard ductwork to create a hole big enough to fit their snips into. Whatever the case may be, a set of screwdrivers will likely not do you wrong. You may find out that there are only a few that you will use 90% of the time. But I have never heard someone complain about have too many tools.

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• Sheet Metal Scissors Malco - $37

  • Sheet metal will be an essential part of most HVAC system installations. Sheet metal is used to be fabricated into everything from supply plenums to returns. We personally like to use sheet metal with outside insulation to avoid any fiberglass being introduced into your airspace. Anyways, because of the prevalence of sheet metal it will behoove us as HVAC superstars to

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• Malco Flanger - $55

  • Next on our sheet metal section is the "Malco Metal Flashing Folding Tool," better known as your Flanger! With divots on the side, you can stay consistent is the depth of your bends. This tool is great when you need to create a 90-degree angle in the sheet metal surface. A common use is to create a 90-degree lip to shoot a zip through screw, thereby securing your sheet metal to let's say, the top of an air handler.

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• Right Snips - $18

  • Now we have the right snips which are 100% essential when, you guessed it, cutting sheet metal! An essential tool in any HVAC tech's bag, it allows the user to cut away sheet metal especially when cutting in let's say a circular motion. We'll get into how important circles are in the HVAC industry in another post but suffice it to say we are circle crazy.

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• Left Snips - $18

  • These snips share a similar function as the right snips but through the magic of engineering, we can now cut sheet metal efficiently in the other direction!

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• Straight Snips - $18

  • The versatile little snips are great for cutting in straight shots across sheet metal. You can also cut left and right but not as efficiently as your dedicated directional snips. I also like to use the sheet metal shears for an easier experience.

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• Razor Knife - 3PK - (you will lose these eventually) - $20

  • For any HVAC installation technician, the razor knife is that essential tool in your belt you will always lose. It is not a matter of if but when. So, it will behoove you to get the 3 pack off the bat. Razor knives are great for slicing and dicing duct, insulation, tape, and whatever else is creeping around in the crawlspace with you. Ain't nothing worse than needing a tool and not having one. Don't forget to grab a pack of extra blades, those things do wear out!

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• Zip Tie Tensioner/Cutter - $47

  • Zip ties are a technician's best friend. They provide us with a mechanical means of sealing and attaching ducts. We like to use zip ties in conjunction with tape or duct butter mastic. Keeping that in mind we highly recommend this tool to ensure your zip ties are tensions correctly. The last thing you want is a zip tie sliding off of a boot and actually constricting the flex. Remember to not overtighten when it is cold out cause those big zip ties are expensive!

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• Copper Cutters - $23

  • I do not think there would even be an HVAC guy without copper. And we can't do anything to copper without our copper cutters. Please watch some videos on how to use this thing properly. It is not a race. Do not torque it down too fast and bend our pipe, I'm talking to you John.

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• Klein 4-in-1 Electronic Screwdriver - $13

  • Ok, we have finally made it to the end of the hand tool section for the HVAC technician tool list. Last on this list for now is the Klein electronic screwdriver. All of our technicians have used this tool in the field because they keep taking it out of my tool bag. This is great for your thermostats, zone boards, control boards, and pretty much all sorts of tiny screws that we work around.

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Power Tools

• Impact driver - Makita or Milwaukee 

  • The impact driver is a tool everyone takes into every job. Gone are the days of turning screws purely by hand and thank goodness. You know how cramped your hands would be? Anyways, this tool can drive screws, sockets, cars, pretty much anything. Makita and Milwaukee have held up the best for us. Over time with rigorous use in wet crawlspaces, freezing temperatures, 100+ degree attics, and plenty of 6ft drops, they are still performing great. ****Remember to get brushless versions****

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• ¼ and 5/16 flip bit - $12

  • You need this for your impact driver.

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• Extension - $ 11

  • This too. Its also known as a reach farther

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• Flexible Extension - $36

  • For all those tight corners, and there will be plenty!

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• Good Hammer Drill - Makita or Milwaukee

  • As an HVAC technician, it is your job to get the job done right. This will include drilling three inch or so holes through people's houses. Whether it is siding or cinder block, you want a drill that will not catch on fire halfway through. Also, there will be plenty of times you need to drill out holes for tap cons and mounting hardware. It is beneficial to get the drill that will be right for the job. The only two drills that are still alive, out of four different brands, are our Makita and Milwaukee drills. ***Remember to get Brushless***

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• HackZall - $125

  • The good old saw-zall. Hack zall, saw zall, saw saw, whatever you call your reciprocating saw, you need one. We like Mlwaukee and Makita for these. It will probably benefit you to choose one of these brands and stick to it for your load out. They just make those batteries so expensive. To my knowledge they are non-interchangeable. These saws are loads of fun and will help you get through those pesky 3" PVC venting lines.

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Other Supplies

Cool Optional Items

Thank you for reading through! Hopefully this provided some usefulness to you whether you are a burgeoning technician or just wanted to purchase some new tools.

Which tools do you think should be added?

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