app or software for finding HVAC equipment age and recalls

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HI-the other day I was listening to a local radio talkshow and they had a HVAC contractor on the air, and he was talking about using an app on there ipad/phone that he said, they take a picture of the model/serial number on the equipment, and it would tell you know the age, sold date, and any warranty or recall issues and estimated life left in the furnace( for example) just by scanning the model/serial info on the unit.

Just wondering if any of you have this app ?

Thanks Dennis.

Comments

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Posts: 28,528
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • HI Bob, I looked at that link you posted, that looks like something different that what the guy was talking about.

    There company just takes a picture of the model/serial numbers and it somehow detects the age, manufacture and sold date and any recall info plus estimated life left of the equipment.

    they did not mention the name of the app or software program they used.

    Thanks for the link though-Dennis
  • GGross
    GGross Posts: 2,072
    edited August 27

    Considering most sold-date, and warranty status info with hvac equipment is not publicly available I doubt the reliability of any app that encompasses all brands being able to reliably know this info. For example the only way you will ever know what day the brand I sell was sold to either me, or the contractor is if you have direct access to my sales servers, and the only way you would know warranty status is if you called the manufacturer and they will only know if the unit was registered. If the unit was not registered the only way to know warranty status would be to have the date of inspection from the county, or the invoice from the contractor to the customer. recall info is easy enough, just google the model number hit spacebar and type "recall" after

    you could know the BUILD year and month from most serials. but that wont give you warranty info, or remaining unit life lol. Honestly I am very pro-app usage in the field but this seems to just be a way for a tech to turn their eyes and ears off and take at face value information with no real way of being accurate.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Posts: 7,613

    Most manufactures offer warranty status on their web sites

  • GGross
    GGross Posts: 2,072

    only works if the equipment was registered otherwise it will go based on the date of manufacture. unregistered equipment in most states will still only start warranty coverage from the date of install which the homeowner or contractor will need to provide. I'm only being a stickler to this point because the local PE hvac companies run around telling customer their units are out of warranty based on the unit manufacture date when the install date still puts it within warranty period.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Posts: 7,613

    that’s the world we live in.
    crooked contractors

    Sell

    Sell

    Sell

    GGross
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Posts: 7,746

    The Bluon HVAC app has a lot of useful features. You can scan models and parts. Search models and parts. Tools and calculators, etc. The catch is, its not free. Your company needs to support it. Its free to install, but you need to be in the system to get all the benefits.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Posts: 7,613

    that App blew up my phone with crap!

    GGross
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Posts: 7,746

    I get a text from them maybe once a month on my work phone promoting something. The phone is unscathed. Sometimes the vibration tickles.