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Jobber

Jobber is a cloud-based field service management software solution that allows small and midsize service businesses to manage field staff, provide customer support, and expand business operations either through a mobile app or a d...Read more about Jobber

4.5 (733 reviews)

179 recommendations

Simpro

Simpro is a powerful job management software solution created by trade contractors, for trade contractors. If your business struggles with quoting multi-stage projects, managing inventory, communicating with technicians, or any ot...Read more about Simpro

4.2 (128 reviews)

10 recommendations

WenDuct and WenPipe

WenDuct and WenPipe are construction estimating and digital takeoff systems designed specifically for mechanical contractors. Wendes Systems, the maker of WenDuct and WenPipe, has a long history of helping specialty contractors cr...Read more about WenDuct and WenPipe

4.5 (43 reviews)

5 recommendations

FastDUCT

FastDUCT is an HVAC and duct estimating software designed for commercial and industrial sheet metal contractors. Features include onscreen takeoff of rectangular, round, and oval duct for contractors who do fabrication and/or HVAC...Read more about FastDUCT

4.6 (34 reviews)

4 recommendations

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Housecall Pro

Housecall Pro is a cloud-based field service management app for service professionals to automate workflows and streamline technician dispatch. This solution includes a native mobile app and complementary web portal and serves a w...Read more about Housecall Pro

Procore

Procore manages your projects, resources, and financials from project planning to closeout. The platform connects every project contributor with the owner and general or specialty contractor. The centralized dashboard allows manag...Read more about Procore

STACK

STACK Estimating is a cloud-based on-screen takeoff and estimating tool for professional contractors of all business sizes and all trades. STACK users can quickly and easily upload digital plans and complete takeoffs using the sof...Read more about STACK

mHelpDesk

mHelpDesk is a field service solution that helps customers automate everything from first customer contact to getting paid. This includes customer management, quoting, dispatching, invoicing, billing and reporting. mHelpDesk ...Read more about mHelpDesk

Contractor Foreman

NOW: Starting @ $49/m for the WHOLE company, Contractor Foreman is the most affordable all-in-one solution for small and medium trade and general contractors who want a better way to manage their projects. *FREE Trial + 100 Day Gu...Read more about Contractor Foreman

FieldEdge Flat Rate Mobile

FieldEdge Flat Rate Mobile (formerly Coolfront) is a cloud-based HVAC solution that allows users to carry and access their flat rate pricing and repair database on a mobile device. It caters to small sized plumbing, electrical and...Read more about FieldEdge Flat Rate Mobile

FieldEdge

The #1 software to run your entire business. FieldEdge by Xplor is a cloud-based field service management solution for home service contractors in fields including HVAC, plumbing, electrical and more. The field service software al...Read more about FieldEdge

ServiceTitan

Transform your business with ServiceTitan's all-in-one software solution for residential and commercial field service businesses. With powerful tools that can increase revenue , supercharge your team, and provide real-time insight...Read more about ServiceTitan

Service Fusion

Service Fusion is an all-in-one, cloud-based field service management software. It caters to service contractors and businesses of all sizes across multiple industries. Service Fusion offers field service management, VoIP phone so...Read more about Service Fusion

Commusoft

Commusoft is a cloud-based workforce management solution for field service companies of all sizes including plumbers, gas and heating engineers, electricians and oil technicians. It helps users to manage customer databases, quotat...Read more about Commusoft

Fergus

Fergus is a cloud-based field service and job management solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses. The platform helps users manage a variety of jobs including quoting, estimating, scheduling, contact management, job...Read more about Fergus

Tradify

Tradify is job management software that helps organizations track and manage jobs from quote to invoice, in real time. Tradify was built for trade and service businesses such as electricians, plumbers, HVAC, building and construct...Read more about Tradify

ArcSite

ArcSite is a mobile drawing, takeoff and estimating tool for professional contractors who are constantly on the road. ArcSite users can quickly and easily create or mark up scaled drawings with all the measurements, then create de...Read more about ArcSite

Procore Estimating

Procore Estimating is a cloud-based construction takeoff and estimating platform that helps contractors manage construction projects with real-time access to labor, pricing, plans and material database. Primarily catering to trade...Read more about Procore Estimating

Trimble Estimation Desktop

Trimble Estimation Desktop (formerly known as Viewpoint Estimation) is a full-featured estimating solution tailored to the needs of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors. Developed with capabilities designed speci...Read more about Trimble Estimation Desktop

BuildOps

BuildOps for commercial HVAC, plumbing and electrical service businesses is a cloud-based field service management platform. BuildOps mobile and web based applications streamline communication between office staff and field techni...Read more about BuildOps

Buyers Guide

Last Updated: March 16, 2023

Mechanical contractors have unique needs when it comes to creating price estimates for jobs. And these needs vary based on what type of work the company performs: heating, ventilation, air conditioning and cooling; plumbing and piping, refrigeration, fire suppression or waste water work.

A general estimator system, such as those covered in our construction estimate and takeoff guide, will suffice for contractors developing high-level pricing across multiple divisions. However, a mechanical estimator will need a system that is specific to his trade. We’ve profiled about a dozen top-rated cost estimate technology solutions that address the mechanical market. 

Here’s what we’ll cover:

What Is Mechanical and HVAC Estimating Software?

Common Features of Mechanical and HVAC Estimating Software

What Is Mechanical and HVAC Estimating Software?

While the HVAC, mechanical and plumbing trades are closely related, the features in cost estimating programs will vary for each of these divisions. For example:

  • Vendors offering tech solutions for commercial and industrial mechanical contractors will provide labor and material pricing for piping, plumbing fixtures, valves, fittings and more.

  • Sheet metal estimating software will have cost information for fabricators and sheet metal companies, including pricing for round duct work, rectangular ductwork, hangers and other accessories.

Mechanical pricing estimate solutions are typically offered as standalone tools for piping work or sheet metal work cost estimates. It is also possible to get a system designed for both types of jobs.

Screenshot of mechanical digital takeoff screen in Viewpoint MEP Estimating

Specialty vendors might also offer separate HVAC scheduling software or HVAC dispatching software as add-ons or standalone products. HVAC dispatch software allows companies to oversee services from work order to balance sheet. This guide provides a robust listing of HVAC software providers.

Common Features of Mechanical and HVAC Estimating Software

When assessing which HVAC management software solution best meets your company's unique needs, estimators should evaluate the following top programs with mechanical-specific capabilities. The best HVAC software available will have all of these options, but businesses just needing to learn how to bid HVAC jobs should go for something more basic. Beginners can also ask vendors for the best mechanical software courses to learn how to best utilize the system.

Item database

The system should offer a large database of mechanical-specific parts and items, including fittings, valves and piping, as well as light gauge, heavy gauge and industrial sheet metal materials for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and cooling. The database should have more than 100,000 items.

Assemblies

The system should offer a large library of pre-built mechanical assemblies. This will allow the estimator to more quickly build their estimate and not have to build their own library of assemblies. Of course, the system should also allow for easy creation of custom assemblies.

MCAA or PHCC labor tables

A mechanical-specific or air conditioning estimating software should have integrated labor tables from the MCAA or PHCC. These tables help the estimator determine the types of labor that will be required to perform a specific task. That is then matched with current labor rates.

Mechanical-specific pricing services

There are well over 100,000 different materials and items for plumbing, piping, sheet metal, ventilation and other mechanical work. The best accounting software for HVAC business manages more accurate item cost databases by integrating with a mechanical-specific pricing service such as Ferguson, Harrison, Trade Services or Porter.

BIM integration

Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology is gaining wider use in large projects and is especially relevant to mechanical work. If your commercial HVAC maintenance estimating software integrates to BIM tools, the BIM models can pass detailed takeoff data directly into the system. Estimators will benefit from eliminating the takeoff process through this integration.

Mechanical-specific reports

Estimators want to run a variety of reports, including historical win rates, job costs, actual costs versus estimates etc. While many of these reports are similar to those offered in generic price estimate systems, the data they present will be unique to mechanical work. Buyers should evaluate available reports to ensure they meet their needs.