Manifold, temperature probes , screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, sockets, and a multimeter capable of reading capacitance.
Along with that are wire strippers and other misc hand tools like utility knives etc.
That's what I would expect my guys to supply. Simply the basics to be able to do the job.
There Really are a lot more things that most techs have, like drills and impact drivers etc. They make the job easier but you can live without them.
Generally speaking the company provides the recovery machine, the torches, the vacuum pump and all other equipment of that nature

 

Type “veto hvac load out” into YouTube and you will see.

I need to put one on my own channel I just haven’t got around to it yet. I have two separate bags. One for diagnostics and light work (like PMs). The other is for more involved repairs.

If it’s a major repair I have separate kits for those. Such as a motor replacement kit.

Come to think of it I have A LOT of tools…I guess I’m a collector [emoji23]

What where you interested in specifically, like a basic hvac edc bag?

Throughout your career expect to spend at least several hundred dollars a year on tools. To get started or when making a significant change (like from residential to commercial) don’t feel bad about spending a thousand or more. Yes you can get by on the cheap and a lot of great techs do, but I personally invest in things that help me to personally be the best I can.

 

Go to your most frequently visited supply house and pick one of everything. Might as well just get it over with cuz in a few years your have it all anyway lol.

 

If you're just starting out simple hand tools will be more than enough nobody expects a newbie to have all the tools and nobody is going to turn you loose on your own. It also depends on the work if you're doing new residential construction that is going to require different tools than maintenance work.

 

Half a brain.

 

You'll need a drill and impact. Of course, we all want the big name brands, but there are several budget brands out now that are very decent. The new Ryobi is actually quite good, they moved the head guy from Milwaukee to Ryobi to up their game. The Harbor freight stuff is not bad. The Skil Pwrcore line is surprisingly good and priced right. They will be more than good enough to do you until you get into the big bucks.

 

On the impact thing, if you are doing maintenance and such a smaller 12v is much better than the 18v stuff. It will fit in most bags and get into tighter areas due to being smaller and more compact. For service and maintenance the smaller ones will do everything you ever need it to do. Doing install a bigger drill will have more power and batteries will last longer between needing charge.

 

Agreed. Most of what we do is just running sheet metal screws, and the modern 12 volt impacts are plenty powerful for that.

 

Always remember when buying tools that your going to make a living with. BUY ONCE,CRY ONCE. Buy good stuff and take care of it and you’ll get many years of service out of it. If ya buy something because it’s cheap, well you’ll prolly end up buying it a couple times and by that time you’ve paid more for it than if you had spent to money and got quality the first time.

 

We also add the requirement for every technician to have a leak detector and an accurate set of scales for refrigerant drums.

 

I'm not trying to be a smart axx you don't need much for diagnosis and troubleshooting, take only as many as you want to haul up three or four flights of steps then climb a roof ladder they get heavy quickly. For my first 20 years I had a large leather tool pouch that I wore for troubleshooting and diagnosis I got used to a tool pouch when I worked in the factory and just continued it when I went out on my own I don't need much and what is needed can usually fit in my pants pocket multi-function screw driver (Klein 11 in 1) usually a battery drill (Dewalt 20 volt with an assortment of driver bits) clamp on amp meter/VOM with jumpers and I can't forget my Leatherman. as someone already said I have tools grouped by the type of job. they are all in plastic tools boxes and totes. I use a two wheel dolly that folds down to a 4 wheel dolly to load the cases on then push it to where I need to go once I figure out what the repair will be..

 

Here is the list we use for new hires
QTY Description
1 12” Adjustable Wrench (Craftsman, Crescent, or equiv.)
1 10” Adjustable Wrench (Craftsman, Crescent, or equiv.)
1 8” Adjustable Wrench (Craftsman, Crescent, or equiv.)
1 10” Pipe Wrench (Rigid, Kobalt, or equivalent)
1 14” Pipe Wrench (Rigid, Kobalt, or equivalent)
1 18” Pipe Wrench (Rigid, Kobalt, or equivalent)
1 Refrigeration Wrench (Klein, Yellow Jacket, or equiv.)
1 Hex Key Set (Allen Wrenches)– Folding, T Handle, or L Shape (1/8” to 9/64”)
1 Hex Key Set (Allen Wrenches)– Metric Folding, T Handle, or L Shape
1 8 Piece Screwdriver Set – Standard and Phillips Types
1 3/8” Drive Socket Set – SAE ¼” to 1” sockets and Metric 6mm to 19mm Sockets
1 1/4" hex nut driver – 6” (Malco, Klein, equiv.)
1 5/16" hex nut driver – 6” (Malco, Klein, equiv.)
1 9 ½” Lineman’s Pliers (Klein, or equiv.)
1 8” Wire Stripper/Crimpers (Klein, Milwaukee, or equiv.)
1 6” Long Nose Pliers (Irwin, Klein, or equiv.)
1 Flaring Tool (Imperial, Rigid, or equiv.)
1 Tubing Cutter – Full Size ¼” to 1 5/8” (Rigid, Imperial, or equiv.)
1 Tubing Cutter – Close Quarters Mini 1/8” to 5/8” (Rigid, Imperial, or equiv.)
1 Sheet Metal Folder 18"
1 Aviation Snips 3pc set – Left, Right, and Straight (Crescent, Malco, equiv.)
1 Valve Core Tool (Yellow Jacket or equiv.)
1 3" Hand Seamer (Malco or equiv.)
1 12" Hack saw
1 Drill Battery Powered w/spare battery (Dewalt, Rigid, Black & Decker, or equiv.)
1 Claw Hammer – 16oz or 20oz
1 Vacuum Gauge (Supco, Yellow Jacket, or equiv.)
1 50' Extension Cord – 12ga w/ground (Any)
1 100' Extension Cord– 12ga w/ground (Any)
1 50' Hose (Goodyear, Husky, or equiv.)
1 Shop Vac (Milwaukee, Dewalt, Rigid, or equiv.)
1 Tape Measure – 25’ (Stanley, Milwaukee, or equiv.)
2 Tongue and Groove Pliers – Pump Pliers 10” (Rigid, Craftsman, or equiv.)
1 No Contact Voltage Pen (Fluke, Fieldpiece, or equiv.)
1 Psychrometer – Digital (Fieldpiece, UEI, or eqiv.)
1 Pressure Meter – Gas/Air Range -40” to 40” (Testo, Fieldpiece, or equiv.)
1 Gauge Manifold – Analog or Digital (Yellow Jacket, Fieldpiece, or equiv.)
1 Electric Meters – Must measure µA (Fluke, UEI, Amprobe, or equiv.)
2 Digital Thermometers – Pocket Style
1 Tool Bag (Any)
1 Reciprocating Saw (Milwaukee, Rigid, Dewalt, Makita, or equiv.) Installers only
1 Mapp/LP torch (Turbo, Benzomatic, or equiv.)
2 Gauge Manifold – rated R410a (J/B, Yellow Jacket, Imperial, or equiv.)
2 Electric Multi-Meter CAT III or CAT IV (fluke, UEI, Amprobe, or equiv.)
1 Vacuum Gauge (Supco, Yellow Jacket, Imperial, or equiv.)
1 Psychrometer (Field Piece, UEI, Amprobe, or equiv.)
1 Pressure meter, -40” to 40” 0.01” resolution (Testo, Fieldpiece, or equiv.)
1 Air Meter 40 to 3000+ FPM (Testo, UEI, Field Piece, or equiv.)
1 Combustion Analyzer (Testo, Bacharach, or equiv.)

 

I would venture to guess that list is for new hires that have experience right? If that’s for all new hires that’s quite unrealistic to expect of somebody who is maybe fairly new to things, particularly some of the high dollar tools in the list.

 

I think it’s a good thing to buy your own tools for the most part because you’ll take care of them better. But some should be provided too

 

What type of work will you be doing? Residential, light commercial, big commercial, institutional, refrigeration, industrial?


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