When we started Conduit, one thing that was incredibly important to us was that we constantly took lessons from the field to make sure we’re building the best product and process. HVAC Contractors around the country graciously let us ride in their trucks with them to visit customers. Our goal was to better understand the workflow of our potential—and now current users. 

If you were to ask me the main takeaway, it’s one that will be obvious to this audience: the role of an HVAC Pro, in the first visit alone, is so complicated. 

The best HVAC Pros we shadowed had so many steps to follow – and if they could accomplish a fraction of these in two hours, that would be an enormous accomplishment. But what surprised us even more was the fact that these visits were at no cost to the homeowner—but at a significant cost to the contractor. Here’s the rough outline:

1. Enter + build rapport 
2. Talk through comfort concerns
3. Walk through the home:
   • Evaluate the ductwork
   • Take down measurements of existing equipment, ductwork, and space to understand the realm of replacement opportunities
   • Measure static pressure 
   • Gather inputs for the load calculation evaluation process
4. Complete the load calculation (if they have the right on-site tools)
5. Determine the corresponding equipment
6. Develop solutions and find up-to-date prices for the homeowner
7. Propose solutions and walk the homeowner through them
8. Consider available rebates/tax incentives available to the homeowner 
9. Qualify the homeowner for finance
10. Close out the quote, and prepare for installation

And even in that long list of steps, I’ve certainly missed some. It’s hard to believe that individuals are trying to complete all of these steps in the home every time. In fact, each step in itself can take upwards of 15 minutes—without and even with technology.

Ultimately, there has to be a better way. To deliver the high-quality HVAC work we’re all passionate about, it takes innovation to support contractors and streamline some of these workflows. Nothing can replace the expert eye towards design in the home—but there has to be tools to help. 

This is what led to our focus at Conduit, where we’re committed to supporting contractors in completing quick, expert-level work on every job. In our process, we focus on using design as a means to build a relationship with the customer, and demonstrate the craftsmanship that goes into every job. Not only do you differentiate yourself from the competition, but you also get the work done you need to. 

We met Josh Wolfer, Owner of Wolfer Heating & Cooling when we were first developing Conduit Tech at the HVAC School Training Symposium in 2023. We worked diligently and onboarded Josh to the platform in January 2024. Josh shared the impact that the platform has had on his process:

“Before Conduit I was doing a hand sketch of the floor plan and drawing in all measurements, windows, etc. I would note insulation values in the margin and then enter everything into my computer software when I had time in the office. This process would take approximately 1.5 – 2 hours. Because of this time commitment I would often quote replacement equipment based on what was there, rather than based on what the home actually needed.”

Conduit starts with an address, enabling users to customize defaults set based on local building codes through an interactive questionnaire. From there, users have building materials ready to be applied—the remaining step is to scan the home. Instead of taking measurements during the home walkthrough, you complete a scan of the home using LiDAR imaging. In five minutes, you can replicate an entire 3D model of an average home, and generate a 2D floorplan. 

Credit: Conduit Tech

In the process, you’re talking through with your homeowner exactly what their comfort concerns are, documenting them directly to be reflected in your automated reports. Immediately thereafter, you have generated a customer-facing report, a powered-by-ACCA Manual J load calculation, and guidelines on room-by-room CFM and equipment sizing—all of which can be used for rebate and permit applications.

Josh mentioned: 

“Now I can do an on-site load calc in 15 minutes and then have an informed conversation with the customer about their home. I have had zero customer objections to scanning their homes. My customers are usually interested in what I'm doing and how it works. I often invite them to look over my shoulder when I'm scanning so they can see the process. This in-home process gives me more credibility when suggesting smaller equipment, which saves them money without sacrificing comfort. I had a repeat customer the other day who, soon after I arrived, asked me, ‘Are you going to use your thing to see what size we need?’ I had used it on an earlier system replacement for them and installed smaller, higher-efficiency equipment that they were very happy with, and they knew the drill. They even knew which tier of equipment they wanted before I arrived. My ability to show them information about their home on the previous replacement was a big help in building trust that my recommendation was worth following. Conduit has enabled me to close jobs more easily, with more credibility, and with less time involved in the load calculation process. Plus, it's much more enjoyable to use than my previous software.”

For Conduit, this is just the start. We are focused on building better tools with the incredible support and feedback from teams like Josh’s. Reach out to us at https://getconduit.com/contact/ so that we can work together to support the industry!

—Shelby Breger