Direct answer
These tools help you organize a decision, spot what's missing, and understand the equipment before you ever talk to a contractor. We don't transmit or intentionally store what you type or select, results aren't a diagnosis or a contractor ranking, and you don't have to hand over your contact info to use them. (Your browser or its extensions may do their own thing.) Use the output to ask sharper questions and compare what's actually written down.
Key takeaways
- No lead form standing between you and your results.
- The scoring rules, source notes, and limits are right there in the open.
- Use the tools to prepare questions, not replace a measured diagnosis.
Four tools, four jobs
All four tools are free, private, and built to help at a specific point in the process. Pick the one that matches where you are.
| Tool | Use it when | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Repair or replace calculator | You're deciding whether to fix or replace | A repair or replace lean, with the reasoning |
| Quote-comparison tool | You have one or more written quotes | A documentation-completeness score per quote |
| 3D condenser parts explorer | You want to understand an outdoor AC unit | A labeled model, safe observations, and technician questions |
| Water heater parts explorer | You want to understand a tank-style gas water heater | A labeled model, safe observations, and technician questions |
Repair or replace calculator
Feed in your system's age, the repair-to-replace quote ratio, warranty status, repeat failures, comfort problems, and how long you plan to stay. It sorts all that into repair-leaning, needs-more-evidence, or replacement-leaning guidance. The result points you in a direction, it's not a diagnosis or a prediction of when your system will die.
HVAC quote-comparison tool
Drop in two proposal summaries and see how completely each one documents the things that matter: matched equipment, sizing, scope, commissioning, warranties, price and financing, and exclusions. Anything explicitly excluded gets flagged on its own, so a high completeness score can't quietly paper over a gap in the project.
3D condenser parts explorer
Rotate a generic residential outdoor unit and select 14 labeled parts. Each part explains its role, what a homeowner may safely observe from outside closed equipment, what a symptom may suggest, and what a technician should measure. It is educational, not a model of your exact unit or a diagnosis.
Water heater parts explorer
Rotate a generic residential gas storage water heater and select 10 labeled parts. Each part explains its role, what a homeowner may safely observe without opening any equipment, what a symptom may suggest, and what a technician should measure and document. It is educational, not a model of your exact water heater or a diagnosis.
Why these are no-contact tools
You shouldn't have to trade your phone number for a decision aid. None of the tools requires a form, a login, or personal information, and what you type or select stays in your browser rather than getting transmitted or stored by us. If you decide you want a referral later, that's a separate step you choose, never a toll gate to see your result.
How to use the results well
Treat the tools as preparation for a better conversation with a contractor. The calculator's reasons become questions, the comparison tool's gaps become line items to clarify in writing, and the explorer helps you understand the name and function of the part being discussed. A qualified technician still provides the measured diagnosis and written scope.
Frequently asked questions
Are these tools really free and private?
Yes. There's no fee, no login, and no contact form. What you enter stays in your browser and isn't transmitted or stored by us. Your browser or its extensions may behave independently.
Do the tools diagnose my system or rank contractors?
No. The calculator gives a repair-or-replace lean with reasoning, the comparison tool scores how completely a quote is documented, and the 3D explorers explain a generic outdoor AC unit and a generic gas water heater. They do not diagnose equipment, predict failures, or rate contractor quality.
Can I use the tools without giving my contact information?
Yes, that's the whole point. All four are no-contact. A referral, if you ever want one, is a separate and clearly disclosed choice.
Should these tools replace a professional's advice?
No. They're decision aids that help you prepare and ask better questions. A qualified technician still provides the measured diagnosis and the written scope you act on.
Continue your decision
Sources
- ENERGY STAR, HVAC Quality InstallationThe scope and install-quality factors the comparison tool reflects.
- ENERGY STAR, When to replace your HVACAge and performance prompts behind the repair-or-replace calculator.