HVAC techs lack a simple tool to calculate the exact outdoor temperature at which it's more cost-effective to switch from heat pump to propane heat based on real-time fuel and electric prices.

No user-friendly software exists that automatically calculates the economic balance point for dual-fuel systems using local fuel prices, heat pump performance data, and system AFUE—technicians rely on manual calculations or arbitrary setpoints.

Severity

3Medium

Willingness to Pay

implied

Added

Jun 18, 2026

Workarounds Described

Technician manually calculates break-even COP using paper and spreadsheet math
Install crews use arbitrary rule-of-thumb setpoints (35°F or 0°F)

Implied Software Gaps

A mobile app that automatically computes optimal dual-fuel changeover temperature from fuel prices and heat pump data

App Concept

FuelCalc Pro

FuelCalc Pro is a mobile and web app that lets HVAC techs input local propane/electric prices, select a heat pump model, and instantly get the optimal dual-fuel changeover temperature. It integrates with manufacturer performance tables and automatically updates based on changing fuel costs, eliminating guesswork and manual math.

Key Features

Input local propane and electricity prices
Select heat pump model from database (e.g., Bosch IDS Light) with COP and CFM data
Automatically calculate break-even COP and changeover temperature
Save client profiles and generate PDF reports for homeowners
Update fuel prices dynamically via API or manual entry

Target Users: HVAC service technicians and installers at residential and light commercial companies in cold climates

Revenue Model: $9.99/mo per user subscription with a free tier limited to 5 calculations/month

Existing Solutions Mentioned

manual math using spreadsheets or paperrule of thumb (35°F or 0°F)

Want to go deeper?

Sign up to save ideas, run AI analysis, and track opportunities in your personal workspace. Founding members get full access.

Join Beta

Solutions (0)

Discussion (0)

No comments yet