Connected HVAC Installations Are Smarter and Faster. Here’s Why.

Woman on couch with phone, which is connected via Bluetooth to an IDS Premium Connected heat pump. A contractor is standing next to the unit.

Two out of three residential HVAC systems are running inefficiently, according to research from the U.S. Department of Energy. Installation faults, such as leaky ducts and incorrect refrigerant charge, are often the culprit.

With connected solutions, technicians can avoid many common installation issues by being able to instantly access system fault codes and other information on their mobile devices. For example, The Bosch IDS Premium Connected uses Bluetooth and cell service to transmit data from the heat pump to the Bosch EasyAir App. Both homeowners and their contractors (if permission is granted) can use the app to remotely monitor the unit and receive critical alerts.

Smart, connected products are smarter, faster installations. Here are six reasons why:

#1. No Calculations Needed

Connected products like the IDS Premium Connected allow contractors to access multiple critical data points at their fingertips. Once an installer has connected a unit to Bosch EasyAir, he or she can view the unit’s compressor frequency, dip switch positions, refrigerant level, and other data points right in the app. This saves the contractor a significant amount of time during product installation, since manual calculations and measurements are not necessary.

#2. Faster Product Registration

Typical product warranty registration can often take at least a week, if not more. Want to shave that time down to 1-2 minutes? With the Bosch EasyAir App, contractors can register an IDS Premium Connected unit for warranty with the click of a button while on the job site. Once a product is registered within the app, the homeowner will immediately receive a warranty certificate. That’s it. No paperwork, no phone calls, no waiting. Next topic!

#3. Remote Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting is one of the strongest value propositions for connected solutions. Normally, a contractor will only know about a malfunctioning heat pump if he or she gets a call from an upset homeowner. The contractor then has to go on site and figure out what's wrong with the system, which can sometimes take several hours. He or she might not even have the right spare parts or tools to fix that issue within the first visit and then has to come back a second time.

With the Bosch EasyAir app, the contractor can resolve the issue on the first visit. As soon as a system error occurs, the contractor receives a notification and can see the exact fault code that's been triggered on a unit without ever having to leave the office. The app also provides step-by-step guides and tutorials on how to fix that particular issue, as well as what spare parts and tools are needed. This feature also helps contractors to catch issues and resolve them early, before the homeowner even realizes there is a problem.

#4. Energy Usage Tracking

For homeowners, Bosch EasyAir provides monthly data of how much energy they're consuming with their heat pumps, as well as comparison charts for benchmarking purposes. The app also suggests energy saving tips that homeowners can use to reduce some of that consumption and cut down on their utility bills.

#5. Your Feedback Matters

Although the IDS Premium Connected is available on the market, that does not mean that our work on the Bosch EasyAir App is complete. Our software development team is consistently reviewing customer feedback and improving Bosch EasyAir to make sure the app is as useful, convenient, and intuitive as possible. Please share your feedback with your after sales representative, who will convey it to our product development team.

#6. A Growing Market Trend

Thanks to connectivity, HVAC installation, registration, maintenance, and repairs are now easier than ever before. Due to the convenience factor of these solutions, it is likely that the industry will continue exploring new use cases for these technologies. As an example, one trend that could gain traction is demand response, which incentivizes homeowners to scale back their energy usage a few days a year during times of extremely high electricity demand.

Connectivity is more than just technology for technology’s sake. At Bosch, we are continuing to iterate and evolve our connected solutions to ensure that we are answering the needs of our customers.

Bosch Connected Products

Learn more about the IDS Premium Connected and Bosch EasyAir App: