Is Ventora accurate for professional work?

Yes! Our AI is trained on real-world HVAC knowledge and provides code-backed answers with specific references to the IMC, UMC, ACCA Manuals, ASHRAE standards, and EPA Section 608.

What HVAC codes does Ventora reference?

Ventora references the IMC, UMC, IRC, and IFGC mechanical codes, ACCA Manuals J/S/D/T, ASHRAE 15/34/62.1/62.2/90.1, and EPA Section 608 and the AIM Act. We update with each new code cycle.

Can I use Ventora offline?

All 6 calculators work offline. AI and photo features require internet.

How does photo analysis work?

Snap a photo and our AI identifies the equipment — nameplates, furnace control board error codes, wiring diagrams, and gauge sets — checks code compliance, and provides recommendations.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes, cancel through the App Store anytime during or after your 7-day free trial.

Ventora is an AI-powered HVAC calculator and reference app designed for HVAC technicians, installers, and apprentices. It includes professional tools like superheat & subcooling, refrigerant charge, duct sizing, airflow/CFM & static pressure, BTU/load, and hydronic calculators, plus a comprehensive HVAC code reference and photo analysis.

What HVAC calculators does Ventora include?

Ventora includes six professional HVAC calculators: Superheat & Subcooling, Refrigerant Charge, Duct Sizing, Airflow / CFM & Static Pressure, BTU / Load, and Hydronic (water-side). Each is built for real field work with results interpreted for you.

Does Ventora have an AI assistant for HVAC questions?

Yes, Ventora features an advanced AI assistant trained on real-world HVAC knowledge. Ask about refrigerants, error codes, sequences of operation, wiring, and codes, and get instant, accurate answers backed by mechanical code and standards references.

Is Ventora free to use?

Ventora is free to try with a 7-day free trial, then $19.99/month. Cancel anytime through the App Store. The subscription unlocks the AI assistant, all six calculators, HVAC code reference, photo analysis, and guided troubleshooting.

How do I calculate superheat?

Superheat = Suction Line Temperature − Evaporator Saturation Temperature, in °F. On a TXV system, target 8–14°F. Low superheat (under about 5°F) risks liquid floodback and overcharge; high superheat (over about 20°F) usually means a starved or undercharged system. Ventora's Superheat & Subcooling Calculator looks up saturation temperatures from the PT chart for R-410A, R-454B, R-22, R-32, and R-407C.

How do I calculate subcooling?

Subcooling = Condenser Saturation Temperature − Liquid Line Temperature, in °F. Target roughly 10–18°F on most systems. Low subcooling points to an undercharge; high subcooling points to an overcharge or a liquid-line restriction. Ventora computes it automatically once you enter your liquid line pressure and temperature.

What is the target superheat for a fixed-orifice system?

For fixed-orifice (piston) metering, use the Carrier method: Target Superheat = 3 × (indoor Wet Bulb) + (80 − Outdoor Dry Bulb) − 1, in °F. Ventora's Refrigerant Charge Calculator computes target superheat from indoor wet-bulb and outdoor dry-bulb temperatures and compares it to your measured superheat.

How do I size ductwork?

Duct sizing starts with the friction rate: Friction Rate = (Available Static Pressure ÷ Total Equivalent Length) × 100, in inches of water column per 100 ft. Aim for roughly 700–900 FPM on supply and 600–700 FPM on return. Ventora's Duct Sizing Calculator recommends round diameters and equivalent rectangular sizes following ACCA Manual D principles.

How do I calculate CFM and airflow?

The core airflow formula is CFM = BTU ÷ (1.08 × ΔT). You can also derive CFM from velocity (CFM = FPM × Area in ft²) or velocity from velocity pressure (V = 4005 × √VP). A common target is about 400 CFM per ton. Ventora's Airflow / CFM Calculator handles all three methods plus total external static pressure.

What is a good total external static pressure?

Total External Static Pressure (TESP) should generally stay at or below 0.50 iwc on typical residential equipment. Readings above 0.80 iwc indicate a serious airflow restriction — often a dirty filter or coil, closed registers, or undersized ductwork. Ventora flags high static pressure automatically.

How do I calculate a cooling load?

Sensible load = 1.08 × CFM × ΔT; Total load = 4.5 × CFM × Δh; Latent load = 0.68 × CFM × ΔW; Tons = BTU ÷ 12,000. For quick estimates Ventora offers BTU/sq-ft rules of thumb by climate zone — but a full ACCA Manual J is required for real equipment sizing, since oversizing is the number-one install error.

What refrigerants does Ventora support?

Ventora includes PT data and charging guidance for R-410A, R-454B, R-22, R-32, and R-407C. It also covers the AIM Act phase-down: as of January 1, 2025, new residential and light-commercial systems must use lower-GWP refrigerants such as R-454B (GWP 466) in place of R-410A (GWP 2,088).

Do I need EPA 608 certification to handle refrigerant?

Yes. Under EPA Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, anyone who purchases or handles refrigerant must be certified — Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure), Type III (low-pressure), or Universal. Ventora's code reference covers 608 requirements including mandatory leak repair, recovery, and recordkeeping rules.

How do I troubleshoot a system that isn't cooling?

The most common causes are a dirty air filter or restricted airflow, a low refrigerant charge or leak, a frozen evaporator coil, a dirty condenser coil, or a failed run capacitor. Ventora's guided troubleshooting walks you through no-cooling, no-heat, airflow, electrical, and refrigerant faults step by step.

Does Ventora work for commercial HVAC technicians?

Yes, Ventora is designed for both residential service techs and commercial installers. It includes commercial-focused tools like hydronic (water-side) heat-transfer calculations, airflow and static pressure analysis, and a code reference covering the IMC, ASHRAE 62.1/90.1, and Manual N commercial loads.

What is the best app for HVAC technicians?

Ventora is built specifically for HVAC technicians. It combines an AI assistant, six professional calculators (superheat & subcooling, refrigerant charge, duct sizing, airflow/CFM, BTU/load, hydronic), HVAC code reference, photo analysis, and guided troubleshooting in one mobile app. Free to try with a 7-day trial, then $19.99/month.

Refrigerant Charge Calculator

Dial in the correct charge on fixed-orifice systems using the target superheat method, verify compression ratio, and compare today's refrigerants — R-410A, R-454B, R-32, R-22, and R-407C.

Use Calculator in App

What is Target Superheat Charging?

Target superheat charging is the method used to set the correct refrigerant charge on fixed-orifice systems (piston or cap-tube metering). Because a fixed orifice does not modulate like a TXV, the superheat you should see changes with the indoor wet bulb and outdoor dry bulb. You calculate that target, measure the actual superheat, and adjust the charge until the two match.

High superheat means the evaporator is starved — the system is undercharged, so add refrigerant. Low superheat means liquid is flooding back — the system is overcharged, so recover refrigerant. Systems with a TXV hold superheat nearly constant and are charged to subcooling instead.

Target Superheat Chart (Fixed Orifice)

Carrier method: Target SH = (3 × Indoor Wet Bulb − 80 − Outdoor Dry Bulb) ÷ 2. Read the target superheat (°F) at the intersection of the measured indoor wet bulb and outdoor dry bulb.

Indoor WB \ Outdoor DB	75°F	85°F	95°F	105°F
62°F	16°	11°	6°	1°
64°F	19°	14°	9°	4°
66°F	22°	17°	12°	7°
68°F	25°	20°	15°	10°
70°F	28°	23°	18°	13°

*Values are rounded approximations of the Carrier fixed-orifice method for reference only. Always charge to the manufacturer's charging chart on the unit's data plate. The superheat method applies to fixed-orifice systems in cooling mode only — TXV systems are charged by subcooling.

Refrigerant Comparison Chart

Global warming potential (GWP), ASHRAE 34 safety class, and phase-down status for the refrigerants you'll see most in the field. Under the AIM Act, new residential and light-commercial equipment must use refrigerants with GWP under 700 as of Jan 1, 2025.

Refrigerant	Type	GWP	Safety Class	Status	Typical Use
R-22	HCFC	1,810	A1	Phased out (2020 ban)	Legacy AC; service on reclaimed supply only
R-410A	HFC blend	2,088	A1	Phasing down (2025 equip. ban)	Outgoing standard for residential AC/heat pumps
R-454B	HFC/HFO blend	466	A2L	New standard (2025)	Designated R-410A replacement; similar pressures
R-32	HFC	675	A2L	Active, growing	Mini-splits and global markets (Daikin, LG)
R-407C	HFC blend	1,774	A1	Active (commercial)	Commercial AC and some R-22 retrofits

A2L refrigerants are mildly flammable and require leak detection, ventilation, and A2L-rated installation practices per ASHRAE 15/34.

Compression Ratio & Typical Operating Pressures

Compression ratio compares absolute discharge to absolute suction pressure: CR = (Discharge psig + 14.7) ÷ (Suction psig + 14.7). A healthy residential system in cooling runs about 2.5:1 to 3.5:1. A high ratio (dirty condenser, overcharge, non-condensables, or low suction from a restriction or undercharge) drives up discharge temperature and shortens compressor life.

R-410A suction (70°F ambient):

118–135 psig

R-410A discharge (warm day):

370–420 psig

R-454B pressures:

Within ~3% of R-410A

R-22 suction (70°F ambient):

68–76 psig

R-22 discharge (warm day):

225–275 psig

Healthy compression ratio:

2.5:1 – 3.5:1

Charging Example

Problem:

A fixed-orifice R-410A split system reads 64°F indoor wet bulb and 90°F outdoor dry bulb. Measured superheat is 18°F, suction is 118 psig, and discharge is 400 psig. Is the charge correct?

Solution:

Target SH = (3 × 64 − 80 − 90) ÷ 2 = (192 − 170) ÷ 2 = 11°F

Measured 18°F is above the 11°F target → superheat is high → the system is undercharged.

Compression ratio = (400 + 14.7) ÷ (118 + 14.7) = 414.7 ÷ 132.7 = 3.1:1 (healthy range).

Add R-410A slowly until superheat drops to ~11°F, then re-verify.

Instant Refrigerant Charging with Ventora

Enter your wet bulb, dry bulb, and gauge readings — get target superheat, live compression ratio, and add/remove-charge guidance instantly. Built-in PT charts for R-410A, R-454B, R-32, R-22, and R-407C.

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