The New York Times' Wirecutter just published a comprehensive guide on finding exceptional heat pump installers, and Amply features prominently as an example of the innovative tools that are helping contractors deliver outstanding results.
Written by former HVAC journalist Liam McCabe after working in the clean energy marketplace, the piece highlights what the best contractors already know: heat pump installations require precision, and the right tools make all the difference.
McCabe's research confirms what we hear from leading contractors on The Heat Pump Podcast: the heat pump market represents a massive opportunity for contractors who can deliver high-quality installations. With heat pumps becoming the default choice for heating and cooling, contractors who master the technology now will be best positioned for growth.
The challenge isn't the technology itself, modern heat pumps are exceptional when installed with the right approach. It's about having systems and tools that support the precision these advanced systems deserve.
The article identifies the characteristics that distinguish excellent heat pump contractors—qualities we see in the best professionals we interview on our podcast:
Ed Smith, Amply's co-founder, is quoted in the piece describing heat pumps as "an order of magnitude" more complicated than traditional HVAC and noting that contractors should have "healthy fear and respect for the tech"—the same mindset that drives the best professionals to invest in proper tools and training.
The article specifically highlights Amply as representing "a better way" to handle load calculations—the critical foundation of proper heat pump design.
New apps like Amply "use the lidar sensor in a phone or tablet to scan the rooms in your home, generate a Manual J load calculation, and automatically build a report including a room-by-room breakdown with visuals," McCabe writes.
Industry expert Jeremy Begley described this LiDAR-based approach as "extremely accurate," while other experts spoke favorably about the technology.
The article emphasizes a key advantage: "The comfort consultant doesn't need technical HVAC training to use the app, and it's much faster than manually filling out a Manual J worksheet."
This allows contractors to combine speed with accuracy, enabling teams to deliver precise work efficiently while ensuring consistent quality across all projects.
Having Wirecutter—a publication known for rigorous, unbiased analysis—recognize Amply as a solution for quality installations represents significant validation. McCabe's conclusion is particularly noteworthy: "if I saw a contractor using one of these apps, I'd feel pretty confident that it would be a well-designed system."
This comes from someone who spent a decade covering HVAC as a journalist, then worked directly in the heat pump marketplace, evaluating installation proposals and working with contractors daily.
The Wirecutter piece reinforces what we've been discussing with top contractors on our podcast: the heat pump transition represents an opportunity for the industry to elevate standards and deliver better customer experiences.
As McCabe notes, there's "momentum behind the technology, and it makes too much sense for heat pumps not to become the default way to heat and cool homes." The contractors who invest in the right tools and processes now will lead this transformation.
The article's detailed recommendations, from proper load calculations to thorough commissioning processes, reflect the same high standards we hear from the excellent contractors we interview on our podcast.
These professionals understand that investing in quality tools and processes isn't just about meeting minimum standards, it's about delivering the kind of exceptional results that build lasting customer relationships and sustainable business growth.
Want to hear from some of the country's best heat pump installers? Check out our interviews with them on our Heat Pump Podcast on YouTube (or Apple or Spotify). You'll discover how leading contractors are implementing the quality practices that publications like Wirecutter are now recommending to homeowners.