HVAC - A Quick Takeoff How To

Takeoffs are a snap with PlanHub’s Takeoff Tools. Quickly measure and count HVAC ductwork, ensuring precise estimations with clear, visual feedback. This guide walks through setting up your document, measuring duct runs, and counting critical components—using the Linear Segment tool and Count tools—just like demonstrated in the workflow video.

PlanHub’s Takeoff Tools let you accurately measure and count HVAC ductwork right on your digital plans. With tools for measuring straight duct runs and counting fittings, you’ll streamline takeoffs, minimize errors, and make your estimates more reliable.

Step 1: Set the Scale for your project page. This ensures all measurements are accurate from the start.

Step 2: Open the Linear Segment tool. Once activated, you’re ready to measure ductwork runs.

Step 3: Choose the duct size to measure. Here, start with a 20x14 rectangular duct. Name the segment accordingly so you can identify it later.

Step 4: Pick a line color for this ductwork size for visual clarity as you work.

Step 3: Choose the duct size to measure. Here, start with a 20x14 rectangular duct. Name the segment accordingly so you can identify it later.

Step 4: Pick a line color for this ductwork size for visual clarity as you work.

Step 5: Click Set in the tool settings. The cursor changes to a crosshair, ready for measurement.

Step 6: Click once at the start point of the duct run, the line follows as you move your mouse, then click again at the endpoint.

The total measured length appears on the right side of the page.

Step 7: If you have more duct sections of the same size, repeat the process. Click the tool, measure each new section, and see totals accumulate instantly.

Step 8: To measure across multiple areas, zoom or pan your document with your mouse as needed. Right click and drag to pan, use the scroll wheel to Zoom in/out to view the full area.

Step 9: When finished measuring a specific size, turn off the segment tool using the continue swich.

Check your cumulative totals for that result for all measurements on the plan.

Counting Items

Step 1: Use the Count Tool to log fittings and terminations—like diffusers, transitions, elbows, collars, and flex runs.

Step 2: Click Count at the bottom of the toolbar. Then name the tool for each component you’re tallying (e.g., "10 inch Diffuser").

Step 3: Pick a color, symbol, and stamp style for clarity and to distinguish items on your plan. Use the menu to scroll and select the correct symbol, then click Set.

Step 4: Click once on every matching component in your digital plan to mark its location. A stamp appears for each click.

Step 5: For other component sizes (for example, 8 inch diffusers), deactivate the current tool if needed, then start a new count.

Select Count from the tool bar.

Name the new count.

Select a color.

Select a symbol.

Step 6: Click set then click on every instance you locate in the plan.

Step 7: To revisit or toggle between component counts (for example, switching back to 10 inch diffusers), use the Continue switch on the right, then select the relevant count for quick toggling.

Step 8: Work through the plan, marking each instance of every size and type of diffuser, elbow, transition, or any other item needed.

PlanHub’s Takeoff Tools are designed for fast, accurate HVAC ductwork takeoffs. By measuring each run and carefully counting components, you’ll build quick, reliable estimates that help win more work. Try it on your next project for streamlined results!