Author: clidzbarski@fieldpiece.com

As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, we want to recognize a few of the women in the HVACR space who are making an impact in the lives of future techs and helping to train and equip those around them.  This includes instructors and trainers in the field as well as some of our own employees who are making the tools and test equipment we all use and love! At Fieldpiece, we thank you for your impact, your commitment to the HVACR industry and to training the next generations of techs.

Michele Seaman, the HVAC/R Program Director Western Dakota Tech. Michele, we thank you for your dedication, passion and advocacy for your students.  The Western Dakota Tech program competes in SkillsUSA every year and she is so committed to helping them reach their potential.  Thanks for being a role model and for inspiring your students every day!

Crystal Naegle of the UA Local 525 in Las Vegas, NV, we see you! Crystal is an instructor and HVAC coordinator, has been toseveral trainings and conferences the past few months.  She’s been actively honing her skills and bringing them back to her home city where she has been developing an intensive HVAC training program for apprenticeship and journeymen.

We’d also like to give a shout out and recognize this year’s Lady of the Trade nominees at the recent @hvactactical awards in Atlanta, GA.  These fantastic women are sharing their daily HVACR field experiences on social media.  This gives visibility and encouragement to everyone about the variety of jobs and situations any HVACR tradesperson will see out there.  So here’s to Emily @hvac.chick an HVAC apprentice in San Diego, CA and Shawna Peddle @hvac.optimist a Level 3 commercial HVACR apprentice in Canada.  Congratulations, Brandi Ferenc @chlrchk, who was this year’s award winner and who serves as a Refrigeration Mechanic Gas Fitter 1 HVAC instructor and mentor in Ontario, Canada!

Manufacturers also have women in the trade, so we’d like to recognize one of our own.  Nicole Schneegas, is an Industrial Designer here at Fieldpiece.  She’s one of two industrial designers who help create all of our products and how they end up looking and feeling in your hands.  Not to mention ensuring all of the technical manuals, tool bags and the packaging also look great!  As one of the younger members of the Fieldpiece team, we look forward to her many future contributions too.

Mentorship and fellowship also deserves a mention here.  Thank you to organizations like Women in HVACR who are bringing the industry and techs together and creating opportunities for connection, insights and growth across all areas of the HVACR community.  It creates a great foundation for collaboration and mentorship for men and women who want to help prepare future generations and keep us all working towards a collective goal of keeping the trades inclusive.

There are so many deserving women who work tirelessly behind the scenes and many more that are in industry or the face that the customers see.  If you know of a woman in the HVACR trades that deserves a mention, please write it in the comments.  She may just be a feature in a future article!

Tony Gonzalez, Technical Training Manager at Fieldpiece Instruments, is speaking at the 2023 HVAC Excellence National HVACR Education Conference in Las Vegas! Take some time to learn at:

• Unlock the Power of Wireless Technology for System Troubleshooting and Service (In-Person) | March 21, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Napa Room A of the South Point Hotel.

You might know Tony from our training videos, and with over 17 years of experience in the HVACR industry, his expertise and knowledge on Fieldpiece technology are unmatched. He’s also a great teacher. During his two presentations, he’ll break down some of his insights and  information expected to be invaluable to HVACR students and educators alike.

His in-person presentation—Unlock the Power of Wireless Technology for System Troubleshooting and Service —covers some of the latest wireless technology tools that HVACR techs use every day in the field to troubleshoot systems quickly and efficiently. The smart tools he’s showcasing are game-changers and the presentation covers ways that techs should leverage them to work smarter, not harder.

Modern wireless technology allows tools to gather multiple data points from many different parts of a system simultaneously. And with a range of 1000 feet, Fieldpiece’s tools let techs keep an eye on pressures and temperatures from across a worksite. The technology also makes it possible to evaluate and adjust all aspects of system performance in real-time—enabling

Techs to achieve peak system performance in the shortest amount of time possible. Finally, Tony’s presentation includes how to incorporate wireless technologies into training programs and instruction protocols—making it easier to troubleshoot, charge and repair equipment quickly and efficiently.

We hope to see you at the conference and look forward to hearing your thoughts on Tony’s sessions!

Every day, it seems HVACR systems are evolving to work with new refrigerants, use less energy, and take advantage of new innovations. Since many customers want to use the best technology to heat and cool their homes and offices, staying up to date on these changes is crucial.

Market shifts also change the way that diagnostic tools are utilized. Staying up-to-date on both the latest HVACR systems as well as the tools used to diagnose and repair them has never been more important. Here are three ways that HVACR professionals can expand their knowledge and stay ahead of the curve.

1. Stay Sharp

Continuing education can help a tech stay in the know and prepared for industry changes. Leveraging online tutorials, podcasts, videos, HVACR training meetings and conferences can help techs to learn the latest trends, stay current on emerging technologies, and utilize existing tools in the best ways possible. One such place is Fieldpiece University [LINK TO: https://www.fieldpiece.com/fieldpiece-university/]. This online resource was created to help HVACR technicians boost their skills and learn more about Fieldpiece products. These courses explore how each product benefits customers and offer Pro Tips for using them correctly in the field. This is an ideal tool for any HVACR professional looking to get the most from the tools they work with every day to get better, faster, and easier.

2. Help others

Learning on the job is another way to grow. Try volunteering with local charities or churches for pro bono work and for neighbors in need. Helping a family maintain an older furnace through the winter is a great way to gain experience on a legacy system. In an ever-changing landscape of HVACR technology, familiarity with a range of systems both old and new is yet another important tool in a tech’s bag.  And helping your friends and neighbors adds an extra sense of accomplishment after a long day in the field.

3. Listen to customers

Before a tech opens their tool bag and starts running diagnostic tests, it’s important to know what needs fixing. To do that, the most important tool in an HVACR techs arsenal is his or her ears. Start by asking questions. The customer doesn’t need to be an expert in HVACR to answer. Questions about symptoms they can see and feel in their spaces may lead to finding the problem. This could include even the simplest questions like: Does the system turn on? Do you hear any strange noises when it’s running? Does the system blow cold air? Does the system blow any air at all?

Letting the customer speak typically points in the direction of the real reason for the service call. The more useful information that’s gathered up front, the easier it can be to find the true cause of the issue.

If you’re looking to be a better HVACR tech tomorrow, start learning, helping and listening TODAY.

As we look to the new year, the landscape of the HVACR industry continues to evolve and change in new ways. Expected shifts come from new innovations in technology, market needs for greener products, an unpredictable global economy, supply chain issues and shifting energy demands—all of which promise to make 2023 a very exciting year.

The economy

Let’s start with inflation, a global recession and a supply chain that continues to struggle after the pandemic. Hopefully, as the pace of inflation eases throughout the year and the job market continues to be robust, this should help the economy continue its upward movement, improving construction numbers and the HVACR industry in general. However, even if the economy dips, existing systems will still need maintenance, so service and maintenance calls are going to continue to drive the growth of our business.

Going green

Something else driving our industry is decarbonization. This push accelerating throughout the world of HVACR is driven by climate change, the insecurity of world energy supplies and new legislation, like the Inflation Reduction Act. New heat pump technology could help customers move away from using fossil fuels to heat their homes – and big tax incentives are driving their implementation. This movement also encourages homeowners and businesses to retrofit existing systems to meet new standards. As HVACR technicians, staying current with these advances is critical.

Living healthy

Residential and commercial customers are asking for healthier, energy-efficient homes and buildings. They care about the comfort of their homes and their businesses, but they’re also focused on the well-being of the planet. As a result, they’re investing in systems and technologies that optimize energy use. In addition, the pandemic brought wellness, ventilation, air quality, thermal health and humidity to the forefront. All of this is going to shape our industry over the coming year.

New technology

As we move towards using more sustainable components and refrigerants in our systems, technology and innovation are both going to be key drivers. Throughout the last decade, we’ve witnessed the segment’s most significant technological revolution. We’re seeing new electronic tools, cloud-based solutions, higher efficiency ratings, mini-splits systems, new codes and new control strategies driving product development and helping HVACR systems deliver new solutions for customers. As HVACR technicians, we need to stay ahead of these advances which have the potential to transform how HVACR professionals are trained and how we do our jobs. 

Welcome to the new HVACR industry

It’s an exciting time to be part of an industry that benefits so many people every day. At Fieldpiece, we’re looking forward to developing the new tools that help HVACR techs install, diagnose and repair these evolving and ever more innovative systems. We’ll keep current of all the latest trends and help ensure that your tools are ready for the jobs to come!