Recorded live on the third day of the AHR Expo 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada, this episode of HVAC School brings together host Bryan and longtime friend of the show Tony Gonzalez, Director of Training at Fieldpiece Instruments. The conversation kicks off with some light-hearted banter about trade show survival tips — including the classic trick of hanging around near closing time to score free gear from exhibitors who don't want to ship anything home. Tony, who spent much of the show working the Fieldpiece booth, shares what it's like to be on that side of the expo floor, while Bryan admits he stopped by the booth but somehow managed to avoid saying hello.

One of the highlights of the episode is a hands-on look at Fieldpiece's brand new analog manifold gauge set — a surprise addition to their lineup. Bryan gives his first impressions live on the mic, noting the heavy-duty build quality, four-port design, dual-scale display for popular refrigerants including R-22, R-32, R-454B, and R-410A, and high-pressure ratings. The standout feature that catches Bryan off-guard is a built-in pressure marker ring — what Tony jokingly calls a "fidget spinner" — that allows techs to mark a pressure point on the gauge dial during standing pressure tests, replacing the old wax pen or Sharpie workaround. Bryan makes a compelling case for why every truck should carry a set of analog gauges as a reliable backup, especially for dirty systems, long-term standing pressure tests, or situations where digital probes or batteries fail.

Tony shifts the conversation to something he's deeply passionate about: Fieldpiece's commitment to tackling two of the biggest challenges facing the HVAC industry today — low-quality workmanship in the field and the growing skills gap as experienced technicians retire. Fieldpiece has launched a formal School Partnership Program, developed after extensive conversations with trade school directors and union leaders to understand their real needs. The program offers in-person support, supplemental training materials focused on best practices, prizes for top graduates, tools for labs and classrooms, and student discounts. Tony also unveils Fieldpiece's mobile training trailer — a fully-equipped 35-foot rig with live HVAC equipment, including a variable-speed heat pump and furnace — designed to bring hands-on training directly to contractors, distributors, and schools. Bryan passionately echoes the importance of repetitive, hands-on practice, arguing that reading books or watching videos will never replace actually pulling vacuums and executing best practices over and over again.

The episode wraps up with Tony sharing details about Fieldpiece's revamped rewards program, where technicians and contractors can earn points by registering products, attending events, and completing free courses on Fieldpiece University — Fieldpiece's online learning platform offering continuing education credits. Bryan encourages small contractors to leverage Fieldpiece University as the backbone of an in-house apprenticeship program without needing a big budget. Tony also teases some exciting future developments, including a new office and learning facility under construction in Heber, Utah, near Park City, a larger state-of-the-art training facility coming to Tustin, California, and a fully redesigned website expected to launch within the next couple of months.

Topics Covered

Trade show tips: how to score free gear at the end of the last day
Tony Gonzalez's personal life update
First look at Fieldpiece's new analog manifold gauge set
Refrigerant compatibility: R-22, R-32, R-454B, R-410A display on the new gauges
The built-in pressure marker ring — a clever replacement for the wax pen trick
Why every HVAC truck should have a set of analog gauges as a backup
Use cases for analog gauges: dirty systems, long-term standing pressure tests, dead batteries
Fieldpiece's two-pronged approach to the HVAC industry: reducing low-quality work and closing the skills gap
The Fieldpiece School Partnership Program — resources, in-person support, student prizes, and lab tools
Fieldpiece's 35-foot mobile training trailer: bringing live equipment to schools, contractors, and distributors
The importance of hands-on, repetitive practice for trade skills — not just classroom learning
Fieldpiece's new and expanded training facilities in Tustin, CA, and Heber, UT
The revamped Fieldpiece Rewards Program — earning points for swag through product registration, events, and courses
Fieldpiece University: free online courses with continuing education credit
How small contractors can use Fieldpiece University to build internal apprenticeship programs
A shoutout to the GRIT Foundation and their shared mission in workforce development
Upcoming redesigned fieldpiece.com website
Tony's trailer driving lessons — and a certain "learning opportunity" involving a sharp turn

Learn more about Fieldpiece's School Partnership Program at https://www.fieldpiece.com/schools/, Fieldpiece University at https://www.fieldpiece.com/fieldpiece-university/, and Fieldpiece's products at https://www.fieldpiece.com/

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Building Tools & the Trade w/ Tony G. from Fieldpiece