Home and Life Comfort with Derek Cole

Welcome to fall in North Carolina, where you might need the heat at breakfast and the AC by dinner. That back-and-forth weather is just part of living in the Sandhills. But while you're switching the thermostat from cooling to heating, your HVAC system is making a pretty big transition too. In this episode of the Home & Life Comfort Podcast , Derek Cole shares five things homeowners should...

What happens when life forces you to slow down? After nearly 14 years of living with Multiple Sclerosis, Derek Cole recently underwent another infusion treatment. While recovering at home, he found himself reflecting on life, family, faith, and the moments we often take for granted. In this special Deep Dive episode of the Home & Life Comfort Podcast, our two hosts explore Derek's personal...

Your air conditioner may run just fine once it gets going. Getting the compressor started is where things get interesting. During startup, an AC compressor can require significantly more electrical current than it needs once it's running. That's where a soft starter comes in. In this episode of Deep Dive , the hosts unpack Derek Cole's article, “What Is an AC Soft Starter, and Is EasyS...

It’s hurricane season in North Carolina. Storms roll in, lightning starts popping, the lights flicker, power goes out—and then suddenly everything comes back on. But what’s happening to your home’s electrical system during all of that? In this episode of Deep Dive , the hosts break down Derek Cole’s latest article on whole-home surge protection and why it matters more than many homeowners realize....

Every kid who walks into a classroom is coming from a different place. A different home life. A different morning. Different struggles. Different abilities. Different needs. In this episode of the Home & Life Comfort Podcast, Derek Cole shares a funny story about visiting his wife at school that led to a much bigger lesson: the importance of meeting people where they are. Originally shared as...

Can you clean your own outdoor AC unit? Technically, yes. But should you? In this episode of the Home & Life Comfort Podcast , Derek Cole breaks down a viral DIY AC cleaning video with millions of views and explains what the video gets right, what homeowners need to be careful about, and where a seemingly simple cleaning job can turn into an expensive mistake. Derek covers why your outdoor con...

You turn on the air conditioner and suddenly notice something strange coming from the vents: a fishy smell. What in the world is causing that? In this episode of the Home & Life Comfort Podcast , we break down what a fishy smell from your AC could be telling you and why it’s not something you should simply cover up with an air freshener. One possible culprit is moisture getting into your ductw...

Have you ever noticed a musty smell coming from your vents right when the air conditioner kicks on? That smell isn't something you should just cover up with an air freshener. Your AC may be trying to tell you there's moisture and organic growth somewhere inside the system. In this episode of the Home & Life Comfort Podcast , Derek Cole explains why air conditioners can develop that fam...

Is it normal for your air conditioner to need refrigerant every summer? No—and that's one of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have. In this episode, we explain why refrigerant isn't something your air conditioner "uses up." Your HVAC system is a sealed system, so if it's low on refrigerant, there's a reason: it's leaking. You'll learn: Why adding refrigerant...

It's a small switch that most homeowners never think about, but in the hot, humid climate of southeastern North Carolina, it can make a big difference in how comfortable your home feels. In this episode, our hosts take a deep dive into why your air conditioner does more than cool your home—it also removes humidity. They explain what happens inside your HVAC system when the fan runs continuousl...

Does your upstairs always feel 5 to 10 degrees hotter than the rest of your house? You're definitely not alone—and it doesn't always mean your air conditioner is broken. In this episode, we explain why second floors naturally run warmer during the summer, how heat rises, why your attic plays such a big role, and what your HVAC system is actually designed to do. We also cover common mistake...

Every summer, homeowners do the same thing: they walk into a hot house and immediately crank the thermostat down to 60°, hoping the air conditioner will cool the home faster. But does it actually work? In this episode, our hosts take a closer look at one of the biggest thermostat myths in home comfort. They explain how your air conditioner really works, why setting the thermostat lower doesn't...

A new homeowner survey found that 77% of Americans say summer cooling costs are causing financial stress , and nearly half have delayed HVAC repairs because of the expense. What do those numbers really mean—and what should homeowners do about them? In this Deep Dive episode, two guest hosts unpack Derek Cole's latest article, "New Report: 77% of Homeowners Say Summer Cooling Costs Are Cau...

What can homeowners learn from an internal message that was never intended for the public? In this episode, we take a deep dive into a leadership message written by Derek Cole of Simmons One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. Originally shared with his team during the busy summer season, the message offers an inside look at a customer service philosophy centered on empathy, accountability, and t...

When the summer heat hits, one question comes up more than almost any other: "My air conditioner has been running all day. Is something wrong?" The answer might surprise you. In this short clip, Derek Cole explains why a properly sized air conditioner may run for hours during extreme heat, why that's often a good thing, and when long run times are actually a sign of a problem. With t...

Every day, we have the privilege of serving homeowners across southeastern North Carolina, and over the years, we've met countless veterans, active duty military members, National Guard members, and Reservists. One thing has always stood out to me: they rarely ask for anything special. They simply want honest service from people they can trust. That led us to ask a simple question: How could w...

On this episode of the Home & Life Comfort Podcast with Derek Cole , we're tackling two questions homeowners ask all the time. First, why is your upstairs always hotter than your downstairs during the summer? Is your air conditioner too small, or is there something else going on? Derek explains how heat naturally rises, why attics create a massive heat load, how your thermostat location af...

Summer is here in southeastern North Carolina, and air conditioners are working harder than they have in months. Unfortunately, this is also when many homeowners experience breakdowns that could have been prevented. In this episode, Derek Cole breaks down the seven most common AC repairs his team sees every summer, including clogged air filters, refrigerant leaks, dirty outdoor coils, thermostat i...

Every summer, homeowners ask the same question: "My thermostat is set to 70 degrees, so why is my house sitting at 74?" In this episode, Derek explains why your air conditioner may actually be working exactly as it was designed to work. You'll learn why every home performs differently, how sunlight, shade, windows, insulation, and home orientation affect indoor temperatures, and why...

Have you ever found your air conditioner covered in ice during the middle of summer? In this throwback episode of the #AskDerekCole Show, Derek explains several common reasons air conditioners freeze up, including airflow restrictions, dirty filters, refrigerant issues, and more. He also answers two additional homeowner questions: • Can air conditioning be added to a mobile home? • Are allergy fil...

Most air conditioners do not fail without warning. Long before a complete breakdown, your system is usually trying to tell you something is wrong. The challenge is knowing what signs to look for before you're stuck without cooling on the hottest day of the year. In this episode of the Home & Life Comfort Podcast, Derek Cole shares five warning signs that may indicate your air conditioner i...

Why does a mobile home feel hot even with the AC running all day? And why does a “warranty compressor” still come with a repair bill? In this episode, Derek Cole breaks down two of the biggest HVAC misunderstandings homeowners deal with every summer. From hidden ductwork problems underneath manufactured homes to the real labor and process behind replacing a compressor correctly, this episode expla...

Your air conditioner may seem to be working just fine right now, but the first 90-degree day of the year is when hidden problems often show up. In this episode, Derek Cole explains why so many air conditioners fail during the first real heat wave. From weak capacitors and dirty coils to low refrigerant and clogged drain lines, small issues can turn into major breakdowns when your system is pushed...

Most homeowners know they should have their air conditioner checked before summer, but very few know what a professional tune-up actually includes. Read the full article here: https://www.simmonsonehour.com/blog/supertuneup Schedule your $88 Super AC Tune-Up today at SimmonsOneHour.com Serving homeowners across Fayetteville, Pinehurst, Laurinburg, Sanford, Lumberton, and surrounding communities fo...

Most homeowners think their AC just quits one day. That’s not how it works. Systems give you warning signs for months, sometimes years, before they fail. In this episode, Derek Cole breaks down what’s really happening inside your system right now and why waiting until the first heat wave is one of the most expensive decisions you can make in 2026. You’ll hear what rising equipment costs, stricter...