Home and Life Comfort with Derek Cole

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...

If your air conditioner smells musty when it starts up, there’s a real reason behind it—and it’s usually inside your system. In this episode, Derek breaks down what causes that smell, why it keeps coming back, and what actually fixes it long term.

You set your thermostat to 72°… but your home still doesn’t feel right. One room is hot. Another is cold. The air feels heavy. The system keeps running, but comfort just isn’t there. Most homeowners assume it’s a temperature issue. It’s not. In this episode, we break down what actually controls comfort inside your home: How airflow affects every room Why humidity changes how temperature feels How...

Most homeowners think HVAC systems just “stop working.” That’s not how it happens. Breakdowns start long before the unit quits — with small warning signs that are easy to ignore. Airflow drops. Run times get longer. Energy bills creep up. And before you know it, you’re dealing with a full system failure in the middle of the hottest week of the year. In this episode, we walk through what’s really g...

Most homeowners think their HVAC system is doing its job if the house feels comfortable. But what if the air you’re breathing every day isn’t as clean as you think? In this episode, we break down why indoor air quality (IAQ) has become one of the biggest conversations in HVAC—and why it’s no longer optional. We cover: Why homeowners are shifting from comfort to health What’s actually floating arou...

Every summer, it’s the same story—AC systems breaking down right when homeowners need them most. But here’s the truth: Those breakdowns don’t happen overnight. They’ve been building for months. Spring is your opportunity to get ahead of it. In this episode, Derek walks through the simple, practical steps every homeowner should take right now to keep their system running strong when the heat hits....

Most homeowners don’t realize it yet, but HVAC has already changed in 2026. Prices are up. Refrigerants have shifted. And older systems are getting more expensive to keep running. In this episode, we break it down in plain terms—what’s happening, why it matters, and what you should be doing right now to stay ahead of it. If your system is 10-12+ years old, this is one you don’t want to miss. And y...

This is a DEEP DIVE into Derek Cole's article: https://www.simmonsonehour.com/blog/yellowdust If you walked outside and saw your car covered in yellow dust, you already know—pollen season has arrived. But what most homeowners don’t realize is this: that same pollen isn’t just sitting outside… it’s getting pulled into your home and running straight through your HVAC system. In this episode, we brea...

If you stepped outside lately and noticed your car, porch, or driveway suddenly covered in yellow dust, you’re seeing the start of pollen season across North Carolina. Every spring around mid-March, pine trees release huge amounts of pollen into the air. The wind carries it everywhere — covering cars, outdoor furniture, and eventually making its way inside homes. In this episode, Derek Cole explai...

Most homeowners don't think about their HVAC system until it stops working — usually on the hottest day of the year, or in the dead of winter. But what if waiting for that breakdown is actually the most expensive decision you can make? In this deep dive, Derek Cole's video https://youtu.be/cq_gKHFgQIg?si=WhVuzXAZ3oWQpGNc is broken down as to why the smartest move isn't waiting for a to...

Your AC just broke. The repair quote is sitting in front of you. Before you say yes — read this. Most homeowners ask the wrong question when their system fails. They ask "how much is this repair?" when the real question is: what's it going to cost me to keep this thing alive for another two or three years — and will I ever get that money back? In this episode I walk you through the e...

In 2012, Derek Cole — General Manager of Simmons One Hour Heating & Air — was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. What came next wasn't a retreat. It was a mission. In this episode, Derek pulls back the curtain on #OrangeOutMS, now in its eighth year, and shares how a community of everyday people has raised $12,441 for the National MS Society — one $10 photo at a time. No corporate sponsors...

Most homeowners think upgrading their HVAC system means adding a brand-new expense. But if you understand how phone upgrades work, you already understand the HVAC upgrade cycle. You protect it. You maintain it. You repair it. Then eventually — you upgrade it. In this episode, Derek breaks down why heating and cooling systems follow the same lifecycle as phones, vehicles, and other major equipment....

The residential HVAC industry is currently undergoing a federally mandated transition from R410A to more environmentally friendly A2L refrigerants. This shift is driving up equipment costs due to necessary hardware redesigns, factory retooling, and supply chain pressures. While homeowners can still service existing units, older systems nearing the end of their lifespan face higher risks of obsoles...

Everyone hears the State of the Union as politics. I hear it as a preview of what homeowners are going to deal with over the next decade. Because every time energy, inflation, housing, or manufacturing comes up — it affects what it costs to live comfortably in your home. Let’s connect the dots. When energy policy shifts, your power bill shifts. When manufacturing costs rise, HVAC equipment prices...