In this episode of the Ask Derek Cole Show, host Derek Cole answers listener questions about common HVAC issues. He explains why vents may blow cold air when a heating system first starts—older units lack the “Comfort Heat” technology that detects when air is warm enough, and the temperature difference between gas and electric heating can make the air feel cool. He mentions Carrier’s Comfort Heat feature and the aftermarket Comfort Guardian accessory for retrofitting older systems. Cole then discusses why local permits and inspections are required for HVAC installations, emphasizing safety, code compliance, and insurance protection. For noisy outdoor units, he recommends installing a compressor blanket on higher‑end models and checking for mechanical problems if the noise sounds like grinding. The episode ends with a lighthearted “five possessions” question, where Cole lists a phone, Xbox, TV, car, and an airplane, noting his dream of becoming a pilot. The tone is conversational and instructional, with a helpful and slightly enthusiastic attitude throughout.
Questions this video answers
Older systems lack the Comfort Heat technology that detects when the air is warm enough, so they blow cold air at startup. Newer Carrier systems introduced Comfort Heat about 12‑13 years ago to delay airflow until the air is warm. Additionally, electric heat runs at a lower grill temperature (95‑100 °F) than gas (110‑130 °F), which can feel cooler to the body.
Permits and inspections are required by state law and insurance policies to ensure safety, code compliance, and proper installation. A third‑party inspection provides a “third set of eyes” to verify the work meets current energy and safety standards, protecting both the homeowner and the contractor.
Install a compressor blanket on the outdoor unit, which higher‑end models use to dampen noise. If the noise sounds like grinding or rocks, have a technician inspect the compressor for mechanical issues.
Phone, Xbox, TV, car, and an airplane (with a humorous note about wanting to be a pilot).
Chapters
Hey, on this episode I talk about cold air coming out of your vents. I talk about your unit being too loud, and I'm not sure what the other one was. Inspections. You ask your comfort and energy questions and they get answered. This is the Ask Derrick Cole Show. Hey, this is Derrick Cole. Welcome to the Ask Derrick Cole Show in episode 15. 58. Yes, 58. It's been a beautiful couple days. Sunshine, no rain, um, a little chilly. I'm really excited. The fact that I had to start my car early on Monday morning, I was really excited about it. I was like, yeah, a little bit of frost. So if you need us, you know where to find us.
All right, let's get into "When I turn on my heat, why do I have cold air that comes through my vents first?" Yeah, that's a good question.
The reason, probably I want to say 12, 13 years ago, they came out with some technology to fix this problem. But if you have an older system, it doesn't know that the air is not warm. When it starts up the heat. So it's going to start blowing it out. So the problem you'll have is obviously that's colder air, hadn't warmed up yet, therefore you'll be feeling cool air instead of warm air. Now probably 12, 13 years ago, Carrier came out with what they called Comfort Heat, and all the new systems have it today. It's basically, it knows when it's ready to blow out warm air so you don't get that cool blast. And then the warm air come behind it. So that's why you're having that problem. Another reason you could be having that problem is, and this is why we talk about going from gas to electric heat is always a problem for people who are used to gas heat, because electric heat is 95, 100 degrees at the grill. Your body is 98 degrees. So when you put your hand over it, of course it's going to feel a little cool. Because it's lower than you are. So if it's 96, 97, 98, you're like, kind of cool. Well, your hand is 98 degrees, so yeah, it is going to feel cool. Whereas gassy, you know, you're looking at 110, 130 degrees. This is why we talk about going from gas to electric is a problem, especially the older people. Not so much the younger generation, but the older people are used to the gas, the oil, that warm, hot heat coming out of the grill, whereas now you have electric heat coming out and it's 95, 100 degrees. You know, there's a big difference between 100 degrees and 120 for you when you feel it, because again, you're 98 degrees. So one's going to feel coolish, one's going to feel really hot. So that could be happening in there. I have a feeling you have an older system and it doesn't have this comfort technology in it. So it's blowing out the cold air before it gets hot. Now, they did make a product. I want to say the name of it was Comfort Guardian or Guardian. Anyway, it was an accessory you could put with these older systems to basically warm the air so you wouldn't get a cool blast. But of course, nowadays all the newer systems have it. Like I said, Carrier came out with it. 12, 14 years ago called Comfort Heat to make you more comfortable. And that was a long answer to that very small question.
Why does my unit need to be inspected by the town or county I live in after installation?
We pull permits on every install we do because that is what the state law requires for us to do. And if you read your insurance policy, it's going to be what they require you to do. They don't want anybody working on your house that is an unlicensed contractor and then not getting inspected by the code enforcement department of that city or state, county, whatever you have. So it's really about safety too. I mean, Yes, that has to be done. But then again, yes, we have been installing stuff for 60+ years, but you want to make sure it's up to code, is up to energy standards, is done correctly. You have a third set of eyes looking at it, a third party looking at it and saying, yes, it's good to go, or no, you need to do this and this to bring it to code. Because a lot of code things are really energy and safety items that need to be paid attention to. And hey, we're not perfect, we make mistakes, we got to go back and fix things every now and then. We try not to, but y'all, me and this company, you always want a third party to come behind you and look at it to make sure it's done right. And two, if anything were to happen and your homeowner's insurance said, hey, who was working on your house. It was this contractor, he got this permit, it was inspected here, we're good to go. So there's no reason not to pay any kind of claim that would come up in that situation. But it has to be done, it's the right thing to do, and we want it done because it is a third party looking at our work saying, okay, because you as the homeowner, it's going to protect you because you as a homeowner is paying for the service. But then again, did they install it correctly? Did they install it the way it should be installed in 2015, 2016? And that's where they come in.
We often entertain people outside, but when our unit comes on, it is very loud. Is there anything we can do to help this?
A lot of the basic value systems have a louder than normal compressor. Now when you go to a higher-end product, they put around that compressor what they call a compressor blanket to actually stop some of that sound from getting out. So you can install a compressor blanket on that unit to make it a little quieter. So that's probably what I would do in that situation. If you don't want to turn it off and you don't want to be uncomfortable inside even though you're outside. So I'm not really sure the whole dynamics here, but compressor blanket will quiet it down. That is a guarantee. And two, like at the high school, unit start making a lot of noise, sounds like rocks are in the compressor, like when it comes on, like, okay. We probably have a problem. So if it's really loud and sounds like a grinding noise, then get it checked out to make sure everything's fine. If it's normal operation, it's just loud, then get a compressor blanket, uh, get your contractor to install that and it will quiet it down a little bit. But the higher-end products, the 16, 18, 20 Sears, they have this They have a sound blanket to prevent this noise so much from happening.
If you could only take 5 possessions with you, what would they be?
We're not talking about family as possessions, right? No, you get to keep your family for better or worse. 5 possessions I would keep, huh? We'll probably go with the phone as number 1. I'm getting a bunch of hearts here on Periscope. Keep the phone. Phone would be 1. I would say— I was going to say Bible, but the Bible is in my phone, so that's going to be just fine. Probably the Xbox and the TV. That would be 3. Gotta have something to play the Xbox on. I don't know, does a power source count as— I don't know. We'll just go on the assumption that there's power source. Okay, there's plenty of power, so got phone, Xbox, TV. Jeez, 2 more. Car. I need a car to leave. Only 5 possessions. Airplane.
An airplane.
Yeah, if it came down to it, and I've told you before I want to be a pilot, if it came down to it, I will try to fly that plane with no training whatsoever and see what happens. I know you pull this and go up. I've watched enough movies. I have an Xbox. I've played the fight See me later. I know what's going on. No offense, I'm not hopping on. We'll take the next one. There is no next one. We all have to leave now.
We'll be on the plane right behind you.
All right, so it's episode 58. Make sure you hashtag #AskDerekCole for all your home energy and flight questions, you can get them answered right here.
