Derek ColeGM, Simmons One Hour Heating & Air · AI HVAC Answers

HVAC Secrets: 10 Burning Questions Answered! #shorts

15 Jan 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:14

This is a brief YouTube short (HVAC Secrets: 10 Burning Questions Answered! #shorts) by Derek Cole presenting a rapid Q&A between two speakers. SPEAKER A gives concise, practical HVAC recommendations: prefers heat pumps (unless natural gas makes gas efficient), recommends replacing systems older than 12 years, choosing high-efficiency equipment, using smart thermostats for control, checking filters monthly (change as needed), multiple returns over a single return, zone systems when properly implemented, better filtration instead of expecting duct cleaning to solve problems, annual maintenance, and prioritizing lowest long-term cost because energy bills are not decreasing.

Chapters

All right, ten burning questions. I'm gonna answer them right now. Go ahead.
Heat pump or gas furnace?
I would say heat pump. If you have natural gas though it may be more efficient to co gas.
Repair an older system or replace it.
If it's over 12 years old. You probably need to look at replacing.
High efficiency system or standard efficiency.
I'm going to go high efficiency. Energy bills are not getting cheaper.
Smart thermostat or basic thermostat?
Smart thermostat not. Not because it's like a gadget but because you have more control.
Change filters monthly or when I remember.
I'm going to modify a little bit. Check your filters monthly. You probably don't need to change them monthly but check them monthly.
One gig return or multiple returns?
Definitely multiple returns.
Zone system or one temperature for the whole house?
The zone system is the best when it's done right and that's the best way to go.
Duct cleaning or better filtration.
Better filtration? Ducts aren't going to clean themselves.
Annual maintenance or run it until it breaks.
Annual maintenance.
Cheapest up front option or lowest long term cost.
I say lowest cost because again, energy bills are not going down.