Good Neighbor Podcast: Frisco

EP #238: From Blindness to Business Success: Cold Factor's Inspiring Journey

• Sophia Yvette

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What makes Corey Huffman with Cold Factor Heating and Air Solutions  a good neighbor?

Ever wondered what truly separates a family-owned HVAC company from the corporate giants? Corey Huffman, owner of Cold Factor Heating and Air Solutions, brings 26 years of expertise and a remarkable personal journey to our conversation.

As a second-generation HVAC professional who literally "cut his teeth on an AC unit" at age two, Corey shares the wisdom gained from working alongside his father since childhood. His company delivers comprehensive comfort solutions across the DFW area, handling everything from residential systems to complex commercial projects with a family-first approach that transforms customers into members.

The episode tackles the biggest misconception in the industry – that higher efficiency ratings mean more powerful systems – while revealing how Cold Factor uses cutting-edge diagnostic technology to provide transparent, data-driven recommendations. Think of it as getting an EKG for your HVAC system rather than vague assurances.

Most powerfully, Corey opens up about the life-altering accident that left him completely blind in one eye, requiring six surgeries over three years. Through it all, he continued running his business daily, driven by responsibility to his team, love for his customers, and an unwavering faith prioritizing God first, family second, and business third.

Whether you're in the market for HVAC services or simply appreciate stories of resilience and authentic business practices, Corey's insights will change how you think about home comfort. Connect with Cold Factor online or through social media to experience their unique blend of technological expertise and old-school values.

To learn more about Cold Factor Heating and Air Solutions  go to:

https://www.coldfactor.com

Cold Factor Heating and Air Solutions

469-654-3961




Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of an HVAC company? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, corey Huffman, with Cold Factor Heating and Air Solutions. Corey, how's it going today?

Speaker 3:

It's going great. How are you?

Speaker 2:

I am doing well. So, corey, we're excited to learn all about you and your company. Can you tell us a bit about your business?

Speaker 3:

Oh yeah, sure I mean. So we do a complete run of the mill in terms of home cover solutions. We're a company that's been around for 14 years. Personally, I've been in the industry for 26 years. I'm a second generation. My dad started in 1973. I started with him when I was 12, running and gunning as his gopher, you know eventually moving on to install service technician you know the whole gamut and then fast forwarding all the way to 2011, when we opened cold factor here in DFW and we provide a total comfort solution in terms of HVAC, in terms of HVAC, attic insulation, air quality, air quality devices, customized solutions. So, whether that's for new construction, whether it's for renovation or even commercial applications, kitchen applications, I mean we can pretty much do it all.

Speaker 2:

We can do design, build you name it, we've done it.

Speaker 3:

So, Corey, how did you get into this business? Yeah, like I said, by proxy. I cut my teeth on an AC unit when I was two and I started with my dad. That literally I probably went with him, starting at eight years old, nine years old, running shotgun here and there, and then after 12, quite a few times by the time I was 14 years old, nine years old, running a shotgun here and there, and then after 12, quite a few times by the time I was 14 years old, every single day I was going, every summer, right. So like it was pretty much back in that time, right, this was in the 80s. So we actually went. We got out of school on May 4th and then didn't go back till September, and so every single day in the summer I was working.

Speaker 2:

Let's go ahead and get into the most common myth or misconception in your industry. What would that be?

Speaker 3:

You know there's a lot of myths. It's really hard to pinpoint one. To pinpoint one, it would probably be the biggest myth is that the higher the efficiency, the bigger capacity that a system has. That's probably the number one thing that we see, and really what that is is just that the higher the number of the efficiency, it just uses less energy to do the same job. But a lot of people think, oh, it's on steroids if it has a 20 CR rating versus 14.

Speaker 2:

And that's just not true and who are your target clients and, in terms of marketing, how do you attract them?

Speaker 3:

oh yeah, I mean. So obviously, word of mouth is our biggest thing. We have a lot of people that, just, you know, love us number one. It's kind of the story of david and goliath. You know, there's private equity out there, there's huge corporations with millions of dollars behind them, and then there's homegrown, family owned companies like us.

Speaker 3:

So where we don't see numbers, we see people, they see us. We treat them like family. In fact, we don't even have, like, a lot of people sell maintenance where we sell family memberships, and so that's where you like hey, buy the family membership, become a part of the family, get priority service, get 10% off, get no overtime on the weekends, get even reduced rates on all kinds of stuff, and then, oh, by the way, you get two free visits a year from us, included in that membership. So that's kind of what sets us apart. And but we're really looking for people who are local in the area in terms of, you know, from Flower Mound and about 25 mile radius, around Flower Mound, all the way to McKinney, we're just looking for homeowners who want a trusted HVAC company.

Speaker 2:

So, corey, outside of work, what do you do for fun?

Speaker 3:

outside of work. What do you do for fun, man? I do a lot, but my major thing is either scuba diving or racing fast cars. I love racing. I love doing stuff like that. It's pretty exhilarating.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, fast cars are a lot of fun. Let's go ahead and switch gears for a second. Sure, can you describe a hardship or life challenge you overcame and how it made you a better and stronger person today?

Speaker 3:

Man. There are many, but one that sticks out. Recently, in the most recent years after I had my second son, I had a bad accident that completely made me go blind in my right eye, and it was about a three year process of going through surgery after surgery until we finally, after like six surgeries in three years, I'm able to see out of my right eye again. But I was completely blind and still worked every day, and so you know the tenacity and grit that you have to do to keep running and operating a business even under that kind of stress. I mean, that's what makes us, as owners, overcomers. You know we just have to pull through.

Speaker 2:

Oh yes, and it sounds like God has a favor on your life to allow you to see again. So sorry you had to go through that.

Speaker 3:

You know, nothing happens for nothing and I'm always the half glass full kind of guy. You know, at least I have one good eye.

Speaker 2:

It could be worse. Right, most definitely. And what?

Speaker 3:

was it that really helped you push through such a challenging time. For our listeners here who may be going through a struggle for themselves, you know, I mean, it's twofold really for our customers. We love our customers. I just love people. I love helping people. I've always been that guy who will never say no to anyone, whatever you need, whenever you need it. It doesn't matter if it's 3am. But also for my guys. You know all the guys that depend on me and their families that depend on us. So it's just, it's never just about me, it's about the whole. It's about the community that we've created in Coal Factor.

Speaker 2:

Well, family is such a great value to have.

Speaker 3:

Well. I mean we honest? For me, it's always God first, family and then business and that in that order.

Speaker 2:

Well, amen to that. So, Corey, please tell our listeners just one thing they should remember about cold factor heating and air solutions.

Speaker 3:

When you're looking for a second opinion or a trusted solution, really look for the company that's going to use the latest technologies to give you a full diagnostics and digitized report of your HVAC system. And there's a lot of companies that can do it. A lot of that can't, but we've highly invested in all of the technology. One of our slogans is we do things the old way with the newest technologies, and so we're able to use all of the digital tools to give you a true, like digitized report like an EKG if you will of your whole system and then tell you a lot of different things. So we don't there's no guesswork involved, and it's like if you went to the doctor. You wouldn't go and say, yeah, everything's fine, and then walk away without a report. Right, well, you want to report. Prove to me that what you're saying is true, and so that's something that we do.

Speaker 2:

And even if you don't use us like, find that company that's using that type of technology that's available today company that's using that type of technology that's available today, and where can our listeners go to learn more about Cold Factor heating and air?

Speaker 3:

solutions. Well, so they can either find us online at coldfactorcom, you can find us on Facebook at Cold Factor. You know Facebook for slash Cold Factor, our Instagram account, which is Cold FactorHBAC, and even on YouTube as well. We're on all of those platforms and LinkedIn as well. It just depends on what your flavor is, and then a lot of the other you know, like localized areas, pretty much any of those.

Speaker 2:

Well, Corey, I really appreciate you being on the show. We wish you and your business the best moving forward.

Speaker 3:

Thank you.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNPFriscocom. That's GNPFriscocom, or call 469-221-9345.