Some would say that the formation of Derryberry’s Heat & Air happened by chance. In the summer of 1985, Jeff Derryberry, owner and founder of Derryberry’s Heat & Air, was working third shift at Avco. Amid this particularly sweltering, hot summer, the family’s window air conditioner unit went out, leaving Jeff and his family smothering in the mid-summer heat. To resolve this dilemma, Jeff decided to have a central heating and air system installed for his family by going through the TVA program.
Since this was a period of intense heat with daytime temperatures hovering near 100 degrees, Jeff sought out to have a local company come in as quickly as possible and install a system. Unfortunately, it took the company over a week to show up to begin the installation and then an additional two weeks for the unit to be completely installed. After three weeks of sweltering misery, the unit was installed, but the HVAC installers could not hook up the electric, so Jeff decided to wire the unit himself.
After reviewing the poor service that he had received from the local company Jeff thought to himself “If they can do this, so can I”. From that moment, a dream was born, a dream to provide customers with competent, quality service in a timely and professional manner. In just a few short months, that dream was realized when Avco had a lay off due to losing the contract of the B-1 Bomber wings.
So, in 1986 Derryberry’s Heat & Air was formed with Jeff as the sole employee working out of his Chevrolet Citation, servicing the Sumner County, Tennessee area. The goal was to provide superior service for homes and businesses in need of heating, air conditioning and service maintenance. From 1986 to 1988, the company focused on service repair of air conditioning window units, major brand kitchen appliances, as well as small electrical and plumbing repairs.
As Derryberry’s Heat & Air’s reputation for superior customer service grew, the company grew from a home-based business to renting office space and hiring employees. To further expand in 1989, Jeff brought on a partner, Mr. Ray Corlew, and incorporated the business. This was a perfect fit due to Mr. Corlew operating a store-front business, Corlew Appliances and Repairs, and Jeff’s desire to move away from fixing appliances and window unit air conditioners.
Jeff believed the future was firmly based on install, service repair, and maintenance of central air and heating units for homes and businesses. In 1990, Jeff bought out Mr. Corlew and began to focus on the central heat and air businesses.
From 1990 to 1997, business was brisk for Derryberry’s Heat & Air and rapidly growing to almost 10 employees operating throughout Sumner County. To cement his commitment to the Gallatin, Tennessee community, Jeff purchased an old Texaco gas station building in historical downtown (corner of North Water Avenue).
Remodeling took about a year and they started operating out of the building in 1998. Jeff firmly believes that two events are responsible for the company’s success: the move to Derryberry’s Heat & Air’s current location in Gallatin, Tennessee and having his wife, Janice, take over operations in 2001.
Today, Derryberry’s Heat & Air is one of Middle Tennessee’s premier HVAC contractors. Additionally, Derryberry’s Heat & Air has been a certified TVA HVAC contractor for over 10 years and has one of the highest rates of NATE-certified technicians in Middle Tennessee.
