Chances are if you don't have allergy or asthma problems, someone in your family does.  Often, people think that they are safest from pollen, mold, etc. inside the home.  This isn't always the case.  If you are using traditional air filters, always check to make sure you are replacing them in time.  If not done regularly the build up of dirt, dust, pet hair etc. creates a strain on your HVAC system. 

Thankfully due to new technologies, companies are making products that make us safer and more comfortable inside our home.  There are a variety of air filtration systems and whole house humidifiers on the market.  One product that has really grabbed our attention is the Trane CleanEffects™ filtration system.

The Trane CleanEffects™ filtration system works to clean up to 99.98% of the pollutants from the filtered air throughout your home.  It is the world's most effective whole-house air filtration system!

    •    Removal of up to 99.98% of particles and allergens from your filtered indoor air. It removes particles as small as .1 microns – 1/1,000th the diameter of a human hair – a size that eludes most air cleaners.
    •    An industry-leading clean air delivery rate of 1,200.
    •    Low operating costs, with no replacement filters to buy.
    •    Cleaning indicators easily visible on the outside of the unit.
    •    Easy to clean filters—just vacuum or rinse once every 3 to 9 months (depending on usage).
    •    Easy installation.
    •    Quiet operation
    •    Trane CleanEffects was designed to fall well below the 50 parts per billion (ppb) FDA voluntary emission limit for medical devices. Trane CleanEffects contributes a negligible amount of ozone – less than .3 ppb to the living space.
    ◦    To put this into perspective further, typical ozone levels during the summer outdoors are at about 60 to 90 ppb, and indoor levels can vary greatly but are typically between 12 ppb to more than 80 ppb. Testing of Trane Clean Effects by third parties has shown there’s no more ozone in a home installed with Trane CleanEffects than naturally occurs in the environment already
    •    Trane CleanEffects is the industry benchmark supported and verified by third parties who make it their business to know about clean air. Experts from LMS Technologies, EH&E, Harvard School of Public Health and other major university research shows Trane CleanEffects to be the best air filtration system on the market.
    •    Low pressure drop.

If you are interested in learning more about whole-house filtration systems, please contact us today. 

Info from Trane

For the common consumer it's quite confusing when deciding between a heat pump, gas furnace or a package unit.  What is the difference and which is best?  The answer mainly depends on your home, and your location.

Heat Pumps

Generally in a moderate climate, like the Charlotte area a heat pump can be more cost effective.  

Heat pumps are used for both heating and cooling in your home.  Unlike a furnace that turns fossil fuel or electricity into heat, the heat pump collects heat that already exists in the outdoor air by means of its refrigeration cycle. Consequently, your heat pump will produce two to three times more heat than the energy it uses! Heat pumps can save as much as 30% to 40% of the electricity you use for heating. Since a heat pump combines the heat from outside, the coefficient of performance (COP) of a heat pump is more than one. This means you pay for a dollar’s worth of electricity, but a heat pump can deliver as much as $3.45 worth of heating. That’s quite a bargain!

If starting new construction and using a heat pump you should greatly consider the benefit of SunSource Solar equipment. Contact us today to learn more about solar. 

Gas Furnaces

Deciding whether to repair or replace your gas furnace is a difficult issue. Furnaces are rated by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio (AFUE), which is the percent of heat produced for every dollar of fuel consumed. Like the miles per gallon on your car, the higher the AFUE rating, the lower your fuel costs.

All furnaces manufactured must meet at least 78% AFUE. If your furnace is 10 to 15 years old, it probably falls well below the current furnace minimum and wastes energy.

An older gas furnace could waste up to 45% of the heat it generates. But today's furnaces can operate at as much as 97% AFUE, which means instant cost savings in operation.

Package Units
Package units contain the same components as a typical split system. Installation for these multi-functional units can be at ground level or rooftop. An indoor ductwork system is required to transfer the warm or cool air throughout your home. With the mechanical components of both its heating and cooling system located outdoors, a packaged unit provides quiet comfort inside your home.


In the Charlotte area, statistics show a heat pump system runs on average 317 days a year. That’s 87% of the year! With that much operation, it is crucial to have your system maintained by a licensed HVAC professional. 

Regular system maintenance regardless of which system you choose is crucial.  Maintained systems can run 30% more efficiently and are 80% less likely to break down!      

Sign up for our preventative maintenance packages to ensure you don't get left out in the cold. 

Fall is in the air!  Don't wait until you can see your breath in your house to upgrade your current heating system.  Upgrading your unit to a newer, energy efficient model is something that will save you mucho dinero on your energy bills. 

We found this great Heating Systems Savings Calculator on the Duke Energy web site. This may give you a general idea of how much it will cost to replace your current system and how much money you can save by doing so. 

For a more exact answer on these questions, feel free to contact us at 704.321.9250.  We would be happy to come out and give you a free estimate.