Sunbelt Mechanical has earned its accreditation as a Carrier factory-authorized dealer in North Carolina.

This endorsement program was designed by the Carrier Corp. to promote quality, excellence and attention to detail in solving the heating and cooling needs of homeowners by Carrier dealers.

Chuck Ferrell has been affiliated with the Carrier brand since the late 1970s. He said he decided to branch off and create his own company, Sunbelt Mechanical, with the mission of providing homeowners with the top-quality equipment from the best trained technicians.

Ferrell said he is proud to offer NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certified technicians. He said his technicians have more than 20 years of combined experience in the industry.

Ferrell added that Carrier's research and development were what initially drew him to the Carrier brand.

"I worked for another Carrier dealer for over 20 years before I started Sunbelt Mechanical," he said. "Carrier was just a natural fit for me. Over the years, I've been exposed to a lot of products in the market place, and I feel Carrier is the superior product over anything else out there in new advancements, technology, efficiency and equipment features."

Since becoming a Carrier dealer, Ferrell said he and his team have worked on a few interesting installations.

Sunbelt Mechanical helped renovate the Train Depot in downtown Southern Pines. The train depot was built in the late 1800s. Ferrell said he was proud that the community trusted his company with such an important installation.

Ferrell said it is also important for his company to give back to the community whenever possible.

Sunbelt Mechanical participated in the 2006 Habitat Blitz held in June. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that builds simple and affordable housing.

Sunbelt Mechanical is the heating and air conditioning contractor for the Moore County Habitat for Humanity chapter. About 10 to 20 homes are built locally each year.

Sunbelt Mechanical is also a sponsor for the Relay for Life campaign for cancer research and Pine Tree Community Services, a nonprofit organization that provides jobs for people with developmental disabilities.

Ferrell said he stands behind his highly trained staff and its strong desire to go above and beyond their call of duty.

"Our service technicians do a thorough job and really care about our customers' needs," he said. "My superintendent ensures quality and standards are always to their highest potential. Cleanliness, job quality, and customer satisfaction are what we are all about."

Carrier requires the highest levels of customer satisfaction as well as employee training to be named a factory-authorized dealer, according to a news release. Fewer than 5 percent of dealerships in the nation are able to meet the rigorous standards of the program.

Customers who choose a factory-authorized dealer receive a one-year, 100-percent satisfaction guarantee from Carrier.

"We're proud that Sunbelt Mechanical has achieved factory-authorized dealer status," said Halsey Cook, president of Carrier's North America residential business. "Their reputation for excellent customer service is evident in their work, and they've been one of our top dealers in the United States, so it's no surprise they would be one of the first to qualify for this distinction."

Karie Johnson, manager of Carrier dealer development, agreed.

"When homeowners see Sunbelt Mechanical with the factory-authorized dealer label, they can count on peace of mind and a 'no risk' option," Johnson said. "This means fewer, if any, callbacks, hassle-free transactions and superior customer service."

The company said consumers benefit from the factory-authorized dealer endorsement as well. When calling Sunbelt Mechanical, the company said, homeowners can be assured of choosing among Carrier's industry-leading, innovative HVAC systems for the home or small business; dealer expertise in selecting, installing and servicing the equipment; an even higher standard of service; and a written assurance of quality.

Carrier Corp., based out of Indianapolis, is the world's largest company providing heating, air conditioning and refrigeration solutions, with operations in 172 countries. It is part of United Technologies, a Hartford, Conn.-based provider of a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.

For more information about Sunbelt Mechanical, the phone number is 944-2044.SUN