Is it good for our employees? Is it good for our customers? Is it good for our community? This trifecta has kept Sunset Air in business for 50 years. “Only when we can say ‘yes’ to all three of these questions do we pursue a new opportunity,” shares Trenton Fluetsch, Sunset Air president and CEO. On September 17, 2026, they looked back on 50 years with family, friends, customers, and employees, current and retired.
From a Tumwater Garage to Award-Winning HVAC Company
Sunset Air was founded on March 1, 1976, by Peter and Kathy Fluetsch – Trenton’s grandparents – out of the garage in their home on Tumwater Hill. “We talk about employees being like family, and back in those days it really was,” shares Brian Fluetsch, Trenton’s father, who was a high school junior when his parents started Sunset Air. He is now chairman of the board. “I would get up for school and have my breakfast around the kitchen table with our employees sharing a cup of coffee and getting ready for their day.”
Jim Southwell was Sunset Air’s first employee. He would have his coffee with Brian in the morning. He worked at Sunset until his retirement. He attended the anniversary party on September 17.
Kathy was office manager and bookkeeper. “She kept track of every nickel that passed through our company,” shares Brian. “And that was a very good thing. My dad was the big picture guy, but my mom made sure our financial affairs were in good order. So, she deserves a lot of the credit for the success of Sunset Air.”
Sunset Air started as a residential HVAC company. Trenton says they mostly changed out furnaces, worked on residential new construction homes, and operated a service department. Over the past 50 years, they have evolved with the times – another key to success.
“We have added and removed services over the years, pivoting with customer demands” shares Trenton. “We most recently have added a plumbing service division, which has really helped expand our offerings to our customers. We also added an electrical division around a decade ago. With the latter addition, we now do a significant amount of Solar, EV charging, whole-home battery systems, generators, and electrical services in the region.”
Today, they have more than 150 employees and provide heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, solar, engineering and other services throughout the South Sound area.
Sunset Air: 50 Years of Excellence and Community
Along with their trifecta of questions, they lived by the motto:
- Take good care of your employees
- Take good care of your customers
- Take good care of your suppliers and
- Take good care of your community by supporting worthy causes
These four points have not only allowed them to be a third-generation family business, a rare thing, but to garner awards along the way, including Carrier President’s Awards, employer awards, industry recognition, and the 2026 Thurston Green Business of the Year.
But, for them, the biggest part is their family, customers, employees and reputation. “What I am most proud of is the reputation that has been built over 50 years,” shares Trenton. “I am proud that our average employee has been with Sunset Air for more than a decade. It takes decades to build a reputation, but one poor decision to ruin it. It is so vital to always stick to our values and never take our customers for granted.”
Part of that reputation includes a strong dedication to giving back to the community. Over the years, Sunset Air has donated to many organizations – too many to list, in fact. In line with their own beliefs, they have supported groups involved in supporting kids, education, healthcare and other avenues that make our community a better place to live and raise a family, Trenton adds.
On September 17, all gathered at Port Plaza from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunset Air founder, Kathy Fluetsch, was in attendance. Trenton’s grandfather, Peter, passed away a bit over a year ago. But he got to see the transition of the business to Trenton and Hannah as the third-generation owners and that, Brian says, made his father very happy.
The evening included speeches by Trenton and Brian, a catered dinner, beverages by the water and music by Eldridge Gravy and Court Supreme. Dancing at twilight was part of the evening. And, as a true family event, Trenton says there were “enough glow sticks to keep every kid in Olympia entertained until eight o’clock.”
Most of all, Sunset Air wishes to thank their family, employees, customers and suppliers for the last 50 years. “Thank you for being our employees. Thank you for being our customers. Thank you for being our partners, our friends, our family, and our community,” Trenton says. “Here’s to the next fifty!”
And, as a way of saying “thank you,” Sunset Air is offering a 50th Anniversary special that includes 60 months no-interest financing, a 10-year parts and labor warranty, with two years of maintenance included. Find out more on the Sunset Air website.
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