Frequently Asked Questions
McAllister Energy is here for all of your home comfort needs from heating oil delivery to HVAC repairs, maintenance, and service.
This page contains a listing of frequently asked questions and their answers. If you have a question that is not addressed here, please call us at (856) 665-4545 or use the contact form here.
- What is the SEER Rating?
- Why is the SEER rating on the Energy Guide different than what my dealer quoted?
- Why should I have regular (or preventative) maintenance? And how often should I have it performed?
- What equipment requires regular (or preventative) maintenance?
- I need help troubleshooting a problem with my equipment.
- What are the advantages of a programmable thermostat?
- What type of filter should I use? And how often should I replace it?
- Why can't I find the correct size furnace filter at my local home improvement store for my Carrier Brand Equipment?
- Where can I get parts for my Carrier equipment?
- Which Carrier equipment will best fit my home?
- What does my warranty cover?
- What is the life expectancy of my unit?
- What areas does McAllister service?
- Do you offer emergency services?
- What is a home energy audit in South Jersey?
- Why choose Carrier products for my South Jersey home?
- Do I need indoor air quality solutions?
- What is AFUE?
- What kind of fuel services do you offer?
- Can I benefit from a humidifier in South Jersey?
What is the SEER Rating?
The SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) is how the efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment is measured. The SEER is the amount of cooling your system will deliver per dollar spent on electricity, as compared to other systems. For example, a 3-ton unit may have a SEER efficiency rating of 13, 14, or 15. The higher the SEER the more efficient the system will be. The SEER rating of any given unit can range anywhere from 13 to 21.
Why is the SEER rating on the Energy Guide different than what my dealer quoted?
Each split system cooling unit has a nominal SEER rating. This rating can be increased with the upgrade of the same series indoor unit. The SEER rating of a system is derived based on the combination of equipment installed in the home. The outdoor equipment (heat pump or air conditioner), as well as the indoor equipment (evaporator coil and furnace, or air handler), play a vital role in the total rating.
Why should I have regular (or preventative) maintenance? And how often should I have it performed?
Your heating and cooling systems work incredibly hard to perform their functions for your home everyday. The constant stopping, starting and continual operation can wear down any machine if the proper care and maintenance is delayed. However, by performing regular maintenance, you can maximize the lifecycle of your heating or cooling unit and guard against many common equipment failures. Preventive maintenance inspections performed on a regular basis can uncover leaks, rust, rot, soot, frayed wires and corroded electrical contacts that the naked eye may not notice. You should have maintenance done on your system regularly to ensure maximum efficiency and allow prevent possible problems that may occur in the near future.
What equipment requires regular (or preventative) maintenance?
At least once a year heat pumps and air conditioners require a professional tune-up. Because gas-fired equipment functions with greater efficiency, they only need to be serviced every other year. Inspections on boiler and furnace systems should include ductwork, pipes, dampers, valves, the chimney, registers, radiators, pumps, blowers, fuel lines, the gas meter, oil tank and every part of the actual furnace and boiler. Meanwhile, heat pump and air conditioning unit inspections should also include inspections of the fan, compressor, indoor coils, outdoor coils, line kits and refrigerant lines.
I need help troubleshooting a problem with my equipment.
As your local Carrier dealer, McAllister Energy is your troubleshooting expert and is glad to help you. In addition, Carrier also provides a network of troubleshooting technicians at Carrier Distribution centers across the country which McAllister Energy will utilize to solve your concern. Should we encounter a situation that requires additional factory help, we will contact our factory supported Service Manager(s) for assistance.
What are the advantages of a programmable thermostat?
Since they are electronic, programmable thermostats are more accurate and efficient than thermostats that contain mercury. With programmable thermostats you can control the temperature in your home at different times of day without ever touching your thermostat. Because everything is automatic, you will never forget to change the setting on your own. A WiFi enabled thermostat allows you to monitor and adjust your home's heating and cooling system remotely, helping you reduce your heating and cooling costs.
What type of filter should I use? And how often should I replace it?
Standard filters work to keep your system and its ductwork clean, but they don't really improve indoor air quality. To do that you need a media filter. The media filter rests between the main return duct and the blower cabinet and will improve dust and particle removal by seven times that of a standard filter. However, upgrading to a pleated media filter will remove everything from insecticide dust to airborne viruses from the filtered air. Always choose a filter that matches your blower's capacity. For optimum efficiency and filtration, McAllister Energy recommends that you replace your disposable filters at least once a month. If you have washable filters, they should be cleaned once a month.
Why can't I find the correct size furnace filter at my local home improvement store for my Carrier Brand Equipment?
The filter shipped with your Carrier unit is made from higher-quality materials than those of the disposable filters found in retail stores. For that reason, replacement Carrier filters can only be purchased through a Carrier dealer. However, keep in mind that some Carrier filters are reusable, and can be washed by hand in cold water.
Where can I get parts for my Carrier equipment?
As a Carrier dealer, McAllister Energy is the best resource for identifying and supplying the correct, current parts for your system, as well as pricing and availability.
Which Carrier equipment will best fit my home?
There are many factors that affect the sizing and specifications of your system, including square footage, insulation, window surface and configuration, geographic location of your home, duct sizing and arrangement, and many others. McAllister Energy can perform an in-home load analysis to determine which equipment combinations will perfectly suit your home and your family's needs. Depending upon the construction of your home, one (1) ton of air conditioning can cool anywhere from 300 to 800 square feet of home. The only way to insure the size of the system you purchase will be large enough to cool your home, but not any larger than you need, is to have your home's individual heating and cooling needs evaluated by a licensed professional.
What does my warranty cover?
Under the standard factory warranty, Carrier covers parts that fail during the warranty period due to defect in the part. The warranty does not cover labor. A warranty certificate was included with your homeowner information packet, and is specific to the model numbers, serial numbers and installation dates of your products. If you cannot find your warranty certificate, McAllister Energy will also be able to provide you with the information.
What is the life expectancy of my unit?
We choose to provide Carrier products partly because of their exceptional lifespan and reliability, but the overall lifespan of a unit differs depending on a variety of factors. For example a heat pump system from Carrier can be expected to operate well for 15 years or more, and especially so if you are sure to get professional maintenance consistently.
A good rule of thumb is past the 10 year mark all systems should be professionally inspected and monitored routinely in order to ensure you seek heating or cooling replacement in a timely manner that preserves your comfort and saves cost.
What areas does McAllister service?
Our team offers comprehensive services throughout South Jersey, so you know that your needs are always covered, no matter where you are. To be more specific, we serve:
- Moorestown
- Haddonfield
- Cherry Hill
- Washington Township
- Voorhees Township
- Mount Laurel
- Pennsauken
We also service all of the surrounding areas of these listed locations. If you’re not sure if we cover your area, feel free to give us a call at 856-665-4545 to find out!
Do you offer emergency services?
Absolutely! Our emergency service team offers repair, replacement, and installation. We carry the tools and training to handle all of your emergency service needs, and our emergency professionals are available any time or day, including weekends and holidays.
You can reach our emergency service experts at any time online, but if you have a problem that needs immediate attention, we’d recommend giving us a call. You shouldn’t have to wait for superior service, so our team makes sure you never have to!
What is a home energy audit in South Jersey?
A home energy audit, or evaluation, is a service that aims to locate and rectify areas of the home that are reducing energy-efficiency. This includes a comprehensive diagnosis of all important home areas, including insulation, ductwork health, potential air leaks in the home, inspections for moisture damage, and much more!
The evaluation helps us draw up a very detailed report of all troublesome areas, and when it’s done, we have a very good idea of where we can help you save on energy loss. Our experts will sit down with you and the report, and work to help you formulate a plan to help improve your home and comfort! If you want to learn a bit more about the service and exactly what it entails, we’d urge you to check out our service page.
Why choose Carrier products for my South Jersey home?
For the same reasons we do. Carrier has over a century of superior service and quality under their belts. They’re dedicated to innovation and superior design, and their goals are always improvement for the sake of consumers. They don’t want to make air conditioners and furnaces. They want to make the best air conditioners and furnaces, and they do exactly that!
Carrier products are a great options for McAllister, because they let us guarantee perfection for our clients, which is all we’ve ever wanted.
Do I need indoor air quality solutions?
We couldn’t give you a definitive answer without actually meeting with you and testing your home, but judging by our experience and current science, yes, you probably do. Dust, debris, mold spore, and high humidity levels are something that almost all homeowners wrestle with, meaning there’s a lot to be gained by adding an air purifier or dehumidifier to your South Jersey home.
What is AFUE?
The AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is a measure of how efficient a furnace, boiler, or similar heating system is when consuming fuel. It can be somewhat compared to SEER for cooling systems, but the numbers used represent different factors. For example you may find a gas furnace with an AFUE of 92%. This rating means that when gas is consumed, 92% of that fuel is converted to usable heat, while the other 8% is lost in one way or another.
What kind of fuel services do you offer?
At McAllister we strive to bring our clients complete solutions to meet every need, and that includes comprehensive fuel services. Our oil delivery service is tailored to your schedule, offering a single point of contact to get all of your oil furnace and boiler fuel and repair service needs.
Can I benefit from a humidifier in South Jersey?
Similarly to air purifiers and filtration systems, it’s hard to give a definitive yes or no. Because of our mixed climate it’s very common for South Jersey homeowners to deal with homes that are too dry because we run our furnaces and AC systems nearly all year round. A good way to tackle this is by asking yourself these questions:
- Do I regularly suffer from increased allergy symptoms?
- Is the air in my home very dry?
- Do I frequently deal with ear, nose, and throat irritation?
- Is my skin constantly dry?
There are also advantages to heating efficiency with a professional whole-home humidifier installation, which is more than worth mentioning!