Replacing or repairing your heating and air conditioning system can be a significant investment. Naturally, one of the first questions homeowners ask is:
Does my HVAC system come with a warranty?
In most cases, the answer is yes. But understanding exactly what that warranty covers can be more complicated.
An HVAC installation may involve several different types of warranty protection. One warranty may cover replacement parts. Another may cover the labor required to install those parts. Your HVAC contractor may also provide a workmanship guarantee covering the installation itself.
Knowing the difference can help you avoid an unpleasant surprise if your air conditioner or heating system needs repairs later.
What Types of HVAC Warranties Are Available?
There are generally three types of warranty coverage you may encounter when purchasing HVAC equipment:
- Manufacturer parts warranties
- Labor warranties
- Contractor workmanship warranties
Each protects you in a different way.
Let’s look at how they work.
What Is an HVAC Manufacturer Warranty?
The manufacturer warranty comes from the company that manufactured your air conditioner, heat pump, furnace, air handler, or other HVAC equipment.
This warranty typically covers certain components if they fail because of a manufacturing defect.
Depending on the equipment, covered components may include:
- Compressor
- Evaporator or condenser coils
- Blower motor
- Fan motor
- Circuit boards
- Gas valves
- Ignitors
- Heat exchangers
- Capacitors
- Transformers
- Other internal components
For example, Carrier says its limited warranty covers functional components such as compressors, blower motors, coils, control boards, and heat exchangers.
The important thing to understand is that a manufacturer’s warranty commonly covers the part itself, not necessarily the labor required to replace it.
How Long Do HVAC Manufacturer Warranties Last?
Warranty lengths depend on the manufacturer, equipment model, and whether the system was properly registered.
Five-year and ten-year parts warranties are common, but certain major components may have longer coverage.
For example, Lennox currently lists warranty periods ranging from five to ten years on covered components for many residential systems, while some heat exchangers receive 20-year or limited lifetime coverage depending on the model.
Trane states that many unregistered systems receive a five-year Base Limited Warranty, while qualifying products registered within the required period may receive ten years of parts coverage.
That leads to one of the most important steps after installing new HVAC equipment.
Do I Need to Register My HVAC System?
Sometimes.
Many HVAC manufacturers provide longer warranty coverage when qualifying equipment is registered within a specific period after installation.
That window is often around 60 days, although the rules vary by manufacturer, product, location, and applicable state law.
For example, both Trane and Lennox describe registration programs that may extend the warranty period on qualifying equipment.
Your HVAC contractor may handle registration for you, but you should never assume that happened.
After a new system is installed, ask:
Has my equipment been registered with the manufacturer?
It is also a good idea to keep a copy of the registration confirmation with your HVAC paperwork.
Does an HVAC Manufacturer Warranty Cover Labor?
Not necessarily.
This is probably the biggest warranty misunderstanding among homeowners.
Imagine your air conditioner’s blower motor fails while the equipment is still under warranty.
The manufacturer may provide the replacement motor at no cost, but someone still has to:
- Diagnose the problem
- Remove the failed motor
- Install the replacement
- Test the system
- Complete the warranty paperwork
Those services take time.
Manufacturer warranties frequently do not include that labor.
Carrier, for example, specifically states that its limited warranty covers parts while labor coverage is determined by the dealer or contractor.
Trane similarly states that its standard registered and base limited warranties generally cover qualifying parts but not the labor required to repair them.
That is why you should ask about labor coverage separately.
What Is an HVAC Labor Warranty?
A labor warranty helps cover the cost of the technician’s labor when a covered component needs to be repaired or replaced.
Labor warranties may be provided by:
- The installing HVAC company
- The equipment manufacturer
- A third-party extended service plan
Coverage varies considerably.
A contractor might provide labor coverage for a certain period after installation. Other programs may allow homeowners to purchase longer labor coverage.
Some manufacturers also offer optional labor protection. Lennox, for example, currently offers certain warranty choices that can include limited labor coverage on qualifying systems.
Goodman also offers extended service plans that can provide protection against certain parts and labor expenses, subject to the plan’s terms and availability.
Before buying a new HVAC system, ask exactly how long the labor warranty lasts.
What Is a Workmanship Warranty?
A workmanship warranty is different from the equipment warranty.
It comes from the HVAC company that installed your system and generally addresses problems related to the quality of the installation.
For example, imagine your new air conditioning system develops a problem because a connection was installed incorrectly.
That may not be a manufacturer’s defect. The equipment manufacturer did not cause the problem.
Instead, the issue may fall under the installing contractor’s workmanship coverage.
The exact terms vary by HVAC company, so ask your contractor to explain its workmanship guarantee before installation.
What Doesn’t an HVAC Warranty Usually Cover?
A warranty is not the same thing as unlimited HVAC repair coverage.
Most warranties contain exclusions.
Depending on the warranty, items that may not be covered include:
- Routine maintenance
- Dirty air filters
- Normal wear and tear
- Cosmetic damage
- Improper maintenance
- Damage caused by outside factors
- Unauthorized repairs or modifications
- Refrigerant
- Diagnostic charges
- Labor
- Damage caused by improper installation
- Certain electrical or environmental problems
Carrier, for example, states that items such as refrigerant, paint, screws, belts, and brackets are not included under its standard functional-parts warranty. It also identifies rust and corrosion as normal wear rather than covered defects.
Every manufacturer’s warranty is different, so the actual warranty document should always be your guide.
Is Refrigerant Covered Under an HVAC Warranty?
Not always.
This can surprise homeowners because refrigerant can be expensive.
A manufacturer may cover a failed coil or another component responsible for a refrigerant leak while still excluding the refrigerant necessary to recharge the system.
Carrier, for example, says refrigerant is generally not covered under its standard warranty.
Some extended warranty programs may provide refrigerant coverage under specific circumstances, but you should confirm this before assuming it is included.
Does Maintenance Affect My HVAC Warranty?
It can.
HVAC systems require routine maintenance to operate properly.
A manufacturer may deny warranty coverage if equipment failure resulted from neglect, improper maintenance, incorrect installation, unauthorized modifications, or another excluded condition.
That is another reason annual heating and cooling maintenance is important.
Regular maintenance can:
- Identify developing problems early
- Help equipment operate efficiently
- Reduce unnecessary wear
- Improve reliability
- Create a service history for your system
Keep records of HVAC maintenance and repairs along with your warranty paperwork.
Does an HVAC Warranty Transfer When You Sell Your Home?
Sometimes, but not always.
Some warranties are transferable to a future homeowner, while others provide different coverage for the original owner and subsequent owners.
The warranty term may also change after a home is sold.
Carrier, for example, notes that warranty duration can depend partly on whether the person requesting coverage is the original owner or a subsequent owner.
If you are buying a home with a relatively new HVAC system, ask the seller for:
- Installation paperwork
- Equipment model numbers
- Serial numbers
- Warranty registration information
- Maintenance records
Then confirm the warranty status with the manufacturer or an HVAC professional.
What Should I Ask About Before Buying a New HVAC System?
Do not compare HVAC systems based only on the equipment price.
Warranty protection can also affect the long-term cost of ownership.
Before approving an installation, ask your HVAC contractor:
- How long is the manufacturer’s parts warranty?
- Does the equipment need to be registered?
- Who handles the registration?
- How long is the compressor covered?
- How long is the heat exchanger covered?
- Is labor included?
- How long does the labor warranty last?
- Do you provide a workmanship warranty?
- Is refrigerant covered?
- Are there maintenance requirements?
- Is the warranty transferable?
- Are extended warranty options available?
A reputable HVAC contractor should be willing to walk you through these questions before you purchase the system.
Keep Your HVAC Warranty Information
Once your new system is installed, save your documentation.
Keep copies of:
- Installation invoice
- Model numbers
- Serial numbers
- Manufacturer warranty
- Registration confirmation
- Contractor labor warranty
- Workmanship warranty
- Maintenance records
You may not need those documents for years, but they can make a future warranty claim much easier.
Know What Your HVAC Warranty Covers Before You Need It
A good warranty can provide valuable protection for one of the most expensive systems in your home.
But the word warranty does not necessarily mean every repair will be free.
Manufacturer warranties, labor warranties, and workmanship guarantees protect different things. Understanding those differences before a problem occurs can help you know what is covered and what costs you may still be responsible for.
If you live in Round Rock or elsewhere in Central Texas and have questions about your air conditioning or heating system, 1431 AC & Heating can help you understand your equipment, review available warranty information, and determine what your system needs.
Call (512) 336-1431 to schedule HVAC service or ask about your heating and cooling system.
