The Ultimate HVAC Warranty Guide

Everything You Need to Know About Your HVAC Warranty

Your new air conditioner or heater might be in great shape right now, but what happens if it isn’t working in a year? You might be quite frustrated, especially after you’ve recently spent a lot of money upgrading your HVAC system. Thankfully, you might not have to pay out of pocket to fix or replace your unit because of your AC or furnace warranty.

New heating and cooling systems come with HVAC warranties that protect homeowners from paying costs associated with defective products. However, there is some legwork that’s involved in keeping your warranty active, as neglected systems are more likely to break.

But don’t fret, we’ll help explain everything you need to know about your furnace or air conditioner warranty.

HVAC Warranty FAQs

Most heating and cooling systems come with a limited manufacturer warranty that lasts between 5-10 years.However, there are stipulations that come with the warranties. Most manufacturers require you to register the warranty within a certain time period, and the warranties usually only protect against defective parts for certain components of the unit.

Many home warranty and insurance companies cover HVAC systems. However, the type of coverage varies by plan and provider. Some home warranties will replace properly maintained HVAC systems that break down due to normal wear and tear, accidental damage or damage caused by environmental disasters. Meanwhile, other home warranties may exclude some of these protections.

According to U.S. News & World Report, Goodman, Lennox, York, Frigidaire, Amana and Coleman have some of the best HVAC warranties in the industry. However, the length and coverage of the warranty depend on the specific heater or AC unit that you’re buying. So make sure to check the warranty information for each model before you finalize your purchase.

How to Prevent a Voided HVAC Warranty

A great way to think about your HVAC warranty is to treat it like an auto warranty. For example, if your car’s engine breaks down but you haven’t gotten an oil change in three years, the manufacturer isn’t going to replace the engine or cover the expenses for repairs. HVAC manufacturer warranties are very similar. You must ensure that your heating and cooling system receives the proper care. Every manufacturer typically requires several key conditions that must be met to keep its coverage from being voided. These include:
  • The unit/equipment is properly installed, operated and maintained by a licensed HVAC installer or agency.
  • The installation, operation and maintenance must follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
  • Failure to conduct maintenance per the manufacturer’s instructions will void the warranty.
  • The manufacturer may ask you to provide documentation of annual or routine maintenance before fulfilling warranty coverage.
In simple terms, it’s best to have a reputable, licensed HVAC service provider, such as Service Today!, inspect and maintain your system at least once a year to keep your air conditioner warranty or furnace warranty active.

Registering Your HVAC Manufacturer Warranty

Many HVAC manufacturers require that you register your warranty with them within a specific amount of time after installation. Too often, homeowners don’t register their equipment in time and lose the coverage provided by the warranty.
Thankfully, Service Today! customers don’t have to worry about having an unregistered warranty. Because we care about your peace of mind, Service Today! registers the HVAC manufacturer warranty for you whenever we install a new system.

Types of HVAC Warranties

Did you know that your HVAC system might be covered by more than one warranty? Air conditioner warranties and furnace warranties come in several different forms. Some of these HVAC warranties are provided by the manufacturer while others are provided by service providers, such as Service Today! Here’s a simple breakdown of some popular types of HVAC warranties.

The Standard HVAC Manufacturer Warranty

Manufacturers include a standard warranty with the purchase of a new AC unit, furnace or other types of HVAC equipment. Depending on the brand (ex. Goodman, Carrier, Trane, Rheem, Coleman, Lennox, etc.) the warranty may vary in length and the type of coverage it provides. Notably, different parts of your equipment may be covered for different lengths of time, and some HVAC warranties (or parts of the warranty) are transferable from one owner to another while others aren’t.

You can expect the standard HVAC manufacturer warranty to provide coverage in the event that you received a defective component or unit. If that were the case, the manufacturer would send you a new component or an entirely new unit, if necessary.

The Extended HVAC Manufacturer Warranty

Many HVAC manufacturers offer extended coverage, for an additional fee, that goes beyond their standard HVAC manufacturer warranty. For example, Goodman offers extended warranty options of 5, 10 and 99 years.

However, these extended HVAC manufacturer warranties may only be available via authorized dealers and they may not be transferable to future owners.

The Service Provider Warranty

HVAC service providers, such as Service Today!, may provide a warranty for their installation services. How does a service provider’s warranty coverage differ from that of the manufacturer’s HVAC warranty? A typical provides coverage on the installation of the equipment itself. That means they may replace or repair your system if the technician incorrectly installed a component of your HVAC equipment or the entire unit.

The Service Today! Extended Parts & Labor Warranties

At Service Today!, we stand by our work, which is why we include Extended Parts and Labor warranties with our installation services. The Extended Parts and Labor warranties require that you fulfill the same conditions as those required by the manufacturer’s limited warranty, as listed in the section above. Otherwise, Service Today! reserves the right to void the protection offered by its Extended Parts and Labor warranties, as the equipment or its components could have been damaged by improper care or use.

Service Today! Will Help Preserve Your HVAC Warranty

We know that you want to get the most out of your HVAC warranties, but we also understand that many homeowners may forget to schedule the required maintenance to keep their coverage intact. Thankfully, the Service Today! team has your back. We make it easy to keep up with the manufacturer guidelines by sending helpful to reminders to anyone who has bought a new air conditioner or heating unit from us. 

In addition, our SHAPE membership program includes the services necessary to preserve your HVAC warranty. SHAPE Plan members receive four annual in-depth inspections and tune-ups for HVAC, plumbing and/or electrical systems. This service also includes carbon monoxide testing, cooling capacity and airflow testing, an efficiency evaluation and more. Plus, you’ll receive a 10% discount on other services and repairs, priority front-of-the-line scheduling and a host of other benefits.