Whether you’re about to be a proud new homeowner or you’re planning to upgrade your HVAC system soon, something you need to keep in mind is the warranty for your HVAC.

New HVAC systems come with a warranty upon purchase. What your warranty covers and what requirements must be met to maintain the warranty will all be contained in the agreement you receive. It’s important to read this information carefully so you can be aware of situations that might affect, or even void, your warranty.

What Does My HVAC Warranty Cover?

You will need to refer to your actual warranty to be sure of what it covers and doesn’t, but in general most warranties issued for new HVAC systems cover the following if all requirements by the owner are met:

• Guarantee of faulty equipment
• Replacement of major parts
• Certain repairs

If you find yourself facing a costly repair, it can be a relief knowing you have a warranty to fall back on. However, finding out that you’ve violated some facet of the warranty agreement and either shortened its coverage period or voided it all together is a horrible feeling.

Below are the top tips for maintaining your warranty.

Register Your HVAC System

Once you’ve purchased your new HVAC system and had it installed you may think any paperwork still waiting for attention after that isn’t urgent. You might even push it aside for months. Unfortunately, doing so can cost you a lot in the long run.

As soon as your new HVAC system has been purchased, you need to register the warranty. Many times this registration can be done online. Not taking this simple step can result in a world of trouble:

• If you wait until you need a repair to look at your warranty, in the rare case that you’re still able to register it, having to do so will delay your repairs.
• Some warranties, if not registered within the given time frame, can have their coverage period shortened dramatically. Ten year warranties can be cut down to five year warranties just for failing to register your system in time.
• In the worst, and unfortunately all too common, cases, not registering a warranty by the required date can void it altogether, potentially costing you expensive repairs later that would’ve otherwise been covered.

Registering your system doesn’t take long and it isn’t difficult. If you do have questions, there are many options for getting help available, so don’t hesitate to ask the experts at your HVAC company.

Schedule & Document Annual Maintenance

One of the most common (and important) requirements that HVAC warranties include is scheduling regular, annual maintenance for your HVAC system.

Annual maintenance is important, even if your system seems to be running without a problem. When a professional HVAC technician examines your system during maintenance, they look for small issues that, if caught early enough, can avoid extensive repairs later.

This is the very reason that warranties almost always require annual maintenance. HVAC manufacturers don’t want to pay for costly repairs that could’ve been prevented by maintenance.

It’s also important to retain documentation of the annual maintenance that is done. If you keep this and your installation information together in one place, when the time comes for your warranty to cover a repair you won’t have to scramble to find the information needed for the claim.

Work With A Professional HVAC Company

For the installation, annual maintenance, and incidental repairs, always work with a reputable HVAC company. Professional HVAC companies staff expert technicians that protect your warranty and essentially just make your life easier, for a variety of reasons:

Expert Installation

Your neighbor’s cousin might really be able to install your new HVAC system. However, if problems arise from a system being installed incorrectly, many manufacturers can’t be held accountable and those problems will not be covered by your warranty. Improper installation can even lead to warranties being voided, so be sure to use a reputable HVAC company for your installation.

Appropriate Replacement Parts

When your HVAC system needs a part installed, most warranties require that the parts used be from the original equipment manufacturer. While other parts may work just as well, the parts from the manufacturer have been specifically designed for and tested with your system. A professional HVAC contractor knows this, and will complete repairs that align with the requirements in your warranty. If off-brand parts are used for the replacement, this will usually void your warranty.

Impeccable Documentation

While it’s important for you to keep a record of the installation and any maintenance on your HVAC system so you have the information available when needed, it can be helpful for your HVAC company to have your back. Professional HVAC technicians retain records of work done in the event that it is needed for a warranty or other reason. Some HVAC companies will even register your HVAC equipment on your behalf to make sure you get the most out of your warranty.

The technicians at AirOne Heating and Air Conditioning are experts in maintaining system warranties. Give us a call today to schedule your system installation, annual maintenance, or even to just ask a question. We’re always here to help!