Is It Wise to Go Without an HVAC Warranty for Your Unit?

If the time ever comes when you need to count on an HVAC warranty, will you have adequate coverage? Today’s cooling and heating components are more reliable and last longer than ever. Still, going without an HVAC warranty potentially exposes you to all the costs of a needed repair somewhere down the road. Here’s how the warranty options for protection against unforeseen repairs stack up.

Standard Warranties

Manufacturers of major brands typically provide a five-year standard HVAC warranty on all new units. What’s more, that standard coverage will often automatically be extended to 10 years merely by registering the unit with the manufacturer at the time of purchase. It’s important to note, however, that most standard manufacturer warranties only cover the cost of parts. Coverage for labor costs is not included. In addition to the standard manufacturer HVAC warranty, several other options are available to extend and enhance coverage and offer other benefits as well.

Labor Warranties

Frequently offered by the HVAC contractor who sells the unit, these policies cover service-call charges and labor costs related to qualified repair work provided by that contractor. However, exact terms often vary according to the specific contractor.

Coverage of Expensive Components

On certain units manufactured by major brand names, special unlimited coverage may be included to cover certain high-cost system parts, such as the air conditioner compressor and the furnace heat exchanger. Often, this coverage is included with higher-priced units in the manufacturer’s product line.

Service Agreements

These policies, offered at an annual cost by the HVAC contractor who sold the unit, help fill some of the gaps in HVAC warranty coverage. Most service agreements include a 15% discount on service-call and labor charges (which aren’t covered by the manufacturer’s standard warranty), as well as offer preventive maintenance service and inspections twice a year to ensure optimum system performance, efficiency and reliability. This makes the need for costly major repairs less likely.

For more answers to your HVAC-warranty questions and available coverage options, contact the pros at CCAC.