Home Comfort System Warranties
So How Long Should a System Last?
That’s a fair question to ask and one to which you ought to have the answer before looking into extended warranties. The fact is it’s hard to predict how long heating and cooling equipment will last. The national average is 12 years give or take. Some systems last much longer and some fail a long time before they should because they are not well maintained. Given technology advances you should consider 10 years to be a valid answer for determining what warranty is right for you. If the system lasts longer, it’s a plus. If it lasts less time, you will not have been surprised. Let’s talk about home comfort system warranties. When choosing a home comfort system there are a number of warranty choices available to you. Understanding how they work and then choosing the correct one for your needs can save you thousands of dollars in repair expense over the life of the system. Since these choices can be confusing, a good place to start is in understanding how warranties work in the heating and cooling industry.Whose Warranty is it Anyway?One very confusing situation is that customarily one part of the warranty is provided by the equipment manufacturer and the other part is provided by the installing contractor.
The manufacturer of the equipment generally warrants all components against defect for some period of time. In equipment being manufactured today, the low end of the warranty period is one year from the date of original installation. The high end of this part of the warranty is typically five years.
It is common to find the more expensive items, such as the compressor for example, warranted for longer periods. Manufacturer compressor warranties generally range from five to ten years from the date of original installation. The heat exchanger in a furnace will commonly be warranted from ten years to life (of the original owner).
In general the higher the efficiency of the equipment, the longer the warranty. For example, in an entry level cooling system with a gas furnace you will typically be investing in the lowest efficiency mandated by law. The equipment manufacturer may warrant all components for one year from the date of the original installation and the compressor and heat exchanger for ten years from that same date.
In higher efficiency equipment, it is not uncommon to find that the manufacturer warrants all components for five years from the date of installation, the compressor for ten years and the heat exchanger from twenty years to life (of the original owner) from that same date.
The part of the warranty provided by the installing contractor typically covers labor, installation materials and the intangible part of the installed system, how well it does what it is supposed to do….keep the occupants comfortable. The installing contractor’s warranty is typically for one year from the date of the original installation.
Here’s the Dilemma
Since most homeowners do not understand how home comfort warranties work, many mistakenly believe they have a longer warranty than they do or that their warranty covers all parts and labor when it does not.
It is not uncommon for a homeowner to make the mistake of believing that what is in reality the manufacturer’s warranty on parts includes labor.
To be on the safe side, ask the question, “What is the warranty on labor and what is the warranty on parts? Are there extended warranties on any parts of the system and, if so, what parts and what is the time of coverage.”
Understanding this and making sure you ask the right questions may save you a great deal of money over the life of the system.
As an example, if the compressor in your system fails inside the parts warranty but the contractor’s labor warranty has expired, the compressor replacement may well cost you over five hundred dollars.
| |
 Extended Warranties
For years it has been commonplace to be given the option to purchase an extended warranty for an automobile. Such warranties are available for heating and air conditioning equipment as well.
Just as in the automotive industry, these warranties are more often than not insurance policies bought from the equipment manufacturer or through a third party. In rare instances, the installing contractor will carry the warranty in house.
There are some things you should pay attention to when securing an extended warranty.
First, who is underwriting the warranty? Obviously if you are going to buy an extended warranty you should reasonably expect to have the company standing behind the purchase to be around if you need to file a claim.
Equipment manufacturers or insurance companies with a strong rating are your best bet in terms of being around over time.
If a third party insurance carrier is supplying the extended warranty, make sure they have been in business for a while and have a strong rating.
If the contractor is carrying the warranty in house, you need to be assured this company will be around if you ever need service under the warranty.
The second thing you need to understand about any extended warranty is what is covered. Under some extended warranties some major parts and accessories such as thermostats, filters and humidifiers are not covered.
In this last scenario many a homeowner has been surprised to find he or she had to pay for a repair on an accessory that he or she thought was covered by the warranty.
Extended Warranties, A Bargain Expect to pay for extended warranties but since they (most of the time) cost less than $100 per year, they are well worth the money.
Extended warranties are typically for periods of from five to ten years from the date of original installation.
It’s a real bargain to know that, except for routine maintenance and the cost of fuel, your home comfort system is warranted for ten years for less than $1000.
Since we are talking in generalities about warranties in the industry, here’s where we put in the disclaimer. The information provided here is provided as a general indication of how warranties in the heating and cooling industry work and what you may expect in terms of typical coverages. Since warranties do vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and contractor to contractor, you should thoroughly investigate the warranty offering of the equipment manufacturer and installing contractor you choose to deal with.
As a final note of precaution, make sure you obtain a written copy of both the manufacturer’s and installing contractor’s warranty. Reputable installing contractors will have no problem in furnishing these to you.
|
