Furnace warranties are a great asset that come with the purchase of new heating equipment for your Indianapolis area home. The protection they offer is substantial in the event of a system malfunction. Williams Comfort Air shares the information you need to know about furnace warranties when you shop for a new home heating system.
When you have a new furnace installed, this equipment comes with a warranty from the manufacturer. Your HVAC contractor may also offer an installation warranty. Additionally, you may have the option to purchase an extended warranty for your new furnace. What do all these furnace warranties cover?
The manufacturer warranty is issued by the equipment manufacturer and covers the furnace in the event of manufacturing defects for a certain time period. If a defective component causes an issue with furnace performance, the manufacturer covers the cost of a replacement part. These are called limited warranties, as they do not cover all types of issues that a homeowner may experience with the furnace – only what is outlined in the warranty terms.
Some manufacturers also offer separate component warranties which provide specific warranty coverage for important components of the furnace. For example, many manufacturers offer a separate parts warranty that covers the system’s heat exchanger. The warranty term for this component is typically longer than the general manufacturer warranty that covers the entire system.
An installation warranty is offered by the HVAC installer, not the equipment manufacturer. This warranty covers the installation service performed by your heating technicians. If the equipment is damaged during installation or develops issues down the road due to installation-related problems, the contractor covers the cost of needed repairs for a certain warranty term.
Many HVAC equipment manufacturers offer extended furnace warranties, which add additional years of coverage to the original manufacturer warranty term. An extended warranty is purchased separately, whereas a manufacturer warranty is included with your furnace purchase.
Furnace warranties are a major selling point for many homeowners when going through the process of selecting a new heating system. It’s important that you carefully read through the warranty terms and conditions, so you know what you need to do to validate your furnace warranty and keep it that way.
All HVAC equipment manufacturers have their own warranty terms, so the specifics vary from one brand to the next. If you have questions about what your warranty covers and how to validate your warranty, your HVAC contractor is able to help.
Many furnace manufacturers require warranty registration to gain full warranty coverage. There is often a specific timeframe following installation when the warranty must be registered – 60 days from the date of installation, for many brands. When a homeowner registers their new furnace with the brand within the specified timeframe, they receive longer coverage periods. If the new furnace is not registered, the base warranty coverage is not as long.
Failing to register furnace warranties is a costly mistake that leaves you with a much shorter warranty term and less protection as your furnace ages. When you have a new furnace installed, clarify with your HVAC installer how much time you have to register and make sure you have access to all the information needed to register your equipment.
Most furnace brands allow you to easily register the unit’s warranty online. In most cases, you need the unit’s serial number, model number, installation date, contractor information, and perhaps a few other details.
Once furnace warranties are registered, the coverage period starts. Many homeowners mistakenly think there is nothing they need to do to maintain warranty protection, that once it starts, they are good to go. However, that is not the case – equipment manufacturers have specific terms that must be followed to keep the warranty valid.
These terms are different for each brand, but in general, these are some of the typical requirements major HVAC equipment manufacturers include in their furnace warranties:
Because of the potential value and protection furnace warranties offer, HVAC manufacturers offer competitive warranty terms to help their products stand out amongst the many equipment options available to homeowners. Warranty periods and what is covered ranges greatly between brands, though a 5-year base warranty is fairly standard in the heating industry.
Furnace warranties also vary greatly between a brand’s own product lines. Basic or economy model furnaces typically offer shorter warranty terms, while premium products offer enhanced coverage.
As you shop for a new furnace for your Indianapolis area residence, take a look at the various furnace warranties offered across all available brands as well as within the product lines of any brand you are considering for use in your home. To give you an idea of what furnace warranties are available, here’s a look at the terms offered by leading furnace manufacturers, which vary by product:
5 to 10 years parts limited warranty
20 years to lifetime limited warranty for heat exchangers
5 to 10 years parts limited warranty
20 years to lifetime limited warranty for heat exchangers
5 to 10 years parts limited warranty
20 years to lifetime limited warranty for heat exchangers
5 to 10 years parts limited warranty
20 years to lifetime limited warranty for heat exchangers
5 to 10 years parts limited warranty
20 years to lifetime limited warranty for heat exchangers
5 to 10 years parts limited warranty
20 years to lifetime limited warranty for heat exchangers
Lifetime limited warranty unit replacement
5 to 10 years parts limited warranty
Lifetime limited warranty for heat exchangers
10 years limited warranty unit replacement
12 years parts limited warranty
5 to 12 years limited warranty unit replacement
Paperwork has a funny way of disappearing over time. When your furnace experiences a problem years after installation, you may not be able to find the information on your system’s warranty. How do you know if your warranty is still in effect?
Most furnace brands offer an online tool that allows homeowners to look up warranty coverage. To look up warranty coverage, you need this information:
A new or newer furnace is a hot ticket item amongst homebuyers, as newer furnaces typically don’t need the work older systems do. Plus, with furnace warranties covering about half the expected service life of a unit, there is warranty coverage available… right?
This is not always the case. Not all furnace brands allow their furnace warranties to be transferred to a new homeowner. The equipment is registered to the original purchaser and ends when the home changes hands, whether or not the furnace warranty term has expired.
This is often a nasty surprise for new homeowners who expected the newer furnace in their new residence to be protected for several more years. Non-transferrable furnace warranties leave new homeowners to pay out of pocket for any repairs the system needs.
These days, many furnace manufacturers do allow furnace warranties to be transferred to the new homeowner. However, a specific process must be followed, including completing the warranty transfer within a certain time period and paying a transfer fee. If these steps are not completed according to the warranty terms, coverage is lost.
Whenever you buy a new home, be sure to ask for information regarding existing furnace warranties. You need to know if they are transferrable and what you must do to get the warranty properly transferred into your name.
Williams Comfort Air installs new Carrier heating systems for homeowners throughout the Central Indiana region. Carrier offers some of the best furnace warranties available, and we are happy to walk you through the details to help you best understand what protections you receive when you purchase a new furnace for your home.
Get a quote for new furnace installation – contact us today!