HVAC warranties

[beznsarah]

I wanted to know briefly how a manufacturer's warranty works.

Let's say I have an X system properly installed by a qualified technician, etc. Let's say 6 yrs down the road, what if something goes wrong on a covered part of the system and the technician has retired or is no longer around... Can I call any other licensed technician and have my unit serviced under the warranty? (only parts warranted of course) Or, does the original technician have to be around to validate/service my warranty?

Also, on a related note, what documentation do I need to keep to validate my warranty for the new technician? Will I be up the creek without a paddle if I lose the receipt from 6 yrs ago??

Thanks !

[coolguysfl]

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacture) warranties will vary but are spelled out in the parchment you should receive w/ the system - if not, you should be able to get a copy on the Internet with a couple of searches.

The warranty is to you the original owner, it can deviate to second owners. Most manufactures do stipulate that the free parts warranty period is only eligible thru a lic. contractor, it doesn't have to be the original installer.

Note - the standard in our industry is a 1 yr labor warranty from date of installation, so hold on to a copy of the contract.

Some mfgs offer on line registration & optional parts & labor warranties that are a great problem solver.

Did the install get permitted / inspected?

[beznsarah]

Thanks for the response. I actually have not yet had my installation done. I'm just trying to get a good understanding of how the warranty would work if the original installing technician was not around a few years down the road.

I'm not sure if permits/inspection are required here in my city but I'll make sure that is done if required.

[t527ed]

best to get a dealer for your brand of equipment to handle warranty parts. i am a lennox dealer and theirs are the only parts i warranty. keep copy of bill of sale handy.

[comfort comando]

in rare occasion when the installing company is no longer around the factory can point you in the right direction. thy generally don't want to leave you hanging.

[arc8]

Parts only warranty usually any dealer can do.
Labor not.

[2heat]

Just go with your local utility companies appliance repair plan. Ours is 19.95 per month, takes care of the washer, dryer, water heater, frig, stove, oven, furnace and a/c. Can't beat it.

[JasonHoustonTX]

Originally posted by 2heat
Just go with your local utility companies appliance repair plan. Ours is 19.95 per month, takes care of the washer, dryer, water heater, frig, stove, oven, furnace and a/c. Can't beat it.

hahaha....

[hvaclover]

Originally posted by 2heat
Just go with your local utility companies appliance repair plan. Ours is 19.95 per month, takes care of the washer, dryer, water heater, frig, stove, oven, furnace and a/c. Can't beat it.

Stick that utility warranty where the sun don't shin.

One local company just bid a utility warranty plan is getting less than half a hundred to show up and labor the job and no mark up on parts.

To a customer that sounds sweet I'm sure, but the long and short of it is that there is a shortfall in the utiltilities cash reserves of the warranty plan.

That means utilities are subsdizing the plan with ratepayer income.

[2heat]

Nice reply HVACLOVER. Are you going to knock these licensed contractors to? Our Utility plan has their own full time employees. No subs. If I could have got a plan through my local HVAC Company I would have. But, you just don’t know if they will be around for the long haul.

[davo]

Originally posted by 2heat
Nice reply HVACLOVER. Are you going to knock these licensed contractors to? Our Utility plan has their own full time employees. No subs. If I could have got a plan through my local HVAC Company I would have. But, you just don’t know if they will be around for the long haul.

I'm sure for $240.00 a year for all that, they provide you with the best trained techs, and the most prompt service available. I know their service trucks are well stocked as well. I'm sure they do a quality maintenance on the a/c and furnace too. They must cover maintenance related issues as well if they cannot be beat.

If they discover you have a bad disconnect, are they going to have one on the truck, or leave you hanging to call someone else to fix it?

What I'm saying is don't expect top quality service and read ALL the fine print in your contract.
It's fairly easy to find a contractor who has been in business for a while.

Oh...who guarentees the utilities will be doing this service for the long haul? The utility company has to answer to Share Holders. If it looses money after a while, it will be gone as it is nothing more than insurance. (most likely self- insured)

As far as using a local contractor for a plan, most of these plans are simply insurance plans. If the contractor goes out of business, the Insuring Agent will provide you with a new one. If the Insuring Agent goes belly up, A reputable contractor will honor it anyway, as I have had to do in the past.

[2heat]

davo

How much would one of these simple insurance plans cost, and what kind of coverage period are we talking.

[hvaclover]

Originally posted by 2heat
Nice reply HVACLOVER. Are you going to knock these licensed contractors to? Our Utility plan has their own full time employees. No subs. If I could have got a plan through my local HVAC Company I would have. But, you just don’t know if they will be around for the long haul.

I don't think the utilities should be involved in warranty plans.

If your going to provide gas or electricity, do so.
But leave the servicing to to guys who do it best, US.

Yeah, yeah, I know I
am stepping on some toes, but the reality of it is these warranties in my area are invariably used to subsidize the utility operating costs. Two audits have proved that.


I only know how it is HERE, not anywhere else. There has been an US versus THEM mentality concerning utilities since before I was born.

The utilities knock US and we reciprocate in kind.

Since this can of worms has been opened, I might as well have my say.

I know there are gas company guys here and it is not my intention to slam them, I have never met you so I don't know what your thoughts on the matter are.

I will say that any interaction I have had with gas company people has not been good, and it was not me who started the crap.

How would you react if it's the coldest day of winter and you go to the supplier and the counter is packed, and in comes Joe Utility and pushes his way to the front of the pack demanding service 'cause he works for the Gas Company?

Ever hear two gas company people talking in the supply house. They put down all the non-utility service companies no matter how good they are.

Try to get a gas company guy to correct a line pressure problem. To their mind the gas meters can never drop pressure or spike it. Tell that to the gas valve I had to replace when the regulator got toasted (I did check the press . Problem was intermittent).

Ever show up on the job and the Joe Utility comes out of the house, no tools or instruments in hand, gives a smirk and says, "You can have it. Just needs cleaning."

What? Joe Utility doesn't carry a vacuum cleaner? You go into the home and you find out why he walked: It's a sooter.

Ok a little off topic, but you get the idea.

Point is these plans do not pay for maintenance, they won't replace a HT EX even if it's available under warranty from manufacturer.

They won't replace evaps, compressors, or allow leak repairs. Your a/c low on refrigerant? Gas and go!

Know what the kicker is? They "partner" with local contractors to do the work to "free-up" Joe Utility and his co-workers to do the "important business of the gas company". I don't know what that is 'cause nobody at the gas company will clarify.

So now the the HO gets abbreviated service that makes US in the business look bad and gives Joe Utility more ammo to use against US. And the vicious circle just keeps going 'round and 'round.

I won't ever bid a utility warranty program. After so long in business I'd rather fold.

Because the servicing contractor is not getting a great return on the program he can't invest his best people to it.

I won't put a ten year veteran who I am paying a good wage to work on a plan that only pays back enough money to give the tech minimum wage.

If the plans are different in your state, then good for you.

But it's a I described here and it just plain stinks.

[2heat]

Excellent response hvaclover. That’s what I like, straight forward common sense logic, with references to backup your argument. Not just bashing the other guy. Keep up the good work hvaclover!!

[davo]

Originally posted by 2heat
davo

How much would one of these simple insurance plans cost, and what kind of coverage period are we talking.
I have seen coverage periods of 12 years.
We are not allowed to discuss price here, and they vary greatly with the type of coverage you choose and the age of equipment.

I generally recommend saving your money.
Find a reputable contractor and sign up for a comprehensive maintenance agreement. Correct problems that could be shortening the equipment life and lowering efficiency.
The utility company service guy will never find these type of things. By doing this, you will be ahead of the game in the lifecycle of the equipment, and you will have established a relationship with someone who has your best interests in mind, not what is most easy for them, when it is time to replace the system.

I brazed in my first condensing unit at the age of 8 with my brother, almost 32 years ago. I have seen a lot of things now that I'm almost 40.

I NEVER will use a third party insurer such as EQUIGUARD or others again. Years ago, one such company went belly up and left us hanging with 1500 10-year parts and labor warranties. We honored every one because WE wrote the contract and were the ones who would have looked like theives.

When something goes wrong, a reputable contractor generally places your satisfaction over their proffit. This is because we know if when the chips are down, and we make you happy, you may tell 2 people. If you are unhappy, you WILL tell ten people.

The best small bussiness will run circles around the best large business. The difference is the customers think of the people, not the company. The small bussiness owner knows this, and guards their reputation.
The large companies don't care and guard their proffits. The GM job is not to run the company, but to do report after report. Things have to go through cains of commands for a simple problem to get rectified. Everyone plays CYA and does not take responsibility.

In my small company, when there is a problem, and I am not around to handle it, these are my instructions:
1. Make the Customer Happy.
2. See step 1

When we are out of inventory, or low on manpower, and the customer wants a new unit, we have been known to put in a compressor to get them cooling until we can replace the system...at no extra cost.
My inventory problems are not your problems, so why should I make you suffer?

Do you think the utility would do that?

By the way, WE service OUR utility providers.