Is Regular Service Necessary for Keeping My HVAC System Under Warranty?

HVAC Technician Performing AC Maintenance in San Antonio, TX

The right warranties and insurance policies can significantly lower the costs of maintaining systems and appliances in your San Antonio, TX home. In some instances, insurance policies and warranties can even prevent out-of-pocket spending altogether especially as it concerns your heating and cooling equipment. If you’ve recently purchased a new furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner, it’s important to diligently adhere to the terms of its manufacturer warranty. Having your HVAC system serviced regularly is one of the terms you must adhere to if you do not want to void the warranty on your unit and for good reason.

Warranties Are Mutually Binding Agreements

All warranties are mutually binding agreements. While these contracts make provisions for protecting consumers, those who issue these warranties make provisions to protect themselves. The product warranties for your HVAC equipment ensures that you’ll never have to pay for problems resulting from defective manufacturing or materials. If your HVAC equipment was broken or poised for failure when you bought it, you won’t have to pay to have it repaired or replaced.

However, undue system stress can also cause HVAC systems to fail long before their time. Even something as simple as forgetting filter changes can result in permanent breakdowns. Thus, HVAC manufacturers require consumers to practice good basic maintenance on their own. HVAC manufacturers also require homeowners to have their system serviced either once or twice a year depending on what is outlined in the warranty. Professional HVAC service addresses problems that equipment owners cannot remediate themselves.

Failing to have regular HVAC maintenance performed is considered a breach of warranty contracts. If your warranty issuer believes that you’ve failed to fulfill the terms of your warranty agreement, they’ve reserved the right to deny your claims and void your coverage.

Your Warranty Issuer Will Know If You Skip Routine Maintenance

Failure to schedule routine maintenance is obvious to HVAC technicians. Although most HVAC equipment is expected to last 15 to 20 years, this doesn’t mean that all of its components will. Certain parts wear down within just one to five years. These are components that are carefully inspected and replaced during maintenance visits. Having outdated parts is just one of many signs that you haven’t scheduled service in a while.

Poorly maintained heating and cooling equipment is often riddled with dust, pollen, dander, and other debris. You might have build-ups of lint-like debris on your HVAC air filter, in your HVAC air ducts, or at your air vents, registers, and grilles. Your air conditioner’s evaporator coil may be covered in particulates too. You might have sludgy deposits at the base of your AC condensate drain line or evidence of leaks at the condensate drain pan. When performing warranty repairs and pre-repair inspections, HVAC companies are required to complete paperwork that notifies warranty issuers of these conditions.

There are also times when product manufacturers and other warranty issuers ask for proof of service. Having documented evidence of regular HVAC equipment maintenance when filing a warranty claim helps expedite the approval process.

Scheduling Regular Service Will Preserve Other Equipment Protections

Your HVAC manufacturer warranty will cover you for defective manufacturing and materials, but your home insurance will pay for HVAC problems resulting from covered perils like lightning strikes and fires. If you have a home insurance policy or home warranty agreement that includes your home systems, this policy or agreement will cover your HVAC replacement and repair claims for issues caused by normal wear

Just as scheduling regular HVAC service will keep your HVAC system’s manufacturer warranty intact, this same level of diligence is also necessary for meeting the maintenance requirements stated in your home insurance policy or home warranty agreement. Whether you’ve received the protections of a warranty by simply purchasing HVAC equipment or you’ve bought secondary, supplementary protection from another company, it’s important to both know and adhere to the terms stated in each of these agreements.

Understanding What Your Warranty Requires

Until you need it, your HVAC manufacturer warranty is likely both out of sight and out of mind. However, you should always read this agreement in its entirety. Although the requirements for equipment maintenance are fairly standard across all HVAC warranties, the requirements that you’re subject to may be slightly different. If you have questions about your warranty or if you have a hard time understanding its language, contact your equipment manufacturer directly.

Helping Our Clients

When we install new HVAC equipment, we always outline the manufacturer’s expectations for maintenance, and we help our clients establish feasible plans for remaining compliant. We also welcome our clients to ask any questions they need so there are no misunderstandings regarding the types of service that are required.

We’ve been proudly serving residents of San Antonio, TX for over 37 years. We offer heating and cooling installation, replacement, maintenance, and repair services. We also provide indoor air quality services, heat pumps, and ductless mini-splits. To schedule an appointment, call Rosenberg Plumbing & Air today.

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