How would you like to get hit with a $1,500 or more air conditioner repair bill a few weeks after having it installed? Imagine having to pay for it out-of-pocket even though your conditioner came with a manufacturer’s warranty because you avoided your warranty without realizing it! This happens to homeowners more than you might expect.
- Air conditioner manufacturers don’t make it easy to keep your warranty valid, because they don’t want to pay for your repairs.
But, you can avoid this nightmare by keeping your warranty active. Most homeowners don’t realize they have to register the air conditioner with the manufacturer; Otherwise, the lifespan of their warranty is significantly reduced, or, worse, eliminated from the beginning. Usually there is a firm deadline to complete the registration, often 60 to 90 days from installation. Be careful with replacement parts. Manufacturers will automatically void your air conditioner’s warranty if they learn anything in your unit was substituted with an off-brand part. An off-brand part is anything made by a supplier other than the original manufacturer; Skipping your annual maintenance might be tempting, but do not skip the maintenance. Most air conditioner manufacturers require homeowners to get their unit tested, and keep records of the servicing, at least once a year. Otherwise, the warranty becomes void. The worst part about skipping maintenance is that it makes you even more at risk of expensive repair bills in the future! Professional technicians will inspect the system to catch and repair small complications before they become expensive ones. Signing up for an HVAC maintenance plan, compared to one visit, helps you get more for your money. Usually, these plans offer two maintenance visits a year, discounted repairs and deals on service calls, all for one low monthly fee.