What HVAC Warranty Should I Expect on New Equipment?
HVAC warranties are more conditional than they appear. Manufacturer parts warranties are commonly advertised as 10 years, but that coverage often requires registration within 60 days of installation, documentation of a licensed contractor's involvement, and annual maintenance — conditions that are easy to miss and hard to recover if overlooked.
Here is what standard HVAC warranties cover, what voids them, and what to ask your contractor before and after installation.
Registration is required for full coverage
Most manufacturers offer 5-year base coverage that extends to 10 years if registered online within 60 days of installation. If your contractor does not register the equipment on your behalf, you need to do it yourself — or you lose 5 years of coverage with no recourse.
The manufacturer warranty covers parts only
Manufacturer warranties cover defective parts. They do not cover the technician labor to diagnose, remove, and reinstall the part. That labor can run $150–$400 per service call plus the actual replacement time. The labor warranty — typically 1–2 years — comes from your installing contractor, not the manufacturer.
Maintenance requirements are real, not fine print
Most manufacturer warranties include a clause requiring annual professional maintenance. If a warranty claim is denied and the manufacturer discovers no maintenance records, the claim may not be honored. Keep records of annual tune-ups during the warranty period.
Standard HVAC warranty structure
Most major HVAC manufacturers (Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Rheem, Goodman, Daikin) use a similar warranty structure: a limited warranty covering parts only, with a registration requirement to access the full term. The standard terms are approximately: 5-year parts warranty (base, no registration required); 10-year parts warranty (registered within 60 days of installation); 20-year heat exchanger warranty for furnaces (most brands).
Some manufacturers offer enhanced coverage in specific situations: contractor-specific extended warranties tied to dealer programs, or 12-year coverage when installed by a certified dealer. These programs vary by brand and require confirming with your specific contractor.
The heat exchanger warranty is often longer than the rest of the system because the heat exchanger is the most expensive component and the one whose failure most directly indicates a manufacturing defect. A heat exchanger failure in a 7-year-old furnace is very different from a failed capacitor — the former is a major cost item, the latter is a routine repair.
Compressor warranties on air conditioners and heat pumps mirror the parts warranty structure: typically 5 years base, 10 years registered. Some high-efficiency lines include a longer compressor-specific warranty — ask for the specific equipment's warranty document before installation.
- Base: 5-year parts warranty, no registration required.
- Extended: 10-year parts warranty, must register within 60 days of installation.
- Heat exchanger: 20-year warranty at most furnace manufacturers.
- Compressor: typically same term as parts — 5 or 10 years depending on registration.
What can void or reduce the warranty
Missing the registration window. This is the most common way homeowners lose coverage. The 60-day registration period starts at installation — not when you move in, not when you notice the sticker. If your contractor does not register on your behalf and you do not register yourself, you may be limited to 5-year base coverage with no way to appeal after the window closes.
Unlicensed installation. Most manufacturer warranties require that the equipment was installed by a licensed HVAC contractor. In Maryland, this means an active Maryland HVAC-R Contractor License. Equipment installed by an unlicensed contractor — or by a homeowner — may not be covered by the manufacturer warranty regardless of registration. This is one reason to verify contractor licensing before installation.
Skipped or undocumented maintenance. Manufacturer warranties commonly require annual professional maintenance. The requirement is in the warranty terms, though manufacturers vary in how strictly they enforce it at claim time. Having no maintenance records from a single year may not void a compressor claim, but a pattern of zero service history can give the manufacturer grounds to deny coverage for a failure related to deferred maintenance.
Improper refrigerant or non-OEM parts used in prior service. If a technician used the wrong refrigerant, an incorrect oil charge, or non-approved replacement parts during service on the system, a subsequent failure may be attributed to that service rather than a manufacturing defect — giving the manufacturer grounds to deny the claim.
- Missed registration window: reduces to 5-year base; no recovery after 60 days.
- Unlicensed installer: may void manufacturer warranty entirely.
- No maintenance records: potential grounds for denial on maintenance-related failures.
- Wrong refrigerant or non-OEM parts in prior service: grounds for claim denial.
Labor warranty: what to ask your contractor
The manufacturer warranty covers the cost of replacement parts — it does not cover the diagnostic time, refrigerant recovery, removal, and reinstallation labor that accompany a warranty repair. A warranty part replacement on a heat pump compressor might involve $0 in parts cost (covered) and $800–$1,500 in labor (not covered). Labor warranty coverage closes that gap.
A 1-year labor warranty from the installing contractor is the minimum acceptable standard. Many established companies offer 2 years. Some extended dealer programs (tied to specific manufacturer certifications) include 5-year labor coverage. Ask for the labor warranty term in writing in your installation contract — not as a verbal assurance.
What the labor warranty should cover: diagnostic service calls, labor to replace defective parts during the warranty period, refrigerant if the system requires recharge due to a manufacturing defect (not a refrigerant leak from a separate cause).
What labor warranties typically do not cover: consumable parts (filters, UV bulbs), refrigerant loss from physical damage or freeze-ups, failures from homeowner modifications or misuse, service calls during a recall or labor shortage where the delay is not the contractor's fault.
- Minimum: 1-year labor warranty from the installing contractor.
- Better: 2 years; some manufacturer dealer programs include 5 years.
- Get it in writing in the installation contract — not verbal.
- Labor covers: diagnostic calls, part replacement labor, refrigerant on manufacturing defects.
Steps to protect your warranty coverage
Confirm registration at close-out. Before the technician leaves, ask: will you register the equipment today, or do I need to do it myself? Get the confirmation number or a screenshot of the registration. Do not assume it was done.
Keep a paper trail. Save the installation invoice with the model and serial numbers, the manufacturer's warranty documentation, and any extended warranty or dealer program paperwork. File it with your home documents, not just your email.
Schedule annual maintenance and keep records. A dated invoice from a licensed contractor showing a seasonal tune-up is your documentation of maintenance compliance. Keep these for the life of the equipment.
Call the contractor first on any warranty issue. Manufacturer warranty claims typically go through the installing contractor, not directly to the manufacturer. The contractor diagnoses, orders the covered part, and files the claim. If your contractor is out of business, contact the manufacturer directly — they have processes for orphaned warranties, though they take longer.
- Confirm registration before the tech leaves — get the confirmation number.
- Keep installation invoice, serial numbers, and warranty documents in your home file.
- Annual maintenance records are your proof of compliance — keep every invoice.
- Warranty claims go through the installer; if they are out of business, contact the manufacturer directly.
Questions homeowners ask next
How long is the warranty on a new HVAC system?
Parts warranties are typically 5 years (base) or 10 years (if registered within 60 days of installation). Heat exchangers in furnaces are often covered for 20 years. Labor is not included in the manufacturer warranty — your contractor's labor warranty is typically 1–2 years and should be in your installation contract.
Does HVAC warranty cover labor?
No — manufacturer warranties cover parts only. The labor to diagnose, remove, and replace a covered part is not included. That cost comes from your installing contractor's labor warranty (typically 1–2 years) or you pay out of pocket after the labor warranty expires. Always ask for the labor warranty term in writing.
What voids an HVAC warranty?
Common void triggers include: missing the 60-day registration window (reduces to 5-year base); installation by an unlicensed contractor; no documented annual maintenance; and use of wrong refrigerant or non-approved parts during a prior service. Read the warranty terms document — each manufacturer's specifics differ.
Who registers my new HVAC warranty?
Your installing contractor should register the equipment on your behalf — most established companies do this as part of the installation close-out. But confirm it before they leave. Ask for the confirmation number or a copy of the registration. If your contractor did not register, you can usually do it yourself through the manufacturer's website within 60 days.