Everything you need to know about air conditioning warranties — what's covered, what voids them, and how to make a successful claim. Written for Florida homeowners by AC Repair Today.
Whether you just bought a new AC system or you're dealing with a breakdown on an older unit, understanding your warranty can save you thousands of dollars.
- Types of AC Warranties
- What's Typically Covered
- What's NOT Covered
- How to Avoid Voiding Your Warranty
- Making a Warranty Claim
- Extended Warranties
- Warranty Comparison by Brand
- Florida-Specific Warranty Laws
Covers defective components — compressor, coils, heat exchangers, control boards, fan motors.
- Standard duration: 5-10 years from installation date
- Who pays for parts: Manufacturer (through the installing contractor)
- Who pays for labor: You (unless you have a labor warranty)
- Registration required: Most brands require online registration within 60-90 days of installation to get the full warranty period. Unregistered units typically drop to 5 years.
Many manufacturers offer a longer warranty on the compressor specifically, since it's the most expensive component.
- Standard duration: 10 years (some brands offer lifetime)
- What it covers: Compressor replacement only
- Important catch: "Lifetime compressor warranty" usually means the life of the unit for the original homeowner — it doesn't transfer if you sell the house (or it transfers at a reduced term)
Covers the cost of a technician's time to diagnose and replace warranted parts.
- Source: Your installing contractor (not the manufacturer)
- Standard duration: 1-2 years, sometimes up to 5 or 10 years if purchased
- Why it matters: A compressor under parts warranty still costs $800-$1,500 in labor to replace. Without labor coverage, that's your expense.
Purchased separately from a third-party warranty company or home warranty provider.
- Cost: $300-$700/year
- What it covers: Varies widely — read the fine print
- Service call fee: Typically $75-$125 per visit
- Reputation: Mixed. Some home warranty companies are slow to approve, use the cheapest parts, or deny claims on technicalities.
| Component | Parts Warranty | Compressor Warranty | Labor Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compressor | Yes | Yes | Depends |
| Evaporator coil | Yes | No | Depends |
| Condenser coil | Yes | No | Depends |
| Fan motors | Yes | No | Depends |
| Control board | Yes | No | Depends |
| Capacitors | Usually | No | Depends |
| Thermostat | Sometimes | No | Depends |
| Refrigerant | No | No | No |
| Ductwork | No | No | No |
| Electrical wiring | No | No | No |
Warranties almost never cover:
- Refrigerant recharge — Even if the leak is in a warranted coil, the refrigerant itself and the labor to recharge is usually not covered
- Normal wear and tear — Capacitors, contactors, and similar parts that degrade over time
- Damage from power surges — Unless you had a surge protector installed (some brands require this)
- Damage from improper installation — If the original install was done by an unlicensed contractor, the warranty may be void
- Damage from lack of maintenance — This is the #1 reason warranty claims get denied
- Cosmetic damage — Dents, rust, bent fins
- Ductwork issues — Leaks, disconnections, insulation
- Acts of God — Hurricane damage, flooding, lightning strikes (this is what homeowner's insurance covers)
Do this within 60 days of installation. Most brands default to a 5-year warranty for unregistered units vs. 10 years for registered ones.
| Brand | Registration URL | Default (Unregistered) | Full (Registered) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier | carrier.com/warranty | 5 years | 10 years |
| Trane | trane.com/warranty | 5 years | 10/12 years |
| Lennox | lennox.com/warranty | 5 years | 10 years |
| Rheem | rheem.com/warranty | 5 years | 10 years |
| Goodman | goodmanmfg.com/warranty | 5 years | 10 years (lifetime compressor) |
| Daikin | daikincomfort.com/warranty | 5 years | 12 years |
Annual professional maintenance is required by virtually every manufacturer. Keep records:
- Date of service
- Technician's name and license number
- Company name
- Work performed
- System readings (refrigerant pressures, temperature split, amperage)
If you file a claim and can't prove annual maintenance, the claim can be denied.
- Installation must be by a licensed HVAC contractor (not a handyman)
- In Florida, this means a CAC license (Class A Air Conditioning Contractor) or a certified journeyman working under one
- Repairs during the warranty period should also use licensed contractors — unauthorized repairs can void coverage
Adding components, changing refrigerant type, modifying ductwork, or altering electrical connections without manufacturer approval can void the warranty.
If a repair is needed, using aftermarket or non-OEM parts may void the warranty on related components. Ask your contractor to use OEM parts for any warranty-period repairs.
- Call a licensed HVAC contractor — They will diagnose the issue and identify the failed component
- The contractor contacts the manufacturer/distributor — They verify the unit is registered and within warranty, and ship the replacement part
- You pay for labor — Unless you have a separate labor warranty
- Keep all documentation — Invoice, old part (some manufacturers require return), contractor notes
- Act quickly — Don't wait months after noticing a problem. Continued operation with a known issue can cause additional damage that won't be covered.
- Don't attempt DIY repairs — Even simple ones. If the manufacturer determines an unauthorized repair contributed to the failure, the claim is denied.
- Have your model number, serial number, and installation date ready when your contractor calls the manufacturer.
- Keep every maintenance receipt — Digital photos of receipts are fine.
- Ask for the denial reason in writing
- Review your warranty documentation against the stated reason
- If you disagree, contact the manufacturer's warranty department directly (not just through the contractor)
- File a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services if the denial seems unjustified
- For expensive components (compressor, coils), consider consulting a consumer protection attorney — the cost of the consultation may be worth it for a $2,000+ claim
| Situation | Worth It? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New system, 10-year parts warranty | Maybe not | Manufacturer covers most failures in years 1-10 |
| System is 8-9 years old, warranty expiring | Possibly | You're entering the failure-prone years |
| You purchased the home with an existing system | Yes | Manufacturer warranty may not transfer fully |
| Budget-brand system (Goodman, Amana) | Consider it | Higher failure rates in years 5-10 |
| Premium system (Trane, Carrier) | Less necessary | Lower failure rates, but parts are more expensive |
- No "pre-existing condition" exclusions that let them deny claims for wear
- Your choice of contractor — Some plans force you to use their network
- No dollar caps on individual repairs
- Covers refrigerant — Many don't
- Transferable if you sell the home (adds resale value)
- Clear cancellation terms and pro-rated refund policy
| Brand | Parts | Compressor | Registration Required | Transferable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier | 10 yr | 10 yr | Yes (60 days) | Yes, reduced |
| Trane | 10 yr | 12 yr | Yes (60 days) | Yes, reduced |
| Lennox | 10 yr | 10 yr | Yes (90 days) | Yes, 5 yr |
| Rheem | 10 yr | 10 yr | Yes (90 days) | Yes, reduced |
| Goodman | 10 yr | Lifetime* | Yes (60 days) | No |
| Daikin | 12 yr | 12 yr | Yes (60 days) | Yes, reduced |
| York | 10 yr | 10 yr | Yes (90 days) | Yes, reduced |
| American Standard | 10 yr | 12 yr | Yes (60 days) | Yes, reduced |
*Goodman "lifetime" = life of original registered owner at original installation address.
Under Florida law (Chapter 672, UCC), products sold in the state carry an implied warranty that they are fit for their ordinary purpose — even if the written warranty has expired. This can sometimes help with claims on systems that fail prematurely.
Florida Statute 489.129 governs contractor conduct. If your AC was improperly installed and that improper installation led to a failure the manufacturer won't cover, the installing contractor may be liable for the repair cost.
Florida's building code requires that HVAC systems in new construction function properly. If a system in a new home has repeated failures, the builder is responsible for correction under the statutory warranty (1 year for HVAC in new construction, per Florida Statute 553.84).
| Task | Frequency | DIY or Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Replace air filter | Every 1-3 months | DIY |
| Clean around outdoor unit | Monthly | DIY |
| Check thermostat operation | Monthly | DIY |
| Flush condensate drain | Every 3 months | DIY |
| Professional tune-up | Annually (before summer) | Pro |
| Duct inspection | Every 3-5 years | Pro |
| Refrigerant check | As needed (part of tune-up) | Pro |
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Maintained by AC Repair Today — Licensed Florida HVAC contractor, FL License CAC1824118. Serving Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.