AC installation warranties

Two warranties

The two cover different failures. A compressor that fails from a factory defect is a parts claim. A refrigerant leak at a joint the installer brazed, or a drain line that backs up because it was pitched wrong, is a workmanship claim. Most real problems in the first years need both: the part, and someone paid to diagnose and fit it.

Installation quality is why the labor side matters. ENERGY STAR material states that nearly half of heating and cooling equipment in US homes never performs to its advertised capacity and efficiency because of installation problems.

Reading the parts warranty

Each manufacturer publishes its own terms, and they differ by brand, product line and model. Get the warranty document for the exact model numbers on your quote, not a brochure. The FTC suggests checking these points in any warranty:

• Length of coverage, and whether it differs by component (for example, compressor versus other parts).
• Which parts are covered. The FTC advises assuming that anything not listed is not covered.
• What the company will do: repair, replace or refund.
• Conditions such as registration, misuse or changes to the product.
• Who you contact for a claim, the manufacturer or the seller.
• Whether you pay for labor or shipping.

Ask whether the warranty transfers to a new owner if you sell the house, and what the transfer requires. Terms on transfer vary by brand.

Reading the labor warranty

The labor warranty is the contractor's own promise, so its length and scope vary from company to company. Read it for these points:

• Term in years, written on the proposal or contract.
• What it covers: workmanship defects only, or also the labor to replace a part under the manufacturer's warranty.
• Exclusions, such as refrigerant, after-hours calls or trip charges.
• Conditions, such as a required maintenance plan.
• What happens if the company closes or is sold.

The licensee’s number must appear on all advertising, proposals and invoices, an invoice is required for all ACR work, and proposals, invoices and written contracts must carry the notice “Regulated by The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, P.O. Box 12157, Austin, Texas 78711, 1-800-803-9202, 512-463-6599; www.tdlr.texas.gov”. A labor warranty written on that proposal or invoice is easy to find later.

Registration

• Trane extends its warranty term only if the product is registered within 60 days of installation; registered late, it keeps the base warranty.
• Lennox requires registration within 60 days of installation (or closing, for new construction) for its extended limited warranty. (verify on the Lennox page)

Other brands set their own terms. Ask the contractor whether they register the equipment, and keep the confirmation.

1. Before signing, ask who registers the equipment and in what time.
2. On install day, photograph the model and serial plates on the outdoor unit and indoor coil or air handler.
3. Within the week, confirm the registration was made, or make it yourself on the manufacturer's site.
4. Save the confirmation with the invoice.

The FTC also lists returning a registration card as something to check in any warranty, which is the same point: registration can decide the term.

What can void coverage

Manufacturer terms often tie coverage to proper installation and maintenance. Read your model's document for the exact conditions; typical points to look for include:

• Installation by a licensed contractor, which in Texas means a TDLR-licensed ACR contractor. Check one with the license check.
• Matched indoor and outdoor components. Ask for the AHRI certificate for the exact combination.
• Regular maintenance, with records.
• Use of the equipment as intended, without modifications.

The FTC says a manufacturer cannot require you to use specific parts or services to keep coverage unless it provides them free or has an FTC waiver. That does not override maintenance conditions in the terms; it means you can usually choose who does the maintenance.

Implied warranties and your rights

Written warranties are not the only protection. The FTC explains that every state creates implied warranties, unspoken promises that cover almost everything you buy:

• A warranty of merchantability: the product will do what it is supposed to do.
• A warranty of fitness for a particular purpose: applies when a seller advises that a product suits a specific job.

The FTC notes that implied warranties apply unless the seller gives written notice of no warranty or sells "as is" where state law allows, and that they can cover problems the written warranty does not. Ask a Texas consumer attorney or the Attorney General's consumer protection office about how they apply to your case; this page is not legal advice.

Get verbal promises in writing. The FTC warns that businesses may later refuse to honor promises a salesperson made only out loud.

Extended plans

Contractors and third parties sometimes sell extended plans or service agreements with a new system. Before paying, compare the plan against what you already have:

What to keep

• The invoice, which must show the contractor's TDLR license number.
• Model and serial numbers, the AHRI certificate and the registration confirmation.
• The permit number and final inspection date, and maintenance records.
• The written warranty documents for each component and the labor warranty.
• Photos of the data plates and the finished install.

The FTC advises keeping the receipt with the warranty, because it proves the purchase date and that you are the original owner. A single folder, paper or digital, saves time on a hot July afternoon when the system stops. The after-installation checklist lists what to check before the crew leaves.

Comparing warranties on quotes

Put the labor years and parts years from each quote side by side in the quote tool. A long parts term with a one-year labor warranty can leave you paying for labor on a covered part.

A hypothetical example: Quote A offers a longer parts term but labor for only the first year. Quote B offers a shorter parts term with several years of labor. If a part fails in year three, Quote A's part is free but the technician's time is not; under Quote B, labor is covered but the part may not be. Neither is better in the abstract. Ask each contractor what a year-three compressor or coil failure would cost you under their terms, and get the answer in writing.

Our contract checklist and questions to ask an installer cover the rest of the paperwork.

Warranty timeline

Warranty protection is decided in a few short windows. Missing them costs more than reading any fine print.

The last row is easy to miss. If the system has had the same small problem twice, report it in writing before the labor warranty runs out, so the record shows it began inside the term.

Red flags in warranty terms

None of these makes a quote unacceptable by itself, but each deserves a direct question before you sign.

• "Lifetime" with no definition. Ask whose lifetime, which parts, and whether labor is included.
• Labor that is only verbal. If it is not on the proposal, assume it does not exist.
• A warranty conditional on a paid plan with this contractor only. Ask what happens if you cancel.
• Refrigerant excluded from labor coverage. On a leak repair, refrigerant can be a large part of the bill.
• No model numbers on the quote. Without them you cannot look up the manufacturer's terms.
• Mismatched components with no AHRI certificate. Ask whether the manufacturer warranties that combination.
• Registration "handled" with no confirmation. Ask for the confirmation number.

Making a claim

1. Call the installing contractor first during the labor term. The FTC advises contacting the seller first.
2. Have the paperwork ready: model, serial, install date, registration confirmation and invoice.
3. Get the diagnosis in writing, including the failed part and whether it is a parts or workmanship issue.
4. If the contractor does not resolve it, write to the manufacturer. The FTC suggests certified mail with return receipt.
5. Escalate if needed. The FTC points to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the state attorney general. Complaints against a licensee are filed with TDLR online or by mail.

Report problems as soon as they appear. The FTC says a defect reported during the warranty period and not properly fixed must still be corrected, even if the warranty then expires.

Sources

• Trane, Warranty and Registration (retrieved 2026-10-20)
• Lennox, Extended Limited Warranty FAQ (retrieved 2026-10-20) — verify before relying on it
• 16 Tex. Admin. Code §75.71 (retrieved 2026-10-20)
• Federal Trade Commission, Warranties (consumer advice) (retrieved 2026-10-20)
• TDLR, complaints (retrieved 2026-10-20)
• ENERGY STAR HVAC fact sheet (retrieved 2026-10-20) — verify before relying on it

Questions

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