What is a Furnace Warranty?
The following information is based on the Ontario HVAC market and other regions of Canada could have differences.
It is a 10 to 20 year period that covers some parts or replacements on the furnace. This is often called a manufacturer’s warranty.
It is also a 3-party agreement between:
- The Home Owner
- The licensed trades company who installed the equipment
- The Manufacturer of the furnace
With each respective party owning, maintaining and honoring the warranty.
Owning a Furnace
The home owner must register their warranty with the HVAC manufacturer.
The home owner is responsible for getting an annual furnace maintenance conducted on their equipment. The annual maintenance must be from a licensed Gas Fitter. A record of completed maintenances will be asked for by the furnace’s manufacturer.
Maintaining the Furnace
The furnace must be installed by a Gas Fitter with a valid license.
The home owner must schedule an annual maintenance, the HVAC technician should clean and inspect the system for any issues, provide a written record, and suggest solutions. It is common to have the company who installed the furnace to also complete its annual maintenances.
Honoring the Warranty
In order for a furnace manufacturer to offer a warranty, they must insure they will continue to produce the parts for the furnace for a set period of time. This period of time is how long your warranty must last, often 10 to 20 years long.
The furnace warranty will only be valid if the equipment is registered with the manufacturer and the annual maintenances are up to date. Should the home owner fail to meet these requirements the warranty is often invalid.
Furnace manufactures may have different terms & conditions and it is important to read your equipment’s warranty in detail. This is the homeowner’s responibility.
Understand Coverage
What does a furanace warranty cover?
It only covers the cost of parts, it may cover a new unit under conditions set by the manufacturer.
Three things to consider:
1. Equipment Only
It does not cover the cost of labor to repair or order the equipment.
2. Consumables
Any filters, batteries, lights or useable items are not covered.
3. Maintenances
The manufacturer’s warranty does not cover the cost of the annual maintenance.
How do you keep your furnace warranty valid?
- Have the furnace installed by a company with a proven track record who installs furnaces according to the gas code set out by the TSSA.
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Since you cannot do the furnace maintenance without a gas fitter’s license, you are better off signing up for a maintenance plan from a local HVAC company who can book and complete your furnace maintenance every year.
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Purchase the size of your furnace’s filter in bulk to avoid availability problems and save money. You can replace your furnaces filter if you following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Ensure you are getting a copy of the annual maintenance and storing it for safe keeping.
- Do not attempt any repairs or DIY maintenance on your furnace as this will void the warranty.
