What You Need to Know About Carrier Air Conditioner Warranty

With the summer upon us, homeowners across America are switching on the air conditioning for a little relief from the hot and humid weather. It’s a good time to assess how you might handle the repair of your HVAC system if a problem arose out of the blue.

Air conditioning systems and HVAC systems more broadly are as expensive as they are essential. The component appliances are not cheap to replace, and even simple repair costs can be steep. Fortunately, reputable air conditioning manufacturers support their products with multi-year warranty coverage, and homeowners have options for extended coverage to mitigate surprise repair expenses.

Warranty terms vary by manufacturer, so company-specific information is critical for you to know what kind of coverage you have and how long it will last. The guide below unpacks Carrier air conditioner manufacturer warranty coverage.

Types of Warranties Offered by Carrier

Carrier offers robust support for its HVAC products, and the company gives the consumer some choice in how the warranty coverage is applied. 

Standard appliance warranties usually entail a coverage window in which parts and labor are covered, then an extended period of parts-only coverage. Carrier, however, offers the choice of a prolonged parts-only coverage period without reimbursed labor costs, or a comparatively shorter term with labor coverage included.

Carrier asks buyers to register their products and submit their warranty preferences within 90 days of purchase, otherwise the company will honor a 5 year warranty period of parts-only coverage.

There are exceptions to this broad company policy. California law, for instance, prohibits companies from requiring product registration as a condition of warranty coverage. Always check your product documentation for the most accurate information, and, when in doubt, contact the manufacturer directly. 

What the Warranty Covers

Carrier advertises something called a Consumer Choice Warranty. This program allows customers to choose what their Carrier AC warranty will cover.

Coverage for Parts Only 

One option for a Carrier HVAC warranty is a 10-year period in which only parts are covered. The consumer must pay for labor costs out of pocket, even if the appliance develops an issue while still reasonably new.

Coverage for Parts and Labor

Alternatively, consumers can choose a limited manufacturer’s warranty that offers only 5 years of parts coverage but 3 years of labor coverage.

Which is better? It’s hard to say. Depending on the issue, labor costs for HVAC repair can be substantial, so a few years of labor coverage can provide peace of mind. On the other hand, equipment malfunctions are more likely as the appliance grows older. If you opt for parts-only coverage, you at least offset some of the repair cost if a problem arises even 10 years down the line. How often you use your air conditioner, your current and project household budget, your regional cost of living, and how long you expect to stay in your current residence are all considerations you may want to weigh in deciding which kind of Carrier AC unit warranty coverage to opt for.

How Long Is the Warranty on a Carrier Air Conditioner?

A Carrier warranty can last up to 10 years with parts-only coverage. If you opt for labor coverage as well, the warranty period shortens to 5 years, only the first 3 of which include labor. But in most jurisdictions, these coverage windows are dependent upon registering your Carrier product within the first 90 days of ownership. If you don’t register your air conditioner, the warranty defaults to a 5-year term of parts-only coverage. 

California is a notable exception here, however. If you live in California, Carrier will honor the 10-year parts-only warranty even if you do not submit registration documentation. Residents of California have the option of switching to the 5-year plan that includes 3 years of labor coverage as long as they alert Carrier within 90 days of purchase.

There are some circumstances that could shorten the duration of a Carrier limited warranty. For one, if you use the product for anything other than residential applications, the warranty allows for 5 years of coverage for the compressor but only 1 year for all other covered parts.

Transferring a Carrier product to a new owner could also render the manufacturer’s warranty void. This is also dependent on where you live, though. Texas, for example, requires that companies honor most warranties for subsequent owners. 

Tips for Maximizing Your Carrier Air Conditioner Warranty

In most places in the U.S., Carrier’s most robust warranty support is dependent upon product registration. This means that the number one tip for maximizing your warranty coverage is to ensure you register your product within 90 days of purchase. Failing to do so means you’re sacrificing 5 years of parts coverage or 3 years of labor coverage for no reason.

Once you have secured the warranty coverage that you are entitled to, make sure you are adhering to Carrier’s terms to maintain active coverage. This means:

Use your air conditioner only for residential applications.

Ensure that your unit is properly installed by a qualified and licensed HVAC technician.

Regularly maintain your air conditioner per the recommendations in your product’s owner’s manual.

Do not move your Carrier unit from where it was originally installed.

Also keep realistic expectations for what the manufacturer’s warranty will cover. Carrier’s warranty is the company’s way of taking responsibility for malfunctions that arise from defective parts or poor workmanship. Like most product warranties, Carrier’s warranty does not cover misuse and abuse, normal maintenance, accidental damage, and so on.

Here are some additional tips to ensure you get the most out of your warranty protection:

Keep your product’s registration information and other documentation somewhere easy to remember and access.

Maintain a thorough log of your appliance’s installation and service history. Include the service receipts and contact information of any HVAC companies or technicians who have worked on your system.

Address any issues, no matter how seemingly minor, as quickly as possible. 

But no matter how careful you are, eventually your Carrier warranty will expire. At that point, it may be worth looking into extended warranty coverage to maintain your peace of mind.

Why You Should Use a Home Warranty

There are several ways to extend the life of your home’s air conditioning system. You can stay on top of regular maintenance, of course, and make your home more energy efficient to keep your air conditioner from working harder than it needs to. You can and should also leverage warranty coverage as necessary to keep your system in working order. But what happens when your coverage expires?

When Carrier’s warranty no longer applies, you can maintain affordable appliance protection with an extended warranty or service contract. You can invest in a policy that supports just your air conditioning system, or you could fold HVAC protection into a broader home warranty that includes protection for your electrical and plumbing systems, laundry appliances, kitchen appliances, and more.

Here’s how it works: Once you and your provider agree on a contract, you maintain active coverage with a monthly or yearly premium. When an issue with your air conditioning system or any appliance or system arises, all you need to do is submit a claim. Your provider will find a licensed technician to diagnose the problem. You may owe a nominal service fee, but your provider will handle the repair or even replacement costs. 

Taking advantage of a home warranty offers several benefits:

Protection from surprise expenses. Your warranty’s premium and service fee are predetermined by your contract. This makes for easier month-to-month budgeting, and you won’t be caught off guard by a surprise repair bill in the thousands of dollars.

Swift and qualified repair. Warranty providers partner with licensed technicians throughout the country. If you require service, your provider can coordinate a service call with a trusted professional in no time. No research needed on your end.

Peace of mind. Nearly all homeowners are familiar with the worry of how to attend to an expensive home repair. Warranty protection dissolves those anxieties because you have the confidence that any issues will be resolved quickly and affordably.

How to Obtain Warranty Coverage

If you would like to protect your home with comprehensive warranty coverage, take stock of which appliances and systems in your home are no longer protected by manufacturers’ warranties. Research home warranty companies and look for providers that are willing to help you craft a plan that suits your particular home and needs. See how other homeowners have rated their experiences with your potential provider on Google and other reputable sites.

Be careful to weigh not just the premium and service fee but also coverage caps, limits, exclusions, and other conditions. Also ensure that your provider covers the appliance brands that you have in your home.

When you’re ready to explore Liberty Home Guard’s options, call our team at (833)-566-9564. We’ll talk you through the process and help you land on the right policy for you.