When purchasing and installing a new central air conditioner in Yucaipa, CA, you’ll enjoy the protections of a manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty will cover the costs of replacing or repairing your cooling equipment when problems arise due to defective parts, faulty assembly, or other manufacturing errors. However, these guarantees are mutually binding. Many AC manufacturers require homeowners to have their cooling systems professionally installed and professionally serviced at least once each year. Read on to find out why routine tune-up service is key for keeping your warranty active.
Annual Maintenance Limits the Risk of Breakdowns
Air conditioners that receive routine maintenance from trained professionals are less likely to break down than those that do not. Routine maintenance reduces age- and use-related wear. In some instances, professional maintenance can even reverse this wear.
By scheduling a tune-up before the cooling season starts, you can avoid many common maintenance-related issues, including overheating, icing, leaking, short cycling, and intermittent shutdowns. During these appointments, our technicians check for:
- Low refrigerant
- Dirty evaporator and condenser coils
- Blocked condensate drains and drain lines
- Faulty electrical connections
- Worn motor bearings
Addressing these and other problems before putting air conditioners to use will prevent them from worsening. Routine maintenance makes air conditioners more efficient, minimizes their operational stress, and extends their lifespans.
Filter Changes Aren’t Enough
Among the best ways to keep an air conditioner running safely and efficiently is regularly checking and replacing its air filter. Most AC manufacturers advise homeowners to inspect these components monthly and change them every 30 to 90 days. They also recommend keeping the perimeters of outdoor condensers clean.
Although you can handle these simple maintenance tasks on your own, changing your air conditioner’s air filter and ensuring adequate airflow around its condenser is not enough to ensure warranty compliance. HVAC equipment manufacturers expect homeowners to invest in the model-specific, multi-point inspections and tune-ups that licensed HVAC companies provide.
Check Your Warranty Documents
All equipment manufacturer warranties are mutually binding. AC manufacturers make guarantees to consumers, but they also stipulate the basic installation, maintenance, and usage requirements that warranty holders must adhere to. To ensure that you’re up to date with all maintenance requirements set forth by your AC manufacturer, take the time to read through your warranty documents.
How Will Your Warranty Issuer Know If You Skip Routine Maintenance?
The duration of AC manufacturer warranties varies from company to company and product to product. However, many air conditioners come with 5- to 10-year warranties on their parts and 10- to 15-year warranties on their compressors.
If you run your air conditioner with an active refrigerant leak, your compressor could fail outright or collapse. This component pumps refrigerant throughout your cooling system by alternately pressurizing and depressurizing it. Declining refrigerant levels cause compressors to work far harder than they should. While your compressor might be covered by a 15-year warranty or longer, failing to maintain this component could leave you paying for AC replacement out of your own pocket.
When reviewing and honoring warranty claims, AC manufacturers look to the HVAC companies that diagnose repairs and supply estimates. If your HVAC technician notes heavy coatings of refrigerant on your evaporator coil, this may be sufficient evidence to show that your cooling system hasn’t been tuned up for a while. With pre-season maintenance, technicians can catch and resolve refrigerant leaks before they result in premature compressor failure.
Built-up debris in your air handler, blocked HVAC air vents, and condensate drain lines that are riddled with bacteria and biofilms are evidence of neglect. Worn bearings, poorly lubricated moving parts, and dirty air filters will undermine the validity of your claims. After all, failed compressors and other AC issues are unlikely to be caused by manufacturing errors when air conditioners are not properly maintained.
What Might Happen When Filing a Claim After Skipping Service?
Evidence of negligence and non-compliance could result in the outright voiding of your warranty. At the very least, it may result in processing delays, lower claim amounts, or claim denials.
The Easy Way to Stay on Track
The easiest way to stay on track with AC maintenance and remain compliant with the terms of your California HVAC warranty is by signing up for a preventative maintenance plan. These plans cover the costs of annual tune-up service while providing additional perks like discounted parts and labor, priority scheduling, system progress reports, and discounted equipment replacements.
We proudly serve homeowners in Yucaipa, Beaumont, and Banning with expert AC maintenance, installation, and repair services. To find out about our Comfort Companion Plan or schedule an AC tune-up, get in touch with Of Course! Heating and Cooling today.
Today!
