By Chad Wiswall, Owner & Lead HVAC Technician, Alabama HVAC License #92244
When you spend $9,000 to $20,000 on a new HVAC system, the warranty is part of what you are buying. But most homeowners do not understand what the warranty actually covers, what voids it instantly, or how big the gap is between the manufacturer parts warranty and the labor cost to install those parts. This guide breaks down what you actually get with the five major brands I install at Chad's AC Direct (Goodman, Trane, Bryant, Mitsubishi, Daikin) and the warranty mistakes I see homeowners make over and over again. This guide is part of our complete guide to HVAC in Central Alabama.
The two warranties that come with every new system
When you buy a new HVAC system in Alabama, you are getting two separate warranties from two separate parties.
Manufacturer parts warranty. Comes from the equipment maker (Goodman, Trane, Bryant, Mitsubishi, Daikin). Covers defective parts for a stated period (typically 5 to 12 years for major components, 10 to 12 years to lifetime for the compressor, depending on registration and brand). Does NOT cover labor to diagnose, remove, and install the replacement part. Does NOT cover refrigerant beyond a small initial allowance.
Contractor labor warranty. Comes from the company that installed the system. Covers the labor portion of warranty repairs for a stated period (usually 1 to 2 years standard, with extended labor coverage available for purchase). Highly variable across contractors. Some honor it without issue. Some are out of business by year 3.
The gap between these two warranties is where homeowners get burned. A compressor failure at year 8 might be a "covered" warranty claim from the manufacturer's perspective (free replacement compressor) while still costing you $1,400 to $2,200 in diagnostic, removal, recovery, brazing, evacuation, refrigerant recharge, and labor that the manufacturer warranty does not touch.
Brand-by-brand warranty terms (2026, current to publish date)
These terms change periodically. Always verify the current warranty terms at the manufacturer's website at the time of purchase. [INSERT verify with Chad: confirm these terms are current as of publish date. Manufacturer warranty terms change with model year and registration status.]
Goodman
- 10-year parts warranty on most components (with registration within 60 days of install)
- Lifetime compressor warranty on many residential split system models (registered, original purchaser only, in original installation location)
- 20-year limited warranty on heat exchanger for most gas furnaces
- Without registration: parts warranty drops to 5 years
- Labor: not included (contractor responsibility)
Goodman has historically been the best parts warranty in the residential market, which is part of why we install a lot of them at the value end of our customer base.
Trane
- 10-year parts warranty on most components (with registration within 60 days of install)
- 12-year compressor warranty on most XV-series and XR-series split systems
- 20-year limited warranty on stainless steel heat exchanger for gas furnaces
- Without registration: 5-year parts warranty
- Extended warranty options: available for purchase, covering labor and additional years
Trane's warranty is solid but slightly less aggressive than Goodman on the parts side. The brand's reputation for build quality is what makes the warranty rarely needed.
Bryant (Carrier's sister brand)
- 10-year parts warranty on most components (with registration within 90 days of install)
- 10-year compressor warranty on most Evolution series; some Preferred series shorter
- 20-year limited warranty on heat exchanger for most gas furnaces
- Without registration: 5-year parts warranty
- Labor: not included
Bryant's warranty matches the industry standard for registered systems. Comparable to Carrier (same parent company).
Mitsubishi
- 12-year parts warranty on compressors for most M-Series and P-Series ductless systems (with registration)
- 5 to 10-year parts warranty on most other components depending on model line
- Some Hyper-Heat models have extended warranties for cold-climate use
- Without registration: shorter terms, varies by model
Mitsubishi's warranty on ductless mini-split systems is among the best in the industry for that equipment category.
Daikin
- 12-year parts warranty on compressors for most Daikin Fit and Daikin Pro models (with registration)
- 12-year parts warranty on most other components for registered residential systems
- Lifetime compressor warranty on some premium model lines
- Without registration: parts warranty significantly shorter
Daikin's warranty is competitive at the premium end of the market and reflects the brand's investment in inverter compressor technology.
Critical note across all five brands: the warranty terms assume installation by a licensed HVAC contractor, proper sizing per Manual J, proper installation per manufacturer specifications, registration within the required window, and documented annual maintenance. Skip any of those steps and the warranty terms degrade.
What every HVAC warranty does NOT cover
Read this section twice. This is where I see the most surprised customers.
Labor. Already covered above, but worth repeating. Almost no manufacturer parts warranty includes labor beyond the first year. The compressor itself might be free in year 8, but pulling it out, brazing in the replacement, evacuating the system, and recharging it is $1,400 to $2,500 of labor and materials that come out of your pocket.
Refrigerant. Manufacturers typically cover a small initial allowance (4 to 8 ounces) when replacing major components. Anything beyond that is on you. Refrigerant has run $80 to $200 per pound depending on type (R-410A, R-454B, R-32) and market conditions. A typical residential refrigerant recharge during a compressor swap is 4 to 12 pounds.
Damage from improper sizing or installation. If your contractor installed equipment that was oversized or undersized for your home, or if the installation did not follow manufacturer specifications, the manufacturer can deny warranty claims on the grounds that the failure was caused by installation error. This is more common than homeowners realize.
Damage from lack of maintenance. Manufacturer warranties require documented annual professional maintenance. No records = no warranty. Maintenance records mean dated invoices from a licensed contractor showing the specific work performed, not just "tune-up." Keep these for the life of the system.
Damage from power surges, lightning, flood, vandalism. All standard exclusions in HVAC warranties. Homeowner insurance and a whole-house surge protector are the answer.
Cosmetic damage. Scratches, dents, paint discoloration on the outdoor cabinet from sun or weather. Not covered.
Ductwork. Manufacturer warranty covers the equipment, not the duct system. Duct repair, sealing, replacement is separate from any warranty consideration.
Thermostats and accessories beyond the basic included unit. Premium thermostats (smart, communicating) often have shorter or different warranty terms than the main system.
Consumables. Filters, capacitors past first year, contactors, drain pans, refrigerant beyond initial allowance.
The seven most common warranty voiders I see
1. Installation by a non-licensed contractor
Every manufacturer warranty requires installation by a licensed HVAC contractor. In Alabama, that means an active Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors license. Hire your neighbor with a YouTube education and the warranty is void the day the system fires up. Verify any contractor's license at the Alabama Board's website before signing a contract.
2. Skipping registration within the registration window
Goodman gives you 60 days. Trane gives you 60 days. Bryant gives you 90 days. Mitsubishi and Daikin have similar windows. Miss the window and your warranty drops from 10 to 12 years down to 5 years. We register every system we install on your behalf, but if your contractor does not, you need to do it yourself. Five minutes online, saves potentially thousands of dollars. Get this in writing as part of your installation contract.
3. Missing or undocumented annual maintenance
Already discussed. No documented annual maintenance means a manufacturer can legally deny warranty claims. Keep your invoices. Keep them organized by year. When the system is 9 years old and a compressor fails, you want to be able to produce documentation for years 1 through 9 without scrambling.
4. Refrigerant overcharge or undercharge
Improper refrigerant charge is the single most common installer error that voids compressor warranties. A compressor that ran for 5 years 25 percent overcharged or 30 percent undercharged failed because of the charge, not because of a manufacturing defect. Manufacturers can pull the failed compressor, do a teardown analysis, and identify charge-related failure modes. Then they deny the claim. This is why we measure superheat and subcooling on every install and document the readings.
5. Improper sizing (Manual J skipped)
If your system is significantly oversized or undersized for the home's actual heat load, premature compressor failure from short-cycling is one common consequence. Manufacturers can deny warranty on these grounds if the original installation paperwork shows the contractor did not perform a Manual J load calculation.
6. Using parts not approved by the manufacturer
Replacing a Trane TXV with a generic aftermarket TXV during a repair voids the warranty on the components it interacts with. Same for evaporator coils, blower motors, control boards. Manufacturer-approved parts only, sourced through authorized distribution.
7. Modifications to the system
Cutting ductwork to add a register, swapping out the original thermostat for an incompatible aftermarket model, adding accessories that were not engineered into the original installation, or relocating the outdoor unit can all create warranty issues depending on how invasive the modification is.
What "lifetime warranty" actually means
Several brands offer "lifetime compressor warranty" on some models (Goodman is the most aggressive about this). Read the fine print:
- "Lifetime" usually means lifetime of the ORIGINAL OWNER in the ORIGINAL INSTALLATION LOCATION.
- If you sell the house, the warranty does not transfer (in most cases, though some brands offer transferred coverage at reduced terms).
- If you move the equipment to a new location, the warranty voids.
- Lifetime parts means the compressor itself is free. Labor to replace it is still $1,200 to $2,200 in years 11+.
Lifetime warranties are real value but they are not the blanket coverage many homeowners assume.
How to maximize your warranty protection
If you take only six actions from this entire article, take these:
- Hire only licensed contractors. Verify Alabama HVAC license before signing a contract. Ours is #92244 (lookup on the Alabama Board website).
- Register the system within the registration window. Confirm in writing that your contractor will register, or do it yourself.
- Get and keep documentation of all maintenance. Annual professional tune-ups, dated and detailed invoices.
- Buy a whole-house surge protector at the electrical panel. $200 to $450 installed, protects against the most common cause of out-of-pocket warranty surprises.
- Consider extended labor coverage. Most reputable contractors offer 5 to 10 year labor warranties for purchase at the time of install. The math often favors buying it.
- Keep your installation paperwork forever. Original contract, load calculation, equipment serial numbers, registration confirmation, every invoice. Filed in one place. Accessible when you need it 8 years from now.
What we do at Chad's AC Direct for warranty protection
Because warranty issues are one of the most expensive ways a customer can get surprised years after install, we run the same warranty protocol on every system:
- Full Manual J load calculation on every install (kept on file)
- Manual S equipment selection documentation (kept on file)
- Refrigerant charge verified by superheat AND subcooling at commissioning (kept on file)
- Manufacturer registration submitted within 30 days of install (you get a copy of the confirmation)
- Maintenance agreement offered (and recommended) with every install
- Extended labor warranty options offered at install (so you can choose with full information)
- All work performed under Alabama HVAC License #92244
If something goes wrong, you have documentation to back the warranty claim. That is what you are paying for when you buy from a contractor that takes warranty seriously.
FAQ
How long is the warranty on a new HVAC system?
For registered systems from major manufacturers: typically 10 years on parts and 10 to 12 years (or lifetime for some models) on the compressor. Without registration within the manufacturer's window, parts warranty usually drops to 5 years. Labor is not included beyond the contractor's separate labor warranty (typically 1 to 2 years standard).
Does an HVAC warranty cover labor?
Almost never beyond the first year. The manufacturer parts warranty pays for the replacement part itself but does not cover the labor to diagnose, remove, and install it. A "free" warranty compressor can still cost you $1,400 to $2,500 in out-of-pocket labor and refrigerant. Extended labor warranties are available from most reputable contractors for purchase at install time.
Will my HVAC warranty transfer if I sell my house?
In most cases, no. Most manufacturer warranties are tied to the original purchaser and original installation location. A few brands offer transferable warranties at reduced coverage for a fee. Check the specific warranty terms before relying on transferability as a selling point.
What voids an HVAC warranty?
The most common voiders: installation by a non-licensed contractor, missing the registration window after install, undocumented annual maintenance, improper refrigerant charge, improper sizing, using non-approved replacement parts during repairs, and damage from power surges or floods (which require separate insurance).
Do I have to use the original installing contractor for warranty repairs?
No. Any licensed HVAC contractor can perform warranty repairs as long as they follow manufacturer specifications and use approved parts. However, your installation labor warranty is generally only honored by the original installer. If the original installer is out of business, you can still claim the manufacturer parts warranty through any qualified contractor, but you will pay for labor out of pocket.
Buying a new HVAC system soon and want a contractor who takes warranty registration, documentation, and lifetime support seriously? Chad's AC Direct installs Goodman, Trane, Bryant, Mitsubishi, and Daikin systems across Central Alabama with full Manual J load calculations, manufacturer registration, and ongoing maintenance support. Two locations: Montgomery (2546 Bell Rd, 334-264-6464) and Dadeville (360 Windflower Dr, 334-478-1438). Alabama HVAC Contractor License #92244, BBB Accredited A+, 1,247 reviews at 4.9 stars. In business since 1993. Buy Direct, Pay Less.