Four different warranties, often confused as one
When people say "my AC is under warranty," they usually mean one of four distinct things, each with different coverage, duration, and terms. Understanding the difference matters when something breaks.
1. Manufacturer parts warranty
Covers the replacement cost of defective parts (compressor, coils, control boards, motors) for a set period, typically 10 years on modern Rheem equipment when registered within 60-90 days of install (varies by manufacturer; unregistered often defaults to 5 years).
What it doesn't cover: labor to install the replacement part. That's a separate warranty (see below). Also doesn't cover damage from improper maintenance, unauthorized modifications, or external causes (storm, flood, electrical surge from something other than normal operation).
2. Manufacturer labor warranty (limited)
Some manufacturers include a limited labor warranty, often just 1 year, covering the labor cost to install warranty-covered parts. After that first year, you'd pay labor even though the part itself might still be covered under the longer parts warranty.
This is the gap that catches homeowners off guard: "My AC is under a 10-year warranty!" often means 10-year PARTS only, with labor coverage expiring after year one, leaving you responsible for a $400-$800 labor bill on a "free" warranty part replacement in year 5.
3. Contractor labor warranty
This is where the contractor who installed your system (not the manufacturer) commits to covering labor costs on warranty repairs for a specified period. This varies by contractor, though most fall in line with the manufacturer's standard 1-year window.
Every new install from Keith's carries a 10-year manufacturer parts warranty plus a 1-year labor warranty from us. We register the parts warranty on the spot so you're never at risk of missing the window, and our labor warranty is backed by Keith's directly, not a third-party warranty company.
4. Extended warranty (optional, purchased separately)
Some homeowners purchase additional extended warranty coverage, either through the manufacturer or a third-party warranty company, extending parts and/or labor coverage beyond the standard terms. Worth evaluating case by case; sometimes valuable, sometimes overpriced relative to actual risk, depending on the specific equipment and terms offered.
What voids warranty coverage (any type)
- Lack of documented maintenance. Manufacturers increasingly require proof of annual maintenance (our Care Plan visits count) to honor warranty claims. Skipping maintenance and then filing a claim can result in denial.
- Unauthorized repairs or modifications. If someone other than a licensed tech (or a different company than who did the warranty registration) has worked on the system, some manufacturers void coverage.
- Improper installation. If a part fails due to installation error rather than manufacturing defect, that's a workmanship issue, not a warranty claim (though a good contractor's own workmanship guarantee should cover this separately).
- Using non-approved parts. Aftermarket parts not authorized by the manufacturer can void remaining coverage on the whole system in some cases.
- Registration failure. Missing the registration window (typically 60-90 days post-install) often defaults you to a shorter standard warranty (5 years instead of 10, for example).
How Keith's protects your warranty automatically
We register your manufacturer warranty on the spot at install, so you never have to worry about missing the window. Our Care Plan maintenance visits are documented and timestamped, giving you the maintenance record manufacturers increasingly require for claims. And our own 1-year labor warranty is backed directly by Keith's, not a third party, so a covered failure in that first year gets fixed with no labor charge.
Filing a warranty claim
Call (228) 265-8609. We pull your installation record, verify parts and labor coverage status, and schedule the repair. Legitimate warranty claims never carry a diagnostic fee.
Buying new? Ask these questions
- What's the manufacturer's parts warranty length, and is it registered automatically?
- What's the manufacturer's labor warranty length (often just 1 year)?
- What's the contractor's own labor warranty length?
- Is maintenance documentation required to keep the warranty valid?
Get straight answers before you sign: (228) 265-8609.