HVAC warranties and maintenance plans: what to check before you sign

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

What kinds of protection come with a new HVAC system?

Usually two, and sometimes a third you pay for. The manufacturer's warranty covers the equipment. The installer's own guarantee, if it offers one, covers its workmanship. And, as the FTC notes, some sellers offer a separate service contract or extended warranty at extra cost. They are different promises from different companies, and the Federal Trade Commission's advice treats each one differently.

ENERGY STAR's hiring advice is to compare warranties along with cost and efficiency when you weigh bids, and to sign a written proposal that includes the warranty information, model numbers, costs and schedule.

What should you check in the manufacturer's warranty?

Read it before you buy. The FTC says that whenever there is a warranty, the law requires it to be available for you to read before purchase, whether you shop in person or online. Then work through the FTC's questions:

1. How long does it last, and does the length differ for different parts?
2. What does it cover? If a part or a repair is not listed, the FTC says to assume it is not covered.
3. What will the company do if the product fails: repair it, replace it or refund you?
4. Do you pay for labor? The FTC lists this among the questions to ask. For scale, HomeAdvisor's cost survey puts furnace repair labor at $50 to $150 an hour plus a trip fee.
5. Is registration required? The FTC notes that sometimes you must return a product registration card to qualify for warranty service.
6. Does coverage depend on maintenance? The FTC suggests asking whether the warranty covers only problems that happen after you have maintained and used the product as directed.

Keep the warranty with your receipt. The FTC says the receipt proves when you bought the product and that you are its original owner.

Can a manufacturer make you use its own dealer to keep the warranty?

Not without paying for it. The FTC says federal law bars a manufacturer from requiring you to use specific parts or services to keep warranty coverage, unless it gives you those parts and services free or has a waiver from the FTC. If someone tells you that only one company may service your system without voiding the warranty, ask to see where the warranty says so.

What about the installer's guarantee?

Get it in writing. The FTC warns that if a salesperson makes a spoken promise, such as free repairs, a business may later refuse to honor it unless it is written down. The written proposal is the place for it: what work is covered, for how long, and what the company will do if the installation is faulty.

It is worth knowing what a faulty installation looks like. ENERGY STAR's quality-installation guidance lists the right size, correct airflow, the proper refrigerant charge and sealed, tested ducts. ENERGY STAR says problems with them can mean reduced efficiency, damp air or a shorter equipment life, so ask how the installer's guarantee treats them.

Are annual maintenance plans worth it?

Sometimes. Yearly service is worth doing; ENERGY STAR recommends a contractor check-up before each season, and a manufacturer's warranty may depend on it. Whether paying for it as a plan is worth it depends on the plan.

The FTC's advice on service contracts applies to these plans:

• Work out the yearly cost from the price and length of the contract.
• Look for hidden costs, such as deductibles or a fee each time the system is serviced.
• Check the exclusions. Find out what is not covered and whether coverage can be denied, for example if you skip routine maintenance.
• Compare with your warranty. The FTC says a contract is not a good value if it offers no more coverage than the warranty that came with the product.
• Check who stands behind it. It may not be the manufacturer or the installer, and the FTC suggests searching the company's name with words like "complaint" or "review".
• Consider saving instead. The FTC says putting money aside may be the better option.

For comparison, national cost surveys put the services such a plan bundles at these prices: HomeAdvisor gives $80 to $100 for a furnace inspection and $125 to $200 for a full tune-up, and Angi puts yearly HVAC maintenance fees at $60 to $550.

What about calls offering to extend your warranty?

Be wary. The FTC says unsolicited calls and mail selling extended warranties can arrive years after a purchase from companies unconnected to the one you dealt with, often with high-pressure lines like "act now, your warranty is about to expire". It says such telemarketing calls, live or robocalls, are probably illegal if you have no connection with the caller, and that the company behind the contract may not be in business when you need it. You can add your number to Pennsylvania's Do Not Call list online or at 1-888-777-3406.

Does a service plan count as home improvement work?

The state's registration law is about home improvement work: the Attorney General's definition covers repair, replacement and installation at a private residence when the total price is more than $500, and it names the installation of central heating or air conditioning. Whether a particular maintenance plan falls under it is not addressed on the pages read for this guide. Either way, the FTC's advice to read the contract, fill in all blanks and not pay everything up front applies.

What a tune-up should include is in what to expect from an HVAC visit, and the questions to ask before signing are in questions to ask an HVAC contractor. Contractors are listed on the HVAC contractors directory page.

Sources

1. Warranties, Federal Trade Commission
2. Extended Warranties and Service Contracts, Federal Trade Commission
3. How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam, Federal Trade Commission
4. 10 Tips for Hiring a Heating and Cooling Contractor, ENERGY STAR
5. Maintenance Checklist, ENERGY STAR
6. HVAC Quality Installation, ENERGY STAR
7. How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Furnace?, HomeAdvisor
8. How Much Does a New Furnace Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
9. Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
10. Do Not Call List, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General