Home » Air Conditioning Service | Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, South Shore and North Shore » Air Conditioning: What No One Tells You About Manufacturer Warranties (and How to Protect Yourself)
Climatisation : ce que personne ne vous dit sur les garanties des fabricants (et comment vous protéger)
Reading time: 4'

Air Conditioning: What No One Tells You About Manufacturer Warranties (and How to Protect Yourself)

HVAC Warranties in Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, South Shore, and North Shore: The Truths That Brochures Never Explain

In the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, warranties are often seen as a safety net. However, behind the reassuring slogans from major brands lies a much more complex reality. At AirGreen, our hands-on experience across Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and the South Shore has shown us that not all warranties are created equal. Here’s what you really need to know to avoid unpleasant surprises… and how to effectively protect yourself.

A Warranty, Yes… But What Exactly Does It Cover?

It’s crucial to distinguish between different types of warranties when purchasing a heat pump or wall-mounted air conditioner:

  • Manufacturer's warranty on parts: Often presented as 5 to 10 years, it only covers certain parts — typically the compressor or the electronic board.

  • Labor warranty: Much rarer, it covers the costs of troubleshooting, installation, or repairs.

  • Extended warranty by the installer: Some companies, like AirGreen, offer additional coverage on their installations.

Beware: a warranty on parts does not mean you won’t pay anything in case of failure. Diagnostics, labor costs, transport fees, or comfort losses can still be your responsibility.

Real Case in Laval: When the Warranty Becomes a Headache

A client in Laval, owner of a Gree Lomo 12,000 BTU wall-mounted air conditioner, contacted us after the indoor fan stopped working — just 18 months after installation. The part was indeed covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

But the client had to pay:

  • $225 for the diagnosis

  • $160 for labor to replace the part

  • $25 for travel fees

Total: $410 for a failure under warranty. Why? Because only the part was covered. All the service was at the client’s expense.

The Often Invisible Limits of HVAC Warranties

Here are some common exclusions that manufacturers don’t prominently display:

  • Issues caused by poor installation.

  • Lack of annual maintenance, even if the machine works perfectly.

  • Damage due to power surges, refrigerant leaks, or animal interference.

  • Repairs by unauthorized technicians: this alone can void the entire warranty.

These limitations apply to both central heat pumps and wall-mounted units, regardless of the brand: Fujitsu, Gree, Lennox, Sharp, Goodman, Midea, etc.

What We Do Differently at AirGreen

At AirGreen, we understand that trust comes from transparency. That’s why we:

  • Offer a 3-year labor warranty on all of our installations.

  • Handle warranty claims on your behalf, with no hidden administrative fees.

  • Document every installation with photos, serial numbers, and reports to protect our clients from unjustified refusals.

  • Provide customized HVAC maintenance contracts, to ensure the validity of your coverage.

Installation in Longueuil: A Client Saved from Warranty Cancellation

A client in Longueuil had installed a Fujitsu 18,000 BTU wall-mounted heat pump through a third-party contractor who wasn’t HVAC-certified. When we came to service a strange noise, we found out that the manufacturer’s warranty was already void, due to an unqualified installation.

We disassembled the unit, corrected the entire setup (incorrect drain pipe slope, absence of initial vacuum, and improper electrical connections), and reinstalled the heat pump according to industry standards. Thanks to our intervention, the client was able to restore their warranty after a successful inspection by the distributor.

How to Protect Yourself: Practical Advice from AirGreen

Here are the best practices to avoid unpleasant surprises with your HVAC warranty:

  1. Choose a certified installer with proof of insurance and ongoing training.

  2. Ask for a full installation report: serial numbers, refrigerant pressure, service start date.

  3. Perform annual maintenance with signed service reports (required by all manufacturers).

  4. Avoid unauthorized repairs or “DIY fixes.”

  5. Keep all documents in a dedicated folder: invoice, warranty, photos, reports.

 

Note: This information is up to date according to warranty standards in effect in 2025 in Québec but may vary by distributors.

Why Clients Choose AirGreen for Peace of Mind

  • Complete HVAC expertise: Over 1,000 installations annually across Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, North Shore, and South Shore.

  • Direct partnerships with major brands for quick claims processing.

  • No subcontracting: all of our technicians are trained in-house.

  • Complete support from the quote to post-installation service.

Leave a comment