AC Warranty: What It Covers and How Not to Lose It
Two warranties: manufacturer and installer
When you buy an air conditioner you get two independent warranties.
Manufacturer's warranty
Covers factory defects: a faulty compressor, control boards, a leak from a factory joint. Terms:
- Compressor: 3–5 years (on some models — up to 10 years)
- Other components: 2 years
Installer's warranty
Covers the quality of the installation: line tightness, electrical connection, drainage. With VentService that's a 2-year warranty on the installation work.
What the manufacturer's warranty covers
- A factory-defective compressor
- Faulty electronic boards and sensors
- A defective fan motor
- A leak from a factory joint
What it does NOT cover:
- Mechanical damage (impact, a fall)
- Effects of voltage spikes without a stabiliser
- Damage caused by poor installation
- Normal wear of consumables: filters, seals
What voids the warranty — an honest list
The main reason warranty claims are refused is unprofessional installation. But there are others:
- DIY installation, or installation by an “unlicensed handyman”
- Opening the indoor unit by an unauthorised person (beyond rinsing the filters)
- Using non-original refrigerant
- Running at voltage outside the allowed range (180–240 V) without a stabiliser
- No regular servicing (for an extended warranty)
Buy with a double warranty
Authorised dealer: manufacturer's warranty plus 2 years on the installation, with a commissioning report.
Choose an air conditioner5 rules to keep your warranty
- Install through an authorised dealer — that's rule number one
- Keep every document: receipt, warranty card, commissioning report
- Service at least once a year with a certified company
- Don't open the unit yourself (beyond rinsing the mesh filters)
- Fit a voltage stabiliser — spikes are not rare on the Georgian grid
After the warranty: how long an AC lasts
With regular servicing — 12–15 years. Without maintenance — 5–7 years to a critical failure.
Typical post-warranty costs:
- Refrigerant top-up: 80–150 GEL
- Control board replacement: 200–500 GEL
- Compressor replacement: 500–1,500 GEL
The golden rule: early diagnostics save money. A small problem caught during a service costs 100 GEL. The same problem ignored for six months costs 1,000 GEL.